nbis_may29

Sommerville Dominates Martin�s Home Heating 100
Rasmussen Takes Last Lap Checkers in CARQUEST Pro Stocks

May 29th, 2004

Fredericton, NB � Saint John�s Lonnie Sommerville made his first appearance in a stock car this season a memorable one as he dominated the Martin�s Home Heating Sportsman 100 to take home checkers. Meanwhile in the CARQUEST Pro Stock Division, defending champion Glenn Rasmussen from New Denmark snatched victory on the very last lap. Fredericton�s Terry Collet was victorious in the Coast Tire Street Stock Division.
     Sommerville, who normally pilots a pro stock car, returned to the sportsman ranks to make his 2004 debut. Although he started 14th in the 22-car field, Sommerville quickly demonstrated that he had the dominant car as he quickly, and easily, began working his way to the front of the field. While pole sitter Brian Gillespie in the #69 W.R. Gillespie Pontiac, Michael Banks in #1 Donnelly Farms Pontiac Grand Prix, and Steven Rodgers in the#42 Ed Floyd Excavating Pontiac jostled for the top three positions, Sommerville calmly worked his way to the front. Rodgers took the lead from Gillespie on lap 10 and looked to be pulling away until Sommerville�s big black #23 Sommerville Flooring Monte Carlo rushed up on him and took the lead on lap 20. Sommerville pulled away from the field and was threatening to lap a majority of the field before a caution on lap 58 reeled him back in. However, even on re-starts no one could touch the #23 car.
      The rest of the race became a battle for second. Rodgers was forced to the pits on the lap 58 caution, but quickly returned to the back of the lead lap cars before the re-start. Gillespie also retired to the pits, but did not return in time for the re-start. Banks took over the second spot but had nothing to give Sommerville. Meanwhile Rodgers worked his way back to the front, moving past Glyn Nott in the #12 Jardine Auctioneers Monte Carlo on lap 82 to settle into third behind Banks. Rodgers challenged Banks on several occasions but could not pass the #1 car. Banks took second, Rodgers third. Sommerville also took him the $250 Halfway Challenge Award put up by Martin's Home Heating.
     In the CARQUEST Pro Stock Division, Larry Gulliver led every lap of the 40-lap feature except for one � the very last lap. Gulliver appeared to heading for a sweep of the evening�s cards as he took his heat and dash and led lap 39 of the feature. However, as he took the white flag, the #51 Coast Tire Monte Carlo slipped slightly, giving the #81 Norfolk Motel Dodge driven by Glenn Rasmussen the opportunity he needed. Rasmussen spent a considerable part of the race trying to past Gulliver. Despite several attempts to get around the #51 car, Rasmussen could not complete the pass. However, on lap 39, Rasmussen took full advantage of the slip and passed Gulliver on the backstretch going into turn 3 to cruise to checkers. Brad Mann rounded out the top three in his #35 Capital City Roofing Monte Carlo.
     In the Coast Tire Street Stock Division, Fredericton�s Terry Collet took checkers in his #48 Greco Pizza Cutlass for his first win of the year. In an entertaining feature, Collet took the lead on lap 6 of the 20-lap event and never looked back. Minto�s Peter Gaddess took second in his #20 Minto Machine and Welding Ford, while Geary�s Jack Lane rounded out the top three in his #13 Phil�s Auto Recreation Monte Carlo. After the race, Collet told the audience that he was donating his winnings to the family of Keith Collins, a friend who lost his life in an automobile accident this past week.

Next Events:

Enduro 200   Sunday, May 30th, at 2pm
Cobra Performance Oils Presents the �Best of the Best� Pro Stock Series � Race 1
Saturday, June 5th at 7:00pm