From Tommy Goudge (May 19, 2010) – Mother Nature decided to give Ohsweken Speedway’s race teams and fans an extra week to get ready for the 2010 season, but now the sky has cleared and it’s time to go racing! Ohsweken’s fifteenth anniversary season kicks off this Friday night when RapStar Energy Drink presents Friday Night Thunder featuring the Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Cars, ESSO Thunder Stocks, ESSO Mini Stocks, and Bombers, plus the first of three visits by the Mod Lite Stars Championship Tour North!
The Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Cars are once again the headline division for Friday Night Thunder in 2010, and 2009 Corr/Pak Champ Tom Huppunen enters the season as the driver to beat. Veterans Kevin Job, Keith Dempster, Glenn Styres, Mikey Kruchka, and Jamie Collard are just a few of the challengers for the title this season, while former Ohsweken feature winner Mike Ling returns to dirt after a decade of pavement racing. The Rookie of the Year award is sure to be fiercely contested as an even half dozen first year drivers are signed up, including Jamie Turner, Chris Steele, Stevin Goldner, Shane Butler, Todd Hoddick, and 2009 Ohsweken Speedway ESSO Mini Stock champion Mitchell Brown
The always competitive ESSO Thunder Stocks division featured the closest points chase of any Friday Night Thunder division last season, and the same could happen this year. Defending champ Shayne Pierce will be back this season, this time in his family owned car. Meanwhile, other top ten drivers such as Billy Bleich, Jamie Cox, Jeremy Bean, Mike Thorne, Brad Herron, Ryan Dinning, Rob Disher, Lee Winger, and Chris Dickie would all like to take their first Thunder Stock title.
The ESSO Mini Stock division won’t feature a repeat champion in 2010, as ’09 champ Mitchell Brown has moved to the Corr/Pak Sprints. Former champions Abel Castelein (2007, 2008), Rick Emberson (2005), Kelly Hallett (2000, 2001) and Mike Giberson (1996) will try to add to their totals, while Dave Goodacre, Dan Stewart, Rob Slater, Ethan Martin, and Mike Evers are sure to compete for feature wins as well. Five first year drivers are also signed up to compete for the Rookie of the Year award, including Jacob Brown in the #10 seat vacated by brother Mitchell, along with Ryan Beagle, Brittani Myers, Jamie Goudge, and Robin Elliott.
The driver to beat in the Bomber division is Karl Sault, who claimed his first championship in 2009. The always unpredictable Bombers are also likely to include Jesse McDonald, Kacey Huffman, new driver Rob Twitchett, and a host of others having fun in the very affordable division.
Before Friday’s action takes the green flag, Thursday night features Test and Tune for all divisions competing at the Speedway in 2010. The Test and Tune session offers a sneak peek at the 2010 season, and the best part? It’s free for fans to observe from the main grandstand!
Ohsweken Speedway’s Friday Night Thunder kicks off this Friday, May 21 when RapStar Energy Drink presents the Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Cars, ESSO Thunder Stocks, ESSO Mini-Stocks, and Bombers, plus the Mod Lite Stars Championship Tour North.
Friday Night Thunder at Ohsweken offers affordable exciting family entertainment just a short drive away from most Mid-Western Ontario locations. Friday Night Thunder Adult General Admission is $10, while Seniors and Students are $8, and Kids age 12 and under are FREE! Please visit www.OhswekenSpeedway.com for more information.
Spectator gates open @ 6:00p.m., with the first race taking the green flag at 7:45p.m. this Friday, May 21!