County names fill race results at Brighton Speedway

Reigning Champion in the Bainer’s OilGARD Anti Rust Canadian Modified Division at Brighton Speedway, Andrew Hennessy in his No. 87 secured the checkered flag during Race 3 of the ABC Taxi Triple Crown Series Saturday at Brighton Speedway. – Rod Henderson Canadianracer.com photo

Fans at Brighton Speedway Saturday were treated to a full racing card that saw seven divisions including the Eastern Ontario Vintage Stock Car Club following the inductions to the Brighton Speedway Wall of Fame. Sam Hazelwood, Fred Linde and Bill Broad were inducted kicking off an action packed night presented by Greig Truck and Trailer.

Sopaz scored second season win
It only took two laps for No. 12 Kyle Sopaz muscle his way up from his fourth place starting position and run away with the lead. Sopaz’s biggest contender throughout the 30-lap Vanderlann Building Supplies Pro Late Model feature was that of No. 55 Bradley Rayner. On a mission to secure his second season win Sopaz worked hard to distance himself from the rest of the field. He continued to dominate the race even after a pair of cautions slowed the pace. Rayner never lost sight of Sopaz as he went to battle with No. 46 Brandon Mowat to keep his runner up rights. On the 25th time by Rayner stole the lead. When it looked like victory was within his grasp, a caution broke the action with two laps to go. Sopaz jumped hard on the lead sailing to victory lane leaving Rayner to settle for a solid second. No. 89 Austin King who was fierce and consistent the entire race took home third, Mowat earned fourth and No.1 Andy Mayhew in fifth.

Hennessy hooks Triple Crown
No. 32 Doug O’Blenis and No. 3 Nathan Rinaldi led the field of Bainer’s OilGARD Canadian Modified’s to green in the ABC Taxi 30-lap Triple Crown Race 3.

For over half the race the pair treated race fans to a thrilling side by side battle as veterans No. 12 Adam Whaley, No. 87 Andrew Hennessy, No 91. Kraig Handley along with No. 14 Brandt Graham flexed their muscles in the rear view. Hennessy eventually found an opening and pushed his way into runner up where he and Whaley took turns at the lead. Handley got tangled up crash and was forced to take his machine to the pits. Quick work by his pit crew had him back out in the field a lap down. Handley was racing hard to be the first car a lap down, in order to be receive the lucky dog and he did. From there Handley put the hammer down and strong armed his way into runner up with two laps to go. Hennessy determined to get back to his winning ways parked it in victory lane with Handley taking home a hard fought second. Whaley placed third, O’Blenis fourth, No. 48 Derrick Greig finished fifth.

Purchase pays a visit to victory lane
No. 14 Chris Dorland pounced on the lead early from his fifth starting position and looked like he was well on his way to clinching his first Brighton Automotive Thunder Stock feature win Saturday night. On lap seven of the 20 lap feature, No. 85 Austin Reid snagged Dorland’s spot but only for a lap. A hard spin out off of turn one cost Reid the lead as he went head first into No. 69 Steven Stachura. With Dorland back in the lead again he still had his work cut out for him as No. 51 Mike Freeman and No. 53 Wade Purchase closed in. It took Purchase only two laps to seize his opportunity and stealing Dorland’s thunder. Purchase took off to victory lane leaving Dorland and No. 48 Ronnie Wadsworth to duke it out for second. It worked out in Dorlad’s favour as he won his first runner up bragging rights of the season. Wadsworth took third, Freeman fourth and No. 17 Jeff Humphry scored fifth.

Wild win for Winters
The Eastern Ontario Vintage Stock Car Club brought 15 cars to Brighton Speedway in their first appearance of the season. No. 28 Pete Stappen and No.3 Brian Billings led the field to the green flag in the 20 lap feature. No. 33 Cory Winters pushed his way into the lead from his third place starting point on the third trip around and dominated the rest of the chase to victory lane. No. 75 Kenny Polite followed engaging in a thriller with Stappen. Polite was anything but that as he stole second. With two laps to go Polite took turn three a little loose handing a second place finish to Stappen. No. 01 Brandon Gregory placed third. No. B3 Steve Billings finished fourth and No. 52J Brett Horner in fifth.

French scores three-peat
From the moment the green flag dropped on the Bill John’s Comp 4 feature, No. 0 Tyler French never let off the throttle. It took a short four laps for French to work his way up from his 10th starting position into runner-up. A mechanic issue for polesitter No. 52 Doug Galt forced him out of contention moving French into the lead. From there French and No. 11 Adam Flieler went door to door for first. French parked his No.0 machine for the third straight night, making Flieler settle for a well earned second. No. 43 Devon Kippen who proved a strong competitor placed third, No. 13 Joel Dempster was fourth and No. 14 Matthew Moore in fifth.

Gregory and Golden grab wins
No. 1 Brock Gregory picked up another win in the Quinte Septic Junior Stinger feature Saturday night as did returning Super Stinger No. 85 Brittany Golden.

Next week at Brighton
Rapid Rad and Classic Rock 107.9 host the Southern Ontario Sprints presented by Sanderson Tire & Automotive plus Vanderlaan Building Products Late Model Division, Bainer’s OilGARD Anti Rust Canadian Modified Division, Brighton Automotive Thunderstock Larry’s Towing Triple Crown Race 3 and the Bill’s Johns Comp 4 Division. Front Gates will open at 5 p.m. and Green Flag racing begins at 7 p.m.

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 and youth Go-Kart racing on Thursday nights from May to September.

Brighton Speedway Top Five Race Results 7/21/2018

Vanderlaan Building Products Late Model Division
Feature: 1. Kyle Sopza (Quinte West, On), 2. Bradley Rayner (Trenton, ON), 3. Austin King (Port Hope, ON), 4. Brandon Mowat (Brighton, ON)) 5. Andy Mayhew (Picton, ON)

Bainer’s OilGARD Canadian Modified Division: ABC Taxi Triple Crown Race 3
Feature: 1. Andrew Hennessy (Picton, ON), 2. Kraig Handley (Picton, ON), 3. Adam Whaley (Frankford, ON), 4. Doug O’Blenis (Napanee, ON), 5. Derrick Greig (Belleville, ON)

Brighton Automotive Thunder Stock Division
Feature: 1. Wade Purchase (Demorestville, ON), 2. Chris Dorland (Demorestville, ON),3. Adam Wells (Madoc, ON), 4. Mike Freeman (Brighton, ON), 5. Jeff Humphry (Belleville, ON)

Bill’s Johns Comp 4 Division
Feature: 1. Tyler French (Belleville, ON), 2. Adam Flieler (Quinte West, ON), 3. Devon Kippen (Trenton, ON), 4. Joel Dempster (Bloomfield, ON), 5. Matthew Moore (Port Hope, ON)

Quinte Septic Senior Stinger Division
Feature: 1. Brittany Golden (Frankford, ON), 2. Dan Ferguson (Picton, ON), 3. Adam Plazek, 4. Jorden Pickell, 5. Rick Phillips (Frankford, ON)

Quinte Septic Junior Stinger Division
Feature: 1. Brock Gregory, 2. Aidan Fletcher, 3. Ethan Schope, 4. Caleb Severin, 5. James Harrington