July 2 2015
A scary crash during heat race qualifying by Kathleen Hosang (#16) of London had race fans holding their collective breath on Friday evening at Delaware Speedway on Case N’ Drum Oil Night. The crash occurred on lap seven of the qualifying event when Hosang’s throttle became stuck wide open. After the car hit the wall the safety crew rushed to the scene helping Hosang out of the burning vehicle. The fire was quickly extinguised and Hosang would later be cleared by Sportsmed as okay.
Branden Verhoeven (#7) of Kerwood won the 35-lap Groundmasters Super Stock feature event with a picture perfect bump and run. Joe Windis (#65) of Cathcart won the Demar Aggregates Truck Series feature event, as well as both heat races, extending his dominant streak of wins to 12. Paul Fothergill (#33) of London returned to victory lane in the V8 Stock Muscle Cars.
==Groundmasters Super Stocks==
The feature event for the Super Stock Series was won by Branden Verhoeven, the defending champion’s first win of the season. Matt Robblee (#51) of Woodstock started the race from the pole position in a car that showed some damage to the right front after being collected in an incident during heat race competition. Robblee would lead the opening 13 laps before being passed by Gary Adriaensen (#55) of Belmont, who is still searching for his first career feature win in the division.
Adriaensen led until two laps to go when eventual winner Verhoeven made use of some strategic “bumper magic”, relegating Adriaensen to yet another second place finish.
“The car wasn’t the same as last year starting off this year. We did a few tweeks,” said Verhoeven in victory lane. “This week it obviously came around. I don’t usually like bumping people but [Adriaensen] was holding me up pretty good and blocking so I gave him the bump. I’m happy with the car and happy to be in victory lane.”
==Demar Aggregates Trucks==
The Demar Aggregates Truck Series was once again dominated by Joe Windis, driver of the #65, who extended his streak of consecutive victories to 12 after winning both heats and the feature race Friday. Second-place in the feature was taken by Rick Verberne (#88) of Otterville, who started from the first position and led the opening 6 laps, with defending series champion Tom Zagorodny (#77) of London finishing in the third position. During the last few laps of the feature event Windis was nearly caught by the second and third place finishers, who made up significant ground in just a handful of laps, however the drivers ran out of time to catch the dominant Windis.
Windis’s winning streak looked like it was going to end earlier in the evening during heat race competition but a late race caution set the stage for a near photo finish with race leader Tom Zagorodny, as Windis made an impressive high side pass coming off of turn 4 coming to the awaiting checkered flag to maintain the streak.
==V8 Stock Muscle Cars==
Paul Fothergill (#33) of London returned to victory lane in the V8 Stock 35-lap feature event after taking the lead on lap 13. Four different drivers led early in the event including: Mannie Demelo (#82) of London, Barry Watson (#45) of West Lorne, Paul Fothergill, and Steve Arrand (#37) of Ailsa Craig.
The race went caution free, which allowed allowed for great battles around the track without disruption. Through the middle part of the race it looked like Steve Arrand was going to be the car to beat, coming through the field quickly, but his charge was halted once he made it up to Paul Fothergill. The two battled for much of the event and even swapped the lead a few times but once tire temperatures began to rise and Fothergill became more comfortable with his car he stretched the lead en route to the win.
Gary Zwygers (#93) of Cambridge rebounded from his misfortune while leading a few weeks ago to take home a podium finish Friday. A great battle at the end of the race between Jaden Chapman (#01) of Sarnia and Jamie Klumper (#07) of Mitchell came down to the final straightaway to settle the 4th and 5th positions. Chapman was able to get the best of the battle and finish in the 4th spot.
==Up Next Week==
The next event at Delaware Speedway is next Friday night, July 10th when the OSCAAR Super Late Models and Open Wheel Modifieds invade, alongside the popular Bone Stock Enduro Series. Racing gets underway at 7:30pm for the highly anticipated return of the Super Late Models, including the Delaware homecoming of J.R. Fitzpatrick, former CASCAR champion and graduate from the track’s Krown Rust Control Junior Racing League.
===RACE RESULTS===
Groundmaster Super Stock Feature (35-Laps)
1. 7 Branden Verhoeven Kerwood
2. 55 Gary Adriaensen Belmont
3. 77 Darrell Lake London
4. 3 Shae Gemmell Dorchester
5. 39 David McCullough Glencoe
6. 17 Kenny McNicol Jr. Exeter
7. 8 Calvin Verheyen (R) Strathroy
8. 88 Devin Jarvis London
9. 14 Brittany Beatty Woodstock
10. 62 Darren Wright 0
11. 93 Jerry Broom Dashwood
12. 5 D.J. Christie (R) Beachville
13. 51 Matt Robblee Woodstock
14. 38 Derek McCullough (R) Glencoe
15. 19 Geoff Chant Thorndale
16. 1 Trevor Collver Lucan
17. 16 Kathleen Hosang London
Demar Aggregates Trucks Feature (35-Laps)
1. 65 Joe Windis Catchcart
2. 88 Rick Verberne Otterville
3. 77 Tom Zagorodny London
4. 22 Jeff Denboer London
5. 55 Mickey Brydges Guelph
6. 66 Lucas Manning Komoka
7. 92 Kyle Neumeister (R) Stratford
8. 52 Dave Webster Appin
9. 27 Chris Payne London
10. 23 Ryan Agar (R) Iona Station
11. 78 Cameron McQueen London
12. 5 Kevin Lay (R) Windsor
V8 Stock Muscle Car (35-Laps)
1. 33 Paul Fothergill London
2. 37 Steve Arrand Ailsa Craig
3. 93 Gary Zwygers Cambridge
4. 01 Jaden Chapman Sarnia
5. 07 Jamie Klumper Mitchell
6. 45 Barry Watson West Lorne
7. 8 Andrew Ferreira (R) Strathroy
8. 11 Jeremy Taggert Belmont
9. 82 Mannie Demelo London
10. 44 Todd Walton Shedden
11. 5 Greg Covil St. Thomas
12. 56 Darren Thirkettle Strathroy
13. 28 Adam Kiss Clinton