By Randy Spencer – It was the annual Memorial Night at Bennett Chevrolet Flamboro Speedway and the fifth leg of the APC Flamboro/Delaware Thunder Car Challenge. Twin 25 lap features as we get close to crowning a champion.
The evening got under way with time trials for the Thunder Cars. Twenty Three cars took to the 1/3 mile oval to set the field for the first feature. Branden Verhoeven set the bench mark early going out third and turning a fast lap at 16.859. Kevin Albers was close at 17.018 and Shawn Chenoweth got close at 17.088. But Mark Burbridge would set the fast time just eclipsing Verhoeven with a time of 16.849.
With the field set for the Thunder Cars we got right into heat racing for the remainder of the divisions. Pure Stock heat wins went to, Shawn Taylor with two, Jaeger McMaster and Andy Wheller with one each. Craig Shaver and Brian Nanticoke won Pro 4 Modified heats. Mini Stock qualifiers went to Russ Aicken with two, Chad Corcoran and James Townsend with one each. Nick Roth and David Elliott won heats in Late Models while Ryan Dyck won the lone Ontario Modified heat.
With heats finished that brought intermission and with it being Memorial Night, there was a moment of silence and the names of those drivers, pit crew members and friends of Flamboro Speedway we loved and lost were announced. Approximately 140 names are now on the trophy.
The first 25 lap Thunder Car Challenge feature was up first. Mark Burbridge and Branden Verhoeven who set the top two times in qualifying earlier were on the pole. Burbridge shot out to the lead off the green and held off all comers. Kevin Albers was mounting a serious challenge when coming out of turn four on lap 16 the car lost power and fortunately the remainder of the field managed to get around without any contact and Albers retired to the infield. Chenoweth was on Burbridge’s bumper, followed closely by Verhoeven and that’s the way the would remain. Burbridge (of Brantford) led from flag to flag in a caution free feature to pick up the checkered flag.
The Pure Stock feature was up next. Nice to see 15 cars take the green, the largest field this year. Sam Heibein and Wayde Thorne were on the pole for the 15 lap main event. An early caution as the cars piled up coming out of turn two and Keara Corcoran and Mark Thorne got side ways and went around bringing out the caution. Heiben led lap one but was quickly passed by Gillian Hils and Shawn Taylor. The two have been battling for the top spot all year and continued again tonight. Hils of Dundas manged to hold off Taylor and picked up the feature win to narrow Taylor’s point lead over her to a slim 13 points.
The Mini Stock 25 lap feature hit the track next with Jake Gilbert and Chad Ditner were on the point for this one. Blair Wickett got the lead off lap one and held it until the veteran Russ Aicken took the lead on lap 7. Aicken trailed Mike Holmes by 28 points going into the night. James Townsend, a regular at Peterborough Speedway had a great run and was battling Aiken and Holmes throughout. Lapped traffic made it difficult for them to get past Aicken and the New Hamburg native picked up another feature win and closed the gap on Holmes by just one point. Holmes came home third. A big thanks to all the Pure Stock and Mini Stock drivers that traveled from Peterborough Speedway for tonight’s racing event. Hope to see them all back for Oktoberfest and Frost Fest!!!
The Pro 4 Modifeds were on the track next for their 15 lap feature. Robert Mercer and Linc Erison were up front and Mercer got out to a nice lead and it looked like he was on his way to a second straight feature win. On lap 9, Craig Shaver, Bill Pearsall and Mike Westwood got into a nasty mix up coming out of turn four. Pearsall wasn’t able to continue and Shaver lasted just a couple more laps. On the restart, Mercer looked a little eager and spun coming down the front stretch as his left side tires hit the wet grass and with that went his lead. Brian Nanticoke of Six Nations took over the lead and wouldn’t relinquish it and picked up the checkered flag.
The Late Models hit the track with Nick Roth and Rick Burbridge led the field to green in their 25 lap feature. Roth look unbeatable leading the first 19 laps. Not sure if it was contact or if someone got loose but the lead changed hands coming out of turn four and Dale Shaw took the lead followed closely by David Elliott. Shaw led two laps but Elliott of Stoney Creek took the lead from Shaw with two laps remaining and took the checkered flag. Going into the night Elliott was on top of the Late Model point standings with an 8 point lead on Shaw. After the dust cleared, nothing had changed and Elliott is still up by 8 points. A great race and great battle for the for top 4 spots.
The Thunder Cars second 25 lap feature was up next with Mike Gilmour and Shae Gemmell out front. The cars were inverted with 12th place finisher in the first race on the pole followed back to the winner Burbridge starting 13th. Mike Gilmour and Paul Fothergill led the race for the first 10 laps. A caution on lap 11 brought the field back to even. A couple laps later coming out of turn four the cars up front got mixed up and the the two leaders crashed. Fothergill hit the wall very hard destroying the front end and a flash of fire brought out the red. As the emergency crew put out the flames, Fothergill managed to exit the car but collapsed to the track. He was taken to the pits in the ambulance and wasn’t medically cleared. After the races I was told by someone that spoke with Fothergill that he had a broken leg. When the race resumed three Flamboro regulars were out front as Kevin Gallant, Brad Collison and Steve Perry led with Branden Verhoeven also in
the mix. As the cars crossed the line on lap 25, Kevin Gallant of Hamilton was first. Nice to see Gallant and Burbridge come back strong after a few rough outings over the last month. As the results were checked, Mark Burbridge was the overall winner on the night followed by Gallant, Verhoeven, Collison and Perry.
The final feature of the night was the 25 lap feature for the Ontario Modifieds. Rick and Rob Warnes led the field to green. A great caution free race was dominated by Rick Warnes who became the first two time winner this year in the traveling series. They’ll be back for Oktoberfest.
That brought to a close yet another exciting night of racing! Please make plans to join us this Saturday, September 13th for the final 2014 appearance by the Ontario Pro Challenge at Flamboro Speedway. Also joining them will be the Grisdale Late Models, the Ray’s Auto Centre & Towing Thunder Cars, the Klotz Auto Repair and Engine Machine Shop Mini Stocks and the Ponderosa Nature Resort Pure Stocks. Racing starts at 6:30pm.
Please check the website, www.flamborospeedway.ca for more details including the gate times, schedule, Admission Prices for the grandstands and pits and updated point standings for all divisions.
Unofficial Results
Pure Stock Heat #1 : #76 Shawn Taylor, #32 Gillian Hils, #44 Sam Heiben, #6 Wayde Thorne, #00 Bill Rutherford, #7 Michael Kenny, #31 Keara Corcoran, #48 Steve Deleeuw
Pure Stock Heat #2 : #74 Jaeger McMaster, #88 Tiffany Vandebelt, #90 Andy Wheller, #26 Rodney Rutherford, #95 Mark Thorne, #42 Erin Kearns, #70 Alex Schuts (DNS)
Pure Stock Heat #3 : #76 Shawn Taylor, #32 Gillian Hils, #6 Wayde Thorne, #44 Sam Heiben, #31 Keara Corcoran, #48 Steve Deleeuw, #7 Michael Kenny (DNF), #00 Bill Rutherford (DNS)
Pure Stock Heat #4 : #90 Andy Wheller, #72 Jaeger McMaster, #95 Mark Thorne, #26 Rodney Rutherford, #70 Alex Schuts, #88 Tiffany Vandebelt, #42 Erin Kearns
Pure Stock Feature : #32 Gillians Hils, #76 Shawn Taylor, #6 Wayde Thorne, #90 Andy Wheller (-1J), #88 Tiffany Vandebelt, #70 Alex Schuts, #44 Sam Heiben, #7 Michael Kenny, #26 Rodney Rutherford, #00 Bill Rutherford, #42 Erin Kearns, #74 Jaeger McMaster (DQ), #95 Mark Thorne, #48 Steve Deleeuw (DQ), #31 Keara Crcoran (DNF)
Pro 4 Modified Heat #1 : #9 Brian Nanticoke, #38 Bill Pearsall, #91 Robert Mercer, #15 Dan Nanticoke, #93 Mike Westwood, #24 Josh Lassaline, #8 Craig Shaver, #23 Linc Erison, #68 Aaron Turkey, #63 Mark Lucas (DNF), #17 Stan Pokupec (DNS)
Pro 4 Modified Heat #2 : #8 Craig Shaver, #24 Josh Lassaline, #9 Brian Nanticoke, #93 Mike Westwood, #38 Bill Pearsall, #68 Aaron Turkey, #23 Linc Erison, #91 Robert Mercer (DNF), #15 Dan Nanticoke (DNS), #63 Mark Lucas (DNS), #17 Stan Pokupec (DNS)
Pro 4 Modified Feature : #9 Brian Nanticoke, #24 Josh Lassaline, #93 Mike Westwood, #91 Robert Mercer, #68 Aaron Turkey, #23 Linc Erison, #8 Craig Shaver (DNF), #38 Bill Pearsall (DNF), #15 Dan Nanticoke (DNS), #63 Mark Lucas (DNS), #17 Stan Pokupec (DNS)
Mini Stock Heat #1 : #71 Russ Aicken, #97 Blair Wickett, #03 Jake Gilbert, #36 Hudson Nagy (-1J), #5 Ken Stenhouse, #72 Rich Schwartzenberg, #61 Chad Ditner, #01 Mark DaSilva, #62 Ashley Holmes, #42 Rick Robinosn, #05 Dave Goodacre
Mini Stock Heat #2 : #14 James Townsend, #13 Mike Holmes, #49 Miles Tyson, #50 Chad Corcoran, #77 Phil Givens, #10 Mike Larkin, #2 Jonathan Ayrton, #17 Blair Mayhew, #7 Matt Young (DNF), #24 Blair Mayhew (DNF), #75 Scott Mast (DNS)
Mini Stock Heat #3 : #71 Russ Aicken, #97 Blair Wickett, #36 Hudson Nagy, #61 Chad Ditner, #03 Jake Gilbert, #5 Ken Stenhouse, #01 Mark DaSilva, #72 Rich Schwartzenberg, #42 Rick Robinson, #62 Ashley Holmes, #05 Dave Goodacre
Mini Stock Heat #4 : #50 Chad Corcoran, #13 Mike Holmes, #49 Miles Tyson, #14 James Townsend, #77 Phil Givens, #10 Mike Larkin, #2 Jonathan Ayrton, #7 Matt Young (DNF), #17 Blair Mayhew (DNS), #24 Tyler Mayhew (DNS), #75 Scott Mast (DNS)
Mini Stock Feature : #71 Russ Aicken, #14 James Townsend (P), #13 Mike Holmes, #50 Chad Corcoran, #97 Blair Wickett, #03 Jake Gilbert, #61 Chad Ditner, #49 Miles Tyson (P), #36 Hudson Nagy, #72 Rich Schwartzenberg, #77 Phil Givens (P), #01 Mark DaSilva, #10 Mike Larkin, #42 Rick Robinson, #5 Ken Stenhouse, #2 Jonathan Ayrton, #05 Dave Goodacre, #62 Ashley Holmes, #7 Matt Young, #17 Blair Mayhew (DNS), #24 Tyler Mayhew (DNS), #75 Scott Mast (DNS)
Late Model Heat #1 : #17 Nick Roth, #83 Dale Shaw, #2 Rick Burbridge, #37 David Elliott, #9 Jeff Ruddy, #23 Jake Ott, #36 Gary Elliott (DNF), #74 Al Bowman (DNS)
Late Model Heat #2 : #37 David Elliott, #83 Dale Shaw, #2 Rick Burbridge, #23 Jake Ott, #9 Jeff Ruddy, #17 Nick Roth, #36 Gary Elliott, #74 Al Bowman
Late Model Feature : #37 David Elliott, #83 Dale Shaw, #2 Rick Burbridge, #17 Nick Roth, #23 Jake Ott, #9 Jeff Ruddy (DNF), #74 Al Bowman
Ontario Modifieds Heat #1 : #88 Ryan Dyck, #09 Nick Lees, #95 Robert Warnes, #36 Gary Elliott, #90 Rick Warnes, #07 Alex Lees, #93 Kelly Hallett, #62 Randy Hollingsworth, #65 Chris Burrows, #61 Bill Pickford (DNF)
Ontario Modifieds Feature : #95 Robert Warnes, #09 Nick Lees, #88 Ryan Dyck, #07 Alex Lees, #90 Rick Warnes, #36 Gary Elliott, #93 Kelly Hallett, #62 Randy Hollingsworth, #65 Chris Burrows, #61 Bill Pickford
Thunder Car Feature #1 : #02 Mark Burbridge, #89 Shawn Chenoweth, #7x Branden Verhoeven, #76 Shawn Arnott, #31 Kevin Gallant, #13 Brad Collison, #33x Paul Fothergill, #49 Dave Bailey, #7 Bobby Mercer, #77 Darrell Lake, #8 Steve Perry, #3 Shae Gemmell, #33 Mike Gilmour, #29 Steve Cashmore, #5 Linda Dean, #01 Wayne Phillips, #16 Kathleen Hosang, #17 Kenny McNichol, #13x Kacey Huffman, #27 Kevin Albers (DNF), #18 Adam Swales (DNF), #38 Stepheny Dean, #78 Jordan Lawrence (DNS)
Thunder Car Feature #2 : #31 Kevin Gallant, #13 Brad Collison, #8 Steve Perry, #7x Branden Verhoeven, #02 Mark Burbridge, #7 Bobby Mercer, #27 Kevin Albers, #3 Shae Gemmell, #77 Darrell Lake, #78 Jordan Lawrence, #49 Dave Bailey, #38 Stepheny Dean, #89 Shawn Chenoweth (DQ), #17 Kenny McNichol, #5 Linda Dean, #29 Steve Cashmnore, #76 Shawn Arnott (DQ), #33 Mike Gilmour (DNF), #33x Paul Fothergill (DNF), #01 Wayne Phillips (DNF), #13x Kacey Huffman (DNF), #16 Kathleen Hosang (DNS), #8 Adam Swales (DNS)
Thunder Car Time Trials (fastest lap)
#02 Mark Burbridge (16.849)
#7x Branden Verhoeven (16.859)
#27 Kevin Albers (17.018)
#89 Shawn Chenoweth (17.088)
#76 Shawn Arnott (17.092)
#13 Brad Collison (17.127)
#31 Kevin Gallant (17.129)
#33x Paul Fothergill (17.148)
#49 Dave Bailey (17.202)
#77 Darrell Lake (17.278)
#7 Bobby Mercer (17.362)
#8 Steve Perry (17.429)
#3 Shae Gemmell (17.499)
#78 Jordan Lawrence (17.649)
#33 Mike Gilmour (17.673)
#29 Steve Cashmore (17.674)
#16 Kathleen Hosang (17.815)
#5 Linda Dean (17.818)
#18 Adam Swales (18.086)
#17 Kenny McNichol (18.411)
#13x Kacey Huffman (18.913)
#38 Stepheny Dean (18.935)
#01 Wayne Phillips (19.868)
Overall Nightly Finish (Both races)
#02 Mark Burbridge
#31 Kevin Gallant
#7x Branden Verhoeven
#13 Brad Collison
#8 Steve Perry
#7 Bobby Mercer
#49 Dave Bailey
#77 Darrell Lake
#3 Shae Gemmell
#33x Paul Fothergill
#27 Kevin Albers
#89 Shawn Chenoweth
#76 Shawn Arnott
#29 Steve Cashmore
#5 Linda Dean
#33 Mike Gilmour
#17 Kenny McNichol
#38 Stepheny Dean
#13x Kacey Huffman
#16 Kathleen Hosang
#18 Adam Swales
