By Randy Spencer – After a very tough week for the Flamboro family, things were back to normal as racing resumed at Bennett Chevrolet Flamboro Speedway Saturday night. A hot steamy night awaited fans as “Pack the Stands”, the event with a Facebook page setup by Larissa Spencer and Cheryl Rutherford seemed to work. About 150 fans were in attendance opening night and Saturday the crowd was as big as it is on a summer night or a night of a special event. Great job girls! Thanks to all those who came out and supported the event and the track! Also a big thanks to all those who helped out with the repairs to the fence, to Craig Shaver of the Pro 4 Modifieds for all his help with arranging and helping to install the new fence. Special thanks to Systemfence.com for the use of their equipment and to Ken and Bob Mercer of the Pro 4’s for donating the cement and labor installing the cement and fence posts. Thanks also to Stacy Hardcastle and also to Kenny Stenhouse Jr. for taking over as Ding Deleeuw’s replacement as turn two flag man. And to anyone else I missed I apologize but thanks to you all!
Another big night at the track as the Grisdale Late Models made their 2015 debut. This proves to be a big year with the APC Late Model tour hitting the oval at Flamboro twice this season and the Grisdale Triple 50’s at Oktoberfest. The Ontario Pro Challenge were also on hand for their season opener and were joined by the Ray’s Auto Centre & Towing Thunder Cars, the Klotz Auto Repair & Engine Machine Shop Mini Stocks and the Pure Stocks. We also had three guys manning the microphones. Clinton Geoffrey who will be the regular announcer this year (except for a handful of events) was joined by two former Vintage Modifed racers, Adam Ross and Gary Colling. Both will be back at times during the year. They did a great job, made the racing very interesting and worked very well together.
Racing got underway at 7pm with Michael Kenny and Tyler Mayhew leading the field to green. Early in, on lap 2, the bumper came off the 7 car of Matt Young and the 17 car of Blair Mayhew was the unfortunate car to hit it. It was dragged around until it came lose and was run over bringing out a caution. Michal Kenny led early and a caution on lap 19 brought the cars back to even. Kenny had to be ready to go when the green flew as the veteran Wheller would be. The two battled and Wheller briefly took the lead but he got involved with the 58 car of Peter Becker and fell off the pace slightly allowing Kenny to shoot out to the lead once again and held on for his first feature win.
Sheldon Bossom and Gillian Hils led 18 Mini Stocks to green for their first feature event. Bossom led early but got a little high coming out of turn 4 and brushed the wall causing him to slow and lose a few spots giving the lead to Hils. Veteran Clark Hartman took over the lead on lap 7 and held it for eleven laps until Blair Wickett got by. Wickett and Chad Corcoran were battling throughout the race and both started back in the pack and made their way to the front. On lap 21, Corcoran got by Wickett and held him off for the victory.
Thunder Cars hit the track for their first 25 lap feature. Shawn Arnott lined up along side rookie Justin Collison for the green flag. Arnott shot out to the lead and held it for the first 15 laps. All along the was on his back bumper was Shawn Chenoweth, knocking on his back door several times, just to make sure Arnott knew he was there. On lap 16, Chenoweth made his move and got by Arnott and would hold on for the checkered flag.
Late Models were next and it saw the return of Brad Corcoran who had been away racing elsewhere and made his return sitting on the pole along side a veteran racer but new this year to the Late Models, Billy Schwartzenburg. The first caution of the 30 lap feature came on lap 8 when the 38 of Bill Pearsall went around in turn three. Dale Shaw, started 9th in the pack but to nobody’s surprise made a quick move to the front. A great move by Shaw on the 75 of Jim Sweers in turns 3-4 on lap 6 moved him to third place. By lap 24, Shaw had made it to second and was banging on Corcoran’s back bumper. Several attempts to get by the veteran Corcoran were to no avail by Shaw. With three laps remaining, Shaw and David Elliott got mixed up enough to allow Elliott to gain a spot on Shaw but Corcoran led flag to flag for the win.
The Ontario Pro Challenge were up for the lat two races before intermission. Being a traveling club and not a home class, the Pro Challenge would race their own program which includes two sets of 10 lap heat races and one feature. Ken Lillycrop started third in the field but as they passed for the first lap, Lillycrop was in the lead. He held it for the first seven laps. Dale Wilson in the 3 and Patrick Freel in the 18 got by Lillycrop coming three wide out of four on lap 8. Freel took the lead, while Lillycrop managed to hold off Wilson as the three past to take the checkered flag. The second ten lap heat race saw Kyle Batty and Tim Norris lead the field to green. Norris took the lead and held it flag to flag. Dennis Thomson didn’t make it easy for Norris however as he was on the bumper of the 88 throughout.
After a brief intermission, the Ontario Pro Challenge were up first for their third and fourth heat races of the night. Shawn Stons and Owen Smith led the cars to green and Smith led the first four laps. Dale Wilson took over the lead and took off like a shot to take the lead and cross the finish line first. However, a penalty on the original green dropped him back a spot and gave the win to Owen Smith. The fourth heat saw Mike Westwood sitting on the pole. He led lap one but the 88 of Tim Norris got by to take the lead and held for the remainder of the race picking up his second straight heat win of the night. Once again Dennis Thomson was right there keeping Norris on his toes.
The Pure Stocks second feature saw Tyler Mayhew and Lofton Schuts up front. Mayhew led the first two laps but some handling issues allowed the 90 of Andy Wheller to get by and take the lead. Once again Michael Kenny raced a great race. He started seventh in the pack and began to head for the front. Wheller built up a big lead but as the race wore on Kenny was closing the gap. Before long Kenny was right on Wheller’s bumper but tried as he may, the veteran Wheller was just too much for the young Kenny to overcome. Great night for Michael Kenny!
Jake Gilbert and Rich Schwartzenburg were on the pole for the second 25 lap feature for the Mini Stocks. Early on Gilbert got mixed up with the 61 of Chad Ditner as the two made their way down the front stretch. The slid to the infield stirring up the dust and Gilbert had to retire to the pits. On lap 13, Russ Aicken’s bad luck early on continued as he lost his bumper bringing out a caution and tightening the field. As the cars took the green, Chad Corcoran picked up where he left off in the first feature and took the lead. Corcoran continued to lead followed close by Blair Wickett and as the race came to a close, Corcoran picked up his second straight feature win of the night.
The Thunder Cars were up next and Justin Collison and Bobby Mercer took the green. Mark Burbridge would lead lap one and continued on through the race. Shawn Chenoweth made it tough on Burbridge but as the checkers few it was Burbridge leading flag to flag.
The second thirty lap feature for the Late Models saw Linda Stenhouse and Bill Pearsall lead the field to green. Jim Sweers took the lead for the first couple of laps. Rookie Billy Schwartzenburg looked impressive early and led the pack until lap 15 until Dale Shaw assumed the lead and held off Brad Corcoran and David Elliott for the last half of the race to pick up the checkered flag. Corcoran finished second, narrowly making it 4-4 for the father-son team on the night.
The final race of the night was the 25 lap feature for the Ontario Pro Challenge. Shawn Stons was on the pole for this one but fuel pick up problems kept him on the sidelines for this one. That put Ken Lillycrop along side Owen Smith for the start. Smith led for the first two laps but the Dale Wilson took the lead and wouldn’t be denied this time building a big lead and holding off the rest of the pack to pick up the feature win.
Please make plans to join us next week, May 16th as the Grisdale Late Models return and are joined by the Ray’s Auto Centre & Towing Thunder Cars, the Klotz Auto Repair & Engine Machine Shop Mini Stocks, the Bomb Energy Drink Pro 4 Modifieds and the season opener for the Lucas Oil Canadian Vintage Modifieds. Pit gates open at 4pm, Grandstands at 5pm and green flag flies at 7pm.
A great way to spend your long holiday weekend, and prices will remain the same. Please check the website, www.flamborospeedway.ca for more details including the schedule, Admission Prices for the grandstands and pits and updated point standings for all divisions.
Photos by Derek at Racepulse.com
Unofficial Results
Pure Stock Feature #1 : #07 Michael Kenny, #58 Peter Becker, #90 Andy Wheller, #17 Blair Mayhew, #44 Sam Heiben (-1 J), #10 Lofton Schuts, #24 Tyler Mayhew, #14 Elijan Hawrylyshyn (NF), #61 Paul Ditner, #7 Matt Young (NF)
Mini Stock Feature #1 : #50 Chad Corcoran, #97 Blair Wickett, #51 Clark Hartman, #36 Hudson Nagy, #66 Sheldon Bossom, #32 Gillian Hils, #61 Chad Ditner, #92 Paul Oliver, #72 Rich Schwartzenburg, #03 Jake Gilbert, #22 Mark DaSilva, #42 Rick Robinson, #71 Russ Aicken, #76 Shawn Taylor, #5 Stepheny Dean, #05 Dave Goodacre, #11 Nolan Quinton, #38 Rodney Rutherford (NS)
Thunder Car Feature #1 : #89 Shawn Chenoweth, #76 Shawn Arnott, 331 Kevin Gallant, #02 Mark Burbridge, #7 Bobby Mercer, #12 Justin Collison
Late Model Feature #1 : #05 Brad Corcoran, #37 David Elliott, #83 Dale Shaw, #2 Rick Burbridge, #17 Nick Roth, #86 Billy Schwartzenburg, #9 Jeff Ruddy, #75 Jim Sweers, #38 Bill Pearsall, #5 Linda Stenhouse, #11 Dave Osborne
Ontario Pro Challenge Heat #1 : #18 Patrick Freel, #00 Ken Lillycrop, #3 Dale Wislon, #40 Owen Smith, #51 Shawn Stons, #8 Peter Hattin (NS)
Ontario Pro Challenge Heat #2 : #88 Tim Norris, #02 Dennis Thomson, #91 Mike Westwood, #38 Kyle Batty, #83 Tim Batty
Ontario Pro Challenge Heat #3 : #40 Owen SMith, #3 Dale Wislon (-1 J), #00 Ken Lillycrop, #18 Patrick Freel, #51 Shawn Stons
Ontario Pro Challenge Heat #4 : #88 Tim Norris, #02 Dennis Thomson, #91 Mike Westwood, #38 Kyle Batty, #83 Tim Batty
Pure Stock Feature #2 :#90 Andy Wheller, #07 Michael Kenny, #58 Peter Becker, #7 Matt Young, #10 Lofton Schuts, #24 Tyler Mayhew, #61 Paul Ditner, #44 Sam Heiben (NF), #17 Blair Mayhew (NF), #14 Elijan Hawrylyshyn (NS)
Mini Stock Feature #2 : #50 Chad Corcoran, #97 Blair Wickett, #36 Hudson Nagy, #32 Gillian Hils, #61 Chad Ditner, #66 Sheldon Bossom, #72 Rich Schwartzenburg, #92 Paul Oliver, #22 Mark DaSilva, #71 Russ Aicken, #76 Shawn Taylor, #51 Clark Hartman, #05 Dave Goodacre, #5 Stepheny Dean, #11 Nolan Quinton, #03 Jake Gilbert (NF), #42 Rick Robinson (NF), #38 Rodney Rutherford (NS)
Thunder Car Feature #2 : #02 Mark Burbridge, #89 Shawn Chenoweth, #76 Shawn Arnott, #7 Bobby Mercer, #12 Justin Collison, #31 Kevin Gallant (NF)
Late Model Feature #2 : #83 Dale Shaw, #05 Brad Corcoran, #37 David Elliott, #2 Rick Burbridge, #86 Billy Schwartzenburg, #17 Nick Roth, #9 Jeff Ruddy, #11 Dave Osborne, #5 Linda Stenhouse, #38 Bill Pearsall (NF), #75 Jim Sweers (NF)
Ontario Pro Challenge Feature : #3 Dale Wilson, #02 Dennis Thomson, #88 Tim Norris, #91 Mike Westwood, #18 Patrick Freel, #38 Kyle Batty, #40 Owen Smith, #00 Ken Lillycrop, #83 Tim Batty, #51 Shawn Stons (NS)
