By: Nicole Kleinsteuber

Brighton Speedway’s first Fan Appreciation Night in two years hosted a full grandstand with 95 cars dialed in for an action-packed event. The night presented by The Fidelity Group of Companies featured all six divisions – Late Models, Canadian Modifieds, Thunder Stocks, Mini Stocks, Comp 4 and Stingers.

During intermission drivers took over the front stretch allowing fans the opportunity to meet them, take pictures, get autographs and treats.  The speedway will celebrate its final Fan Appreciation Night on Aug. 20.

Hennessy secures second win

No. 11 Kyle Sopaz was the car to beat in the 30-lap Vanderlaan Building Product Late Model affair.  Sopaz stomped on the gas at the drop of the green flag and slid in front of pole sitter No. 33 David Vandertoorn on the first lap.  Sopaz dominated the majority of the feature as No. 87 Andrew Hennessy muscled his way into second and No. 57 Charlie Sandercock charged through the field from eighth to third.  In a thrilling chase, Sopaz worked the cushion on a tacky track to try and hold off the 87 and 57 but it wasn’t enough.  On the 19th time by, Hennessy snagged the lead and captured his second season win with Sanderock taking second.  Sopaz was third respectively with No. 55 Bradley Rayner fourth and No. 92 Adam Turner fifth.

Purchase racks up third victory

Wade Purchase returned to Brighton Speedway on night five with a vengeance.  Determined to park it for a third time, it took him six laps to power his 53 machine from eighth in the OilGARD Anti-Rust Canadian Modifieds’ 25-lap feature.  Polesitter No. 40 Ron Wadforth was flying for half the race as Purchase worked to close the gap.  Wadforth conceded the lead to Purchase on lap 12 and the 53 took off to victory lane for the third time this season.  No. 1 Shawn Gregory was runner up, No. 07 Curtis King third, Wadforth fourth and No. 32 Doug O’Blenis fifth. Purchase also collects the Campbellford Chrysler Driver of the Month accolades for the highest accumulated points in the Month of May.

Reid holds off French for the win

No. 77 Adrian Handcock and No. 0 Tyler French took a field of 26 Brighton Automotive Thunder Stocks to green in the 20-lap caution riddled main event.  French was quick to pounce on the lead and then on lap 3 Handcock lost control coming out of turn 4 causing a big wreck with nine cars getting caught in the melee.  When the action resumed French and No. 85 Austin Reid treated fans to an exhilarating side by side fight for first.  Right behind them the chase for the third spot was an intense three-way battle between No. 03 Justin Ramsay, No. 17 Jeff Humphry and No. 26 Kraig Handley.  With four laps to go Reid took the lead and rode to the winner’s circle, with French second, Ramsay third, Humphry fourth and Handley fifth.

Severn scores second victory

No. 25 Lawrence Evenden and No. 96 Cole Abrams led the field of Bills John’s Mini Stocks to green as No. 12 Caleb Severn worked his way up from fifth.  Severn snatched up the point position on lap 8 and never looked back as he scored his second win of the season.  Abrams was second, Evenden third, No. 7 AJ Rinaldi fourth and No. 72 Austin South fifth.

Bailey brings home another win

At the drop of the green flag No. 44 Tommy Bailey punched on the gas pedal in the Bills John’s Comp 4 feature.  Bailey drove a flawless 15 laps as No. 43 Devon Kippen and No. 42jr Aidan Fletcher went to war for second.  Kippen took over second and started to close in on the 44 but Bailey was victorious when the checkers fell.  Kippen earned runner up, No. 15 Josh Bogaard was third, No. 33 Adam Milton fourth and No. 19 Shannon White fifth.

Mutch wins Stinger event

The Quinte Septic Stinger feature was led to green by No. 67 Alex Patrick and No. 7 Josh Toon.  No. 41 Landon Mutch quickly worked his way to the lead and never gave up the point on his way to victory lane.  No. 30 Ryan Hills was second, No. 26 Chris Sparks third, Patrick fourth and No. 07 Megan Golden fifth.

Photos by Rod Henderson, CanadianRacer.com

1. 53Purchsase-Action1 – Wade Purchase took six laps to power his 53 machine from eighth to first in the OilGARD Anti-Rust Canadian Modifieds’ 25-lap feature. Purchase also collects the Campbellford Chrysler Driver of the Month accolades for the highest accumulated points in the Month of May.
2. FanAppreciationMAy28-1 – Brighton Speedway’s first Fan Appreciation Night in two years hosted a full grandstand with 95 cars dialed in for an action-packed event.

May 28^th, 2022 Feature Results

Quinte Septic Stinger (12 Laps)

1. 41 Landon Mutch, 2. 30 Ryan Hill, 3. 26 Chris Sparks, 4. 67 Alex Patrick, 5. 7 Megan Golden, 6. 17 Gavin Rushlow, 7. 12 Shane Vale, 8. 79 Robert Jenner, 9. 17e Evan Minnie, 10. 14 Kevin Mutch, 11. 93 Jorden Pickell, 12. 7 Josh Toon, 13. 28 Jay Brewer, 14. 64 Chris Johnson, 15. 67j Josh Whitney, 16. 99 Arthur McCauley, 17. 27 Kendal Hase, 18. 4 Stephen Scott, DQ. 03A Dillion Barker

Bill’s Johns Comp 4 (15 Laps)

1. 44 Tommy Bailey, 2. 43 Devon Kippen, 3. 15 Josh Bogaard, 4. 33 Adam Milton, 5. 19 Shannon White, 6. 22 Keith Dunk, 7. 16 Dawson Evans, 8. 85 Brittany Golden, 9. 95 Ethan Schoop, 10. 20 Cody Sager, 11. 85j Jordan Monaghan, DQ. 42jr Aidan Fletcher

Bill’s Johns Mini Stock (15 Laps)

1. 12 Caleb Severin, 2. 96 Cole Abrams, 3. 25 Lawrence Evenden, 4. 7 Anthony Rinaldi, 5. 72 Austin South, 6. 22 Tyson Gregory, 7. 7 Percy Walsh, 8. 1 Scott Simpson, 9. 71 Alesha Gerard, 10. 95 Chris Lammle, 11. 44 Rai-Ann Beaudrie, 12. 78 Ethan Dorie, 13. 18 Carter Rhodes, 14. 87 Steven Hennige, 15. 8 Sebastian Rightmeyer

Brighton Automotive Thunder Stocks (20 Laps)

1. 85 Austin Reid, 2. 0 Tyler French, 3. 17 Jeff Humphry, 4. 9 Josh Black, 5. 88 Patrick Easton, 6. 18 Kyle Anderson, 7. 19 Cory White, 8. 97 Dave Barrett, 9. 14 Chris Dorland, 10. 01 Kyle Gregory, 11. 16 Kaitlyn O’Blenis, 12. 41 Ryan Lambert, 13. 08 Angie Kirby, 14. 23 Doug May, 15. 7 Ricky Phillips, 16. z28 Cole McKeown, 17. 74 Mike Lucas, 18. 11 Chris Massey, 19. 27 Torri Pope, 20. 77 Adrian Hancock, 21. 83 Andrew Massey, 22. 1 Brock Gregory, 23. 72 Doug Anderson, 24. 76 Cody Driscoll, DQ. 03 Justin Ramsay, DQ. 26 Kraig Handley

Bainer’s OilGARD Anti-Rust Canadian Modifieds (25 Laps)

1. 53 Wade Purchase, 2. 1 Shawn Gregory, 3. 7 Curtis King, 4. 40 Ron Wadforth, 5. 32 Doug O’Blenis, 6. 51 Mike Freeman, 7. 3 Nathan Rinaldi, 8. 2 Leslie Mowat, 9. 41 Corey Halbert, 10. 5 Wally Alderdice, 11. 50 Dylan Boyle, 12. 4 Tom Swerbrick, 13. 52 Doug Galt

Vanderlaan Building Products Ltd. Late Models (30 Laps)

1. 87 Andrew Hennessy, 2. 57 Charlie Sandercock, 3. 11 Kyle Sopaz, 4. 55 Brad Rayner, 5. 92 Adam Turner, 6. 33 David Vandertoorn, 7. 46 Brandon Mowat, 8. 77 Caley Weese, 9. 1 Eli Mayhew, 10. 21 Rich Sanders, 11. 5 Steve Baldwin