Story By: ASHLEY MCCUBBIN / FLAMBORO SPEEDWAY – MILLGROVE, ONT – With a bit of open-wheel and fender action on-track, it was a great night for the fans in the grandstands as both the Young Drivers of Canada Canadian Vintage Modifieds (CVM) and Southern Ontario Modified Association (SOMA) kicked off their seasons at Flamboro Speedway on Saturday night.
Hank Franks Memorial (CVM)
The defending champion continued where he left off, with TJ Marshall taking the lead on Lap 13 of the first feature, pacing the rest of the laps en route to victory. Quinton Murdoch kept his consistency rolling in second, followed by Jeremy Barton, Scott Tonelli, and Jae Pepin. Mike Podd was sixth, ahead of Ricky Willigar, Steve Murdoch, Joey Woolsey, and Ian McIntyre.
Quinton Murdoch returned the favor in the second 25-lap affair, taking the lead at the halfway mark en route to scoring the victory. TJ Marshall was the runner-up this time around in front of Scott Tonelli, Jeremy Barton, and Ricky Willigar. Mike Podd repeated his sixth, followed by Ian McIntyre, Jae Pepin, Steve Murdoch, and Joey Woolsey.
SOMA
After wasting no time in grabbing the lead by doing so on the third lap, Shannon Morris led the rest of the way to win the season opening 20-lap feature for the Southern Ontario Modified Association. Robert Mercer was second, followed by Mark Lucas, Dale Cocco, and Cliff Hodgkinson. Ken Mercer, and Rajan Brar would fail to finish. Kelly Martin, Shawn Carey, and Andrew Snyder failed to take the green flag.
Robert Mercer was able to get his turn at success, pacing all 20 laps to win the second feature. Past feature winner Mark Lucas was second, ahead of Shannon Morris, Cliff Hodgkinson, and Ken Mercer. Dario Cocco was sixth in front of Andrew Snyder and Rajan Brar. Kelly Martin and Shawn Carey failed t o finish.
Super Stock
Kelsey Lamont led all 15 laps to win the first Super Stock feature in front of Nick Troback, Nic Ramsay, and Roy Wilkie. The second round was shortened with just 10 laps, with Nick Troback pacing all of them for the win ahead of Roy Wilkie, as Nic Ramsay and Kelsey Lamont did not make the call.
Mini Stock
Putting the No. 33 Mustang out front with 10 laps on the board, Mike Gilmour led the rest of the way en route to winning in front of Tyler Lewis, Mike Thomson, Dale Millard, and Mike Hooper. Eric Stewart’s debut landed him sixth ahead of Michael Kenny, Nikki King, and Mark Grieve, while Brandon Feeney failed to finish.
Mike Gilmour backed up his performance later that night, this time taking the lead at Lap 16 in his drive to grabbing a second checkered flag. Tyler Lewis was the runner-up once again, followed by Dale Millard, Mike Thomson, and Mike Hooper. Michael Kenny was sixth in front of Eric Stewart, Mark Grieve, Brandon Feeney, and Nikki King.
Notably, Kaitlyn Wallace was unable to race due to motor issues with her mustang. Dale Millard ran her No. 45 to get her points towards the championship, though.
Pure Stock
A past track champion, Gillian Hils wasted no time making her way forward to take the lead on Lap 8, pacing the rest of the way to win the first feature. Veteran Phil Givens finished second, followed by Rodney Rutherford, Nic Ramsay, and Spencer Riddell. Cameron Thomson scored his third straight top-10 in sixth ahead of Chris Pendlebury, Mike Etsell, Brady Cox, and Chance Rogers.
Alex Stewart was 11th in front of Leo Labarbera, Jordan Fidler, Austin Ellis, Mark Allan, Teegan Ellis, Dan Cornier, and Owen Booker. Nicole Givens failed to finish after a wheel fell of her ride; Gary Slama also did not take the checkered flag.
Despite starting at the back of the top-10 on the invert, Nic Ramsay was able to find his way to the front, taking the lead with just four laps to go to score the victory. Mark Allan crossed the finish line in second, but was disqualified in post-race technical inspection. Alex Stewart rebounded for third, while Brady Cox and Cameron Thomson rounded out the top-five. Phil Givens kept the consistency rolling in sixth, followed by Gillian Hils, Teegan Ellis, Spencer Riddell, and Chance Rogers.
Rodney Rutherford did not back up the podium from the first 20 lapper, placing 11th this time around in front of Leo Labarbera, Chris Pendlebury, Austin Ellis, Mike Etsell, Dan Cornier, Nicole Givens, and Jordan Fidler. Owen Booker failed to finish, while Gary Slama did not take the green flag.
The next event at Flamboro Speedway is taking place on Saturday, May 27, with the Bill Zardo Memorial for the OSCAAR Hot Rods taking center stage. The action will also include the Just Foam It OSCAAR Modifieds, Pro Late Models, and Ontario Pro Challenge Series. The pit gates will open at 4pm, followed by the front gate at 5pm, with racing kicking off at 6:30pm.
Familiar Faces Reign Supreme at Spring Fever Enduro 150 at Flamboro Speedway
It seems whenever there is an Enduro event at Flamboro Speedway, several drivers make an appearance in hopes of gracing victory lane when the checkered flag is waved. However, experience still remains critical in doing so with the familiar faces at the front of the field.
Whether it is Canadian Vintage Modified competition or Pure Stocks, Rodney Rutherford is one of the fastest guys at Flamboro Speedway. That remained true in the Enduro, as despite over 40 cars on the track at once, he was able to avoid all of the chaos and stay ahead of a field of experience behind him. He led the most laps, pacing the field en route to winning the Spring Fever Enduro 150 at Flamboro Speedway.
That said, past Halloween Enduro Champion and mini stock feature winner Dylan Sharpe kept him on his toes throughout, scoring a runner-up finish. Dan DosSantos was third, with pure stock regulars Gillian Hils and Gary Slama rounding out the top-five. Delaware Speedway representatives Jordan Wilms, Nic Ramsay and Nathan Rhea followed, with Mike Plazek and Harry Polmateer closing the top-10.
Matt Gould was 11th, followed by Dan Varey, Kody Ferri, Leo Labarbera, Ryan Robillard, Kyle Bishop-Polmateer, James Richard, Alex Dallaire, John George, and Tim Vartmon.
The event also featured the first mini stock invitational of the season, with Shawn Taylor proving he has not lost any speed in the No. 76 Nissan. He took the lead on Lap 17, pacing the remaining 13 laps to win in front of Dale Millard, RJ Croteau, Mike Thomson, and Gary Jones.
Gillian Hils backed up her feature victory on Saturday night, winning the 40-lap Pure Stock invitational after taking the lead on Lap 23. Jo Lawrence was the quickest man in qualifying, though took the bonus challenge in starting 22nd, last, on the field. He broke into the top-10 on Lap 11, finding the top-five at the halfway mark of the feature. However, he ultimately came up one spot in placing second. Cam Thomson, Phil Givens, and Spencer Riddell rounded out the top-five.