LONDON, ON – Steve Tiemersma is hoping that it won’t be another three years before the Shouldice Designer Stone ALSTAR Late Model Series returns to Delaware Speedway. The Newmarket, ON won the last time the series visited the half-mile, London, ON-area oval in 2002, and he won again on Friday night, putting an end to a personal winless streak that dated back to his previous Delaware victory.
The driver of the #67 Aurora Automotive / Pennzoil 10 Minute Oil Change Pontiac started sixth in the field of 20 who took part in the eighth ALSTAR feature race of the season. But by lap 12, he was up to second place. Four laps later, he was underneath early leader Jim Molenhuis and into the lead.
Following a yellow flag near lap 20 of the 75-lap chase, the event went green for more than 50 laps, during which time eventual runner-up Kyle Donaldson was able to close to within inches of Tiemersma on several occasions. But as the race wore on, the former ALSTAR champ put some distance between himself and the rookie Donaldson.
A caution with two laps to go bunched the field for a final sprint, but it wouldn’t change the outcome of the race. Tiemersma earned his second Shouldice ALSTAR feature win at Delaware Speedway and the fifth victory of his ALSTAR career. Meanwhile Donaldson’s Custom Engines Ford came home a respectable second after an impressive outing by the young star.
“We’ve been here twice and we won both times. This place is great,” said Tiemersma, who said his car was actually stronger in the heat races before some changes to the car actually slowed it down. “I think we have some more speed in her.”
The third and final podium spot went to Kirk Hooker from nearby Chatham, ON. The Country View Golf Course Chevy driver charged from 14th at the start to earn a top result at Delaware in front of many of his fans. Dan Delisle of LaSalle, ON was fourth.
Claiming the final top-five spot at the end was reigning ALSTAR champ and current points leader Robbie Thompson in his SMP / Logel’s Dodge. The Southampton, ON resident came from 18th at the initial green flag and when all was said and done, he boosted his points lead over Derrick Tiemersma by a single point in the championship chase. Tiemersma’s Wayfreight Pontiac was sixth at Delaware.
A pair of 15-lap heat races took place prior to Friday night’s 75-lap main event. Robbie Thompson won the first to bring his series-leading heat-race checkered flag total to seven for the season, while another former series champ, Jason Shaw, won the other sprint to collect his fifth heat win of ’05.
The next Shouldice ALSTAR Late Model Series race takes place on Saturday, July 30 at Sauble Speedway, just west of Owen Sound, Ontario. In terms of the overall title race, Thompson leads Derrick Tiemersma by 16 points as the racers prepare to start the final third of the 2005 Shouldice ALSTAR schedule.
Shouldice ALSTAR Late Model Series
RESULTS: Race #8 of 12 // Delaware Speedway // London, ON // July 22, ‘05 // 75 Laps
FIN. ST. # DRIVER (HOMETOWN) SPONSOR / MAKE LAPS
1 6 67 Steve Tiemersma (Newmarket, ON) Aurora Automotive / Pennzoil 10 Min. Oil Change Pontiac 75
2 11 53 Kyle Donaldson (Queensville, ON) R Custom Engines / Downtown Rug & Flooring Ford 75
3 14 38 Kirk Hooker (Chatham, ON) Country View Golf Course / McColl’s / Golf Trends Chevrolet 75
4 17 1 Dan Delisle (Lasalle, ON) R www.KFC.ca / Charter House Printing / Morton Industrial Chevrolet 75
5 18 9 Robbie Thompson (Southampton, ON) Shear Metal Products / Logel’s Dodge 75
6 16 7 Derrick Tiemersma (Newmarket, ON) Wayfreight / Gates / Wix Chevrolet 75
7 13 72 Rob MacDonnell (Allenford, ON) MacDonnell Fuels / Siegrist Trucking Chevrolet 75
8 10 98 Michael Almand (Alton, ON) Alliston Transmission / Finish Line Graphics Chevrolet 75
9 7 57 Brett Murray (Minesing, ON) Videoflicks / Cardwell Signs Ford 75
10 15 76 Tyler Williams (Chesley, ON) B&L Farm Services / Hank’s Auto Wreckers Ford 75
11 9 82 Jason Shaw (Guelph, ON) Spira Fire Protection / Del Metals Ford 75
12 12 22 Glenn Watson (Barrie, ON) Racing Radios / Rival Office Solutions / Top Shops Chevrolet 75
13 5 11 Chris Morrow (Minesing, ON) Morrow Electric / Edenvale Flying Club Chevrolet 75
14 4 69 Alan Inglis (Mississauga, ON) National Moving & Storage Dodge 74
15 8 4 Craig Zurbrigg (Listowel, ON) Benshaw Motor Controls / Trinity Village Health Care Ford 73
16 19 93 Tim Cole (Courtice, ON) Oshawa Office Equipment / Kwik Signs Chevrolet 73
17 1 42 Richard Holmes (Hillsburgh, ON) Gormac Roofing / Astro Automotive Ford 73
18 20 8 Andrew Gresel (Sauble, ON) R Sauble Fall’s Tent & Trailer Park / H&H Patio Encl. Chevrolet 71
19 3 75 Jeff Cassidy (Cambridge, ON) Highway Sterling – Western Star Ford 70
20 2 30 Jim Molenhuis (Churchill, ON) R.E.V. Mobile Audio / Performance Chevrolet 29
21 21 23 Steve Thompson (Drayton, ON) Conway Furniture / Priebe Engineering Chevrolet DNS
R after the hometown denotes Rookie contender.
TIME OF RACE: 48 minutes // CAUTIONS: 3 // LAP LEADERS: #30 Jim Molenhuis (1-16) and #67 Steve Tiemersma (17-75) // HEAT WINS: #82 Jason Shaw & #9 Robbie Thompson // MOST LAPS LED: #67 Steve Tiemersma // SPIRA HARD CHARGER AWARD: #1 Dan Delisle // INSIDE TRACK MYSTERY POSITION AWARD: #72 Rob MacDonnell // CRC TOP 5: #67 Derrick Tiemersma, #53 Kyle Donaldson, #38 Kirk Hooker, #1 Dan Delisle, #9 Robbie Thompson // 69 AUTO WHEEL AWARD: #57 Brett Murray // HOOSIER TIRE AWARD: #53 Kyle Donaldson
Contact ALSTAR at (519) 371-7588 or visit www.alstarseries.com
Prepared by Inside Track Communications.
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