SEASON FINALE SATURDAY AT SPEEDWORLD; CHAMPIONS WILL BE CROWNED

Joan Roué, Scotia Speedworld & CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour

HALIFAX, NS (2005 September 7) - The CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour will crown its 2005 champion this Saturday at Scotia Speedworld. The Parts For Trucks 200, an extended-length race with more twists than the Mississippi River, will decide who gets what from the $75,000 on the line at the event.

Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame Class of 2005 member Rollie MacDonald (Pictou) leads the charge for the championship by a mere 32-points over inaugural ser ies champion Wayne Smith (Halifax); MacDonald at 1957, Smith at 1887. 2004 series champ Shawn Tucker (Fredericton, NB) sits third at 1887. EIT Race Radio rookie of the year contender Shawn Turple (Enfield) is fourth at 1864 and Gordie Ryan (Wellington) is fifth at 1837.

Mathematically, any of these drivers, and a few more, could win the championship; realistically it will probably be a two-horse race between MacDonald and Smith.

According to the numbers, in order for Tucker to get his second championship, he would need to win the race and lead the most laps with MacDonald finishing 30th or worse and Smith finishing 14th or worse.

In order for Smith to win his second championship he would need to win the race and lead the most laps with MacDonald finishing 12th or worse.

If MacDonald finishes 12th or better, he'll clinch the title no matter what anyone else does. Considering MacDonald is the series only repeat winner with three wins in 10 races thus far this year, one would think he'd feel okay about his chances. Not really; his nemesis this year has been the two races at Scotia Speedworld - both resulting in 13th-place finishes.

"It's like this: Whatever happens Saturday, happens," said MacDonald. "We did a lot more this year than we have for a long time, probably my best year since the early 90s. At the start of the season we said we'd do four races and if we were competitive, we'd keep going. So we've far exceded our expectations and we've had a lot of fun doing it. Anything we get now is a bonus."

MacDonald added that the race format, two 100-lap segments with a redraw among the top 10 in the running order at the end of lap 100, adds another element of uncertainty.

"We'd feel better about our chances if it was a straight 100-lap race - less can go wrong."

Smith is entering this race like he has every other race this year.

"We're going there to do the best we can do and see what happens," said Smith. "The best man will win, I guess, not to take anything away from Rollie - he's had a good year."

Besides the prestige of being the CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour champion, the racer that wins the title gets a huge trophy and a huge cheque - for $10,000. Second-place pays $5,000.

In the EIT Race Radio Rookie of the Year battle, Turple leads Brad Mann (Campbellton, NB) by 61 points, which equates to 32 positions in the finishing order, assuming neither driver scores bonus points, of which five are awarded any driver that leads a lap, and another five to the driver that leds the most laps.

Numerous other season-long awards will also be decided this Saturday, with final payouts at the series awards banquet October 29.

Besides all of the championship excitement on Saturday someone will also visit The Parts For Trucks 200 Victory Lane, the longest and richest series race of the year. 2004 CARQUEST Tour race winners John Flemming, Donald Chisholm, Kent Livingston and Kent Vincent are still seeking a win this year, as are many others; 32 teams are expected to enter The Parts For Trucks 200.

Besides CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour racing, fans attending The Parts For Trucks 200 will also be treated to championship races for the Sportsman Super Series and the Legends Tour.

The Saturday's event is the final race for this year at Scotia Speedworld.

The grandstand gates will open at 3 p.m.; the Motor Mart Time Trials go at 5:10 and racing starts at 6 p.m.

Grandstand admission is just $25 for adults, $5 for youth from 8 to 15, and children 7 and under are admitted free. Pit admission is $30 and restricted to those 16 and older. HST is included in all admission prices.

Advance grandstand tickets are now available for The Parts For Trucks 200 at the following locations: DARTMOUTH - Forbes Chev Olds; Parts For Trucks; Amber Contracting; CARQUEST Auto Parts. HALIFAX - CARQUEST Auto Parts; Oland Cold Beer Store. BEDFORD - Rocky Lake Quarry. MOUNT UNIACKE - RV Contacts.