By Tommy Goudge
(May 21, 2010) – Dave Dykstra got his 2010 season off on the right foot Friday night at Ohsweken Speedway by claiming victory in the Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Car feature during round one of Friday Night Thunder. Billy Bleich took the win in ESSO Thunder Stocks, Trevor Goulding emerged as victor of the ESSO Mini Stock feature, Karl Sault won the Bomber feature, and Paul Klager added to his win total at Ohsweken in the first of three visits for the Mod Lite Stars Tour North.
CORR/PAK MERCHANDISING SPRINT CARS
Dave Dykstra and Chris Durand paced the field to the start of the first Sprint Car feature of 2010 at Ohsweken. Dykstra jumped out to an early lead before the caution flew on lap three for John Riegling, who lost a wheel in turn three. Dykstra once again held the lead out front on the restart, but only three laps were recorded before Jamie Turner spun to a stop in turn three, bringing out another caution.
A longer green flag stretch followed, with Dykstra stretching his lead on the restart. Kevin Job quickly made his way forward from sixth on the grid and utilized the low side of the Speedway to gain on Dykstra, who was still running the cushion. With half the twenty lap distance in the books, Job began to challenge Dykstra on the low side as the two drivers raced through traffic. Job drew up alongside the Dykstra machine, but could not nose ahead.
Having seen Job running the low side, Dykstra moved to the bottom as well, and stretched his lead again during the second half of the race. The race slowed once more on lap eighteen for a spin by defending champ Tom Huppunen in turn four, giving Job one last shot, but Dykstra was too strong on the restart and held on for the win, the second of his Sprint Car career.
“I complained all winter about not having enough motor on the restarts,” said Dykstra in victory lane. “My brother-in-law said we would have more power this year, and he was right”
Job, Jared Zimbardi, Dain Naida, and Jim Huppunen rounded out the top five. Kyle Moffit, Jim Huppunen, and Dain Naida claimed the heat race victories for the thirty-one car field, while John Riegling took the win in the Consi.
FRIDAY NIGHT THUNDER 2010
ROUND 1 RACE REPORT – MAY 21, 2010
OHSWEKEN SPEEDWAY
OHSWEKEN, ONTARIO
EVENT SPONSOR – RAPSTAR ENERGY DRINK
CORR/PAK MERCHANDISING SPRINT CARS
HEAT RACES (8 laps each – Top 4 redraw for feature starting spots, top 5 transfer to A-Feature):
BS&B RADIATOR HEAT RACE #1
1. 7 Kyle Moffit (South Dayton, NY), 2. 5 Keith Dempster (Alton), 3. 35 Jared Zimbardi (Salamanca, NY), 4. 11j Chris Jones (Demorestville), 5. 33k Kyle Patrick (Tilbury), 6. 11 Jamie Turner (Caistor Centre), 7. 10 Mitchell Brown (Brantford), 8. 27 Jamie Collard (Burford) DNS, 9. 9jr Tim Zack (Dain City) DNS, 10. 81 Derek Jonathan (Lewiston, NY) DNS, 11. 96 Shane Butler (London) DNS. Time – 1:52.985
BEST WESTERN CAIRN CROFT HOTEL HEAT RACE #2
1. 14 Jim Huppunen (Fenwick), 2. 5d Dave Dykstra (Port Colborne), 3. 80 Chris Steele (Vineland), 4. 21x Kevin Job (Campbellville), 5. 7m Justin Martin (Shedden), 6. 52L Daniel Lampron (Saint-Hubert, QC), 7. 49 Todd Hoddick (Cheektowaga, NY), 8. 30g Stevin Goldner (Aylmer), 9. 90 James Evans (Beamsville) DNF, 10. 01m Jason Martin (Shedden) DNF. Time – 1:58.940
GRISDALE RACING PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #3
1. 6n Dain Naida (Belleville, MI), 2. 12c Tom Huppunnen (Fenwick), 3. 67 Chris Durand (Port Stanley), 4. 23 Steve Garry (Dundas), 5. 0 Glenn Styres (Ohsweken), 6. 1a John Riegling (Chatham), 7. 21j John Bubridge, Sr. (Simcoe), 8. 01 Mikey Kruchka (Hamilton), 9. 7x Mike Ling (Mount Brydges) DNF, 10. 3 Wayne Ashton (Kitchener) DNS. Time – 1:55.956
CONSI (10 laps – Top 5 transfer to A-Feature)
1. 1a John Riegling, 2. 52L Daniel Lampron, 3. 01 Mikey Kruchka, 4. 11 Jamie Turner, 5. 21j John Burbridge, Sr., 6. 49 Todd Hoddick, 7. 81 Derek Jonathan, 8. 30g Stevin Goldner, 9. 10 Mitchell Brown, 10. 7x Mike Ling DNF, 11. 96 Shane Butler DNS, 12. 90 James Evans DNS, 13. 01m Jason Martin DNS, 14. 3 Wayne Ashton DNS, 15. 27 Jamie Collard DNS, 16. 9jr Tim Zack DNS. No Time
CORR/PAK MERCHANDISING
SPRINT CAR FEATURE (20 laps)
Position. # Name (Starting Position)
1. 5d Dave Dykstra (1)
2. 21x Kevin Job (6)
3. 35 Jared Zimbardi (4)
4. 6n Dain Naida (3)
5. 14h Jim Huppunen (12)
6. 7 Kyle Moffit (7)
7. 0 Glenn Styres (15)
8. 7m Justin Martin (14)
9. 5 Keith Dempster (9)
10. 80 Chris Steele (11)
11. 12c Tom Huppunen (8)
12. 33k Kyle Patrick (13)
13. 11j Chris Jones (10)
14. 52L Daniel Lampron (17)
15. 11 Jamie Turner (19)
16. 67 Chris Durand (2)
17. 23 Steve Garry (5) DNF
18. 01 Mikey Kruchka (18) DNF
19. 21 John Burbridge, Sr. (20) DNF
20 1a John Riegling (16) DNF
No Time