FAST TRACKS

Phil Fowler and his No. 11 team have surpassed the halfway mark in fundraising for the Children’s Wish Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador. By Sunday, the St. John’s-based, Forteau, Labrador-born Fowler and his team had raised more go online to http://www.childrenswish.ca/donate/ or go to Fowler’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/philfowler11/ to find out how you can help out with this project. … Sunday’s racing had a special meaning for a host of people in and around the Eastbound racing community. In addition to the Wounded Warrior affiliation, this weekend has been dubbed the Memorial Race weekend for the past four years in honour of several drivers and builders who were instrumental in making the track what it has evolved into today. The day honoured Dennis Weir (No. 59) and Chris Ryan (No. 68), who both were drivers at Eastbound and who passed away at the age of 45 four years ago. In addition, Kerry Bourne, affiliated with the No. 5/No. 96 teams was remembered, as was former track announcer and Second World War veteran Edward (Jiggs) Borland and builder Cy Robson Sr., who along with Bern Hickey, were critical to the establishment of the Avondale Dirt Track. … Nick Codner, displaying the wisdom and swagger that only a 12-year-old driver could possess, served as spotter for Owen Groves in his NASCAR Division I debut … Sara Thorne was hoping to match Groves in making her own NASCAR Division I debut Sunday, but an accident in practice was too much to overcome, so that will have to wait … Normally at Eastbound, when the final checkered flag waves, fans head to the exits to head home after a great day of competition. However, Sunday’s NASCAR Division 1 debut victory by Groves produced a different finish to the day. Hundreds of fans who had braved a threehour rain delay, stayed a bit longer and stood on the front stretch cheering and helping the young driver celebrate his triumph …