LeFRANCE AND RIDDELL BIG WINNERS AT BROCKVILLE
BROCKVILLE-A slick and tricky racing surface had a number of drivers perplexed on Friday night at Brockville Ontario Speedway. Brockville’s Stephane LaFrance and Jason Riddell of Cardinal managed to figure it out as they cruised to victories in the Modified and Sportsman features.
22 cars started the 30 lap Modified main, however the field was trimmed quickly by lap 2 crash that involved seven cars in turn 4. One of the victims was three time defending track champ Lee Gill. LaFrance took advantage of the opportunity blowing by early leader Paul Pekkonen and surviving numerous cautions to outdistance Mark Hitchcock at the checkered flag by a full straightaway. Jeff Sykes finished third followed by Boomer MacIntryre and Bill Gill.
Riddell has been close to his first Sportsman win a couple of times in the past only to have things go wrong on the final few laps. However after an early battle with John Mulder, the youngster was finally grab that premier victory despite numerous cautions including a restart with a lap to go. Mulder was second followed by Randy Earl, Kyle Dingwall and Ben Tucker.
The closest finish of the night came in the 15 lap Novice event with a blanket covering all three cars in a mad dash to the finish line. Adam Turner used up as much race track as possible on the final turn to score his first Brockville win by a bumper over Shane Ray with Ryan Poole another quarter panel behind. Art Brown was fourth in front of Dave Austin.
There was a fresh face in victory lane in the rookie class as well as Billy Woodward Jr. put an end to Kurtis McPhee’s winning streak at three. Woodward Jr. used a power outside move on the first turn of the first lap to go from fourth to first and led the rest of the way. Joseph Banks was second followed by McPhee. Dave Watchorn and Don Hall rounded out the fast five.
The Speedway returns to action with a full race program featuring all four divisions along with Big Rig time trials on Friday Night, June 13th at 7:30 pm.
Modifieds 30 laps: 1. Stephane LaFrance 2. Mark Hitchcock 3. Jeff Sykes 4. Boomer MacIntryre 5. Bill Gill 6. Paul Pekkonen 7. Doug Fuller 8. Adam Moore 9. Chris Herbison 10. Jeff Marshall 11. Dan Foss 12. Bryan Rogers 13. Chris Jones 14. Keith Dingwall 15. Todd Stewart 16. Steve Bilow 17. Larry Welling 18. Randy Gaudet 19. Sam Vanderlinden 20. Jamie Martin 21. Lee Gill 22. Jason Barney
Sportsman 20 laps 1. Jason Ridell 2. John Mulder 3. Randy Earl 4. Kyle Dingwall 5. Ben Tucker 6 Lance Willix 7. Dave Wilgosh 8. Cole Dingwall 9. Chad Phelps 10. Harm Vanderweide 11. Lee Miller 12. Tim Alton 13. Pernie Banks 14. Kurtis Lee 15. Bob Albright 16. Jason Potter 17. Josh Plooy 18. Tim VanBrocklin 19. Leonard Washer
Novice 15 laps 1. Adam Turner, 2. Shane Ray 3. Ryan Poole 4. Art Brown 5. Dave Austin 6. Robin Perrin 7. Peter Stapper 8. Robbie Ezard 9. Brian Lee 10. Jeff Brown.
Rookie 10 laps 1. Bill Woodward Jr. 2. Joseph Banks 3. Kurtis McPhee 4. Dave Watchorn 5. Don Hall