For Immediate Release
July 3, 2011
By: Angela Rinaldi

Non Stop Excitement Both On and Off the Track and The Canada Day Weekend Championships

Brighton Speedway celebrated our nation’s birth in style this weekend with an exhilarating night of racing in all divisions.  Brighton Automotive hosted the Canada Day Championship highlighting the Vanderlaan Building Supplies Pro Late Models, the Bainer’s Radiators Canadian Modifieds, the Brighton Automotive Pro Stocks and the Bill’s Johns Comp 4 classes each running extended laps for double points as we hit the mid season mark on the race calendar.

With the Custom Cart Pole Awards to kick off the night as the drivers raced the clock and the fastest times were laid down on the 1/3rd mile in each division were Late Model driver Phil Potts at 16.209 seconds for a second year in a row, Canadian Modified driver Mat Vanderlinden at 17.305, Pro Stock driver Doug Anderson at 18.011 with his first ever pole award and Comp 4 driver Mark Packer at 19.207 also with his first fastest lap award. 

Bill’s Johns Comp 4’s were the first feature to hit the track.  With the two fastest times of Mark Packer (66) and Derrick Greig (84) starting on the front line for the 20 lap feature the race was fraught with cautions and upset.  Out of 19 cars to start many headed to the pits prematurely event including Wendy Dadson (25) hammered in turn two by Elden McCracken (33) and bounced up the south bridge just as Adam Flieler was entering the track creating a near miss at the bridge.  McCraken was sent to the pits with a black flag for his actions and Dadson’s night was over.  After all the yellow flags it was Warren Mowat (46) who took the final flag followed by Del MacGregor (19), Bob Akey (0) making his first top 5 finish of the year, Derrick Greig (84) and new comer Chris Gregory (1) rounded out the top five with a great finish as well.

Next up to the delight of the crowded grandstands were the Bainer’s Radiators Canadian Modifieds in a 40 lap feature.  Starting at the front were Mat Vanderlinden (9) and Henry Schneider (7), Vanderlinden would lead the field but would constantly be pressured by two time Champion Dan Fergsuon (11).  Mat held on to the delight of his fans and scored a very satisfying night all round with fastest lap, a qualifier win and fastest lap.  Ferguson, Shane Ostrander (00), Kevin Scott (18) and rookie Kathy Markolefas (21) with her best finish of the year rounded out the top five positions.

The Vanderlaan Building Supplies Pro Late Model feature was filled with edge of your seat excitement for the 50 lap race.  Fast timers Phil Potts (29) and Terry Hunt (20) would bring the field to the open ing  green and would battle it out early on however it wasn’t long until point leader going into the night Charlie Sandercock (#57) would join the battle and pass Hunt for second.  Heading into the night with a 35 point  lead over Greg Belyea (25), Sandercock would be forced to the pits with a flat tire after the half way mark and complications in the pits put the past champion down 3 laps and leaving Belyea out front now challenging Potts in a fiery clash that had them neck and neck in the final laps.  Belyea would grab the lead on the high side from Potts with about 10 laps to go but Potts wouldn’t give up adjusting his line and staying on Belyea’s back bumper.  Coming to the white flag out of turn four Belyea would drift just a little high giving Potts an opening that he would take and pass Belyea going into turn 1 on the last lap!  Potts would hold on just barely and take his first feature finish of the 2011 season.  Top five finishers were Phil Potts (29), Greg Belyea (25), Terry Hunt (20), Corey Earl (11)and  Andrew Hennessy (87).

The Mystical Distributing Colossal Fireworks display awed the fans as the Brighton Automotive Pro Stock 40 Lap Feature race took to the track to cap off the night.  The race was a quick run from with only 3 cautions from start to finish.  Fast times went to Doug Anderson (72) and Jay O’Hara (83) who kept ahead of the pack but were challenged heavily by Brandon Gregory (01) and Adam Whaley (12).  With “The Big Smooth” Anderson leading Gregory was ferocious in his assault and was able to use one of the three restarts move around Anderson to take the lead.  Gregory would hold on knowing that one mistake and Anderson would be right there.  The race was exciting to the end the fans roared when Gregory crossed the line for his second win of the season.  Top five finishers were Brandon Gregory (01), Doug Anderson (72), Adam Whaley (12),  Jay O'Hara (83) and Hector Asmar (18).

With still three months of racing to go Brighton Speedway intends to keep the fans enthralled with continuous racing action and excitement.  Next week a change to the schedule has Behan Construction presenting the Southern Ontario Sprints In their second visit to the 1/3rd mile clay oval.  Racing actions always starts at 7:00 pm and admission for a family is only $42.00 and includes a FREE popcorn.  For more details be sure to see www.brightonspeedway.com or call 613.475.1102.

Brighton Speedway Top 5 Finishes

Bainers Rad Can. Modified Mid Season Feat:

1. Mat Vanderlinden (Trenton, ON), 2. Dan Ferguson (Bloomfield, ON), 3. Shane Ostrander (Carrying Place, ON), 4. Kevin Scott (Trenton, ON), 5. Kathy Markolefas (Picton, ON),

Bill Johns Comp 4 Mid Season Feat:

1. Warren Mowat (Trenton, ON), 2. Del MacGregor (Brighton, ON), 3. Bob Akey (Trenton, ON), 4. Derrick Greig (Carrying Place, ON), 5. Chris Gregory (Carrying Place, ON),

Brighton Auto Pro Stock Mid Season Feat:

1. Brandon Gregory (Trenton, ON), 2. Doug Anderson (Trenton, ON), 3. Adam Whaley (Trenton, ON), 4. Jay O'Hara (Brighton, ON), 5. Hector Asmar (Deseronto, ON),

Vanderlaans Pro Late Models Mid Season Feat:

1. Phil Potts (Frankford, On), 2. Greg Belyea (Frankford, ON), 3. Terry Hunt (Carrying Place, ON), 4. Corey Earl (Picton, ON), 5. Andrew Hennessy (Picton, ON),

Photo Tags

1)      The Custom Cart Pole Awards started out the night at Brighton Speedway with the fastest times in each division going to Late Model driver Phil Potts at 16.209 seconds, Canadian Modified driver Mat Vanderlinden at 17.305, Pro Stock driver Doug Anderson at 18.011 and Comp 4 driver Mark Packer at 19,207. 

2)      Greg Belyea (35) and Phil Potts (29) Pro Late Model drivers battling neck and neck for the feature win during the 50 Lap Canada Day Championships at Brighton Speedway.