Jim's Journeys, By Jim Clarke - Sunday May 17th Cornwall Motor Speedway

Jim’s Journeys ... By Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications

There was so much I’d hoped to accomplish during what we Canadians have long called the May 2-4 weekend.  Sometimes, looking too far ahead can lead to disappointment.  Saturday’s season opener at Brockville was rained-out – but I didn’t get the word until I’d already travelled three-quarters of the way to Kingston – so all I managed out of that part of the day was an afternoon drive.  Personally, I think the problem comes from being too committed to the ‘May 2-4’ thing.  C’mon, it was only the 16th of the month.  How dare we call it the May 2-4 weekend?

Sunday, May 17th:  Lucas Oil Canadian Dirt Challenge – Cornwall Motor Speedway

A new day, a new forecast and renewed optimism.  All the things you need to plan a great day at the races.  Just after 1:00 Sunday, I set-out for one of my favourite destinations, Cornwall Motor Speedway.  If you’ve never been, you’re missing out on one best motorsports venues there is.  I’ve said it many times before, but with its manicured lawns and well-maintained surroundings, CMS is a joy to visit.  This trek was going to be especially exciting, with the 2009 start to the eastern division Lucas Oil Canadian Dirt Challenge on the agenda.

The early season start meant a solid car count, as 48 teams signed-in to battle the quarter-mile layout at Cornwall.  With rain a day earlier washing-out almost everything everywhere on the DIRTcar circuit, every driver was itching to get out and play in the clay. 6 heats were needed to set the starting field, with just 3 cars advancing from each preliminary event.  Todd Stewart and Danny O’Brien were the only Kingston area drivers to crack the starting line-up and their days couldn’t have been any different.  Stewart needed to get through one of the 3 consolation events to make the grid, while O’Brien got there by winning the 4th heat with a daring inside-out move on the last lap.

My personal sentimental favourite, Dave Heaslip also made the show.  After running a limited schedule in 2008, the veteran racer from Smiths Falls, Ontario got in the big dance but wasn’t around for the checkered flag, finishing 24th.  Heaslip’s car was detailed with a 50th Anniversary tribute decal.  No one is really sure if this means he’s close to retiring.  ‘The Slip’ is a driver I used to watch race at Kingston Speedway.

One of his crew guys I was chatting with said he’d been with him since 1973.  I smiled and told the guy that I was 13 in ’73.  He laughed and walked away, shaking his head.  I went back past the car later on and noticed there was a trophy or something sitting on the roof, next to the driver’s name.  It was a replica of Heaslip, with his trademark glasses halfway down his nose, in a driver’s suit but with a walker.

The 100 lap feature treated the crowd to some excellent racing.  There were few more yellows than I usually care to see, but that may have been due to having so many eyes on the big prize.  2008 Lucas Oil Series eastern division champ David Hebert had an early lead, but was part of an early race caution period.  He’d rebound for a strong finish at the checkered flag, but couldn’t regain his top spot.  Danny O’Brien was the star of the show.  Perhaps his move in the qualifying heat should have told everyone in the crown that there was more to come.  The ‘Pocket Rocket’ took the lead on a re-start and although he’d give it up again while working through lapped traffic, he’d get it back the same way.  The 2008 Brockville Speedway title holder managed to thread the needle through a pack of slower cars on the front stretch and was never challenged again.  Hebert, Mario Clair, Martin Roy and Clement Therrien rounded-out the top 5.

I wasn’t there, but:  O’Brien finished 6th, after starting 22nd Monday night at Merrittville Speedway.  The 50 lap Super DIRTcar Series event was held-over after the first attempt was rained-out April 25th.

Elginburg, Ontario’s Bobby Herrington started 18th and was 12th at the checkered flag.  Kingston’s Pat O’Brien was scheduled to start 8th, but didn’t return after being sidelined with a concussion following a crash in the big block tour show at Pennsylvania’s Big Diamond Raceway.

This weekend:  Friday, May 22nd – Open practise session at Kawartha Speedway.  Saturday, May 23rd – Season opener (2nd attempt) at Brockville Ontario Speedway.

In the distance:  Friday, May 29th – Season opener at Kawartha Speedway.

Photo attachments:  (by Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications)

#1).  Dave Heaslip’s #84 carried a special 50th anniversary tribute decal.  After a lengthy career, many wonder if this will be ‘The Slip’s’ final season.

#2).  Heaslip’s crew has some fun at the driver’s expense.

#3).  Clement Therrien’s sharp #39 clears the scales after pre-race tech inspection.

#4).  Brian McDonald poses with the LaSalle Motorsports #M96.  Later in the night, he flipped on the backstretch and landed on top of the #46 of Kayle Robidoux.