PETERBOROUGH< ON (August 13, 2017)- Canada’s Toughest 1/3-Mile Paved rolled the second event of the 2017 Hot August Night Series to the line, as the Lucas Oil Sportsman Cup and Ontario Pro Challenge Series joined the home track Battlefield Equipment Rental 4Fun, Jiffy Lube Mini Stock and Organics & Glass Late Model divisions on Saturday, August 12 at Peterborough Speedway.
Feature race action kicked-off with 20 laps for the Battlefield Equipment Rental 4Fun teams, as Chris Tubman and Keith Parkes brought the field of 21 starters to the line. Tubman and former track champion Ryan Oosterholt battled side-by-side for the lead for a number of laps, before the pace was slowed for an incident in the fourth turn with four laps showing on the scoreboard. Oosterholt took control of the field in the restart and began working his way around some slower traffic near the halfway point. With some excellent battles throughout the field, Oosterholt took the checkered flag over Griffin Powell, Jeremy Kelly, Tubman and Jake Kelly.
With Tim Shanahan and Mike Johnson on the front row, the Ontario Pro Challenge Series hit the track for 30 laps of ‘A’ main excitement. Johnson grabbed the top spot on the break, with Bryan Stevanus moving into second. There was a four-car battle for the lead, before Stevanus took the spot on lap seven, but surrendered the position to Kyle Batty a couple of circuits later. An incident in the second turn with 10 laps complete slowed the pace, but with the field back under green, Tim Norris was a man with a mission. After restarting at the back of the pack, he took the runner-up spot on lap 16 and took a lead he’d never surrender on lap 25. Kyle Batty, Peter Hattin, Tim Batty and Stevanus rounded-out the top five. More information can be found at www.prochallengeracing.com.
Tyler Betts and Bryan Mercer paced the Organics & Glass Late Models around Canada’s Toughest 1/3-Paved Oval for a 20-lap feature. Dan McHattie would move into the top spot with five laps complete, with Mercer grabbing the runner-up spot as the lap counter marked 15 down. The lead duo began working through the backmarkers a lap later, as McHattie showed his strength with another main event win. Betts, James Horner and Steve Powell chased the leaders across the line in the caution-free feature.
With 20 laps of action on the table, Andy McCann and Brad Lavalle occupied the front row for the Jiffy Lube Mini Stock main event. Almonte, Ontario’s Nolan Gould moved into the lead with a trio of laps on the board, before Kevin Strutt marched around the front-runners on the outside line to take the top spot three laps later. The leaders caught the tail-end of the field with 11 laps complete, before a caution flag slowed everyone’s charge just four laps later. Noel Snow took the lead on the restart and added another win to his resume. Neil Hannah, Gould, McCann and Lavalle completed the top five.
Brandt Graham and Kevin Gallant brought the Lucas Oil Sportsman Cup Series teams to the line for their 100-lap main event. Graham jumped-out to an early lead and had about an eight-car length advantage when the night’s first yellow flag waved with 16 laps complete. On the restart, the reigning series champion again took control, but young upstart Connor James was marching toward the front. He moved into third spot on the 26th lap and set-off in pursuit of Graham from second place three laps later. Graham was close to lapping third place running Chad McGlynn when another caution slowed the field. There was no denying Brandt Graham his second win of the year, as the youngster went wire-to-wire for the victory. Connor James had the leader in his sights at the checkered flag, with McGlynn, Alvin McNicol and Doug Cathcart finishing the fast five. Brent Wheller, Gallant, Bob Merrifield, Brandon Huras, Bob Schulteiss and Adam Martin completed the running order. Follow the series at www.lucasoilsportsmancup.com.
All main event finishes are unofficial, pending post-race technical inspection.
Earlier in the show, qualifiers went to Griffin Powell, Rob Crick and Jeremy Kelly with a pair in the Battlefield Equipment Rental 4Fun. Dan McHattie took both Organics & Glass Late Model heats, with Kyle Batty and Tim Norris splitting the Ontario Pro Challenge qualifying rounds. Jiffy Lube Mini Stock heat races went to Noel Snow, Erin Kearns and Kris Khan with a pair.
Bullring bullet points: Jason Whyte of Port Hope, Ontario took home the winner’s share of $445.50 in the 50/50 draw, in support of the Millbrook Legion…Reigning Lucas Oil Sportsman Cup Series champion Brandt Graham set a new track record in qualifying, with a lap of 14.50, eclipsing the mark of 14.60 set by Josh Wood in August of 2015…It was a rough night for Jack Horner. During pre-race practice, a car just in front of him had a coolant line come off and the #31 Late Model machine slipped in the fluid left behind and hit the first turn wall. He ran a pair of laps in the feature event, before retiring to the pits…Kenny Ohno was the winner in King of the Hill timed laps.
Up next on the 50th Anniversary Season schedule is the year’s final Toonie Spectator Grandstand Admission/Fan Appreciation Night – presented by Pepsi – Saturday, August 19th. Action will include the Jiffy Lube Mini Stock, Trent Lakes Complete Plumbing Renegade Truck, Thunder Car, Organics & Glass Late Model and Ontario Modifieds Racing Series divisions. Pit gates will open at 2:00, with general admission grandstands unlocked at 4:00 and the first green flag at 5:00.
Schedule information and the latest news can always be found by logging onto www.peterboroughspeedway.com, by liking the Peterborough Speedway Facebook page or following the track on Twitter. Fans can also download the free app on their Smartphone.
Prepared by: Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media
clarkemotorsports@hotmail.com, www.facebook.com/clarkemotorsports
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