Tyler Gauthier earns championship glory on humid Labour Day

(CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – September 7, 2023)

2010 Street Stock champion Tyler Gauthier (#11) found himself in championship glory for the first time in 13 years on Labour Day afternoon, finishing third in the caution-free Street Stock feature and earning the title of 2023 Central Engine Services Street Stock Division champion by eight points over two-time and defending champion Colton Ford (#35).

After winning the championship 13 years ago, running Modifieds and Pro Stocks for several years, and deciding to return to the division after Hurricane Fiona, Gauthier’s return was nothing short of spectacular, with seven wins (two features) and 20 podium finishes (seven in nine features) within 24 starts between May 28 and September 4.

He finished second, second, and third in Monday’s three races, finishing ahead of Ford twice, who finished second, third, and second. Ford wraps up the points part of the season with six wins (three features) and 17 podium finishes (seven in nine features) within 24 starts between May 28 and September 4.

Brandon Albert (#37) emerged victorious twice on Monday with his second feature victory of the season and also a heat #1 victory. Albert finished second in heat #2 behind buddy and rookie street stock driver Tyler Doucette, who claimed his first-ever win in the division and also finished ninth in the feature. As the only rookie to run all season, Doucette is unanimously the rookie of the year.

Jeff MacInnis (#29) finished fifth in the feature and earned third place in points for the second year in a row. Randy Millar (#77) jumped Andrew Thompson (#4) for fourth in points, moving up a spot after finishing fifth behind Thompson last year.

In the Tim’s Corner Motorsports Bandolero September Shootout, Nova Scotia’s Daniel Vandenburg (#97) was the overall winner with a third-place twin #1 finish and a twin #2 victory. Vandenburg also won the twin #2 pole after winning the Conway Customz redraw. Rounding out the overall podium were fellow Nova Scotia drivers Hailey Bland (#27) and Samantha MacDonald (#14). The top overall PEI driver was Cole Doyle (#12), who finished fourth in both races.

Twin #1 saw a total of four cautions, including a big crash in Turn 3 involving Ethan Hicken (#5) and Brett Pashkoski (#45). Lily Whynot (#2) started first and finished ninth. OBS Outlaw Bandolero points leader Landon Pierce (#19) started 12th and won the race. Twin #2 saw a total of eight cautions with a decision to call the race on lap 16. Pierce started fourth but was involved in two incidents that led to a DNF.

In the Beginner Bandolero feature, Hudson Linzel-Waddell (#57) dominated the caution-free 15-lap race from the pole and earned his fifth win of the season, his first since the May 28 season opener. The driver second in OBS Beginner Bandolero points was followed by defending race winner Andrew O’Connor (#63) and points leader Mason Gillis (#9) on the podium. Other than a spin by Ashtyn Gariepy (#11) as the leaders took the checkered flag plus some close calls with lap traffic, many fans say it was the best Bandolero race they’ve seen all year.

In the Chris’s Bobcat Services Mini Stock Division, Ricky Bedell (#2) was the class of the field, earning not only his first-ever win at Oyster Bed Speedway but also his first-ever triple victory. After a rough start to the year, Bedell slowly climbed his way up to podium finishes at the peak of the summer, and Monday was his fastest round yet. Randy MacTavish (#76) earned second in the feature, an improved result after an incident in the heat race and a third-place finish in the semi race. Points leader Jeff Bridges (#95) finished third in the feature while Brandon Forsyth (#3) exited to the pits halfway through.

In the Moore Well Drilling Outlaw Division, Kendall Palmer (#45) earned his first feature victory of the season, starting from the pole and leading every lap en route to victory. Matt Watson (#99G) earned a runner-up finish in substitution for Gerald Gallant while Mitchell Montgomery (#71) finished third in his return to the track. Other winners throughout the day included Jordan LeClair (#47, heat #1), Ricky Millar (#17, heat #2), Jamie Ronaghan (#59, semi #1), and Ryan McKnight (#46m, semi 2). Dave Matthews (#99) initially won heat and semi #1 but was disqualified.

The feature saw two incidents. On lap four, Ronaghan was turned by LeClair in the middle of the pack in Turn 2. Surprisingly, a big wreck didn’t ensue, but Jessie LeClair (#46) took a lick to the outside wall, ending his run early. One lap after the restart, Jamie Cummings (#81) went for a slide off the Turn 1 embankment, and leaking fluid from McKnight’s car led to a long cleanup.

Colby Click won the demolition derby in his fourth derby using the same chassis.

Full race results will be uploaded in the near future. New points standings are available on their respective page. Oyster Bed Speedway returns to racing on Saturday, September 9 with racing from all five house divisions and the Legends. The Beginner & Outlaw Bandoleros will be running for points (second-to-last round) and the Mini Stocks will be having their championship finale, while the Outlaws and Street Stocks will have non-point money races. The green flag is at 6pm with a weather date on Sunday, September 10 at 2pm.

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Race days remaining per division (as of September 4)

Beginner & Outlaw Bandolero: 2 (Sept. 9 & 23)

Mini Stock: 2 (Sept. 9 & 23)

Note: Sept. 23rd is for money, no points.

Outlaw: 2 (Sept. 9 & 23)

Note: Sept. 9 is for money, no points.

Street Stock: 2 (Sept. 9 & 23)

Note: Points are done for this division. The 9th is $500 to win and the 23rd is the Piston Cup 100.

Legends: 1 (Sept. 9 & 23)

Bombers: 1 (Sept. 23)

Pro Stocks: 0

Hot Rods: 0

Points leaders

Beginner Bandolero: Mason Gillis (#9)

Outlaw Bandolero: Landon Pierce (#19)

Mini Stock: Jeff Bridges (#95)

Outlaw: Ricky Millar (#17)

Street Stock is done for points. Tyler Gauthier (#11) is your 2023 Central Engine Services Street Stock Division champion.

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