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 Langford, BC, May 9, 2009 Submitted by: Ken Keating Brian Clutchey survived an early crash and went on to take the checkered flag in a fifty lap Feature event in the V.I. Rental Stock Car Series at Western Speedway Saturday night. The race program also featured the Island Dwarf Cars and the L.P. Gear I.M.S. 4 Mini Stocks with great car counts in each series. Gord and Shane Kraus led a field of fourteen Dwarf Cars to the green flag for twenty-five laps of racing in the Feature event. Gord jumped to the early lead for the first three laps until a yellow came out for a pile up on turn four. This collected Shane, Brent Peck, and Dave Emmerson who was trying to get from the back of the pack to the front. On the restart, and before they went through the first turn, James Dore grabbed the lead bringing Jim Pridge along and into the second spot followed by Ike Armitage. For the next thirteen laps these three drivers battled bumper to bumper and side by side leaving the rest of the field behind. On lap eighteen Armitage drove to the inside of Dore and Pridge taking over the lead. Pridge made his move back to the second spot one lap later as Dore began to fall off the pace just slightly. As they crossed the line for the checkered flag it was Armitage, Pridge, and Dore holding on for the third place finish. Fifteen Mini Stocks took the green flag for forty laps of racing in the L.P. Gear I.M.S. 4 Mini Stock Series Feature event. Kevin Knight led for the first five laps and was overtaken by Ryan Patterson. Nick Hastings followed Patterson into second with Mike Derepentigny moving into third spot. Behind them Brent Rohrer had moved up to challenge for positions and took over the second spot on lap nineteen. Over the next few laps the lead changed almost every lap as none of the front runners wanted to give up any position. Defending Champion Lois Pollard-Grant worked herself into the mix now running fourth as the battle raged on up front. On lap twenty-four the yellow came out as Hastings got loose and spun around. On the restart, Patterson and Rohrer quickly picked up where they left off running side by side with Derepentigny and Pollard-Grant in the mix. On lap twenty-eight Derepentigny moved to the inside for the position on Patterson and both drivers got together spinning each car out. On the restart, Rohrer remained the leader with Pollard-Grant in second and now followed by Mitch Egner in third as the checkered flag waved for the finish. In the post race interview, Rohrer said: "This is the first time in this car and the first time racing at Western Speedway and I like it here. I will be back". At least five drivers made the trek from the Lower Mainland to race with this series on this night. Brian Clutchey just missed breaking the track record in qualifying, just missed taking the drag race with Rory Smith to the checkered flag and winning the Heat race. With the competition so close in this series could the former Stock Car Champion make this the night? Dan Myers and Sam Hunt held the front row for a fifty lap race for the V.I. Rentals Stock Car Feature event of the night. Myers got the jump on the green flag and went into the lead followed by Hunt, Dave Reside, and Brandon Carlson. With only four laps in the books, a couple of cars got together with Carlson taking the worst of it spinning into the backstretch wall and tearing the broadside off of his car. This collision also caught Clutchey as he had no where to go and smacked the spinning Carlson. Carlson entered the pits for some repairs while Clutchey was able to continue with just some bent metal to the front end dropping him back to ninth for a restart. Myers again led the field to the green flag with Hunt, Reside, Rory Smith, and Ryan Wade rounding out the top five positions. These five drivers were in a tight battle for several laps and on lap fifteen, Myers surrendered the lead to Hunt with Smith, Reside, and Wade still in a tight bunch. On lap nineteen, Wade finally made the pass for third behind Smith with Reside dropping back to fourth. Clutchey quickly passed Reside on the outside and steadily made his march toward the front. On lap twenty-four he passed Wade for third setting his sights on Smith the next car behind Hunt still running in front. One lap later Clutchey made the pass for second and in four more laps took over the lead. Wade was still racing hard with Hunt and did take the second spot back on lap thirty-one. Over the remaining laps Wade kept the pressure on Clutchey but the laps ran out and Brian did take his first win for 2009. Wade finished in second with Rory Smith taking the third spot. Sam Hunt, with a great run, finished fourth while Kyle Cottam rounded out the top five in yet another great race for the V.I. Rental Stock Car Series. On May 16th, the WilRoc Sprint Car Series, WilRoc Lites, and the Old Time Racing Association will take to the track for their opening night for 2009. Back to News
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