Story By: ASHLEY MCCUBBin / FLAMBORO SPEEDWAY – MILLGROVE, ONT – Over the years racing in a variety of series, Bill Zardo became known as a hard-nosed competitor. His spirit could be felt in the Bill Zardo Memorial at Flamboro Speedway, as the top drivers of the Knightworks Design OSCAAR Hot Rods battled for the win.
Ultimately, it was Cole Weber coming out on top at the end of the 46 laps and visiting McColl Racing Enterprises victory lane.
Dalen Martin won the first JRS Auctions heat in front of Steve Book, Kyle Woods, Donny Beatty, Jerry Broom, Rob Bromley, Jeremy McLean, Jeremy Taggart, Ryan Cowan, Matt Spry, and Dan Rothwell.
J.R. Fitzpatrick was victorious in the second qualifier ahead of Trevor Thompson, Cole Weber, Tyler Hawn, Nick Clarke, Connor Ellis, Brian Wilson Sr., Nick Holman, Dave Evison Sr., and Bill Clarke.
Rob Bromley picked up the checkered flag in the third heat followed by Taggart, Thompson, Fitzpatrick, Evison Sr., Holman, McLean, Bill Clarke, Rothwell, and Cowan.
Tyler Hawn won the final qualifier in front of Martin, Weber, Broom, Book, Nick Clarke, Beatty, Woods, Wilson Sr., and Spry.
Starting inside the top-five, Cole Weber wasted no time in moving his way forward, taking the lead on Lap 13. However, he was unable to waltz away from the field, with continued challenges throughout the full duration of the feature. The biggest threat came from Dalen Martin, who managed to put his Ford out front at Lap 27. However, it was short lived with Weber charging back around him a lap later.
Cole Weber then carved his way through lap traffic for the remaining 19 laps, picking the win to make the trip to McColl Racing Enterprises victory lane in the Bill Zardo Memorial. Dalen Martin held on for a second-place finish after restarting tail of the field at Lap 3 due to an incident on-track. Steve Book rounded out the podium after running consistently inside the top-five all race.
Trevor Thompson was the second highest qualifier, though accepted the Bill Zardo Challenge (put up by Lane Zardo, Billy Zardo, and Bill Zardo’s pit crew) to start tail of the field and go for some bonus money in the process. He made his way forward steadily throughout, scoring a fourth-place finish. Jerry Broom was fifth.
J.R. Fitzpatrick placed sixth, followed by Donny Beatty, Dave Evison Sr., Jeremy McLean, and Jeremy Taggart. Beatty picked up the bonus $460 put up by Amanda Stoner and Amanda’s Auctions for running eighth at Lap 8. Kyle Woods was 11th ahead of Matt Spry, Dan Rothwell, Nick Holman, Bill Clarke, Tyler Hawn, Ryan Cowan, Nick Clarke, Connor Ellis, and Rob Bromley.
Just Foam It OSCAAR Modifieds
Andy Kamrath won the first JRS Auctions heat in front of A.J. Emms, Dale Reinhart, Jake Watson, Tyler Liscum, and David Mathers. The race did not go without incident, with Liscum and Ryan Dick getting together off of turn two, with Wally Wilson getting collected and suffering significant damage.
Bryan Batty was victorious in the second qualifier ahead of Brad Pearsall, TJ Edwards, Jason Keen, Chris Milwain, Norman Newman, TJ Marshall, Paul Townsend, and Tommy Robb.
Kamrath went for the daily double, followed by Reinhart, Keen, Marshall, Pearsall, Emms, Newman, and Batty.
TJ Edwards took the checkered flag in the final heat in front of Watson, Milwain, Townsend, Hudson Nagy, Liscum, Robb, and Mathers.
Come time for the feature, Andy Kamrath after pulling a third-place starting spot out of the re-draw. He made the move past Dale Reinhart off of turn two for second on Lap 1, followed by getting underneath A.J. Emms going into turn three. He got the top spot off the corner, pacing the field the rest of the way to visit Queenston Chevrolet Buick GMC victory lane. It marks Kamrath’s fourth consecutive win dating back to last September.
Jason Keen utilized a mid-race restart to take over the runner-up spot for second, while A.J. Emms rounded out the podium. Bryan Batty and Brad Pearsall completed the top-five, followed by Dale Reinhart, Chris Milwain, TJ Edwards, Tyler Liscum, and Ryan Dick.
Tommy Robb was 11th ahead of Dave Mathers and Norman Newman. Jake Watson ran inside the top-half of the field until contact with the wall after an apparent mechanical failure relegated him to placing 14th. Hudson Nagy fought clutch issues in practice, followed by more mechanical gremlins for a 15th in his debut.
2021 OSCAAR Modified Champion TJ Edwards placed 16th following contact with Brad Pearsall and the backstretch wall on the opening lap of the event. Paul Townsend brought out the races’ first caution, though, after getting turned into the front stretch wall after Liscum got sideways on the initial start.
Ontario Pro Challenge Series
Battling side-by-side for the lead over the middle portion and taking control, Emma Norris pulled away from the field en route to her first career feature victory. She was joined on the podium by her father Tim Norris and brother Mike Norris. Bryan Stevanus and Jay Linde rounded out the top-five followed by Ethan Fleet, Travis Majuery, Sterling Hattin, Mike O’Connell, Tenli Pepin, and Ty Riopelle.
The invert would see Tim Norris quickly make his way to the front, taking the lead on Lap 6 and leading from there on out. Travis Majuery was second in front of Mike Norris, Bryan Stevanus, and Emma Norris. Jay Linde placed sixth ahead of Sterling Hattin, Mike O’Connell, Tenli Pepin, Ethan Fleet, and Ty Riopelle.
Pro Late Models
Starting on the front row for the first 30-lap feature, J.R. Fitzpatrick ran side-by-side with Kevin Albers for the lead for the first five laps, before clearing him. He’d then drive away from the field en route to a dominating win. Rick Burbridge rounded out the podium in front of Matt Box and Steve Laking.
Blair Wickett made a charge from the back for sixth, followed by Cole Quinton, Billy Schwartzenburg, Logan White, and Ty Cavallin. Despite making contact with White as they battled, Tyler Di Venanzo placed 11th ahead of Bill Pearsall and David Gallinger. Mark Burbridge fell out of the event with a mechanical failure at Lap 22.
Ty Cavallin took advantage of the invert for the second round, pacing the field throughout en route to winning. Blair Wickett was on his bumper through the middle portion, ultimately placing second ahead of J.R. Fitzpatrick. Matt Box and Kevin Albers rounded out the top-five in front of Billy Schwartzenburg, Rick Burbridge, Steve Laking, Cole Quinton, and Tyler Di Venanzo. Logan White was 11th followed by Bill Pearsall and David Gallinger. Mark Burbridge did not take the green flag.
The next event at Flamboro Speedway is taking place on Saturday, June 3, with the Canadian Vintage Modifieds, Pro Late Models, Super Stocks, Mini Stocks, and Pure Stocks in action. The pit gates will open at 4pm, followed by the front gate at 5pm, with racing kicking off at 6:30pm.
Also, don’t forget the 17th Annual Unfinished Nationals will be happening at the speedway on Sunday, June 4.