For Immediate Release
By Elaine Burke, Brighton Speedway
May 7, 2011
2011 Racing Season Kicks Off in Thrilling Fashion!
Everything came together for a great night of racing at Brighton Speedway on Saturday May 7th as the Coca Cola Full Throttle Season Opener at Brighton Speedway got underway. The fans were fantastic as the stands were jammed, the weather was as perfect as it could be for a spring night and the drivers in all divisions put on a great show!
All the cars displayed their colours with pride on opening night for our annual best appearing car competition, but above all the rest, the #11 of Dan Ferguson (Canadian Modified), #2 of Leslie Mowat (Pro Stock), #77 of Caley Weese (Late Models), #1 newcomer 14 yr old Chris Gregory (Comp 4)were voted Best Appearing Cars for 2011 by the fans.
Another big winner on this night was the Brighton Fare Share Food Bank. Fans generously donated food at the front gate and completely over filled the Campbellford Chrysler Pace Truck with non-perishable goods to be shared in the community.
Eleven Bainer’s Radiator Canadian Modified cars took to the track for the first feature race of the season. Last year’s champion, Dan Ferguson (#11), took an early lead until Mat Vanderlinden (#9) passed him on lap 11. Vanderlinden had a commanding lead and caught up to slower traffic in lap 17. A car spun around in lap 18 which gave Ferguson his shot to catch Vanderlinden. However Vanderlinden was able to maintain his lead and the battle was mainly for 3rd place between Terry Loxley (#8) and Shane Ostrander (#00) as the two duked it out for the podium finish. Another caution in lap 22 gave Ferguson a last chance to take the lead on the restart but Vanderlinden once again forged ahead. Vanderlinden took the win in lap 25 followed by Ferguson (#11) and Loxley (#8) who held off Ostrander (#00) for third.
In the Brighton Automotive Pro Stock division, the early going saw Brandon Gregory in the 01 lead the way followed closely by last year’s champion Doug Anderson in the 72. The two were fast and started lapping the field in lap 5. Further back, Adam Whaley (#12) and Jay O’Hara (#83) battled for 3rd position. Anderson took the lead in lap 11 when Gregory suffered mechanical woes and had to be helped to the pits on the back of a tow truck causing the first caution in this race. A second caution appeared in lap 17 when Leslie Mowat (#2) was nudged around, the order of the leaders didn’t change and Anderson went on to win followed by the 12 of Adam Whaley and the 8 of Gary Vandertoorn.
The Vanderlaan Building Supplies Late Models saw pole sitter Greg Belyea (#25) and Andrew Hennessy (#87) in a heated battle followed closely by last year’s champion Charlie Sandercock (#57). Numerous minor cautions in the first four laps saw track flagman Robin Edwards make the decision to go with single file restarts in order to try and cool down the drivers and it worked. As Belyea confidently made his way around the track with Hennessy hot on his trail the two blazed through the rest of the race as it remained caution-free and Belyea took the checkered flag followed by Hennessy and Corey Earl (#11).
Twenty Bill’s John Comp 4 cars took the green flag for their feature race. Warren Mowat (#46) started on the pole and maintained his lead for the rest of the race. He was followed by Del McGregor in the 19 and Jeff Humphry in the 17. In lap 7, Mowat started lapping the field and a caution was called for debris on the track. On the restart, Mowat maintained his lead as Humphry moved into second place past MacGregor. Humphry took over the lead in lap 12 but Mowat regained the lead in lap 13 in the very tight battle. In an exciting race to the finish, Humphry fell back as he got trapped behind slower moving traffic and Mowat would go on to take the win followed by Humphry and Zac McBride (#8)
Join us next week as Campbellford Chrysler presents Dollar Dogs night featuring the Canadian Modified, Pro Stock, Comp 4 and Stinger divisions. The Jumbo Hot Dogs are sure to fly out the door for the price of only $1. Brighton Speedway will also be happy to to welcome the ENSS quest for track supporters in a fund raising mission for their new track. Advance tickets are on sale all week long at the high school with a proceeds going from those ticket sales to their “Quest for the Track” fund raiser.
Additionally Brighton Recycling in conjunction with Brighton Speedway has arranged a scrap metal drive for this week again with all proceeds going to the ENSS track fund raiser. There will be bins on site at the track all week at the speedway where fans, drivers and supporters of ENSS can drop off their scrap metal. With spring in the air it is a great time to get out there and clean the garage, the yard or where ever and bring in that scrap metal. Pick up may be arranged for large donations. For details on next weeks racing or the scrap drive please visit www.brightonspeedway.com, email info@brightonspeedway.com or call 1-866-681-1102.
Race Results for Saturday May 7th
Bills John’s Comp 4 5/7/2011
Feature: 1. Warren Mowat (Trenton, ON), 2. Jeff Humphry (Belleville, ), 3. Zac McBride (Baltimore, ON), 4. Derrick Greig (Carrying Place, ON), 5. Del MacGregor (Brighton, ON),
Brighton Auto Pro Stock 5/7/2011
Feature: 1. Doug Anderson (Trenton, ON), 2. Adam Whaley (Trenton, ON), 3. Gary Vandertoorn (Brighton, ON), 4. Dale Locke (Stirling, ON), 5. Hector Asmar (Deseronto, ON),
Bainer’s Rad Can. Modified 5/7/2011
Feature: 1. Mat Vanderlinden (Trenton, ON), 2. Dan Ferguson (Bloomfield, ON), 3. Terry Loxley (Trenton, ON), 4. Shane Ostrander (Carrying Place, ON), 5. Kevin Scott (Trenton, ON),
Vanderlaans Pro Late Models 5/7/2011
Feature: 1. Greg Belyea (Frankford, ON), 2. Andrew Hennessy (Picton, ON), 3. Corey Earl (Picton, ON), 4. Greg Peake* (Brighton, ON), 5. Phil Potts (Frankford, On),
*=rookie
Photo Tags:
1) Campbellford Chrysler Driver of the Week Mat Vanderlinden #9 in the Bainer’s Radiators Canadian Modified took home two checker flags at the Brighton Speedway’s Opening Night May 7th
2) 2010 Pro Late Model Champion Charlie Sandercock #57 battles Greg Belyea #25 in qualifying action and came across the start/finish line with Belyea ahead by a nose cone at Brighton Speedway’s season opener Saturday May 7th
Photo Tags:
1) Campbellford Chrysler Driver of the Week Mat Vanderlinden #9 in the Bainer’s Radiators Canadian Modified took home two checkered flags at the Brighton Speedway’s Opening Night May 7th
2) 2010 Pro Late Model Champion Charlie Sandercock #57 battles Greg Belyea #25 in qualifying action and came across the start/finish line with Belyea ahead by a nose cone at Brighton Speedway’s season opener Saturday May 7th