MILLGROVE, ON (June 24, 2020) – The first 100 laps of the 2020 season are in the books at Flamboro Speedway, with D.J. Kennington and T.J. Marshall each taking a turn gracing victory lane.
GALLERY: COURTESY OF DEREK SMITH (WWW.RACEPULSE.COM) AND PETER ANDERSON
Grisdale Pro Late Models
2019 Grisdale Triple Crown Champion Shae Gemmell was the quickest in time trials with a time of 15.054 seconds ahead of J.R. Fitzpatrick (15.086), Brandon Watson (15.141), Jake Sheridan (15.151), and D.J. Kennington (15.248). Treyten Lapcevich qualified sixth, followed by Shawn Chenoweth, Josh Stade, Jade Franklin, and Chad Corcoran.
Jake Gilbert qualified 11th, followed by Mat Box, Jaden Chapman, Rob Di Venanzo, Mike Westwood, Ryan Fraser, Shawn McGlynn, Kevin Albers, Wally Wilson, Blair Wickett, and Brett Rodwell.
There’d be a six-car invert, handing 2019 Frostoberest Super Stock Champion Treyten Lapcevich the pole, with Kennington to his outside. The NASCAR Pinty’s Series Champion was kick off the green, taking the lead ahead of Lapcevich with Sheridan slotting into third ahead of Fitzpatrick, as Watson and Gemmell battled for fifth.
Gemmell got the spot on Lap 5 ahead of Watson, with Stade, Chenoweth, Franklin, Corcoran, Box, Gilbert, and Westwood following suit. Meanwhile, Rodwell pulled into the infield a Lap 7, bringing out the caution a lap later due to be considered too close to the racing surface.
The restart brought close racing within the top-five, which ultimately caused trouble heading into turn three. Contact between Gemmell and Fitzpatrick resulted in Fitzpatrick sliding into the infield grass, while Gemmell went up the track, putting Watson into the outside wall. Both Gemmell and Watson were done for the day due to the damage.
The restart saw Kennington and Lapcevich battle for the lead ahead of Sheridan and Stade, as Franklin and Chenoweth raced for fifth. Lacevich was able to get the upperhand, getting the top spot on Lap 13 ahead of Kennington, Sheridan, Stade, and Chenoweth. Box had made his way up to sixth ahead of Franklin, Corcoran, Albers, Gilbert, Westwood, Chapman, Fitzpatrick, Di Venanzo, and McGlynn.
The shuffling continued, with both Corcoran and Box getting by Franklin over the course of the next two laps, with Gilbert and Fitzpatrick following suit on Lap 24. Fitzpatrick then got by Gilbert ninth a lap later, allowing Franklin to get back alongside Gilbert. Gilbert held off the challenge, though as Franklin fell back in line in 10th.
As the laps counted down, Kennington would get alongside Lapcevich for the lead with four laps to go in the first segment, taking the top spot a lap later following contact off of turn two that got the No. 32 into the outside wall. Sheridan challenge for second, but was unable to get by before the checkered-caution was displayed.
As of the halfway break at Lap 30, Kennington was scored the leader ahead of Lapcevich, Sheridan, Stade, Chenoweth, Box, Corcoran, Fitzpatrick, Albers, Gilbert, Franklin, Di Venanzo, Chapman, Westwood, McGlynn, Fraser, and Wilson.
Following the break, the battle for the lead resumed between Kennington and Lapcevich, once again with contact taking place along the way. Kennington would grab the lead through the process, with Stade up into third ahead of Box, Chenoweth, Albers, Sheridan, Gilbert, Fitzpatrick, Di Venanzo, and Franklin.
Stade would look to continue moving forward, getting alongside Lapcevich down the backstretch for second. As the pair raced closely together, the No. 17 would go sideways, sliding through the grass before coming to a stop heading into turn three. Due to being deemed off of the racing surface, there’d be no caution put out by officials.
Kennington would hold serve for the time being, with Lapcevich still in second ahead of Box, Chenoweth, Albers, Sheridan, Fitzpatrick, Gilbert, Di Venanzo, and Franklin. Sheridan then got into Albers, with Fitzpatrick getting into Sheridan thereafter on Lap 13. Everybody held it straight, but it’d allow Albers to take over sixth ahead of Fitzpatrick and Sheridan.
Closer to the front, Box was able to get alongside Lapcevich for second, taking the top spot on Lap 16, bringing Chenoweth through with him a lap later to bump Lapcevich back for fourth. The backwards slide continued for the No. 32, with Fitzpatrick, Albers, and Sheridan all finding their way by over the next two laps. Gilbert then passed Lapcevich for seventh on Lap 22, bringing Franklin, Di Venanzo and McGlynn through with him.
Fitzpatrick would then get alongside Chenoweth for third a couple laps later, but the caution came out on Lap 24 for Sheridan slowing with a problem. With six laps to go, Kennington led Box, Chenoweth, Fitzpatrick, Albers, Gilbert, Franklin, Di Venanzo, McGlynn, Lapcevich, Corcoran, and Westwood.
The first attempt at a restart would see the end of Ryan Fraser’s Pro Late Model debut as he’d go around in turn one, getting into the outside wall.
Kennington got away on the second attempt, leaving Chenoweth and Box to battle side-by-side for second. Box would get the spot coming to the white flag, giving Fitzpatrick the opportunity to challenge for third.
D.J. Kennington scored the victory ahead of Matt Box, Shawn Chenoweth, J.R. Fitzpatrick, and Kevin Albers. Jade Franklin finished sixth, followed by Chad Corcoran, Shawn McGlynn, Jake Gilbert, and Jake Sheridan. Treyten Lapcevich placed 11th, followed by Mike Westwood, Josh Stade, Wally Wilson, Ryan Fraser, Tyler Di Venanzo, Jaden Chapman, Shae Gemmell, Brandon Watson, Blair Wickett, and Brett Rodwell.
Canadian Vintage Modifieds
In time trials, it’d be Mike Podd posting the quickest time with a lap of 16.564 seconds, ahead of T.J. Marshall (16.689), Jeremy Barton (16.753), Daryl Henwood (16.758), and Ron Easton (16.761). Max Wright qualified sixth, followed by Jerrid Morphy, Steve Murdoch, John Karley, Jason Bowden, Dale Lucas, Mike Klotz, Rodney Rutherford, Bill Pearsall, Jeff Kells, Joe Arsenault, Rick Willgar, Chance Isherwood, Amanda Stoner, Michael Kenny, and Wayde Thorne. Notably, Marshall would lose his starting position as the team addressed engine issues following time trials after the cars were impounded.
There’d be a six-car invert, putting Max Wright on the pole, to which he took advantage leading early ahead of Daryl Henwood. Jerrid Morphy would challenge Henwood for second on Lap 2, taking the spot a lap later, with Ron Easton and John Karley following suit to bump Henwood back to fifth ahead of Podd.
Morphy would track down Wright for the lead, and looked to make his move, though made contact with the left rear of the No. 25 an sent him around for a spin for the yellow flag at Lap 6. With 24 laps left until the break, Morphy led Podd, Karley, Easton, Jeremy Barton, T.J. Marshall, Rodney Rutherford, Mike Klotz, Steve Murdoch, Jason Bowden, Bill Pearsall, and Jeff Kells.
Morphy got a good restart to keep the top spot ahead of Podd and Karley, with Marshall moving into fourth ahead of Barton, Klotz, Rutherford, Dale Lucas, and Murdoch. However, the race’s second caution would come out on Lap 10 after Karley rode the turn one and two wall.
Podd was the man this time around, taking the top spot on the restart ahead of Morphy with Marshall up to third. The action got slowed again, though, with the third caution at Lap 12 after Isherwood spun Pearsall, with Kells and Rutherford getting tangled up together afterwards.
The restart saw a battle for the lead between Podd and Marshall, which once again did not go according to plan. Contact at Lap 15 would see Podd go around for the spin, and the fourth caution of the event.
Marshall got a good restart, leading the rest of the way en route to the halfway break ahead of Morphy, Klotz, Barton, Wright, Podd, Bowden, Pearsall, Murdoch, Rutherford, Rick Willigar, Lucas, and Henwood.
Following the break, things got back underway with Michael Kenny heading to the pits shortly after the green flag. At the front, Marshall continued to hold serve ahead of Morphy, Klotz, Barton, Wright, and Bowden. Wright continued his climb back forward, passing Barton for fourth on Lap 24.
Behind them, Podd ran seventh until he ran into overheating issues, sending him pit side. The caution then flew a lap later at Lap 27 for Bowden going around. With 13 laps to go, Marshall led Morphy, Klotz, Wright, Barton, Rutherford, Easton, Pearsall, and Lucas.
It’d be clean and green at the front, but the action did not last long as the sixth caution came out due to Easton spinning. Klotz, meanwhile, ran into mechanical issues at the same time.
The second attempt to restart the event went smoother, with Marshall holding serve ahead of Morphy, Wright, Barton, Rutherford, Lucas, Pearsall, Bowden, Murdoch, Easton, Wiligar, Isherwood, and Henwood.
Following their earlier contact, Wright would issue a slight bump and run to Morphy as he got by him for second on Lap 33, which enabled Barton to move up into third before the seventh caution for Murdoch going around in turns three and four.
The final restart went cleanly, with T.J. Marshall picking up the checkered flag ahead of Max Wright, Jerrid Morphy, Jeremy Barton, and Rodney Rutherford. Bill Pearsall finished sixth, followed by Jason Bowden, Rick Willigar, Dale Lucas, and Daryl Henwood. Steve Murdoch placed 11th, followed by Mike Klotz, Chance Isherwood, Mike Podd, Ron Easton, Jeff Kells, John Karley, Joe Arsenault, Amanda Stoner, and Michael Kenny. Wayde Thorne finished 21st, while Patrick Ruelens and Bill Stoner Sr. failed to take the green flag.
For fans who missed the event, you can watch the entire broadcast replay on GForceTV’s YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZMWDW8GRns.
Flamboro Speedway has scheduled their second round of Operation Green Flag for July 4, featuring the Super Stocks 50-lapper, Mini Stock 40-lapper, and Pure Stock 40-lapper. Once again, spectators are not permitted under government guidelines, but fans will be able to watch the action live once again via http://www.GForceTV.net.
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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