Photo Credit: Ashley McCubbin
After a disqualification a couple weeks ago, Charlie Smith seems to have come back stronger than ever as he’d score the victory in the GCC Construction Mini Stock feature on Saturday night at Sunset Speedway.
Gerrit Tiemersma won the first heat ahead of Smith, Terry Woodley, Cameron McGlashan, Stefan Woyslaw, Steeve Melson and JP Rosevaar.
Eric Yorke won the second heat ahead of Brandon Crumbie, Nic Montanari, Chris Allard, Jake Watson, Dave Crumbie and Bob Phinnemore.
Yorke went for the daily double, winning the Fast Qualifier’s Dash ahead of Tiemersma, Smith, Brandon Crumbie, Montanari, Woodley, Allard, Watson, McGlashan, Dave Crumbie, Woyslaw and Melson.
Come feature time, Chris Allard put his No. 76 Georgian Chev Buick GMC, Morley Photography, Hair We Go of Stayner, SHS Shrubs Hard and Softscapes, Cabral Racing Promotions and Weld-It Creations Mini Stock out front on Lap 1 ahead of Montanari as Smith and Dave Crumbie battled for third.
Crumbie got the spot on Lap 4 ahead of Crumbie and Young just before the caution flew for Watson spinning in turn four virtue of contact from Woyslaw. With 21 laps to go, Allard led Montanari, Smith, Crumbie, Young, Woodley, Dave Crumbie, Phinnemore, Tiemersma, Yorke, Rosevaar, McGlashan, Watson and Woyslaw.
The restart saw a battle for the lead between Allard and Montanari, with Montanari putting the No. 98 HIGHWAY TECHNOLOGY, SELECT DELIVERY, DR.JAY PERTOFF AT MAPLE RIDGE DENTAL AND PERMATEX Mini Stock out front on Lap 8, as Smith got alongside Allard for second.
Smith took the second spot on Lap 9 ahead of Allard, Young and Brandon Crumbie as Yorke and Tiemersma battled for fifth. Young got alongside Allard for second, just as the caution flew for contact on the backstretch between Yorke and Tiemersma, which resulted in Yorke making significant contact with the backstretch wall. With 14 laps to go, Montarni led Smith, Allard, Young, Brandon Crumbie, Dave Crumbie, Woodley, Phinnemore, Watson, McGlashan, Woyslaw, Watson and Tiemersma.
The restart saw a battle for the lead between Montanari and Smith, with Smith putting the No. 85 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 14 just before the caution flew for McGlashan stalling as he came out of turn four.
Smith got a good restart to keep the lead ahead of Young as Montanari ran third. Mid-field, there was contact as Tiemersma would tag Woodley, though Woodley was able to keep it straight and going. Meanwhile, Brandon Crumbie worked his way up to fourth at Lap 18 ahead of Allard and Dave Crumbie.
Montanari then got alongside Young for second at Lap 19, completing the pass for the spot with four laps to go. Brandon Crumbie continued to run fourth ahead of Allard, as Tiemersma battled Dave Crumbie for sixth. Tiemerma got the spot with two laps to go ahead of Crumbie, as Woodley, Watson and McGlashan rounded out the top-five.
Charlie Smith then led the rest of the way en route to picking up the feature victory.
“The last win I had here was on the very last race they ran on the old track, and I knew it was going to be tough after that,” he said. “I picked up the Neon – we did good at Barrie and then slowly started struggling here, and last year – I never thought I’d see a top-five again.”
This year, though, Smith has been quick on a weekly basis, something he credits to working closely with Mike Robinson Jr.
“These guys want to win as bad as I want to do,” he said. “I finish up work and text if we’re working on the car and (Mike) Robinson (Jr.) is like, ‘Hell yeah we are’. We put the time in and work on our stuff, and not worry about everybody else. It’s time and effort, changing things and trying things.
“We’ve had our ups and downs, and it’s just after a couple weeks ago getting the 1-2 and disqualified – it was so amazing and to come back and do this again is pretty cool.”
Nic Montanari finished second, followed by Cory Young, Brandon Crumbie and Chris Allard. Gerrit Tiemersma finished sixth, followed by Dave Crumbie, Terry Woodley, Jake Watson and Cameron McGlashan. Steeve Melson finished 11th, followed by Bob Phinnemore and Stefan Woyslaw.
