By Randy Spencer – Saturday night was the mid way point of the race season at Bennett Chevrolet Flamboro Speedway and so far it’s been a very exciting one. In the Mini Stock division, Mike Holmes (1095) is leading second place driver Russ Aicken (1073). In the Thunder Car division, The “Ice Man” Brad Collison (1049) leads The “Flying Farmer” Kevin Gallant (1046). In the Pure Stock division, Shawn Taylor (867) leads Gillian Hils (858) and in the Pro 4 Modifieds, Craig Shaver (323) is leading Bill Pearsall (300). The final race, the Late Models will come to a climax tonight. Shawn Chenoweth leads Dale Shaw by a mere 3 points, 647-644.
Tonight there was also a second feature on tap for the Pure Stocks. Pure Stocks, Enduro cars built to our rules, Ohsweken Bombers, Delaware Bone Stocks and Four Fun cars were allowed. Pure Stocks will run a heat and feature for points and payout. An Invitational feature ran at end of the night with the winner getting a paid entry for the October 25th $5000 TO WIN Enduro. Courtney Scott, a regular runner in the Mini Stock division, ran her first night in a Pure Stock while Karl Sault, a regular Ohsweken Bomber driver and past Ohsweken track champion was in the lineup. Rodney Rutherford, who has ran Flamboro in the past was also in a Pure Stock.
The night got under way with heat racing. Gillian Hils took the Pure Stock heat, John Verney, a former Pro 4 regular was back for a visit from his new home in B.C. He took the checkered flag in heat one and Bill Pearsall took heat #2. Mini Stock wins went to Darren Dryden, Mike Holmes and two by Hudson Nagy. Thunder Car wins went to Shawn Chenoweth, Kevin Albers, Brad Collison and Kevin Gallant. Late Model heat wins went to Dale Shaw with two and Shawn Chenoweth with two.
A big thanks to John “Crash” Myers, Mark DaSilva and Leggat Chevrolet Cadillac Buick GMC in Burlington for donating a new girls and boys bike that were given away to a couple of very excited young race fans. The racing makes fans but great giveaways like this sure excites the kids and fans for life!
Feature racing got under way with the first Pure Stock feature. Bill Rutherford and Wayde Thorne were on the poll. Thorne led lap one but Danny Shantz made quick work and took the lead and led all the way for the win.
Mini Stocks were up next. Rick Robinson and Mark Dennis were up front and were surely looking over their shoulders. The top three drivers in point standings have been waging a fierce battle all season and once the green flag dropped they made their way to the front. Dryden started eighth, Aiken was ninth and Holmes tenth. Hudson Nagy has been showing steady improvement all season. After winning both his heats earlier in the evening, the rookie took the lead on lap 2. He held off the field for 9 laps but the veteran Mike Holmes took over the lead. Holmes, Aiken, Blair Wickett and Nagy battled for a dozen laps. It appeared that Holmes would pick up the win but heading for the white flag, a mishap occurred and Aiken took the lead from Holmes and picked up the feature win. (I personally didn’t see it as I work as race scorer so can’t give a detailed account, my apologies) Mark Klotz, who has been really coming on strong of late had some problems during
practice. At first it was thought to be an engine issue. Klotz, who runs Klotz Auto Repair & Engine Machine Shop is an expert engine builder and the sponsor of the Mini Stock division. Upon further inspection after the race, Klotz said, “Not an engine problem, we found a small washer that came off carb and got sucked in to the engine. No real damage.” Good news, hope to see you back next week Mark!
Thunder Car feature was next with Rob Istead and Shawn Arnott on the pole. Istead led early but after several tries to take the lead, Kevin Albers finally was successful on lap 15, followed closely by Kevin Gallant. A few laps later, Gallant came to a stop in turn one. He went off on the hook and he had a broken tie rod. Kevin Albers also had some trouble and retired to the pits. On the restart, Shawn Chenoweth took the lead and held off Arnott and Collison for the win.
The Pro 4 Modifieds were up and Josh Lassaline and Linc Erison were on the point. Heading into turn two on the third lap, Aaron Turkey went around and took a hard hit bringing out the caution. On the restart, Lassaline got tangled with another car and went around in turn one. The red flag came out as flames were visible but everyone was ok and Lassaline was able to continue. Bill Pearsall took the lead on the restart and went on to pick up the feature win.
The Late Model feature was up and this was the mid season championship as well as the end of the first half points. Shawn Chenoweth led Dale Shaw by 3 points at the start of the night and a champion would be crowned tonight. (The Late Models will then start over at zero again, check website for details) Rick Burbridge and Nick Roth were on the pole. Before long Chenoweth made his way to the front. He held off a hard charging Burbridge and Shaw and when the points were tallied, Chenoweth edged Dale Shaw by 8 points and was crowned the mid season champion.
The last race of the night was the Invitational Pure Stock feature. Rodney Rutherford took over for Bill Rutherford and was on the pole along side Shawn Taylor. Taylor got out to an early lead but on lap six, Danny Shantz once again proved to be too much and took the lead and went 2 for 2 in features winning the invitational to close out the night.
Nice to see some new drivers and some “old” faces returning or in different rides. Pure Stocks: Rodney Rutherford, Courtney Scott, & Karl Sault, Mini Stocks: Blair Mayhew, Thunder Car: Darryn Wright and Late Model: Jeff Ruddy, Todd Campbell, & Gary Elliott.
Also congratulations to London Recreational Racing for a clean sweep in the big three features. Shawn Chenoweth won in the Thunder Cars and Late Models while Russ Aicken won the Mini Stock feature. Wonder when we’ll see some London Rec. sponsored cars in the Pro 4’s and Pure Stocks?!? Mike Schmidt also sponsors, Daniel Bois in the Lucas Oil Can Am Midget series, Andrew Kamrath in the Mini Stocks in Eastern Ontario, Andrew Gresel & Kelly Balson in the Sauble Falls Super Late Model series and Amanda Connolly in the Limited Late Model in Eastern Ontario.
Please make plans to join us next week, July 19th for another action packed and jammed packed night of racing. The Lucas Oil Sportsman Cup series returns with a 100 lap feature. They will also be joined by the Thunder Cars for Round three of six in the APC Delaware/Flamboro Thunder Car challenge. Two 25 lap features will be run. The Lucas Oil Canadian Vintage Modifieds are back as are the Ontario Pro Challenge series as they join the Klotz Auto Repair & Engine Machine Shop Mini Stocks.
Pit gates open at 2pm, Grandstands at 5pm and green flag flies at 6pm. Time Trials will be run at 5pm for the Lucas Oil Sportsman Cup series and the Thunder Car APC challange as well.
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.
Unofficial Results
Mini Stock Heat #1 : #36 Hudson Nagy, #03 Jake Gilbert, #5 Ken Stenhouse, #62 Ashley Holmes, #42 Rick Robinson, #05 Dave Goodacre, #24 Tyler Mayhew, #2 Mark Dennis (DNF)
Mini Stock Heat #2 : #12 Darren Dryden (DQ), #13 Mike Holmes, #71 Russ Aicken, #97 Blair Wickett, #50 Chad Corcoran, #61 Chad Ditner, #01 Mark DaSilva, #17 Blair Mayhew
Mini Stock Heat #3 : #36 Hudson Nagy, #03 Jake Gilbert, #5 Ken Stenhouse, #2 Mark Dennis, #42 Rick Robinson, #62 Ashley Holmes (DNF), #24 Tyler Mayhew (DNF), #05 Dave Goodacre (DNF)
Mini Stock Heat #4 : #13 Mike Holmes, #71 Russ Aicken, #12 Darren Dryden (DQ), #97 Blair Wickett, #50 Chad Corcoran, #61 Chad Ditner, #01 Mark DaSilva, #17 Blair Mayhew
Mini Stock Feature : #71 Russ Aicken, #12 Darren Dryden (DQ), #97 Blair Wickett, #36 Hudson Nagy, #61 Chad Ditner, #5 Ken Stenhouse, #13 Mike Holmes, #01 Mark DaSilva, #42 Rick Robinson, #2 Mark Dennis, #05 Dave Goodacre, #24 Tyler Mayhew, #17 Blair Mayhew, #03 Jake Gilbert (DNF), #50 Chad Corcoran (DNF), #62 Ashley Holmes (DNS)
Pure Stock Heat #1 : #32 Gillian Hils, #70 Danny Shantz, #76 Shawn Taylor, #6 Wayde Thorne, #00 Bill Rutherford, #81 Karl Sault, #31 Rebecca Corcoran, #26 Courtney Scott, #38 Rodney Rutherford (DNS)
Pure Stock Feature : #70 Danny Shantz, #76 Shawn Taylor, #32 Gillian Hils, #6 Wayde Thorne, #81 Karl Sault, #31 Rebecca Corcoran, #00 Bill Rutherford, #26 Courtney Scott
Pure Stock Invitational Feature : #70 Danny Shantz, #76 Shawn Taylor, #6 Wayde Thorne, #32 Gillian Hils, #81 Karl Sault, #00 Rodney Rutherford, #31 Keara Gallant, #26 Courtney Scott, #38 Bill Rutherford (DNS)
Thunder Car Heat #1 : #89 Shawn Chenoweth, #76 Shawn Arnott, #27 Kevin Albers, #7 Bobby Mercer, #14 Rob Istead, #33 Mike Gilmour, #5 Linda Stenhouse
Thunder Car Heat #2 : #31 Kevin Gallant, #13 Brad Collison, #49 Dave Bailey, #41 Brent Wheller, #62 Darryn Wright, #01 Wayne Phillips
Thunder Car Heat #3 : #27 Kevin Albers, #14 Rob Istead, #76 Shawn Arnott, #89 Shawn Chenoweth, #7 Bobby Mercer, #33 Mike Gilmour, #5 Linda Stenhouse
Thunder Car Heat #4 : #13 Brad Collison, #31 Kevin Gallant, #49 Dave Bailey, #41 Brent Wheller, #62 Darryn Wright, #01 Wayne Phillips
Thunder Car Feature : #89 Shawn Chenoweth, #76 Shawn Arnott, #13 Brad Collison, #49 Dave Bailey, #33 Mike Gilmour, #41 Brent Wheller, #7 Bobby Mercer, #01 Wayne Phillips, #62 Darryn Wright, #27 Kevin Albers (DNF), #14 Rob Istead (DNF), #31 Kevin Gallant (DNF), #5 Linda Stenhouse (DNF)
Late Model Heat #1 : #83 Dale Shaw, #23 Jake Ott, #2 Rick Burbridge, #61 Brent Wheller, #17 Nick Roth
Late Model Heat #2 : #89 Shawn Chenoweth, #9 Jeff Ruddy, #36 Gary Elliott, #74 Al Bowman, #07 Todd Campbell (DNS)
Late Model Heat #3 : #83 Dale Shaw, #17 Nick Roth, #2 Rick Burbridge, #23 Jake Ott, #61 Brent Wheller (DNS)
Late Model Heat #4 : #89 Shawn Chenoweth, #9 Jeff Ruddy, #07 Todd Campbell, #74 Al Bowman, #36 Gary Elliott (DNS)
Late Model Feature : #89 Shawn Chenoweth, #2 Rick Burbridge, #83 Dale Shaw, #9 Jeff Ruddy, #17 Nick Roth, #23 Jake Ott (P), #61 Brent Wheller, #36 Gary Elliott, #74 Al Bowman, #07 Todd Campbell (DNF)
Pro 4 Modified Heat #1 : #8 John Verney, #38 Bill Pearsall, #9 Brian Nanticoke, #68 Aaron Turkey, #91 Robert Mercer, #23 Linc Erison, #24 Josh Lassaline, #93 Dan Petit (DNF), #15 Dan Nanticoke (DNS)
Pro 4 Modified Heat #2 : #38 Bill Pearsall, #8 John Verney, #68 Aaron Turkey, #9 Brian Nanticoke, #23 Linc Erison, #91 Robert Mercer, #24 Josh Lassaline (DNF), #93 Dan Petit (DNS), #15 Dan Nanticoke (DNS)
Pro 4 Modified Feature :#38 Bill Pearsall, #23 Linc Erison, #15 Dan Nanticoke, #9 Brian Nanticoke, #93 Dan Petit, #24 Josh Lassaline, #8 John Verney (DNF), #68 Aaron Turkey (DNF), #91 Robert Mercer (DQ)
