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Holiday Inn Five Dollar Friday Kicked Off a Classic Weekend of Racing
The Holiday Inn Five Dollar Friday Nights, introduced as part of the 40th Anniversary Season at Brighton Speedway, opened up a Labour Day Classic Weekend of racing which will keep spectators and drivers from all over Ontario, Quebec and Upper New York State talking well into next season. “The pits were busy, the stands were packed, campers were set up, the kids had their party and Mother Nature cooperated. Most important though drivers and their crews came together to compete side by side for their moment of victory. There really is nothing more we could ask for as fans of dirt track grass roots motorsport racing,” said Brenda Whitehead, Pit Director at Brighton Speedway. Presented by Lucas Oil, Ultramar and Quinte Broadcasting the three day race event was indeed filled with action packed, dirt flying, fantastic racing.
With a Friday Night visit from the OORA Tough Truck, a group of more than thirty five 4 Wheelers, and the return of the Mini Vans, the Bill’s Johns Comp4 race set a preview for the weekend of racing ahead. The winner of the race was Stacey Ferguson, #1 of Picton, who launched herself into first place in the closely kept points championship. Terry Hough, #46 of Brighton, saw his hopes of racing the weekend cut short when he experienced mechanical failure and was hit on the back straight. He was unable to race in the Dirt/Asphalt Challenge on Sunday September 2nd due to the extent of his damage.
The Saturday Race Program included a visit from the Southern Ontario Sprints (SOS), the Brighton Automotive Pro Stocks, Bainer’s Radiator Canadian Modifieds, Quinte Towing Stingers and the Mister Signz Pure Stocks. SOS veteran Dick Mahoney won his heat race, finished second to his son Warren in the Dash for Cash and then went on to lead every lap in the main event, capturing his first feature win of the season. The end over end flips, sideway rolls and spin outs kept spectators on the edge of their seats for more than 45 minutes. Other notable winners included Jeff Sallans in the #72 Canadian Modified and Mike Freeman in his #51 Stinger. Both drivers took both qualifier and feature wins on the night.
Sunday night was gearing up to be a great show when a field of more than 30 Comp 4’s registered to race in the second half of the Dirt/Asphalt Challenge. The top Brighton Driver was Kyle Sopaz (#3) of Brighton who finished 4th overall in the feature, despite a valiant effort to take the competition in the corners. The winner was the #20 of visitor Josh Cane.
Also running on Sunday Night were the SOS Sprints where Joe Middlemiss of St. Catherines, Ontario collected his 2nd Feature win in 2007 amidst the wrap up of the Mystical Distributing Fireworks dislplay. The August 18th Campbellford Chrysler Driver of the Week, Chris Taylor, #02 of Picton, also took his second feature win of the season, is as many weeks, as he claimed the 35 lap Canadian Modified/IMCA Challenge race
The race of the night was certain to be the 50 Lap, $1,000 to win, Duel on the Dirt main event. With more than 40 Pro/Hoosier/Street & Pure Stocks in the initial field, 4 qualifiers and 2 “B” mains determined the 30 cars that would start on the 1/3 mile clay oval. Team Brighton made a continuous effort to overtake pole sitter and eventual winner Jeff Dayman (#5), but had to finish for second & third as the #08 of Brian Cross from Picton was followed by the #40 of Ronnie Wadforth from Trenton. Brighton drivers will head to Merritville Speedway for the Rose Webber Memorial Weekend where Ronnie will be defending his current lead as the overall points leader for this two track series that wraps up on September 7th.
The best priced family entertainment in the Northumberland and Quinte areas will do it all again with the green flag at 7:00 pm on September 8th. Maestro’s Painting Contractors present the School Bus Races and a complete race program , including the rescheduled Vintage Racing Cars but no Brighton Automotive Pro Stocks. For more information on this great event and more; including the fast approaching Applefest 358 Dirt Modified Shootout, visit www.brightonspeedway.com.
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