NEWS RELEASE
SUNSET SPEEDWAY
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Saturday’s Fight Under the Lights night at Sunset Speedway was a great night of racing after two weeks of back-to-back rain-outs.
On the beautiful sunny day, race fans had a full lineup including the Can-Am TQ Midgets, GD Coates Pro Late Models, St. Onge Super Stocks, LUDUH Hot Rods, and the Junior’s Haulage Bone Stock divisions, with intermission hosting the first King of the Hill drag race of the 2024 season. As well, the folks from MacMaster Buick GMC and Brackett Auto Group were on hand in the VIP area taking in the night of racing and cheering on their driver, Jordan Howse.
In the Can-Am TQ Midgets’ division, Jeff Blackburn (No. 7) dominated the track, coming to victory lane not once but twice throughout the night, coming first in his heat and then again in the 25-lap-feature race. This first-place win comes after being second during Sunset’s Second to None: First Responder’s Night. Following Blackburn Daniel Hawn (No. 42) came second and Darren McLennan (No. 78) in third rounding out the podium finishes.
“This is a home race for our team and partners. Beattie’s Distillers has a great partnership with Sunset in 2024 and being able to win here means a lot to our team. The competition is so tough. Daniel, James, Dominique — we are all so close on speed, you’re one mistake away from being out of the top spot,” a joyful Blackburn said post-race.
The world of Junior’s Haulage Bone Stock division saw two new drivers in victory lane for the 2024 season, one being Curtis Burnett (No. 24) making first place in his heat race and Joker’s Race team getting their checkered flag during the Exyle Mobile Rags to Riches race. Brothers and teammates Steve and Jeffery Oakes (No. 53) were thrilled to have a victory lane win. In the second heat race, Jordan Owen (No. 68) came first during his heat. Owen returned to victory lane during the 20-lap feature as a second-place winner, with Jack Bird (No. 25) in third.
Claiming for the third time this season, Chris Allard, also known as the No. 76, raced his way into first place, collecting yet another trophy for the shelf. Allard credits his three daughters and his wife, Shannon, along with friends such as Jason, Stephanie Willow King, and Junior for his wins, saying, “They have all changed my life.” Perhaps it is time to change his name from “Mayor of the Infield” to “Mayor of the Track.”
For the St. Onge Superstock division, racers Connor Maltese (No. 23) and Bailey Jacobs (No. 60) claimed checkered flags during their heat races. For the 30-lap feature, Johnny Morrison collected his second feature win for the 2024 season, making this the third feature win of his 11-year career in the Superstock series. In an off-track interview, Morrison said, “Honestly, every win still feels like the first one. Most racers live and breathe this sport. It can ruin you, but it can also be the best thing in the world.”
Morrison looks forward to collecting more checkered flags for himself and his team throughout the 2024 season. He is grateful for his family and team’s support.
“I have so much support in so many ways, from everyone who helps me at the track, to other racers who are there when I need something, and to the fans and people in the stands cheering us on. I can’t be more grateful, and none of this would be possible without the support from everyone.”
In victory lane, his brother, Jordan McGonnigal, is always one of the first ones racing onto the track to congratulate his brother, Morrison said.
“Yes, (Jordan) has been by my side from the start, and I’ve been lucky to have someone like him who I can count on every week. It’s been so much fun chasing wins with him this year.”
Behind Morrison were rookie driver Jacob Booth (No. 26) and Miles Tyson (No. 49).
The LUDUH Hot Rod Division had a double-feature night making up for the mid-race rainout from the Salute to Military Night race. For the first feature race, Rob Bromley (No. 6) came third behind Herb Walters (No. 47) with Amanda Balson taking home the division’s first checkered flag of the night.
Balson says this is the first feature win for the 2024 season and marks her 43-feature win over her 11-season racing career. When asked to describe the feeling of a feature win, Balson said, “There is no better feeling. If you could bottle up that feeling and sell it, you’d be a millionaire.” Balson was joined by her husband, Kelly Balson, in victory lane to celebrate the win. Balson shared, “My husband, Kelly, is the pillar of our team. He holds everything together for all of us. I couldn’t have accomplished half of what I’ve done in my career without him. He’s my biggest supporter and I’m so grateful to have him and all our friends and family in my life.”
For the second Hot Rod feature, the 30-lap feature had Stompin’ Tom Walters (No. 64) score the win followed by Bromley in second and Balson in third. In victory lane, Walters was joined by his family and friends, including his wife, Anne Walters.
“I wasn’t going to race full time this year after winning the championship last year, but this division is so fun, it’s impossible to sit on the sidelines. The talent in the division from top to bottom makes it fun. To race hard and clean, it’s incredible. We don’t have a big crew for the two cars we bring to the track, but these guys never stop working and this win is for them,” said Walters in victory lane.
Wrapping up the evening were the GD Coates Pro Late models. In the Pro Late’s time trial, qualifiers had Gord Shepard (No. 10) in fifth, followed by Jordan Howse (No. 8), in third Kendra, Adams (No. 2), Travis Hallyburton (No. 39) coming in second, and with a time of 14.827 seconds, Dustyn Mombourquette (No. 16) in first. Mombourquette and Hallyburton led the field to green to star the 50-lap feature race, but Mombourquette quickly took the lead. Howse eventually overtook Hallyburton for the second spot and was slowly running down Mombourquette. The pair battled hard for the lead as they navigated lapped traffic with Mombourquette holding the edge until two laps to go. Howse, the multi-time track champion, jumped to the outside lane and at the line would get the nose ahead to score the win.
“I know how hungry Dustyn is for his first Pro Late win and hate to be the one to play spoiler on him, but we have over 200 people here tonight from MacMaster Buick GMC and Brackett Auto Group pulling for us and I drove this car with everything I had to get them to victory lane here tonight. I have been blessed this year with everyone helping me, from Brian MacDonald to Mr. Mace. We have so many good people that make this possible. We are two for two now on the year and this builds a lot of momentum as we head towards the Junior Hanley Classic at the end of July,” Howse said post-race from Ideal Supply Victory Lane.
Coming up this Saturday night, Sunset is joining up with Innisfil Ribfest to bring great food to what is supposed to be a great night of racing. On the card for the evening with a side of ribs will be the combination race with the Great Lakes Legend Series and Ontario Legend Car Series, Struyk Energy Systems Mini Stocks, the CPS Junior Late Model, and as a special treat, it is the $1,000-to-win Junior’s Haulage Bone Stock Invitational race. For intermission the track is hosting the second Kids’ Bike Race of the season. Helmets are mandatory, and entry to the race is free with the purchase of an admission ticket at the front gate. Back gates open at 2:30 p.m. for racers and teams with the front gates opening at 4:30 p.m. and the green flag flies at 6 p.m. All the information on the website, www.sunsetspeedway.ca.
— Written by Danielle McPherson
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