An After-Nuhn Delight at Varney Motor Speedway

For the first time in three weeks at Varney Motor Speedway, there was one thing fans and drivers did not have to worry about...rain. Clouds, thunderstorms, pop-ups and darkened skies have threatened to cancel racing over the last few Saturday nights but, this past weekend saw nothing but blue in the skies as regular racing took over the highbanks highlighted by one series sweep, a near miss in another and, a late season first for a driver who often comes close but, no cigar.

Varney Motor Speedway's 3rd Annual Fall Classic is fast approaching and that means late season visits by drivers and cars from other tracks. Trying to gain some valuable practice time at the speedway, these cars also help bolster car counts and, more importantly, provide the fans with some exciting action on the track. The Late Model feature race was no exception as #09 Kent Nuhn of Williamsford and 2008 Varney Late Model Champion #96 Monty Kelly of Mitchell led a full field of cars to the green flag from the front row. Kelly would take the early lead down the backstretch but, Nuhn would claw back in the turns and regain the lead. Nuhn would start to pull away from the field as Kelly soon had his hands full with the #12 of Justin McLellan form Mt. Forest. The two drivers raced side by side for several laps and, just before the midway point of the race, McLellan would clear Kelly and take over the second spot. Nuhn was enjoying nearly a full straightaway lead as McLellan tried to reel him in. A little further back, Kelly would race door-to-door with #66 Cole Weber of Mt. Forest for about a dozen laps.

Neither one giving the other an inch. Weber; winner of a heat race earlier in the night; was impressive his first night out this season. Upfront, McLellan was closing in on the race leader and as the white flag flew, he was on the back bumper of Nuhn as the two would tear up the track for the final lap. McLellan tried a move to the inside off of turn two and then again going into turn three but, Kent Nuhn would hold off the hard charging late Model driver to pick up his first feature race win of the season. McLellan came across the line second with Kelly, Weber and #81 Chris van Dusen of Guelph rounding out the top five. Heat races were won earlier in the night by Weber and Nuhn.

The Stock 4 feature race saw #55 Dave Gray Jr. of Hanover on the pole with #75 Scott Mast of Cambridge on the outside. Mast would waste no time taking the lead heading into turn one and then building up a huge lead as many of the other faster cars in the field started back in the pack and had to work through traffic. While Mast was busy checking out on the field, #86 Nick Clarke of Mt. Forest and #35 Tim Tolton of Guelph were in a heated battle for the second position. This allowed Mast to pull away even further with each passing lap.

With half the race down, Mast appeared to be assured the win and then, disaster struck. Coming off the fourth turn, something would let go in the motor of Mast's car and, after dominating the first half of the race, the leader would wave the field by and pull into the pits. Clarke would inherit the lead with Tolton in pursuit but, as the laps wound down, Tolton would begin to experience motor problems of his own. After coming up through the field, Stock 4 points leader #51 Clark Hartman of Waterloo passed Tolton for second and would try to barrel down on the race leader. In fact, Hartman would make it close but, Clarke hung on for the win. Hartman was second with #9 Dennis Cremasco of Arthur, #7 Charles Embro of Hanover and Tolton rounding out the top five. While that was the order in which the top five crossed the line, the finish was under protest and, as of press time, a decision on the outcome had yet to be determined. Heat races were won earlier in the night by Mast; who with two heat race wins just missed sweeping the night; Hartman and #88 Jason Tolton of Guelph.

Winning both of his heat races, #76 Shawn Arnott of New Hamburg was looking for a sweep on the night as he took the green flag from outside the front row. The pole position was held by point’s leader #85 Matt Clarke of Mt. Forest but, Arnott saw the green flag and didn't look back until he saw the checkers. Making his second return to Varney this season, former regular #56 Bobby Zee of Goderich finished second. After falling back to fourth, Clarke dug deep and on the final lap, squeezed past #54 Trevor Witzkie of Desboro to take back the third spot.

After some fireworks in the heat races, the Street Stock feature had all the makings of barn burner but, cooler heads prevailed as #06 Bill Keill of Chatsworth and #99 Jamie Hunt of Hanover brought them to the green from the front row. Hunt charged out front to the lead and #19 Brian Wilson of Rockwood would squeeze by Keill and into second. While Hunt stayed upfront, #93 Bill Cole of Hanover challenged Wilson for second and would eventually gain the position. The lead Hunt had built up could not be overcome in the laps allotted and, Hunt would secure the win with Cole second and Wilson third. Pole sitter Keill raced to fourth holding off #38 Al Kusick of Durham who finished fifth. Heat races went to Hunt and Wilson.

The Train Wreck and The Pain Train started on the front row of the Trains feature race which saw constant contact in the turns and several attempts at three; and sometimes four-wide; passing in the turns. When the dust settled, The Markdale Salvage Curshers were parked in victory lane after one of the most thrilling Train events of the year that did not contain a rollover! The heat race was won by The Redneck Special.

Racing continues through the month of September and it kicks off this long weekend with a double header of action. All Varney Motor Speedway's regular racing divisions will see action over the weekend as the Annual Super Dave Gray Memorial Invitational for the Street Stocks highlights the card. The green flag drops at 7:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Also, don't miss your chance to meet your favourite drivers on the track as the Saturday Intermission will feature an on-track autograph session. There is still plenty of excitement to come this season at Varney Motor Speedway and you can visit www.varneymotorspeedway.com to find out more information on the final five nights of racing for 2010.


Race results For Saturday August 28, 2010

Stock 4
1. #86 Nick Clarke - Mt. Forest
2. #51 Clark Hartman - Waterloo
3. #9 Dennis Cremasco - Arthur
4. #7 Charles Embro - Hanover
5. #35 Tim Tolton - Guelph
Heat races won by #75 Scott Mast X2, Hartman, #88 Jason Tolton
**This race is under review and these results are not official**

Street Stock
1. #99 Jamie Hunt - Hanover
2. #93 Bill Cole - Hanover
3. #19 Brian Wilson - Rockwood
4. #06 Bill Keill - Chatsworth
5. #38 Al Kusick – Durham
Heat races won by Hunt and Wilson

Super Street Stock
1. #76 Shawn Arnott - New Hamburg
2. #56 Bobby Zee - Goderich
3. #85 Matt Clarke - Mt. Forest
4. #54 Trevor Witzkie - Desboro
5.
Heat races won by Arnott X2

Late Model
1. #09 Kent Nuhn - Williamsford
2. #12 Justin McLellan - Mt. Forest
3. #96 Monty Kelly - Mitchell
4. #66 Cole Weber - Mt. Forest
5. #81 Chris Van Dusen - Guelph
Heat races won by Weber and Nuhn

Release Prepared by Jody Buschlen - Track Announcer/Varney Motor Speedway