Meet The Drivers Night At Flamboro Speedway
By Randy Spencer - It was Meet the Drivers Night this past Saturday at Bennett Chevrolet Flamboro Speedway and once again as in previous years it was a huge hit with fans young and old. The front straight was lined three wide with cars from turn one back to turn four and hundreds of fans flooded the track at intermission to get up close with their heroes, take pictures, get an autograph and take photos.
Racing got underway at 7pm with the first Pure Stock feature event. Sam Heibein and Michael Kenny were on the poll for the one. Right off the start however it didn't look like it was going to be Kenny's night. In turn three on the first lap the 59 car of Peter Becker got tangled with Kenny bringing out a caution. The 1 car of John Cote was running a good race but was shown the black flag. He continued the race and was disqualified for not obeying the black flag. The 44 of Sam Heibein was running up front and mistakenly thought the black flag was for him and slowed but regained racing speed but still lost several spots. Becker who had taken the lead earlier continued to stay out front with Andy Wheller and Kenny in hot pursuit. As the checkered flag flew, Becker crossed first but was put back to second after the starter had called him for a jump on the original green. That gave the win to Wheller, followed by Becker and Kenny.
Next race up was the first Mini Stock feature. A couple of youngsters up front for this one as Hudson Nagy lined up along side Jake Gilbert. The first caution came out on lap six as the 79 car of Steve Deleeuw spun in turn four. On the restart, going into turn three the 32 car of Gillian Hils made a hard right turn towards the wall and hit hard. It looked bad at first but she was eventually able to continue in the race. Jake Gilbert led the first 7 laps but Blair Wickett was just to much for Gilbert and he took the lead and held it to the checkers. Russ Aicken finished second followed by Gilbert in third.
Wayne Phillips and Justin Collison were on the pole for the first Thunder Car feature of the night. The young Collison had been showing a lot of improvement of late and held of a hard charging veteran pack for 9 laps but eventually his London Recreational Racing teammate, Shawn Chenoweth, showed the experience and got by and picked up another win. Mark Burbridge was second while Shawn Arnott came home third.
The Late Models were back in action after last weeks exciting APC Meineke 100 won by hometown hero Dale Shaw. Nick Roth lined up along side Shaw in this one as the cars took the green. As the cars came out of turn four on lap one, not sure if something broke or if Brad Corcoran just hit the wall but the hard hit brought his car to a stop in turn one with what appeared to be a broken rear end. The cars once again took the green and raced problem free to the end with Dale Shaw winning once again, leading flag to flag. Roth raced a great race, never far behind Shaw and finished a strong and close second.
The Pro 4 Modifieds only race one heat and one feature for their club. Nine cars took the green and young Josh Lassaline led flag to flag to pick up the heat win. That brought an end to the first set of features and onto the Meet the Drivers night at intermission.
After the fans cleared the track, we got right into round two of features. Steve Deleeuw and Jeff Miller were up front. Sam Heibein picked up where he left off and led the first five laps. But the veteran Peter Becker got by the young Heibein and took the lead on lap six. Becker got out to a big lead rather quick but seemed to slow somewhat in lapped traffic and on lap 9 Michael Kenny caught Becker and took the lead. As the checkered flag flew, Kenny picked up another win followed by Becker and Andy Wheller in third.
Stepheny Dean and Mark DaSilva were on the point for Mini Stock feature number two. Derek Jackson in the number four started fourth in the field but quickly shot out to a lead. A few laps later Hudson Nagy went around in turn four and was hit in the side by Chad Ditner. On the restart Gillian Hils took the lead and broke away from the pack. A tight pack of cars entered turn one and two and Jackson and Shawn Taylor got tangled up and Taylor spun with Jake Gilbert getting involved. On the restart, Wickett took the lead from Hils. The cars continued to mix it up and on lap 12 Russ Aicken retired to the pits with a flat tire. Another caution and eventually a red came out a few laps later as the 97 of Blair Wickett hit the wall hard coming out of turn two. Wickett had been leading but touched with Hils and he got out of control and went into the wall. Hils was shown to the back for rough driving and that put the veteran Clark Hartman on the pole for the restart. Hartman would continue to hold the lead with Sheldon Bossom close behind but managed to pickup the win.
Flamboro Speedway June 13, 2015 Mini Stock
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The Thunder Car feature saw Justin Collison on the pole once again this time lined up along side Bobby Mercer. Collison got out to a lead but this time held it for just three laps. Shawn Arnott got by and led lap four but Shawn Chenoweth took the lead and continued to stretch it out until he came home with his second feature win of the night and collected the bonus. Shawn Arnott managed to close the gap somewhat and he once again raced a fine race battling Chenoweth as he seems to every Saturday night.
The Late Models hit the track for the next to last race of the night. Brad Corcoran had his rear end troubles fixed and took the green. Kevin Albers and Robbie Thompson led the field to green in the 25 lap feature race. Albers had bad luck early however as on lap one heading into turn three, something seemed to break and he made a straight line for the wall hitting it hard. Hard luck for the racer known as "Killer", former Flamboro Thunder Car champion. A complete restart took place and Robbie Thompson lined up this time beside David Elliott. Seven laps in heading into turn three, the 17 of Nick Roth and 56 of Thompson got involved, spinning out bringing out the caution. David Elliott raced a fine race, returning after many weeks off and led flag to flag picking up the feature win. Dale Shaw came in second and Brad Corcoran, who started in last due to his car problems in race 1, made it all the way up to third for a strong comeback.
The Pro 4 Modified feature was last up on the night. Craig Shaver and Linc Ersion sat on the pole for this one. Talking to Erison earlier in the night, he was quite happy with how the car was much better of late and that showed as he started off strong. But the veteran Shaver was just a little better and took the lead followed by Erison and Robert Mercer. Shaver got out to a big lead. On lap six however, Mercer slowed heading out of turn two and Erison along with Brian Nanticoke and Josh Lassaline all hit hard causing a huge mess. Bill Pearsall also had a flat and after losing another car early, it was decide with just four cars remaining the race would be called, giving the win to Shaver.
That brought to a close another exciting night of racing at Bennett Chevrolet Flamboro Speedway. Please make plans to join us next week, June 20th. It's the first Spectator Drag Night of the Year. This is where you can bring your street car out and line up beside another car to get one winner at the end. You need a helmet and working seat belt. Please sign in in the pits prior to the race night getting underway. The Lucas Oil Canadian Vintage Modifieds and Lucas Oil Can Am Midgets make their return and are also joined by he Ray’s Auto Centre & Towing Thunder Cars, the Klotz Auto Repair & Engine Machine Shop Mini Stocks and the BOMB Energy Drink Pro 4 Modifieds. Pit gates open at 4pm, Grandstands at 5pm and green flag flies at 7pm.
This week the Pro Late Model drivers drew for six prizes for all the remaining regular race shows. The prize winners were as follows:
1st prize : 1 x 10' American Racer tire courtesy of Grisdale Racing $185 value -- Dave Osborne
2nd prize : 20 litres of race fuel courtesy of Pro Fuels $85 value -- Rick Burbridge
3rd prize : 6 pack of Castrol Oil courtesy of Castrol and London Recreational Racing $75 value -- Mile Klotz
4th prize : one set of Brake pads courtesy of Ideal Brake parts and London Recreational Racing $75-$150 value -- Kevin Albers
5th prize : Bennett GMC $50 gift card and hat -- Jeff Ruddy
6th prize : $25 in Flamboro Speedway food tickets and a Ladies Strata watch courtesy of Flamboro Speedway and Fireball 5/Scope Racing -- Robbie Thompson
-Please check the website, www.flamborospeedway.ca for more details including the schedule, Admission Prices for the grandstands and pits and updated point standings for all divisions.
-Make sure you follow us on twitter as well @flamborospdwy
-Thanks to Ingrid Hartman for the video and to Derek Smith for the great photos!
Unofficial Results
Pure Stock Feature #1 : #90 Andy Wheller, #59 Peter Becker (-1J), #07 Michael Kenny, #7 Matt Young, #44 Sam Heibein, #42 Wayde Thorne, #95 Mark Thorne, #77 Jeff Miller, #79 Caroline Kelly, #48 Steve Deleeuw, #61 Paul Ditner, #14 Elijah Hawrylyshyn, #10 Lofton Schuts (NF), #1 John Cote (DQ), #8 Adan Nigh (NS)
Mini Stock Feature #1 : 97 Blair Wickett, #71 Russ Aicken, #03 Jake Gilbert, #51 Clark Hartman, #76 Shawn Taylor, #36 Hudson Nagy, #32 Gillian Hils, #4 Derek Jackson, #38 Rodney Rutherford, #61 Chad Ditner, #22 Mark DaSilva, #5 Stepheny Dean, #05 Dave Goodacre, #79 Steve Deleeuw, #92 Paul Oliver (NF), #66 Sheldon Bossom (NF)
Thunder Car Feature #1 : #89 Shawn Chenoweth, #02 Mark Burbridge, #76 Shawn Arnott, #7 Bobby Mercer, #12 Justin Collison, #01 Wayne Phillips, #77 Mitch Miljanovic (NS)
Late Model Feature #1 : #83 Dale Shaw, #17 Nick Roth, #2 Rick Burbridge, #9 Jeff Ruddy, #37 David Elliott, #56 Robbie Thompson, #27 Kevin Albers, #46 Mike Klotz, #5 Linda Stenhouse, #11 Dave Osborne (NF), #05 Brad Corcoran (NF)
Pro 4 Modified Heat : #24 Josh Lassaline
Pure Stock Feature #2 : #07 Michael Kenny, #59 Peter Becker, #90 Andy Wheller, #1 John Cote, #44 Sam Heibien, #95 Mark Thorne, #42 Wayde Thorne, #77 Paul Oliver, #48 Steve Deleeuw, #Caroline Kelly, #14 Elijah Hawrylyshyn, #61 Paul Ditner, #8 Adam Nigh (NF), #7 Matt Young (NF), #10 Lofton Schuts (NF)
Mini Stock Feature #2 : #51 Clark Hartman, #66 Sheldon Bossom, #36 Hudson Nagy, #38 Rodney Rutherford, #92 Paul Oliver, #22 Mark DaSilva, #4 Derek Jackson, #32 Gillian Hils, #61 Paul Ditner, #03 Jake Gilbert, #5 Stepheny Dean, #05 Dave Goodacre, #79 Steve Deleeuw, #71 Russ Aicken, #76 Shawn Taylor, #97 Blair Wickett (NF)
Thunder Car Feature #2 : #89 Shawn Chenoweth, #76 Shawn Arnott, #02 Mark Burbridge, #7 Bobby Mercer, #12 Justin Collison, #01 Wayne Phillips, #77 Mitch Miljanovic (NS)
Late Model Feature #2 : #37 David Elliott, #83 Dale Shaw, #05 Brad Corcoran, #9 Jeff Ruddy, #2 Rick Burbridge, #17 Nick Roth, #56 Robbie Thompson, #46 Mike Klotz, #5 Linda Stenhouse (NF), #11 Dave Osborne (NF), #27 Kevin Albers (NF)
Pro 4 Modified Feature : #8 Craig Shaver, #69 Aaron Turkey, #93 Dan Petit, #63 Mark Lucas, #91 Robert Mercer (NF), #23 Linc Erison (NF), #9 Brian Nanticoke (NF), #38 Bill Pearsall (NF), #24 Josh Lassaline (NF), #15 Dan Nanticoke (NS), #46 Chris LeBarron (NS), #1 Cliff Hodgkinson (NS)
