PORT COLBORNE, Ontario – Brad Rouse won the headlining main event for the Cosco Haulage DIRTcar Sportsman as New Humberstone Speedway raced for the second time Sunday night as part of Operation Green Flag: Mission Humberstone.
In supporting action, Jacob Dykstra won the main event for the Action Sprint Tour, while Charlie Sandercock won the Late Model Challenge for the Pro Fabrication Late Models and Austyn Werstroh won the main event for the Glo & Go Tanning Mini Stocks.
Reigning Cosco Haulage DIRTcar Sportsman track champion Rouse and veteran Luke Carleton were on the front row for their 25-lap main event, with Rouse taking the early lead.
Rob Sauder challenged Carleton, with Justin Sharp and Greg Panunte racing in the top five. Sauder took the runner up spot away from Carleton on lap two. Panunte battled with Sharp for fourth place for several laps, just as Rouse continued to pull away from the field.
The yellow lights came on for the first time on lap nine as Dave Flannigan Jr. spun in turn four. Rouse again pulled away from the field on the restart, as Carleton and Panunte pulled away from Sauder to take over second and third, respectively.
Mid-pack, Chad Chevalier, James Michael Friesen, and Mike Bowman started to work their way through the field. Justin Sharp spun in turn one to bring out the caution on lap 15.
On the restart, past track champion and reigning BEI Lightning Series champion Chad Chevalier moved into third place and then went after Carleton for second place. Chevalier moved into second with four laps remaining, with Adam Leslie running in fourth place.
Chevalier closed in on Rouse in the late going, but Rouse went on to score the win. Carleton, Leslie and Panunte completed the top five.
“It really was the luck of the draw to help us get back to victory lane” said race winner Rouse. “It definitely sucks without the fans and we hope to get them back soon.”
“We had our car dialed in and got better as the race went on,” added runner-up finisher Chad Chevalier.
Racing took place without fans in the stands and all drivers and crews practiced social distancing per guidelines and recommendations in place by the Ontario Ministry of Health.
The finish:
Brad Rouse, Chad Chevalier, Luke Carleton, Adam Leslie, Greg Panunte, James Michael Friesen, Mike Bowman, Cody McPherson, Rob Sauder, Trevor Wright, Taylor Vanderzanden, Billy Bleich Jr., Todd Gordon, Brandon Gruhl, Mitch Dumont, Dave Flannigan Jr., Jeff Panunte, Nathan Peattie, Chris Hawkins, John Babion, Jay Mallory, Justin Sharp, Dan McKay, Tyler Puchalski, Doug Walsh.