From Tommy Goudge (July 10, 2010) – The Southern Ontario Sprints 2010 tour got back on track on Saturday night at Brighton Speedway, and it was local driver Chris Jones in victory lane at the end of the twenty lap feature. It was Jones’ first career Sprint Car win, and a popular one with the hometown fans.
Jones and Adam West started on the front row of the feature and Jones took off immediately into the lead. Back in the pack, ninth starter Jamie Collard and seventh starter Travis Cunningham both moved into the top five early in the race. Collard in fact passed three cars during the first lap as he tried to get into contention for another feature win.
The first of two caution flags slowed the field on lap four as Chris Durand spun to a stop in turn four. When the green flag came back out, Glenn Styres made short work of Adam West and Cunningham to move into second, but Jones was already pulling away out front.
The caution flew again on lap seven for Frank Baranowski, who slowed in turn two. During the caution flag Rick Wilson and Keith Dempster made contact in turn one. SOS officials determined both drivers to be disqualified for the night, putting a dent in Dempster’s championship chances.
The next thirteen laps went green flag all the way, with lots of action all over the track. Jones continued to run the bottom groove, while Styres tried the top side to challenge for the lead. The halfway mark found Styres close behind, while Cunningham held the third spot, and West and Collard battled over fourth.
Styres’ bid for the win ended when he slid over the bank in turn three shortly after halfwat. He recovered and held his position, but lost a lot of ground to Jones, who was entering traffic. Jones raced through traffic the rest of the way to get the win, while Styres settled for second, followed by Cunningham, Collard, and Kevin Job.
“The track was one lane tonight and it was hard to pass,” said Jones in victory lane. “The scoreboard really helped me tonight. I could see Styres was behind me and I had to get through traffic with a guy like that behind me. I have to thank my Dad – he works his butt off to get this car on the track. I’m just happy to get a win in a place where they know who Chris Jones is!”
Styres third second place finish in a row on the SOS tour helped him to take over the unofficial points lead as he chases and unprecedented fourth tour championship.
NOTES
– Twenty cars were entered for the fourth round of the SOS season. Nineteen cars competed though, as Kyle Fraser and the Mike Cushman racing team had issues and left before hot laps began. Kevin Job, Chris Durand, Travis Cunningham were all at Brighton for the first time in 2010. It was Durand’s first ever visit to the Rinaldi-family owned facility.
– Tyler Rand once again had problems and started near the back of the feature field. This time the culprit was a bent torque tube discovered after hot laps. The sophomore driver again charged through the pack in the feature after missing his heat, gaining eleven positions to finish seventh.
– Kevin Job was chosen as the Stealth Racewear “Under the Radar” award winner for the night. The Campbellville resident quietly moved up three spots to get a top five finish in his first race at Brighton in over two years.
– The SOS tour gets back to action for round five of the 2010 Fifteenth Anniversary season on Saturday, August 7 at Brighton Speedway.
RACE REPORT – SATURDAY, JULY 10, 2010
SOUTHERN ONTARIO SPRINTS
2010 SEASON EVENT # 4
Brighton Speedway – Brighton, Ontario
ENTRIES
(Number Name – Hometown)
0 Glenn Styres – Ohsweken
01 Kyle Fraser – White Lake
2 Brad Lodge – Stouffville
5 Keith Dempster – Alton
9 Jim Munsie – Pickering
10 Bob Crawford – Sutton
11 Chris Jones – Demorestville
15aw April Wilson – Joyceville
21x Kevin Job – Campbellville
25 Warren Mahoney – Lefroy
30 Adam West – Ridgetown
42w Rick Wilson – Joyceville
45x Doug Banks – Inverary
66 Frank Baranowski – Mount Hope
67 Chris Durand – Port Stanley
71 Travis Cunningham – Grimsby
77x Jamie Collard – Burford
79 Dick Mahoney – Newmarket
84 Tyler Rand – Consecon
98 Paul Pekkonen – Brockville
HEAT RACES
(top 3 finishers in each heat redraw for feature starting positions)
HEAT RACE #1
(8 laps)
Finish. Number Name (Starting Position)
1. 77x Jamie Collard (2)
2. 42w Rick Wilson (4)
3. 21x Kevin Job (1)
4. 9 Jim Munsie (6)
5. 15aw April Wilson (5)
6. 2 Brad Lodge (7)
7. 45x Doug Banks (3)
HEAT RACE #2
(8 laps)
Finish. Number Name (Starting Position)
1. 5 Keith Dempster (1)
2. 11 Chris Jones (5)
3. 79 Dick Mahoney (2)
4. 25 Warren Mahoney (3)
5. 98 Paul Pekkonen (6)
DNS. 84 Tyler Rand (4)
DNS. 01 Kyle Fraser (7)
HEAT RACE #3
(8 laps)
Finish. Number Name (Starting Position)
1. 0 Glenn Styres (4)
2. 30 Adam West (3)
3. 71 Travis Cunnigham (1)
4. 10 Bob Crawford (5)
5. 66 Frank Baranowski (6)
6. 67 Chris Durand (2)
‘A’ FEATURE
(20 laps)
Finish. Number Name (Starting Position)
1. 11 Chris Jones (1)
2. 0 Glenn Styres (4)
3. 71 Travis Cunningham (7)
4. 77x Jamie Collard (9)
5. 21x Kevin Job (8)
6. 30 Adam West (2)
7. 84 Tyler Rand (18)
8. 25 Warren Mahoney (11)
9. 79 Dick Mahoney (3)
10. 9 Jim Munsie (10)
11. 15aw April Wilson (13)
12. 45x Doug Banks (17)
13. 98 Paul Pekkonen (14)
14. 2 Brad Lodge (19)
15. 67 Chris Durand (16)
16. 66 Frank Baranowski (15) DNF
17. 10 Bob Crawford (12) DNF
DQ. 5 Keith Dempster (5)
DQ. 42w Rick Wilson (6)
DNS. 01 Kyle Fraser (20)
Stealth Racewear “Under the Radar” Award – 21x Kevin Job
Hard Charger – 84 Tyler Rand (gained 11 positions)
Lap Leaders – 11 Chris Jones (1-20)
Caution Flags – 2 (lap 4, lap 7)
UNOFFICIAL TOP 5 IN POINTS AFTER ROUND #4
Rank. Number Name Total (Positions Gained/Lost)
1. 0 Glenn Styres – 614 (+2)
2. 84 Tyler Rand – 579 (–)
3. 30 Adam West – 557 (+1)
4. 9 Jim Munsie – 526 (+1)
5. 79 Dick Mahoney – 518 (+1)