By Tommy Goudge
(April 1, 2010) – Test and tune day at Ohsweken Speedway is coming up fast, and racers and Speedway staff gathered at Brantford’s Best Western Brant Park Inn on Saturday for the annual registration and information meeting, as preparations continue for the track’s fifteenth anniversary season. If the standing room only turnout at the meeting is any indication, this season is shaping up to be the best ever at Ohsweken.
MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
Procedure and rules changes were outlined during the meeting, while officials in new roles were introduced to those in attendance.
Wing and tire rule amendments including designation of the Hoosier 105/18 – 15 RD15 plated HTC as the Right Rear SPEC tire for the 2010 season were outlined for the Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Car division.
Introduction of the American Racer RJS Stocker branded medium compound tire as an option for the ESSO Thunder Stocks also highlighted the changes.
The formation of a new competition committee for the ESSO Mini Stock and ESSO Thunder Stock divisions was also announced. The committee will interact with track officials on rules issues and other items that can improve the stock car divisions.
Details on rules changes can be found on the Ohsweken Speedway website at www.OhswekenSpeedway.com/rules.htm
DRIVER ROSTERS
As the season approaches, more news is coming in each day on the driver front. Rookies are plentiful in all divisions, especially in the Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Car division, where no less than six drivers are set to compete for the Rookie of the Year award including Shane Butler, Stevin Goldner, Mitchell Brown, Chris Steele, Todd Hoddick, and Jamie Turner.
Veteran driver Kyle Patrick is set to return in his potent Sprint Car after some time away from the track, while local favourite Ryan Hunsinger will sit out much of the 2010 season for personal reasons. The seat of the Myles Hill Racing machine will be filled with the return of London-area open wheel star Mike Ling.
Ling is returning to dirt track action after a lengthy and successful stint on the asphalt Sprint Car circuit in the United States. The Mount Brydges driver was a top contender in the late 90’s at Ohsweken and other area tracks, and racked up eight feature wins – including two at Ohsweken – before moving to the pavement where he’s claimed six more feature wins and fifty-five “top 5’s” in the last ten years.
Fender fans will see Wyatt Van Wart moving up from the Mini Stocks and running for ESSO Thunder Stocks Rookie of the Year driving a former Mark Thorne machine, while local karting veteran Philip Nyssen is moving to Thunder Stocks as well.
The ESSO Mini Stocks Rookie of the Year award will be hotly contested this season. Another member of the Brown family will get behind the wheel when Jacob Brown takes over the seat of the #10 which carried brother Mitchell to the ESSO Mini Stock track championship last season. Brittani Myers is moving into the Mini Stocks after some time in the Bombers, while newcomers Jamie Goudge and Robin Elliott will also be Mini Stock rookies.
CAR SHOWS
Ohsweken Speedway also participated in the London Auto Expo at the Western Fairgrounds over the weekend. Ohsweken Speedway would like to thank all the fans who visited the Speedway booth over the weekend and got a chance to check out John Riegling’s #1a Sprint Car.
One more opportunity for fans to get a sneak peak at the 2010 paint schemes and meet their favourite drivers is coming up at the Ohsweken Speedway Brantford Mall show. The show runs at the Lynden Park Mall from Wednesday, April 21 to Saturday, April 24 during regular mall hours.
A final stop on the show circuit will take place at the Ancaster Fair Grounds on Sunday, April 25 at the annual spring Flea Market. Stop by and get a bit of bench racing in before the action gets underway on the track for the 2010 season.
HISTORY PROJECT
Do you have old Ohsweken Speedway programs, photos, videos, or results pages just sitting around collecting dust? The Ohsweken Speedway history project can use your help. If you would like to contribute to the project, just send an e-mail to media@OhswekenSpeedway.com and share your favourite photos and other items with the world!
NEXT AT OHSWEKEN
Ohsweken Speedway’s fifteenth anniversary season is coming up faster than you think! Just five weeks remain until the engines fire for the first time at the Speedway for Test and Tune on Saturday, May 8. Make sure to visit www.OhswekenSpeedway.com and make your plans to attend Friday Night Thunder each week starting May 14, as well as the World of Outlaws Sprint Series events on July 30th and 31st, and the Sixth Annual Canadian Sprint Car Nationals September 16th to 18th!
ABOUT
Ohsweken Speedway is located in the village of Ohsweken, Ontario approximately twenty-five minutes Southeast of Brantford, forty minutes Southwest of Hamilton, one hour and twenty minutes West of Niagara Falls, one hour and twenty minutes East of London, and one hour and twenty minutes Southwest of Toronto.
Ohsweken Speedway is a state-of-the-art Styres family-owned three-eighths mile clay oval racing facility featuring Musco lighting and seating for 8,000.
Friday Night Thunder provides weekly racing at the track, featuring Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Cars, ESSO Thunder Stocks, ESSO Mini Stocks, and Bombers, along with touring series visits by the World of Outlaws Sprint Series, Empire Super Sprints, ASCS Patriots, and Mod-Lite Stars Championship Tour North.
The track’s signature event is the Canadian Sprint Car Nationals held in September each season. Up to eighty or more of the best 360 sprint car drivers and teams from across Canada, the United States, and beyond will converge on Ohsweken to contest the Sixth Annual Canadian Sprint Car Nationals September 16 – 18, 2010.
Regular Friday Night Thunder admission is just $10, while students and seniors are $8, and Kids age 12 and under get in free. Please visit www.OhswekenSpeedway.com for more information, or call 1-888-720-RACE!