|
BROCKVILLE-It say it was a classic would be an understatement. Opening night 2007 will go down as one of the most memorable nights in Brockville Ontario Speedway as Pat O Brien caught brother Danny a few feet from the finish line to win the 30 lap 358 Modified feature on Mulder Welding and Machine night at the Beast of the East.
23 Modifieds were on hand for the opener, with 22 taking the green flag. Surprise invader Pat Ward won his heat race and started up and wasted no time taking the top spot. Danny O Brien was soon giving Ward everything he could handle in the early going while Pat O Brien uncharestically slid off the track in turn 3 while running fourth sending him to the back of the pack. The Pocket rocket finally got around Ward for the lead just past the halfway mark, but slowly but surely brother Pat was working his way through the field. A string of cautions allowed the older O Brien to work his way to the front. The final yellow flag came with just 1 lap remaining and Pat in second ready to strike. Danny pulled out a couple of car lengths at the green, but left the high side open, Pat pulled back and got alongside as they went for the finish line. Pat's red number 6 scraped the front stretch wall sending off a line of sparks as he barely nudged ahead at the line to grab a miracle win. Danny settled for second in a finish that had a large early season crowd on their feet. Ward took the third spot in front of Stephane LaFrance and a late charging Chris Jones.
Randy Earl seemed like the guy to beat in the 20 lap Sportsman feature as the Brockville driver pulled out to a half lap lead at one point. Earl's hopes fell victim to a front tire coming off his car with 4 laps remaining. That handed the lead to Adam Turner who held off a determined Chris Raabe for his first ever Sportsman feature victory. Turner dedicated the win to his brother Justin, who died in a boating accident this same weekend a year ago. Ryan Poole came from the back to finish third followed by Harm Vanderwede and teenager Shane Pecore in his first race.
Defending track champions won the other two events on the night. Josh Kane finally got past a very game Steve Barber to take the opener for the 4 cylinder Rookie division. Street Stock champ Billy Code of Perth managed to fend off Dana Aikens in the late going for a win in the 15 lap Street Stock main. Brockville Ontario Speedway returns to action next Saturday night, May 26th with a full race program in all four divisions plus the first visit of the season by the Vintage Cars. The green flag drops at 7pm.
Modifieds 30 laps: Pat O Brien, Danny O Brien, Pat Ward, Stephane Lafrance, Chris Jones, Mark Hitchcock, Brian MacDonald, Bobby Herrington, Adam Moore, Bryan Rogers, Lance Willix, Paul Pekkonen, Chris Herbison, Todd Stewart, Kurtis Lee, Chris King, Doug Herbison, John Mulder, Keith Dingwall, Kyle Dingwall, Victor McCalpin, Andy Lloyd, Cole Dingwall (DNS)
Sportsman 20 laps: Adam Turner, Chris Raabe, Ryan Poole, Harm Vanderwede, Shane Pecore, Zack Amos, Marc Therrien, Tabitha Murphy, Pete Stapper, Kenny Polite, Randy Earl, Sheldon Hoogwerf, Jason Riddell, Kees Van Winden, Wes Denard
Street Stock 15 laps Billy Code, Dana Aikens, Charles Barkley, Derrick Eaton, Steve Kearney, Art Brown, Robin Perrin, Jack Code, Bob Botting, Jason Riemersma, Jeremy Levac, Steve Billings
Rookies 16 laps: Josh Kane, Steve Barber, Jessica Power, Dwight Feltham, Matt Bond, Steve LaPlante, Chris Lloyd, Adam Trickey, Brandon Henderson, Frank Mitchell Jr, Domonic Charlebois, John Johnson, Joe Banks, Adam Wix, Chris Bakker |
|
