Herrington and Ramsay sweep Applefest weekend

By: Nicole Kleinsteuber with contributions from Tim Baltz

The biggest night in racing at Brighton Speedway was a thrilling affair that saw DIRTcar Sportsman No. 88Z Bobby Herrington and Thunder Stock No. 03 Justin Ramsay sweep the Applefest weekend.

Fans filled the stands Saturday as 168 cars dialed in for a total of 250 laps in the second action-packed night presented by Brian’s Auction, Coca-cola, Cool 100 and Imagefactor.ca.

Herrington Hoists All The Apples

Justin Cyr was the early pace setter in the 35 lap DIRTcar Sportsman feature and was looking to score his first career feature win. On lap 5, Friday nights winner Bobby Herrington would take over the lead and start to pull away from a stout field of cars while using the outside lane. Behind the leader it was a battle of brothers as Justin and Gabriel Cyr put on a great battle for the number two spot. Michael Dillon would bring out the first yellow with a spin in turn 4. He would recover to finish 12th. When the green flew it was Herrington in control once again as Gabriel Cyr charged by his brother to second with Noah Mamo and Dylan Kirkland rounding out the top 5. Herrington again was too strong in the early going, as he marched away and built up a sizeable advantage as Gabriel Cyr and the rest of the field tried to keep pace. On lap 23 things got interesting as Brennan Moore who was battling in the top 10, was involved in an accident on the back stretch, while in turn 4 leader Bobby Herrington was taken off the track as he tried to avoid a spinning Jamie Young. Herrington was able to keep going without coming to a stop and keep the lead as the yellow flag flew. When the green flew it was Herrington again in front over Gabriel Cyr as two-time Applefest champion Brad Rouse charged into the top 3. Herrington proved to be too strong on this night, worked through the lapped traffic perfectly and marched on to become the first driver since Cody McPherson to sweep the DIRTcar Sportsman portion of Applefest weekend. Gabriel Cyr finished a career best second while Brad Rouse claimed a record 13th consecutive top 5 finish at Applefest with a third-place run. Ryan Ferri came from 17th to 4th with Jordan Cosco claiming his best Applefest finish of 5th.

Raabe Scores 2nd Applefest Victory

2017 Applefest DIRTcar Sportsman champion Johnathon Ferguson took the lead at the start of the 75 lap DIRTcar 358 Modified feature from the outside pole, over Tristan Draper Erick Rudolph Chris Raabe and Corey Wheeler. Ferguson was working the top side of the speedway perfectly in the early laps and appeared to have a great car to contend for a DIRTcar 358 Modified Applefest title. On lap 15 Ferguson and Draper remained in control but 2019 champion Chris Raabe was on the move taking third from Rudolph, as he set sail for the top two drivers. Raabe continued his charge forward taking second from Draper and on lap 21 would use the bottom to take over the lead and begin a dominant run. Nearing the halfway point Raabe began to enter traffic with Draper and Rudolph a straightaway behind. Heading into turn 3 Derek Vanmill, Chris Herbison, Jarrett Herbison and Todd Gordon all spun and Raabe was able to somehow get by without issues and the yellow flew. On the restart Raabe again charged out front while Erick Rudolph and David Hebert made a charge into the top 3 as they both got by Tristan Draper. As the laps clicked off it became clear, that it was going to take something major to happen, in order for anyone to catch the leader. Unlike last season, that did not happen, as Chris Raabe would get redemption, author a dominant performance throughout the night and claim his 2nd Applefest Shootout at the Brighton Speedway. Rudolph would claim 2nd with David Hebert coming home third in his Applefest debut. Gary Lindberg and Tristan Draper filled out the top 5.

Gary Lindberg scored the 10-lap Dash for Cash victory on Friday night.

Sandercock Secures NLMA Great Crate Race Win

No 57 Charlie Sandercock led the field of 20 to green in the 50-lap Northeast Late Model Alliance Great Crate race. Given the green light, Sandercock punched on the gas as his contenders hunted him down. Brighton’s 2022 champion No. 5 Steve Baldwin and No.46 Brandon Mowat proved to be Sandercock’s toughest competitors of the night. Sandercock and Mowat tossed the lead back and forth with the 57 sailing to victory lane. Andrew Hennessy pushed his 87 from eight to second. Baldwin finished third, Mowat fourth and No. 92 Adam Turner fifth. Sandercock also won the LMNA 10-lap Dash for Cash on Friday night.

Gregory Grabs Applefest Checkers

The 30-lap Canadian Modified/UMP series race got off to a rough start with a big pile-up on the front stretch at the drop of the green flag. One was race resumed No. 1 Shawn Gregory moved up from his third starting position to first and never relinquished the point. Gregory drove his mod on a rail with polesitter No. 40 Ron Wadforth hot on his heels. When checkers fell, Gregory grabbed the apples with Wadforth in second. No. Leslie Turcotte Mowat finished third, No. 33 Adam Whaley, No. 50 Dylan Boyle fifth.

No. 09D Joel Dick parked it in a 10-lap Mod Dash For Cash on Friday night.

Ramsay Rides To All The Apples

No. 03 Justin Ramsay was bent and bound to sweep the Applefest Shootout weekend for the first time in his Thunderstock career. Following a thrilling win on Apples Eve the night before, Ramsay was quick to take the lead from his seventh starting position in the 40-lap Insta Panel Duel In the Dirt 40-lap main on Saturday. He was hooked up dominating the race with a half-a-track lead on the field. Even as a caution slowed the field Ramsay was virtually untouchable as he bolted to victory lane for the second time. No. 79 Chris Hale was second, No. 49 Dave Bailey third, No. 17 Jeff Humphrey fourth and No. 0 Tyler French fifth.

On Apples Eve, polesitter No. 72 Doug Anderson and No. 1 Brock Gregory led the field of thunderstocks to green in the 20-lap feature. It was a tight battle for the lead but Anderson rode like the wind and looked like he was well on his way to scoring the checkered flag. Ramsay waited for the opportunity to strike and with one lap to go snapped up the lead leaving Anderson to settle for second. No. 0 Tyler French was third, No. 79 Chris Hale fourth and No. 92 Adam Turner fifth.

Picard Picks Up First Win at Brighton

The first time is the charm for No. 25 Pierre Picard as his premier race at Brighton Speedway proved to be a winning one. Picard started 12th in the Mini Stock/ Comp 4 20-lap main and the Cornwall driver drove hard as he snapped up the lead from No. 43 Devon Kippen. Picard, Kippen and No. 42jr Aiden Fletcher treated fans to a tight battle for first place. Picard drove hard on the high side to victory lane with Kippen in runner-up. No. 23 Brandon McMillian was third, Fletcher fourth and No. 44 Tommy Bailey charged from 22nd to place fifth.

Mini Stock champ No. 18 Carter Rhodes was victorious the night before on Apples Eve. Rhodes snagged the lead on lap two in the Insta Panels Duel in the Dirt Mini Stock 20-lap main. He rode to victory lane with No.11w Mike White in second, No. 12 Caleb Severn third, No. 13 Vince Pognotta fourth and No. 4 Chris Tufford was fifth.

Gregory and Hale Take Vintage Victory

The Eastern Ontario Vintage Stock Car Club was on hand for a 20-lap feature event on Friday night. Former DIRTcar 358 Modified and Sportsman driver, Jason Riddell led early and looked to be the dominant car, as Brandon Gregory, Steve Billings, Gavin Riddell and Ian Gordon giving chase. Jason Riddell was lapping cars quickly, but the great night ended as he broke while leading. This handed the lead to local favorite Brandon Gregory, who held off repeated challenges from Steve Billings to collect the win. Greg Hale continued his late fall season dominance with another victory in the 50/60 Vintage division.

RESULTS:

• DIRTcar Sportsman (35 laps) Friday night
• BOBBY HERRINGTON, Brad Rouse, William Racine, Gabriel Cyr, Dylan Kirkland,
• Jordan Cosco, Trevor Wright, Brennan Moore, Dan Ferguson, Rob Knapp, Terry
• Smith, Cole Perry, Mitch Dumont, Curtis Friesen, Domonick Merkley, Xavier
• Perrin, Michael Dillon, Kraig Handley, Justin Desrosiers, Noah Mamo, Holly
• Denard, Chris Ferguson, Jamie Young, Trent Wallace, Justin Cyr, Shane Stearns, Greg Brinklow, Andrew Young, Justin Saunders, Chris Hawkins, Geneva Sheffield, Ryan Ferri
• Heat Winners: Terry Smith, Dan Ferguson and William Racine
• Fast Time: Terry Smith 14.611
• DIRTCar 358 Modified Dash for Cash- Gary Lindberg
• Vintage 70/80 & 50/60 (20 laps)
• BRANDON GREGORY, Steve Billings, Chad Lackie, Paul Billings, Gavin Riddell, Greg Hale, Ian Gordon, Wayne Riddell, Pete Stapper, Jeff Laramett, Chris Wilson, Pat Charland, Joey Hilts, Mason Barkley, Bill Montreuil, Dexter Billings, Tim Charland, Darrell Wilson, Randy Simkins, Jeff Cledgett, Ryan Hegarty, Jason Riddell
• Heat Winners- Jason Riddell, Greg Hale and Chris Wilson
• 50/60 Winner- Greg Hale
• DIRTcar 358 Modified (75 laps) – Saturday
• CHRIS RAABE, Erick Rudolph, David Hebert, Gary Lindberg, Tristan Draper, Corey Wheeler, Ryan Arbuthnot, Mike Bowman, Chad Chevalier, Kyle Dingwall, Danny O’Brien, Brian McDonald, Madison Mulder, Johnathon Ferguson, Brad Rouse, Jessica Power, Jarrett Herbison, Kalen Draper, Ryan Stabler, Chris Herbison, Dalton Slack, Gage Morin, Tyler Willard, Luke Carleton, Derek Vanmill, Todd Gordon
• Fast Time: Erick Rudolph- 14.834
• Heat Winners- Erick Rudolph Kyle Dingwall and Corey Wheeler
• DIRTcar Sportsman (35 laps)
• BOBBY HERRINGTON, Gabriel Cyr, Brad Rouse, Ryan Ferri, Jordan Cosco, James Friesen, Dan Ferguson, Dylan Kirkland, Mitch Dumont, Noah Mamo, Trevor Wright, Michael Dillon, Xavier Perrin, Kraig Handley, Domonick Merkley, Terry Smith, Curtis Friesen, Andrew Young, Trent Wallace, Shane Stearns, Chris Ferguson, Justin Cyr, Holly Denard, Jamie Young, Cole Perry, Chris Hawkins, Justin Saunders, Brennan Moore, Justin Desrosiers, Greg Brinklow, Geneva Sheffield, Rob Knapp