Photo Credit: Rod Henderson
BRIGHTON, Ont. (April 30, 2016) – Brighton Speedway’s 49th Monster Energy Season Opener presented by UCB Radio Canada saw a packed grandstand for $2 admission night as fans donated a trailer full of non-perishable food items to the Brighton Fare Share Food Bank. A total 70 cars were in action across four divisions to start the season on a very tacky and fast racetrack.
Potts Rockets To Pro Late Model Victory
The pole was the place to be on Saturday night as three winners came from the number one starting spot, including Brighton’s Phil Potts who drove the No.29 Vanderlaan Building Products car to victory lane for the first time in 2016. Potts was flawless three restarts throughout the night and left barely a glimmer of hope to the rest of the field over the course of the 30-lap feature.
Brandon Mowat (No.46 Target Fabrication) ran second in the opening laps until Steve Baldwin (No.5 Free Flow) claimed the runner-up spot on lap nine. The two drivers exchanged the position a couple of times, before Baldwin held a firm grasp in the latter half of the race.
Potts’ lead disappeared in lapped traffic with three to go as he struggled to navigate through a cluster of slower cars. Baldwin used Potts’ trouble to pull alongside the No.29 at the white flag. Potts, however, maintained the shortest way around the racetrack to beat Baldwin to the line by 0.751 seconds. Adam Nayler (No.42 Quinte Tire Disposal) clawed his way to a third-place finish in the dying laps, passing both Mowat and defending champion Charlie Sandercock (No.57 Bellevue Fabricating) to do so. Potts and Baldwin were the heat race winners.
Ferguson Claims Canadian Modified Opener
Polesitter Dan Ferguson (No.11 Kilmarnock Enterprise) earned the prime real estate by virtue of heat race win and used the advantage to pace all 25 laps in the Bainer’s OilGARD Canadian Modified kickoff. Ferguson jumped out to an early lead over second-place starter Andrew Hennessy (No.87 RJ Equipment Rentals) and it grew to six car lengths by the time of a lap 12 caution for a stopped Shawn Gregory (No.1 CPS Wood Products).
Hennessy turned up the heat on the ensuing restart and again following a lap 14 caution. Ferguson did not relinquish the bottom lane which held a considerable amount of tack throughout the night and Hennessy could not muster enough momentum around the top to claim the lead. Kraig Handley (No.91 Tri-Canadian Energy) completed the top-three for a sweep of the podium by Picton drivers.
Derrick Greig (No.48 Greig Truck & Trailer) and Derek Bowers (No.03 Morton’s Crane Rental) completed the top-five, a pair of impressive performances to start the year for both drivers.
Ramsay Picks Up Where He Left Off
Justin Ramsay occupied the pole position in his No.03 Empey Tire Camaro for Saturday’s Brighton Automotive Pro Stock opener and never relinquished the point position on his way to claiming the first victory of the season. The victory, however, didn’t come up without challenge.
Second- and third-place starters Brandon Murrell (No.19 Orange Motorsports) and Jonah Mutton (No.39 Apex Auto) never let Ramsay slip from their sights. A pair of cautions kept Ramsay honest at the front of the field as he was forced to contend with both drivers all race long.
The final restart of the night was a green-white-checkered finish. Ramsay managed to maintain his post out front, leaving Murrell and Mutton to solve a battle for second. Murrell eventually won the position, just as Wade Purchase (No.53 Independent Alternator and Starter) entered the fight and finished fourth. Rookie driver Austin Reid (No.85 Kids R Kool) earned the fifth position in his first start.
Ramsay and Murrell also claimed heat race wins earlier in the night.
French Captures Comp 4 Win
The Bill’s Johns Comp 4 main event got off to a hectic start as the opening four laps saw all kinds of mayhem. Polesitter Josh Read (No.04 Down To Earth Landscaping) claimed the early lead as second-place start Tyler French (No.0 ABC Taxi) missed a shift off the original start and fell to fourth.
Read’s lead was short-lived, however, as contact with Luke Toms (No.19 Gardenhill Towing) sent the No.04 to the infield. Read continued without incident or a caution and rejoined the lead pack within a lap. The damage was done, however as French reclaimed the point ahead of Adam Flieler (No.11 Double D Sports Bar).
The only restart came on lap seven and none of the drivers in the field could make a bid for the lead over the final eight circuits. At the finish, French led Flieler, Read, Toms and Peter Moore’s No.17. French and Read also earned heat race wins.
Up Next: Brighton Speedway returns to action next Saturday night for Lester’s $2 Hot Dog night presented by Classic Rock 107.9 The Breeze. Adult admission is $10 with five divisions in action, including the Quinte Septic Stingers who make their season debut. Race time is 7:00pm.
COMPLETE RESULTS – APRIL 30 , 2016 – Monster Energy Season Opener presented by UCB Radio Canada
VANDERLAAN BUILDING PRODUCTS PRO LATE MODELS
A-Main (30 Laps – 15 Entries): 1. 29 Phil Potts, 2. 5 Steve Baldwin, 3. 42 Adam Nayler, 4. 46 Brandon Mowat, 5. 57 Charlie Sandercock, 6. 92 Adam Turner, 7. 89 Austin King, 8. 1 Andy Mayhew, 9. 77 Caley Weese, 10. 84 Dan Ferguson, 11. 20 Terry Hunt, 12. 8 Brian Down, 13. 12 Kyle Sopaz, 14. 79 Nathan Bosma, 15. 01 Eli Mayhew. Time: 24:12.091. Margin of victory: 0.751.
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 29 Phil Potts, 2. 46 Brandon Mowat, 3. 89 Austin King, 4. 92 Adam Turner, 5. Adam Nayler, 6. 20 Terry Hunt, 7. 1 Andy Mayhew, 8. 84 Dan Ferguson. Time: 1:57.587.
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 5 Steve Baldwin, 2. 57 Charlie Sandercock, 3. 77 Caley Weese, 4. 12 Kyle Sopaz, 5. 01 Eli Mayhew, 6. 8 Brian Down, 7. 79 Nathan Bosma. Time: 3:31.181.
BAINER’S OILGARD CANADIAN MODIFIEDS
A-Main (25 Laps – 16 Entries): 1. 11 Dan Ferugson, 2. 87 Andrew Hennessy, 3. 91 Kraig Handley, 4. 48 Derrick Greig, 5. 03 Derek Bowers, 6. 07 Curtis King, 7. 23 Paul Milligan, 8. 00 Darrell Toms, 9. 28 Dan Insley, 10. 78 Shelby Mills, 11. 84 Mark Busscher, 12. 12 Adam Whaley, 13. 1 Shawn Gregory, 14. 32 Doug O’Blenis, 15. 88 Josh Hennessy (DNS), 16. 09 Robbie Wilson (DNS). Time: 14:40.265. Margin of victory: 0.475.
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 11 Dan Ferguson, 2. 32 Doug O’Blenis, 3. 48 Derrick Greig, 4. 91 Kraig Handley, 5. 07 Curtis King, 6. 03 Derek Bowers, 7. 1 Shawn Gregory, 8. 00 Darrell Toms. Time: 2:08.003.
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 87 Andrew Hennessy, 2. 12 Adam Whaley, 3. 88 Josh Hennessy, 4. 28 Dan Insley, 5. 84 Mark Busscher, 6. 78 Shelby Mills, 7. 23 Paul Milligan, 8. 09 Robbie Wilson. Time: 2:08.555.
BRIGHTON AUTOMOTIVE PRO STOCKS
A-Main (20 Laps – 16 Entries): 1. 03 Justin Ramsay, 2. 19 Brandon Murrell, 3. 39 Jonah Mutton, 4. 51 Mike Freeman, 5. 85 Austin Reid, 6. 91 Cory White, 7. 51 Mike Freeman, 8. 14 Chris Dorland, 9. 29 Rich Sanders, 10. 2 Leslie Mowat, 11. 13 Ryan Connor, 12. 55 Jamie Marshall, 13. 7 Rob Dier, 14. 33 Samantha Mayhew, 15. 38 Art Rodgers, 16. 02 Carissa Burrows.
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 03 Justin Ramsay, 2. 39 Jonah Mutton, 3. 55 Jamie Marshall, 4. 51 Mike Freeman, 5. 7 Rob Dier, 6. 91 Kraig Handley
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 19 Brandon Murrell, 2. 53 Wade Purchase, 3. 2 Leslie Mowat, 4. 85 Austin Reid, 5. 33 Samantha Mayhew, 6. 14 Chris Dorland, 7. 13 Ryan Connor, 8. 38 Art Rodgers.
BILL’S JOHNS COMP 4s
A-Main (15 Laps – 13 Entries): 1. 0 Tyler French, 2. 11 Adam Flieler, 3. 04 Josh Read, 4. 19 Luke Toms, 5. 17 Peter Moore, 6. 14 Matthew Moore, 7. 7 Kevin Hertendy, 8. 10 Jeremy Toms, 9. 06 Steven Usher, 10. 80 Nick Morton, 11. 22 Keith Dunk, 12. 13 Matthew French, 13. 24 Bella Cosstick.
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 04 Josh Read. 2. 19 Luke Toms, 3. 11 Adam Flieler, 4. 13 Matthew French, 5. 22 Keith Dunk, 6. 80 Nick Morton, 7. 27 Glen Hamer (DNS).
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 0 Tyler French, 2. 24 Bella Cosstick, 3. 7 Kevin Hertendy, 4. 14 Matthew Moore, 5. 17 Peter Moore, 6. 06 Steven Usher, 7. 10 Jeremy Toms.
WINNERS TO DATE
Vanderlaan Building Products Pro Late Models: 1 – Phil Potts (April 30)
Bainer’s OilGARD Canadian Modifieds: 1 – Dan Ferguson (April 30)
Brighton Automotive Pro Stocks: 1 – Justin Ramsay (April 30)
Bill’s Johns Comp 4s: 1 – Tyler French (April 30)
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Brighton Speedway’s 2016 season is proudly supported by the following corporate sponsors: ABC Taxi, Adecco, AeCON, Bainer’s OilGARD Anti-Rust, Battlefield Equipment Rentals, Bay Marine, Behan Construction, Belleville Boyer Nissan, Belleville Transmission & Auto, Bellevue Fabricating Ltd., Bicknell Racing Products, Bill’s Johns, BJ McColl Fams, Bonn Law, Boyer Chevrolet Napanee, Brighton Automotive, Brighton Recycling, Budweiser, Campbellford Chrysler, Canadian Energy, Canadian National Autism Foundation, CANEX, Classic Hits 95.5, Classic Rock 107.9 The Breeze, Coca-Cola, Comfort Zone Heating & Air Conditioning, The Community Press, Cool 100, CSC Products, Davis Auto Repair, Deerhaven Farm and Garden, Dibbits Excavating, Eastern Overhead Doors, Electro Cables, Excel Tower Service, First Place Trailers, Gerow Propane, Gilmour’s Meat Shop, Gord’s Water, Greig Truck & Trailer, Hellraiser Race Bodies, Hewbrook Incorporated, Hits FM 95.5, Hotch’s Auto Parts, Hoosier Racing Tire, Humber Nurseries, ImageFactor.ca Motorsport Designs, JJ Stewart Motors, John’s Equipment, Jones Automotive, KD Transmission, Kiwanis Club of Trenton, KOA Campground of Brighton, Krown Rust Control Trenton, Lange & Fetter Ford, Larry’s Towing, Leaf Racewear, Leclair Electric, Lester’s Hot Dogs, Lucas Oil, Maestro’s Painting, Mark Heating & Cooling, McDougall Insurance and Financial, Mix 97, Monacoe’s Hair Salon & Day Spa, Monster Energy, Motosports of Trenton, Muskoka Aircraft Refinishing My FM 100.9/93.3, Mystical Distributing, NecksGen Head and Neck Restraint, NOCO Fuels, Owasco RV, Part Source, Peter’s South End Garage, Qunte Mall, Quinte Septic, Rapid Rad, Read’s Accounting, REMAX (Saoirse Graham & Nicole Parks), ROCK 107, Rona Trenton, Sanderson Tire and Automotive, Stewart Electric, Stix & Stones Billiards, Stoneridge Specialty Insurance, Sunoco Racing Fuels, Target Fabrication, TAS Communications, The Trentonian, Therapeutic Massage Centre, Towne and Country Liquidation, Turris Communications, UCB Radio Canada, Ultramar CST, Vanderlaan Building Products, Vandermeer Toyota, VanZuylen Tire and Alignment, The Vinyl Solution, Vito’s Restaurant and Workman’s OK Tire.
About Brighton Speedway: Brighton Speedway is a 1/3-mile clay stock car racing oval located on the shores of Lake Ontario in Brighton, Ont. The speedway hosts five weekly stock car divisionson Saturday nights from May to September. The weekly Pro Late Model division competes under RUSH Late Model Weekly Series sanctioning.
Brighton Speedway mailing address: 775 County Road 64, Brighton, ON, K0K 1H0.
Media Contact: Clayton Johns Media
claytonjohns@brightonspeedway.com
Photo Credit: Rod Henderson
