By Rich Vleck
TULSA, Okla. (June 8, 2010)- With this past Friday’s rainout at Ohsweken, the ASCS Patriots will now make their first stop in Canada in 2010 this Saturday at the Brockville Ontario Speedway.
The tricky ¼-mile in Eastern Ontario will host its first of three Patriot events this season, all part of the popular Riverside Bar and Grill King of the St. Lawrence. Over the years, a multitude of drivers have gone to Victory Lane at “The BOS”; but the only driver to win multiple Patriot shows is the preeminent fan favorite.
Rick Wilson, from nearby Joyceville, Ontario, won the first Patriot show at Brockville in 2004. “The Joyceville Jet” has always thrilled his local fans and hopes to do the same on Saturday as he attempts to move back into a tie with Bryan Howland for the second-most all-time Patriot wins.
Speaking of Howland, the three-time champion heads into Canada as the early season point leader. The Auburn, NY driver clinched his first title at Brockville in 2005. Howland also won there in 2009 and brought home the King of the St. Lawrence Series Title in the “Battle at the Border” last October.
Alain Bergeron scored his first Brockville win last August, dominating the Patriot event. Bergeron nearly had the King of the St. Lawrence last season and will attempt to dethrone Howland this year.
Jared Zimbardi, Tim Kelly and Don Adamczyk are among the Patriot regulars making their longest tow this Saturday. They all seek their first career win at the BOS, but have come close in years past. Zimbardi and Adamczyk each had a run in the front in 2006 before late-race issues knocked them out of contention. Zimbardi was fourth and eighth there last season.
That trio, along with Bubba Broderick are attempting to close in on Howland for the championship point lead after putting together solid runs on Memorial Weekend. Broderick, the most recent winner on tour, has become a short-track master on the tour and Brockville could be just what the youngster from Brookfield, CT needs to go back-to-back. The No. 5 was sixth and second there last season.
A throng of locals are expected to join in on the fun including 2009 Insinger Race Fuels ASCS Patriot Rookie of the Year Devin Caron, Steve Poirier, Michael Parent, Brian McDonald, April Wilson, Tyler Rand, Daniel Lampron, Kyle Fraser and Brockville’s own Paul Pekkonen.
For more information, visit www.ASCSpatriotsprints.com or www.ASCSracing.com.
ASCS Patriot History at Brockville:
Races: 7
8/20/2004- Rick Wilson
10/22/2005- Kyle Drum
7/15/2006- Rick Wilson
6/2/2007- Jessica Zemken
7/18/2009- Bryan Howland
8/22/2009- Alain Bergeron
10/17/2009- Glenn Styres (Non-Points)