BUDDIES BLOGS
Border Patrol – A weekly Look At Racing from both sides of the 1000 Islands
Craig Revelle – September 28, 2009
With
my weekly tracks, Can Am Motorsports Park, and Brockville Ontario Speedway
temporarily closed in preparation of their end of season special events, I
traveled to the Brighton Speedway for their Annual Applefest Shootout, an event
that coincides with the town’s Applefest weekend.
The weekend started out on Friday evening with the Sportsman cars that
traditionally run at Brockville matched up against the Sportsman cars from the
Merrittville Speedway area, near St. Catherines, Ontario.
A combined 28 Sportsman cars entered the pits for the $1500 to win, 35
lap Lucas Oil Challenge Cup, as well as $1000 to win All Star race sponsored by www.dirttrackdigest.com.
On Saturday, it was the 358 Modifieds taking center stage, with their
$2000 to win 50-lap feature and a 10 car, 15 lap, $1500 to win Clash for cash,
matching the top 3 in Lucas Oil series points from both the East and West, as
well as the night’s heat race winners.
Friday was a perfect fall
day filled with sunshine, as race teams began to enter the Brighton Speedway for
the 5th Annual event. Sportsman
teams, who headlined Friday’s schedule, as well as the 358 Modifieds that were
looking to shake their cars down for Saturday’s festivities filled the pits,
as well as Brighton’s local racers that also were on the evening’s program.
After the qualifying in all
classes, it was Brockville Speedway regular Shane Pecore capturing the checkered
flag in the Dirt Track Digest All-Star race.
Pecore picked up his first win of the season and picked up the $1000
prize. Merrittville Speedway regulars Chad Chevalier and Brad Rouse finished
second and third while Chris Raabe and Cody McPherson rounded out the top five.
Pecore started from the pole, and led all 15 laps.
In the 35 lap Sportsman
headline event, former Brighton Speedway regular, and hometown favorite Doug
O’blenis started the race from the pole, alongside second year racer Luke
Whitteker, from Iroquois, Ontario. Whitteker
jumped to the lead early, and it clearly looked like this was going to be the
night that the 16-year-old racer would get his first career win.
Whitteker was fast on the restarts, jumping out to commanding leads each
time. On the final restart, with
just 6 laps to go, it was Merrittville Speedway regular Nic Capulo capturing the
lead, and the win. Whitteker finished second, brothers Cody and Tyler McPherson
finished third and fourth respectively and Bob Albright rounded out the top
five.
Saturday morning started
off just as the previous day. Clear
skies and sunshine, but unlike the Friday, everyone had one ear on the local
weather forecast, and one eye on the skies as rain was approaching at some point
during the evening. After the
qualifying races for the Benson Auto Parts Applefest Shootout, which were won by
Tim O’Brien, Danny O’Brien and Mat Williamson, it was time for the Brighton
Comp 4 feature.
Brighton’s Comp 4 class
is the equivalent to Brockville’s 4cylider rookie division, and Lansdowne’s
Frank Mitchell and Brockville’s Josh Kirkland both made the trip.
Mitchell, who has had some rough luck this year, posted a very strong
finish, starting 21st and finished just outside the top 10.
Light rain began to fall during the feature, but all 15 laps were
completed.
The next event scheduled
was the 358 Modified Clash for Cash. As
the rain began to intensify, it became clear that racing on the evening would be
postponed. Sure enough, several
minutes later, the announcement was made that the remaining races will be
postponed to a later date, either later this fall, or until next spring.
Next weekend, the local
tracks remain closed, so it will be another road trip, this time to the Fulton
Speedway for their annual Fulton 200 presented by SUNY Canton College.
While the Sportsman, and Street Stock teams race Friday night, I will be
there for Saturday only, which will consist of qualifying races, and a 200-lap
event for the Modifieds. This
prestigious event pays $20,000 to the winner plus lap sponsorship money and
contingency awards. Billy Pauch,
Danny and Alan Johnson, Tim Fuller and Dale Planck are just a few of the drivers
to win this event that is now entering its 24th year.
The Can Am Motorsports Park
resumes action next Wednesday as it unofficially kicks off Super Dirt Week for
many race fans. The 358 Modifieds
and DIRTcar Sportsman will both run championship events, while the DIRT Street
Stocks will also be on the schedule. Can-Am
is just the start of a busy week of racing as the 358 Modifieds will also be in
action on Thursday night at Brewerton Speedway, Friday night at Rolling Wheels
Raceway, and Saturday at the New York State Fairgrounds.
The week, which is known as Super Dirt Week offers race fans various
options, as Sprint cars, Big Block Modifieds, 358 Modifieds, Sportsman and Pro
Stocks all race at various tracks around central New York State.
That is all for this week, any comments and suggestions can be sent to crevelle@ripnet.com
***Photo Attachment - Dillon Sallows and team in Victory Lane at Can Am after winning the $2500 Pit Crew Challenge. (Rebecca Eisele Photo - www.turn4photos.com
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