Photo Credit: Ashley McCubbin
The Mini Stock division has another first time winner this season as Gerrit Tiemersma was credited with his first career feature victory. It didn’t happen in a conventional way, though, but rather through the room of doom.
Nic Montanari won the first heat ahead of Tiemersma, Chris Allard, Jake Watson, Dave Crumbie, Stefan Woyslaw and Steeve Melson.
Last week’s feature winner Eric Yorke won the second heat ahead of Cory Young, Charlie Smith, Mike Robinson Jr., Terry Woodley, Cameron McGlashan and Bob Phinnemore as Steve Belanger ran into a problem.
Come feature time, Cameron McGlashan started pole ahead of Dave Crumbie, Terry Woodley, Chris Allard, Gerrit Tiemersma, Stefan Woyslaw, Charlie Smith, Bob Phinnemore, Jake Watson, Steeve Melson, Cory Young, Mike Robinson Jr., Nic Montanari, Eric Yorke and Steve Belanger.
McGlashan put the No. 83 England Enterprises, Orvauto, Arbor Aces Tree Care Inc, Steelcase Tires ‘N’ Mags Inc, Taylor Drywalling & Taping, UPS, Wix Filters, www.geppettoland.ca, Lubecore Barrie, Gino’s Pizza Alcona, and Cabral Racing Promotions Mustang out front on Lap 1 ahead of Crumbie as Allard and Woodley ran side-by-side for third.
Allard got the spot on Lap 3, getting alongside Crumbie for second. Allard then passed Crumbie a lap later to take the spot, with Smith following him through for third. At the front of the field, Allard tracked down McGlashan, getting alongside for the lead at Lap 6. He wouldn’t be able to take the spot, though, as Smith snuck past both McGlashan and Allard to put the No. 85 Neon out front on Lap 8.
Smith now led ahead of Allard, Woodley, McGlashan and Tiemersma as Yorke and Montnari battled for sixth. Yorke got the spot, getting by Tiemersma to challenge McGlashan for fourth on Lap 12.
He’d get the spot on Lap 12 just before the caution flew for Cory Young spinning on the backstretch, while Woodley spun Allard on the frontstretch. With 13 laps to go, Smith led Yorke, McGlashan, Robinson Jr., Montanari, Tiemersma, Watson, Crumbie, Phinnemore, Woyslaw, Melson, Young, Woodley and Allard.
The restart saw a battle for the lead between Yorke and Smith, with Yorke putting the No. 51 Can-Alignment Motorsports, Milton Napa Auto Parts, J&D Tire, Solex Steel, McKeown Collision, Partimer Signs, Ancaster Embroidery, Country Girl Designs, Cabral Racing Promotions and Skytec Rentals Nissan out front on Lap 16 ahead of Smith.
The lead didn’t last long, as there’d be a 3-wide battle for the top spot a lap later between Yorke, Smith and Robinson Jr., with Robinson Jr. putting his No. 95 Georgian Hot Tubs, Chuck Taylor Haulage, London Recreational Racing, Oro Electric, Iron Horse, Simcoe Auto Recyclers, Aircon Services & Reffers Sales Inc. Green Valley Electric, Qucik Pizza, Cintas, Greenweld, M&S Metal Products, Ideal Supply, Skate Zone Neon out front on Lap 19.
Smith would clear Yorke with three laps to go, leaving Yorke to battle with Tiemersma for third till the caution flew with two to go for Crumbie spinning on the frontstretch after contact from Allard.
Mike Robinson Jr. got a good final restart to cross the finish line first ahead of his teammate Charlie Smith. Neither would get credited for their finishes, though, as both were found illegal in post-race technical inspection.
As a result, Gerrit Tiemersma gets credited with his first career feature victory ahead of Eric Yorke, Jake Watson, Nic Montanari, Cory Young, Terry Woodley, Cameron McGlashan, Bob Phinnemore, Chris Allard, Stefan Woyslaw, Steeve Melson and Dave Crumbie.
