NCATS: CRASH ENDS NIGHT EARLY FOR BROWN AT CAYUGA

Doug Brown’s quest for a strong run before his hometown fans and a group of supportive sponsor guests came to a crashing halt at Cayuga Speedway on Saturday night.

The Brantford competitor was caught up in a wild, multi-car crash just eight laps into the running of the “Subway 200” at the fast 5/8th-mile oval south of Hamilton.

Brown had started tenth in the 23-car field and was clearly on the move when Mt. Albert’s Kerry Micks clipped the rear of Ayr, Ontario’s Don Thomson Jr’s Monte Carlo at the end of the fast backstretch causing the pole sitter to spin in front of the oncoming field. The resulting melee left no room for Brown to avoid hitting Thomson’s car, the wall and JR Fitzpatrick’s machine.

“I could see the cars staring to spin and bunch up in front of me but that’s the fasted part of the track and there just wasn’t anywhere to go to avoid hitting Donnie and anyone else in the area. I also got a shot from behind but that too was unavoidable

Although the Brantford competitor suffered minor injuries to his hand and wrist in the crash, it was his car that was the centre of his attention as he inspected the damages in the infield.

“It’s too early to determine our status for the next race a Barrie,” he responded when asked for his thoughts. “We’ll know better when we get the car back to the shop and start tearing it down.

“It’s a darn shame this had to happen when it did but we’ll see what we can do to finish the season provided the engine wasn’t damaged with the impact the car took. It wasn’t a great way to host our sponsors either, but I’m sure they understand that this is a highly competitive sports and accidents do happen.”

The impact of the crash broke the motor mounts and shifted the car’s front end. The crew will attempt to fix the car for the three reaming races but with no weekend breaks in between it will mean overtime for those involved in the repairs.

Warkworth, Ontario’s Derek Lynch won the event in what can only be described as a bizarre finish.

Lynch had worked his way up to third spot in the closing laps and was content to finish there until leaders Peter Gibbon of Stouffville and Jim Lapcevich took one another out as the began exiting the final turn. The ensuing spin opened the door for Lynch to speed to the finish line ahead of Roxton Pond, Quebec’s Andrew Ranger and St Thomas, Ontario’s DJ Kennington.

With his second place finish, Ranger widened his lead atop the standings and now has to contend with. Micks who recovered to finish fourth in the race and up to second in the standings. Kennington and Gibbons also leap-frogged past Thomson who dropped to fifth-place in the points race as a result of the accident.

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Prepared by Ken Spencer // Marketing and Media Relations // HB Motorsports