21 June Brockville Ontario Speedway
22 June Cornwall Motor Speedway
PHOTOS:
PIC 1 Jessica Zemken # 96z wins her third Modified feature at Brockville
PIC 2 Chris Raabe # 02 wins his fourth Sportsman feature at Brockville
PIC 3 John Gibson # 2 gets a win in his Antique Stock Car at Brockville
PIC 5 Early arrivals at Cornwall , Rob and Cindy Shaver
PIC 6 The race car haulers line up to get in the Cornwall pits
PIC 7 Cornwall promotor Ron Morin
PIC 8 Winner of of his heat and Mod feature, Carey Terrance # 66
PIC 9 Sprint Car feature winner at Cornwall, Steve Poirier # 28
PIC 10 The WoO Late Model of Tim McCreadie # 39
PIC 11 The wrecked WoO Late Model of Rick Brigs # 99 is loaded on the flat bed at Cornwall
PIC 12 The start of the WoO Late Model race at Cornwall ( # 25 Shane Clanton and Josh Richards # 1)
PIC 13 Winner of the Cornwall WoO Late Model race , Josh 'Kid Rocket' Richards celebrates his victory.
PIC 14 The first three in the WoO Late Model race at Cornwall, Josh Richards, Tim McCreadie and Shane Clanton with promotor Ron Morin.
A rain-out at the Capital City Speedway , Ottawa on Wednesday (18 Jun) and work commitments that prevented a trip to Autodrome Edelweiss on Friday ( 20 Jun) meant that Saturday was my first race day this week.
As usual I had plenty of tracks to choose from on Saturday, including one new one, in walking distance of my home that would have added to my TRACKCHASING totals. This year the Figure 8 and Demolition Derby at the Maxville Fair ( Ontario) had changed it's location from the grass on the fairgrounds to the paved parking area of the Arena. In TRACKCHASING rules, this would count as a totally new track and a short walk from my house would have added to my totals. I've always considered myself more of a RACECHASER than a TRACKCHASER ( there is a difference ! ) so I chose quality before quantity.
I decided to head to the Brockville Ontario Speedway for a regular nights racing. So far this year the car counts have been good and the grandstand has had plenty of people in it. In addition to the domestic divisions, the Antique Stock Cars were on the bill. I always enjoy watching these guys in action.
The headline feature events for 358 Dirt Modifieds and Sportsman both produced repeat winners. Sprakers, NY driver Jessica Zemken # 96z clinched her third in the Modifieds and Chris Raabe # 01 got his fourth in the Sportsman. Jessica , who won at Autodrome Edelweiss the previous week has now accumulated four features in as many weeks. As for Chris, he has won so many races in the Sportsman division this year, a 'bounty' has been put on him at the Thunder Alley Speedway ( Evans Mills NY). Teen pop idol, Avril Lavigne ain't the only one with talent to come from Napanee, Ontario !
I was up at the crack of dawn on Sunday, to get all my jobs done before going to the Cornwall Motor Speedway for the much awaited TRIPLE CROWN ON DIRT. As I looked out of my windows, the rain was coming down hard and the sky was filled with dark clouds. I feared the worst, and thought my day was done, but by 9-00am the rain had stopped and it got brighter.
I arrived at the track around mid day and already the parking lot was full of campers and there was a long line of race car haulers waiting at the pit gate. Racing was not due to start until the evening but with an event of such stature, it was important for everyone to get there early.
The first people I bumped into were Rob and Cindy Shaver, a couple of race fans I've known for many years. They'd got a gazebo set up by the pit parking lot and were enjoying a pick nick . They invited me to join them and found me a chair. Next to pull in was my buddy Jim Clarke ( media guy and announcer from Kawartha Speedway) who sat down and joined the party. When there's a big race going on, it's nice to get there early, sit and relax and watch people arrive as the day unfolds. By now the sun was shining and things looked good for a great evening.
The TRIPLE CROWN ON DIRT featured the touring WORLD OF OUTLAWS Late Models, ESS Sprint Cars and 358 DIRT Modifieds.
This was the first time ever appearance of the WORLD OF OUTLAWS and all the top guys were there. While walking the pits I bumped into Kevin Kovac , the media officer for the the tour. Although I've been receiving press releases from him for some time, this was the first time we'd met.
Around 6-00pm the cars came out on the track for Hot Laps and with in a few minutes a spectacular crash occurred when the Rick Briggs # 99 Late Model did a wild flip in turn three. Thankfully, the Bear Lake , Pennsylvania driver got out of it OK , but the car was in a very sorry state and needed to be removed on a flat bed.
Late Model time trials were next, and much to the pleasure of the large crowd that had gathered, it was North Eastern DIRT Modified star Billy Decker # 91 that recorded the fastest.
First division to take heat races were the Dirt Modifieds, which were won by Alex Fortier # 09, Laurent Ladouceur # 23 , Lance Willix # 16 and Carey Terrance # 66.
The Sprint Cars were next and it was great to see, Lee Ladouceur # 51 a good friend of mine win his heat. Lee, after a number of years in Modifieds is now in his Rookie Year for Sprints, and already looks destined for greater things.
There were three 10 lap heats for the Late Models with Tim Fuller # 19 ( New York) taking the first, Shane Clanton # 25 (Georgia) the second, and Darrell Lanigan # 29 (Kentucky) the third.
Following the Modified 'Consi' and a 'Dash For Cash' for Sprints it was intermission time , where the draw for positions took place for the top six Late Models. Josh 'Kid Rocket' Richards # 1 ( West Virginia) drew pole.
The cars were then brought on to the track and parked 'Le Mans' style on the front straight while the drivers were introduced to the crowd. The Canadian and US national anthems were played and the familiar Cornwall Motor Speedway Chevy Pace Truck led the field of cars for the rolling laps. The atmosphere was electric as the 'standing room only' crowd watched the green flag drop for the big 50 lapper.
Immediately, Lucust Grove, Georgia driver, Shane Clanton # 25 set the pace to lead the pack. Moving fast and on his tail was local hero Tim McCreadie # 39 of Watertown, NY who before long was nibbling at his rear bumper. Some side by side dicing took place until McCreadie powered past on lap 17. After a number of races on the paved NASCAR tracks Tim was back with vengeance in his own territory. Two days earlier he'd won the WORLD OF OUTLAW race at the Oshweken Speedway (Ont). At this stage of the race he looked certain of another win, until he came across back markers. By now Josh 'Kid Rocket' Richards had moved with in range and on lap 39 as McCreadie chose the wrong line around Tim Fuller, the 'Kid' blasted past. There was nothing anybody could do to catch him as he charged on for the remaining ten laps to take the checkers. It was great win and a race that kept the crowd on the edge of their seats and the tips of their toes for the duration.
The Sprint and Modified features followed and were won by Steve Poirier and Carey Terrance respectively. The whole show went like clock-work, the racing racing was excellent, the weather was just right, and it was all over before 10-30 pm. The perfect recipe !
No comments:
Post a Comment