CARQUEST Tour Stars Honoured at '09 Awards Banquet
Posted January 26, 2010; Source - Tour Communications

DARTMOUTH, NS (January 25, 2010) – Teams, sponsors, staff and fans gathered at The Holiday Inn Habourview Hotel in to celebrate the 2009 CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour season - honouring the series top teams with numerous awards and accolades.

R&D Performancenter’s Steve Henderson presented on behalf of AFCO Shocks and Five Star Racing Bodies to Mike Stevens (Riverview, NB) and Dave O’Blenis (Boundary Creek, NB) respectively. The award winners were determined by a draw at the banquet.

Gary Jamieson of Linde made the presentation of a set of acetylene torches to Wade MacKinnon, who was representing son Darren MacKinnon (Sleepy Hollow, PE). Lowell Affleck (Summerside, PE) won the electric welder provided by Linde. The award winners were determined by a draw at the banquet.

On behalf of Sommerville Racing and ARP Racing Bodies, Larry Sommerville presented a racing body to Roger Crane (Montague, PE). David Hicken accepted the award for Crane, who was chosen via a draw.

Jim Hallahan of Forbes Chevrolet (Dartmouth, NS) made the manufacturer presentations to the top finishing brands. John Flemming (Halifax, NS) received the top Dodge award, while Donald Chisholm (Antigonish, NS) the top Ford and 09 Champ Shawn Turple the top Chevrolet award. Dave O’Blenis (Boundary Creek, NB) was the top Toyota driver.

Greg Proude (Springvale, PE) won the Atlantic Tiltload Time Trial Award, setting the most “fast times” during qualifying throughout the 09 season. Ernie Ledwidge made the presentation on behalf of Atlantic Tiltload.

Scott Lockhart presented The Coast Tire Most Laps Led Awards. Third place was presented to John Flemming, while Greg Proude grabbed second place. Wayne Smith (Timberlea, NS) took home first place by virtue of leading the most laps during 2009. Darcy Tucker (subbing for Smith) accepted the award.

The Parts For Trucks Challenge is a four race series within the CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour’s 11-race season. Rudi Foster presented third place to Greg Proude and second place to Shawn Tucker (Fredericton, NB). Dave Hamblin made the presentation to the 09 Parts For Trucks Challenge winner, Shawn Turple.

EIT Race Radios sponsors the rookie of the year award and Brent Rowley was on hand to make the presentations. Jason Carnahan (Stilesville, NB) was rookie of the year runner-up, with Richard MacArthur accepting for Carnahan. Josh Jaillet (MacDougall Settlement, NB) was crowned rookie of the year.

The Cathy Ledwidge Memorial is given to the most sportsmanlike driver, as voted on by the drivers themselves. Cathy Ledwidge was a well-known and respected race official in the Maritimes who lost her life to cancer much too soon. The fact that the award is named after Ledwidge and the drivers’ votes determine the winner makes this a very prestigious award to win. Kent Vincent (Crapaud, PE) was chosen as Most Sportsmanlike Driver.

Kevin Stuart and Marc Cloutier of CARQUEST presented the trophies and $50,000 in CARQUEST Bonus Fund prize money to the drivers. Sixty-one race teams competed during the 2009 CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour, trying to be among the top 20 drivers at the end of the season and earn a spot on the banquet stage. Shawn Turple (Enfield, NS) was crowned the 2009 champion, earning his first championship on the prestigious tour. Turple thanked all the tour sponsors, his car sponsors, family, especially wife Cassie and his great crew during his acceptance speech.

FINAL TOP 20 POINT STANDINGS - 2009 CARQUEST PRO STOCK TOUR
Showing finish position, car numner, driver name, hometown & province, total points

1. 0 Shawn Turple Enfield, NS 2171
2. 52 Shawn Tucker Fredericton, NB 2139
3. 97 John Flemming Halifax, NS 2131
4. 44 Wayne Smith Timberlea, NS 2116
5. 23 Lonnie Sommerville Saint John, NB 2097
6. 29 Greg Proude Charlottetown, PEI 2073
7. 99 Craig Slaunwhite Terrence Bay, NS 2056
8-tie. 98 Dave O'Blenis Boundary Creek, NB 2046
8-tie. 5 Jonathan Hicken Brudenell, PEI 2046
10. 26 Mike Stevens Salisbury, NB 2032
11. 8 Kent Vincent Crapaud, PEI 1988
12. 21 Shawn Pierce Bridgewater, NS 1978
13. 32 Chris Hughes Brackley Beach, PEI 1944
14. 01 Robbie MacLean Charlottetown, PEI 1937
15. 76 Roger Crane Montague, PEI 1934
16. 18 Darren MacKinnon Winsloe, PEI 1926
17-tie. 51 Josh Jaillet* MacDougall Settlement, NB 1918
17-tie. 6 Lowell Affleck Summerside, PEI 1918
19. 55 Jason Carnahan* Stilesville, NB 1858
20. 89 Donald Chisholm Antigonish, NS 1689

Click here for Matt Jacques Banquet Photo Gallery (you will leave this site)