Can-Am Midgets

Smith Takes Checkered At Grand Bend Speedway

Lucas Smith took his first checkered flag of the season at Grand Bend Speedway on Saturday, June 28, 2008. Smith started pole in the feature and was able to hold off veteran Rob Neely, who finished second. Greg Smulders, Corey Moesker, and Tyler Mackereth rounded out the top five. James Gray, who is leading in the points standings for the championship, and Daniel Bois, who is second in points, both had issues with their cars, causing them to drop back in the pack. Gray finished 12th, and Bois finished 13th, which allowed the other drivers an opportunity to gain points on the top two contenders for the championship. Home-town driver, Corey Moesker, ran really well with the support of family, friends, and sponsors, finishing fourth, which is his career best feature finish with the Lucas Oil Can-Am Midgets. The Can-Am Midgets put on a great show for the huge audience that came to watch 30 laps of exciting open-wheel racing. It was the largest attendance Grand Bend Speedway has ever seen, and the Lucas Oil Can-Am Midgets are looking forward to their return to Grand Bend Speedway on July 26, 2008.

At Grand Bend the Owners voted on the proposed weight adjustment. It was voted down 11 to 7. It was also decided that the rain out at Barrie will NOT be rescheduled.

MIDGETS GO 75 LAPS CAUTION FREE

The Lucas Oil Can-Am Midgets treated the fans to 75 laps of caution free racing at Peterborough Speedway (Ont) on Saturday night. After warm-ups, the cars lined up to complete a feature from May 24th that had only one lap in before a major crash took out most of the field. This night was completely different and more typical of these open wheel racers. Going green to checkers for the remaining 24 laps, the TQ # 82 driven by James Gray of Brampton, Ont. took the lead on lap 10 and never looked back. Darren McLennan (TQ#48)had the pole for the start and hung on for 9 laps followed by Stefan Haas in TQ #6 and Tyler Mackereth in TQ # 40. Gray, starting in the 9th position powered thru the field and was in 4th place by lap 3. By half way, Greg Smulders (TQ #00), last weeks winner, rounded out the top five. Daniel Bois (TQ # 84) came from 13th place into the top five as the Haas midget began to fade. Taking the checkered flag, Gray thanked Lucas Oil, National Exhaust and R & W Auto for all their support.

The finish was...GRAY, Darren McLennan, Tyler Mackereth, Greg Smulders, Daniel Bois, Stefan Haas, Harvey Walsh, Todd Cresswell, Larry Wilson, Corey Moesker, Chris Bauman, Cliff Hodgkinson, Mack DeMan, Jared Turnbull, Mike Hooper, and Rob Neely.

Tyler Mackereth 3rd, James Gray 1st, Darren McLennan 2nd

The scheduled race for that night also ran totally caution free. Daniel Bois captured his second feature event of the season also taking the lead on lap 10 from teammate Harvey Walsh (TQ # 49). Cliff Hodgkinson lead from the pole position after receiving his first ever checkers in Heat #1. He held on for 4 laps before Walsh took over the top spot. Bois, starting 7th, picked off cars one by one as he set his sights on the lead. Gray, hooked up from the first feature and starting in the 9th spot was in second by half way. Walsh hung on for third and Rob Neely (TQ #74) was in 4th place followed by Smulders. Lucas Smith, driving his brand new TQ # 94 midget moved into the 4th spot as Smulders and Neely began to fade. Tyler Mackereth now rounded out the top five and they remained that way until the finish. Bois thanked his sponsors Total Design Graphics, Formula Kartways, and J K Motorsports for all their help as well as car owner Cliff Walsh. Gray took Heat # 2 and another first time winner, Chris Bauman won the "B" Main.

Final finish was....BOIS, James Gray, Adam Walsh, Lucas Smith, Tyler Mackereth, Todd Cresswell, Greg Smulders, Rob Neely, Larry Wilson, Darren McLennan, Corey Moesker, Cliff Hodgkinson, Chris Bauman, Richard Boake, Mack DeMan, Mike Hooper, Jared Turnbull, and Chris Ralph

James Gray 2nd, Daniel Bois 1st, Harvey Walsh 3rd

Heat #1

Cliff Hodgkinson

Heat#2

James Gray

"B" Main

Chris Bauman

(Race recap courtesy of Cindy Lorenz)

(Pictures courtesy of Ralph Webbe)

Full Race Results Here

Greg Smulders Takes Checkered Flag at Flamboro Speedway

After starting 8th position in the feature at Flamboro Speedway, June 07, 2008, Greg Smulders (00) quickly moved up through the field to take the checkered flag. Jared Turnbull (31) lead an impressive twenty-four of twenty-25 exciting laps of open-wheel racing, but wasn’t able to hold off Smulders, who passed Turnbull on the last lap, followed by Rob Neely (74), and James Gray (82). Turnbull finished fourth and Corey Moesker (39) rounded out the top five. After a devastating wreck at Peterborough Speedway on May 24, 2008, all of the Lucas Oil Can-Am TQ Midget drivers were hoping for a safe and exciting night of open-wheel racing. With only one caution throughout the race, and no injuries, the Can-Am Midgets put on a great show for all of their loyal fans.

The top 3 coming across the finish line.

(Photo Courtesy of Dave Franks)

Rob Neely 2nd, Greg Smulders 1st, James Gray 3rd

Heat One

Rob Neely (74) took the lead on lap 5 of the first heat and held on for the win. Darren McLennan (48) and Todd Cresswell (1) rounded out the top three.

Heat Two

Daniel Bois (84) and James Gray (82) battled for first position in the second heat, with Gray taking first with three laps to go. Bois finished second, and Jared Turnbull (31) took third.

B-Main

Larry Wilson started pole for the B-Main and held on for the win. Mike Lichty (10) and JR Fitzpatrick (4) rounded out the top three.

Full Race results here

(Race recap courtesy of Melissa Fenwick)

(Pictures courtesy of Ralph Webbe)

May Recaps