BROCKVILLE, Ontario – Tristan Draper topped the 1000 Islands RV 358 Modified field at Brockville Ontario Speedway for his first win in the division on Saturday night.
Luke Stewart paced the class in the opening laps, with Joe Banks, Draper, Tim O’Brien and Ryan Arbuthnot giving chase.
Stewart had a great car in the opening laps and was searching for his first Brockville win but Draper, a 358 Modified rookie, was on the charge as he took second away from Banks on lap seven and then ran down the race leader.
After a short battle at the front, the first caution would fly for Banks as smoke began to show out of his car. He was pushed back to the pits and done for the night.
When the green returned, Draper took over command, with Stewart now in second and Tim O’Brien charging into the third spot. From this point forward, Draper looked like he had been racing a modified for 30 years as he made consistent laps time after time, pulling away to well over a straight away advantage at the half way point.
However, current points leader Ryan Arbuthnot was on the move.
Last week’s winner took second from Stewart, but still had some work to do to run down Draper for the lead. On lap 25, Stewart saw a great run end in a hurry as he slid off the top side of turns three and four.
On the final restart Draper jumped out to a five-car length lead and would not be denied on this night, as he marched to a dominant first-career 1000 Islands RV 358 Modified win.
Arbuthnot held off a fast closing Chris Herbison for second, with O’Brien and Kyle Dingwall completing the top five.
Jared Zimbardi won the headlining Patriot Sprint Tour main event.
In other local action, Johnathon Ferguson (Sportsman), Justin Saunders (Rookie Sportsman), Michael Dillon (Street Stock) and Jamie Larocque (Mini Stock) were victorious in their respective classes.
The finish:
Tristan Draper, Ryan Arbuthnot, Chris Herbison, Tim O’Brien, Kyle Dingwall, Ryan Poole, Steve Barber, Lee Ladouceur, Aaron Pugh, Jeremy LaSalle, Steve Bilow, Corbin Millar, Andy Lloyd, Luke Stewart, Joe Banks