Even seven caution flags couldn’t slow down–or deny–Steve Arpin from winning his fourth-straight modified feature race at the Emo Speedway on Saturday night.
But he still finds himself looking up in the Borderland Racing Association points standings.
Gavin Paull, who has yet to capture a feature this season and finished in sixth place Saturday, currently leads the overall race with 245 points because of his regular top three placings.
A three-year veteran, Arpin said he never won a feature in his rookie season but still came away with the season points title. After Saturday’s win, he found himself fourth overall (231)
“Consistency is everything. You can go through a season without winning a feature and still win the title,” he noted.
Len Allen and Phil Gavel experienced the most trouble during the feature after catching bad corners.
Arpin had jumped into the lead and continued to extend it after the green flag was dropped–only to have it narrowed down by one caution flag after another.
“It’s just really hard to keep your concentration. You just have to work on staying focused,” he noted. “One you lose that, chances are you’ll blow off a corner.”
But it was Arpin’s quick leads out of the gate which have caused headaches for his opponents.
“We’re having the car working really well right now,” he admitted. “The car drives itself pretty much.”
The same could not be said in the mini-sprints, where points leader Jason Strom couldn’t win his third-straight checkered flag in the feature.
He sustained oil problems while racing in Greenbush the night before and did not participate in the heat. He gave it a go in the feature but finished fourth, well behind winner Kyle Ridlon, heat winner Ken Perry Sr., and Kenny Perry Jr.
It was Ridlon’s first victory of the season after winning five times in eight appearances last year.
Meanwhile, Richard Visser showed he still had some bite left as he led wire-to-wire in the street stock feature. Earlier Saturday, he had sped off two corners in the first heat to finish fourth.
“I just slowed a bit in the corners [in the feature] because they were pretty rough tonight,” he Emo native said.
Denny and Darian Trimble each finished first in their respective heats but did little in the feature. Denny wound up fourth while Darian failed to cross the finish line.
In related news, the Borderland Racing Association is selling raffle tickets for several prizes, including a side of beef cut and wrapped in a 10-cu. foot freezer, a barbecue and tank, and two kids’ bicycles.
Tickets cost $5 each, and the draw date is slated July 7. Proceeds will go towards the costs of new track lighting at the Speedway.
A reminder racing action resumes this Saturday at 7 p.m. (hot laps are at 6:30). After the last feature, the track will host a Demolition Derby.
All fans are welcome to stay and enjoy these pre-Canada Day celebrations.
June 23 results
Mini-Sprint
•Heat #1–1. Ken Perry Sr. (#2X4) 2. Kyle Ridlon (#15) 3. Kenny Perry (#77)
•Feature–1. Kyle Ridlon (#15) 2. Ken Perry Sr. (#2×4) 3. Kenny Perry (#77) 4. Jason Strom (#1)
•Overall points leaders–1. Strom (247) 2. Perry Jr. (230) 3. Ridlon (188)
Streets
•Heat #1–1. Darian Trimble (#72) 2. Anthony Visser (#11) 3. Don Smith (#30)
•Heat #2–1. Denny Trimble (#66) 2. Kendal Gamsby (#29) 3. Jake Hassbargen (#14)
•Feature–1. Richard Visser (#25) 2. Jake Hassbargen (#14) 3. Chris Shine (#18) 4. Denny Trimble(#66) 5. Wes Morriseau (#5)
•Overall points leaders–1. Hassbargen (241) 2. Denny Trimble (236) 3. Morriseau (233) 4. Ron Westover/Chris Shine (218)
Modifieds
•Heat #1–1. Len Allen (#4A) 2. Steve Arpin (#00) 3. Ken Anderson (#5)
•Heat #2–1. Mark Davis (#85) 2. Chad Jonson (#18) 3. Gavin Paull (#16)
•Feature–1. Steve Arpin (#00) 2. Dwayne Pelepetz (#12P) 3. Ken Anderson (#5) 4. Rod Angus (#35) 5. Kevin Randell (#89)
•Overall points leaders–1. Paull (245) 2. Larson (239) 3. Pelepetz (234) 4. Arpin (231) 5. Ken Anderson (229)
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
