100 wins for racer Brad Rouse
Port Colborne and Brad Rouse both had something to celebrate on the Simcoe Day civic holiday weekend in Ontario.
While the city honoured its marine heritage with the four-day Canal Days festival, the St. Catharines driver marked a watershed Sunday night with the 100th victory of his racing career.
Rouse’s commanding win in the 50-lap sportsman feature, among the highlights of the All-Canadian Championships at New Humberstone Speedway, was his fourth of the season at the Port Colborne track and his second top-five finish in as many nights.
“It is special to get my 100th win at the All-Canadian,” said Rouse, who finished fifth behind feature winner Cody McPherson the night before at Merrittville Speedway.
“I’ve had so many people help me on the way, and it’s a good feeling to hit this milestone.”
Rouse didn’t become the front runner until Lap 21, but he never had to look back after that. He pulled away to lead a top five of McPherson, Jay Mallory, Dylan Davidson and Chad Chevalier across the finish line.
Chris Storm was the Last Chance Showdown winner.
Two other drivers from St. Catharines ended a night that featured extended-distance racing in victory lane. Rob Murray held off hometown hotshoe Jason Fontaine to win a Duel in the Dirt series race in street stocks, and Dillon Lord led the pro 4 truck field from flag to flag for his first all-Canadian championship and sixth of the season at Humberstone.
Murray regained the lead for good with 15 laps to go.
Bill Bleich Jr., Dave Ramsay and Justin Ramsay rounded out the top five in the 50-lapper as Murray won his fifth of 2016 at the Port Colborne track. Ramsay and Fontaine were the showdown winners.
Craig Vlasic, Jamie Ayers, Danny Wurster and Kyle Tomaski trailed Llord across the finish line in the truck feature. Defending point champion Mike Toovey set the pace in the showdown.
After driving a beater to second place in Saturday’s enduro qualifier at Merrittville, Port Colborne’s Rob Goulding switched rides and raced Tony Kelly’s Volkswagen Golf to the mini stocks checkered flag a night later at Humberstone.
Goulding pulled away from Leroy Buscumb with two circuits remaining in the 20-lap feature for his third win of the year at his hometown track.
Kyle Rothwell, Jason Coutu and Kyle Haynes also posted top-five finishes, while Garnet Wilson and Coutu won the showdowns.
In late models, Rob Pietz of Gasline overtook Sam Pennacchio following a restart midway into the feature and stayed there the rest of the way to win the 30-lapper for his first All-Canadian championship. Jeff Dayman, Chad Homan and Dennis Lunger Jr., the reigning points champion; rounded out the top five.
B.J. Willard set the pace in the vintage car feature after Les Myers and Mark Shadwell won the qualifiers.
A total of 126 competitors were pitside for a six-division program that featured post-race entertainment by Guilty Pleasure and was capped off by a fireworks show.
On track next Sunday at Humberstone is the second visit of the season by the Southern Ontario Sprints and a full lineup of sportsman, late model, street stock, mini stock and 4-cylinder truck racing.
Gates open at 4:30 p.m. and racing starts at 6:30 p.m.