Date Posted:  June 21, 2010

Dark Knight Bright Light

After two runs of tough hitting hard luck that have twice sent the #03 team home with a week's worth of repairs, the low-average handicap put Maginnis on the pole for the start of the 30 lap main event.

Not since the opening round of the 2009 Grisdale Triple Crown tournament has the Budd's BMW #03 driver seen the checkered flag waved over his head, and with open asphalt in his windshield Maginnis was not about to miss this opportunity.  When the green flag dropped he left outside pole sitter #49 Mark Burbridge behind, flying forward with the Ed Stewart's Equipment #56 of Jeff Stewart on his bumper.

In the middle of the 15 car pack started another troubled driver, the Truck Town #8 Paul Howse.  The defending division champion has shared Maginnis' jinx to start the season and is yet to score a top finish.  With another main event on the schedule this night Howse wanted to make sure his Richie Bros. Auctioneers #8 would still be in game shape after the 30 lap competition, and so he calmed his actions while still making moves towards the front.  Howse was smooth through traffic and very composed in his quest for the lead.  It wasn't the desperate to win driver we've seen start in the past couple weeks.  This was the calm and confident champion who dominated a season ago, and he was back in championship form as he ran to second finally catching the leader Shane Maginnis.

Behind Howse, Jason Shaw met up with new nemesis Shawn Chenoweth in a battle for fourth, behind the #29 Mike Bentley who sat comfortably in third between two heated fights for position.  This week was Shaw's turn to be in front, and much the way we saw #82 chase but not pass Chenoweth a week ago, the Automotive Truck & Tire #89 could keep pace but not out pace the Del Metals Ford.

Across the line with flash and cheers, lighting up the grandstand to the start the night, Shane Maginnis made his way down to victory lane with checkered flag in hand.  Paul Howse was held to a celebrated second place finish, followed by Bentley, Shaw and Chenoweth to complete the top five.

In the winner's circle Shane couldn't say enough about the help of his father Terry and the support of the Budd's companies for the #03 Team racing program.  To make the trip to victory lane even more special Shane wished a very Happy Birthday to his young daughter who was present in the grandstand that night cheering on her Dad on Father's Day weekend.  And finally, when asked what his goals were in the night's second main event where he would now start no closer to the front than 12th, Maginnis simply said, "The competition's tough.  We just want to bring it home in one piece."

Grisdale Late Model racing continues every Saturday night at Hamilton's asphalt arena, Flamboro Speedway!

The next round of the Grisdale Triple Crown tournament is Saturday, July 3rd.  See schedule for details.