Steve McCarrick and Paul Young - Both winners at TNT double header weekend

Twenty-one competitors faced off for enhanced payouts in local sportsman series

CAYUGA, ONTARIO (June 18, 2009)  This past weekend's Family Day Spectacular produced some terrific sportsman drag racing at Cayuga Dragway at Toronto Motorsports Park (TMP).  Perfect weather conditions along with an awesome track surface made a terrific show for both fans and competitors.  The Joe's Transmission TNT Super Series drew 21 racers to the historic Canadian drag strip and when the dust settled, the TNT points chase had three new names in the top ten.

Saturday Results

In the winner's circle for Saturday's event - presented by The Balancing Act - it was Steve McCarrick of Phelps, NY.  A first-time winner in the extremely competitive series, Steve dedicated Saturday's win to his mom's (Marie) best friend, Don Spoor.  "We buried him on June 12th.  Don was a gentleman, WW 2 veteran, racing fan & lifetime resident of Gorham, NY where he will be missed by family & friends," said Steve.

It wasn't an easy victory for Steve as he faced stiff competition each and every round.  First up, Steve was paired with 2008 TNT Super Series champion, Ted Barnes of Canfield, On.  Dead even off the line, Steve took the win running a 10.938 to Ted's 10.892.  That earned Steve a bye in second round putting him up against Gary Kerl of Williamsville, NY in round three.  Both with near perfect reaction times (Steve with .008 to Gary's .006), Steve won on a double breakout 10.892 to 10.888.  In the semi-finals, Steve faced David Surmatchewski of Oakland, On and again both drivers were very close on the tree (.025 to Dave's .029) but Steve came out on top, running a 10.929 to a 10.879.

Then in the final round it was Paul Young of Alden, NY in the other lane battling for the $600 guaranteed payout.  A previous winner at this track in TNT competition, Paul was a little late on the tree with an .031 to Steve's deadly & near-perfect .001.  This gave Steve the advantage he needed to take the win with a 10.896 at 125 mph to Paul's 10.871 at 141 mph.

"Many thanks go to the Barnes family along with Russ & Arlene Parker for putting the TNT series together and running it well, Joe's Transmission for sponsoring the series, The Balancing Act for presenting today's race and all the other race sponsors that make the series work," commented Steve in the TMP winner's circle.  He was also quick to mention his deep appreciation for his family.  "They let me disappear on weekends to do this craziness," he added.  "And thanks to Bob Tornow for building a stout, reliable engine and to the crew at Steve's Electric Co for taking care of business while I race."

Steve's racecar is a 1956 Chevy that he's owned since 1971 and is affectionately known as 'IT'S HIP TO BE OLD'.  Originally his daily driver, he quickly turned it into an on-track competitive machine.  Early racing days were at now-defunct tracks like Orange County International Raceway, Irwindale Raceway, Santa Maria Raceway & Palmdale Raceway in California.  Currently powered by a 468 BB Chevrolet followed by a Turbo 400 transmission, this car will run 9.80's at 140mph.  "It's alot of fun racing with these guys and gaining new friendships while competing in the TNT Super Series. The ontrack competition & the camaraderie of the fellow racers is second to nothing I've ever competed in before," he added.

Specialty Awards - Saturday

• Hoosier Tire Canada $50 certificate - Number One Qualifier
  • JJ Jablonski (West Seneca NY) with a perfect 10.900
• J&S Collision $50 - Closest to the Index (1st Rd Loser)
  • Fred Gross (Brampton ON) with a 10.916
• Toronto Motorsports Park FREE PASS - Best Reaction Time (1st Rd Loser)
  • Barry Crane (Stouffville ON) with a .002
• DSE1 five gallons race fuel - Bounty Hunter
  • Gary Kerl (Williamsville NY)

Sunday Results

Sunday's event - presented by Performance Improvements - saw Paul Young of Alden, NY earn a spot in the winner's circle.  No stranger to TMP, Paul won a TNT race here in late 2008 and also won an IHRA Ironman here at the Canadian Nationals a few years back.  "Toronto has always been a very good track for us," said Paul.  "We always seem to do very well here."

Round one saw Paul and his 1966 Ford Fairlane match up with Roy Lister of Welland, On.  And even though Roy ran a dead-on 10.903, he missed the tree and Paul took the win with a 10.996.  Next on the ladder was Gary Saska of Ingersoll, On and with near identical reaction times (.027 to a .023), it was Paul's 10.904 winning over Gary's 10.890.  Paul then faced Bill Elekes of West Seneca, NY in the semi-finals where Paul's .006 light and 10.932 package defeated Bill's .019 and 10.923.

The final round brought Ted Barnes to face off against the deep red Fairlane.  Advantage at the tree went to Ted with an .017 light to Paul's .030, but the past series champ struggled to run the number and Paul went around him taking the win with a 10.934 to a losing 10.961.

"We want to thank all the people involved in the TNT series and Joe Boniferro (Joe's Transmission) for his support," said Paul.  "Our sponsors - Clarence NAPA, Old Dutchman Wrought Iron and Drogi & Sons Automotive for helping us out.  Al Linsey our engine builder and Dale Cubic at CFM Performance Carbs too."

The man behind the scenes at the race track regularly with Paul and the Fairlane is Tom Young.  "This TNT series is great fun because of all the friends we have made racing in it.  The weekend weather was great and we had a terrific time!" said Tom.

Specialty Awards - Sunday

• Hoosier Tire Canada $50 certificate - Number One Qualifier
  • Gary Saska (Ingersoll ON) with a 10.903
• J&S Collision $50 - Closest to the Index (1st Rd Loser)
  • Roy Lister (Welland ON) with a 10.903
• Toronto Motorsports Park FREE PASS - Best Reaction Time (1st Rd Loser)
  • Tom Coonly (Blasdell NY) with a .011
• DSE1 five gallons race fuel - Bounty Hunter
  • Ted Barnes (Canfield ON)

This marks the half-way point in the 2009 Joe's Transmission TNT Super Series points chase with 6 of 12 events complete.  Next up is the first US double-header - Friday July 3 and Saturday July 4 at Dunn Tire Raceway Park in Lancaster, New York. Visit www.dunntireracewaypark.com for more details.

Current Joe's Transmission TNT Super Series Points Standings (Top 10)