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Date Posted: April 4, 2011 |
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Mikey Likes It! |
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JP Post It's been 15 years since Mike Poulton last hoisted a championship trophy at Flamboro Speedway, but the three-time past champion is ready to make his return this Friday July 1st for the Canada Day Race of Champions. Another exciting and aggressive driver from Flamboro's great racing history, Poulton can be most remembered for his great battles in the 90's racing in the Challenger division - a near equivalent class to today's Freedom Village Thunder Cars. "We had a lot of fun in those days. A lot of great memories of some fierce rivalries with Derek Mellanbacher and the Racers Edge teams, Derek Lemeyre, and of course Harry Topp." Poulton was a rough racer who made a fan favourite reputation by creating holes for racing where few drivers would dare to tread. His most famous move was the Poulton Slide, where his #53 would run to the outside corner heading into a turn and then slide across the opponents rear bumper on exit, loosening the leader up for a pass heading onto the straightaway. He was crowned division champion first in 1990 and then again back-to-back in 1995 and 1996.
Poulton joins a growing list of invited past champions and grassroots heroes invited to compete in the Canada Day Race of Champions for a chance to start in the final main event, where the qualified local drivers will be joined by three NASCAR legends: Jimmy Spencer, Ken Schrader and two-time Daytona 500 winner Sterling Marlin. "It's a chance of lifetime and I'm thrilled to be included. We're looking forward to coming back and hope we can make that final showdown." Cheers, JP |
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After
moving north late in that decade Poulton has rarely found time to
visit Flamboro Speedway in Hamilton, returning on occasion for the
Oktoberfest Classic or late season Frost Fest. He has stayed
sharp playing in Thunder Car fields at Mosport and Kawartha
Speedways, as well as taking on competition in the bullrings of
Peterborough and Ottawa Speedways. "I don't really race for
points anymore. We're having more fun picking a track to visit
when we can and dropping in to mix it up." The #53 has visited
victory lane at each of these speedways a number of times, and won
another division title at Mosport in 2000, proving
the past champion still knows how to find the checkered flag.