Marshall, Murdoch Win On Opening Night

The 2023 season FINALLY got underway this weekend with the Hank Franks Memorial Season Opener presented by Flamboro Machine Shop. Ten drivers made the trip to Flamboro Speedway to compete in the first event of 2023. It was a brisk day as the temperatures dropped early on and only continued to drop. During the first practice session to no ones surprise it would be T.J Marshall leading the top of the board. The 2022 Champion would also lead the second practice as well.

Now it was time for to get these drivers strapped in for the real event. Starting on the front row would be the #84 of Jeremy Barton and the #5 of Ian McIntyre leading the field for the first green of the year. Early on Barton in his #84 would pace the field bringing along with the #7 of Quintin Murdoch. It wasn't long till the younger Murdoch would get around the #84 of Barton moving him into second. Not for long as #15 of T.J Marshall was on the hunt for the front of the pack. T.J Marshall would make his way around the #7 of Murdoch in the middle of turns 3 & 4 and would lead the rest of the way to win the first feature of 2023. Quintin Murdoch finishing second and Jeremy Barton rounding out the podium of feature #1.

After the intermission it was time to get ready for feature #2 of opening night. Starting on the front row of feature #2 would be the #43 of Jae Pepin and the #14 of Scott Tonelli. When the green flag dropped as the field raced off into turn one Tonelli would power around on the high side to take an early lead. Quintin would get around the #43 of Pepin to settle into second as the field would sort itself out over the first couple of laps. At lap 9 there would be a battle for the lead as Quintin would get a run on the inside of Tonelli as they would battle down the backstretch and Murdoch would take the lead through turn 3 & 4 and would never look back enroute to his first win of the season. Marshall would get around Tonelli late in the race to come home 2nd and Scott Tonelli rounding out our podium for feature #2.

Feature #1 Finishing Order

1) #15 T.J Marshall

2) #7 Quintin Murdoch

3) #84 Jeremy Barton

4) #14 Scott Tonello

5) #43 Jae Pepin

6) #1 Mike Podd

7) #8 Ricky Willigar

8) #42 Steve Murdoch

9) #5 Ian McIntyre

10) #57 Joey Woolsey (R)

Feature #2 Finishing Order

1) #7 Quintin Murdoch

2) #15 T.J Marshall

3) #14 Scott Tonelli

4) #84 Jeremy Barton

5) #8 Ricky Willigar

6) #1 Mike Podd

7) #5 Ian McIntyre

8) #43 Jae Pepin

9) #42 Steve Murdoch

10) #57 Joey Woolsey (R)

Congratulations to T.J Marshall and Quintin Murdoch and making their way to Epic Racewear Victory Lane. Once again a big thank you to our nightly sponsor Flamboro Machine Shop. Next race up for your Young Drivers Canadian Vintage Modifieds will be June 3rd at Flamboro Speedway. June 3rds action will be presented by Seberras Engineering. Pits open at 4:00pm Grandstands at 5:00pm. Green flag flies at 6:30pm!