Ok only a 14 and a half min rundown tonight due to being unable to complete all the races.. We did get the full set of heats in, and one of the LLM features.. It started to lightly drizzle during the 3rd Thunder Car heat, but we got that in as well as the 4th heat then the rain picked up during KOH making this one a wash out.. There will be double features to come for both the PS and Thunders in the near future, just not sure if they will both be made up next weekend or not.. They might hypothetically have PS double features next weekend then the Thunder double features the week after (Sept 4th) or vice versa or maybe make up both races next weekend as I originally stated as well.
Ok onto the LLM feature that saw #6 Keith Maiato grab the lead from the outside pole, getting the jump on #5 Steve Quesnelle from the drop of the green. Quesnelle, would get crooked out of 2 on the opening lap after a tap from behind by the 22 of Rob Inglis.. This would allow defending track champ #10 Gord Shepherd the opening he needed to power past along the outer groove to take control of 2nd.. Quick to follow Shepherd through was the current point leader #69 Al Inglis, who would dispose of Quesnelle also on the outside, to move to 3rd in the running order. On lap 5, Shepherd would make a low pass of leader Maiato out of corner 2 to assume control at the front. Just a couple laps later, Inglis would also find his way past Maiato to claim the runner up position, with Maiato relegated to third and a dogfight for 4th looming in behind with the Quesnelle brothers Steve and Ron involved.. Inglis, would stay pinned to the bumper of the 10 looking for any type of slip up, as the duo clicked off laps in the 14.8 sec. range.. #57 Ron Quesnelle would eventually power past his brother on the outside, and one lap later #8 Dave Lewis would make an inside pass of Steve Quesnelle entering 1 to enter the top 5.. At the checkered it was Shepherd notching his 5th feature win of the season, as Inglis, Maiato, Ron Quesnelle, and Lewis comprised the rest of the top 5. Caution free in this one..
A season high 17 Thunders in the pits this evening and the division would see 4 different heat winners in the form of #14 Thayne Hallyburton, #38 Steeve Melson, #9 Chris Burrage, and #3 Ken DenHollander.
Also 17 Pure Stocks on hand tonight and again 4 different heat winners in the form of #26 Ben Melenhorst, #91 Kyle Lethbridge, #39 Travis Hallyburton, and the #15 Orillia Kitchens Neon of point leader Will Davies..
OHHHH I forgot.... THERE YOU HAVE IT.... from the cheap seats.. 😉
The #16 LLM school car was rented out tonight to Rob Bromley who did a really nice job of driving.. He stayed on the lead lap until maybe a lap and a half remaining when both Shepherd and Inglis would slip past.. Apparently this guy used to race at Barrie a number of years ago in a Street Stock class so he wasnt a total "race virgin".. Good job by him none the less didnt look a bit out of place..
Thanks for the short report Dave, we were hoping the rain would hold off but it was not to be...
The track was well rubbered up and the racing would have been great tonight.
Nice to see the defending track champ the 26 of Melenhorst back at Barrie competing against brother Billy.. I really missed having the Melenhorst clan around.. I think Ben especially was discouraged with the way his year went down south and was gonna give it up for a while but nice to see the racing itch found its way to Stayner once again..
Also nice to see the #40 Honda CRX of Andrew Swindells of Oshawa come up to make his 2nd start of the year at Barrie.. True barnstormers in every sence of the word and a great bunch of guys..
It was nice to see the larger field of Thunders, just shows that Barrie isn't the Black sheep of the racing world. Now all we need is more late models and you have one hell of a good show on you hands.