For Immediate Release
Action is Five Alarm Hot at Brighton Speedway
Story By Elaine Burke
While Mother Nature forced a cancellation of the races on May 14th, she blessed us with perfect weather for the return of the Southern Ontario Sprint cars at the Speedway on May 21st. The night’s events were presented by Rock 107 and Vanzuylen Tire and Alignment and also included the Pro Late Models, Canadian Modified, Pro Stocks and a special 4 lap SOS Dash for Cash sponsored by Construction. To top the action on the track, the First Annual BSP Chilli Contest saw 9 participants heating up the kitchen in a competition to take home a pair of tickets to the World of Outlaw Sprint Cars at Ohsweken Speedway. With the fine assistance of the ROCK 107 Lovely Ladies the Fan’s Favourite award was handed to Del MacGregor, long time fan of Brighton Speedway and driver of the 19 Comp 4. The prize for Most Creative Name was handed to Mr. Phil Leadbetter who’s “Skirt in the Dirt” chilli pot was also a crowd pleaser.
The action on the track after intermission saw the top four SOS cars from the heat line up for the Milligan Construction Dash for Cash: Warren Mahoney (#25), Chris Jones (#11), Rick Wilson (42W) and Adam West (#30). Chris Jones experienced mechanical problems during the first lap and had to go to the pits which left 3 cars to battle it out for four laps. Mahoney narrowly won the race in a heated battle with the “Joyceville Jet” Rick Wilson.
The Bainer’s Radiator Canadian Modified feature was the first feature event to hit the track and was led by Henry Schneider for the first 11 laps but a caution in lap 8 gave 2010 Champion Dan Ferguson (#11) the opportunity to take over the lead but Schneider managed to hold him off. Ferguson and Schneider raced neck to neck for 2 laps until Schneider loses traction in lap 11 with a left rear flat tire and was forced to pits allowing Ferguson to take the lead. Ferguson would continue to lead followed closely by Mat Vanderlinden (#9) and Zeke McKeown (#19) until Vanderlinden was forced to the pits with a flat as well putting McKeown into second place. McKeown would spin later on losing second place but quickly recovered and was right back in the hunt to battle Ferguson for 1st place, Ferguson managed to hang on for his first feature win of the season.
Vanderlaan Building Supplies Pro Late Model feature race was next up and promised to be a thriller. Beau Brown (#75) started on the pole with Caley Weese (#77) on the outside. On the 2nd lap, the #55 of Mark Rayner (’94 and ’95 Late Model Champion at Brighton Speedway) suffered mechanical issues in corner 1 making an early night for his return to late model racing. On the restart, Charlie Sandercock (#57) took the lead followed by Weese and Terry Hunt (#20). However it was Greg Belyea (#25) as the man on the move and on lap nine moved into second place followed by Corey Earl (#11) in a battle for third with Weese. Belyea inched closer to Sandercock as he gained ground on every lap. The yellow flag came out in lap 14 as Kyle Sopaz (#12) and Weese performed a spin duet in opposite corners of the track. Belyea would take the opportunity to take the lead on the restart relegating Sandercock to second place with Earl challenging him for that position. On lap 18, Earl taps the wall on the front stretch allowing Lee Gill (#7) to move into third place leaving him to set his sights on Sandercock which he would catch and pass in lap 20 to try and chase down Belyea. After a caution in lap 23, with 2 laps left to go, Gill and Belyea would restart side by side but Belyea gets a nice jump out of corner four to regain his lead. Sandercock followed Belyea and passed Gill in corner one to finish in second place behind the winner, Greg Belyea with Gill coming home third.
In the 20 lap Southern Ontario Sprint feature, Adam West (#30) led the pack of winged warriors followed by Wilson and Mahoney. West raced high on the outside and managed to hold the lead until lap 9 doing everything he could to keep Wilson behind. As the leaders came upon slower traffic in lap 11, Wilson would take the lead and slowly increase over West. A caution would fly with just 2 laps to go giving Adam West one last chance at Wilson and he would make the best of it taking the lead in turn one, however Wilson would battle back in the same turn one lap later as the two would race wheel to wheel up the back stretch on the final lap. All the battling between Wilson and West would open the door for Chris Jones to jump into the action making it a three way battle for the lead on the final turns. As they crossed the line it was Wilson taking home the first checkered flag for the 2011 season and Jones narrowly edging out West for second place.
Nineteen cars started the Brighton Automotive Pro Stock Triple Crown race sponsored by Larry’s Towing. Brandon Gregory (#01) took an early lead followed by Jay O’Hara (#83) and Mike Lucas (#74). In Lap 2, Doug Anderson (#72) moved up to 4th position from a starting position of 11. Early in the race Gregory, Anderson and O’Hara would already start to lap slower traffic. Anderson would take the lead on lap 5 as Gregory and O’Hara battle for second with Adam Whaley (#12) making his way into fourth. The race becomes very challenging for the leaders as they got into heavy, slower traffic on lap 11. Gregory made an attempt to pass Anderson on the inside and finally takes over in lap 14 and they swap positions back on lap 16. Close racing contact between the Anderson and Gregory cause Anderson to spin and a caution on Lap 18. Anderson would have to start at the rear while Gregory and Whaley would restart the race on the front row. Now it was Gregory and Whaley’s turn to battle it out with Whaley getting the advantage on the restart while Anderson begins to make his way once again through the field. Gregory would retake the lead and on lap 21 he would be joined by Whaley and Anderson as they go 3-wide up the back straight. Gregory and Anderson would once again be battling side by side for the next few laps followed closely by Whaley. Gregory was able to hold on for the checkered flag chased by Anderson in second and Whaley rounding out the top three.
Join us next week as Town and Country Plumbing presents the $25 Car Load night. All children’s admissions will be donated to the Quinte West Adopt-a-Child charity as we kick off a month long promotion in support of this charity. As a leading partner in the 2011 Adopt a Child Campaign, Brighton Speedway will be working alongside other area businesses to assist in ensuring all children in the Quinte West area have a memorable holiday season. Saturday will also host the makeup date for the ENSS Quest for the Track fund raiser. ENSS Students have been selling tickets to our track with all proceeds going to support their Quest for a new Track and Field. Brighton Recycling has also kicked in to support the ENSS Quest with a Scrap Metal Drive. There is a Scrap Metal bin at the track and proceeds from all donations of scrap will go directly to the Track and Field Fund Raiser. So bring out some of your old metal garbage lying around your yard or garage and throw it in the bin! Pick up may be arranged. For details on these great events or more please visit www.brightonspeedway.com or email info@brightonspeedway.com.
May 21, 2011 Feature Results:
Bainers Rad Can. Modified
1. Dan Ferguson (Bloomfield, ON), 2. Zeke McKeown (Havelock, ON), 3. Terry Loxley (Trenton, ON), 4. Nathan Bosma (Trenton, ON), 5. Dave Wannamaker (Trenton, ON),
Brighton Auto Pro Stock
1. Brandon Gregory (Trenton, ON), 2. Doug Anderson (Trenton, ON), 3. Adam Whaley (Trenton, ON), 4. Gary Vandertoorn (Brighton, ON), 5. Hector Asmar (Deseronto, ON),
Vanderlaans Pro Late Models
1. Greg Belyea (Frankford, ON), 2. Charlie Sandercock (Belleville, ON), 3. Lee Gill (Lafargeville, ON), 4. Corey Earl (Picton, ON), 5. Andrew Hennessy (Picton, ON),
Southern Ontario Sprints
Rick Wilson (Joyceville, ON), 2. Chris Jones (Picton, ON), 3. Adam West (Rigdetown, ON), 4. Bob Crawford (Newmarket, ON), 5. Travis Cunningham ( , ON)
Photo Tags:
1) Adam West (30) and Rick Wilson (42w) battle for first place in the Southern Ontario Sprints first of 6 visits to Brighton Speedway on Saturday, May 21st. Wilson won the 20 lap feature event to continue his winning ways at BSP.
2) Greg Belyea (25) and Terry Hunt (20) are neck and neck in competition as they race the 1/3rd mile clay oval at Brighton Speedway on Saturday, May 21st. Belyea will go on to win the feature event and receives the Campbellford Chrysler Driver of the Week Award.
