The wait is over! The long off-season has finally come to an end. The drivers, crews, officials, and cars were out in full force this past Saturday night for round #1 of the 2023 season.
The Qwick Wick Can-Am Midgets presented by Miller Office Trailers rolled into Flamboro Speedway in Millgrove, Ontario. 16 amazing looking cars rolled into the pits. The TQ midgets were joined by the Pure Stocks, Pro Late Models, and the Ontario Pro Challenge Series to also kick off Flamboro’s opening night. The night was filled with excitement, and wild moments. Both good and bad. Starting with a roll over of the #6 car of Craig Pitchell in practice. Driver was ok, but the car was not and was unable to start the heat and feature racing.
Heat race #1 presented by HMCW Chassis again this season, saw the #7 of Jeff Blackburn takw the checkered flag with the #55 car of the 2022 series champion, Cory Whittam beginning where he left off last season, taking heat race #2 and parking it in HMCW Chassis victory lane.
The now 15-car field (less the #6 car of Craig Pitchell), were ready to do battle for 25 laps being the supporting race to the Pro Late Model feature event. The #5 car of Andrew Whelan, and the #72 car of Jr Farrelly, both with great finishes in their respected heats, led the field to the first feature race green flag of the season. Farrelly powered around the outside in turn #2, taking the lead on the first lap. Farrelly held the lead with the first caution waving on lap 5 for the #49 car of Dominique Smith, #68 of Paul Jorgensen, and #53 car getting together in turn #4 sending the #53 for a spin. Jorgensen and Smith would not restart the race with damage. The #72 jumped back out into the lead, but the red flag flew quickly for the #53 car hitting the wall hard in turn #3, then flipping over. Throttle stuck on that machine. Quick reaction time from the Can-Am crew on the Ohsweken Speedway sponsored ATV. Driver was ok after the very scary wreck. The restart didn’t get going with the #57 car of James Stanley spinning and collecting both Whittam and #13 of Jaden Riddel. All cars were able to restart the race. 3 wide on the restart with cars battling for fourth to sixth. A little bumping, but close racing. While battling for the lead, Whelan gets loose off of turn 4, spins, and flips over causing a red flag. Riddel gets into the frontstretch wall trying to avoid the wreck, ending his night. On lap 11, Blackburn takes the lead form Farrelly. Farrelly’s car fell off the second half of the race with David Miller in the #11 car and Daniel Hawn in the #42 car taking the podium spots over. Jeff Blackburn never looked back as the race went the rest of the way green to checkered, with Blackburn claiming the first checkered flag of the season. Hawn and Miller rounded out the podium celebrations in Qwick Wick victory lane.
James Stanley (57), Jr Farrelly (72), Bob Bailey (15), Jody Bound (05), Mike Westwood (91), Andrew Whelan (5), Cory Whittam (55), Jaden Riddel (13), Sherry Hogan (74x), Roberto Polillo Jr (53), Dominique Smith (49), Paul Jorgensen (68), and DNS of Craig Pitchell (6) is the finishing order.
With all of the cob webs hopefully wiped off, we hope all of the drivers/crews can get all fixed up for round #2 this coming Saturday at Sunset Speedway in Innisfil, Ontario.