Race Recap | CARQUEST 100 at Scotia Speedworld
John Flemming (right) finished second in the CARQUEST 100 at Scotia Speedworld. Shawn Tucker (middle) won the race and Wayne Smith (left) was third. These three drivers have won eight of 10 Maritime Pro Stock Tour titles... (photo - Ken MacIsaac)
John Flemming started his campaign for the 2011 Maritime Pro Stock Tour title with a bang. After posting the third fastest lap in time trials he drew number two in the hat redraw to start the Dash on the pole. Leading all 10 laps he won the Dash to earn the pole position for the feature race.
Flemming's No. 97 started the feature from the pole position. (photo by Ken MacIsaac)
When the green flag dropped for the 100-lap feature Flemming jumped his No. 97 to the point and stretched his lead over second-place Darren MacKinnon. Several restarts saw Flemming hold the point until late in the race when fellow three-time series champion Shawn Tucker got by MacKinnon to challenge the No. 97, which had developed brake problems. Tucker took the point on lap 81 of 100 and held the lead until the checkered flag flew.
Flemming finished second, disappointed on one hand and elated on the other.
"I can't believe we led all those laps and didn't win," said Flemming. "We were so close but the cautions at the end of the race hurt us. Even though we lost it's good to know all the changes we made over the winter are working. I'm more eager than ever to get to our next race at Petty Int'l Raceway."