Hannah McCrory with contribution from Tommy Goudge

Brighton Speedway hosted another successful Labour Day Classic weekend presented by Ultramar Parkland Fuels, Rock 107 and Mystical Distributing and was able to kick off the end of summer with great dirt flying action two- nights in a row. The fans filled the stands for Saturday nights events with 116 stock cars signed in to battle it out in the heat. Sunday had a much different weather plan, looking like rain might be in the forecast but Brighton Speedway beat mother nature once again. The temperature might have been cool for the evening, but the racing action was still hot.

On Saturday night, Dale Gosselin became a first-time winner with the Pinty’s Knights of Thunder 360 Sprint Car Series on Saturday night at Brighton Speedway. The Quebec driver led a majority of the 25 lap A-Main, but needed a late comeback to secure the win after Josh Hansen slipped past.  Gosselin took the win, followed by Hansen, Rand, Nick Sheridan, and row seven starter Ryan Turner.  For complete results see https://www.facebook.com/KnightsofThunderSprintCars.

Jacob Dykstra took the Action Sprint Tour fueled by Pinty’s Crate Sprint Car win on night one of the Labour Day Classic at Brighton Speedway.  Ashton VanEvery and Johnny Miller made up the front row for the 25 lap A-Main, and VanEvery took the early lead. Dykstra wasted little time moving up from his row four starting position though, and took the lead. Dykstra opened a gap on the field, but Dale Curran moved up to second and began to cut into Dykstra’s lead as traffic became a factor for the leaders. Curran, who recently returned to Ontario after months of wingless sprint car racing in California, settled for the runner-up spot. Championship contender Mathieu Bardier took the final podium spot, followed by VanEvery and Miller. For complete results on the weekend see https://www.facebook.com/ActionSprintTour.

The Vanderlaan Building Products Late Model feature was set to green by Steve Baldwin (No. 5) and Adam Turner (No. 92), once the green flag was dropped Baldwin was off like a rocket, stretching his race lead through lap traffic. The field of 13 went green to checkers for the 30-lap affair, Baldwin victorious over Turner by 6.675 sec, Charlie Sandercock (No. 57), Brandon Mowat (No. 46), and Andrew Hennessy (No. 87).

As always, the Brighton Automotive Thunder Stocks did not disappoint bringing the action for both nights of the Labour Day Classic Weekend. Saturday’s excitement started with Brock Gregory (No. 1) and Austin Reid (No. 85) bringing the field of 24 to green. Reid had his sights set on obtaining the feature win, with some late race restarts Reid kept his cool and was able to hit his marks each time. Reid clenched the victory, Brock Gregory (No .1) crossed in second but was disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct, Josh Black (No. 9) is the official second place finisher, Jeff Humphry (No. 17) in third, Tyler French (No. 0) and Ryan Lambert (No. 41).

The Bill’s Johns Comp 4 division saw a large field as the Mini Stocks were able to join the division for their 15-lap event. Adam Milton’s No. 33 driven by Josh French for the evening started the field with the No. 19 of Shannon White. The points leader Tommy Bailey No. 44, was able to make his way up to the race lead, parking it in victory lane, Aidan Fletcher (No. 42Jr) second, Devon Kippen (No. 43) third, Shannon White (No. 19) fourth and Nico Hansen (No. 27) from Ohsweken Speedway fifth.

Chris Sparks (No. 26) and Robert Jenner (No. 79) led the field of 22 Quinte Septic Stingers to green. The field saw one caution at the halfway mark, Sparks able to hold on to the race lead, Landon Mutch (No. 41), Megan Golden (No. 07), Josh Whitney (No. 67J) and Robert Jenner (No. 79) round off the top five.

On Night two, Wade Purchase (No. 53) and Doug O’Blenis (No. 32) started the field of 15 Bainer’s OilGARD Anti-Rust Canadian Modifieds for their 25-lap feature event. Purchase put his machine on the bottom groove of the slick racing surface and worked his way through lap traffic. A late caution came out on lap 22, leaving a 3-lap shootout for the victory, coming to checkers the top side proved to be the faster line with Shawn Gregory (No. 1) merely grabbing the feature win over Purchase for a great finish. O’Blenis third, Ron Wadforth (No. 40) and Leslie Mowat (No. 2) rounding off the top five.

On Sunday the Brighton Automotive Thunder Stocks held their final points night of the season. Dave Barrett (No. 97) and Brock Gregory (No. 1) brought the field of 24 cars to green for the 25-lap affair. Reid, Justin Ramsay (No. 03), and Jeff Humphry (No. 17) had a great battle for the race lead. Humphry’s patience on the bottom pulled off with him taking home his first ever Brighton Speedway Thunder Stock feature win. Reid second, Ramsay third, Tyler French (No. 0) fourth and was also crowned the Brighton Automotive 2022 Thunder Stock Champion. Brock Gregory (No. 1) rounding off the top five.

The Bill’s Mini Stock’s field of 17 had an exciting battle for the feature win, Chris Lammle (No. 95) and Tim Moore (No. 54) led them to green. The fifth-place starter and points leader Carter Rhodes (No. 18) worked his way up to the race lead to secure yet again another feature win and the final win for the Labour Day Classic Weekend. Mike Whyte (No. 11w), Lawrence Evenden (No. 25), Tim Moore (No. 54) and Caleb Severin (No. 12) rounding off the top five.

Recap and Statistical Reports for Knights of Thunder Sprint Cars can be found at https://www.facebook.com/KnightsofThunderSprintCars

Recap and Statistical Reports for Action Sprint Tour can be found at https://www.facebook.com/ActionSprintTour

Official race results can be found at https://speedhive.mylaps.com/Organizations/181387

Photos by Rod Henderson, CanadianRacer.com