From: Angela Rinaldi
Brighton Speedway Action Packed Saturday Night!
With a new twist in the action each and every Saturday Night, Brighton Speedway is determined to entertain their loyal fans. The on track drama is never ending, with slips and slides, and flips and flops abounding. The night began early with a bit of scattered showers for the third week in a row, but never one to succumb easily to whims of Mother Nature, track Promoter Mark Rinaldi signaled a green flag go ahead early on in an effort to ensure the races were successful. Qualifying action sped along quickly with only a few bumps in the road but a bit of intermission work on the great orange grader and the track surface was redefined for the feature races.
The Brighton Automotive Pro Stock feature event was a bit lengthy, with caution flags and rough driving around every corner. A track implemented policy of timed race events caused laps to be counted under yellow after the 25 minute mark of any feature. This lead to a green, white, checkered finish where the #72 Doug Anderson found himself once again in victory lane holding off the #91 of Kraig Handley and #8 of Gary Vandertoorn.
Next on the race card was the RONA Trenton Canadian Modified Triple Crown. Current points leader in the mini series #06 Tim Burke was absent and #11 Dan Ferguson was disqualified from the feature event would put in #42 Adam Nayler in the Triple Crown Points lead basically just having to finish the race to take home the bonus cash. The main event itself was full of action as the 30 laps ran on. The #9 Mat Vanderlinden battled out to the front and was passed mid way by the #19 Zeke McKeown. As they continued to work their way around the track the #42 Adam Nayler was eager to take the checkered for the second time in three weeks as the three battled hard for 15 laps but it wasn’t to be had. McKeown was passed with only five laps remaining and Vanderlinden sprung out front to take his first checkered flag of the season. With Nayler furiously trying to pass McKeown in the final two laps Mckeon was successful at holding his line and defending 2nd position while Nayler crossed the line in 3rd position.
The Vanderlaan Building Supplies Late Model Race completed race four of the Humber Nurseries King of the North Country Series. It was another first time winner into victory lane in this division as #11 Corey Earl successfully made his way under #29 Phil Potts coming out of turn four and didn’t look back to grab his first win in a Late Model. The battle for third was just as heated as #49 Jay McCory coming from the back as a result of an early race caution worked hard for a good ten laps to try and take third but Hennessy was able to hold the position not giving up the fast lane and finishing 3rd. The win earned Corey Earl Campbellford Chrysler Driver of the week honours and gave him the point’s championship for the Humber Nurseries King of the North County miniseries. Many of these drivers will continue on to Humberstone Speedway on Sunday, August 1st to race with the Ontario Dirt Late Models.
The Quinte Towing 6 Cylinder Stinger Division proved to be another thrilling night, the feature event was a hard fought battle for the top two when first time winner #40 Christopher Lammle narrowly edged out the #08 of Angela Kirby. After victory lane Lammle wasn’t able to celebrate long as his car was claimed. Under the Stinger rules any fan, driver or crew member may claim any car on the track for $550.00, and so was the case for Lammle on Saturday night.
The Bill’s Johns Comp 4 Division was filled with bumper to bumper, metal grinding action. Current points leader Brandon Gregory was able to capture his fourth win of the season narrowly over #10 of Travis McLean and #84 of Derrick Greig . The event was a caution filled event however the top three kept their noses clean and finished unscathed. McLean was later DQ’d in post race inspection moving #17 Jeff Humphries into the top three.
To finish off the exciting and fast paced night of racing at the Brighton Speedway, the second Figure 8 race was presented to the awe struck fans. With participants and a figure 8 track on the front straight of the speedway, fans were astonished as the cars zoomed through the course. The #07 Todd Macdonald started in the lead and was being chased by track promoter #33 Mark Rinaldi as he took a break from regular duties. Macdonald was speeding through the intersection on lap 4 when he could not get slowed up in time and hit #111 Barry Grills broad side on the passenger door and the front wheel. Macdonald was unable to continue leaving Rinaldi in the lead being chased in the restart by #85 Mike Brooks, 57 Rick Sopaz and Grills. There was a lot more contact as the race continued and the only rule in this race states that you may not strike a driver’s door, all else is game. The track was a slick and tight course with oohs and awes’ from the remaining fans. Rinaldi and Sopaz were the only two to complete the 12 lap event, with Rinaldi crossing the line in first place.
There is nonstop action guaranteed at Brighton Speedway this season! The next scheduled event on August 7th , hosted by Star 93.3 and Rapid Rad includes the Southern Ontario Sprint Cars, Vanderlaan Building Supplies Pro Late Models, Bainer’s Radiators Canadian Modifieds, Brighton Automotive Pro Stocks, the Bill’s Johns Comp 4’s and the Larry’s Towing Spectator One on One Races. Gates open at 5:00 pm and racing action starts at 7:00 pm. Visit www.brightonspeedway.com for all your racing updates. All area Chamber Members are invited to join us in the stands for this action packed night, just look for the invitation in your email!
July 31st Results
Bill Johns Comp 4
Feature:1. Brandon Gregory (Trenton, ON), 2. Derrick Greig (Carrying Place, ON), 3. Jeff Humphries (Belleville, ON), 4. Nathan Day (Colborne, ON), 5. Wendy Dadson (Trenton, ),
Brighton Auto Pro Stock
Feature:1. Doug Anderson (Trenton, ON), 2. Kraig Handley (Picton, ON), 3. Gary Vandertoorn (Brighton, ON), 4. Matt Schonauer (Brighton, ON), 5. Adam Whaley (Trenton, ON),
Quinte Towing Stingers
Feature:1. Mike Lammle (Trenton, ON), 2. Angela Kirby (Belleville, ON), 3. Jorden Pickell (Trenton, On) 4. Mike Fletcher (Frankford, ON)5. Todd Macdonald (Shannonville, ON)
Bainers Radiator Canadian Modifieds
Feature:1. Mat Vanderlinded (Trenton, ON), 2. Zeke Mckeon (Hastings, ON), 3. Adam Nayler (Quinte West, On) 4. Nathan Bosma (Trenton, ON)5. Shane Ostrander (Carrying Place, ON)
Vanderlaan Building Supplies
Feature:1. Corey Earl (Picton, ON), 2. Phil Potts (Frankford, ON), 3. Andrew Hennessy (Picton, On) 4. Jason McCorry (Trenton, ON) 5. Terry Hunt (Carryingplace, ON)
Photo Tag Lines
(1) Mark Rinaldi in the #33 and Barry Grills in the #111 collide in the 2nd Figure 8 Race at Brighton Speedway last Saturday.
(2) The Bainer's Radiators Canadian Modified Action was hot all night at drivers wheeled through turn 2 vying for the top spot.
(3) Mike Lucas in the #74 fights of Mike Schonauer #45 and Jay O'Hara #83 during qualifying action at Brighton Speedway Saturday Night.