I NEWS
Cody McPherson won a pair of DIRTcar Sportsman main events during Brighton’s Applefest Weekend. Photo by Rod Henderson / CanadianRacer.com
BRIGHTON APPLEFEST SHOOTOUT WEEKEND Raabe Outduels Rudolph to Join the Three-Time 358 Modified Applefest Shootout ‘Wins’ Club With files from Brighton Speedway righton Speedway hosted its 18th annual Applefest Shootout Weekend on September 22-23. In all, more than 300 cars were in attendance during the two-day event which drew competitors from across Ontario, as well as some from Quebec and upper New York state. DIRTcar 358 Modifieds, DIRTcar Sportsman, Late Models, Canadian Modifieds, Thunder Stocks and 4 Cylinders were all in action at the eastern Ontario dirt oval. When the action started on the Friday night, 33 Thunder Stocks were whittled down to 25 cars for a 20-lap feature event. Jason Fontaine led early, with Brock Gregory – who started fourth – chased him down. On lap 18, Fountaine suffered a mechanical issue and Gregory assumed the lead. He survived a late race restart and held on to win. Tyler French, Justin Ramsay, Josh Black and Jim Lampman rounded out the top five. The spotlighted of the Friday night card saw a field of 31 DIRTcar Sportsman take the green flag for a 35-lap feature. Jordan Cosco led the field early only to see Bobby Herrington take the top spot, on lap 12. The two were eventually challenged by Cody McPherson. On lap 21, McPherson passed Herrington for the lead, one that he wouldn’t relinquish on route to ‘taking home the apples’ on Night One of Applefest. Herrington, William Racine, Cosco and Xavier
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Andrews were the other top-five finishers. In other Friday Applefest action, the Mini Stock Duel on the Dirt combined feature event saw 29 competitors in the pits, with 28 of them making the starting field. Jason Tolton led the first 20 laps with Carter Rhodes and Caleb Severin challenging for the lead. Rhodes made a pass to take the lead on lap 21 and finished ahead of Severin, Tolton, Cole Abrams and Ryan Hillar. The Northeast Late Model Alliance field saw 24 participants complete their heat races and a 10-lap Dash For Cash on Friday night. Kyle Sopaz took home the purse for the Dash, followed by Brandon Mowat and Steve Baldwin. The Canadian Modified / UMP Dash for Cash went to Ron Wadforth ahead of Adam Turner and Doug O’Blenis. A field of 24 DIRTcar 358 Modifieds joined the evening’s card for hot laps and a Dash for Cash. The 10 ten fastest 358s raced for the payday which saw Jonathan Ferguson take the checkered flag. Gary Lindberg and Kyle Dingwall followed him across the line.
DAY TWO Saturday was Day Two of Applefest and everyone in attendance was pleased to be greeted by sunny skies. The first feature of the night was an annual Comp 4 / Mini Stock challenge where
the best drivers the track’s two 4-Cylinder divisions are in action. With 34 cars signing in, the drivers had to race their way into the show through heats and a B-Main to earn a spot in the 24-car starting field. Caleb Severn started on the pole, with Friday night’s winner Carter Rhodes on the outside. Severin took the early lead, but Rhodes nabbed the spot on lap 3. Tom Bailey, who started third, moved to second on lap 8 and started to apply pressure to Rhodes, before ultimately passing him with two laps to go in the 20-lap chase. Rhodes held for second ahead of Terry McClelland, Travis Lamarche and Aiden Fletcher. Next up, the DIRTCar Sportsman drivers took to the track for Night Two of their double header. Youngster Brennan Moore started on the pole and drove the race of his life, holding off seasoned veterans like Bobby Herrington, Gabriel Cyr and Friday night’s winner Cody McPherson. Moore did an outstanding job but on the last lap – while being pressured hard by McPherson – Moore slipped up just enough to give McPherson an opening on the bottom, allowing the St. Catharines racer to sweep the weekend and take his sixth career Applefest Weekend win. Moore finished second, followed by Cyr, Herrington and Shane Steams. The Canadian Modifieds were up next. At the finish of their 25-lap feature, 2023 sea-
