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For the 3rd year running Flamboro Speedway held Kids Night, a night where the young fans of Flamboro could hop into a race car with one of there favourite drivers and go for a lap around the track. Drawing one of the biggest crowds in the last few years, over 6000 people, the stands were full for the great racing action.
In Late Model action rookie Rob Maas visited victory lane again in his #57, this time during qualifying. He was joined by #56 Jeff Stewart, #36 Jim MacDonald and #5 Rob Munday. Then, in the feature, 20 cars lined up to do battle behind Ryan Warris’ #20. Warris had a hard time holding on to the lead as Steve Blight brought the #84 inside and by the yellow and green #20. Sam Hazelwood followed the inside line as well, bringing the #45 to second, and with him the #70 of Rob Howard. A problem in corner two, caused by a spun Rob Maas, collected #92 Steve Thompson and #46 Brandon Mowat, and Jeff Stewart was in the wall down in corner three. After the caution Steve Blight pulled away from the field, Hazelwood moved into second, Howard to third, and in fourth was the hard charging #7 of Petey Shepherd. Shepherd was concentrating on finding a lane to drive around Howard, but was disrupted by the intense pressure put on him by Rob Munday who was all over the back of the #7. With 5 laps remaining Shepherd was busy defending his spot against Munday, allowing Rob Howard to pull away in third. On the final lap Sam Hazelwood, sitting in second, tried his hardest to mount a challenge on Steve Blight, re-painting the bumper of the #84 from red to black, but was unable to work his way by. After two wrecks in two nights out to Flamboro, Steve Blight finally turned his luck around and finished his night with the #84 in one piece, and in victory lane. Sam Hazelwood brought his #45 home in second, followed by #70 Rob Howard in third, #7 Petey Shepherd in fourth, and #5 Rob Munday in third. The Late Models are off until Saturday August 11th, when they will return for the Ontario Late Model Triple 25’s Challenge. Three 25 Lap Features for the drivers of the Alliance. A quick note to those Late Model drivers, remember, August 11th is the 100 Bonus Point Night at Flamboro.
The “Go Four” Mini Stocks had a smaller field then usual, but they still managed to make the racing exciting. In their heat race the battle for the win was intense, when #73 Ron Larkin Jr. met with #22 Ken Turner, racing side by side all the way around the speedway. Turner made contact with the wall coming out of corner two, when he and Larkin were forced high around the slower #93 of Dave Larkin. #73 Ron Larkin Jr. got out in front and won the race, while Turner finished a close second. The excitement continued in the feature, opening with three wide racing led by #2 John “Crash” Myers. Myers led the way, while #17 Jim Hill and #85 Robert Allerellie tried to run him down. And run him down they did. Both Hill and Allerellie got by Myers, proceeding to separate themselves from the field and duel for the lead. Allerellie got by at halfway, taking the lead from Hill, but had a mirror full of the hard charging Ron Larkin Jr. The #73 worked up to second, trying to chase down the #85 as laps ticked by, but he would be too late. Rob Allerellie won another “Go Four” feature, beating Larkin Jr. across the line. Jim Hill finished up third, followed by #22 Ken Turner, and #26 Bryan Sweers.
In F4 action there has been one driver who has absolutely dominated so far this 2001 season. Doug Pokupec seems to be able to win from anywhere in the field, starting up front just makes it that much easier. Pokupec had the lead by half in the heat, and the win was no problem from there. Then in the feature, after #77 Paul Krezmien got into the back of John Verney’s #43 sending Verney to the infield, the action was over when Pokupec got the lead. The #27 was gone, leaving a full straight between him and second place #21 Kevin Job. We’re now halfway through the season, and with dominance like this it makes a fan wonder if there’s any one out there who can beat the #27. Is a bounty on the head of Pokupec needed to stimulate the competition? Or is it time to suggest Pokupec start racing with the Late Models.
Kevin Gallant and Steve Book split heat wins in the Thunder Car division, preparing fans for a feature shoot out between the #31 and #64. But first #7 Robert Disher, in his newly paint and painted car, led the field around the oval. He was soon caught by Mike Post in the #12 and removed of his leading duties. Back in the field #43 Art Nicholas was pushing his way to the front, moving cars out of the way. One of those cars was the #91 Randy Richard, who was pushed hard into the wall out of corner two. After the caution #64 Steve Book made his way up to second, and then to first getting quickly by Mike Post. As Book got comfortable up front, Kevin Gallant struggled to get to the front, but was held up by a tough blocking #38 Randy Rutherford. With two laps to go Book was still leading, Post was still chasing, and Gallant was still stuck in fourth. That’s the way they would finish too, with Steve Book winning the feature, followed by #12 Mike Post. #38 Randy Rutherford finished up third, then Kevin Gallant finished in fourth, and the top five was rounded out by #6 Jim Ball.
#4 Bill Barfoot and #41 Dave Miskolczi both won heat races. In the feature, the man on the move was Terry King, who was substituting in Randy Rusnell’s “Rocket.” King added royalty to the fast reputation held by the #72, as he worked from the back to the front to get the lead. The driver of Late Model #4, Terry King made it look easy to stay out of trouble while going three wide, or weaving between cars on his way to the front. With 5 laps to go Terry King was in second and looking at the bumper of Sean Leslie’s #67 that was running first. Leslie choked under the pressure, babbling the car coming out of corner four. Terry King grabbed the opportunity to steal the lead, but was challenged by #8 Richard Dyson as he went for it. The caution was already out for Sean Leslie, whose #67 lay dormant in corner four. With two laps to go after the restart, #11 Manfred Henkel stole second from Richard Dyson, bringing with him #41 Dave Miskolczi. Henkel tried to make a run for the lead but King was just too fast. Terry King won the feature in the #72, leaving #11 Manfred Henkel to finish second. Dave Miskolczi finished third in the #41, #8 Richard Dyson finished fourth, and then #20 Sean Warren rounded out the top five.
A special thanks goes out to all those drivers who participated in the Kids Rides event last Saturday. Your efforts were greatly appreciated. And also, big thanks to Kevin Gallant and the sponsors of the #31 Thunder Car, JP Farms and Mike Laurenssen, who were kind enough to donate a brand new bicycle for us to give away on kids night. You made one youngsters trip to the track that much more special. If anyone else is interested in donating program or give away prizes, or doing any other promotional work with the speedway please contact Joshua or Gerry Paxton at the track, or email JP_Paxton@hotmail.com
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