Belyea Edges Sandercock for the Win with Last Lap Pass!
For immediate release
By: Elaine Burke
June 25, 2011
Saturday marked Deerhaven Farm and Garden night and Victory Motorcycle night at the Speedway as the rain stayed away for a successful evening at the races! A number of Motorcyclists gambled with the weather as well and showed up on their bikes to get free admission to the night of racing compliments of Deerhaven and Victory Motorcycle’s. It was also the first visit of the season by the Eastern Ontario Vintage Stock Car Club and the Gord’s Water Vantastics!
The Vanderlaan’s Late Model finish was the highlight of the night as Greg Belyea (#25) edged Charlie Sandercock in a one lap shootout at the end of their 25 lap DIRTcar main event. The race started with Adam Nayler (#42) and Rob Perry (#23) on the pole and leading the field to green. Nayler would grab the early lead however at the end of lap 1 Perry would spin coming off turn four bringing out the first caution of the race. Once the field was set and they headed back to green, the racing was furious some times three and four wide! Nayler continued to lead as Sandercock and Belyea started to make their way through the field. Mid way through the race Sandercock had caught Nayler, taken over the lead and looked like he was set up for the win. However on lap 20 Belyea got by Nayler for second and set his sights on Sandercock. It looked like there would not be enough time until the yellow flew on lap 23 setting up a green, white checker. Sandercock chose the high side well Belyea had to follow in behind because there was lapped traffic on the inside groove. On the restart Sandercock got away and Belyea cleared the lapped cars. Nayler wasn’t as lucky as he tangled with Mark Rayner (#55) and spun in corner 1 bringing out another caution and setting up a 1 lap shoot out! Sandercock again picked the high side with Belyea now to his inside as they came to the green. Belyea jumped the gun and the start was waved off with a warning handed to the 25 car. The second restart was successful and Sandercock retained his lead by a nose under the stand to take the green and white together. The two would battle the lap side by side with Sandercock holding a slight edge going into turn three. Coming out of turn four Belyea got just a hair more forward drive out of the corner and the two actually touched as they crossed the line with Belyea leading by about half a car. Corey Earl (#11) would follow the two across the line for a solid 3rd place finish.
The Bainer’s Radiator Canadian Modified feature saw last weeks winner Mat Vanderlinden (#9) start deep in the field but it didn’t take long for him to repeat his efforts from last week as he had control of the race by the midpoint. It was probably a good thing for him as well because there was lots of close racing behind him that turned into some accidents, crunched metal, flat tires and trips to the pits. Vanderlinden won his 3rd feature race of the season. Mat said the track conditions were really good for his car – he fought his way up to the front but once there he was able to keep his lead. Zeke McKeown (#19) and Dan Ferguson (#11) would round out the top three for the night.
The Eastern Ontario Vintage Stock cars took to the track and ran 20 laps of nonstop green flag racing . Eleven Vintage Modified Cars were on hand but it was new comer to the class Ryan Artbuthnot of Braeside in his RB70 that led most of the race to take the checkered flag. Rob a rookie in not only the class but racing itself and has only raced 5 times before Saturday night took his first ever win.
The Gord’s Water Vantastics hit the track and it was a pair of Sopaz’s leading the field to green as dad Rick (#7) and son Kyle (#12) raced full tilt into corner 1. A twist in this race was that on the way up the back shoot the vans would have to detour into the infield and circle the back straight light pole! This light pole certainly livened up the race as there were many traffic jams and a little contact too as vans tried to enter into the infield while other vans were trying to exit the infield and get back on track. They younger Sopaz and #77 husband and wife team of Bernie and Jen Rhebergen jostled for 1st place throughout the race as the vans had to loop around the light post. Shrewd strategic moves going around as some laps turned into figure eight action saw the Rhebergen’s winning this 10 lap feature.
The Brighton Automotive Pro Stock class would see the first of three home track events for the “Duel in the Dirt” 30 lap main event. Doug “the Big Smooth” Anderson (#72) who has been dominant in the class again so far this season started in the third position and quickly took over the lead off the start. Around lap 10 Anderson continued to lead but the battle for second was heating up with Jay O’Hara (#83) and Brandon Gregory (#01) duelling it out. Mechanical issues would get the better of O’Hara on lap 13 and quickly moved to the outside as he slowed down. Gregory continued in second and Gary Vandertoorn (#8) made his way into third. Anderson would hold on to win his 4th feature of the year followed by Gregory and Vandertoorn and score the Campbellford Chrysler Driver of the Week honours.
Be sure to join us this long weekend as we host the Brighton Automotive Canada Day Weekend championships! This weekend only the drivers in the Late Models, Canadian Modifieds, Pro Stocks and Comp 4 will time trial for the Custom Cart pole award. Drivers will then compete for double points, extra laps and extra money to heat things up. Throw in a ton of fireworks presented by Mystical Distributing and we have on exciting night here at the track! Gates open at 4:30, tine trials start at 5pm, racing action starts at 7pm sharp! For more details on this event visit www.brightonspeedway.com or email info@brightonspeedway.com
June 25th Top Five Results:
Bainers Rad Can. Modified
1. Mat Vanderlinden (Trenton, ON), 2. Zeke McKeown (Havelock, ON), 3. Dan Ferguson (Bloomfield, ON), 4. Shane Ostrander (Carrying Place, ON), 5. Kathy Markolefas (Picton, ON),
Brighton Auto Pro Stock
1. Doug Anderson (Trenton, ON), 2. Brandon Gregory (Trenton, ON), 3. Gary Vandertoorn (Brighton, ON), 4. Hector Asmar (Deseronto, ON), 5. Dale Locke (Stirling, ON),
Gords Water Vantastics
1. Bernie Rhebergen, 2. Rick Sopaz, 3. Rich Saunders, 4. Kyle Sopaz (Carrying Place, ON), 5. Cory White (Belleville, ON),
Vanderlaans Pro Late Models
1. Greg Belyea (Frankford, ON), 2. Charlie Sandercock (Belleville, ON), 3. Corey Earl (Picton, ON), 4. Andrew Hennessy (Picton, ON), 5. Terry Hunt (Carrying Place, ON),
Vintage Car Club
1. Ryan Arbuthnot (Braeside, ), 2. Al Hargu (Cayuga, ON), 3. Steve Lackie, 4. Brian Comeau (Toledo, ON), 5. Denzil Billings Jr.,
Photos by canadianracer.com
Eleven Eastern Ontario Vintage Stock cars took to the track and ran 20 laps of nonstop green flag with new comer Ryan Artbuthnot of Braeside in his RB70 leading most of the race to take the his first ever win. The EOVSCC will return Applefest Weekend, September 23rd.
Vanderlaan Building Supplies Pro Late Model Drivers Charlie Sandercock (#57) and Greg Belyea (#25) once again meet at the start finish line for an exciting night of racing at Brighton Speedway. The battle heats up heading in to the double points night Saturday July 2nd for the Canada Day Championships, don’t miss out on all the action.