By Ryan Dyson
www.DelawareSpeedway.com
Event Results available HERE
The 2016 Season for Delaware Speedway got off to a thrilling start with the opening night of the two-day Spring Nationals featuring the Ontario Pro Challenge Series, Ground Masters Super Stocks, Demar Aggregates Trucks, V8 Stocks, and Fire & Iron Custom Metalwork Bone Stocks. The 30-lap Ontario Pro Challenge Series feature race was won by Tim Norris (#88), the 50 lap Bone Stock feature race was won by Steve Lovie (#1), and Darrell Lake (#77) took home the win in the Dash for Cash for the Super Stocks.
The Ontario Pro Challenge Series opened up their 2016 race season at the famed half-mile. BLANK captured victory in the 30-lap feature event. Two full-field heat races started their evening with the first one being won by Kyle Batty (#38) and the second by Patrick Freel (#18). The #38 of Kyle Batty led the opening lap and led until lap 12 when the #18 of Patrick Freel assumed the lead. On lap 17 of the 30-lap race the first caution flag flew for a spin by the #83 of Tim Batty. On the ensuing restart Mike Westwood (#91) took over the second position. The second caution of the event took place on lap 23 for what appeared to be a blown engine on the #18 machine of Patrick Freel who was leading at the time. The restart on lap 23 would take the race to the end as the #88 of Tim Norris would pull away from Westwood to score the win in the opening race of the season for the Ontario Pro Challenge Series
Qualifying race 1 for the Demar Aggregates Truck Series were won by defending series champion Rick Verberne (#88) who held off Tom Zagorodny (#77). The second heat race was won by Zagorodny who held off Verberne in a mirror opposite of the opening race. In the second heat race Joe Windis (#65) made hard contact with the outside wall after contact with Bill Sherwood in the #29.
The V8 Stocks also ran a pair of 10-lap heat races to determine starting position for their feature race on day two of the weekend. Races were won by Steve Arrand (#37) who held off a charging Barry Watson (#45) and Barry Watson (#45) who made a last lap pass over Gary Zwygers (#93). The drivers will return to action tomorrow for their 35-lap feature race under much different conditions with it being a day event.
The Ground Masters Super Stocks opened up their 2016 season with single car qualifying which saw Darrell Lake (#77) top the board with a 20.624 just missing the track record held by Gary Adriansen (#55) which is a 20.605 set last season. David McCullough (#39) qualified second with Adriansen third. The qualifying heat race for drivers who qualified outside the top 10 was won by Darren Thirkettle (#56). A caution on lap 6 of the heat race saw Jamie Klumper (#07) go for a spin in turn 1 after contact with D.J. Christie (#5). Both cars were able to continue with no damage. On the restart Devin Jarvis (#88) lost the lead to Thirkettle who went on to win the race.
The Dash for Cash event saw Jaden Chapman lead the field to the green flag after the cars were inverted from their qualifying order, meaning Darrell Lake started from the rear. On lap 5 Derek McCullough (#38) had trouble and broke the right front but would make his way to the pits without causing a caution. The race went green the whole way and saw Darrell Lake drive from the rear to the front to take the win, taking maximum points for the night, helping his Spring Nationals points total and setting up for a great day tomorrow. Branden Verhoeven (#7) finished second and Kenny McNicol Jr finished in third. Tomorrow’s 50-lap main event is sure to be a thriller and not to be missed.
The Fire & Iron Custom Metalwork Bone Stocks opened up their 2016 season with a pair of 10-lap heat races that saw Derek Moesker and Jay Chappell (#17) capture victory after holding off Kyle Neumeister (#92) in a thriller of a side by side battle. The race also saw the #9 of Jeremy Schindel and the #007 of Bill Brekelmans tangle two times renewing their rivalry that started last season when Schindel had his championship car claimed by the #007 team. 45+ cars were on hand for the division, proving that entry level racing is alive and more than well.
The feature race was won by Steve Lovie (#1) in what proved to be another thrilling night of racing at the half-mile. On lap 5 Derek Moesker (#51) made hard contact with the outside wall while leading, ruining chances of winning and handing the lead over to Kyle Neumeister (#92). Between laps 6 and 8 the lead was swapped multiple times between Neumeister and Steve Lovie (#1) before the caution flew on lap 9 for a spin. On the restart Nathan Hawkins (#47) took over the top position. Lap 16 saw another caution, this time for a spin by the #93 of Shane Saker. Lap 18 saw a hard hit on the front straightaway for the #90 of David Rockwood as multiple cars spun and crashed. On the restart Lovie and Hawkins swapped the lead before the caution flew on lap 21 for a spin. On lap 26 Hawkins regained the top spot before a caution flew on lap 27 for a spin. After a few caution flags the race would end with a 4-lap shootout where Steve Lovie was able to hold off Kyle Neumeister for the win. Jay Chappell (#17) finished the event 3rd, tying his best career finish.
The next event at Delaware Speedway is tomorrow for day 2 of the inaugural Spring Nationals featuring the opening race of the Case ‘N Drum Oil Late Model Triple Crown, Super Stock Invitational 50-lap feature event, Demar Aggregates Truck Series 35-lap feature, and V8 Stocks 35-lap feature. Gates open at noon and racing gets underway at 2:00pm. Tickets can be purchased online atwww.DelawareSpeedway.com
