By Greg Calnan
(Sunday, September 6, 2015) – Brighton, Ontario – The second half of the Labour Day Classic Weekend at Brighton Speedway once again featured a local favourite visiting victory lane. Rick Wilson drew the pole and fought off all challenges for his first win of the season.
Wilson and defending Southern Ontario Sprints champion Glenn Styres led the field to the green flag in the 25 lap main event. The long-time rivals raced hard on the opening lap before Styres over-drove turn four and brought out the first and only caution of the race.
On the restart Styres would again have issues in turn four, and tagged the outside wall hard. The contact caused the second place driver in the standings to struggle for the remainder of the race, and finish seventeenth.
Wilson dominated the event and used the inside line to perfection, one night after brake issues cost the Joyceville, Ontario driver a possible win. Points leader Mitch Brown challenged briefly, and held the lead on lap nine before Wilson pulled away and led the final fifteen laps of the race.
The win for Wilson was his first since claiming the opening night of the Labour Day Classic Weekend in 2014. Chris Jones tried to muscle the runner-up position from Brown, but would have to settle for third.
With a pair of second place finishes over the weekend, Brown was able to mathematically clinch the 2015 Southern Ontario Sprints championship with one race remaining.
At the end of the evening, six teams took to the track for the Simon Pettit Memorial Wingless Dash for Cash presented by RBM Carriers, Sanderson Tire and Automotive, Speedy Auto Service, Black’s Transport and Four Wide Design. Chris Jones captured the win over Mike Burkin and Kyle Fraser.
The Southern Ontario Sprints return to action on Friday, September 11th at Merrittville Speedway for the final race of the tours 20th season of racing. For more information visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com
SOUTHERN ONTARIO SPRINTS RACE REPORT
2015 SEASON EVENT #11 – SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2015
BRIGHTON SPEEDWAY – BRIGHTON ON
ENTRY LIST
(Number Name – Hometown)
0 Glenn Styres – Ohsweken ON
01 Kyle Fraser – White Lake ON
2w Lee Winger – Mount Hope ON
5 Keith Dempster – Alton ON
9 Jim Munsie – Pickering ON
10b Mitch Brown – Brantford ON
11j Chris Jones – Picton ON
11t Jamie Turner – Caistor Centre ON
15 Mike Ferrell – London ON
15aw April Wilson – Joyceville ON
18 Ryan Susice – Ransomville NY
19 Cory Turner – Caistor Centre ON
25 Warren Mahoney – Lefroy ON
42w Rick Wilson – Joyceville ON
48 Mike Burkin – Clyde OH
66 Frank Baranowski – Mount Hope ON
71s Shawn Sliter – Port Colborne ON
77 Dain Naida – Tecumseh MI
77x Alex Hill – Six Nations ON
91 Ryan Turner – Caistor Centre ON
98 Paul Pekkonen – Brockville ON
HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps – Top 3 redrew for A-Feature starting positions)
Finish. Number Name (Starting Position)
1. 11j Chris Jones (1)
2. 77 Dain Naida (3)
3. 91 Ryan Turner (2)
4. 77x Alex Hill (6)
5. 25 Warren Mahoney (4)
6. 98 Paul Pekkonen (5)
7. 15 Mike Ferrell (7)
Time – 1:43.498
HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps – Top 3 redrew for A-Feature starting positions)
Finish. Number Name (Starting Position)
1. 71s Shawn Sliter (1)
2. 19 Cory Turner (2)
3. 0 Glenn Styres (7)
4. 11t Jamie Turner (4)
5. 48 Mike Burkin (5)
6. 9 Jim Munsie (6)
DNS 18 Ryan Susice (3)
Time – 1:50.495
HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps – Top 3 redrew for A-Feature starting positions)
Finish. Number Name (Starting Position)
1. 01 Kyle Fraser (4)
2. 42w Rick Wilson (1)
3. 10b Mitch Brown (6)
4. 5 Keith Dempster (5)
5. 2w Lee Winger (7)
6. 15aw April Wilson (2)
7. 66 Frank Baranowski (3)
Time – 1:47.949
A-FEATURE (25 laps)
Finish. Number Name (Starting Position)
1. 42w Rick Wilson (1)
2. 10b Mitch Brown (3)
3. 11j Chris Jones (5)
4. 77 Dain Naida (9)
5. 91 Ryan Turner (7)
6. 01 Kyle Fraser (4)
7. 77x Alex Hill (10)
8. 71s Shawn Sliter (6)
9. 19 Cory Turner (8)
10. 5 Keith Dempster (12)
11. 15aw April Wilson (18)
12. 11t Jamie Turner (11)
13. 48 Mike Burkin (14)
14. 98 Paul Pekkonen (16)
15. 66 Frank Baranowski (20)
16. 25 Warren Mahoney (13)
17. 0 Glenn Styres (2)
18. 9 Jim Munsie (17)
19. 15 Mike Ferrell (19)
DNF. 2w Lee Winger (15)
DNS. 18 Ryan Susice (21)
No Time
A-Feature Lap Leaders – Rick Wilson (1-8, 10-25), Mitch Brown (9)
Hard Charger – April Wilson (+7)
2015 SEASON FEATURE WINNERS:
Glenn Styres – 4 (Brighton June 20, Ohsweken July 3, Brighton July 11, Humberstone August 9)
Mitch Brown – 2 (Brighton Speedway May 16, South Buxton July 4)
Parker Price-Miller – 1 (Humberstone May 17)
Chris Jones – 1 (South Buxton June 6)
Cory Turner – 1 (Brighton August 8)
Charlie Sandercock – 1 (Brighton September 5)
Rick Wilson – 1 (Brighton September 6)
UP NEXT:
Friday, September 11, 2015: Merrittville Speedway – Thorold ON