Sportsman champ finds key to winning in Modifieds at Brockville
BROCKVILLE-Ben Tucker has been close to winning his first ever Modified feature, a couple of times this season at Brockville Ontario Speedway. Friday night, last season’s Sportsman track champ put it all together to claim the victory in the 30 lap Modified event at the fast quarter mile oval.
Tucker was in a hurry taking the lead on lap 3 from pole sitter Bryan Rogers and leading the rest of the way. Jason Barney, who started 10th also shot through the field to take second spot and could get close to Tucker’s rear deck but not close enough to make a move on the Modified rookie. Chico Dingwall was third in front of Lee Gill and Mark Hitchcock.
The big upset of the night took place in the Pro Stock division, not only did Randy Earl see his winning streak come to an end. He also didn’t finish a feature for the first time in 2001 as a wheel came off the number 2 while duelling for the lead with Billy King. King took advantage of the opportunity and scored the win followed by Mitchell Jock, Todd Raabe, Louie Jackson and Sheldon Hoogwerf.
Randy Gaudet claimed the 20 lap Sportsman event. It looked for awhile that rookie teenager Kyle Dingwall was the car to beat. However, Gaudet worked the youngster lap after lap finally getting alongside in turn 4 on lap 13 and finishing the pass on the inside of turn 2. Dingwall couldn’t get close again as he settled for second. Pernie Banks, Adam Moore and Tim VanBrocklin rounded out the fast five.
The closest finish of the night came in the Novice feature as Earl Simmons held off Joh Mulder by a half a car length at the finish line. Mulder had charged back through the field after a late race incident to maintain his perch atop the point standings. Shawn Hodge, Dave Austin and Brett Horner were third through fifth respectively.
Kees VanWinden paid yet another visit to victory lane in the 10 lap rookie event. The race was red flagged on lap 7 when Jamie Eglinton rolled his Honda several times after going off the track in turn 2. Eglinton managed to get out of the car under his own power. Richard Brunelle gave Van Winden a battle in the final 3 laps but settled for second in front of Don Hall, Joseph Banks and Kevin Fetterly Jr.
The popular Midstate Vintage Stock Car Club also paid it’s annual visit to Brockville with Doc Smith winning the 50’s and 60’s class event and Ally Amell tops among the 70’s chassis machines. The night also featured a popular visit from legend Tony Blake who made a few laps in his old car that was restored recently to the delight of the crowd.
Brockville Ontario Speedway returns to action with a full race program in all five divisions, plus a Powder Puff event next Friday night, August 17th. The green flag drops at 7:30.
MODIFIEDS 30 LAPS: 1. BEN TUCKER 2. Jason Barney 3. Chico Dingwall 4 Lee Gill 5. Mark Hitchcock 6. Todd Stewart 7. Brian MacDonald 8. Stephane LaFrance 9. Paul Pekkonen 10. Bryan Rogers
SPORTSMAN 20 LAPS: 1. RANDY GAUDET 2. Kyle Dingwall 3. Pernie Banks 4 Adam Moore 5. Tim VanBrocklin
PRO STOCK 15 LAPS: 1. BILLY KING 2. Mitchell Jock 3. Todd Raabe 4. Louie Jackson 5. Sheldon Hoogwerf
NOVICE 15 LAPS: 1. EARL SIMMONS 2. John Mulder 3. Shawn Hodge 4. Dave Austin 5. Brett Horner
ROOKIE 10 LAPS: 1. KEES VANWINDEN 2. Richard Brunelle 3. Don Hall 4. Joseph Banks 5. Kevin Fetterly Jr.
MIDSTATE VINTAGE STOCK CAR CLUB 50’s and 60’s 10 LAPS: DOC SMITH
70’s 10 LAPS: ALLY AMELL