By: Clayton Johns/Brighton Speedway
July 15 2016

Brighton, Ontario – Josh Hennessy earned his first career win in Bainer’s OilGARD Canadian Modified competition last Saturday night and the Picton, Ont. driver has earned the Brighton Speedway Campbellford Chrysler Driver of the Week honour for the week ending in July 9.

Hennessy wasn’t gifted his first win by another driver’s misfortune or a generous caution flag. No, that wasn’t the case at all, as Hennessy’s A&A Haulage No.88 crossed the line 4.5 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Doug O’Blenis. In victory lane, Hennessy was quietly excited, seemingly unsure if he had witnessed his own dream.

“I thought about it after and I didn’t thank any of my sponsors. There was so much going on and I was happy to be there. It was a lot to take in at the moment,” Hennessy said with a laugh.

“I was super surprised I had even won the race. You don’t know how big of a lead you actually have and I didn’t think I had that big of a lead,” he added.

To win in such dominating fashion was impressive for any driver let alone a sophomore pilot in one of the track’s top two divisions. Following his win, Hennessy jumped to sixth in the championship standings. He hasn’t finished outside the top-10 this year and has four top-five finishes to his credit, including Saturday’s triumph. However, he wasn’t overjoyed with his results through the first half of the year before his victory.

“I’ve had a very slow start. Considering I missed the first night of the year with broken gears, it’s a slow start to the season. I wondered if I wasn’t going to see a win again this year. Now that I’ve won one, my thoughts have changed a little bit,” Hennessy chuckled.

The 28-year-old has set a high standard for himself, clearly. His car is the 2014 championship ride formerly driven by Ryan Scott, so Hennessy knows his equipment is among the best. After a fifth-place finish in the standings last year, he hoped to be in win contention earlier in the season.

“I had high expectations (for this year), but there’s a bunch of guys with new cars and everybody put in a lot of work. I made a few changes to my car and I think it’s made it better,” Hennessy said, adding he was initially a bit frustrated by the early results.

However, he’s persevered through the challenging aspects of the season and, with a little extra help from his older brother, Andrew Hennessy, appears to have reached top form entering the hottest part of the summer.

“Having Andrew as an older brother who knows a lot about these cars, he set me in he right direction. It’s kind of been a little bit of this and a little bit of that. He can tell me one thing and I’ll still do another,” Josh said with a laugh. “I don’t have the exact same parts on my car. I have to take it on my own, the way I see it and feel it.”

“You listen and learn from everybody. Nobody’s holding any secrets. Everybody’s offering a helping hand.”

Hennesssy feels racing is in his blood for good now. He’s been watching racing since he was a little kid and was involved for several years with his brother’s Late Model and Canadian Modified teams. Now with his own horse in the stable, he’s content with where he’s at right now and plans to race in the Canadian Modified division at lest in the immediate future. Mostly though, he’s happy to continue with his passion.

“I really enjoy racing. None of it seems like hard work. When you don’t finish well, I think that’s probably the toughest thing, wondering ‘where did I go wrong?,” he said. “In racing, everybody’s going for one win and you only get to do it once a week. There’s nothing that compares to it.”

SEASON WINNERS

Vanderlaan Building Products Pro Late Models: 2 – Phil Potts (April 30, July 2); 2 – Steve Baldwin (May 21, June 11); 2 – Adam Turner (May 14, June 18); 2 – Charlie Sandercock (May 28, July 9); 1 – Tyler Rand (June 4)

Bainer’s OilGARD Canadian Modifieds: 4 – Andrew Hennessy (May 28, June 4, June 18, July 2); 2 – Dan Ferguson (April 30, June 25); 1 – Doug O’Blenis (May 14); 1 – Curtis King (June 11); 1 – Josh Hennessy (July 9)

Brighton Automotive Pro Stocks: 5 – Justin Ramsay (April 30, June 4, June 18, June 25, July 2); 2 – Doug Anderson (May 21, June 11); 1 – Wade Purchase (May 14); 1 – Brandon Murrell (May 28); 1 – Jonah Mutton (July 9)

Bill’s Johns Comp 4s: 4 – Tyler French (April 30, May 14, May 28, June 4); 2 – Josh Read (June 11, July 2); 2 – Josh French (June 18, June 25); 1 – Adam Flieler (May 21);

Quinte Septic Super Stingers: 2 – Chris Lammle (May 28, June 11); 1 – Rick Phillips (May 14); 1 – Arthur McCauley; 1 – Del MacGregor (July 9)

Quinte Septic Junior Stingers: 1 – Chantel Golden (May 14); 1 – Brittany Golden (May 28); 1 – Willy Bolton (June 11); 1 – James Turgeon (June 25); 1 – Dylan Lobb (July 9)

Southern Ontario Sprints: 2 – Mitch Brown (May 21, June 18)

Go Nuclear Late Model Series: 1 – Charlie Sandercock (June 25)

About Campbellford Chrysler/JJ Stewart Motors: Campbellford Chrysler and JJ Stewart Motors have a strong and committed sales staff with many years of experience satisfying their customer’s needs. JJ Stewart Motors, located in Norwood, and Campbellford Chrysler, located on Hwy.30 just south of Campbellford, are among the top dealers for Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep in the area. The Brighton Speedway Dodge Ram pace truck is provided by Campbellford Chrysler. Receive a FREE family pass to regular Saturday night racing at Brighton Speedway when you test drive at Campbellford Chrysler. Visit them online at www.campbellfordchrysler.ca and www.jjstewart.ca.

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Brighton Speedway’s 2016 season is proudly supported by the following corporate sponsors: ABC Taxi, Adecco, AeCON, Bainer’s OilGARD Anti-Rust, Battlefield Equipment Rentals, Bay Marine, Behan Construction, Belleville Boyer Nissan, Belleville Transmission & Auto, Bellevue Fabricating Ltd., Bicknell Racing Products, Bill’s Johns, BJ McColl Fams, Bonn Law, Boyer Chevrolet Napanee, Brighton Automotive, Brighton Recycling, Budweiser, Campbellford Chrysler, Canadian Energy, Canadian National Autism Foundation, CANEX, Classic Hits 95.5, Classic Rock 107.9 The Breeze, Coca-Cola, Comfort Zone Heating & Air Conditioning, The Community Press, Cool 100, CSC Products, Davis Auto Repair, Deerhaven Farm and Garden, Dibbits Excavating, Eastern Overhead Doors, Electro Cables, Excel Tower Service, First Place Trailers, Gerow Propane, Gilmour’s Meat Shop, Gord’s Water, Greig Truck & Trailer, Hellraiser Race Bodies, Hewbrook Incorporated, Hits FM 95.5, Hotch’s Auto Parts, Hoosier Racing Tire, Humber Nurseries, ImageFactor.ca Motorsport Designs, JJ Stewart Motors, John’s Equipment, Jones Automotive, KD Transmission, Kiwanis Club of Trenton, KOA Campground of Brighton, Krown Rust Control Trenton, Lange & Fetter Ford, Larry’s Towing, Leaf Racewear, Leclair Electric, Lester’s Hot Dogs, Lucas Oil, Maestro’s Painting, Mark Heating & Cooling, McDougall Insurance and Financial, Mix 97, Monacoe’s Hair Salon & Day Spa, Monster Energy, Motosports of Trenton, Muskoka Aircraft Refinishing My FM 100.9/93.3, Mystical Distributing, NecksGen Head and Neck Restraint, NOCO Fuels, Owasco RV, Part Source, Peter’s South End Garage, Qunte Mall, Quinte Septic, Rapid Rad, Read’s Accounting, REMAX (Saoirse Graham & Nicole Parks), ROCK 107, Rona Trenton, Sanderson Tire and Automotive, Stewart Electric, Stix & Stones Billiards, Stoneridge Specialty Insurance, Target Fabrication, TAS Communications, The Trentonian, Therapeutic Massage Centre, Towne and Country Liquidation, Turris Communications, UCB Radio Canada, Ultramar CST, Vanderlaan Building Products, Vandermeer Toyota, VanZuylen Tire and Alignment, The Vinyl Solution, Vito’s Restaurant, VP Racing Fuels and Workman’s OK Tire.

About Brighton Speedway: Brighton Speedway is a 1/3-mile clay stock car racing oval located on the shores of Lake Ontario in Brighton, Ont. The speedway hosts five weekly stock car divisions on Saturday nights from May to September.