(Shediac, N.B.)  — Stephen Halpin (#03), the 20-year old rookie Sportsman driver from Saint John, captured his first ever Maritime Super Series for Sportsman race of his career crossing the finish line first in the Cavendish Farms 100 Sunday afternoon at the Centre for Speed (CFS), Atlantic Canada’s Super Speedway and “Metro Moncton’s Playground of Power”.

Halpin, who started seventh on the 18-car grid, quickly moved up to the lead pack behind pole-sitter Ron Lane (#46) of Prosser Brook and passed Lane on the inside on lap #47, just before the competition yellow flag flew on lap #50. On the ensuing restart, the rookie kept his cool and fended off challenges from Lane over the final stretch to capture the historic win ahead of veterans Lane, the
defending RGS Sportsman champ, and Dan Bourque (#15) of Grande-Digue.

Lane earned the pole position for the 100-lap feature thanks to a win in the first 10-lap heat. e Marcel Maillet (#25) of St. Antoine, who started the main event on the outside pole, also enjoyed a good afternoon with his first checkered flags in over three years in both the 5-lap Dash and the second 10-lap heat. Mark Price (#54) of Saint John also recorded his first win of 2009 at CFS crossing the stripe first in the 25-lap semi-final.

The Maritime Super Series for Sportsman points standings now find defending series champion, Claude Gaudet (#22) of Grand Barachois in the lead (60 points), six points up on the rookie Halpin (54 points) and eight points up on Maillet (52 points). Then we find a four-way tie for forth at 51 points between Marc Gautreau (#99), Ken MacKenzie (#85), Bert Cormier (#3) and Dan Borque (#15). The next Super Series event will be held on August 15th as part of the CARQUEST Maritime Pro Stock Series Lucas Oil 100 weekend.

In Streetstock action, Shawn Waterfield (#23) of Sydney made the long drive up from Cape Breton worthwhile as he picked up the checkered flag in the 50-lap Invitational feature for his first career win at CFS. He accomplished the feat thanks to a timely and daring through-the-middle pass in heavy lap traffic on lap #35 to take the lead from veteran Saint John driver, Rick Cashol (#54). Cashol, who had himself taken the lead from feature pole sitter Doug MacEwen (#40) of Charlottetown on lap #28, had to settle for third in the feature behind past CFS champ, Remi Gaudet (#75) of Grand Barachois who was making his 2009 season debut. Gaudet took consolation in his 10-lap semi win while Waterfield also picked up the win in the 10-lap heat.

In Mini Stock action, Daniel Gautreau (#20) of Shediac recorded his first three wins of the 2009 season capturing wins in the 10-lap heat, semi-final and 35-lap feature to complete the grand slam. Gautreau crossed the stripe in the feature ahead of his cousin and defending CFS champion, Pierre Gautreau (#99) of Shediac with Mike MacDougal (#23) of Riverview picking up third – the
exact same result as in the 10-lap heat.

In the Four Fun division, there were three different winners. SSW regular, Tim Tanner (#89) of Beaverbank, N.S., picked up his first career win at CFS crossing the stripe in a photo-finish in the 35-lap feature just a few centimeters ahead of Eldon Campbell (#17) of Moncton while fellow SSW regular, Kyle Gammon (#98) of Middle Sackville, N.S. was third. Campbell took some consolation from his earlier win in the 10-lap semi while points leader, Mike Weagle (#60) of Petitcodiac took home first place hardware in the heat.

Next Sunday, August 9th at 2:00 p.m., the Centre for Speed will host the Covered Bridge Potato Chips Fan Appreciation Day with regular Southeast Challenge Series points racing in Sportsman and Streetstock divisions as well as the Little Guys 100, which is the longest race in the Maritimes for 4-cylinder race cars.

Full schedule details are available at www.centreforspeed.com

TRAVEL NOTE: Due to bridge
construction on Route #133, all CFS traffic must use Exit #43 (Grand Barachois) off Highway #15 until further notice. From this exit, traffic must turn left onto Route #133, at Gaudet Supermarket, and travel 2 km to the CENTRE.

About CFS

The CENTRE for Speed, built in 1996, is home to the Atlantic region’s largest and
fastest paved 3/8 of a mile stock car oval as its centerpiece. The CENTRE overlooks the Northumberland Strait and is located 5 kilometers east of Shediac’s Parlee Beach on Route #133 in the village of Grand Barachois.