MILLGROVE, Ontario (June 11, 2021)— As the Canadian Vintage Modifieds prepare to kick off the 2021 season, they are hoping to do in a big way. Still a week and a half out from the event, and they have compiled a 21 name driver list ahead of their season opener on Saturday, June 19.
With John Karley as the president, the series has experienced growth, which is shown through on the entry docket with eight rookies listed.
Many Flamboro Speedway fans will recognize Jake Gilbert among those, following success in both Mini Stocks and Pro Late Models. The young standout has been able to score multiple trips to victory lane, and made a CVM start last season with a fifth-place finish.
You also cannot ignore long-time Pure Stock standouts Dale Lucas and Rodney Rutherford, either. Lucas knows what it takes to the get the job done, as evident by being a past track champion and running in the top-five in 30-car fields against the best across the province. Rutherford has also won some big pure stock events, while continuing to build his resume with equal success in the Pro 4 Modifieds. Both drivers participated in the shortened 2020 campaign, with Rutherford and Lucas placing fifth and ninth in the first event, respectively.
Ross is a name heard around the speedway for many years, with Adam Ross showcasing his talents as an announcer. However, before then, he was a racecar driver. His son Connor will now try to make a name for himself, following a pair of sixths in his debut features last year.
Just because there are some new faces in the field, you cannot count out the veterans that have been here for a long time. Each of the three drivers – TJ Marshall, Daryl Henwood, and Rick Willigar – that won events last season are planning to be in attendance for the event.
Marshall is also the series’ most recent champion, and had an average of 1.67 with a win and two top-five’s in 2020. Henwood and Willigar, meanwhile, did not put up numbers as equal to the No. 15, but managed to score a top-10 in each appearance last year.
If you want to look at someone who came close to victory lane in 2020 but didn’t, then Jerrid Morphy is the man on your radar. Despite no checkered flags in hand, he had an average finish of 3.33 with a pair of thirds and a fourth.
John Karley may be the president, but he’s someone to watch behind the wheel. While he added to the excitement last year with a ride on the wall, there was also a heat victory that you cannot forget. Now having put in time this winter with revamping his program, he could very well be the fastest man in town on Saturday, June 19.
As previously announced, they will be joined by the Pro Late Models for the first round of the Grisdale Triple Crown, as well as the Super Stocks, Mini Stocks, and Pure Stocks.
Track officials announced recently the event will be live streamed on GForceTV.net. The speedway previously partnered with the service last season to carry numerous events, and found success with fans tuning in from not only across the province, but across Canada and North America.
For more details about the event, including how to register if you are a competitor, you can read the full original news release at https://www.flamborospeedway.ca/post/flamboro-speedway-to-kick-off-2021-campaign-with-first-round-of-grisdale-triple-crown. The Flamboro Speedway website also has your pit notes, payouts, and the screening form that must be filled out prior to entry.
Be sure to keep up with the latest by checking out Flamboro Speedway’s website at http://www.flamborospeedway.ca. You can also keep up via your favorite social networking website by following the speedway on Twitter at https://twitter.com/FlamboroSpdwy and Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/flamborospeedway. Fans are encouraged to like the speedway’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Flamboro-Speedway-Authorized-Page-102328664646735/.
By: Ashley McCubbin
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