IPSC: Scotia Speedworld 2000-07-22

(July 22) - "Happy Birthday to me" may have been the sentiment in the drivers seat of the No. 66 Currier Auto Group Monte Carlo driven by Conway, New Hampshire's Andy Shaw as he crossed the finish line in the Copenhagen Inc./Ultramar Corner Stores 150 at Scotia Speedworld. It was Shaw's first career victory in the International Pro Stock Challenge (IPSC) series and worth a whopping $5,600.00 U.S. 4,000 race fans watched the spectacular race and cheered wildly as Shaw spun his race car in circles of delight on the track during his Victory Lap. "I couldn't think of a better birthday present," said an elated Shaw, who turned 23 about two hours after his first win. "The birthday was part of the deal today because we determined which hat to draw for the Motor Mart Dash For Cash because of the numbers. My wife reminded me I was turning 23 and the logic was two plus three equals five so we picked the fifth hat from the inside. It was number one." The hat draw is a fan and driver favourite with the IPSC format as the 10 fastest drivers in the Snap-on Tools Time Trials see their starting spot in the Dash determined by random draw. How they finish the Motor Mart Dash is how the first 10 spots in the feature are determined. Shaw had set a new track record earlier in the day during the Snap-on Tools Time Trials with a lap around the 3/10-mile oval of 13.653 seconds. "The car was fast all day," said Shaw, the current IPSC points leader. "We knew if we could keep some luck with us we'd be in the hunt at the end." In the hunt he was, leading the first 28 circuits before being passed by Maine's Larry Gelinas in the No. 29 Cushman Competition Ford entry. Shaw dropped back as far as fifth by the 1/3-mark of the race. It was a restart just past the halfway point that saw leaders Gelinas and second-place Scott Fraser race hard into turn one, both needing to check up and going high. Shaw took advantage of the hole and squirted into the lead, holding on until the checkers flew. In hot pursuit of Shaw were Fraser, Subenacadie, Nova Scotia and Ben Rowe from Turner, Maine. The three cars were like one, running tight but all respecting the others racing space. "All I can say is it's a real good feeling to win, but especially good to know you beat the best," said Shaw. "Those guys ran me clean." Fraser and Rowe, last year's IPSC champion and runner-up, respectively, agreed. "It was a great race," said Fraser, who heads to Toledo, Ohio for an ASA race next weekend. "Andy deserved the win. He had a fast car all day. We tried to loosen him up at the end, but he held his line." Rowe was all smiles too, and deservedly so after being involved in a lap eight skirmish and having to race from the back of the pack from that point. It was Rowe's best finish on the 2000 IPSC season. "It feels good to finally get the bad luck behind us," said Rowe. "We know we've got a great car and team, but our finished this year have not shown it." Sam Sessions, South Paris, Maine and John Flemming, Halifax, Nova Scotia rounded out the top five. Sessions voluntarily raced from the back of the pack after accepting the Copenhagen Inc./ Ultramar Corner Stores Pole Challenge prior to the race start. Sessions decided to relinquish his fourth-place starting spot on the grid for the opportunity to pick up a $3,000 bonus if he came from the rear of the 23-car field and won the race OR a minimum $100 bonus per position gained on the field. Patience proved to be his virtue as he worked all the way to fourth - worth an $1,800 (Cdn.) bonus for a total payday of approx. $2,200.00 U.S. ($1000 - 4th spot + $1,800 Cdn.=approx. $1200 U.S.). Motor Mart Heat Race winners were Gary Smith, Bangor, Maine and Kenny Wright, Woolwich, Maine. The Copenhagen Inc./Ultramar Corner Stores saw nine caution periods and took one hour, 15 minutes, six seconds to complete. Total laps run were 181 and the lap count was halted on three occasions for extended caution periods. Gelinas picked up the Linco Fisheries Halfway Award before retiring on lap 120 after losing a belt on the engine. Gelinas' car owner, Jay Cushman was the lucky winner of the Pace Race VIP Award draw and accepted a professional Pace Race aluminum jack, valued at over $800.00 NOTES:

* IPSC Officials announced the July 29th event at Autodrome Montmagny in Quebec has been cancelled due to outstanding issues from the June 4th event at the same track. An announcement should come later this week on the location of a replacement event in August.

* August 6 was confirmed as the date for the event rain-postponed July 16th at White Mountain Motorsports Park in North Woodstock, New Hampshire.

* A $500 Kawasaki Bonus was announced for the team that scores the most competition points in the two White Mountain events this season (August 6 and September 3). COPENHAGEN INC./ULTRAMAR CORNER STORES 150 RESULTS:

1. Andy Shaw, 2. Scott Fraser, 3. Ben Rowe, 4. Sam Sessions, 5. John Flemming, 6. Kirk Thibeau, 7. Marty Prevost, 8. Gary Smith, 9. Mike Riley, 10. Kenny Wright, 11. Dave Gorveatt, 12. Vance Hanes, 13. Leo Cochrane, 14. Tom Mayberry, 15. Mike MacKenzie, 16. Russell Smith, 17. Larry Gelinas, 18. Rollie MacDonald, 19. Adam Friend, 20. Dan Eddy, 21. Tim MacKay, 22. Scott Alexander, 23. Steve Henderson SNAP-ON TOOLS TIME TRIALS (TOP 10):

1. Andy Shaw, 2. Ben Rowe, 3. Scott Fraser, 4. Larry Gelinas, 5. Dan Eddy, 6. Sam Sessions, 7. John Flemming, 8. Scott Alexander, 9. Mike MacKenzie, 10. Steve Henderson UNOFFICIAL DRIVER POINT STANDINGS (TOP 10 - after 7/22 event):

1. Andy Shaw 1145, 2. Kenny Wright 1087, 3. Ben Rowe 1073, 4. Kirk Thibeau 1069, 5. Sam Sessions 1066, 6. John Flemming 1065, 7. Mike MacKenzie 1057, 8. Larry Gelinas 1055, 9. Mike Riley 1048, 10. Gary Smith 1038 (10 of 43 teams shown).

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