Father and Son Duo Team Up to Share Victories at Delaware!

For the fourth time this season, the Steve and Matt Robblee show took top honours in Lucas Oil Sportsman Cup racing. This latest performance by Dorchester, Ontario’s most noted citizens came in their own back yard at London’s Delaware Speedway.

Saturday’s results marked the third event in a row the father and son race team have split victories in LOSC action in the series’ six events run to-date.

Steve’s victory in the opener followed by a second place finish to Matt in the second 50-lap segment virtually wrapped up his second Series’ Championship in the three-year existence of the LOSC. He also won the title in 2007.

It took a video replay to confirm the senior Robblee’s victory in the opener that wound down to a thrilling last lap side-by-side duel between him and rookie Dan Prudhomme who had worked his way to the front of the field following a series of caution flags that, until the end of the chase, had spoiled an otherwise exciting race that saw eight lead changes among the 24 starters.

mechanical problems around the halfway point in the race, Cole Weber, Steve Robblee and Shawn McGlynn took up the pursuit of Raabe. When Weber and Robblee tangled briefly, McGlynn saw his opportunity and moved to second. With just five laps remaining McGlynn darted to the inside of Raabe coming off turn four and their two cars became entwined bumping and scraping along the front stretch and ending with Raabe’s car hitting the outside wall in turn one. 

With his involvement, McGlynn was shuffled back in the field and Dan Prudhomme inherited the lead setting up the last lap charge to the checkered flag with Steve Robblee.

Matt Robblee, Brennan Didero and Josh Wood rounded out the top-five finishers with Mitch Brown earning sixth-place honours followed by McGlynn, Rob Fletcher, Tony Bawden and Mark Patrick.

Like the first 50-lap segment, caution flags again plagued segment #2 gradually wearing the starting field down to just 14 finishers.

With the top-ten finishers inverted for the start, Mark Patrick and Tony Bawden led the field to the green flag but it was Shawn McGlynn, Matt and Steve Robblee along with Dan Prudhomme who were in charge after just a dozen laps. On lap 20 Steve Robblee charged into the lead with McGlynn. Matt Robblee, Prudhomme and Brennan in tow.

A wild pileup at the halfway point halted the race until the track’s safety crew could clear the five cars involved in a front stretch accident.

Dan Prudhomme retired to the pits following the accident leaving McGlynn, Matt Robblee, Didero, Jay Christie and Brown as legitimate challengers to leader Steve Robblee.

With a handful of laps remaining Matt Robblee took top spot from dad Steve with McGlynn, Didero, Christie and Brown looking for a last chance to move up in the running order. With Didero spinning on lap 47 and McGlynn making a momentary bobble, the running order as the teams headed for the checkered flag was Matt Robblee in the lead Steve Robblee second, Christie in third, McGlynn fourth and Mitch Brown rounding out the top five.

During post-race inspection of the top five finishers in the second 50-lap race, Jay Christie’s car was found to be underweight resulting in disqualification -a tough break for the Beachville driver following a strong run.

With his win and third place finish in the first 50-lap segment, Matt Robblee leapfrogged from sixth to second place in the standings.

With only 44 points separating eighth-place and second-place in the seasonal standings next Saturday’s final race on the 2009 schedule is sure to see some exciting battles between seven drivers hoping to move up in the final points’ race.