Saturday Night Creates Short Track Racing Excitement at Peterborough Speedway
By Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media
After losing a week of action to Mother Nature, Canada's Toughest 3rd of a Mile Paved Oval continued the Hot August Saturday Night Series of racing Saturday, August 23rd. The green flag waved with the Battlefield Equipment Rental 4Fun, Parry Spring Service Renegade Truck, Paul Davis Systems Thunder Car, Earl Ireland Auto Sales Late Model divisions and double features for the Inex Ontario Legends Series to treat the fans.
Feature racing for the night got rolling with a 15 lap affair for the Parry Spring Service Renegade Trucks, as Stacey Bierworth and Josh Milwain led the way. Current point leader Jack Dallin jumped out to an early lead, bringing Jeffrey Vanderbelt and defending track champion Bill O'Hara along for the ride. The entire race distance ran caution-free, as Dallin scored his 7th win of the year, with Vanderbelt and O'Hara 2nd and 3rd. Andy McCann and Milwain completed the top 5.
Marilyn Junkin and current high point driver Willow Barberstock paced the pack of Battlefield Equipment Rental 4Fun runners to the stripe for their main event. At just 14 years of age, Barberstock is determined to capture the track championship and had built-up half a track length advantage when the caution flag flew, just short of halfway. On the restart, the #62 had her championship rival Ray Schroer on the outside of the front row, but as the green flag waved, Schroer dropped back through the field but the young lady from Stirling picked-up the 'A' main win, despite a late race challenge from runner-up Matthew Vanderbelt. Griffen Powell, Sean Kennedy and Jeremy Kelly rounded-out the fast 5.
Tom Podd and Brad Lavalle brought the Paul Davis Systems Thunder Car field from the staging area for their 20 lap feature event. The scoreboard showed 8 circuits complete, when the yellow flag waved for a multi car incident in the 3rd turn that sent Mike Balson to the pits for the night. While everyone was watching championship contenders Anthony DiBello and Howie Crowe, it was Oshawa's John Baker Jr. who was putting on a show.
The popular wheel twister known by the handle 'J.B.J.' found his way to Dart Heating and Air Conditioning victory lane for his second consecutive win. DiBello, Paul Geniole, Crowe and Willie Reyns finished-out the top 5.
With the 2014 Inex Ontario Legends championship on the line, Brandon Thurlby and Nicholas Ledson brought the field to the season-ending green flag at the tight, tricky bullring on Mount Pleasant Road, west of the Liftlock City. With one of the strongest rides in the field, Ledson proved why he came into the night's action as the defending series champion. The 18 year-old - who has also dabbled with a late model ride this season - survived a couple of yellow flags for single car spins and a lengthy clean-up after another competitor dropped fluids around the track for a title clinching victory. Matt Haufe - his closest title rival at the start of the night -- finished the 25 lap feature in second spot, with Kevin Foisy, Jarrett Stewart and Thurlby completing the top 5 runners.
Invader Kyle 'Wheely' Donaldson and defending track champion Craig Graham paced the Earl Ireland Auto Sales Late Model runners for their 25 lap feature tilt. With 3 laps complete, Jack Horner looped his #31 ride coming off the 2nd turn to bring out the first yellow flag. After a pair of restarts were aborted, racing got back underway but the yellow quickly flew again when the #54 of Lawrence Bungaro went around on the back straight. At the same time, the #37 of Craig Parry headed to the pits and dropped out for the night. With less than 10 laps complete, Matt Spence had a strong night slowed with a spin in the 4th turn. From there, it was Dan McHattie's night, as the veteran campaigner from Cavan, Ontario took the win over Ryan Kimball, Donaldson, Jack Horner and Adam Cuthbertson.
The rain-delayed Inex Ontario Legends feature event went to Nicholas Ledson, with Matt Haufe, Jarrett Stewart, Cole McFadden and Bill Mason completing the top 5.
Qualifying heat race wins went to Bill O'Hara and Jack Dallin in the Parry Spring Service Renegade Trucks. Matthew Vanderbelt, Willow Barberstock, Ray Schroer and Sean Kennedy did the same in the Battlefield Equipment Rental 4Fun. Willie Reyns, John Baker Jr., Steve Mayhew and Anthony DiBello took the Paul Davis Systems Thunder Car qualifiers, with Brian Saunders, Kevin Foisy, Jarrett Stewart and Nicholas Ledson earning the Inex Ontario Legends checkered flags. Earl Ireland Auto Sales Late Model qualifiers went to Craig Graham, Ryan Kimball, Dan McHattie and Tyler Betts.
Bullring Bullet Points: Paul Geniole was on hand to run with the Paul Davis Systems Thunder Cars, doing some homework for the Autumn Colours Classic. Paul Maltese did the same with the Earl Ireland Auto Sales Late Models. Blake Watson made his first start of the season, steering a Late Model purchased from Cory Horner...Jamie Wagar made an infrequent Thunder Car start, but went off the track on the hook after making contact with the first turn retaining wall...It was a rough outing for Mike Balson, who had trouble just getting to the track. His car slide forward on the team's open hauler and he needed help from several other drivers to unload the #27 Thunder Car.
Peterborough Speedway's 2014 regular season concludes with the Championship Clash - Saturday, August 30th. Fans will see this year's point champions crowned in the Battlefield Equipment Rental 4Fun, Peterborough Hyundai Mini Stock, Parry Spring Service Renegade Truck, Paul Davis Systems Thunder Car and Earl Ireland Auto Sales Late Model divisions. Also on the show will be the crowd favourite OSCAAR Outlaw Super Late Models. Pit gates open at 2:00, with the spectator grandstands unlocked at 4:00 and racing at 6:00.
Fans can always find the latest news at
www.peterboroughspeedway.com or by liking the track on Facebook or following it on Twitter. You can also download the free Peterborough Speedway app on your Smartphone.
Photo attachment: Jim Clarke - Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media
1) Jack Dallin (#07) celebrates his 7th trip to victory lane this season after winning the Parry Spring Service Renegade Truck feature - Saturday, August 23rd - at Peterborough Speedway.
2) Willow Barberstock (#62) strengthened her shot at a track championship by taking the Battlefield Equipment Rental 4Fun 'A' Main - Saturday, August 23rd - at Peterborough Speedway.
3) John Baker Jr. (#63) made it back to Dart Heating & Air Conditioning victory lane, claiming the Paul Davis Systems Thunder Car win - Saturday, August 23rd - at Peterborough Speedway.
4) It was all smiles with family and friends as Nicholas Ledson clinched the 2014 Inex Ontario Legends crown - Saturday, August 23rd - at Peterborough Speedway.
5) Cavan, Ontario's Dan McHattie (#71) picked-up the Earl Ireland Auto Sales Late Model feature win - Saturday, August 23rd - at Peterborough Speedway.
Prepared by: Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media
clarkemotorsports@hotmail.com
613.968.6410
Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=20092.msg112129#msg112129
