BRIGHTON, Ont. — Night two of the Applefest Shootout featured a pair of big events for the DIRTCar 358 Modified and DIRTCar Sportsman divisions. The night saw plenty of action packed racing, but a pair of former Applefest champions go the job done again.
The DIRTCar 358 Modifieds had a 75-lap, $5,000 to win event with the winner also getting a spot in the Outlaw 200 at the Fulton Speedway in October.
Polesitter Kyle Dingwall grabbed the lead over Mat Williamson and Brianna Ladouceur. Dingwall stretched out the advantage over Williamson in the early laps, on a track that changed very quickly. The first yellow flew on lap 11 setting up a restart that Williamson was wanting. When the green flew Dingwall took the lead but Williamson found something in the middle of the track and was able to power by for the lead on lap 25.
Once in front Williamson pulled away but the driver on the move was Chris Raabe, who started ninth on the grid. Raabe moved to second after several restarts as he got by Dingwall and tried his best to chase down the leader.
With 10 laps to go Williamson remained in front but Raabe was closing fast and was in search of his record fourth Applefest 358 title. Williamson would remain on the bottom and would fend off the late charge by Raabe to score his second Applefest title and first since 2017.
Raabe made up the most spots going from ninth to second with Kyle Dingwall, Tristan Draper and Brad Rouse completing the top five.
Over the final laps in the DIRTCar Sportsman event, despite a challenge from Bobby Herrington, Cody McPherson was not to be denied as he scored his record 8th Applefest Shootout Sportsman win and a guaranteed spot into the Outlaw 200 weekend Sportsman race at Fulton.
In other action during the Applefest Shootout a 20-lap Comp4/Mini Stock Challenge event took place and Adrian Black held off repeated challenges from Josh Bogaard to pick up the win.
The Canadian/UMP Modified challenge was up next for a 30-lap contest and this race went green to checkered. Shawn Gregory got out in front early and lapped up to the 6th place car to score a dominant win. The Great Crate Race was won by Charlie Sandercock.
The 40-lap Thunderstock feature was won by Tyler French.Â
Feature Finish (75 Laps)
1. 6-Mat Williamson[3]; 2. 01-Chris Raabe[9]; 3. 66-Kyle Dingwall[1]; 4. 17-Tristan Draper[10]; 5. 18R-Brad Rouse[5]; 6. 38J-Jarrett Herbison[11]; 7. 15B-Brianna Ladouceur[2]; 8. 31-Lance Willix[7]; 9. 37S-Gary Lindberg[8]; 10. 18-Kalen Draper[12]; 11. 44-Johnathon Ferguson[6]; 12. 47S-Corey Wheeler[4]; 13. 151KB-Brian McDonald[19]; 14. 8S-Justin Sharp[16]; 15. 212-Martin Polhill[20]; 16. 2COOL-Derek VanMil[21]; 17. M16-Gage Morin[13]; 18. 77E-Ryan Stabler[14]; 19. 73-Dylan Davidson[15]; 20. 08-Chris Ferguson[18]; 21. 26C-Luke Carleton[17]