Flamboro Speedway Completes Third Night Of Competition

Posted on06 May 2012.
Flamboro Speedway Completes Third Night Of Competition

By Randy Spencer – Another night of nice weather greeted fans including those from the greater Hamilton area. This year, Flamboro is holding four special community nights featuring 2 for 1 admission nights for the communities of Hamilton, Guelph, Brantford and the Cambridge-KW area.

The Ray’s Auto Centre and Towing Thunder Cars, the Grisdale Late Models, Ponderosa Nature Resort Mini Stock and Pro4 Modifieds were on hand for some fast paced high energy action once again. Three mini stock qualifying races were first on the program. Mike Holmes has had some bad luck so far but dominated the first heat and after starting on the outside of the second row was out front as the pack came around to complete lap one. Matt Dean and Jordan Lovell waged a nice battle for second and third behind Holmes. At the checkered flag it was Mike Holmes. In heat #2, James Idsardi sat on the pole and raced a fine race leading the first five laps. But Russ Aicken proved to be just too much for Idsardi to hold off and Aicken got by and cruised to the victory giving Russ two straight wins after the consi victory last Saturday night. In the final heat race, a turn 2 mix-up just after the green few resulted in a complete restart and a change in the starting order. Samantha Shaw inherited the pole from Wade Watson and Eric Van Wyngaarden and led the first three laps. Last weeks feature winner Billy Schwartzenburg got by Shaw in turns 3 and 4  and the two put some distance between themselves and the rest of the pack. Dave Bailey, Rob Hoskins, Ken Stenhouse and Mark DaSilva had there own battle further back but at the end Schwartzenburg made his way to victory lane.

Bobby Mercer and Linda Dean led the first Thunder Car heat to the green but before long the #37 of Jeff Bean made his way to the front and began to pull away and a victory seemed all but certain. But the right front tire came off the car in turn three and that opened the door for Scott Laporte to win his second straight heat race in as many weeks. The second Thunder Car heat saw another great battle with pole sitter Nick Troback leading start to finish for the heat victory. Brad Collison and Kevin Albers battled hard for second and third.

Three cars were making their debut in the Gridsdale Late Model series as Chris Boschler, Jim Sweers and 2011 Rookie of the Year, Brennan Didero were out for the show. Dale Shaw, likely the top contender as this years Rookie had some bad luck early and made it out to the track but left the before the green flag would fly. Shane Gowan led the pack for the first 6 laps until the “Shadow” Brad Corcoran got by Gowan and pulled away for the victory. In the second heat, Steve Laking and Jason Shaw broke away early and were gone on their own little race. It was quite a battle as Shaw gave Laking a few taps to let him know he was there but it was an fast, clean exciting race to the end. The Pro 4 Modifieds had a few more cars out and for the first time in a little while had two qualifying heats. Craig Shaver led start to finish for the victory in heat number one. The brothers Nanticoke, Brian and Dan battled each other and finished second and third. Heat number two saw the #24 of Blake Bomberry Jr. run away and hide for his first F4 checkered flag.

Main event racing got underway shortly after 8 o’clock and 26 Mini Stocks lined up for the green. Matt Dean and Courtney Scott were on the pole and as often happens in the the mini feature some wild paint trading action along with several cautions took place early in the race. A couple cars got tied up in turn 3 and 4 on laps 2 as well as down the front stretch bringing out a caution. One lap later, Ken Stenhouse took a hard hit and was taken off on the hook and his night was done. Once underway they managed to get some laps down and lapped traffic began to cause some headaches for the front runners. By this point Billy Schwartzenburg was leading but defending champion Dave Bailey was on his tail, and almost got by as the two took separate lines to get around a lapped car. The #64 Brandon McFerran had a right rear tire go down and that brought the caution out with 4 laps to go. On the restart, Rob Hoskins timed it right and shot out to the lead and took the his second feature race on the young season.

The 25 lap Thunder Car feature was up next with Scott Laporte leading a bakers dozen of the fastest Thunder Cars around onto the track. Laporte, with two heat wins to his credit so far and was hungry for the win. But he had a bunch of hungry drivers to contend with and that was evident as a few laps got in the books. Nick Troback and Kevin Albers broke away to lead the pack. The Ice Man Brad Collison had a fast car too and was in third. By lap 13 the front two cars had built their lead into almost a full straight but a great move by Albers got him by Troback and he cruised to his second consecutive feature victory. As Flamboro announcer mentioned on the track, Albers “smoked” the rest of the field for a convincing win.

The Late Model heats were exciting earlier in the evening and the feature was the same. Brad Corcoran started on the inside pole and got out to an early lead. A five car pack kept it interesting as Corcoran, Laking, Stewart, Howse and Jason Shaw battled nose too tail for many laps. Laking and Corcaran were waging a friendly battle for many laps but Corcoran managed to keep Laking behind him as the cars entered some lapped traffic late in the race. But the veteran Corcoran showed some great patience under pressure and held on for the flag to flag 30 lap feature victory. In the final race of the night, the Pro 4 Modifieds put on a great show as well. Nice to see some new drivers out tonight and from all accounts the Silver Bullet John Verney and the ageless one and founding father on F4 racing Stan “the Man” Pokupec will be back on the asphalt oval in the very near future. Another ageless one, Dave Hodgkinson was back after a blown engine last week and dominated the race and took the checkered flag to end another fine night of racing at the track.

Be sure to join us next Saturday night, May 12th for Midgets and Modified Open Wheel night!! The Can-Am TQ Midgets, Canadian Vintage Modifieds, Hurricane Midgets are in town for their first 2012 visit and are joined by the new FWD Pure Stocks. Pit Gates Open at 4pm, Main Grandstand Opens at 5pm with Qualifying at 6:30pm and Main Events getting underway at 8:00pm. And in two weeks time is the Victoria Day Long weekend spectacular with two days of racing. Saturday the Late Models, Thunder Cars, Mini Stocks and F4 Modifieds will be in the house and we’ll be back the next afternoon for the first Redneck Racing Showdown which includes a 25 laps Mini Stock Invitational Event plus FWD Pure Stocks, Junk Car Duels, Figure 8 Demolition and Boat Racing!!! Check out the website, http://www.flamborospeedway.ca , for more details on this exciting new event to the 2012 Flamboro Speedway racing program. And speaking of programs don’t miss a single issue in the Flamboro Speedway race Night review program series,with feature stories from OntarioOval.com, Race recaps, Dave Franks photos, points standings, Waterloo Regional Kart Club information and much more. See you at the races!!!!

Results (scored finish, not official)

Mini Stock Heat #1: #13 Mike Holmes, #15 Matt Dean, #61 Chad Ditner, #90 Jordan Lovell, #10 Courtney Scott, #19 Brittany Idsardi, #32 Glen Vandergeld, #98 Kyle Kearnes, #05 Dave Goodacre (DNF)

Mini Stock Heat #2: #71 Russ Aicken,  #77 James Idsardi, #1 Josh Shantz, #0 Brittany Myers, #64 Brandon McFerran, #42 Rick Robinon, #44 Scott Simmons, #75 Scott Mast

Mini Stock Heat #3: #86 Billy Schwartzenburg, #81 Samantha Shaw, #31 Dave Bailey, #37 Rob Hoskins, #5 Ken Stenhouse, #01 Mark DaSilva, #47 Bruce Wheller, #22 Wade Watson, #14 Kerry Smith, #92 Eric van Wyngaarden (DNF)

Mini Stock Feature: ,#37 Rob Hoskins, #86 Billy Schwartzenburg, #31 Dave Bailey, #13 Mike Holmes, #47 Bruce Wheller, #01 Mark DaSilva, #81 Samantha Shaw, #71 Russ Aicken, #75 Scott Mast, #15 Matt Dean, #22 Wade Watson, #77 James Idsardi, #90 Jordan Lovell, #64 Brandon McFerran, #42 Rick Robinson, #61 Chad Ditner, #14 Kerry Smith, #1 Josh Shantz, #32 Glen Vandergeld, #44 Scott Simmons, #98 Kyle Kearnes, #10 Courtney Scott, #19 Brittany Idsardi (DNF), #05 Dave Goodacre (DNF), #5 Ken Stenhouse (DNF), #0 Brittany Myers (DNF), #92 Eric van Wyngaarden (DNS)

Thunder Car Heat #1: #88 Scott LaPorte, #29 Derek Jackson, #55 Chris Howse, #5 Linda Dean, #89 Bill Watson,  #7 Bobby Mercer, #37 Jeff Bean,(DNF)

Thunder Car Heat #2: #73 Nick Troback, #13 Brad Collison, #27 Kevin Albers, #4 Gary Slama, #22 Paul Huskins (DNF), #10 Dennis Cybalski (DNF)

Thunder Car Feature: #27 Kevin Albers, #73 Nick Troback, #13 Brad Collison, #4 Gary Slama, #55 Chris Howse, #88 Scott LaPorte, #29 Derek Jackson, #89 Bill Watson, #5 Linda Dean, #22 Paul Huskins (DNF),  #7 Bobby Mercer (DNF), #37 Jeff Bean (DNF), #10 Dennis Cybalski(DNF)

Late Model Heat #1: #05 Brad Corcoran, #39 Shane Gowan, #56 Jeff Stewart, #77 Matt Balog, #43 Jay Doerr, #61 Brent Wheller, #83 Dale Shaw (DNS)

Late Model Heat #2: #44 Steve Laking, #82 Jason Shaw, #8 Paul Howse, #22 Bill Lassaline, #3 Chris Boschler,#24 Brennan Didero, #75 Jim Sweers

Late Model Feature: #05 Brad Corcoran, #44 Steve Laking, #56 Jeff Stewart, #8 Paul Howse, #82 Jason Shaw, #24 Brennan Didero, #22 Bill Lassaline, #3 Chris Boschler, #39 Shane Gowan, #43 Jay Doerr, #61 Brent Wheller, #77 Matt Balog, #75 Jim Sweers, #83 Dale Shaw

Pro 4 Heat #1: #8 Craig Shaver, #37 Dan Nanticoke, #9 Brian Nanticoke,#93 Dan Petit, #36 Dave Hodgkinson (DNF), #91 Robert Mercer (DNF)

Pro 4 Heat #2: #24 Blake Bomberry Jr., #68 Adam Turkey, #3 Shannon Morris, #46 Lisa Hodgkinson, #63 Mark Lucas, #31 (DNS)