O Brien doubles up in quest to win 2nd straight title
BROCKVILLE-There may be aluminum heads and a rev limiter on Danny O Brien's Evoy Racing Car Number 83 for 2005. However, it doesn't appear that is slowing the defending track champion down at all. O Brien cruised to a pair of impressive feature victories in the DIRT 358 Modified division on Friday night at Brockville Ontario Speedway.
The Pocket Rocket started off the evening in style by finishing off the 50 lap Modified feature from a week ago. When the rains came O'Brien was leading with 33 laps remaining. He was able to constantly distance himself from the field in taking the official season opener. John Lazore made some nifty moves to move back through the field to finish second followed by impressive rookie Kyle Dingwall. Mark Hitchcock and Stephane LaFrance rounded out the top five.
In the regular 30 lap feature, O Brien had to start at the rear of the field, but it wasn't long before he was challenging early leader Bryan Rogers. He blasted by Rogers just before the halfway point to complete his sweep of the twin bill. Mark Hitchcock settled for second spot followed by Pat O Brien, who borrowed the John Lazore back up car and after starting last in the 15 car field finished 3rd. Lazore himself was fourth with Chris Jones rounding out the top five.
The DIRT Sportsman also ran two features on Friday night. Marcel Pecore started the evening in style taking the first 20 lapper, also rained out from a week ago. Kees VanWinden, Tim VanBrocklin, Jason Riddell and Ryan Poole were 2nd thru 5th respectively. Pecore's hopes for a double win of his own vanished quickly in the regular feature with contact and front end damage in turn 3 early in the nightcap. Tim VanBrocklin was able to find a high line that worked throughout the race on a very slippery surface to take the victory in the second event. VanWinden survived a number of incidents including one that ripped sheet metal from the back of his Troyer to finish second again, Pernie Banks, Poole and Bob Albright rounded out the fast five.
A good battle for the lead highlighted the final laps of the 20 circuit Street Stock feature. Adam Turner started deep in the field and methodically worked his way to the front finding himself on the back bumper of Billy Code with 3 laps to go. However, Code would not be denied not giving the youngster any track position to work with and going on to the win in his familiar white Chevy Nova. Turner settled for second followed by Jack Code, Steve Billings and Shane Ray.
It was a busy night as well for the Rookies with a pair of 12 lap features to run. Steve Smith gave up the lead but then took it back on the final lap to take the opener. Joe Banks, Trevor Cook, Jessica Power and Chris Bakker made up the remainder of the top five. The nightcap came down to a mad dash to the finish line with Jesse Perrin holding off Matthieu Aubin by half a car length when the checkered flag dropped. Smith was third in front of Cook and Corey Earl. The race featured a red flag as Caley Weese flipped three times in turn 1 after getting hit from behind. She wasn't injured.
Brockville Ontario Speedway returns to action next Friday night, May 27th with the first visit of the year by the always popular winged warriors of the Empire Super Sprints. All four regular classes including the DIRT 358 Modifieds will also be in action making for a great Sprint-Modified twin bill. The green flag drops at 7:30 pm.
Modifieds 50 Laps: Danny O Brien, John Lazore, Kyle Dingwall, Mark Hitchcock, Stephane LaFrance, Perry Francis, Chris Jones, Bryan Rogers, Adam Moore, John Mulder, Paul Pekkonen, Billy Cook, Pat O Brien
Modifieds 30 Laps: Danny O Brien, Mark Hitchcock, Pat O Brien, John Lazore, Chris Jones, Perry Francis, Stephane LaFrance, Bryan Rogers, Tom Jock Jr., Dan Jalbert, Adam Moore, Paul Pekkonen, John Mulder, Kyle Dingwall, BIlly Cook-DNS
Sportsman 20 laps: Marcel Pecore, Kees VanWinden, Tim VanBrocklin, Jason Riddell, Ryan Poole, Jeremy Lasalle, Bob Albright, Bobby Herrington, Brad Kirkland, Sheldon Hoogwerf
Sportsman 20 Laps: Tim VanBrocklin, Kees Van Winden, Pernie Banks, Ryan Poole, Bob Albright, Jim Peters, Kurtis Lee, Jeremy Lasalle, Brad Kirkland, Sheldon Hoogwerf, Marcel Pecore, Brett Horner-DNS
Street Stock 20 laps: Billy Code, Adam Turner, Jack Code, Steve Billings, Shane Ray, Peter Stapper, Dave Austin, Robin Perrin, Charles Barkley, Jeff Welsh
Rookies 12 laps: Steve Smith, Joe Banks, Trevor Cook, Jessica Power, Chris Bakker
Rookies 12 laps: Jesse Perrin, Matthieu Aubin, Steve Smith, Trevor Cook, Corey Earl