HALIFAX, NS – Cole Butcher did everything he could to defend his 2016 Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour title at Scotia Speedworld on Saturday night in the Dartmouth Dodge 200 but came up one point short to Shawn Turple, the 2017 series champion. Cole Butcher wins the Dartmouth Dodge 200 (photo by Ken MacIsaac) Entering the event the championship was Turple’s to lose with a 41-point lead over Butcher (Porter’s Lake). On lap 30 Turple (Elmsdale) got caught up in a wreck that saw his team thrash to make repairs but they went down 15 laps in the process. Meanwhile, Butcher was dominating the race. At the halfway point Turple was 20th but needed a finish of 16th or better to clinch the title, regardless of what Butcher did. Turple would need attrition by other cars to move him up in the running order. With 25 to go Turple was 18th and it was looking like Butcher, still leading, could win and his second championship. Then an absolutely bizarre wreck happened…Donald Chisholm (Antigonish) lost power on the backstretch and eventually stopped at the entrance to turn three – the caution came out – and seconds later Cy Harvey (Enfield) plowed into the rear of the Chisholm car at full speed as if he hadn’t even seen the car. Those were the two spots Turple needed and they came with only 10 laps left for him to make them up. Shawn Turple and No. 0 team celebrate the 2017 championship (photo by Ken MacIsaac) As Turple completed the final circuits to clinch his third series title, Butcher continued his dominating performance to win the race, leading 195 of 200 laps in the process. Jarrett Butcher (Cole’s younger brother) crossed the stripe second after a last-lap altercation with Darren MacKinnon (Charlottetown, PE); officials penalized Jarrett in what was his best pro stock run of the year and he wound up 12th – but enough to clinch the PST Exide Batteries Rookie of the Year title. Greg Proude (Springvale, PE) was scored second and Russell Smith Jr. (Lakeside) third in his substitute role for Daryl Mahar who is suffering from broken ribs. Dylan Gosbee (Cornwall, PE) and Robbie MacEwen (Sherwood, PE) were fourth and fifth respectively. Cole Butcher won the Linde Most Laps Award, Gosbee was the Exide Batteries Rookie of the Race, Smith Jr. the King Freight Lines Future Winner Award Twenty-three cars entered the Dartmouth Dodge 200. The starting lineup was set by Atlantic Tiltload Heat races which were won by Cole Butcher, Turple, and Chisholm. Waylon Farrell celebrates a win an the championship (photo by Ken MacIsaac) Waylon Farrell accepts the hardware (photo by Ken MacIsaac) The Maritime League of Legends kicked off the day’s festivities with a 50 lap feature presented by R&D Performancecentre. Waylon Farrell (Conception Bay South, NL) came home first followed by Shelby Baker (Fall River) and Paul Goulden (Shelburne). Farrell takes home his second consecutive Maritime League of Legends Championship. Turple will officially receive his championship spoils at the 2017 Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour Year End Awards Banquet on November 4 at the Delta Prince Edward in Charlottetown, PE. About Dartmouth Dodge: Dartmouth Dodge is truly “WHERE NOVA SCOTIA COMES TO SAVE” on both new and pre-owned vehicles. Conveniently located in central Dartmouth, this modern facility features metro’s only drive-thru quick lube, full service collision center, 18 service bays and 5 detail/accessory bays. Recently named Atlantic Canada’s #1 fleet dealer, Dartmouth Dodge is ready to meet all of your automotive needs, personal or commercial. Visit www.ddodge.com or call 1 800 414 0213. About the Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour: The Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour (PST) is considered the highest level of stock car racing in Canada. The Tour is recognized in the industry as one of the healthiest stock car racing series in North America. PST visits five tracks throughout the Maritimes during its May through September season. The Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour is owned and operated by Maritime Pro Stock Tour Limited. For more information, call our administration office at 902.481.2531 or click www.maritimeprostocktour.com. You can also follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/prostocktour and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/prostocktour. About Scotia Speedworld: Scotia Speedworld (SSW) is a 3/10-mile asphalt oval racing facility. SSW is the only track in Nova Scotia to host a weekly racing series, which runs May through September and features six different classes of racecars. SSW also hosts special events, including Monster Jam and the Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour. SSW is located at Exit 6 on Highway 102, across from the Halifax Stanfield International Airport. For more information please click on www.ScotiaSpeedworld.ca or call our Event Hotline at (902) 873-2277 or our office at (902) 481-2514. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sswracing and follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/sswracing.
