12/23/07

Shawn's Race History

Shawn was born on November 9, 1978 and from the very beginning, Shawn Turple knew he would be a racecar driver, there was no way around it - it was something he was meant to do. Ever since he was a baby his father had him at drag races in Sackville and truck races all around the province. When Scotia Speedworld opened up in 1988, Shawn seen his first oval car race and from then on wanted to race every one he met. He even went so far as to hold a neighborhood 100 lap race on bicycles in his grandfather's driveway. He was only 12 years old but finished the 100 laps in record breaking time (so I'm told).

Fours years later when Shawn was 16, he got his first hobby stock car, a Ford Fairmount. In his first race he got spun out, and later in the year was leading his first race - had two laps to go - and spun himself out! But by the end of the year he improved immensely and caught the racing bug. In his second season, Shawn won two main features and the Most Improved Driver award.

Seven years later Shawn was still racing the hobby stock class and had won the Points Championship once, been runner-up twice, had 18 main feature wins, won the 2002 Lucas Oil Most Laps Led Award, and still to this day holds the track record for fastest time in a hobby stock car. Feeling the need for more power, more speed, and different competition, Shawn made a move and bought the #72 Sportsman car from Stacey Clements who was moving up to the Pro Stock class.

The Sportsman class didn't know what to expect with Shawn moving in but it took them no time to realize Shawn Turple is a serious threat on the track. As soon as Shawn captured the checkered flag in the Lockhart 100, nobody considered him a rookie any longer. In 2003 Shawn gained a few credentials under his belt, including Rookie of the Year, Best-Looking Car, 5th in Scotia Speedworld points, and Runner-up for the Hard Charger Award; Shawn was ready for the  2004 sportsman season. What he wasn't ready for was the loss of his local hero and friend: Scott Fraser.

Scott Fraser, the best race car driver to ever come out of the Maritimes, died in a snowmobile accident on March 20th, 2004. The news hit many fans and race teams hard. Our heroes are often considered invincible and to find out that they are not, is hard to swallow. Shortly after Scott's death, his race team and family approached Shawn with an offer - they wanted Shawn to carry on Scott's legacy by driving Scott's car in the Atlantic Cat 250 PASS race at Scotia Speedworld and maybe a few other races if feasible. With no hesitation Shawn accepted and prepared for his busiest race season yet. He would be preparing and maintaining his own #72 Sportsman car and the SFR (Scott Fraser Racing) pro stock car.

With the 2004 season at a close, the team was proud of what they accomplished and looking forward to one of the most exciting seasons yet. Achieving the 2004 C&R Auto Supply Sportsman Championship, the 2004 Dominion Auto Auctions Super Series Championship, and the 2004 Hard Charger Award (car that passes the most cars throughout the race season), is everything Shawn wanted. Shawn also proved himself able to be competitive in the pro stock class as well: leading the majority of and finishing 3rd in his pro stock debut at Shediac, New Brunswick's Centre for Speed and then later finishing 8th in the Atlantic Cat 250 PASS race at Scotia Speedworld  - making Shawn the 2nd top finishing Canadian of the race in the SFR car.

With a taste of the top class of race cars in the Atlantic provinces, there is nothing Shawn would have enjoyed more than moving up to compete in the acclaimed Carquest Pro Stock Tour for 2005. Thanks to Frank Fraser, Scott's pit crew, and Atlantic CAT, that's exactly what Shawn did. Shawn was a rookie all over again in 2005 and had a great season. Finishing 4th in points and claiming the 2005 Rookie of the Year title.

 2006 being Shawn's sophomore Pro Stock year was not an especially good year for Shawn with a lot of expensive wrecks; however, he did finish 9th in points and won his first Pro Stock race on August 19th at the new and improved Riverside Speedway in front of 8,000 fans! Wow what a night that was.

2007 brought about some surprise changes for Shawn: with the SFR team's encouragement & after the first race of the season, Shawn switched teams. Now in the driver's seat for the Dexter Construction race team, Shawn had a stellar 2007 year with 11 top ten finishes out of 14 races total. Leading the Carquest Maritime Pro Stock Tour points for most of the season & then ending as runner-up, Shawn can't wait for 2008!

We hope to see lots of fans in the stands cheering Shawn on in the #0 car - You won't want to miss a race!