Thomson Ends Drought at High Line

The race would start off with Barrie's #9 Mark Dilley jumping to the point, after getting the jump on pole sitter #95 Anthony Simone of Holland Landing. An early caution would fall on just the second lap as #55 Dexter Stacey spun exiting corner 4, after a suspected broken trailing arm that would eventually send the rookie pitside. Dilley, and Simone would resume their battle on the restart, running the next 10 laps side by side, with neither gaining a clear cut advantage. The battle behind the lead pair was hot and heavy as #22 Scott Steckly duked it out with #02 Kerry Micks and #60 Ron Beauchamp Jr. Also on the move early was the ominus black Home Hardware Chevy of Thomson, who had progressed to 6th place after starting 9th in the ultra competitive 20 car field.

Dilley was setting a torrid pace at the front of the field with laps just a shade over the 14 second mark, as Micks would relieve Simone of 2nd with a nice inside pass. The first eventful occurance took place on lap 30, as Micks would bump Dilley from the lead racing out of corner 4, with Dilley evening the score racing out of turn 2 on the very next lap, as Micks would spin as a result of the contact with his long time competitor. Both drivers would be assessed stop and go black flag penalties and be forced to start from the rear of the field when the green appeared as the lead was turned over to the 95 of Simone.

Thomson Jr., was beginning to stake his claim to being the dominant car by lap 74, as he would work his way past the impressive Simone, with Beauchamp Jr., and series point leader #27 Andrew Ranger having to fend off the challenge of #3 Jason Hathaway who had now entered the top 5. Also putting on a charge to the front was another local boy in the form of #12 John Gaunt, who found himself running 6th from his 14th place starting position. Just past lap 80 Beauchamp would make a move past Simone between turns 1&2 to move to the runner up post. Beauchamp's run at the front would be short lived as he made contact with #21 Jason White relinquishing 2nd place to the Tide/Walmart Ford Fusion of Ranger.

With the field approaching lap 100, Thomson was firmly in control holding a full straightaway lead over Ranger, as Simone held down 3rd place. The best battle at this point was the race for 4th, as #19 Brad Graham would slip past Hathaway, with Micks and Dilley next to go a lap down to the ever stout Thomson Jr. ride. Graham, would make his way past Simone for 3rd, as the pole sitter would then lose a couple more positions in the process while hung out to dry on the high side of the track. Simone, would then suffer some more misfortune, as contact was made with Beauchamp Jr. in turns 1&2, with Simone ending up facing the wrong way on the track to bring out the caution. It was at this point in the race most of the leaders elected to pit, with 11 cars now remaining on the lead lap. After the round of pit stops Thomson Jr, still held the lead, with Graham, Steckly, Micks, and Gaunt comprising the remainder of the fast five.

Just shy of the midway point, it was Steckly who was making a charge towards leader Thomson Jr. as the #22 Tow Truck in a Box/Canadian Tire Dodge would make his way inside of Graham, leading the way for Micks to follow. Graham, would quickly find himself in the clutches of the 2004 Barrie late model champion Gaunt, as the latter would execute a bump and run move between 1&2 to take over 4th spot. By this point Steckly was really pressing Thomson for the lead, pulling right to his bumper on several occasions but unable to make his way around. The next caution would fall on lap 159, as Gaunt would run up on Micks while racing for 3rd, sending him around between 3&4. The only car in the lead group that had not pitted was leader Thomson Jr. who elected to come in during this turn of events to get some much needed fresh rubber. By lap 180, the top 5 was now again totally reshuffled as Hathaway was now in control at the front of the field, with Steckly, Graham. Simone, and Gaunt rounding out the lead group. Hathaway would open up a 2 car length advantage over Steckly, as Thomson was now back at the front of the field and hounding Graham for 3rd approaching lap 185. Steckly would eventually find the point, executing an inside pass racing into turn 3, relegating Hathaway to 2nd and right in the direct line of fire of Thomson Jr. who had now taken over 3rd from Graham.

Over the next several laps the field would become incredibly strung out, as not many tight battles were taking place on the racetrack, when the unthinkable happened with just 18 laps remaining. The duo of Simone and Beauchamp would get tangled up in turn 2, with Simone's Monte Carlo coming to a halt at the enterance to pit road just as leader Steckly was fast approaching. Steckly, would make light contact with Simone and was thus deemed an involved car and be shuffled to the tail end of the lead lap cars, once again putting Thomson Jr. out front. In the closing laps, Thomson Jr. was coming under heavy fire from a suprising source in the form of the 9 of Dilley who managed to stay on the lead lap all the while after the earlier misfortune with Micks. When a late restart was brought about with 8 laps remaining, Dilley would charge into the lead from the outer groove leaving Thomson momentarily in his dust. With 5 laps to go Thomson Jr. would take the lead for the final time, executing a brilliant bump and run move on Dilley racing out of corner 4 as Dilley stayed welded to his bumper after a remarkable save. On the very last lap, Thomson would push high out of turn 2, as Dilley stuck a nose to the inside looking to complete a pass. As the duo raced into turn 3, Dilley elected to settle into 2nd place, not really pushing the issue with a hard charging Steckly approaching. Thomson Jr. would notch the win by a single car length at the finish, with Dilley coming a respectable 2nd at his former hometrack, while Steckly would round out the podium finishers. #19 Brad Graham and #3 Jason Hathaway would both record season best finishes, coming home 4th and 5th respectively.

In other action, a first time feature winner was crowned in the OLG Slots at Georgian Downs Thunder Car Division as #22 Jason Elliott put on a masterful performance in holding off 2007 track champ #44 Dave Doucette in a caution free affair. #40 Donny Brandon would have a season best 3rd place finish, as #14 Thayne Hallyburton and #00 Darryl St. Onge would round out the top 5. Heat wins went to Doucette and #24 Leonard Johnston.

In the 20 lap Barrie Mitsubishi Pure Stock main, it was #91 Kyle Lethbridge taking his 3rd feature win of the season and second in as many weeks. #37 Robbie Sikes would finish a strong 2nd, after a great late race duel with the 16 of Bryan Penny who finished 3rd, while #90 Jim MacDonald and #98 Brent Stieler would round out the fast five. Heat wins went to Lethbridge and #2 Ben Melenhorst.