Thursday, August 28, 2008

Flamboro Speedway: Grisdale Triple Crown Finale Report

By Joshua Paxton, Flamboro Speedway

After a rain delay of two weeks the final round of the 2008 Grisdale Triple Crown racing tournament was run this past Sunday at Hamilton’s Flamboro Speedway.  The 50 lap event, presented by the California-based automotive lubricant company Lucas Oil Products, attracted twenty-three competitors from across south western Ontario, including a half-dozen local entrants from the Waterdown/Hamilton area.

The top qualifier for the event was current Flamboro Speedway series leader Paul Howse of Hillsburgh, whose Truck Town sponsored #8 Chevrolet looked dominant once again.  But in the main event Howse became trapped inside the top five traffic, unable to advance beyond third, and eventually lost that position late in the race to the father-son team of the Quaker State #36 Gary Elliott (Waterdown) and Pennzoil #37 David Elliott (Acton).

At the front of the field the defending speedway champion Jason Shaw was untouchable in the Spira Fire Protection-Del Metals #82 Ford, leading the race without contention for the first 45 laps.  However, for the same duration Lynden resident Kenny Forth ran second and stalked the race leader from behind the wheel of his Midnight Sun Tanning Salon #86 Chevrolet.  At lap 47 when an opportunity presented itself Forth quickly pounced.

Picking up speed as the field came to the green flag to restart the race after a caution, Kenny Forth saw a lane open on the inside of Shaw and dove hard into the first corner.  Drag racing out of corner two and down the back straightaway, the two drivers were head to head when they reached corner three.  Forth found the advantage as the two exited the corners and was first to the finish line, but rather than the signal for two laps to go he was greeted by the glowing amber light and a waving yellow flag.

A collision at the back of the field had sent another car spinning off the racing surface, and left him stopped dangerously close to the asphalt.  With the lap incomplete Forth was sent back behind Shaw for another restart.  Fans chattered wildly about the happenstance, and whether or not such lightning could strike a second time.  When the green flag flew Forth was able to mount a second challenge, and once again raced door to door with the defending champion.  This time it was Jason Shaw’s turn to be served with bad luck, as he cut down a tire in the closing lap forcing him to concede the lead to Kenny Forth.

In the winner’s circle Forth credited Shaw’s performance; “I had nothing for him.  He must have had a problem to give us that second shot.  One of my goals this year was to beat Jason Shaw, but I never dreamed it would be for the win.  This is awesome.”

This major event victory was the second of the month for Forth, who only a week previous dominated the Flamboro Speedway Memorial Race.  It was the second consecutive year that Forth will have his name added to the prestigious championship trophy.

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