2001 NBIS 250 PICTURES

 
 

An incredible night . . . . . 

In the main event, which co-owner Steve Burns dubbed “the best race he had ever seen…without a doubt”, it was non-stop action for 250 green laps.  With a capacity crowd on hand, 26 of the best Pro Stock cars in Atlantic Canada and the Eastern United States took the green flag with local driver Dana Duncan leading the way from the pole position.
           
On lap 13 Shawn Tucker in a dominating performance took the lead and led until lap 153 when he chose to make his crucial pit stop, giving the lead to Dave O’Blenis of Moncton in his Burger King entry.  Tucker, in the Rockico Truck Trailer ride, returned to the field on the lead lap and still with a great shot at a first place win.  To this point he had accumulated $4500 in lap sponsorship prizes and he had only run just over half the race.

 Meanwhile the #48 of Dave O’Blenis led the next 20 laps before getting tapped from behind by the #97 of John Flemming, allowing Flemming to edge into the lead on lap 173.  Flemming looked like he had the car to beat but as many others had already found out, 250 laps is a long hard run. On lap 215 Scott Fraser moved in for the kill with the #21 Louie Mechalides from Boston, Massachusetts hot on his tail.  Fraser to this point was not much of factor, involved in a wreck early, many felt his day was done but  Fraser made his way to the front once again at the Geary oval.   The two cars went side-by-side for 10 laps bumping and grinding all the way.  Something had to give and on lap 225 the 21 got into the back of Fraser sending him into the beach in turn 3; Enter Kirk Thibeau of Fort Fairfield, Maine.  Kirk had a strong car all day but had not made his way to the front hoping patience would pay off in the end and pay off it would.  Thibeau went side by side with Shawn Tucker for 25 laps through 2 restarts, fighting off each attempt by Tucker.  On laps 248 a caution came out and set the stage for a 2-lap shootout between Thibeau and Tucker.

Off the restart they were neck and neck with Thibeau getting the edge off turn 2 and holding his line and the victory of the 1^st Annual NBIS Pro Stock 250.  Tucker not disappointed took home $8,000 in prize money and the 2^nd Place trophy.  Thibeau was the true veteran biding his time and saving his car until the time was right taking home first place money and bragging rights until 2002.  Rounding out the top three was the Oval Outlaw, Wayne Smith.   Kevin Moore had an excellent run finishing 4^th, the highest NBIS regular.  Fans couldn’t have been treated to a better event and the management of the New Brunswick International Speedway could not have hoped for anything more.  If this is a sign of things to come for this event, hold on race fans 2002 is just around the corner.  Chris Johnston, of the speedway,  in an interview after the conclusion of the race said with out a doubt next years race will be bigger and better with an expected top prize of $10,000 or greater.