In one of the most debated features of the season thus far, Thayne Hallyburton ended the night celebrating in victory lane at the end of the Late Model 35-lap event.
Hallyburton started the feature on pole ahead of Al Inglis, Nick Goetz, Paul Maltese, Sean Cronan, Chris Morrow, Britney Gresel, Lane Zardo, Mike Bentley, Travis Hallyburton, Jason Hathaway, Gord Shepherd, Billy Zardo, Taylor Holdaway, Dwayne Baker, Scott Wylie, Tom Walters, Cayden Lapcevich, Mat Box, Adam Martin, Danny Benedict, Jordan Latimer, Dwight Brown, Mike Wilkinson, Kyle Passer and Ernie Fumerton.
Hallyburton put the No. 14 Ritter Sport Late Model out front ahead of Inglis on Lap 1. Inglis didn’t last long in the runner-up spot, as Paul Maltese took it on Lap 2, bringing Chris Morrow through with him.
Nick Goetz then moved fourth on Lap 5 ahead of Inglis, Cronan and Lane Zardo. Cronan got alongside Inglis for fifth at Lap 7, completing the pass a lap later as Goetz passed Morrow for third. Cronan then got alongside Morrow for fourth at Lap 9, completing the pass a lap later with Zardo getting alongside Morrow.
At the front of the field, Hallyburton continued to lead as Goetz got alongside Maltese for second. Goetz took the spot on Lap 13 ahead of Maltese, Cronan, Zardo, Travis Hallyburton, Shepherd, Bentley, Hathaway, Holdaway, Gresel, Walters and Billy Zardo.
Shepherd continued climbing to the front, passing Travis for sixth at Lap 17. Cronan got alongside Maltese for third, completing the pass on Lap 19. Bentley got by Travis for seventh just before the caution came out on Lap 22 for Wylie stopping in turn four. With 14 laps to go, Thayne Hallyburton led Goetz, Cronan, Lane Zardo, Shepherd, Bentley, Hathaway, Travis Hallyburton, Holdaway, Gresel, Walters, Lapcevich, Billy Zardo, Baker, Morrow, Maltese, Martin, Brown and Latimer.
The restart saw a battle for the lead between Thayne Hallyburton and Goetz, with Goetz putting the No. 24 Lake Huron Rod & Gun, Mondo Car Wash, Boston Pizza, Super 8 Motel, Lord Elgin Fish & Chips, Rosener’s Service Centre, Roberto’s Pizzeria, Great Lakes Concrete, Austin Graphics, Pierson Motors of Kincardine and ImageWraps.ca Late Model out front on Lap 30.
Hallyburton now ran second ahead of Cronan, Shepherd, Bentley and Hathaway as Holdaway battled Maltese for seventh. Holdaway got the spot on Lap 32, bringing Lane Zardo and Walters through with him. Cayden Lpacevich then passed Maltese for 10th, with Travis Hallyburton looking for 11th.
The caution would then fly on Lap 34, though, as Billy Zardo spun Gresel on the backstretch. Under caution, Kyle Passer pulled off with an issue.
The restart saw a battle for the lead, with Thayne Hallyburton regaining the top spot. He’d look to be set to pick up the win, about 50 feet from the start-finish line, when the third caution flew for Dwight Brown spinning off of turn two.
The first attempt at a restart saw Travis Hallyburton and Billy Zardo get together in turn two.
The second attempt at a restart saw three-wide contact between Shepherd, Bentley and Holdaway, with Shepherd going for the spin. Behind them, there’d be heavy contact made between Walters, Travis Hallyburton and Gresel. Walters made his way to pit road for repairs, while Bentley was forced down pit road to change a flat tire. Unfortunately, Hallyburton and Gresel were done for the night. Meanwhile, Shepherd and Holdaway maintained their spots as race officials say the caution was for a jumped restart, and not the accident that took place.
The third attempt at a restart, single-file, saw Goetz look to make the move under Thayne Hallyburton, but check-up and Cronan spin Goetz.
The race was deemed over with Thayne Hallyburton picking up the win. As of Saturday night at the track, Sean Cronan got second ahead of Gord Shepherd, Jason Hathaway, Taylor Holdaway, Billy Zardo, Cayden Lapcevich, Dwayne Baker, Mat Box, Adam Martin, Chris Morrow, Ernie Fumerton, Danny Benedict, Al Inglis, Billy Zardo, Tom Walters, Mike Bentley and Mike Wilkinson.
However, these may not be the official race results as the track has yet to post anything on their website at http://www.sunsetspeedway.ca.
For those whom missed the action, here is on-board video of what happened courtesy of Jason Hathaway and team.
