Sportsman Kawartha summary, champion crowned

McGlynn's third consecutive CASCAR Sportsman Series victory earns him his first points championship

PETERBOROUGH, ON -- Shawn McGlynn continued his late-season domination of the CASCAR Sportsman Series with a victory, on Saturday night, in the 100-lap season finale at Kawartha Speedway. The result thrust the Kitchener, ON racer to the top of the point standings following the fifth and final race on the 2006 schedule.

"We had an awesome season and we couldn't have hoped for more," said McGlynn, who won the final three races of the season en route to the title. "We came here two points out of the lead and we knew we had to get the pole, lead the most laps and finish ahead of Dion Verhoeven by one position, so we weren't holding anything back. We worked hard and came out on top."

McGlynn's Ford Taurus started on the pole, but it was 2005 series champion Verhoeven (McRoberts Fuels Pontiac) who jumped to the early lead from his starting position, immediately to McGlynn's right. Verhoeven, from Kerwood, ON, showed the way for the first 13 laps, but gave way to Steve Munro (Mattel Hot Wheels Chevy) at that point. Munro, who hails from Carp, ON led until lap 34.

McGlynn was aware of the fact that in order to earn the championship, he would have to take the lead prior to lap 50 and lead the rest of the way to the checkered flag (thereby scoring 'most laps led' bonus points). And that's exactly what he did, driving by Munro and into the lead, on lap 35, in what would be the race's final lead change.

At the checkered flag, McGlynn came home 1.3-seconds ahead of Munro, with Verhoeven close behind. In the final point standings, McGlynn (407 pts.) denied Verhoeven (404) his second-consecutive Sportsman Series title by just three markers.

UNOFFICIAL FINAL POINT STANDINGS (Top 12 after 5 events, as of September 16, 2006): 1. #81 Shawn McGlynn (407 pts.); 2. #77 Dion Verhoeven (404); 3. #00 Steve Munro (382); 4. #32 Mike Alguire (370); 5. #11 Cole Weber (358); 6. #95 Ron Lethbridge (354); 7. #82 Dave Connelly (340); 8. #48 Doug Cathcart (333); 9. #67 Scott Mitchell (327); 9. #36 Alan Lebert (327); 11. #66 Josh Wood (273); 12. #20 Dave Didero (268)

-credit: cascar