First Ever Great Crate Race a Great Success!
For Immediate Release
September 19, 2011
By Mark Rinaldi
This past Saturday night Brighton Speedway hosted two colossal events with great success! McDougall Insurance and Financial presented the first ever Great Crate Race 65 lap $5000 to win for Pro Late Models while John’s Equipment of Frankford presented the Danny Reid Memorial 50 lap $2,000 to win Canadian Modified event! Both events were the largest paying events for their classes in Brighton Speedway history and neither disappointed the large crowd on hand!
18 Modifieds and 27 Late Models filled the pits along with regulars from the Brighton Automotive Pro Stocks and the Bill’s Johns Comp 4 class. After qualifying the top 12 Late Models and Canadian Modifieds would redraw on the front straight to set the line ups for their respective features. In the Bainer’s Radiator Modifieds it was current points leader and reigning champion #11 Dan Ferguson that could pull the number one starting position while other top contenders #33 Ryan Scott from Kingston would start forth, #19 Zeke McKeown would draw a six and #9 Mat Vanderlinden would draw his own number nine for the John’s Equipment running of the Danny Reid Memorial Race! Ferguson would take advantage of his pole position early and jump out to the early lead with Scott and #18 Brandon Gregory chasing close behind, while McKeown and Vanderlinden would start to make their way through the field. However bad luck would strike early for Vanderlinden as the field checked up coming out of turn four and Vanderlinden ran into the back of #31 Steve Blight causing Blight to spin and breaking something in the front end marking the end of Mat’s night in the Canadian Modified division as he was towed to the pits. On the restart Ferguson would choose the low side and Scott chose the high side. The two would battle like that side by side for a most of the race changing the lead at least half a dozen times. Scott was able to get out front by the midway point of the race and tried to move down low to take Ferguson’s line away but couldn’t make it stick. Ferguson would continue pursuit with McKeown right there as well. Scott would push up coming out of turn four and Ferguson was right there again to take the spot and the two again would race side by side for a number of laps. As the race went on and the track got slicker you could see that Ferguson’s Canadian Modified tires were starting to show an advantage over Scott’s IMCA Hoosier tires and Ferguson would now pull out to a sizable lead and not look back! Scott and McKeown would now battle for second however in the closing laps McKeown would suffer a mechanical failure and be forced to the pits with a few laps to go. Ferguson would go on to win once again the Danny Reid Memorial with the trophy presented by Danny’s children Scott Reid and Wendy Kimberly. Scott would hang on for second and Gregory would inherit third when McKeown was forced to the pits. Dave Wannamaker came from 12 starting position to finish 5th place to earn him the Addeco Hard Charger award for the most positions passed.
With 27 Late Models in the field and #50 Steve Dixon of Smethport PA choosing not to start due to mechanical issues the decision was made by Speedway officials to start all 26 cars in the McDougall Insurance and Financial Great Crate Race. #98 Shane Tenace of Fulton, NY and #12 Kyle Sopaz would lead the large field to green for the 65 lap event. Tenace would jump out to the early lead followed by Sopaz, one of the hometown favorites #29 Phil Potts and #81 Justin Tatlow of Franklynville NY. Tatlow would make his way around Sopaz and into second spot when the caution would come out on lap four. On the next restart Tenace and Tatlow would get together coming out of four and would spin into the infield in front of the field, both were undamaged but would now have to restart at the rear of the field. Now Potts and Sopaz would restart the field and get back to green. Potts would jump out front and be followed through by Lafargeville, NY native #7 Lee Gill. Gill who is no stranger to Brighton Speedway has been winning races here since the 1990’s and has two victories to his credit already in 2011. Potts was using the high line and Gill was down low and they would battle for a number of laps until Gill finally took over. Gill wouldn’t look back from there on in he as he battled through lapped traffic, a number of cautions and even two red flags. One for #55 Mark Rayner who had a quick roll over and right back onto its wheels in turn 4 and one for #1 of Darren Peters who broke his arm getting it caught in the steering wheel as he was pushed into a corner tire during a restart. In the end it was Lee Gill taking home more than $5,000.00 with lap and bonus money as the winner of the first ever Great Crate Race! Local Greg Belyea came in a strong second with Fulton NY’s AJ Kingsley recovering from an early race spin to battle his way through the field for a third place finish in his first ever visit to Brighton Speedway. Caley Weese’s consistent march through the field from her 26th starting position to a 6th place finish earned her the Tenacious Racing Hard Charger award. Lee Gill also took home the Finish Line Web Design halfway leader and the Image Landscaping Most Laps Led awards. At the end of the 65 lap event there were still ten cars on the lead lap.
Both Doug Anderson picked up the win in the Brighton Automotive Pro Stock 30 lap feature and Warren Mowat won the Comp 4 20 lap event extending their points lead in their respective divisions.
From one action packed weekend right into another we get ready for the 7th annual 358 DIRT Modified Applefest Shootout presented by Goodyear Automotive in Belleville. The action starts on Friday night when the DIRTcar Sportsman hit the track for a Super DIRTcar Series event along with Mod Lites, Vintage Modifieds, Brighton Automotive Pro Stocks, Bills John’s Comp 4 and Quinte Towing Stingers. Saturday marks the return of the mighty 358 DIRTcar Modifieds! Also racing Saturday is Round 2 of the Mod Lites, the final round of the Brighton Speedway / Merrittville Speedway Duel in the Dirt for Pro Stocks, the Late Models and the Canadian Modifieds. Friday night gates open at 6:00 and racing starts at 7:30 pm. Admission for Friday is $13.00 for Adults, $10.00 for Youths and Seniors, $3.00 for children 7-12 and $30.00 for a Family Pass. Saturday gates open at 4:30 pm and racing starts at 6:00 pm. Admission for Saturday is $18.00 for Adults, $14.00 for Youths and Seniors, $4.00 for children 7-12 and $42.00 for a family pass. Weekend passes are available for both Pit’s and the Grandstands.
Brighton Speedway Top Five Saturday, September 17th, 2011
Danny Reid Memorial Race (Bainer’s Radiators Canadian Modified Division)
Feature:1. Dan Ferguson (Bloomfield, ON), 2. Ryan Scott (Kingston, ON), 3. Kevin Scott (sub Brandon Gregory) (Trenton, ON), 4. Shane Ostrander (Carrying Place, ON), 5. Dave Wannamaker (Trenton, ON),
McDougall Insurance and Financial Great Crate Race
(Vanderlaan’s Building Supplies Pro Late Model Division)
Feature:1. Lee Gill (Lafargeville, NY), 2. Greg Belyea (Frankford, ON), 3. AJ Kingsley (Fulton, NY), 4. Corey Earl (Picton, ON), 5. Andrew Hennessy (Picton, ON),
Bill’s Johns Comp 4 Division
Feature:1. Warren Mowat (Trenton, ON), 2. Mark Packer (Trenton, ON), 3. Jim Whaley (Trenton, ON), 4. Zac McBride (Baltimore, ON), 5. Jeff Humphry (Belleville, ),
Brighton Automotive Pro Stock Division
Feature:1. Doug Anderson (Trenton, ON), 2. Jay O'Hara (Brighton, ON), 3. Mike Schonauer (Brighton, ON), 4. Gary Vandertoorn (Brighton, ON), 5. Mitch Rosborough (Picton, ON),
Photo Tags
#11 Dan Ferguson, Bloomfield and #33 Ryan Scott, Kingston battled back and forth on Saturday Night at Brighton Speedway during the running of the Canadian Modified Danny Reid Memorial Event.
#7 Lee Gill led the pack of 26 Late Models to take home over $5000.00 in prize money during the 1st McDougall Insurance & Financial 65 Lap Great Crate Race at Brighton Speedway on Saturday, September 17th, 2011.
Late Model drivers thrilled the packed grandstands in a four wide presentation to kick off the McDougall Insurance and Financial 65 Lap Great Crate Race at Brighton Speedway.
