Photo Credit: Larissa Spencer
By Randy Spencer for Ontario Oval – Rain forced the cancellation of racing last weekend at Bennett Chevrolet Flamboro Speedway but the weather was sunny and dry for the second weekend of racing of the 2014 racing season. The Ontario Modifeds and Lucas Oil Can Am Midgets got their seasons under way and were joined by our regular weekly divisions, the Ponderosa Nature Resort Pure Stocks, Klotz Auto Repair & Engine Machine Shop Mini Stocks, Ponderosa Nature Resort Pro Four Modifieds and the Ray s Towing & Recovery Thunder Cars.
The Pure Stocks got things underway first. Josh Shantz was behind the wheel of the #70 Pure Stock. Last year, Shantz finished third in the Mini Stock points race and this year has moved up to a 602 Crate Sprint Car but took out his dad Danny’s car on this night. He didn’t show any signs of rust as he moved up from the back of the pack and took the first heat of the night with a turn four pass on the final lap, just inching across the line first.
Jake Gilbert picked up his first checkered flag at Flamboro in the first Mini Stock heat. The #42 of Rick Robinson led the first four laps but started to smoke and on lap 9 spilled oil forcing a caution and the race ended under caution with Gilbert in the winner’s circle. In the second heat, Darren Dryden led early but the crafty veteran from New Hamburg, Russ Aicken got by and went on to win heat #2.
In Thunder Car heat action, Shawn Arnott led from start to finish getting his first win of 2014. Kevin Albers did likewise, led flag to flag picking up his first win of the new season. The real battle in this one was for second to fourth as Kevin Gallant, Shawn Chenoweth and Brad Collison were door to door and bumper to bumper for ten laps.
Nick Lees picked up the heat win on the Ontario Modified qualifier. Craig Shaver led all ten laps in his Pro 4 Modified heat for the win but not without Brian Nanticoke giving him all he could handle.
The Can Am Midgets closed out heat races with Darren McLennan and Jeff Blackburn picking up wins. After an intermission they also ran their B Main feature. Barry Dunn went for a wild ride as he rode the wall and took a hard hit. Adam Racine took the checkers.
It was feature time and the Pure Stocks were up first. Gillian Hils and Andy Wheller led the field to green. Hils led flag to flag picking up her second career feature race win.
Mini Stocks took the track next for their 25 lap feature. Jake Gilbert led for the first three laps but Russ Aicken got by and took over the lead. Mike Holmes lost the right rear wheel on his car in turns three and four and his night was over early. Aiken continued to lead while Rob Hoskins and Jake Gilbert battled it out behind him. Aiken crossed the line first and with the win in the feature and heat to go along with a second last week, his year is off to a great start. Thunder Cars were led onto the track by Shawn Arnott and Dave Bailey. Arnott was building a nice lead until a caution came out on lap 8 when Kevin Gallant and Bobby Mercer got tangled. Arnott kept the lead on the restart as the race progressed. With less than ten laps remaining, Arnott was given the black flag by the starter. Arnott fell back and that enabled Shawn Chenoweth to take over the lead and pick up the feature win.
The Pro 4 Modified feature was next with Robert Mercer leading early with Bill Pearsall in hot pursuit. A mix up between the 93 and 63 cars put Petit into the wall bringing out the caution. On the restart, Pearsall proved to much for Petit, took the race lead and went onto his first feature race win of the young season.
The Ontario Modifieds took to the track for their Modified Spring Shakedown Invitational. Chad Strawn led early. Bill Pickford spun in turn three on lap 14 bringing out a caution. Another caution shortly after when the #7 and #95 got tangled in turn 4. On the restart the problems continued when the red flag came out as the 09 car had flames shooting out from the engine. The race continued on caution free and Chad Strawn crossed the line first for his first feature win in a modified.
The final feature of the night was for the Can Am Midgets. Ryan Fraser and Jeff Blackburn led the field to green and battled each other hard until the 49 car of Lucas Smith spun in turns one and two on lap six. Smith’s woes continued as he went over on his side, bringing out another red flag stop. Smith was ok, the race continued with last years points champion Mack Deman getting by Blackburn and held on for the feature win.
Make sure you join us next week as the Grisdale Late Models make their first appearance of 2014, joined by the Klotz Auto Repair & Engine Machine Shop Mini Stocks, the Ponderosa Nature Resort Pure Stocks, the Ray s Towing & Recovery Thunder Cars and the Lucas Oil Canadian Vintage Modifieds. Pit gates open at 4pm, Grandstands at 5pm and green flag flies at 6pm. Admission prices for the grandstands are as follows. Adult $14.60, Senior & Student $12.00, Children (12 and under) $3.00, Family Ticket (2 Adults and up to 4 children) $32.00. HST EXTRA. Admission price to the Pits is $30.00 for non members, Members (with pit pass) $25.00 HST is included. ($25.00 member pit pass entitles you to $5.00 discount and applies to all 2014 events including specials) NEW Pit Memberships will be available at Pit Gates.
Unofficial Results
Pure Stock Heat : #70 Josh Shantz, #31 Andy Wheller, #32 Gillian Hils, #6 Wayde Thorne, #76 Shawn Taylor, #00 Bill Rutherford, #7 Matt Young, #57 Chris Longthorne
Pure Stock Feature : #32 Gillian Hils, #31 Andy Wheller, #70 Josh Shantz, #6 Wayde Thorne, #76 Shawn Taylor, #7 Matt Young, #00 Bill Rutherford, #57 Chris Longthorne
Mini Stock Heat #1 : #03 Jake Gilbert, #01 Mark DaSilva, #36 Hudson Nagy, #75 Scott Mast, #62 Ashley Holmes, #05 Dave Goodacre, #42 Rick Robinson (DNF), #10 Courtney Scott
Mini Stock Heat #2 : #71 Russ Aicken, #13 Mike Holmes, #37 Rob Hoskins, #12 Darren Dryden, #61 Chad Ditner, #26 Mark Klotz, #5 Ken Stenhouse, #2 Mark Dennis
Mini Stock Feature : #71 Russ Aicken, #37 Rob Hoskins, #03 Jake Gilbert, #12 Darren Dryden, #26 Mark Klotz, #61 Chad Ditner, #5 Ken Stenhouse, #01 Mark DaSilva, #2 Mark Dennis, #05 Dave Goodacre, #10 Courtney Scott, #62 Ashley Holmes, #36 Hudson Nagy, #42 Rick Robinson (DNF), #13 Mike Holmes (DNF), #75 Scott Mast (DNF)
Pro Four Heat : #8 Craig Shaver, #9 Brian Nanticoke, #63 Mark Lucas, #93 Dan Petit, #15 Dan Nanticoke, #68 Aaron Turkey, #23 Linc Erison, #91 Robert Mercer (DNF), #38 Bill Pearsall (DNS)
Pro Four Feature : #38 Bill Pearsall, #15 Dan Nanticoke, #8 Craig Shaver, #91 Robert Mercer, #9 Brian Nanticoke, #69 Aaron Turkey, #23 Linc Erison, #63 Mark Lucas (DNF), #93 Dan Petit (DNF)
Thunder Car Heat #1 : #76 Shawn Arnott, #49 Dave Bailey, #17 Tristan Gill, #7 Bobby Mercer, #14 Rob Istead, #33 Mike Gilmour, #5 Linda Stenhouse
Thunder Car Heat #2 : #27 Kevin Albers, #89 Shawn Chenoweth, #13 Brad Collison, #31 Kevin Gallant, #8 Steve perry, #41 Bruce Wheller
Thunder Car Feature : #89 Shawn Chenoweth, #27 Kevin Albers, #13 Brad Collison, #76 Shawn Arnott, #49 Dave Bailey, #8 Steve Perry, #17 Tristan Gill, #33 Mike Gilmour, #7 Bobby Mercer, #41 Bruce Wheller, #5 Linda Stenhouse, #14 Rob Istead, #3 Kevin Gallant (DNF)
Ontario Modified Heat : #09 Nick Lees, #7 Brent Mclean, #95 Rob Warnes, #61 Bill Pickford, #65 Bill Burrows, #77 Chad Strawn, #88 Ryan Dick, #90 Rick Warnes, #62 Randy Hollingsworth, #07 Alex Lees (DNS)
Ontario Modified Feature : #77 Chad Strawn, #95 Rob Warnes, #7 Brent McLean, #88 Ryan Dick, #65 Bill Burrows, #61 Bill Pickford, #90 Rick Warnes (DNF), #09 Nick Lees (DNF), #62 Randy Hollingsworth (DNF), #07 Alex Lees (DNS)
Can Am Midget Heat #1 : #48 Darren McLennan, #3 Todd Creswell, #40 Mack Deman, #94 Ryan Fraser, #99 Daniel Bois, #49 Lucas Smith, #84Tyler Turnbull, #20 Rob Divenanzo, #22 Chris Bauman, #64 Dave Hickson
Can Am Midget Heat #2 : #7 Jeff Blackburn, #14 Dylon Smith, #12 Dave Balych, #16 Chris Holman, #31 Kent Turnbull, #43 Adrian Stahle, #37 Adam Racine, #63 Barry Dunn, #4 Ryan Hunsinger
Can Am Midget B Feature : #37 Adam Racine, #49 Lucas Smith, #84 Tyler Turnbull, #20 Rob Divenanzo, #22 Chris Bauman, #24 Al Smith, #4 Ryan Hunsinger, #63 Barry Dunn (DNF), #64 Dave Hickson (DNF)
Can Am Midget Feature : #40 Mack Deman, #7 Jeff Blackburn, #3 Todd Creswell, #94 Ryan Fraser, #74 Rob Neely, #37 Adam Racine, #12 Dave Balych, #99 Daniel Bois, #16 Chris Holman, #48 Darren McLennan, #43 Adrain Stahle, #31 Kent Turnbull, #4 Ryan Hunsinger, #84 Tyler Turnbull, #22 Chris Bauman, #24 Al Smith, #20 Rob Divenanzo, #49 Lucas Smith (DNF), #64 Dave Hickson (DNF)
Photos by Larissa Spencer
About the Author
RT @OnPitRoad_: DeMan, Strawn, Chenoweth, Pearsall, Aicken & Hils Take Wins At Flamboro Speedway http://t.co/WqXbnYnrye @randyspencer13