Late season kart racing action was back at full speed on the little oval this past Thursday night. 42 kart teams packed the infield pit area as the track team finished prep, hot laps and heat races ran off in good time and lineups were set for feature racing action.
Box Stock 1 first up on the grid with Cobourg’s Bauer Cochrane and Carrying Place native Hudson VanDyk on the front row for the holeshot start out of corner 4. VanDyk dropping the hammer first on the high line, put the #41 up front as the pack of 7 rookie contenders chased after with green flags waving. VanDyk calm and cool as multiple cautions slowed the racing action – the Simply Eclectic sponsored .#41 held the top spot on every challenge and ended up with a big win, #100 Cochrane cruised to a 2nd place on the night, last week’s winner Reese Kerr drove her #7 from 5th to 3rd, #22 Jackson Gregory 4th, #44 Nora Grant, #10 Abel Kiltz and #17 Keaton Chatten finishing the running order.
Rookie 1 division up next – #37 Ella Wannamaker and #11 Bentley Fulton leading the 5 star show, ready for 10 laps of action. Wannamaker hard off the inside made it stick as they rolled down the backstretch with a hard charging #07 Conner Vancott edging closer from his 3rd place starting spot and then throwing a Hail Mary on the outside line – moving to the top spot. A smooth race for the 5 karts finished up with Conner Vancott, Bentley Fulton and #88 Jase Fargey on the podium, Ella Wannamaker and #13 Vayda Dayton kept within striking distance in 4th and 5th.
Junior Sportsman 1 rolled out and squared up with Crete Works #15 Charlotte DeWal and Country Butcher Shop #2 Liam McPeak charging down the front stretch – drag race to corner 1, DeWal with the drive off the preferred inside line got there first as she put the #15 solidily atop the tower. Smooth and steady with a few restarts thrown in the DeWal #15 put on a clinic of how to hold a line – 10 laps, 40 corners – Charlotte Dewal with her first win, with a freight train of karts crossing the line – Liam McPeak, #29 Lily Walters, #77 Max VanDyk, and #18 Sterling Bent in the top 5.
8 karts lined up for the Box Stock 2 feature event – pit side neighbors #68 Gunner Ellis and #39 Lucas Wannamaker kept it tight till corner 4 green flags in the air. Ellis using the cushion, ran down the front and to the 1 spot with Wannamaker on the bumper as they put a little space on the group. Laps clicked off as a hard charging #92 Race Turner moved forward from his 6th place starting spot – up to 3rd with a handful of laps to go. High, wide and handsome around the Wannamaker ride and then down to the catfish lane to steal the top spot from the Ellis Racing machine – #92 Race Turner to the lead – 3 laps left and then drove it to victory lane. Ellis settled for a strong 2nd, 3rd to #05 Liam Baldwin, #39 Wannamaker, #797 Luke Cuthbertson in the top 5. #01 Keely Patterson, #29 Deegan Sudsbury and #41 Peyton Lambert finished the running order.
#10 Hanna Merry and #11 Teegan Grosse leading the 5 kart pack on the loud pedal out of corner 4 for 10 laps of Rookie 2 racing action. The Seamless Exteriors ride of Hanna Merry had it hooked as the track lights lit up the show – a good fast race with only 1 caution to slow the pace had the #10 up front from the green – 2 sticks in the air – 2 to go. #11 Teegan Grosse making gains in the late laps on the bumper of the Merry #10 found some bite waaaay down low as they drag raced down the back stretch, a little paint trading and coming to the checkers #11 crossed first – Teegan with the W, Merry 2nd, #08 Lilly Ray, #48 Knoxin Wells and #87 Weston Mitts in 5th
Junior Sportsman 2 had 5 to start with #19 Bentley Davidson and #99 Bryce Massey rolling off first – Davidson with the run on the bottom charged to the lead with Massey shuffling in line. A very fast race and Davidson was on a rail with 5 karts trying to keep the draft, Massey had a couple looks to the inside but couldn’t quite get the forward bite to make a move. Davidson green to checkers for the win, Bryce Massey 2nd, #01 Blake Gregory 3rd, #9 Rhys Massey 4th and #31 Brody Davidson in 5th.
Sundown and lights on ready for 15 laps of Junior Restricted racing – #20 AJ Peeters and #18 Elliot Stacey winding them up. Peeters got the jump as Stacey drove it to the inside and hooked the back bumper of the #20 – Stacey gave the #20 just over a lap before finding light on the inside coming out of 2. Peeters, odd man out as a VIA train of methanol eating karts rolled by on the inside – Stacey to the lead, #89 Kolby Ellis followed through to 2nd. Track gaining bite as the air cooled slightly, Elliot Stacey held on for 15 and crossed first with checkers in the air – throw a blanket over the rest – Ellis 2nd, #629 Thomas McGale 3rd, #91 Jack Veenstra, 4th, #70 Finley Mahoney, #20 AJ Peeters and #01 Reagan Grimmon.
One week left to come out and see the stars of tomorrow on the little track – Thursday Night Thunder is back to back – August 29th will be the final night. Check www.brightonspeedway.com for news and points.
StoryTime by Zeke McKeown
