Empire Super Sprints First Visit to Brighton
The dirt track at Brighton Speedway saw some action on the last chilly day in May! The first ever visit to the 1/3rd mile clay oval by the Empire Super Sprints was a race you did not want to miss. With 28 winged warriors on the track the action was riveting.
The Empire Super Sprints is a 360-winged sprint car travelling series that operates in the northeastern United States and Canada.
Brighton has regularly hosted sprint cars and runs the limited Lawns We Do 360 Sprint series.
Fans were eager to see the ESS on the short track with new drivers showcasing their skills.
Fast time was set by No 21F Davie Franek with a lap time of 12.003 seconds, putting him on the poll in the first qualifier along side series champion, No 28 Jordan Poirer.
With three heats to run and a B Main, the ESS set the field for the main event with 26 starters. No 53 Shawn Donath jumped out to the early lead around the high side and looked like he was going to dominate the field from his forth starting position, however it was the 2024 ESS Champion who made it from 6th starting position that to take the lead and hold of the challenge from No 36 Logan Crisafulli to take the final checkers and the victory. Behind him, No 36 Logan Crisafulli, No 21 Alex Therrien, No53 Shawn Donath and No 3 Paulie Colagiovanni.
Rinaldi with the Win
Sharing the race card with the Vanderlaan Building Products Late Model division, the 14 cars that took the green showcased an amazing battle for the top position.
No 05 James Seymour started on the poll with No 41 Ryan Lambert to the outside, No 33 David Vandertoorn and No 57 Charlie Sandercock behind them.
The race up front saw Sandercock determined to find a slot between Seymour and Lambert as they used ever inch of the racetrack.
A yellow on lap 16 restacked the field and tightened up an already fierce clash on the track as the three cars battled for the top position for the first 20 laps.
A second caution flew on lap 20 for debris that ended with No 77 Caley Weese off the back stretch set up a restart that changed the outcome.
On the restart, No 3 Nathan Rinaldi rolled along the bottom to pass Lambert and found him out front with No 46 Brandon Mowat appearing in his rear view. At lap 30 across the line were Rinaldi, Mowat, No 151 Brian McDonald, No 11 Kyle Sopaz and No 5 Steve Baldwin.
Gregory leads from the first lap to the last
The Bainer’s OilGARD Anti Rust Canadian Modified Division 25 lap feature event had poll sitter No 1 Shawn Gregory lead the race from start to finish.
Gregory who is usually the high side hustler around Brighton Speedway used an uncharacteristic low line around the tires to maintain his lead.
A couple of late race cautions put the heat on Gregory from past Champion No 40 Ron Wadforth and in the end, Gregory would hold on for his first win of 2025 followed to the checkers by Wadforth, No 2 Leslie Mowat, No 32 Doug O’Blenis and No 9 Dan Price.
Another Gregory takes the checkers
The Bill’s Johns 4 Cylinder Division, with 23 competitors ran 15 laps with one caution and one red flag.
It was a night for the Gregory’s as Shawn’s nephew and defending Mini-Stock Champion No 22 Tyson Gregory also starting from the first slot was able to hold off the field leading every lap from green to checker.
No 44 Tommy Bailey made his way from 6th to challenge the champion on the last 3 laps but followed him across the line.
No 42 Aidan Fletcher, No 24x Devon Kippen and No 10 Travis McLean rounded out the top 5.
The Empire Super Sprints, first ever visit to Brighton Speedway, puts reigning Champion No 28 Jordan Poirer in Victory Lane.
The Vanderlaan Building Products Late Model Division battle saw No 3 Nate Rinaldi snag the checkers in a hard-fought battle to the front.
Brighton Speedway – racing on dirt as it should be.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
