Recap & Gallery, Mini Stock & Demo Derby – Cape Breton Speedway, Oct. 23

story and photos by Ken MacIsaac

Veteran Maritime motorsports photographer Ken MacIsaac was at Cape Breton Miners Memorial Speedway (CBMMS) in Sydney (NS) last Sunday for the season finale. Several divisions had feature wins and championships on the line. Ken’s recap and photo gallery for the mini stock division follows…

The final race of 2016 was held on October 23rd at the Cape Breton Miner’s Memorial Speedway with champions decided in all three classes. While Shawn Waterfield and Mike MacLeod would win their respective class championships, the Ramsay’s Honda Sales Mini Stock division was up next with 19 cars competing for the win. Kody Quinn, Josh

Kody Quinn, Josh Benac and Lynden MacDougall were the top three heading into Sunday’s final card. Heat #1 would see Ken Ley’s VW Beetle on the pole with Ryan Price to his outside. MacDougall and Quinn would make up row two. David Ley in another Beetle started fifth with veteran Jerome Tracey in sixth. AJ Ford and PEI’s Cody Byrne make up row four, while Brian Axworthy and Allister Russell rounded out the starting lineup.

Quinn would jump out front, while MacDougall worked the inside to take second from Price. AJ Ford worked his way up to fourth and began to pressure Price for the pot. Jerome Tracey looped his 33 to bring out the first caution. Quinn and MacDougall would start side by side on the restart, with Ford and Cody Byrne in row two. Quinn would regain the lead and cruise to victory despite heavy pressure from MacDougall in second. A great battle for third had AJ Ford holding off Byrne who finished fourth. Brian Axworthy had a great heat finishing fifth.

Heat #2 would have Rhonda MacInnis on the pole with Brandon MacMillan to her outside. Title contender Josh Benac would start third while Dartmouth’s Drew MacEachern lined up in fourth.Dyllan Farrell and rookie Blake Cousins rounded out row three. Veteran Bob Landry and Rookie Of The Year JT Turnbull were in row four, while Adam Vassallo started in row five. MacMillan took off to an early lead, with MacEachern in pursuit. Dyllan Farrell got by Rhonda MacInnis for third while the field pressured MacInnis for fourth. MacEachern would get by Brandon’s #42 late in the heat, with Benac pressuring in third. Drew held on for the win over Benac in the #3 car and MacMillan’s #42. Dyllan Farrell finished a strong fourth over Bob Landry in fifth.

Next up was the main event, the Ramsay’s Honda Sales 100 lap feature. 19 cars were scheduled to take the green, but title contender Lynden MacDougall failed to start the main.

“I was still in tech with my Sportsman when they were lining up the minis,” said NacDougall. “By the time I finished there, and strapped into the mini, apparently I was too late to start where I qualified. They told me I had to go to the rear. I decided to park it instead. I knew I had no chance of catching Kody for the title, and I knew Craig Mackay (car owner) had a sale for the car. So I figured ‘why wreck it.”

Drew MacEachern would lead the field to green with Benac, Ford, and MacMillan the top four. Drew would race Benac’s #3 car hard for the lead before Josh would take the lead. AJ Ford moved into second and would lead but couldn’t gain ground on Benac. David Ley’s VW Beetle would go up in smoke a few laps later, but would not warrant a caution.

Meanwhile, Kody Quinn was working his way up from mid-field. Benac continued to lead over Ford. A few laps later, Ken Ley’s Beetle would also exit the race in a plume of smoke. Also no caution. Great battles throughout the field between Dyllan Farrell and Bob Landry as well as Drew MacEachern and Quinn. Benac continued to lead with a fast charging Quinn taking second from Ford. Ford would retake second and a great battle continued with the top three maneuvering through lapped traffic for several laps. Quinn would eventually make an inside pass on Ford for second. PEI’s Cody Byrne, running inside the top 10, would make contact with Dyllan Farrell on the backstretch and spin to the wet infield. No caution. Quinn would work down Benac, and take the lead a few laps later.

“I’m pretty sure my right front brake caliper seized up solid,” said Benac. “First I thought I had a flat tire, but didn’t see a black flag for me. I was going to head to the pits but luckily it released.”

Just after Quinn took the lead from Benac, Adam Vassallo’s engine exploded bringing out the first caution of the race. The restart had Quinn, Benac, Ford, Farrell and Cody Byrne lead the field. Benac would nose ahead of Quinn and win the feature by a car length. “Luckily the brake problem I had cleared up and I was able to redeem the lead on that last restart.”

AJ Ford had his best finish in a mini in placing third.

“The car was working alright, but it wasn’t as good as it could have been,” said Ford. “I was hoping to get a good run on them after the caution, but the car went away. Congrats to Josh and Kody on a great race, and I’m hoping for an even better run next year.”

Drew MacEachern finished a strong fourth with Dyllan Farrell finishing fifth. Kody Quinn would win his very first points championship.

“It was tough to determine how many laps were left with the board not working,” said Quinn. “On the restart, they told us 10 to go and we ran two laps. Then they told us five to go. It must have been a mix-up in the tower. But I then gained on Josh and got to his door with one to go. I couldn’t get traction coming off (turn) four and he got me by a fender. Josh is probably one of the cleanest and respectful drivers to race with. He’s also one of the main reasons my car was built. He was there with me from day one and I have a lot of respect for him. It’s my first championship and it feels amazing. I’ve lost some friends winning races, but that’s the price you gotta pay when you’re at the front.”

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