Race fans ring in Canada’s Birthday with a bang

In honour of the passing of his Crew Chief and mentor Bill Monro, Andrew Hennessy customized his ride in his late heroes number and raced with a vengeance to take a victory lap at the Brighton Speedway last Saturday night. Rod Henderson photo canadianracer.com

An action-packed night at Brighton Speedway started with the annual time trial qualifying as drivers pushed themselves to set new track records in several divisions.

Drivers in four classes tried to turn two laps against the clock to score the fastest lap on the night and secure pole position in the heats and features for the night with double points and bonus money on the line.
Time trails began at 6 p.m. under the hot sun and the stands began to fill up for the night. Setting the fastest laps on the night were No. 46 Brandon Mowat in the Late Model division at 14.113 seconds, No. 87 Andrew Hennessy in the Canadian Modified division at 15.154 seconds, No. 53 Wade Purchase at 16. 540 seconds and No. 13 Joel Dempster in the Comp 4 class at 19.479 seconds.

Sandercock scores 5th win
No. 29 Phil Potts looked like he was well on his way to scoring his first Vanderlaan Building Products Late Model win of the season as he dominated 31 laps of the 50-lap main event. He went wire to wire with No. 57 Charlie Sandercock igniting a championship rivalry years in the making. With just 10 laps to go the 57 slid into the lead and on to victory lane where a spectacular fireworks display greeted him, thrilling fans. Fast and furious No. 46 Brandon Mowat and No. 07 Tim Kerr each took third and fourth respectively with No. 89 Austin King in fifth.

Hennessy waves checkers in honour of Monro
In a loving tribute his late crew chief Bill Monro, Andrew Hennessy had his No. 87 Canadian Modified customized with 08 decals before setting out on a mission to win the Bainer’s OilGARD Anti Rust 30-lap event in his honour. It took Hennessy no time at all to work his way up from his sixth starting position to battle No. 07 Curtis King for the lead.

On the sixth time by, Hennessy snatched up the lead and never looked back as he secured his fourth win of the season. Hennessy celebrated by taking the checkered flag on a victory lap around the clay oval for Monro. King earned a hard fought second, No. 12 Adam Whaley third, No. 99 Linc Brown fourth and No. 14 Brandt Graham fifth.

Checkers fly for French
No. 0 Tyler French led the field of 23 Brighton Automotive Thunder Stocks to green and dominated the entire 25 laps. No. 85 Austin Reid and No. 53 Wade Purchase, who also decked out his car in Bill Monro’s honour waged the best war against French. But it wasn’t enough as French was bent and bound to get back to his winning ways in his new found division.
French sailed to victory lane for the first time in his Thunder Stock career, leaving Reid to settle for second. Purchase placed third. No. 72 Doug Anderson nabbed fourth and $1,000 thanks to a generous draw prize offered by Kevin McBride of Brighton Automotive. No. 48 Adam Well picked up fifth.

Bailey a two-time winner
At the drop of the green flag, No 95 Ethan Schoep put the hammer down from his pole position and appeared to be well on his way to capturing his first season win. Schoep led for 18 of the 20-lap Bill’s John’s Comp 4 feature. A caution on the last two laps reset the field and No. 44 Tommy Bailey took the advance to grasp the lead. Bailey rode to victory lane, with No. 43 Devon Kippen in second. Schoep took third, No. 4 Chris Tufford placed fourth and No. 52 Doug Galt fifth.

In the mini-stock division, No. 14m Matthew Moore claimed his fifth win of the season, No. 12 Caleb Severn second, No. 6 Tom Cole third and fourth No. 7 Anthony Rinaldi.

Easton and South score Stinger wins
The Quinte Septic Junior and Senior Stinger divisions returned to Brighton Speedway Saturday for 12-lap events. No. 72 Austin South picked up his first Junior Stinger win while No. 51 Patrick Easton scored his second of 2019. In the Junior division No. 22 Daniel Dick was runner-up, No. 76 Brad Collar third, No. 18 Carter Rhodes fourth and No. 37 Terry Blight fifth. In the senior class, No. 7 Rick Phillips earned second, No. 42Jr Aiden Fletcher third, No. 95 Chris Lammle fourth and No. 85 Brittany Golden fifth.

Planned fort Saturday, July 6th VanZuylen Tire & Alignment and Electro Cables host the Southern Ontario Sprints presented by Sanderson Tire & Automotive along with the Vanderlaan Building Products Late Models, Bainer’s OilGARD Anti Rust Canadian Modifieds, Bill’s Johns Comp 4/Mini Stocks and special demonstration from the Kiwanis Club of Trenton Kart Klub. Front Gates open at 5pm, Hot Laps begin at 6pm and the green flag drops at 7pm. Grandstand Admission is $20 for Adults, $18 for Youths & Seniors, $5 for Children 7 to 12 and a Family Pass is $55.

June 29th Top 5 Race Results:

Vanderlaan Building Products Late Model Division
1st. No. 57 Charlie Sandercock; 2nd. No. 29 Phil Potts; 3rd. No. 46 Brandon Mowat; 4th. No. 07 Tim Kerr; 5th. No. 89 Austin King

Bainer’s OilGARD Anti Rust Canadian Modified Division
1st. No. 87 Andrew Hennessy; 2nd. No. 07 Curtis King; 3rd. No. 12 Adam Whaley; 4th. No. 99 Linc Brown; 5th. No. 14 Brandt Graham

Brighton Automotive Thunder Stock Division
1st. No. 0 Tyler French; 2nd. No. 85 Austin Reid; 3rd. No. 53 Wade Purchase’ 4th. No. 72 Doug Anderson; 5th. No. 48 Adam Wells

Bill’s Johns Comp 4 Division
1st. No. 44 Tommy Bailey; 2nd. No. 43 Devon Kippen; 3rd. No. 95 Ethan Schoep; 4th. No. 4 Chris Tufford; 5th. No. 52 Doug Galt

Bill’s Johns Mini Stock Division
1st. No. 14 Matthew Moore; 2nd. No. 12 Caleb Severin; 3rd. No. 6 Tom Cole; 4th No. 7 Anthony Rinaldi

Quinte Septic Tank Senior Stingers
1st. No. 51 Patrick Easton; 2nd. No. 7 Rick Phillips; 3rd. No. 42 Aidan Fletcher; 4th. No. 95 Chris Lammle; 5th. No. 85 Brittany Golden

Quinte Septic Tank Junior Stingers
1st. No. 72 Austin South; 2nd. No. 22 Daniel Dick; 3rd. No. 76 Brad Collar; 4th. No. 18 Carter Rhodes; 5th. No. 37 Terry Blight

Brighton Speedway is a 1/3-mile clay stock car racing oval located on the shores of Lake Ontario in Brighton, Ont. The speedway hosts five weekly stock car divisions on Saturday nights from May to September.