By Randy Spencer – Two things have been constant in 2014 at Bennett Chevrolet Flamboro Speedway, good weather and some amazing race action. Mix some steamy weather and some hotly anticipated racing action and you have a formula for a great night. And the racers didn’t disappoint.
On the racing card tonight, the Klotz Auto Repair & Engine Machine Shop Mini Stocks, the Ponderosa Nature Resort Pure Stocks and the Ponderosa Nature Resort Pro 4 Modifieds. Also on hand, the second leg of the Flamboro Speedway/Delaware Speedway Thunder Car Challenge and the Lucas Oil Sportsman Cup presented by Meineke with a 100 lap feature race.
The evening started early at 5 pm with time trials for both Thunder Cars first and then the LOSC. Flamboro’s Shawn Chenoweth was the first car up and he set the bar high right off the bat with a time of 17.119. It didn’t last too long as the third car up was Mark Burbridge. His first lap was 17.077 and he bettered that on lap two with a 16.974 to set the top time and was the only car to break in to the 16 second mark.
As mentioned, some hotly anticipated racing action was on tap tonight. On June 7th, the Lucas Oil Sportsman series opened their season at Sauble Speedway. The “Juice Box” Jake Ott set the fast time and a new track record in time trials with a 15.514. Through the race Ott and Shawn McGlynn battled hard for every inch and as the race wore on the two came together, sparks flew and McGlynn limped back to the pits ending his hopes of a win. Ott however made the most of it capping off a great night with his fourth career LOSC checkered flag.
On this night, the two were back and ready to pick up where they left off. McGlynn turned a lap of 16.717 in his first attempt and was on the pole but with half the field including Ott still to come, every one holding their breath. Josh Wood, Kevin Allen and Brennan Didero all got close getting into the 16’s. Ott’s first lap got him close with a 16.817. His second lap put him on the pole with a 16.693. The “Fast Five” draw shook things up as Ott drew fifth with Josh Wood and Brennan Didero up front.
We got right into heat racing as time trials came to a close. Gillian Hils won both Pure Stock heats, Josh Lassaline and Brian Nanticoke picked up wins in the Pro 4 Modified qualifiers while the Mini Stock heat wins went to Russ Aicken, Mike Holmes and two by Hudson Nagy.
In the first Thunder Car feature, the top two qualifiers, Mark Burbridge and Shawn Chenoweth were on the pole. As at Delaware, the home cars dominate at their home track. Tonight seven of the top ten finishers were Flamboro cars. Burbridge and Chenoweth battled for 25 laps with Burbridge showing why he qualified first, holding off the eager Chenoweth for the win. The cars would be back later in the evening for the second round and a complete inversion of the lead laps cars from the first feature would certainly make it interesting.
Matt Young and Andy Wheller were on the pole as the Pure Stocks took green in their 15 lap feature. Wheller battled it out with Shawn Taylor for the entire race. Taylor made it exciting on several occasions challenging for the lead but just couldn’t get by as the two broke away from the rest of the pack. Gillian Hils, who won both heat races earlier made a race of it closing in on the leaders as they race continued. At the checkered flag, Wheller managed to hold off Taylor to pick up his first feature race of the season.
Mini Stocks were next and they have certainly been making some noise lately. With some of the finest young talent in the province in this division, it’s making for a very exciting season of racing. Hudson Nagy, Jake Gilbert, Darren Dryden and Blair Wickett, just to name a few, are making this one of the most exciting divisions around. Nagy proved that early on winning both his heat races. He and Gilbert were on the pole for this feature and they knew they had their hands full. Some unfortunate luck in the Mini Stock feature two weeks ago for Russ Aicken as he and Mike Holmes went into that night tied in points. On the final lap as you may remember, Holmes, Aiken and a lapped car got tangled on the final lap and Aiken spun to the infield. As the cars entered the night, Holmes was leading Aiken by 14 points. Both cars won a heat early on so things pretty much stayed the same going into the feature. Nagy got off to a fast start and led the first five laps
but Aiken was charging hard for the front and took the lead on lap six, holding off Holmes as best as he could. The two were tapping away at each other the whole night. Holmes claimed the lead from Aiken on lap 13 and managed to hold off Aiken for the rest of the race. Make sure you don’t miss next week’s feature!
The Pro 4 Modifieds were led to green in their 15 lap feature by Aaron Turkey and Linc Erison. Turkey has been hot lately winning the past two weeks on the dirt in the Strickland’s GMC Crate Sprint Car series at Ohsweken Speedway. He continued the hot shoe leading flag to flag holding off a late charge from Bill Pearsall.
The second Thunder Car feature of the night proved to be a very exciting event. Bruce Wheller and Mike “Happy” Gilmour led the field to green. Gilmour was cruising along but he slowed going down the front stretch on lap four and retired to the pits. Bobby Mercer inherited the lead followed closely by “The Killer Bee” Steve Perry. As the field charged down the front stretch on lap 8, Perry was just nosing past Mercer but the Oil Pan let go on the 02 car of Mark Burbridge causing a wild crash into the turn one wall. Fortunately for Burbridge, and all involved the fire was short lived but his night was finished along with Kevin Gallant and Mitch Miljanovic who were in hot pursuit and had no where to go. On the restart, Perry led the field into turn one-two but got turned and the field stacked up with the result, Jordan Lawrence getting up on the drivers side of Dave Bailey’s car peeling the side panel off sending him to the pits for repairs. A few other
cars spun to the infield but for the most part everyone got through the mess. Perry led the field until the half way mark when Bobby Mercer and Shawn Arnott got tangled going down the back stretch. The two made a right turn into the wall and Mercer lost his tight rear wheel as the two came to a rest in a tangled mess. Both drivers exited their cars, quite hot under the collar but cooler heads prevailed. On the restart, Perry once again led but was quickly challenged by former Flamboro Thunder Car champion “Killer”Kevin Albers. The two battled door to door for several laps but Albers took the inside track passing Perry in turn four followed closely by Shawn Chenoweth. The two raced bumper to bumper for several laps until Chenoweth made his moved going into turn three on the final lap. A little tap and Chenoweth went low inside in an effort to get by. As the two cars barreled out of the final turn Chenoweth was inching ever closer but as the two crossed
the line, Albers got over the line first by less than half a car length. With out a doubt, one of the most exciting Thunder Car races I’ve seen in a long time. As the numbers were tallied after racing, Chenoweth was overall champion of the night with two second place finishes. That puts Chenoweth in the lead for the Flamboro/Delaware Thunder Car Challenge Six Pack series. For the record, Chenoweth is also in first for the Flamboro/Delaware Late Model Challenge Six Pack series as well. If you have the chance look it up on You Tube, some great action with that super close finish. The link is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9taWNYM0Nzk.
The final race of the evening was the 100 lap feature for the Lucas Oil Sportsman Cup presented by Meineke. As mentioned earlier, this one had a boat load of anticipation and talk, especially on social media where the hype for this event was making it an exciting evening. Josh Wood and Brennan Didero lined up side by side on the pole for the green with Shawn McGlynn and Kevin Allen in row two with Jake Ott in fifth. Wood and Didero battled each other hard for several laps early but Didero, a former Flamboro Late Model regular, pulled a way and looked to be in control. A broken rear end ended Didero’s night a third of the way through. Shawn McGlynn took the lead followed closely by Wood and Ott. The made contact and Ott’s rear bumper was torn almost completely off. Ott was sent to the pits to remove the bumper and his hopes of winning two straight was finished. McGlynn led for ten laps but Dave Connelly, who hovered around the top five all night made his
move. As Ott returned to the track he narrowly missed Connelly and McGlynn and got involved with Wood bringing out another caution. On the restart, Kevin Allen and McGlynn waged battle as Connelly began to pull away. A yellow flag with five laps to go tightened the field and making for a sizzling finish. Connelly had a great restart, held off Allen and McGlynn and picked up his second career LOSC win.
That wrapped up another exciting night of racing. Please make plans to join us next week, July 5th for the another great night of racing. It’s Round Two of the Grisdale Triple Crown Series with a 75 lap feature for Late Models. Matt Pritiko won round One a few week ago and this will be another exciting event. Also on hand, the Ontario Pro Challenge, the Klotz Auto Repair & Engine Machine Shop Mini Stocks, the Ponderosa Nature Resort Pure Stocks and the Ray’s Auto Centre and Towing Thunder Cars.
Pit gates open at 3pm, Grandstands at 5pm and green flag flies at 6pm. Admission prices for the grandstands are as follows. Adult $20.00, Senior & Student $17.00, Children (12 and under) $5.00, Family Ticket (2 Adults and up to 4 children) $45.00. HST EXTRA. Admission price to the Pits is $35.00 for non members, Members (with pit pass) $30.00 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.
Please check the website, www.flamborospeedway.ca for more details including the schedule and updated point standings for all divisions.
Race recap Round Two Flamboro/Delaware Late Model Challenge @ Delaware Speedway
Round Two of the Flamboro Speedway/Delaware Speedway Late Model Challenge was held this past Friday, June 27th at Delaware Speedway.
Twenty Late Models were ready for Time Trials including five Flamboro regulars. Mark Watson of Delaware Speedway set the fast time of 18.786 but the story was Flamboro’s Dale Shaw who had never raced this track before setting the second fastest time at 18.806. The dice inversion of eleven would set the field for the 100-lap APC-Six Pack Series main event. Doug Stewart led the opening twelve laps but Cole Powell would get around him in turn two on lap 13 to take the lead. A caution on lap 17 as Adam Quarrie and Dan Prudhomme got involved. Another caution came out on lap 24 for a spin involving Prudhomme and Jake Ott. As the field reached the half way mark, Cole Powell was leading. Flamboro’s Dale Shaw was having a great race remaining in the top five for most of the race. As the race wore on there was lots of action as Powell, Watson, Jamie Cox and Shawn Thompson were battling up front. Powell kept making the job harder on himself. A flat tire and
penalty of one lap for delaying the race set him back but he wouldn’t stop battling all night. Mark Watson spun bringing out another caution. Thompson continued to lead and although he was a lap down for his penalty, Powell battled his way back to the front and got to third and a caution on the 82nd lap gave Powell a lap back and he was once again on the lead lap. On the restart, Thompson lined up along side Flamboro’s Shawn Chenoweth who made his way to the front. Chenoweth couldn’t hold off Thompson but the two continued to race bumper to bumper with Cole Powell close behind. A hard crash into the turn four wall by Steve March brought out a caution with four laps remaining. On the restart, Thompson regained the lead with Powell getting by Chenoweth. Another caution and restart and it looked like Chenoweth was going to be able to hold off Thompson but the Delaware regulars were just too much for Chenoweth as he slipped back to third. The next APC Late
Model 100 is at Delaware Speedway July 18th with the next Flamboro date July 26th.
Photos by SuperNovaPhotos.
Official Results
Mini Stock Heat #1 : #36 Hudson Nagy, #03 Jake Gilbert, #61 Chad Ditner, #01 Josh Shantz, #5 Ken Stenhouse, #62 Ashley Holmes, #05 Dave Goodacre
Mini Stock Heat #2 : #71 Russ Aicken, #13 Mike Holmes, #12 Darren Dryden, #97 Blair Wickett, #10 Mike Larkin, #72 Rich Schwartzenberg, #4 Jason Coutu, #50 Chad Corcoran (DNS)
Mini Stock Heat #3 : #36 Hudson Nagy, #61 Chad Ditner, #01 Josh Shantz, #03 Jake Gilbert, #62 Ashley Holmes, #5 Ken Stenhouse, #05 Dave Goodacre
Mini Stock Heat #4 : #13 Mike Holmes, #12 Darre Dryden, #71 Russ Aicken, #97 Blair Wickett, #72 Rich Schwartzenberg, #10 Mike Larkin, #4 Jason Coutu, #50 Chad Corcoran (DNS)
Mini Stock Feature : #13 Mike Holmes, #71 Russ Aicken, #12 Darren Dryden, #97 Blair Wickett, #36 Hudson Nagy, #61 Chad Ditner, #62 Ashley Holmes, #01 Josh Shantz, #03 Jake Gilbert, #72 Rich Schwartzenberg, #5 Ken Stenhouse, #10 Mike Larki, #05 Dave Goodacre, #4 Jason Coutu, #50 Chad Corcoran (DNF)
Pure Stock Heat #1 : #32 Gillian Hils, #31 Andy Wheller, #7 Matt Young, #6 Wayde Thorne, #00 Bill Rutherford, #70 Nick Armstrong, # 48 Steve DeLeeuw, #76 Shawn Taylor (DNF), #07 Michael Kenny (DNF)
Pure Stock Heat #2 : #32 Gilliann Hils, #31 Andy Wheller, #76 Shawn Taylor, #6 Wayde Thorne, #7 Matt Young, #48 Steve DeLeeuw, #00 Bill Rutherford (DNF), #07 Michael Kenny (DNF), #70 Nick Armstrong (DNS)
Pure Stock Feature : #31 Andy Wheller, #76 Shawn Taylor, #32 Gillian Hils, #6 Wayde Thorne, #7 Matt Young, #00 Bill Rutherford, #70 Nick Armstrong, #48 Steve DeLeeuw, #07 Michael Kenny (DNS)
Pro 4 Modified Heat #1 : #24 Josh Lassaline, #8 Craig Shaver, #91 Robert Mercer, #38 Bill Pearsall, #93 Dan Petit, #15 Dan Nanticoke, #68 Aaron Turkey, #9 Brian Nanticoke, #23 Linc Ersion, #63 Mark Lucas (DNS)
Pro 4 Modified Heat #2 : #9 Brian Nanticoke, #68 Aaron Turkey, #91 Robert Mercer, #8 Craig Shaver, #15 Dan Nanticoke, #23 Linc Ersion, #63 Mark Lucas, #24 Josh Lassaline, #93 Dan Petit, #38 Bill Pearsall (DNF)
Pro 4 Modified Feature : #68 Aaron Turkey, #38 Bill Pearsall, #93 Dan Petit, #63 Mark Lucas, #9 Brian Nanticoke, #23 Linc Erison, #8 Craig Shaver, #24 Josh Lassaline, #91 Robert Mercer, #15 Dan Nanticoke
Thunder Car Feature #1 : #02 Mark Burbridge, #89 Shawn Chenoweth, #3 Kevin Gallant, #7x Branden Verhoeven, #13 Brad Collison, #3 Shae Gemmell, #27 Kevin Albers, #51 Matt Robblee, #76 Shawn Arnott, #49 Dave Bailey, #83 Paul Fothergill, #8 Steve Perry, #78 Jordan Lawrence, #7 Bobby Mercer, #41 Bruce Wheller, #37 Jeff Bean, #33 Mike Gilmour, #17 Kenny McNicol Jr., #5 Linda Stenhouse, #38 Jamie Grover, #77 Mitch Miljanovic (DNF), #55 Gary Adriaensen (DNF), #16 Kathleen Hosang (DNF), #1 Trevor Collver (DNF), #71 Darrell Lake DNS)
Thunder Car Feature #2 : #27 Kevin Albers, #89 Shawn Chenoweth, #83 Paul Fothergill, #13 Brad Collison, #8 Steve Perry, #3 Shae Gemmell, #49 Dave Bailey, #41 Bruce Wheller, #37 Jeff Bean, #5 Linda Stenhouse, #51 Matt Robblee, #55 Gary Adriansen (DNF), #7 Bobby Mercer (DNF), #76 Shawn Arnott (DNF), #78 Jordan Lawrence (DNF), #02 Mark Burbridge (DNF), #31 Kevin Gallant (DNF), #77 Mitch Miljanovic (DNF), #33 Mike Gilmour (DNF), #71 Darrell Lake (DNF), #16 Kathleen Hosang (DNF), #1 Trevor Collver (DNF), #38 Jamie Grover (DQ), #7x Branden Verhoeven (DQ), #17Kenny McNicol Jr. (DNS)
Lucas Oil Sportsman Cup Feature : #82 Dave Connelly, #54 Kevin Allen, #81 Shawn McGlynn, #48 Doug Cathcart, #85 Mike Nelson, #8 Adam Martin, #66 Josh Wood, #6 Jeremy Coulter, #93 Jason Meyer (DNF), #3 Tim Tolton, #31 John Schwemler (DNF), #24 Brennan Didero (DNF), #70 Ben Charboneau (DNF), #43 Bob Merrifield (DNF), #60 Jake Ott (DQ), #18 Chad McGlynn (DQ)
Thunder Car Time Trials (Fast Lap)
02 Mark Burbridge (16.974)
89 Shawn Chenoweth (17.119)
7x Branden Verhoeven (17.230)
31 Kevin Gallant (17.238)
13 Brad Collison (17.248)
49 Dave Bailey (17.290)
51 Matt Robblee (17.302)
78 Jordan Lawrence (17.311)
3 Shae Gemmell (17.337)
27 Kevin Albers (17.421)
77 Mitch Miljanovic (17.485)
38 Jamie Grover (17.529)
83 Paul Fothergill (17.563)
17 Kenny McNicol Jr. (17.657)
7 Bobby Mercer (17.704)
33 Mike Gilmour (7.746)
8 Steve Perry (17.620)
76 Shawn Arnott (17.750)
37 Jeff Bean (17.852)
16 Kathleen Hosang (18.061)
41 Bruce Wheller (18.167)
5 Linda Stenhouse (18.201)
55 Gary Adriaensen (18.408)
1 Trevor Collver (21.279)
71 Darrell Lake (no time)
Lucas Oil Sportsman Cup Time Trials (Fast Lap)
60 Jake Ott (16.693)
81 Shawn McGlynn (16.717)
66 Josh Wood (16.870)
24 Brennan Didero (16.894)
54 Kevin Allen (16.946)
82 Dave Connelly (17.048)
48 Doug Cathcart (17.151)
85 Mike Nelson (17.156)
3 Tim Tolton (17.185)
43 Bob Merrifield (17.239)
18 Chad McGlynn (17.303)
70 Ben Charbonneau (17.327)
93 Jason Meyer (17.477)
6 Jeremy Coulter (17.484)
8 Adam Martin (17.658)
53 Brad Martin (no time)
31 Kevin Schwemler (no time)
Results from Flamboro/Delaware Challenge June 27th
Time Trials
2nd- Dale Shaw 18.806, 6th- Shawn Chenoweth 18.908, 13th- Jake Ott 19.275, 17th- Rick Burbridge 19.471, 19th- Nick Roth 19.475
Feature
3rd- Shawn Chenoweth, 10th- Jake Ott, 11th- Rick Burbridge (DNF), 13th- Nick Roth, 15th- Dale Shaw (DNF)
