Gill Wins Late Model Feature by Inches on ENSS Fund Raiser Night!

For Immediate Release

May 29, 2011

By Elaine Burke

Town and Country Plumbing sponsored the night’s festivities at Brighton Speedway on May 28th.  The humidity in the air meant a clay track that was in tiptop racing condition and the drivers put on a great show for the large crowd on hand.

As part of the ENSS Quest for the Track fundraiser night at the speedway, Mr. Jeff Kawzenuk the school principal and Taylor Sheldrick, a student at ENSS raced their John Deere ride-on lawnmowers for 2 laps at intermission.  The principal emerged victorious, proudly brandishing the checkered flag.

The first feature event to hit the track was the Brighton Automotive Pro Stock 20 lap race and it started out with Jay O’Hara (#83) and Mike Lucas (#74) bringing the field of sixteen cars to the green, O’Hara would take the early lead however it was short lived and Lucas would take the top spot on lap 2.  Lucas stayed out in front until lap 7 when Doug Anderson (#72) snuck by on the inside coming out of corner four as Lucas pushed high.  Anderson was soon challenged by Brandon Gregory (#01) until Gregory would suffer mechanical issues.  Anderson would stretch his lead while the battle for second would heat up between Lucas and Adam Whaley (#12).  Anderson would hold on to take his second checkered of the season and the honour of Campbellford Chrysler Driver of the Month whilel Whaley edged out Lucas for second and third respectively.

The Quinte Towing 6 Cylinder Stingers first feature of the 2011 season was led mostly by veteran Andy Fletcher in the #42 followed closely by Mike Lammle in the #40.  In lap 5 of the 12 lap feature they would start lapping slower traffic when Fletcher got a right front flat tire in lap 7 which allowed Lammle to take over the lead and win his first race of the season.

Fourteen Vanderlaan’s Pro Late Model cars took to the track for their 25 lap feature. Phil Potts (#29) and Beau Brown (#75) would lead the field to the green flag and the two would continue to battle for the first four laps followed by Rob Perry (#23).  Track conditions were extremely fast, racing action was hairy with exciting 3-wide racing.  Rob Perry found himself out front however got himself loose coming out of turn four on lap 5, managing to collect himself however bunching us the field all the way down the front straight!  Lee Gill (#7) emerged the new leader when the dust settled followed closely Charlie Sandercock (#57) while behind them Brown and Perry would battle for 3rd position.  Andrew Hennessy (#87) got turned around on the front straight in lap 11 to draw the first of a series cautions in this race. On the restart, Gill maintained his lead while Greg Belyea (#25) would take over 2nd place as Sandercock and Brown jostled for position.  Kyle Sopaz (#12) got turned around coming out of corner three in lap 15 to draw another caution, on the restart Belyea would jump the green to cause a second restart.  The next restart was good and Gill would continue to lead as Sandercock and Belyea fought hard for second place. Lap 16 would see another incident coming out of turn four with Perry ending up in the infield and Adam Nayler (#42) turned around on the front straight with a radiator problem and headed to the pits on the hook.  Mike Ramos (#09) and Brown would get together on the ensuing restart hit the wall bringing out yet another caution.  Now into single file restarts the race would continue to be a battle Gill, Sandercock and Belyea until Belyea loses control coming out of corner 4 and spins around drawing another caution to put him at the back with only 3 laps to go.  It would be a shoot out to the finish with Gill leading but Sandercock hot on his bumper, on the final lap, Sandercock dove hard into corner 4 and got under Gill, they both charged to the start finish line and in a photo finish, Gill was declared the winner by inches over Sandercock while Hennessy made his way back through the field from his lap 11 spin to finish third.

Twenty three Bill’s John Comp 4 cars start the race in the last feature of the night.  Travis Maclean (#10) would lead early on with Del MacGregor (#19), Jeff Humphry (#17) and Mark Packer (#66) all fighting for second place.  Macgregor would split Humphry and Maclean to take over the lead briefly but Maclean battles back and Packer passes MacGregor on the outside to take over second place. Macgregor would retire to the pits in lap 8 which leaves MacLean and Packer to battle it out side by side for first place with Humphry close behind.  As the leaders come up to slower traffic in lap 12, MacLean would fall back and Packer took over the lead as Humphry drives in to hard and off the track in corner four.  Maclean too would suffer Mechanical issues and be forced to the pits.  With 2 laps left Packer and Warren Mowat (#46) would lead the pack.  A late race restart would see Mowat grab the lead and go on to win the feature followed by Packer and rookie Adam Flierer (#12). 

Join us on June 4th for another exciting night of family entertainment as Dibbits Excavating presents Fan Appreciation night featuring the Late Models, Canadian Modified, Comp 4 and Pro Stock and Spectator One-on-One racing.  For details visit www.brightonspeedway.com or call 613-475-1102.

Top 5 results 28 May 2011

Bill Johns Comp 4

1. Warren Mowat (Trenton, ON), 2. Mark Packer (Trenton, ON), 3. Adam Flieler (Trenton, ON), 4. Terry Hough (Brighton, ON), 5. Zac McBride (Baltimore, ON),

Brighton Auto Pro Stock

1. Doug Anderson (Trenton, ON), 2. Adam Whaley (Trenton, ON), 3. Mike Lucas (Belleville, ON), 4. Gary Vandertoorn (Brighton, ON), 5. Jason Preece (Trenton, ON),

Quinte Towing Stingers

1. Mike Lammle (Trenton, ON), 2. Gary Taylor, 3. Jorden Pickell (Trenton, ON), 4. Steve Wells (Picton, ON), 5. Geneva Sheffield (Picton, on),

Vanderlaans Pro Late Models

1. Lee Gill (Lafargeville, NY), 2. Charlie Sandercock (Belleville, ON), 3. Andrew Hennessy (Picton, ON), 4. Terry Hunt (Carrying Place, ON), 5. Corey Earl (Picton, ON) 

Photo Tag 1) The Vanderlaan’s Pro Late Model feature came down to a photo finish between reigning class champion #57 Charlie Sandercock and veteran Lee Gill # 7 last Saturday Night at Brighton Speedway. Gill would take the checkered at the line by only the slightest margin.

Photo Tag 2) The Brighton Automotive Pro Stock reigning Champion is back making an impact at Brighton Speedway. The 72 “Big Smooth” Doug Anderson takes home his 2nd feature win of the season and collects the most points to receive the Campbellford Chrysler Driver of the Month honours.