Sizzling Action on a Hot August Night at Peterborough Speedway
By Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media
With 5 Saturday nights on the calendar, Canada's Toughest 3rd of a Mile Paved Oval kicked off the a new month Saturday, August 2nd with a spectacular show that included the Battlefield Equipment Rental 4Fun, Peterborough Hyundai Mini Stock and Parry Spring Service Renegade Truck divisions. Also on hand were the OSCAAR Outlaw Super Late Models and OSCAAR Modifieds, looking to claim the front row starting spots for the 22nd Annual Autumn Colours Classic.
Feature race battles got underway with a 15 lap affair for the Parry Spring Service Renegade Trucks, with Jeffrey Vanderbelt and defending champion Bill O'Hara on the front row. With just over a handful of laps complete, 2 separate caution flags had sidelined the machines of Josh Milwain and Andy McCann, but Vanderbelt was engaged in a tough fight with Jack Dallin at the front of the field. The driver of the #33 machine managed to hold-off every challenge from the current point leader to earn a trip Dart Heating and Air Conditioning Victory Lane. Stephen Bierworth, Bill O'Hara and Stacey Bierworth completed the top 5.
Kevin Strutt and Donovan Price paced the pack of Peterborough Hyundai Mini Stockers to the stripe for their 20 lap headline dance. With only 4 circuits complete, Danny Benedict - perhaps the division's hottest driver in recent weeks - had moved into the top spot. The chauffeur known as 'The Show Stopper' turned the event into a one-man show and managed to score his first main event win of the season by close to half a lap over James Townsend, Strutt, Tyler Junkin and Ryan Babin.
16 starters took the green flag for the 30 lap OSCAAR Modified feature that would determine the front row at the Autumn Colours Classic, with Max Beyore and Tommy Robb leading the way. On the drop of the green Beyore left the field behind and had built-up almost a half a track advantage over Robb when the yellow flag was displayed for a spin by Dean Scott coming off the second turn. Beyore jumped back to the front of the pack on the restart and looked to have the win in the bag, before the #8 of Gary McLean dropped into the infield grass and then back onto the track in the 3rd turn, collecting a number of machines. After a prolonged clean-up period, a green-white-checkered finish settled the score, with Beyore taking the win over Dave Terry, Chad Strawn, Gary Elliott and Justin Demelo.
With 20 laps to battle the tight, tricky bullring on Mount Pleasant Road, west of the Liftlock City, the Battlefield Equipment Rental 4Fun machines left the staging area for their 'A' main, with Marilyn Junkin and Tiffany Vanderbelt pacing the field. The race ran caution free until a hard hit on the front stretch involving Scott Brooks and Daniel Williams produced a red flag with 11 laps complete. All drivers were checked at the scene and found to be uninjured, but the same could not be said of their equipment. Despite a strong challenge from Cody Fenton, Tiffany Vanderbelt picked-up the win. Griffin Powell, Matthew Vanderbelt and Willow Barberstock rounded-out the fast 5.
Jesse Kennedy and Dave Taylor led the OSCAAR Outlaw Super Late Model starters to the green flag for the 50 lap affair that would determine the premium starting spots for October's Super Bowl of stockcar racing. Kennedy moved out to an early lead, bringing Rob Poole along for the ride. The leaders were closing on the back of the pack when the yellow flag waved for spin by Craig Stevenson with 8 laps complete. Kennedy had once again caught the tail of the field, when the yellow flew for contact between Mike Beyore, Dave Doucette and Roy Passer. Beyore and Doucette continued, but Passer headed to the pits. As the pack was coming back to the green, Beyore and Taylor spun on the entrance to the first turn. With 21 circuits on the scoreboard, a new leader took control as Kevin Cornelius muscled past Kennedy on the backstretch. Andrew Gresel moved into the runner-up position a few laps later, with Kennedy slipping to 3rd. With 36 laps in the books, the Cornelius machine headed to the pits after slowing on the track. Gresel inherited to the top spot, with Kennedy and Glenn Watson completing the top 3. Gresel built-up a straightaway's advantage on his way to the win over Kennedy and Watson. John Owen and Rob Poole chased the top finishers across the stripe.
The holdover features from Saturday, July 19th went to Matthew Vanderbelt in the Battlefield Equipment Rental 4Fun and Ryan Babin in the Peterborough Hyundai Mini Stocks. Heat race wins were claimed by Bill O'Hara and Jack Dallin in the Renegade Trucks. Tiffany Vanderbelt, Colin Parkes, Marilyn Junkin and Cody Fenton won the 4Fun qualifiers. Ryan Oosterholt, Brandt Graham, Henk Mulders and James Townsend in the Mini Stocks. Preliminary round action for the OSCAAR Modifieds belonged to John Harper, Gary Elliott, Chad Strawn and Max Beyore, while OSCAAR Super Late Model heats were won by Glenn Watson, Kevin Cornelius, Rob Poole and Andrew Gresel.
Bullring Bullet Points: The night's 50/50 draw - worth $886.25 - was claimed by OSCAAR Racing Super Fan Kathy Reid, of Scarborough, Ontario...Battlefield Equipment 4Fun division pilot Griffin Powell will be included in a "Young Drivers" profile in an upcoming edition of the Toronto Sun...After discovering an broken steering rack after the second round of practice and missing his first heat, Mike Beyore finished 3rd in the second last OSCAAR Super Late Model heat race and was 9th in the 50 lap finale in 9th spot...Hot August Saturday Night action continues Saturday, August 9th with the 100 lap Lucas Oil Sportsman Cup event, presented by Attersley Tire. Also on the program will be the Battlefield Equipment Rental 4Fun, Peterborough Hyundai Mini Stock, Paul Davis Systems Thunder Car and Hurricane Midget divisions, along with King of the Hill. Pit Gates will open at 2:00, with spectator grandstands unlocked at 5:00 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) Jeffrey Vanderbelt scored his first Parry Spring Service Renegade Truck feature win of the season - Saturday August 2nd - at Peterborough Speedway.
2) It was a big night for the "The Show Stopper" as Danny Benedict claimed the Peterborough Hyundai Mini Stock feature win - Saturday, August 2nd - at Peterborough Speedway.
3) In a rain-delayed Battlefield Equipment Rental 4Fun feature from July 19th, Matthew Vanderbelt picked-up the victory - Saturday, August 2nd - 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=19923.msg111917#msg111917
