Chubbuck’s strategy works Driver edges Clark to capture Long John 150

UNITY – Brunswick’s Scott Chubbuck figured the only way he could get past race leader Johnny Clark of Farmingdale was to “get a fender ahead of him on a restart.”

That’s exactly what happened on a restart with just 30 laps remaining in the Long John 150 at Unity Raceway Sunday evening as Chubbuck drove his Ford Taurus around Clark to take a lead he would never relinquish and pocket the $6,000 winner’s check.

Chubbuck, who started 10th, finished 15 car-lengths ahead of Clark, who took home $2,500.

Clark was second followed by Corinna’s Paul White, Cushing’s Chuck Lachance and Turner’s Mike Rowe. Rounding out the top 10 in the 33-car field were Scarborough’s Larry Gelinas, Boothbay’s Peter Oakes, Winterport’s Patrick Thibodeau, Little Deer Isle’s Matt Eaton and Morrill’s Travis Benjamin.

Just 19 cars finished the race.

Gelinas took home an extra $2,000 for winning the Triple Crown points series at Unity. He was tied with Freedom’s Randy Turner entering the third and final race but one of several wrecks in the event took Turner out of contention.

“There was some oil coming off turn four and that was exactly where I needed to run,” said Clark, who started second, took the lead from pole-sitter Benjamin on the first lap and led until Chubbuck passed him. “I had to run on the rumble strips to stay out front. I slipped up right there, I lifted real quick and it was enough for him to get half a car-length on me.

“[Chubbuck] got a car-length on me and started coming down and that’s what you’ve got to do, especially when it’s the last race of the year. He did exactly what he had to do to win it,” added Clark.

Clark also said once Chubbuck got the lead, “it was over.”

Chubbuck said he felt if he was able to get a fender ahead of Clark, “I could take my line into the corner and I’d have a pretty good shot.

“That’s basically what happened. He got a little loose coming out and I capitalized,” said the 37-year-old Chubbuck.

The 10th caution came out on lap 145 but Chubbuck was able to pull away on the restart.

“The car was good,” said Chubbuck. “I thought I screwed up real early. I got to the bottom and thought I’d ride it. Six cars went by me on the outside and I fell back six positions. I figured I was screwed but I made them back up, luckily.”

The 24-year-old Clark, who won his first Pro All-Stars Series points championship, said he was pleased with his finish.

“We had an awesome year. I would have liked to have won this thing and closed out the season with a win. But [car owner] Jay Cushman and Scott Chubbuck earned it,” said Clark.

Corinna’s White, who started 24th, called his third-place finish the highlight of his racing career.

“This was awesome. This was as good as a win for us,” said White, a first-year pro strock driver who pocketed $1,500. “We struggled at Bangor [Hermon’s Speedway 95] all year and I haven’t raced against these guys much. To come out of this place with a third, having never raced here before, is awesome.”

The 32-year-old White finished third in the pro stock points at Speedway 95 this season.

Ten cars failed to qualify.