By Doug Townsend

Varney On - For years the high banks of Varney have been known as a "rubbing is racing" kind of place, where fenders get bent and tempers get the best of people. Now with the changes to Full Throttle, Owner Gord Bennett has brought to light just how good the racing can be. It seems both racers and fans from across Ontario are starting to take notice. Every week the regulars attending the races say that it just keeps improving and this past Friday night was no different. With drivers going two and three wide at times and being able to hold their line in most cases, and the change in format to features-only racing with no heats, everyone was waiting for the next race.
Mini Stock action this past Friday drew the biggest car count to date, with seventeen in the pits looking for a shot at the $2000 bonus money to win all three features. In the end the bonus was not claimed, as three different drivers would find their way to victory lane. In feature one, track regular 51 Clark Hartman from Waterloo, would find himself starting from a position that he has come to enjoy this season. He got the outside pole and would use it to his advantage. He was able to use the high side to work around 73 Brian Wilson from Rockwood, who was running Scott Schlueter's number as Schlueter's motor blew in practice.

Getting out in front was all Hartman would need, as the biggest race for position would be behind him between 36 Corry Young of Owen Sound, and 86 Billy Schwartzenburg. This feature would end up Hartman, Young, Schwartzenburg, then 68 Brandon Crumbie from Cookstown for fourth and rounding out the top five, 73 Brian Wilson. Feature two, in turn, would see all the front runners from feature one starting at the back, allowing another outside pole starter. The 1 of Charlie Smith from Orillia, who would go flag to flag in his first trip to Full Throttle this season. Coming home second this time would be 7 Paul Boyd from Harriston, working his way through the pack to third 86 Billy Schwartzenburg, followed by 35 Tim Tolton from Guelph and in fifth 68 Brandon Crumbie. Feature three of the night saw the return of 51 Clark Hartman, moving from his fourth position starting place, to lead by the end of the first lap. A spot he would hold until a lap ten caution would bring the field back together. On the restart 86 Billy Schwartzenburg would take advantage of the highline. He moved ahead of Hartman and did not look back, on his way to his first checker of the season at Full Throttle. The battle for second was won this time by 36 Corry Young, third 51 Hartman, fourth would go to 68 Crumbie and rounding out the top five was 77 Mike Gettliffe.

Pure Stock drivers also found themselves looking at three features, with a cool thousand dollar bonus on the line, for anyone who could win all three races. Still, with only 12 cars in the pits, the chance of taking home the bonus money was not a sure bet. It seemed keeping your car in one piece, and not cutting a tire, would be the key to running this night. In feature one, all drivers knew they had a shot at the bonus and they were holding nothing back! But in the end it would be the familiar 17 of Nick Clarke from Mount Forest in victory lane and the only driver left with a shot at the $1,000.00. Second would be 14 Luke Bos from Conn, third 01 Travis Farrow from Dromore, fourth 34 Don Tremble from Durham and to round out the top five, 66 Doug Lepard from Owen Sound. Feature two of the night, was by far the closest battle, as it saw the two quickest cars 17 Nick Clarke, and 76 Shawn Taylor from Burlington, going head to head. Taylor would jump to the early lead but with a couple of cautions, Clarke would find himself next to the speedy visitor on a lap eleven restart.

Both drivers put on a show from this point on, as Clarke held the lead every lap, but by less than a car length. That is how they would cross the line, putting Clarke two thirds of the way to a thousand dollar payday. Third in this race would go to 0 Bill Clarke from Mount Forest, fourth 51 Jason Tolton from Guelph and fifth was 14 Luke Bos. In feature three, Nick Clarke knew what he had to do and that was to keep the speedy 76 of Shawn Taylor in sight, as they both had to work their way up from the back of the pack. Both drivers were working hard to get through the pack as quickly as possible. On the tight track, somewhere in the middle of moving through traffic, Clarke's shot at the thousand dollars was lost to a cut right front tire. With Nick Clarke dropping off the pace, this allowed Taylor to get to the front by lap seven, and hang on for the victory. Second would go to 01 Travis Farrow, third 51 Jason Tolton, fourth 14 Luke Bos and fifth 34 Don Tremble.

Pro Late Models saw a couple new cars in the pits, as drivers and machines ready themselves for "The Big One" on August 31st. Feature one turned out to be a chippy affair with more cautions than normal. In the end it would be 12 Justin McLellan out of Mount Forest, in his Hanover Chrysler sponsored machine for first, after making it past 77 Alvin McNichol from Exeter on lap 14 for the lead. Third would be 47 Nick Roth while 17 Kyle Woods from Mount Forest would come home fourth and rounding out the top five 00 Trevor Thompson from Elmira. Feature two turned out to be the complete opposite of one, with the race going caution free. 11 Cole Weber from New Hamburg bounced back after damage in the previous feature, to take advantage of the outside pole position. He used the highline to get the early jump on pole sitter, 1 Kent Nuhn from Desboro, who also had problems in feature one. Once Weber got out front he never looked back, dominating this race. Second would go to Nuhn, third would be 47 Nick Roth, fourth 12 Justin McLellan, and rounding out the top five, 40 Mark Dixon from Durham. Full video of these races can be seen on You Tube by searching "Full Throttle Motor Speedway" or by following these links http://youtu.be/_XUPJ6qiNTchttp://youtu.be/jbfes9pMWJw

V8 Thunder Stocks this week put on an amazing show, with only one caution in both of their features and delighting fans with their two and three wide racing. Feature one saw the 27 of Mark Fenton jump to an early lead, but by lap three the 01 of Brandon McConnell had worked his way up to Fenton's back bumper. On lap 9 McConnell found a way to work around Fenton, taking the lead and never looking back. Second would go to first time visitor, 64 Ryan Semple from Barrie who had started ninth. Third would go to Fenton, fourth 17 Tristan Gill from Waterloo and fifth 18 Billy Alderson Jr. from Durham. In feature two it only took 01 Brandon McConnell three laps to work from his number three starting position to the lead, and it was one he would hold till the checker. The battle this race was for second, in the end the winner of that would be 17 Tristan Gill, followed by 64 Ryan Semple, fourth 27 Mark Fenton, and rounding out the top five, 18 Billy Alderson Jr.

Crazy Trains Friday night saw some good fast laps, and turned out some entertaining features. Feature one saw the Rockford Rednecks take the checker followed by Texas Traincar Massacre from Mount Forest in second, and Here We Go from Listowel in third. For feature two it was Jonathon Bates Roofing out of Owen Sound coming in first, followed by Here We Go in second and the Rockford Rednecks in third.

Next racing action is this Friday August 15th at 7:30pm, featuring our "Drivers from Your Past" Race. We have assembled many past champions, all from different classes, for a Feature Race in the Outlaw Modified Open Wheeled cars. Drivers like Andy Schmidt, Mel Preibe, Chuck Lawler, Roger McGlynn and more, will all be at Full Throttle and going head to head one last time! Also, we have V8 Thunder Stocks running three 25 lap features with a $3000 bonus on the line, Mini Stocks, Crazy Trains and $200 to-win King of the Hill at intermission. For complete details check out our website at www.fullthrottlemotorspeedway.com