Hannah McCrory
The weather was perfectly set for the final points night of the 2022 season at Brighton Speedway. QBT Excavating presented an evening filled of racing action for the Late Model, Canadian Modified, Comp 4, Mini Stock and Stinger divisions. Highlights of the evening were the Northeast Late Model Alliance 40 lap event, and the John’s Equipment Sales and Service 50 lap Danny Reid Memorial Canadian Modified race.
King Victorious for Danny Reid Memorial and Purchase Picks up Canadian Modified Championship
The headliner of the evening being the very special John’s Equipment Sales and Service 50-lap Danny Reid Memorial and this year marked the 16th running. The race has been held annually in honor of the late Danny Reid (No. K5). Reid was a long-time supporter, racing veteran and fan favourite to many at Brighton Speedway. His passing at an event in 2005 still feels like yesterday and hits close to home for many of the long-time race teams and fans. Brighton Speedway Officials would like to extend a warm thank you to the team at John’s Equipment, the Kemp family and the Reid family for the opportunity to continue to run the prestigious race, it would not be possible without them.
The Bainer’s OilGARD Anti-Rust Canadian Modifieds had the pressure on for who was going to claim the Danny Reid Memorial win of 2022 with a great $2000.00 pay day, plus their final night of racing for the championship. The top 9 placing drivers in the division visited the front straightaway to redraw for their starting positions in the 50-lap affair. Ron Wadforth (No. 40) and Shawn Gregory (No. 1) being the lucky front row starters of the event. At this time, fans found out that division rookie and points leader Wade Purchase (No. 53) would be opting out of his redraw position and starting tail for the event after suffering mechanical failure in the heat race. When Wadforth and Gregory brought the field to green, Gregory jumped to the early lead and looked determined to win back-to-back Danny Reid Memorial features. Fourth-place starter Curtis King (No.07) in his UMP modified was hooked up on the tacky race surface and on the hunt for the win. A handful of restarts throughout the race worked in the Canadian Modified drivers’ favour allowing the field to tighten up to the race leader King. Crossing the line for the white flag, King got a wicked run off the top of turn 1 and 2 to obtain the race lead from Gregory on the backstretch. The two made contact in turn 3 and Gregory was deemed responsible for the late race caution and was sent to the tail of the lineup, King was given his position back for the restart. King snagged the win in the 2022 Danny Reid Memorial, Wadforth second, Doug O’Blenis (No. 32) third, Nathan Rinaldi (No. 3) fourth and Mike Freeman (No. 51) fifth. Congratulations to 2022 Champion Wade Purchase and crew!
Turner Takes it to Victory Lane, Baldwin Brings Home Late Model Championship
The Vanderlaan Building Products Northeast Late Model Alliance series had their second visit to the speedway, and was the final points night for the Brighton drivers. Going into the evening Steve Baldwin (No. 5) held the championship points lead over Charlie Sandercock (No. 57) by 10 points, Kyle Sopaz (No. 11) only 30 out of the lead and Andrew Hennessy (No. 87) only 70 points out. Austin King (No. 89) and Brandon Mowat (No. 46) led the field of 17 Late Models to green for the 40-lap affair. It did not take Adam Turner (No. 92) long to jump to the front to try and take the number one spot from Mowat. The pair put on a great battle for the race lead, with side-by-side racing action throughout the 40 laps. Turner victorious over Mowat, Hennessy third, Sam Pennacchio (No. 311) fourth, and Sopaz fifth. Steve Baldwin was crowned the 2022 Vanderlaan Building Products Late Model division champion. Congratulations to 2022 Champion Steve Baldwin and crew!
Abrams Parks it in Victory Lane, Rhodes Claims Championship
The Bill’s Johns Mini Stock division set out for a fast feature event, going green to checkers for their final points race of the season. Austin South (No. 72) and Cole Abrams (No. 96) started the 15-lap event, the field spaced itself out pretty quickly with outside starter Abrams working on getting parked in victory lane for the fourth time this season. Abrams was able to space out his margin of victory under the green flag conditions over Mike Whyte (No. 11w) by 5.520 seconds. Tyson Gregory (No. 22) third, South fourth and Carter Rhodes (No. 18) fifth. Rhodes went into the evening with a 395-point lead, guaranteeing him the 2022 Mini Stock Championship. Congratulations to Carter Rhodes and crew for the title!
Bailey Steals Both Feature Win and Comp 4 Championship
The final feature of the evening was the Bill’s Johns Comp 4 division, another division with the points leader Tommy Bailey having the championship locked in. Devon Kippen (No. 43) and Adam Milton (No. 33) started the field of 10 4-cylinders, for their 15-lap shootout. For the first few laps Kippen, Milton and Aidan Fletcher (No. 42JR) put on a great side by side battle for the top position. Just before the halfway mark the 3-car battle switched up with Tommy Bailey (No. 44) joining the action and Milton falling back to the fourth position. A late race caution was brought out for Kippen who suffered mechanical failure and was stopped in turn 1 and 2. After the restart, Bailey and Fletcher put on a great battle for the lead. Bailey across the line first, Fletcher second, Josh Bogaard (No. 15), Milton and Ryan Oosterholt (No. 79) rounding off the top five. Congratulations to Tommy Bailey and crew for the 2022 Comp 4 Championship!
Pickell Stinger Feature Winner and 2022 Champion
For the final time this season 19 Quinte Septic Stingers took the green for their 12-lap affair. The event saw one caution very early on for a car around in turn 1, the field was quickly lined back up and set to restart. Points leader Jorden Pickell (No. 93) made his way through the heavy field as carefully as possible as the division has a no contact rule. He was able to pinch the lead from Alex Woods (No. 99) who was slowed up by lap traffic. Pickell parked it in victory lane, Chris Sparks (No. 26), Woods, Josh Toon (No. 7) and Cody Easton (No. 29D) rounds off the top five. Pickell crowned the Quinte Septic Stinger Champion. Congratulations Jorden Pickell and crew on the victory!
Up Next:
Saturday, September 17th there will be no racing at Brighton Speedway. Join us for the Bryan’s Auction Applefest Shootout presented by Coca-Cola, COOL 100 and Imagefactor.ca for the stellar double header weekend Friday, September 23rd and Saturday, September 24th. Visit http://imagefactor.ca/applefestshootout/ for complete schedule for the weekend as well as the event purses! Tickets can be purchased at the front gate or online for both evenings.
The October 1st Eve of Destruction is SOLD OUT!
