Doug O’Blenis (No. 32) and Kraig Handley (No. 91) battled for the top spot in the OilGARD Anti Rust Canadian Modified Feature Saturday July 29th at Brighton Speedway with Handley taking the checkered flag on lap 25 (Photo: Rod Henderson/ Brighton Speedway)
YOUNG AUSTIN REID TAKES HIS FIRST CHECKERED OF 2017
The summer is coming together with a fantastic day and even better race surface. Driver’s and fans alike were treated to some fast-paced racing and night full of thrilling action on the 1/3rd mile clay oval at Brighton Speedway as Bellevue Fabricating and Campbellford Chrysler presented the return of the Gords Water Vantastics with a complete race program of Late Models, Canadian Modifieds, Pro Stocks and Comp 4’s.
Sandercock makes it Six
The Vanderlaan Building Supplies Late Model division saw 30 laps of excitement. Phil Potts (No. 29) and Charlie Sandercock (#57) would start on the pole after both experiencing technical issues in the previous weeks race. Sandercock would get the jump coming off turn four and wouldn’t look back for the rest of the race leading all 30 laps for his sixth win of 2017. Potts would give the 57 a run for his money on a few restarts but was batting an ill handling race car. In the end, the real battle would be for second place as it was all Potts could do to fend off challenges from Andy Mayhew (No. 1) and Brandon Mowat (No. 46). Mayhew made a pass on Potts on lap 9 for the position only to be slowed up by lapped traffic and Potts would use momentum on the outside to power back around the outside on lap 25. That is how the race would end with Sandercock, Potts, Mayhew, Mowat and Kyle Sopaz (No. 12) rounding out the top five.
Handley picks up second win of the season
The Bainer’s OilGARD Anti Rust Canadian Modified division was almost a green to checkered race with only one caution slowing the 25-lap main event. Leslie Mowat (No. 2) and Nathan Rinaldi (No. 3) lead the field to Green. Mowat would take the initial lead but would only hold the spot for one lap before Derek Bowers would move to the top spot. Bowers looked to be on cruise control while the battles were fast and furious behind him for all positions two through 14. Sixth starting car Kraig Handley (No. 91) actually fell as far back as eighth early in the race and was slowly making his way back through the field up to fourth place by lap 19 when Mitch Rosborough (No. 36) spun causing the races only caution. The caution was the last thing that Bowers wanted to see as it would erase his almost a straight away lead and bunch up the whole field. On the restart Doug O’Blenis (No. 32) and Handley would power around the high side in corner one and two for the top two spots. The two would spend the next five laps dueling for the lead with Handley edging out last weeks winner O’Blenis for his second win of the season. Point leader Andrew Hennessy (No. 87) would edge Bowers at the line for third and fourth respectively with Curtis King (No. 07) would round out the top five.
85 Reid to the Checkers
The Brighton Automotive Pro Stock feature saw young racer Austin Reid (No. 85) collect his first checkered flag of 2017 in the Larry’s Towing 3rd Triple Crown race of the season. It’s been a year since his last win so the weekend must hold good luck for the driver. Brandon Murrell (No. 19) and Jason Preece (No. 73) brought the field of 18 cars to green and Murrell would jump to the early lead and looked strong out front of a tough bunch of cars including Preece, Reid, Justin Ramsay (No. 03), Wade Purchase (No. 53) and current point leader Doug Anderson (No. 72). Throughout most of the feature it looked as if you could throw a blanket over the top six cars that were all mixing it up for position. Murrell was able to fend off the challenges until lap 20 when Reid would drive around the outside of Murrell in corner one and two. Murrell would take the lead back on lap 21 but Reid was not two be denied and made to move to the top spot for the final time on lap 22 holding on for the last three laps to win his first feature of the season. Purchase and Anderson would also be able to work past Murrell in the final three laps to finish second and third respectively with Murrell finishing forth and Preece earning his best finish of the year with a fifth place.
Flieler back in Victory Lane
The Bill’s Johns Comp 4 division was running green to checker with out a caution, Keith Dunk (No. 22) and Bella Costick (No. 24) would bring the field to green but it was sixth starting Adam Flieler (No. 11) that was on the move early. Jumping to second spot by the completion of lap 1 and taking the lead from Matthew Moore (No.14) by lap three. Flieler would not look back as he leads the remainder of the race. Current point leader Tyler French (No. 0) started eighth and had to work hard for every position he could get finally getting to second spot on lap 12 where he would finish behind Flieler. Adam Wells (No. 48) would come home third with Jeff Humphry (No.17) and Moore rounding out the top five.
Up Next – Southern Ontario Sprints Return
Next Saturday night, August 5th celebrate the Civic Long Weekend with Rapid Rad, Read’s Accounting and MyFM 93.3 as they host the Southern Ontario Sprints presented by Sanderson Tire & Automotive Racing alongside the OilGARD Anti Rust Canadian Modifieds, Brighton Automotive Pro Stocks, the Bill’s Johns Comp 4 ABC Taxi Triple Crown Race 3 and the Quinte Septic Stingers. Hot Laps begin at 6:00 PM and Racing starts at 7:00 PM. Adult admission is $20.00. For more information visit www.brightonspeedway.com.
