Billy Schwartzenburg continues winning ways at Sauble Speedway

On Saturday night, Sauble Speedway would welcome the Sunset Speedway cars to join them on-track as part of the Sauble-Sunset Home-to-Home Series. In the end, the “master of touring” Billy Schwartzenburg would pick up the feature victory.

Notably, the Spira Racing driver has multiple wins this year to date in tour of the tracks, including Sauble, Sunset and Full Throttle Speedway. Schwartzenburg began doing this tour last year after winning the Mini Stock Championship at Flamboro Speedway in 2012.

It should also be noted that Schwartzenburg, Ken Spira and Spira Racing have once again stepped up to the plate this year in a charitable way, donating all of Schwartzenburg’s winnings to the Guelph Wish Fund for Children.

Getting into the racing action, Kevin Bridge won the first heat as he would beat Rory Collett by just a tick at the line. Gerritt Tiemersma finished third, followed by Miles Tyson, Kyle Jackson, Liam McIvor, Lauren Halliday, Howard Bentley, Jake Watson, Kendra Adams, Terry Woodley and Jerry Noble.

At the start of the second heat, Steve Love would pull off with a mechanical issue as the car stalled in turn one. Brandon McFerran would pick up the win ahead of Schwartzenburg, Jordan Howse, John VanDyk, Scott Simmons, Connor James, Paul Boyd, Brian Love, Ken Townsend, Doug Wilman and Candiss Everingham.

Billy Melenhorst won the third and final heat ahead of Ben Melenhorst, Samantha Shaw, Cory Young, Steve Belanger, T.J. Edwards, Chandler Bois, Eric Rainey, Dave Middel and Morgan Robson.

With over 24 cars in attendance, the officials would take the top six from each heat straight to the main event, as well as the top-six from the b-main to make up the 24-car feature.

Paul Boyd would win the b-main ahead of Bentley, Halliday, Watson, Bois and Townsend to qualify for the main event. Adams, Woodley, Wilman, Noble, Everingham, Rainey, Middel and Robson would fail to qualify, unfortunately.

Come feature time, Gerritt Tiemersma would start pole, ahead of Ben Melenhorst, Billy Schwartzenburg, Rory Collett, Billy Melenhorst, Brandon McFerran, Kevin Bridge, Jordan Howse, Samantha Shaw, Miles Tyson, John VanDyk, Cory Young, Kyle Jackson, Scott Simmons, Steve Belanger, Liam McIvor, Connor James, T.J. Edwards, Paul Boyd, Howard Bentley, Lauren Halliday, Jake Watson, Chandler Bois, Kendra Adams and Ken Townsend. Adams did not make the field, but pulled out as the bubble car and was allowed to run as Townsend did not make line-up at first.

Ben Melenhorst jumped out to the early lead ahead ahead of Tiemersma and Schwartzenburg as Billy Melenhorst and Collett battled for fourth. Their battle would be cut short as the caution would fly on lap two for McFerran going around as a result of contact from Bridge. Both drivers would be sent to the back for the restart. With 24 laps to go, Ben Melenhorst led Tiemersma, Schwartzenburg, Collett, Billy Melenhorst, Howse, Young, VanDyk, Tyson, Simmons and Shaw.

The restart wouldn’t go smoothly as Tiemersma didn’t get going, resulting in Schwartzenburg and Collett going for the three-wide split. As Tiemersma slid back some spots with everyone trying to gain spots, diving left and right, someone would get into Jordan Howse. Howse would go across the backstretch, climbing the backstretch wall before rolling to a stop in the infield. In the midst of that, heavy contact would be made between Boyd and Adams, resulting in heavy damage to both cars. Luckily, they’d be the only drivers involved as others cut through the grass and any place they could to avoid further contact. All three drivers would be okay, though done for the event.

Still with 24 laps to go, Ben Melenhorst led Tiemersma, Schwartzenburg, Collett, Billy Melenhorst, Tyson, Young, VanDyk, Simmons and Shaw.

The second would go smoothly as Ben Melenhorst grabbed the advantage while Tiemersma and Schwartzenburg battled for second. Schwartzenburg would grab the spot on lap four, bringing Billy Melenhorst and Young through with him as Tiemersma fell back to fifth. Tyson would get alongside Tiemersma on lap five, completing the pass a lap later.

On lap eight, Schwartzenburg would get alongside Ben Melenhorst taking the lead, passing him a lap later. Billy Melenhorst continued to run third ahead of Young, Tyson, Tiemesrma and VanDyk. VanDyk would pass Tiemersma for sixth on lap 10, while Shaw and Simmons rounded out the top-nine.

On his way back to the front following his spin, McFerran would crack the top 10 on lap 11, moving by Simmons for ninth on lap 12. McFerran then got alongside Shaw for eighth at lap 13, passing her at lap 16 as Tiemersma got by Simmons for 10^th.

With five laps to go, the field would string out single-file as they made their way by the lap cars. Schwartzenburg would hold a smooth line the whole time, claiming the checkered flag. The Melenhorst brothers would battle side-by-side for second in the final two laps, with Billy getting the advantage over Ben at the line. Cory Young and Miles Tyson would round out the top five.

John VanDyk finished sixth, followed by Brandon McFerran, Samantha Shaw, Scott Simmons and Gerritt Timersma. Rory Collett finished 11^th, followed by Liam McIvor, Kyle Jackson and Steve Belanger. Howard Bentley would finish 15^th as the first car a lap down ahead of Jake Watson, Lauren Halliday and Chandler Bois.

About the Author

Ashley McCubbin

Joining OnPitRoad.com mid-2013 season, Ashley McCubbin is now the Managing Editor and contributes to each racing division as needed. Since studying journalism at the University of Guelph-Humber, Ashley has published articles on a couple of different websites, while serving as a public relations representative for different short track teams. Born in North York, Ontario, Ashley currently lives in Bradford, Ontario and spends her weekend at the local short tracks in the area. She has spent her entire life at the short track level, falling in love with the sport at the age of five. Beyond her love of short track racing, she also has grown an interest for both NASCAR and the IndyCar Racing Series. She also enjoys taking photos and working on websites, while playing a couple rounds of Candy Crush afterwards.

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