Butcher wins second title; Blenkhorn wins season-ending race

Dylan Blenkhorn of Truro, N.S., picked up his fourth victory of 2018 at Scotia Speedworld in the season-ending Dartmouth Dodge 200, but Cole Butcher took home the big prize.

Shawn Turple of Enfield, N.S., was second, followed by Butcher, who finished third and took home his second Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour championship in his sixth season.

Butcher all but had the championship wrapped up entering the finale, but the battle for second, third and fourth was hotly contested. Blenkhorn’s victory gave him the edge over Craig Slaunwhite of Terence Bay, N.S., who ended the 2018 season second and third, respectively. Shawn Turple of Enfield, N.S., the 2017 champion, was fourth in the points standings, followed by Dylan Gosbee of Cornwall in fifth.

Kent Vincent of Crapaud was the top P.E.I. driver with a fifthplace finish. Other Island drivers were Darren MacKinnon of Charlottetown sixth; Jonathan Hicken of Brudenell 13th; Greg Proude of Springvale 14th; Terry Dougay of Albany 23rd, and Allison MacKinnon of Oyster Bed Bridge 24th.

Starting positions for the Dartmouth Dodge 200 were set by Atlantic Tiltload heat races, which were won by Slaunwhite, Butcher and Chris Reid of Fort McMurray, Alta.

Nicholas Naugle of Dartmouth, N.S., won the King Freight Lines future winner award, with Braden Langille of Shubenacadie, N.S., named the Exide Batteries rookie of the race.

Waylon Farrell of Conception Bay South, N.L., took home the 2018 Exide Batteries rookieof-the-year title, completing his sophomore season 11th in points. Farrell will receive the iconic Exide Battery rookie trophy at the annual awards dinner in November.

The Maritime League of Legends kicked off the day’s festivities with a 50-lap feature. Craig MacDonald of Waverley, N.S., came home first, followed by Cory Hall of Jolicure, N.B., and Shelby Baker of Fall River, N.S., who was also crowned the 2018 Maritime League of Legends champion.

Butcher will officially receive his championship spoils, including the impressive championship ring commissioned by Inglis Jewelers, at the tour’s year-end awards dinner in Halifax on Nov. 10.