MILLGROVE, Ontario — Still dealing with grief and working through the emotions as to what happened, Flamboro Speedway’s drivers, teams, and staff came together on Saturday night to race in memory of Doug MacLean.

MacLean unfortunately lost his life the week prior on Saturday, July 18 as a result of an incident that happened on-track. He was a long-time employee of the track, having spent time behind the wheel and flagging several races. This past Saturday on July 26, the night began with a ceremony in remembrance of him in addition to a track walk held at intermission. For those who were unable to attend, Ingrid Hartman of Petal Power has a video of the ceremony and can be watched at https://www.facebook.com/reel/2655110491553659.

Shae Gemmell took the green flag on the second row for the Grisdale Showdown Series Late Model feature, and kept himself up front all feature long. He took over the top spot with three laps to go en route to scoring his second victory in a row as part of the series. Jake Sheridan led the previous 47 laps en route to second ahead of Shawn Chenoweth, Gerrit Tiemersma, and Tyler Di Venanzo. Billy Schwartzenburg faded back to sixth ahead of Kevin Albers, Blair Wickett, Billy Zardo, and Kevin Gallant.

Taking the lead with eight laps to go, Darren McLennan returned to the T.Q. Can-Am Midget feature victory lane ahead of James Stanley, Jeff Blackburn, Adam Racine, and Cory Whittam. Tyler Cullen was sixth in front of David Miller, Sherri Hogan, Mike Westwood, and Larry Lawson. Alex Connell, Andrew Whelan and Dominique Smith rounded out the field.

Mike Thomson took the lead on Lap 18 and paced the rest of the way to win the first Klotz Auto Repair Mini Stock feature ahead of Blaise Shaw, Matt Young, Shawn Taylor, and Louis Mehlenbacher. Bobby Mercer ran inside the top-five until the halfway mark, fading back to sixth in front of Wayde Thorne, Dustin Goodfelllow, Andrew Smith, and Rory Markle. Ryan Edwards-Kiss and Michael Kenny rounded out the field.

Bobby Mercer started up front, and took advantage of the track position to lead several laps en route to winning the second Mini Stock feature ahead of Mike Thomson, Matt Young, Wayde Thorne, and Louis Mehlenbacher. Dustin Goodfellow led the opening two laps, fading back to sixth in front of Shawn Taylor, Blaise Shaw, Andrew Smith, and Ryan Edwards-Kiss. Rory Markle and Mike Robinson III rounded out the field.

Rachel Mitchel led flag-to-flag to score the victory in the first Hogan Law & McClurkin Properties of Cambridge Pure Stocks feature ahead of Matt Young, John Cote, Chase Mitchell, and Cam Thomson. Gary Slama made his way forward for sixth in front of Rick Mitchell, Brandyn Milligan, Megan Mitchell, and Spencer Riddell. Leo Labarbera was 11th, followed by Rodney Rutherford, Chance Rogers, Reece Bourgeois, Jake Watson, Courtney Scott, Mac Ingram, Hailey Hill, Brandon Bowden, Randy Rodgers, William Young, and Mark Allan.

Gary Slama found his way through traffic, taking over the top spot just past halfway to win the second feature ahead of Brandyn Milligan, Spencer Riddell, Rodney Rutherford, and Rachel Mitchell. John Cote made his way forward for sixth in front of Cam Thomson, Courtney Scott, Matt Young, and Rick Mitchell. Reece Bourgeois carved her way up to 11th, followed by Chance Rogers, Megan Mitchell, Hailey Hill, Randy Rodgers, William Young, Chase Mitchell, Mac Ingram, Brandon Bowden, Jake Watson, Dan Ramey, and Leo Labarbera.

The next event at Flamboro Speedway is scheduled for Saturday, August 1, highlighted by the National Compact Touring Series, which will see the best of the United States against the best of Canada. The night also includes the Canadian Vintage Modifieds, SOMA Pro 4 Modifieds, Pure Stocks & Gen 3 SportsMods, plus the second round of Spectator Drags for the season.

Be sure to keep up with the latest by checking out Flamboro Speedway’s website at http://www.flamborospeedway.ca. You can also keep up via your favorite social networking website by following the speedway on Twitter at https://twitter.com/FlamboroSpdwy and Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/flamborospeedway.

Fans are encouraged to like the speedway’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Flamboro-Speedway-Authorized-Page-102328664646735/.

Report By: Ashley McCubbin