Dingwall and Herrington return to Brockville winner’s circle, Ladouceur scores again with Action Sprint Tour East Series on Saturday at the BOS

By: Tim Baltz

Forthton – This season Mother Nature has been a threat and this was no different as several light rain showers touched down at the Brockville Ontario Speedway on Draper Doors night. Track crews and officials remained committed to the fans and beat the weather once again.

First up was the third race of the season for the Action Sprint Tour East Series presented by Surprenant Truck Shop and Lee Ladouceur was the dominant force once again in the 20-lap contest. Ladouceur led early over Andrew Hennessy, Adam Turner, Mathieu Bardier and Brian Nanticoke. Not only was this an important race in the series, but track points in the chase for the Trailer Pro Canada Crate Sprint Car track title were up for grabs. Ladouceur was dominant in the early laps while two drivers who know each other well from their Street Stock battles were going at it for the runner-up spot. Adam Turner and Andrew Hennessy had a great battle for position with Hennessy in control and Mathieu Bardier closing from 4th. On lap 12 April Wilson lost the handle and spun off the top of turn 4 and the caution flew. When racing resumed Ladouceur again jumped into the lead and started to run away over the final laps. In the meantime, Turner made his way to second and tried his best to run down the leader. On this night, Lee Ladouceur was clearly dominant as he claimed his second straight series win and became the first driver to win three straight features in the short history of the Crate Sprint Car class at Brockville. Turner claimed another runner-up finish, over Andrew Hennessy, Mathieu Bardier and defending track champion Ryan Poole.

The DIRTCar 358 Modifieds went topless for the only time in 2023 and it was Kalen Draper showing the way early, looking for his first win since August of last season. Draper led the 30-lap feature, over Lee Ladouceur, Jarrett Herbison, Kyle Dingwall and Johnathon Ferguson. Draper had a great car on this night but the driver o the move was Kyle Dingwall. The 2012 track champion, moved to the runner-up spot, passing Ladouceur and quickly ran down Draper using the top side of the speedway. On lap 17 three-time winner this year Ryan Arbuthnot lost the handle on his car and spun off turn 3 and 4. On the restart, Draper once again remained in front but Kyle Dingwall was about to show how good of a car he had. On lap 20 Dingwall got by Draper off turn 4 and started to open up nearly a straight away on the field. Dingwall appeared to be running to his first win of the season, but the caution flew with 3 laps to go, setting up one more chance for the others to grab the lead. On the final restart, Kyle Dingwall timed it perfectly and drove away from Kalen Draper and the rest of the field to score his first win of the year and 19th in the DIRTcar 358 Modified division at “The BOS”. Johnathon Ferguson was able to get by Kalen Draper for the runner-up spot at the finish, Jarrett Herbison was 4th and Ryan Arbuthnot rebounded from his spin to finish 5th.

The 25-lap DIRTCar Sportsman feature was next up and they also took the roofs off the cars. Michael Dillon led early, over Jessica Power and Jonah Lewis. Dillon, was in search of his first career DIRTCar Sportsman win but Power was putting on pressure as the race went on. On lap 8 Power made the move to take the top spot away but behind her Bobby Herrington was on the move to the front. The two-time and defending track champion made his way to 2nd around Dillon and closed in on the leader. Power was using the outside lane and keeping Herrington at bay, but on lap 15 that all changed. Herrington used the inside lane to grab the top spot and began to pull away, while Power, Dillon, Dylan Kirkland and Greg Brinklow all battled in the top 5. On lap 20 the yellow flew as Kraig Handley and Tristan Ladouceur tangled on the backstretch. Under the same caution, Michael Dillon slowed off turn two while running third and would retire to the pits. On the final restart, Herrington was able to drive away and march to his 2nd win of the season and 22nd of his Brockville DIRTCar Sportsman career. Power claimed 2nd while William Racine, who was invading on this night, moved from the back of the pack to finish 3rd. Dylan Kirkland and Brennan Moore completed the top 5.

The Street Stock division was making their second appearance of the season and Maxime Prevost, who was looking for his first-ever win, led the way at the start of the 15-lap event, over Christian Beauchemin. Dakota Sharp was on the move early but on lap 3, would suffer a flat tire after contact with another driver in turn 1, bringing out the yellow. On the restart, Prevost led the way but veteran Stephane Phillippe was on the move. The long-time campaigner grabbed the lead on lap 7 and showed his muscle as he drove away from the rest of the field. Behind the leader, Sam Reckzin charged to the runner-up spot but was getting some pressure from the opening-day winner and defending track champion Brett Horner. In the end, nobody was catching Stephane Phillippe, as he scored his first-ever Brockville win after many years of trying. Reckzin scored a career-best 2nd over Brett Horner, Maxime Prevost and Francis Gauthier.

Madie Wallace led 11 and a half laps last week but mechanical problems saw her first win slip away. This week in the 12-lap event, she led the way over Dylan Moore and Melcolm Banks. Wallace had a great car and was looking to drive away but the yellow flew on lap 3 for a three-car tangle in turn 4 involving, Matt Pruner, Skylar Ladouceur and Melcolm Banks. All three continued on. On the restart, Wallace remained up front but Dylan Moore was closing quickly. On lap 7 off of turn 2, Moore dipped low and clipped an infield tire, ending his shot at victory with a broken front end. On the restart, Walace continued her great run with Nicolas Mainville completing the top 3. After heartbreak one week ago, Madie Wallace would drive on to her first career Novice Sportsman win. Donnelly crossed in 2nd ahead of Nicolas Mainville, Nathan Lambert and Cory Lambert.

Next week will be the return of the Empire Super Sprints as they make their return to The BOS for the first time since the Fall Nationals of 2019 when Steve Poirier went to victory lane. The DIRTCar 358 Modified and DIRTcar Sportsman will be on hand, along with the Novice Sportsman and Mini Stocks. Racing action begins at 7 pm. Tickets are going fast and are available online.

To keep up with what is happening at the Speedway and to get your Empire Super Sprint tickets, check out our website at brockvillespeedway.com. For instant updates throughout the season, stay tuned to all of our social media platforms and give us a follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

DIRTCAR 358 MODIFIEDS

A Feature 1 (30 Laps): 1. 66-Kyle Dingwall[6]; 2. 44-Johnathon Ferguson[8]; 3. 18-Kalen Draper[1]; 4. R70-Ryan Arbuthnot[9]; 5. 38J-Jarrett Herbison[4]; 6. 17D-Danny O’Brien[14]; 7. 88-Lee Ladouceur[3]; 8. 17-Tristan Draper[7]; 9. 75J-Joe Banks[5]; 10. 64-Terry McClelland[11]; 11. SS3-Sandy MacFarlane[12]; 12. 17M-Gavin MacFarlane[13]; 13. 08-Chris Ferguson[2]; 14. 23-Joey Ladouceur[10]

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 18-Kalen Draper[2]; 2. 44-Johnathon Ferguson[6]; 3. 38J-Jarrett Herbison[4]; 4. R70-Ryan Arbuthnot[7]; 5. 66-Kyle Dingwall[5]; 6. 64-Terry McClelland[3]; 7. 17M-Gavin MacFarlane[1]

Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 17-Tristan Draper[5]; 2. 75J-Joe Banks[4]; 3. 88-Lee Ladouceur[3]; 4. 23-Joey Ladouceur[7]; 5. 08-Chris Ferguson[2]; 6. SS3-Sandy MacFarlane[1]; 7. 17D-Danny O’Brien[6]

19 entries

DIRTCAR SPORTSMANS

A Feature 1 (25 Laps): 1. 88Z-Bobby Herrington[8]; 2. 52-Jessica Power[4]; 3. 35R-William Racine[10]; 4. 88K-Dylan Kirkland[6]; 5. 35B-Brennan Moore[5]; 6. 22S-Shane Stearns[7]; 7. 707-Greg Brinklow[3]; 8. 88S-Fire Swamp[13]; 9. 73J-Jonah Lewis[1]; 10. 11-Dan Ferguson[9]; 11. 32-Tyler Stewart[16]; 12. 29D-Justin Desrosiers[12]; 13. 11J-Justin Saunders[15]; 14. 18J-Jordan Wood[19]; 15. 23-Michael Dillon[2]; 16. 92T-Tristan Ladouceur[11]; 17. 27D-Mario Dupuis[18]; 18. 91-Kraig Handley[14]; 19. 98-Domonick Merkley[17]

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 35R-William Racine[6]; 2. 35B-Brennan Moore[3]; 3. 11-Dan Ferguson[5]; 4. 23-Michael Dillon[2]; 5. 18J-Jordan Wood[7]; 6. 91-Kraig Handley[4]; 7. 11J-Justin Saunders[1]

Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 88K-Dylan Kirkland[3]; 2. 88Z-Bobby Herrington[4]; 3. 707-Greg Brinklow[2]; 4. 29D-Justin Desrosiers[5]; 5. 88S-Fire Swamp[6]; 6. (DQ) 32-Tyler Stewart[1]

Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 22S-Shane Stearns[3]; 2. 92T-Tristan Ladouceur[5]; 3. 52-Jessica Power[2]; 4. 73J-Jonah Lewis[4]; 5. 27D-Mario Dupuis[6]; 6. (DQ) 98-Domonick Merkley[1]

10 entries

WINGED CRATE SPRINTS

A Feature 1 (25 Laps): 1. 51L-Lee Ladouceur[1]; 2. 9-Adam Turner[3]; 3. 87-Andrew Hennessy[2]; 4. 19-Mathieu Bardier[4]; 5. 00-Ryan Poole[6]; 6. 9C-Brian Nanticoke[5]; 7. 13-Evan Reynolds[8]; 8. 85C-Cam MacKinnon[7]; 9. 15AW-April Wilson[10]; 10. 4K-Jamie Kay Roslin[9]

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 9-Adam Turner[1]; 2. 19-Mathieu Bardier[2]; 3. 9C-Brian Nanticoke[3]; 4. 85C-Cam MacKinnon[5]; 5. 4K-Jamie Kay Roslin[4]

Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 51L-Lee Ladouceur[2]; 2. 87-Andrew Hennessy[4]; 3. 00-Ryan Poole[3]; 4. 13-Evan Reynolds[1]; 5. (DNS) 15AW-April Wilson

13 entries

STREET STOCKS

A Feature 1 (15 Laps): 1. 125-Stephane Philippe[5]; 2. 27-Sam Reckzin[4]; 3. 52J-Brett Horner[8]; 4. 22-Maxime Prevost[1]; 5. 71-Francis Gauthier[11]; 6. 12S-Dakota Sharp[10]; 7. 04-Christian Beauchemin[2]; 8. 7-Matt Mcrury[13]; 9. 72-Kim Alex[6]; 10. 9-Sylvain Gauthier[7]; 11. 11-Steve Brady[3]; 12. (DNS) 59-Keith Riddell; 13. (DNS) 911-Nick Merkley

Heat 1 (6 Laps): 1. 22-Maxime Prevost[2]; 2. 11-Steve Brady[3]; 3. 125-Stephane Philippe[5]; 4. 9-Sylvain Gauthier[1]; 5. 7-Matt Mcrury[7]; 6. 12S-Dakota Sharp[6]; 7. (DNS) 911-Nick Merkley

Heat 2 (6 Laps): 1. 04-Christian Beauchemin[4]; 2. 27-Sam Reckzin[5]; 3. 72-Kim Alex[2]; 4. 52J-Brett Horner[1]; 5. 59-Keith Riddell[6]; 6. (DQ) 71-Francis Gauthier[3]

11 entries

NOVICE SPORTSMAN

A Feature 1 (15 Laps): 1. 17M-Madie Wallace[1]; 2. 98-Paul Donnelly[7]; 3. 82-Nicolas Mainville[6]; 4. 20-Nathan Lambert[10]; 5. 39-Cory Lambert[9]; 6. M75-Melcolm Banks[2]; 7. 21L-Skylar Ladouceur[5]; 8. 80D-Damien King[11]; 9. 16-Matt Prunner[4]; 10. 86-Richard Bartholomew[8]; 11. 35D-Dylan Moore[3]

Heat 1 (6 Laps): 1. 16-Matt Prunner[4]; 2. M75-Melcolm Banks[3]; 3. 82-Nicolas Mainville[5]; 4. 86-Richard Bartholomew[6]; 5. (DNS) 39-Cory Lambert; 6. (DQ) 20-Nathan Lambert[1]

Heat 2 (6 Laps): 1. 35D-Dylan Moore[3]; 2. 17M-Madie Wallace[1]; 3. 98-Paul Donnelly[5]; 4. 21L-Skylar Ladouceur[4]; 5. 80D-Damien King[2]