Chenoweth, Corcoran, Gallant, Karley and Taylor Big Winners at Flamboro

By Randy Spencer for Ontario Oval – After a week of rain, suuny and cooler weather awaited as the Grisdale Late Models made their first appearance of the 2014 racing season at Bennett Chevrolet Flamboro Speedway. Two noticeable drivers were absent, Jason Shaw and Paul Howse won’t run Flamboro this year except for the occasional special event. Just eight drivers signed in for Late Models tonight but the season is still early and with the first APC Challenge 100 lap race next Saturday, many more will be on scene soon.

The night started as though there was a full moon on the horizon. The Pure Stocks started off and on the first lap, the 00 and 6 car got tangled on the front stretch on lap one. Wayde Thorne in the 6 was not at all pleased with the 00 car and showed his displeasure, exiting the car and hunting him down as the cars circled under caution. Several more cautions for altercations on laps 5 and 7 made it seem as though it was going to be a long night. Josh Shantz was out again this week and once again picked up a win in the heat.

In Mini Stock action, Chad Corcoran took the lead from Rick Robinson on lap two and took the checkered flag. In the second heat, Scott Simmons lead the first half of the race but Mike Holmes got by on lap six to pick up the win.

In the first Thunder Car heat, a delay when the 33 car of Mike Gilmour made hard contact with the back stretch wall. Bruce Wheller had a broken drive shaft on the same caution spewing oil and parts in corner one. When the mess was cleared, Big Bad Bob Chenoweth led all ten laps to pick his first win after getting back behind the wheel. In heat two, Brad Collison led from flag to flag to pick up the heat win.

The Late Models took to the track for their first race of the season, and Shawn Chenoweth led all ten laps making it three wins in a row for the London Recreational race team.

The Canadian Vintage Modifieds had sixteen cars signed in for their first event of 2014, the clubs 48th season. Jeremy Riopelle led all ten laps picking up the win in heat one while John Karley repeated that performance, leading all ten laps in heat two.

It was feature time and the Pure Stocks were up first for their fifteen lap main event. it looked as though the may be starting off as they did in heat one as the 31 car spun before one lap was complete. But after that it was smooth sailing as the 76 of Shawn Taylor led all the way but Josh Shantz in the 70 gave him all he could handle. If there was a few more laps, it would have been a real nail biter.

Chad Corcoran was on fire. After dealing with some transmission issues early, the young driver got out to a big lead. Lapped traffic made it difficult for Mike Holmes and Russ Aicken to make a serious challenge and as the checkered flag flew, it was Corcoran in victory lane.

Thunder Car feature was like the Mini Stock race, with Kevin Gallant getting out to a nice lead holding off the rest of the pack. Kevin Albers, Brad Collison and Shawn Arnott battled each other hard making for a great race.

The Late Model feature was up with thirty laps of exciting action. Shawn Chenoweth and Dale Shaw battled each other bumper to bumper. Chenoweth led the first 23 laps and going into turn four it appeared Shaw nudged Chenoweth sending him spinning to the infield. Both cars went to the back but before long they were back up front. Nick Roth took the lead on lap 24 but Chenoweth shot up from the back and was back in the lead on the next lap. Dale Shaw was back on Chenoweth’s bumper but wasn’t able to get by and Chenoweth took the checkered flag.

The final race of the night was the 25 lap feature for the Canadian Vintage Modifieds. As the cars tried so sort themselves out, there were three cautions in the first 8 laps. Looks like this year after three cautions the CVM will be starting the fourth time single file to help cut down on cautions. John Karley led early and Steve Trendell was giving him all he could handle. Half way through the race however Trendell retired to the pits after some sparking coming from the right front wheel. That put Brian Atkinson and 2013 champion Jason Keen on Karley’s bumper but the veteran racer held them off, led all 25 laps to pick up the win. Karley always seems to save some of his best performances for Flamboro Speedway.

That wrapped up another exciting night of racing. Please make plans to join us next Saturday, May 24th for our first big race night of the young season. It’s the first APC (Auto Parts Centres) Challenge with 100 laps for Late Models. They’ll be joined by the Ontario Pro Challenge, the Klotz Auto Repair & Engine Machine Shop Mini Stocks and the Ray�s Towing & Recovery Thunder Cars. Pit gates open at 3pm, Grandstands at 5pm and green flag flies at 6pm. Please check the website, www.flamborospeedway.ca for ticket pricing and more details.

Photos by Derek Smith, racepulse.com

Unofficial Results

Pure Stock Heat : #70 Josh Shantz, #76 Shawn Taylor, #32 Gillian Hils, #31 Rebecca Corcoran, #48 Steve Deleeuw, #7 Matt Young (DNF), #6 Wayde Thorne (DNF), #00 Rodney Rutherford (DNF)

Pure Stock Feature : #76 Shawn Taylor, #70 Josh Shantz, #32 Gillian Hils, #6 Wayde Thorne, #7 Matt Young, #31 Rebecca Corcoran, #48 Steve Deleeuw, #00 Rodney Rutherford (DNF)

Mini Stock Heat #1 : #50 Chad Corcoran, #5 Ken Stenhouse, #03 Jake Gilbert, #36 Hudson Nagy, #01 Mark DaSilva, #42 Rick Robinson, #62 Ashley Holmes, #05 Dave Goodacre, #10 Courtney Scott

Mini Stock Heat #2 : #13 Mike Holmes, #71 Russ Aicken, #37 Rob Hoskins, #44 Scott Simmons, #61 Chad Ditner, #12 Darren Dryden, #2 Mark Dennis, #97 Blair Wickett, #26 Mark Klotz (DNF)

Mini Stock Feature : #50 Chad Corcoran, #13 Mike Holmes, #71 Russ Aicken, #44 Scott Simmons, #12 Darren Dryden, #26 Mark Klotz, #61 Cad Ditner, #01 Mark DaSilva, #03 Jake Gilbert, #5 Ken Stenhouse, #97 Blair Wickett, #2 Mark Dennis, #42 Rick Robinson, #62 Ashley Holmes, #10 Courtney Scott, #05 Dave Goodacre, #36 Hudson Nagy (DNS), #37 Rob Hoskins (DNS)

Thunder Car Heat #1 : #89 Bob Chenoweth, #31 Kevin Gallant, #77 Mitch Miljanovic, #76 Shawn Arnott, #5 Linda Stenhouse, #7 Bobby Mercer, #33 Mike Gilmour (DNF), #41 Bruce Wheller (DNF)

Thunder Car Heat #2 : #13 Brad Collison, #02 Mark Burbridge, #27 Kevin Albers, #49 Dave Bailey, #38 Bill Pearsall, #3 Jack Myers, #01 Wayne Phillips

Thunder Car Feature : #31 Kevin Gallant, #27 Kevin Albers, #76 Shawn Arnott, #13 Brad Collison, #02 Mark Burbridge, #39 Bob Chenoweth, #49 Dave Bailey, #7 Bobby Mercer, #77 Mitch Miljanovic, #3 Jack Myers, #38 Bill Pearsall, #5 Linda Stenhouse, #01 Wayne Phillips (DNF), #33 Mike Gilmour (DNS), #41 Bruce Wheller (DNS)

Late Model Heat : #89 Shawn Chenoweth, #83 Dale Shaw, #61 Brent Wheller, #2 Rick Burbridge, #17 Nick Roth, #29 Bob Wood, #58 Paul Dudnick, #74 Rick Baskett

Late Model Feature : #89 Shawn Chenoweth, #83 Dale Shaw, #17 Nick Roth, #2 Rick Burbridge, #61 Brent Wheller, #29 Bob Wood, #58 Paul Dudnick, #74 Rick Baskett (DNF)

Canadian Vintage Modified Heat #1 : #00 Jeremy Riopelle, #57 Steve Trendell, #7 Mike Williams, #15 T.J. Marshall, #08 Al Shepstone, #44 Rick Schurr, #5 Mike Podd, #38 Dustin Hood

Canadian Vintage Modified Heat #2 : #19 John Karley, #9 Steve Lyons, #92 Brian Atkinson, #18 Jason Keen, #50 Joe Atkinson, #6 Adrian Donkers, #99 Rick Jones, #14 Jerrid Morphy

Canadian Vintage Modified Feature : #19 John Karley, #92 Brian Atkinson, #18 Jason Keen, #6 Adrian Donkers, #15 T.J. Marshall, #7 Mike Williams, #9 Steve Lyons, #50 Joe Atkinson, #08 Al Shepstone, #00 Jeremy Riopelle, #44 Rick Schurr, #14 Jerrid Morphy, #38 Dustin Hood, #99 Rick Jones (DNF), #57 Steve Trendell (DNF), #5 Mike Podd (DNF)