By: Tim Baltz
Week number four of the 2020 karting season at the Brockville Ontario Speedway saw close and exciting racing in all divisions, along with some different winners as well.
The Box Stock feature saw Colby Crawford lead early on and was looking to run away to remain perfect on the year. Jace Menard was giving chase throughout the entire event but Crawford would pull away and appeared to have the race well in hand. With two laps to go Crawford would make one mistake as he slid off turn two and the caution came out. On the final restart Jace Menard held the bottom lane but Crawford would make a big charge on the top side. Coming to the checkered flag by inches, Jace Menard would hold on to score career win number one, ending the Crawford streak.
One of the biggest divisions on the night was the ever-exciting Rookie division and Summer Vallier with Brock Beattie giving chase early on but the driver on the move was Elliott Stacey. After starting 6th Stacey would take the lead before the halfway point and pull away from the field. Stacey had a fast kart and was setting a torrid pace in the 15-lap event but behind him it was a great battle as Vallier, Beattie, Avery Raabe and Landen Menard were in a battle for top 5 spots. Menard, who won two weeks ago, was on the charge after a spin early on in the event. With one lap to go lapped karts tangled in front of the leader resulting in front end damage to Elliott Stacey. Repairs were made but Stacey would have to restart at the back, leaving Summer Vallier and Brock Beattie in the top two spots. On the final restart Vallier got the jump on the field but Beattie would make a move on the high side and pull even as they hit turn three. Coming off turn four the top two would cross the line nearly even but Brock Beattie would edge out Vallier by inches for his first win of the season with Avery Raabe, Landen Menard and Dylan Moore the top 5.
Jr. Restricted saw Maddie Wallace and Brennan Moore battle for 12 laps. Wallace pressured Moore for several circuits but Moore was up to the challenge and began to pull away. Wallace would eventually see the handling go away towards the end of the race allowing Brennan More to cruise on for his 4th win in 4 weeks over Maddie Wallace.
The 15 lap Jr. Clone feature saw Brandon Lazore Jr. lead the way from the pole over Blake Smith and Jackson VanAllen. Lazore had a great run in the early laps but Smith was putting the pressure on and looking for his 3rd win in 4 weeks of racing. That was put in jeopardy as Smith spun heading into turn 3. Smith would restart at the tail but did not stay there for long. This brought Jackson VanAllen to the number two spot on the restart as the green flew again with Lazore taking command of the field and looked to be the driver to beat. Smith however, was on the move from the back taking second from VanAllen and tried to run down Brandon Lazore Jr. for the lead. Just past the halfway point Smith found the fast lane and was able to take over the lead in turn 1. Once in front it was no contest as Blake Smith drove away to his third win of the season over Brandon Lazore, Jackson VanAllen and Brycen Thompson.
The Sr. Clone division saw Brennan Moore jump in front early and was looking for his 2nd win on the evening after a dominant performance in Jr. Restricted. Moore was followed by Tristan Ladouceur and Jordan Wood. It didn’t take Wood very long to grab the lead as he shot by Moore off turn two to take over the top spot bringing Ladouceur to the number two spot. Once in front Jordan Wood was able to put some distance between himself and Ladouceur with Ayden Van De Ligt in third. As the division has seen all season Jordan wood has been fast in the Sr. Clone ranks and despite an effort to run down the leader by Tristan Ladouceur, it would not happen as Jordan Wood would march to his third win of the season over Ladouceur with Ayden Van De Ligt coming home third.
Jeff Cledgett was the early leader when the green flew on the 20 lap Stock Heavy feature. Cledgett would hold the top spot until the first yellow flew for opening day winner Tim Bailey, who spun in turns 1 and 2. On the restart Eric Dinelle would take over the lead but Ryan Lambert was on the move taking the second spot as these two drivers would put on a show at the front of the field with Mark Bailey completing the top three. After a couple of late yellows Ryan Lambert and Eric Dinelle would once again find themselves battling for the lead but behind them the driver putting on a passing clinic was Brad Gipson. After early race struggles Gipson would quickly charge back through the field and challenge Mark Bailey for third. On the final lap things got close as Eric Dinelle would close to within a half kart length but it was not enough as Ryan Lambert would make it four different winners in four weeks over Eric Dinelle and last weeks winner Brad Gipson crossing 3rd.
Another full program is slated to go for next Friday night on the kart track at The BOS. For further updates and results from the karting action stay tuned weekly to brockvillespeedway.com and the tracks Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages for updated information.
Box Stock
10- Jace Menard
85- Colby Crawford
Heat Winner: Colby Crawford
Rookie
80- Brock Beattie
9- Summer Vallier
06- Avery Raabe
10- Landen Menard
35D- Dylan Moore
340- Adam Kouk
18- Elliott Stacey
3S- Savannah Parks
Heat Winners: Elliott Stacey and Brock Beattie
Jr. Restricted
35B- Brennan Moore
17- Maddie Wallace
Heat Winner: Brennan Moore
Jr. Clone
18- Blake Smith
66- Brandon Lazore Jr.
13- Jackson VanAllen
99B- Brycen Thompson
Heat Winner: Blake Smith
Sr. Clone
18J- Jordan Wood
92T- Tristan Ladouceur
19A- Ayden Van De Ligt
21- Trey Ladouceur
35B- Brennan Moore
Heat Winner- Jordan Wood
Stock Heavy
41- Ryan Lambert
44- Eric Dinelle
99- Brad Gipson
26- Mark Bailey
17- Randy Revelle
3- Adam Bailey
6- Jeff Cledgett
85- Tim Bailey
90- Matt Bond(DNS)
Heat Winners: Eric Dinelle and Jeff Cledgett