Defending Champ Pitre Scores Spring Smash Win!
The 2019 running of the Spring Smash at Speedway Miramichi was nothing short of a smashing hit, with intense and wild action being contested all afternoon Sunday.
The main event was the Spring Smash Demo. It would be defending Demolition Champion Joey Pitre starting his 2019 season off right by hanging on after surviving a wild day filled with many hard hits. Pitre made the final blow on Shawn Mazerolle to take the win. Mazerolle gave it all he had but had to settle for second, while veteran driver Kevin Tucker earned yet another podium finishing 3rd.
A dozen cars started the final demo after a war of attrition thinned out the field of nearly 20 cars. The Spring Smash Demo was delayed for approximately 20 minutes when a mishap resulted in injuries to a driver. The event was halted while an ambulance attended the scene. The driver was taken to hospital for evaluation and is expected to be ok. We hope to provide more updates as they are received.
The Atlantic Modified Tour kicked off their 2019 season with a solid opening day field of cars. The 35-lap feature was a close one all along. Early on, it would be Sportsman veteran and fan favorite Yves McCray battling side by side lap after lap with Brandon Skidmore, until Skidmore pushed too far and spun around on lap 19. After another caution for a miscue by rookie Travis Conroy, it came down to a 4-car battle for the win. In the end, McCray would hang on to win, with Kim Hallihan finishing 2nd after Braxton Stafford hit the wall coming to the checkers. Stafford, who had battled his way to 2nd prior to hitting the wall finished 3rd, while Brandon Skidmore rallied back to finish 4th.
Joe Hoyt, Doug Matchett, Kevin Brideau, and Travis Conroy rounded out the field. Steven Curtis’s day unfortunately ended prematurely with mechanical issues. McCray and Stafford scored the victories in the 10 lap heat races to start the day.
It was a monumental day for sophomore Street Stock driver Brandon Carter. Carter started the day off winning the 10-lap heat race, and then backed up his performance by holding off a hard charging Chris Wilson to win the feature. Wilson managed to reel Carter in during the closing laps from nearly a straightaway back, but came up just a few laps short and had to settle for second. Defending champion Brad MacLean finished on the podium picking up a 3rd place finish, while rookies JR Lawson and Jamie Jardine rounded out the top 5.
JR Lawson started his season strong in the Mini Stock division. In the 10-lap heat race, Lawson charged from 4th place on the final lap to take the lead and the win coming off of turn 4. Lawson then put on a dominating performance during the feature, leading wire to wire to score the win. Chantel Ackles had a strong run, picking up a 2nd place finish - her first podium at Speedway Miramichi, while Michael Savoie held off Guy Basque to take the final podium position. Michel-Andre Poirier rounded out the top 5, followed by Mathieu Mallett, Frank Dick, and rookie Shawn Benoit. Defending champion Rob Poirier did not get off to a good start to his season, as mechanical issues ended his bid for a feature win just 10 laps in.
Darcy O’Neill started his quest to avenge last years title loss strong by winning both the heat and feature for the Dukes class. Robert Legere and Trenton Silliker picked up podium finishes as well on Sunday afternoon.
In Demolition preliminary events, the Figure 8 race was a rough and tumble affair, with multiple hard hits occurring in the middle of the “X”, making for the wildest Figure 8 race in recent memory. In the end, Shawn Mazerolle emerged from the carnage victorious in the 8-lap affair.
The Back-Up race saw a dominating performance by Mathieu Brideau, as he had the field covered en route to taking the checkered flag. The Powder Puff race was won by Aimee MacLean, who had to hold off a hard charging Sam Jardine on the final lap to edge out the victory, while Cassie Skidmore finished 3rd. Finally, the Dash for Cash was won by Brad MacLean, as he took home a good chunk of change for his victory.
The burnout competition was won by Avery Watt.
That wraps up the season opening event at Speedway Miramichi. Next week, Pure Adrenaline Productions takes to the track hosting a day filled with excitement and Monster Trucks. Stock car racing is back in action on June 15th with Kids Day at the speedway!
Spring Smash Demolition
1. Joey Pitre #20
2. Shawn Mazerolle #57
3. Kevin Tucker #87
Atlantic Modified Tour 35
1. Yves McCray #58
2. Kim Hallihan #97
3. Braxton Stafford #91
4. Brandon Skidmore #84
5. Joe Hoyt #17
6. Doug Matchett #75
7. Kevin Brideau #14
8. Travis Conroy #7
DNS - Steven Curtis #12
Street Stock 30
1. Brandon Carter #19
2. Chris Wilson #2W
3. Brad MacLean #13
4. JR Lawson #81
5. Jamie Jardine #10
Mini Stock 30
1. JR Lawson #81
2. Chantel Ackles #30
3. Michael Savoie #00
4. Guy Basque #27
5. Michel-Andre Poirier #16
6. Mathieu Mallet #80
7. Frank Dick #7
8. Shawn Benoit #55
9. Rob Poirier #0
Dukes 20
1. Darcy O’Neill #68
2. Robert Legere #04
3. Trenton Silliker #13
Figure 8 Race - Shawn Mazerolle #57
Back-Up Race - Mathieu Brideau #99
Powder Puff - Aimee MacLean #69
Dash for Cash - Brad MacLean #69
Burnout Competition - Avery Watt
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