Third place finish “huge” for Enfield’s Gilby in the NOVA Truck Centers 150

Nic Naugle takes the win

at the Pro Stock Tour race

SCOTLAND SPEEDWORLD: A third place was like a win for Gage Gilby.

Enfield steering wheel from no. 25G was grinning in victory lane at the East Coast International Maritime International Pro Stock Tour after finishing third in just his third tour race.

He finished behind Dartmouth’s Nic Nuagle, who took the NOVA Truck Centers 150 in support of the Special Olympics Nova Scotia checkered flag in front of a big crowd at Scotia Speedworld on June 22.

Points leader Jarrett Butcher, who struggled all day, but his crew was able to adjust his numbers. 54 Superior Foundations sponsored car enough hat to be able to come home in second place. Butcher gave his trophy to a Special Olympics athlete.

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The excitement of what the podium meant for the Gilby Motorsports team was evident when Gilby spoke with The Laker News after the race.

“This is huge Pat,” said Gilby, who lists his main sponsors as CKG Elevator-Ryson Construction-CAPSTONE Construction-E-Commerce Solutions. “For our team to be here in the third race of the season.

“These guys behind me do it for me every week. Without them I am truly nothing.

“The car was great. I’m happy to be here (on the podium) in my third race.”

Shout out to spotter Josh Langille, himself a top Legends car driver.

“Thanks to Josh Langille, who helped me get through the race as best he could,” he said.

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Gilby took the lead from Naugle on a late restart, but the race director called the start and it was restarted after both Gilby and Nuagle tried to jump it.

The HERH student admitted that nerves may have played a role.

“I was happy when I got that lead, but I jumped a little early,” Gilby said. “I got a little nervous and hit the gun a little too early.

“When I got down to fourth I was really happy with that, but to get to third I’m super happy.”

He hopes to carry the momentum into the weekend race at Antigonish on June 29. It will be part of the NASCAR Canada doubleheader at the James River track. The green flag goes at 18:00

“I’m excited about Riverside,” he said.

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Butcher knows he was lucky to come home second and maintain his points lead.

“This is a win for us,” Butcher said. “We made the mistake of coming here with something we shouldn’t walk away from. We fought today.”

He apologized to his team for making them work hard.

“I apologize to the team for what I put them through today,” Butcher said.

Butcher, of Porters Lake, congratulated Nuagle and Gilby in his interview as well.

“Congratulations to Nic for the win, he’s had a tough season and to Gage for third place,” he said.

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Naugle was delighted to take the checkered flag after a race that saw him battle the no. 29 by Greg Proude for several laps for the top spot.

“It’s great to get the win,” he said. “Two years in a row to win this race is phenomenal.

“It’s amazing to start the season like this. The car came alive in the race.”

Jordan Veinotte (Porter’s Lake, NS) had another great race but finished fourth on the podium with Austin MacDonald (Pictou, NS) coming home with a fifth place finish.

MacDonald and Danny Chisholm (Antigonish, NS) won their Atlantic Tiltload heat races, which set the stage for the 150-lap feature with a 15-car field.

Steve Lively of Shubenacadie brought home the no. 30 with a top 10 round.

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The Maritime Allstar Sportsman Series gave fans plenty of great racing before the Nova Truck Centers 150. Deven Smith took the checkered flag.

Oakfield’s Alex Johnson came home third in the No. 14.

In the TCM Bandolero Road Trip, Landon Pierce (Bridgewater, NS) took Stop One.

Lakeview’s Hailey Bland brought the no. 27, sponsored by Dartmouth Metals, in second place, while Nine Mile River’s Bristol Matthews was third.

Lots of cash and contingency prizes were also awarded:

Eastlink Award for Fastest Tour: #89 Danny Chisholm (14.447sec)
R&D Performance award among the Most guided tours: #08 Nicholas Naugle (41 laps)
Swift Springs Hard Charger Award: #11v Jordan Veinotte
QA1 Free Pass Award: #N/A
Wilwood Racing future winner prize: #25G Gage Gilby
Aero Wheels Last Car On The Lead Lap Award: #30 Stephen Lively
Fivestar Hard Luck Award: #25 Ryan VanOirschot
Lucas Oil Rookie of the Race: #25G Gage Gilby