Kids Ride Night Huge Success At Flamboro Speedway

By Randy Spencer (Flamboro Speedway PR) – One of the most popular nights of the year at Bennett Chevrolet Flamboro Speedway is undoubtedly Kids Ride Night. A chance for the kids to get up close with the race cars and get a lap or two around the track is a dream come true. So popular, we’ve added another one so join us August 27th for another chance to get your kids in a race car! On this night, the Lucas Oil Canadian Vintage Modifieds and the Ontario Pro Challenge joined out Flamboro Stadium & Speedway Hall of Fame Pure Stocks, the Klotz Auto Repair & Engine Machine Shop Mini Stocks, the Ray’s Auto Centre & Towing Thunder Cars and the Pro Four Modifieds.

Ross Winters Jr. and Matt Young led fifteen Pure Stocks to green in the first feature of the night for the Pure Stocks. Winters Jr. has been coming on strong of late and he led early in this one. Andy Wheller was of for a much deserved vacation so Gary Slama was piloting the the 90 tonight and he made his way to the bumper of the 50 in short order on coming out of four on lap seven he took the lead. Once again Tyler Mayhew was driving a good race and he along with Mark Thorne and Josh Shantz were battling hard behind Slama. As the checkers flew it was Slama first followed by Winters Jr., Mayhew, Thorne and Shantz. Congratulations to Tyler, think that was his best feature finish ever.

Seven Thunder Cars took the green flag and Shawn Arnott was the early leader. In no time Arnott shot out to a straight away lead over Bobby Mercer and Brad Collison. Collison got past Mercer to take over second on lap 17. But this one was all Arnott and he took the checkered flag.

The Ontario Pro Challenge still run heats and on this night they would run four. The first one had Tim Shanahan and Dean Pronovost on the pole. Pronovost spun in three on lap four and a leak caused Shanahan to spin and a twenty minute delay to clean up the track. As ten laps went down it was Tim Batty taking the win. Heat two had Ken Lillycrop leading early. Tim Norris started in the rear but was battling Lillycrop by lap seven and eventually taking the lead after a nice door to door battle for several laps with Lillycrop. Kyle Batty joined the fray and the three made it exciting down to the checkers but it was Norris coming across first followed by Lillycrop and Batty.

The Pro Four Modifieds were up for the first of two fifteen lap features. Mark Lucas was the early leader in this one. Dan Nanticoke was glued to Lucas’ bumper throughout but it was the 63 of Lucas holding off Nanticoke for the win.

The Pro Challenge ran two more heats and the 8 of Peter Hattin who sustained heavy damage to his car last time here was out and show no problems picking up the third heat win. Kyle Batty led the fourth heat for several laps early but veteran Tim Norris got by and picked up the heat win.

It was intermission and we had ten bicycles to give away thanks to Flamboro Speedway and kartStart. Some very happy and excited kids went home with some shiny new bikes. Thanks to the sponsors!!

The Pure Stocks were up fr their second twenty lap feature. Caroline Kelly had her own car back out tonight after several weeks of it out for repairs. She ran strong early and led the field. A few cautions early, one had Courtney Scott around out of two and Ashton Reekie and Eric Crow getting involved and that sent Reekie into the wall. He was slow to get out but was ok. On lap seven, Roger Lessard took the lead and Gary Slama and Josh Shantz followed him through. Slama took the lead on lap eight and he Lessard and Shantz began to breakaway from the pack. As the checkers flew that’s the way it ended with Slama filling in admirably for Andy Wheller making it a clean sweep on the night.

Kelsey Lamont and Chris Howse were on the pole for the Thunder Car feature. Lamont couldn’t wait to get started and after two failed attempts he had to go to the back of the pack. This allowed the outside pole car of Chris Howse to lead the pack and he did so for all twenty laps holding off Shawn Arnott to get the feature win.

The Pro Four Modifieds were out for their second feature. Linc Erison and Dan Petit were on the pole. Petit led the first few laps but points leader Brian Nanticoke took the lead on lap four. Brian and Dan Nanticoke along with feature one winner Mark Lucas were battling but Dan Nanticoke shot out to a huge lead and won handily in this one.

The Canadian Vintage Modifieds were led to green by Amanda Stoner and Daryl Henwood in the second twenty lap feature. Henwood was leading but heading into three on lap three he went around on his own and the second place car of Jason Keen made contact. It was originally thought the third place car of Steve Trendell also made contact and after some review by the scorers and track staff it was determined he didn’t so was given his spot back and was the new leader. On the green it was like he was shot out of a gun and and he was checked out and gone and didn’t look back winning handily. At the start of the night Trendell trailed points leader Jason Keen by nine points. Keen finished sixth in this race and with Trendell winning that should make the race very close.

The last feature of the night was the thirty lap main event for the Ontario Pro Challenge. Dean Pronovost and Tim Batty were on the pole. Kyle Batty was going for his fifth consecutive feature and it looked bad for a while as Batty had his car loaded on the trailer due to some mechanical issues. But they seemed to figure it out and Batty lined up tenth of eleven cars to take the green. Tim Batty led early but Ken Lillycrop took that from him on lap five. Tim Norris was up to second and took the lead out of four on lap eight. Mike Westwood was running second but some fender damage and he was shown the black flag and left to the pits to remove it and was back quick. But Tim Norris was the class of the field on this night breaking Kyle Batty’s consecutive win streak at four taking the checkered flag.

That brought to  close another exciting night of racing action at Bennett Chevrolet Flamboro Speedway. Please make plans to join us nextSaturday, August 6th for the annual Don Biederman Memorial Night featuring the OSCAAR Super Late Models, Modifieds, Midgets and Pro Midgets. We are also joined by the Lucas Oil Can Am Midgets and the Ray’s Auto Centre & Towing Thunder Cars. Pits open at 2pm, front gates at 5pm with the first green flag at 6pm sharp. Please check the website, www.flamborospeedway.ca for all the details as well, and other features and stay up to date on all the points races as well.

PLEASE NOTE: the rain date for this event is the next day, Sunday, August 7th.

NOTES: As mentioned we will be having another Kids Ride Night, Saturday August 27th. Also back by popular demand, another KING or Queen of the Hill on August 20th. That night will also be out first annual First Responders Night where we honor and show appreciation to all our first responders that keep us safe and protected!!

Photos by Derek Smith, www.racepulse.com

Videos courtesy Blair Wickett, #97 Mini Stock.

Pure Stock Feature #1 : #90 Gary Slama, #50 Ross Winters Jr., #24 Tyler Mayhew, #16 Mark Thorne, #18 Josh Shantz, #26 Ashton Reekie, #10 Lofton Schuts, #69 Roger Lessard, #83 Eric Crow, #9 Courtney Scott, #42 Leo Labarbera, #0 Clinton Geoffrey, #79 Caroline Kelly, #61 Paul Ditner, #7 Matt Young, #82 Gillian Hils (NS), #15 Joey Wilcox (NS)

Pure Stock Feature #2 : #90 Gary Slama, #69 Roger Lessard, #18 Josh Shantz, #16 Mark Thorne, #50 Ross Winters Jr., #10 Lofton Schuts, #79 Caroline Kelly, #42 Leo Labarbera, #24 Tyler Mayhew, #83 Eric Crow, #0 Clinton Geoffrey, #9 Courtney Scott, #7 Matt Young, #61 Paul Ditner, #15 Joey Wilcox (NF), #26 Ashton Reekie (NF), #82 Gillian Hils (NS)

Mini Stock Feature #1 : #97 Blair Wickett, #71 Russ Aicken, #61 Chad Ditner, #76 Wayde Thorne, #07 Michael Kenny, #03 Jake Gilbert, #84 David Gallinger, #77 Mike Hooper, #24 Blair Mayhew, #42 Rick Robinson, #9 Dave Silverthorn Jr., #55 Taylor Thring, #78 Kyle Istead (NF)

Mini Stock Feature #2 : #71 Russ Aicken, #97 Blair Wickett, #76 Wayde Thorne, #61 Chad Ditner, #07 Michael Kenny, #84 David Gallinger, #24 Blair Mayhew, #42 Rick Robinson, #77 Mike Hooper, #9 Dave Silverthorn Jr., #55 Taylor Thring, #03 Jake Gilbert (NF), #78 Kyle Istead (NF)

Thunder Car Feature #1 : #76 Shawn Arnott, #13 Brad Collison, #7 Bobby Mercer, #55 Chris Howse, #74 Kelsey Lamont, #92 A.J. Miller, #38 Austin Penney (NF)

Thunder Car Feature #2 : #55 Chris Howse, #76 Shawn Arnott, #13 Brad Collison, #7 Bobby Mercer, #74 Kelsey Lamont, #38 Austin Penney, #92 A.J. Miller

Pro Four Modifieds Feature #1 : #63 Mark Lucas, #15 Dan Nanticoke, #9 Brian Nanticoke, #8 Craig Shaver, #93 Dan Petit, #23 Linc Erison, #6 Gillians Hils

Pro Four Modifieds Feature #2 : #15 Dan Nanticoke, #9 Brian Nanticoke, #63 Mark Lucas, #93 Dan Petit, #23 Linc Erison, #6 Gillian Hils, #8 Craig Shaver (NF)

Canadian Vintage Modifieds Feature #1 : #92 Brian Atkinson, #18 Jason Keen, #57 Steve Trendell, #29 Daryl Henwood, #19 John Karley, #84 Jeremy Barton, #80 Amanda Stoner, #25 Cassidy March (NF), #5 Mike Podd (NF), #03 Bob Gilbert (NS), #00 Ron Easton (NS), #33 Adam Misener (NS)

Canadian Vintage Modifieds Feature #2 : #57 Steve Trendell, #92 Brian Atkinson, #5 Mike Podd, #19 John Karley, #25 Cassidy March, #18 Jason Keen, #84 Jeremy Barton, #80 Amanda Stoner, #29 Daryl Henwood (NF), #03 Bob Gilbert (NS), #00 Ron Easton (NS)

Ontario Pro Challenge Heat #1 : #83 Tim Batty, #33 Bryan Stevanus, #16 Rick Seeley, #8 Peter Hattin, #7 Dean Pronovost, #14 Tim Shanahan (NF)

Ontario Pro Challenge Heat #2 : #88 Tim Norris, #00 Ken Lillycrop, #38 Kyle Batty, #91 Mike Westwood, #37 Larry Majuery, #53 Kevin Crowhurst

Ontario Pro Challenge Heat #3 : #8 Peter Hattin, #33 Bryan Stevanus, #7 Dean Pronovost, #16 Rick Seely, #83 Tim Batty, #14 Tim Shanahan (NS)

Ontario Pro Challenge Heat #4 : #88 Tim Norris, #38 Kyle Batty, #53 Kevin Crowhurst, #37 Larry Majuery, #0 Ken Lillycrop, #91 Mike Westwood (NF)