By Randy Spencer – Another great night of racing at Bennett Chevrolet Flamboro Speedway Saturday night. The Lucas Oil Sportsman Cup series were on hand once again and put on another great show. Time trials were up first and Chad McGlynn set a new track record for the LOSC at Flamboro but it was quickly beat by winner of the last Flamboro LOSC race, Mike Hryniuk with a lap of 16.281.
The Ontario Pro Challenge were on hand for their first visit of 2016. They would run four qualifying heats on the night with the 14 of Tim Shanahan leading the first race to green and he led lap one. Some exciting three wide action saw the 38 of Kyle Batty make a daring move heading into turn three mid way through the race to take the lead from Shanahan. As the checkered flag flew it was Batty picking up the checkers. Race two saw some more three wide action on lap one as the 00 of Ken Lillycrop led early. He would hold the lead until lap seven when the 88 of Tim Norris took advantage of Lillycrop drifting high in turns three/four and was the new leader and he would pick up the victory.
The Flamboro Stadium & Speedway Pure Stocks hit the track for their first feature. Roger Lessard started on the pole and he led early. The front three, Lessard, Lofton Schuts and Wayde Thorne broke away from the pack. Lapped traffic started to play a factor in the race and by lap 17 heading out of turn four Thorne got by Lessard to take over the lead and pick up the win.
The Klotz Auto Repair & Engine Machine Shop Mini Stocks were next with 11 cars taking the green flag. Jake Gilbert led the first three laps but the veteran Russ Aicken would get by heading out of two on lap four.The next lap Gilbert, Chad Ditner and Blair Wickett would go three wide through three and four once again showing all divisions can run three wide at Flamboro. A caution on lap ten as Gilbert went around in turn two. On the restart, Aicken would lead once again but Wickett was close behind. Cautions would breed cautions as several more would fly over the next few laps. Aicken and Wickett would continue their battle throughout, side by side at times. As the checkered flag flew it was Russ Aicken picking up the win.
The Ray’s Auto Centre & Towing Thunder Cars were up with eight cars in feature one. Shawn Arnott led the first lap and continued his strong season as he led early. Bobby Mercer has his own car out the past few weeks and has really tuned it on. He was staying close to Arnott and it seemed he was gaining in the corners but losing ground on the straights. The next two cars, Chris Howse and Brad Collison were also waging a fierce battle. As the checkered flag dropped it was Arnott once again in victory lane.
Second round qualifying for the Pro Challenge. As in the first race, Tim Shanahan led early. Kyle Batty also once again came on and was going deep into the corners and would take the lead into 1-2 on lap 7. As the checkers flew it was Kyle Batty going two for two on the night. Heat four, Ken Lillycrop lead lap one. Lillycrop and Patrick Freel battled for first with Freel getting past Lillycrop in 3-4 on lap six to take the lead and pick up the win.
After a great intermission with the Highwaymen Car Club parading around the track.
Round two of features got started with the Pure Stocks. Gillian Hils lead early while Blair Mayhew, Bob Hillar, Jeff Miller and Andy Wheller were right behind in a tight pack battling for every inch. While that was happening Hils took advantage of it and got out to a pretty big lead. As the cars entered lapped traffic, Hils started to smoke a bit but it never played a role and she held off the field and picked up the feature win.
The Mini Stocks second feature saw Carson Nagy and Mike Hooper on the pole. A caution early as the cars were heading down the back stretch and the 84 of Dave Gallinger got sideways and collected a few cars bringing out the caution. Gallinger made a pit stop to remove some loose pieces of car but the 07 of Michael Kenny wasn’t so lucky and went off on the hook. Nagy, the 12 year old driver from Hamilton led lap one. He is really coming on, good to see yet another great driver from the Nagy clan. Russ Aicken and Chad Ditner were battling right behind. On lap 14, Ditner went high out of four and tagged the wall. By this point, Blair Wickett had assumed the lead and Aicken was in second although Wickett had almost a full straight lead and he would win the race handily.
The Thunder Cars were up for their second feature. Chris Howse, Shawn Arnott and Brad Collison were bumper to bumper throughout with Howse leading the way and built a small four car advantage and held off the field to pick up the win.
The Pro Challenge feature was thirty laps and was next to last on the night. The 83 of Tim Batty led lap one. An early caution as the 14 of Tim Shanahan spun out of four while the 91 of Mike Westwood left the track for a fluid leak. Rick Seeley was the new leader as he battled hard against Patrick Freel and Tim Norris. Norris would find his way to Seeley’s bumper and would start tapping his bumper. Seeley would get a little loose and went high through 3-4 and Norris got by on lap 14 to take the lead. Norris would extend his lead but a few cautions kept bringing the field back to even but Norris would hold them off to take the win.
The LOSC 100 lap main event, great race as Brandt Graham and Kevin “Flying Farmer” Gallant sat on the pole. A caution early brought cars back for a complete restart. The race was quick and the first caution didn’t come out until lap 75. That brought the field back to even and Gallant some how managed to hold off the field and several other cautions soon after made Gallant sweat a little more than normal on this very hot night. But in the end Gallant showed the fans in attendance that he knew how to get around the Flamboro third mile oval best and picked up his first win with the LOSC.
That brought to a close another great night of racing. Please join us Saturday June 4th as the APC Late Models join us for their first 2016 appearance for the Meineke Car Care 100. Approximately 40 of the best Late Models in Ontario will be on hand to battle for 24 spots. They will be joined by the Flamboro Stadium & Speedway Pure Stocks, the Klotz Auto Repair & Engine Machine Shop Mini Stocks and the Pro 4 Modifieds. Pits open at 12 noon, Practice at 230pm, Front gates at 4pm, Time trials at 5:30pm and Racing starts at 6pm.
Photos by Derek Smith racepulse.com & Mike Kiers cableguyphotos.com
Photos by Derek Smith racepulse.com & Mike Kiers cableguyphotos.com
Results
Pure Stock Feature #1: #6 Wayde Thorne, #69 Roger Lessard, #90 Andy Wheller, #10 Lofton Schuts, #18 Bob Hillar, #66 Jeff Miller, #2 Brad Herron, #31 Doug Moir (-1 for jumping), #24 Blair Mayhew, #16 Mark Thorne, #42 Leo Labarbera, #82 Gillian Hills, #79 Caroline Kelly, #26 Ashton Reekie, #11 Clay Collison, #61 Paul Ditner, #9 Courtney Scott, #13 Chris Pendlebury, #7 Matt Young (DNF), #83 Eric Crow (DNF)
Pure Stock Feature #2: #82 Gillian Hills, #6 Wayde Throne, #18 Bob Hillar, #90 Andy Wheller, #10 Lofton Schuts, #31 Doug Moir, #69 Roger Lessard, #42 Leo Labarbera, #2 Brad Herron, #24 Blair Mayhew, #66 Jeff Miller (P), 11 Clay Collison, #26 Ashton Reekie, #61 Paul Ditner, #9 Courtney Scott, #79 Caroline Kelly, #16 Mark Thorne (DNF), #7 Matt Young (DNF), #13 Chris Pendlebury (DNS), #83 Eric Crowe (DNS)
Mini Stock Feature #1: #71 Russ Aiken, #61 Chad Ditner, #97 Blair Wickett, #76 Shawn Taylor, #03 Jake Gilbert, #84 Mark Gallinger, #07 Michael Kenny, #77 Mike Hooper, #36 Carson Nagy, #38 Bill Rutherford, #79 Kyle Istead (DNF)
Mini Stock Feature #2: #97 Blair Wickett, #71 Russ Aiken, #61 Chad Ditner, #36 Carson Nagy, #03 Jake Gilbert, #84 Mark Gallinger, #38 Bill Rutherford, #77 Mike Hooper, #79 Kyle Istead, #76 Shawn Taylor (DNF), #07 Michael Kenny (DNF)
Thunder Car Feature #1: #76 Shawn Arnott, #7 Bobby Mercer, #13 Brad Collison, #55 Chris Howse, #77 Mitch Miljanovic, #87 Jeremy Bean(DNF), #38 Austin Penney(DNF), #92 A.J. Miller (DNS)
Thunder Car Feature #2: #55 Chris Howse, #76 Shawn Arnott, #13 Brad Collison, #7 Bobby Mercer, #87 Jeremy Bean, #77 Mitch Miljanovic, #38 Austin Penney, #92 A.J. Miller
Pro Challenge Heat #1: #38 Kyle Batty, #8 Peter Hattin, #16 Rick Seeley, #33 Bryan Stevanus, #83 Tim Batty, #14 Tim Shanahan
Pro Challenge Heat #2: #88 Tim Norris, #91 Mike Westwood, #18 Patrick Freel, #00 Ken Lillycrop, #37 Larry Majuery, #7 Dean Pronovost, #68 Caitlin Wight
Pro Challenge Heat #3: #38 Kyle Batty, #16 Rick Seeley, #14 Tim Shanahan, #8 Peter Hattin, #33 Bryan Stevanus, #83 Tim Batty
Pro Challenge Heat #4: #1 Patrick Freel, #00 Ken Lillycrop, #37 Larry Majuery, #88 Tim Norris, #7 Dean Pronovost, #68 Caitlin Wight, #91 Mike Westwood (DNF)
Pro Challenge Feature: #88 Tim Norris, #18 Patrick Freel, #16 Rick Seeley, #83 Tim Batty, #37 Larry Majuery, #38 Kyle Batty, #33 Bryan Stevanus, #00 Ken Lillycrop, #7 Dean Pronovost, #8 Peter Hattin, #68 Caitlin Wight, #91 Mike Westwood (DNF), #14 Tim Shanahan (DNF)
LOSC Time Trials: #15 16.281 (New Track Record), #18 16.300, #54 16.416, #14 16.440, #51 16.517, #48. 16.681, #43 16.689, #77 16.698, #66 16.725, #40 16.854, #3 16.948, #88 17.167
LOSC Feature: #51 Kevin Gallant, #14 Brandt Graham, #54 Kevin Allen, #66 Josh Wood, #18 Chad McGlynn, #77 Alvin McNicol, #15 Mike Hrynuik, #40 Donny Beatty, #43 Bob Merrifield, #88 Scott Laporte, #48 Doug Cathcart, #3 Tim Tolton (DNF), #8 Adam Martin (DNF)
