Failed tech inspections prove costly
Gass handed victory after top- two finishers have placings voided
OYSTER BED BRIDGE — Stephen Gass repeated as the David Lambe Memorial Street Stock Race champion recently at the Oyster Bed Speedway after the top two finishers failed post- race tech inspections.
Mike MacLeod, who had his win last year voided due to infractions, made the necessary adjustments and was awarded second place with Darren MacKinnon, driving for Big Poppa Motorsports, finishing third.
Two 15- lap heats were held to set up the initial starting order. In the opening heat race, Gass continued his dominance of the track, sealing the win and the tentative pole position. In the other heat race, Geoff Boyle came out of retirement after a seven- year hiatus to get behind the wheel of Matt Boyles’ car. Showing no signs of rust, he drove right into victory.
This would have put both Gass and Boyle on the front row for the start of the super series race, but in a twist a random draw would invert a number of cars. Gass picked out No. 13, putting Shediac, N. B., driver Martin Landry on the pole.
The invert also put both MacLeod and Jamie Vasallo towards the front. During last year’s race, the two battled hard for 50 laps until Vasallo spun coming out of turn two sending him to the infield paving the way for MacLeod to be the first to cross the finish line. Unfortunately, a difference in rules at MacLeod’s home track and at Oyster Bed Speedway made MacLeod fail the post- race tech inspection.
The two drivers would pick up right where they left off this year. Vasallo and MacLeod made front in no time and the two battled back and forth for about 50 laps. On every re- start, the car starting on the outside would eventually sneak by to regain the lead only to relinquish the lead when the next caution flag came around. In the closing laps, though, MacLeod began to fall back and eventually crossed the finish line fourth.
Vasallo had to fight off advances from both Gass and Boyle. After a couple of attempts, Gass was unable to get by Vasallo Boyle passed Gass for second and made a charge for the leader. The two would finish out the race side by side in the remaining laps.
On a restart in the dying laps, Boyle was finally able to get around his competitor until another caution came out with two laps to go. This time, Vasallo would be able to restart on the preferred outside groove. Only a few feet separated the two cars as they finally crossed the finish line with Vasallo ahead. Gass would cross the finish line in third.
When it came time to drive to the tech shed, the top two cars would be deemed illegal.