Street Stock Recap & Gallery – 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) this past Sunday for the season finale. Several divisions had feature wins and championships on the line. Ken’s recap and photo gallery for the street stock division follows…

The Cape Breton Miner’s Memorial Speedway hosted the final points race for the Saf-Way Auto Parts Street Stock division. 2014 points champion Mike MacLeod was looking for his second crown while the sophomore driver and former mini stock competitor Brennan MacInnis was looking for his first championship. Heat one had MacInnis on the pole with Jamie Vassallo to his outside. The #26 car quickly jumped to the lead and cruised to victory. Meanwhile, veteran Glen Cooke passed Vassallo for second, and PEI’s Jeff MacInnis moved into third spot at the finish. Heat two had Mike MacLeod on the pole with Rookie Of The Year Jason Russell to his outside. The #17 car quickly took off from the pack and easily took the checkers in the heat. Riverview, New Brunswick’s Craig Ward had a strong showing for his first time at the track in placing second.

The Saf-Way Auto Parts 35 lap feature was up next. MacLeod and Cooke battled for the lead in the first few laps before the #17 car lengthened his lead. MacInnis, who started the feature deep in the field, began picking off cars, and gained several spots in the first few laps. However, the 26 made contact with Colton Beaver in turn three resulting in a spin for MacInnis and a caution. “I just came down on Colton. My fault. I didn’t see him at all” said MacInnis.

“I just came down on Colton. My fault. I didn’t see him at all” said MacInnis.

The restart had MacLeod still on the point, with Glenn Cooke in second, Craig Ward in third, and Jeff MacInnis in fourth. MacLeod took off in front, while Cooke and Ward had a great battle for several laps in second and third. Meanwhile Brennan MacInnis was working his way back up through the pack. About halfway, the #26 caught Ward in third. While Mike MacLeod had a comfortable lead, Cooke, Ward and Brennan MacInnis ran nose to tail for several laps. Ward had passed Cooke for second, while Macinnis worked the inside to pass Cooke as well. A few laps later, MacInnis made his move on the low side passing Ward for second. With the laps dwindling down, MacLeod easily coasted to victory, while MacInnis made a great comeback to finish second. Visiting Craig Ward had an impressive third place finish, while Glenn Cooke held off PEI’s Jeff MacInnis in finishing fourth and fifth respectively.

In winning the feature, MacLeod also clinched the points championship.

“It was a great year for the 17 car. We entered 12 races in two provinces, and managed nine wins and three second-place finishes,” said MacLeod. “Just an incredible year. It’s our second championship in three years. Car owner Stephen Head with help from Jerry Hayes made the car flawless. This is my 21st year of racing. It’s hard to believe.”

Brennan MacInnis also had a great sophomore year in finishing second in the feature and the points standing.

“I had a great season this year,” said MacInnis. “It’s actually my first full season running a street stock. I accomplished everything I set out to do this year, but was only 16 points short of the championship.”

Craig Ward made the best of his first trip to CBMMS. “This place reminds me of the track I cut my teeth on, Riverglade Speedway.

“This place reminds me of the track I cut my teeth on, Riverglade Speedway,” said Ward. “It’s a great little track. I love it, and I’ll be back.”

Another visiting competitor had high praise for the track and competitors. Jeff MacInnis of PEI initially came to CBMMS in the fall of 2014. He managed to get a few laps of practice in before weather cancelled the program that day.

“I fell in love with the track that day,” said MacInnis. “It reminded me of a little Bristol, small, fast and a ton of fun. The car was smoking a lot in the feature and it turned out to be a cracked tail shaft on the transmission. In my heat, it was real tight in three and four, but we made adjustments for the feature and it got better. It started to get loose near the end, but I had a great battle with the 08. Glad for Mike in winning the championship. Known him for a few years. Awesome guy, great driver. Just met Brennan today. Another great driver and a hell of a car. I have to say this race is for the late Rob MacGillivray. He offered to pay my way over last year, and I had never met the man. Once I found out he passed, I vowed to make it back here to race, in his memory.”

Mini Stock recap and photos coming soon.

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