(DIRTCar 358 Modified and DIRTCar Sportsman return for busy Applefest. Photo by Rod Henderson, CanadianRacer.com
By: Tim Baltz (Submitted)
Every year the annual Applefest Weekend at the Brighton Speedway seems to grow in popularity and the 2023 edition of the fall event is no different. This season great sponsors Coca Cola and Cool 100 will be on hand as title sponsors for the 2023 Applefest Shootout, with 7 divisions of racing in action this weekend.
Friday night it’s Apples Eve featuring the DIRTCar Sportsman division returning for their first of two visits on the weekend. Last year it was a classic battle between two drivers who wanted to win badly. Bobby Herrington fended off challenges from William Racine on the final restart to claim his second Applefest DIRTCar Sportsman win with two-time Applefest Sportsman winner Brad Rouse coming home second.
The night will also showcase the stars of the Canadian Modified division and the best of the UMP Modifieds for qualifying heat action. The Northeast Late Model Alliance will be part of Apples Eve for heat racing and a Dash as well. Also, part of the Friday night spectacular, will see the Thunder Stocks and the Insta Insulation Mini Stock Duel on the Dirt. The DIRTCar 358 Modified division will be on hand with drivers making the early trip for some hot laps and a Dash for Cash in the evening. Racing starts at 6pm.
Saturday night the DIRTCar 358 Modifieds headline the night for a 75-lap $5000.00 to win feature event presented by ImageFactor.ca. Chris Raabe won his second Applefest Shootout event a year ago in dominant fashion with three-time winner Erick Rudolph 2nd, while David Hebert, Gary Lindberg and Tristan Draper filled out the top 5. Raabe will be among the favorites for this year’s crown. Bobby Herrington pulled off the weekend sweep by taking night two of the Applefest Shootout for the Sportsman, bringing home a lot of cash and plenty of apples to go around as well.
In other Saturday night action Charlie Sandercock will try to do it again in the Vanderlaan Building Products Great Crate Race, 50 Lap NLMA feature, while Justin Ramsay will look for back-to-back victories in the Insta Insulation ODCC Thunder Stock Duel on the Dirt action. Cornwall Speedway regular and 2023 Northeast Mini Stock Showdown Series champion Pierre Picard won the Open COMP 4 show last season but many track regulars will be looking for a big win on home turf and deny the invaders a trip to victory lane.
Not to forget, the Canadian/UMP Modifieds are expected this year, and everyone has defending race winner Shawn Gregory on their minds, as he continues to recuperate from a massive heart attack suffered a week ago. Shawn dominated the 30-lap event last season. The Saturday portion of the weekend will see the green flag fly at 3pm with timed hot laps and heat races. At 7:00 pm, feature action will begin.
