By: Tim Baltz
The much anticipated return of the Super DIRTCar Series was everything the fans thought it would be and more this past Wednesday night at the Brockville Ontario Speedway. The top stars were on hand in Big Block Modified racing to challenge the locals with a packed grandstand and a full pit area, with Karra’s Burgers and Fries on hand.
Chris Hile and “Mad Max” McLaughlin led the field to the start of the 75 lap feature with McLaughlin getting the top spot away over Hile, Tim Sears Jr, Adam Pierson and Matt Sheppard making up the top 5 spots early on. The first caution flew on lap 8 as Lee Ladouceur slipped off of turn 3 and 4 setting up another restart with some key players entering into contention for a win. On the restart it was once again McLaughlin in control but on the move was Tim Fuller, in his small block, as he headed to the front with Matt Sheppard closing quickly. By lap 20 it was Sears, Fuller and Sheppard in a tight battle for the number one spot with Sears starting to open up a small margin while Fuller and Sheppard continued their fight for second. Just past the halfway point Fuller started to reel in the race leader as the top two had some distance on Sheppard, in the battle for the number one spot. On lap 50 Fuller would make his move for the lead as Sheppard made a charge to the number two spot, as he tried to keep pace with the leader. A quick yellow on lap 57 would give Sheppard another opportunity to challenge for the lead and a possible second Brockville Super DIRTCar Series win. When the green flew Fuller was able to keep his car pointed straight as he drove away with Sheppard, Sears, Mat Williamson and Peter Britten now joining the party. Fuller once again would stretch his lead to 5 car lengths, but a quick caution on lap 63 would bunch the field up once again. Fuller was strong again on the restart as he pulled by Sheppard with Williamson moving to third, while Britten and Jimmy Phelps completed the top 5. On a track that provided great racing all night long, it was Tim Fuller who stood above the rest on this night, scoring his second series win of the year and first at Brockville, since winning a non-point series race on July 17th of 1996. Sheppard would finish the run through Canada with a runner up effort over Mat Williamson. Peter Britten shook off a terrible flip at Drummond the night before to finish fourth, while Jimmy Phelps scored a 5th place finish.
Also on hand for the return of the big blocks, was the Northeast Late Model Alliance, featuring some of the top drivers in Crate Late Model competition, but it was a track regular who stole the show in the 25 lap feature. Adam Turner was making his first run of the year in a Crate Late Model as he led the way over Austin King, Rob Ledingham, Ryan Lambert and Kyle Sopaz. Turner, who competes weekly in Trailer Pro Canada Crate Sprint Car action every Saturday night, was using his experience to hold on to the lead, while Austin King tried to keep pace. On lap 5 Brandon Mowat had a meeting with an infield tire that brought out the yellow. On lap 11 2nd place running Austin King also had a similar experience, hitting the tire in turn 2. When racing resumed it was Turner in control with Ryan Lambert now 2nd and Kyle Sopaz third. Charlie Sandercock was also on the move as he was making a charge to the front after some struggles. Sandercock would get to the third spot and appeared to be well on his way to catching Turner and Lambert. On lap 16 that all went away as Sandercock slipped off the topside in turn three, ending his charge to the lead. On the final restart Adam Turner stayed smooth and kept the car straight, as he scored his first Crate Late Model win at Brockville. Nathan Rinaldi would put on a show late in race to cross in 2nd with Steve Baldwin third, Charlie Sandercock charged back to fourth at the finish, with Ryan Lambert crossing in fifth. The win also tied a track record, as Turner has wins in 4 different divisions at the speedway, joining John Mulder in that category.
The final event of the night featured the DIRTCar Sportsman division for another 25 lap contest. Domination was the word to describe this event as defending track champion used his third starting spot, to take over the lead on lap two from early pace setter Domonick Merkley, with Jessica Power, Shane Stearns and Fire Swamp running in 5th. Herrington was looking to continue his string season as he pulled away from a quality field, but Jessica Power was starting to move to the front. Power, who already competed in the 75 lap Super DIRTCar Series race, moved by Domonick Merkley for 2nd but had a long way to go to catch the leader. On lap 8 Geneva Sheffield lost the handle on her car, spinning in turns three and four. On the restart Herrington again remained in control but Power was able to stay with the leader. Herrington would eventually pull away from the field and turn in another solid performance, scoring his 5th win of the season and 25th DIRTCar Sportsman win at Brockville. Power drove to second, her best finish of the year with Shane Stearns, Fire Swamp and Domonick Merkley rounding out the top 5.
The Brockville Ontario Speedway will be off this coming Saturday but will return with a full program of racing on Saturday August 12th. Mobil 1 will be on hand for the second leg of the Ogilvie’s Triple Crown Series for the DIRTCar 358 Modified and Sportsman along with Novice Sportsman and Street Stock. The Eastern Ontario Mini Stock Showdown Series, will be on the card plus the Eastern Ontario Vintage Stock Car Club and it is driver autograph night.
Gates open at 5pm with hot laps and time trials beginning at 6. The first heat goes green at 7pm.
For more information about what is happening at the Brockville Ontario Speedway be sure to visit our website at brockvillepeedway.com.
DIRTCAR BIG BLOCK MODIFIEDS
The Canadian Classic (75 Laps): 1. 19-Tim Fuller[7]; 2. 9S-Matt Sheppard[5]; 3. 88-Mat Williamson[10]; 4. 21A-Peter Britten[6]; 5. 98H-Jimmy Phelps[9]; 6. 35-Mike Mahaney[8]; 7. 5H-Chris Hile[1]; 8. 2-Jack Lehner[14]; 9. 83X-Tim Sears Jr[3]; 10. 8H-Max McLaughlin[2]; 11. 17X-Tristan Draper[17]; 12. 54-Steve Bernard[20]; 13. 21-Yan Bussiere[13]; 14. 44F-Johnathon Ferguson[16]; 15. 91-Felix Roy[19]; 16. R70-Ryan Arbuthnot[18]; 17. 18-Kalen Draper[25]; 18. 12-Darren Smith[22]; 19. 99L-Larry Wight[12]; 20. 215-Adam Pierson[4]; 21. 52-Jessica Power[21]; 22. (DNF) 17D-Danny O’Brien[27]; 23. (DNF) 3RS-Erick Rudolph[15]; 24. (DNF) 38J-Jarrett Herbison[26]; 25. (DNF) 75J-Joe Banks[23]; 26. (DNF) 88L-Lee Ladouceur[24]; 27. (DNF) 66D-Kyle Dingwall[11]
HYTORC Of New York LCS (10 Laps): 1. 91-Felix Roy[3]; 2. 54-Steve Bernard[1]; 3. 52-Jessica Power[2]; 4. 12-Darren Smith[4]; 5. 75J-Joe Banks[5]; 6. 88L-Lee Ladouceur[7]; 7. 18-Kalen Draper[6]; 8. 38J-Jarrett Herbison[9]; 9. 08-Chris Ferguson[8]; 10. 17D-Danny O’Brien[10]; 11. (DNS) 99-Marcus Dinkins
Case No.1 Engine Oil Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 98H-Jimmy Phelps[1]; 2. 35-Mike Mahaney[3]; 3. 83X-Tim Sears Jr[5]; 4. 88-Mat Williamson[2]; 5. 21-Yan Bussiere[6]; 6. 44F-Johnathon Ferguson[7]; 7. 54-Steve Bernard[8]; 8. 12-Darren Smith[4]; 9. 88L-Lee Ladouceur[9]; 10. 17D-Danny O’Brien[10]
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 9S-Matt Sheppard[2]; 2. 215-Adam Pierson[1]; 3. 5H-Chris Hile[4]; 4. 66D-Kyle Dingwall[3]; 5. 2-Jack Lehner[5]; 6. 17X-Tristan Draper[6]; 7. 52-Jessica Power[7]; 8. 75J-Joe Banks[8]; 9. 08-Chris Ferguson[9]; 10. (DNS) 99-Marcus Dinkins
Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 21A-Peter Britten[1]; 2. 19-Tim Fuller[2]; 3. 8H-Max McLaughlin[3]; 4. 99L-Larry Wight[4]; 5. 3RS-Erick Rudolph[6]; 6. R70-Ryan Arbuthnot[7]; 7. 91-Felix Roy[5]; 8. 18-Kalen Draper[9]; 9. 38J-Jarrett Herbison[8]
Low E Insulation Qualifying A (2 Laps): 1. 98H-Jimmy Phelps, 00:14.539[5]; 2. 88-Mat Williamson, 00:14.753[9]; 3. 35-Mike Mahaney, 00:14.763[4]; 4. 12-Darren Smith, 00:14.860[3]; 5. 83X-Tim Sears Jr, 00:14.868[1]; 6. 21-Yan Bussiere, 00:14.940[6]; 7. 44F-Johnathon Ferguson, 00:15.024[2]; 8. 54-Steve Bernard, 00:15.064[7]; 9. 88L-Lee Ladouceur, 00:15.117[10]; 10. 17D-Danny O’Brien, 00:15.362[8]
Low E Insulation Qualifying B (2 Laps): 1. 215-Adam Pierson, 00:14.891[4]; 2. 9S-Matt Sheppard, 00:14.930[8]; 3. 66D-Kyle Dingwall, 00:14.969[3]; 4. 5H-Chris Hile, 00:15.076[2]; 5. 2-Jack Lehner, 00:15.159[6]; 6. 17X-Tristan Draper, 00:15.256[9]; 7. 52-Jessica Power, 00:15.281[1]; 8. 75J-Joe Banks, 00:15.552[5]; 9. 08-Chris Ferguson, 00:15.825[10]; 10. (DNF) 99-Marcus Dinkins, 00:15.825[7]
Low E Insulation Qualifying C (2 Laps): 1. 21A-Peter Britten, 00:15.018[9]; 2. 19-Tim Fuller, 00:15.102[1]; 3. 8H-Max McLaughlin, 00:15.102[3]; 4. 99L-Larry Wight, 00:15.116[2]; 5. 91-Felix Roy, 00:15.136[6]; 6. 3RS-Erick Rudolph, 00:15.233[4]; 7. R70-Ryan Arbuthnot, 00:15.241[8]; 8. 38J-Jarrett Herbison, 00:15.343[7]; 9. 18-Kalen Draper, 00:15.497[5]
Hot Lap Group A: 1. 12-Darren Smith, 00:14.277[3]; 2. 98H-Jimmy Phelps, 00:14.329[5]; 3. 35-Mike Mahaney, 00:14.394[4]; 4. 44F-Johnathon Ferguson, 00:14.474[2]; 5. 54-Steve Bernard, 00:14.479[7]; 6. 21-Yan Bussiere, 00:14.535[6]; 7. 88-Mat Williamson, 00:14.551[9]; 8. 83X-Tim Sears Jr, 00:14.676[1]; 9. 17D-Danny O’Brien, 00:14.679[8]; 10. 88L-Lee Ladouceur, 00:14.785[10]
Hot Lap Group B: 1. 9S-Matt Sheppard, 00:14.190[8]; 2. 2-Jack Lehner, 00:14.389[6]; 3. 215-Adam Pierson, 00:14.397[4]; 4. 5H-Chris Hile, 00:14.499[2]; 5. 66D-Kyle Dingwall, 00:14.632[3]; 6. 17X-Tristan Draper, 00:14.690[9]; 7. 75J-Joe Banks, 00:14.846[5]; 8. 52-Jessica Power, 00:15.047[1]; 9. 08-Chris Ferguson, 00:15.114[10]; 10. (DNS) 99-Marcus Dinkins, 00:15.114
Hot Lap Group C: 1. 99L-Larry Wight, 00:14.333[2]; 2. 8H-Max McLaughlin, 00:14.336[3]; 3. 21A-Peter Britten, 00:14.359[9]; 4. 3RS-Erick Rudolph, 00:14.380[4]; 5. 91-Felix Roy, 00:14.474[6]; 6. R70-Ryan Arbuthnot, 00:14.557[8]; 7. 19-Tim Fuller, 00:14.679[1]; 8. 18-Kalen Draper, 00:14.702[5]; 9. 38J-Jarrett Herbison, 00:14.896[7]
18 entries
DIRTCAR SPORTSMANS
A Feature 1 (25 Laps): 1. 88Z-Bobby Herrington[3]; 2. 52-Jessica Power[4]; 3. 22S-Shane Stearns[6]; 4. 88S-Fire Swamp[7]; 5. 98-Domonick Merkley[1]; 6. 03-Joshua Jock[8]; 7. 35B-Brennan Moore[2]; 8. 23-Michael Dillon[9]; 9. 707-Greg Brinklow[5]; 10. 35D-Dylan Moore[11]; 11. 91-Kraig Handley[10]; 12. 88K-Dylan Kirkland[14]; 13. 16-Matt Prunner[17]; 14. 18J-Jordan Wood[18]; 15. 17M-Madie Wallace[15]; 16. 98D-Paul Donnelly[13]; 17. 27D-Mario Dupuis[12]; 18. 8-Geneva Sheffield[16]
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 98-Domonick Merkley[2]; 2. 52-Jessica Power[3]; 3. 88S-Fire Swamp[5]; 4. 91-Kraig Handley[6]; 5. 98D-Paul Donnelly[1]; 6. 8-Geneva Sheffield[4]
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 35B-Brennan Moore[2]; 2. 707-Greg Brinklow[6]; 3. 03-Joshua Jock[1]; 4. 35D-Dylan Moore[4]; 5. 88K-Dylan Kirkland[3]; 6. 16-Matt Prunner[5]
Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 88Z-Bobby Herrington[2]; 2. 22S-Shane Stearns[3]; 3. 23-Michael Dillon[1]; 4. 27D-Mario Dupuis[6]; 5. 17M-Madie Wallace[5]; 6. 18J-Jordan Wood[4]
13 entries
DIRTCAR PRO LATE MODELS
A Feature 1 (25 Laps): 1. 0-Adam Turner[2]; 2. 3-Nathan Rinaldi[12]; 3. 5-Steve Baldwin[7]; 4. 57-Charlie Sandercock[8]; 5. 41-Ryan Lambert[3]; 6. 19J-Rob Ledingham[4]; 7. 11-Kyle Sopaz[6]; 8. 151-Brian McDonald[13]; 9. 21-Rich Sanders[10]; 10. 73-Anthony Rinaldi[11]; 11. 89-Austin King[1]; 12. 46-Brandon Mowat[5]; 13. 33-David Vandertoorn[9]
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 11-Kyle Sopaz[3]; 2. 46-Brandon Mowat[5]; 3. 0-Adam Turner[6]; 4. 57-Charlie Sandercock[2]; 5. 33-David Vandertoorn[7]; 6. 73-Anthony Rinaldi[1]; 7. 151-Brian McDonald[4]
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 19J-Rob Ledingham[1]; 2. 41-Ryan Lambert[2]; 3. 89-Austin King[5]; 4. 5-Steve Baldwin[6]; 5. 21-Rich Sanders[4]; 6. (DQ) 3-Nathan Rinaldi[3]
