From Ohsweken Speedway
Ohsweken, ON — (June 3, 2011) — by Tommy Goudge (June 3, 2011) – The weatherman finally cooperated, allowing Ohsweken Speedway to kick off its 2011 season with round one of Friday Night Thunder on June 3. Full fields were the order of the evening, as the Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Cars, Lighthouse Tattoos Thunder Stocks, HRW Automotive Mini Stocks, and Pierced Parts Bombers all began their championship chases. The Vintage Cars were also on the card for their first of five appearances this season.
Kyle Moffit dominated the Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Car feature by lapping all but second place Ryan Grubaugh, who finished half a lap behind. Dain Naida, Kyle Patrick, and Jim Huppunen rounded out the top 5.
The Light House Tattoos Thunder Stock feature saw plenty of action, but it was youngster Larry Czinege Jr. who cruised to the win in his #33 Camaro. Mike Miller, Ryan Dinning, Jim Lampman, and Brad Herron came home in the top 5.
The HRW Automotive Mini Stocks division saw a major upset, as two-time Bomber division champ Karl Sault won both his heat race and the feature in his Mini Stock debut. Mike Taylor was in contention for the win, but cut a tire in the closing laps. Mike Evers, Jake Brown, Jeremy Hughes, and Steve Hess filled out the top 5.
A large number of drivers moved on from the Pierced Parts Bombers division into Mini Stocks and Thunder Stocks this year, but plenty of racers remain in the entry-level division. Rodney Rutherford was originally planning to race a Thunder Stock this year, but instead brought his Bomber car and took the opening night win. Dave Patton gave him a good run, but ended up second, followed by Craig Dowd, Jeremy May, and Trevor Roszell.
The Vintage Car feature was a shocker, as Doug Fralick led every lap but the most important one. Fralick’s right rear tire went flat on the last lap, handing the win to Dave Charczuk. Daryl Bray was “best in class”, Sportsman class honours in the combined feature.
NEXT WEEK AT OHSWEKEN
BS&B Radiator presents “Youth Uniform Night” next Friday, June 10.
Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprints, Lighthouse Tattoos Thunder Stocks, HRW Automotive Mini Stocks, and Pierced Parts Bombers are all part of round
2 of Friday Night Thunder, along with the first appearance of 2011 for the Mod-Lite Stars Championship Tour North. Gates open at 6:00 with racing starting at 7:45!
FRIDAY NIGHT THUNDER 2011
ROUND 1 RACE REPORT – JUNE 3, 2011
OHSWEKEN SPEEDWAY
OHSWEKEN, ONTARIO
EVENT SPONSORS –
ENGLER MACHINE & TOOL,
GRISDALE RACING PRODUCTS
CORR/PAK MERCHANDISING SPRINT CARS
HEAT RACES (8 laps each):
ENGLER MACHINE & TOOL HEAT RACE #1
1. 07x Dain Naida (Tecumseh, MI), 2. 33k Kyle Patrick (Tilbury), 3. 3w Ryan Grubaugh (St. Johns, MI), 4. 5 Keith Dempster (Alton), 5. 10 Mitch Brown (Brantford), 6. 0 Glenn Styres (Ohsweken), 7. 49 Todd Hoddick (Cheektowaga, NY), 8. 52 Jesse Costa (St. Thomas), 9. 96 Shane Butler (St. Thomas) DNS.
GRISDALE RACING PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #2
1. 5d Dave Dykstra (Port Colborne), 2. 12c Tom Huppunen (Fenwick), 3. 71 Travis Cunningham (Grimsby), 4. 11 Jamie Turner (Caistor Centre), 5. 81 Derek Jonathan (Lewiston, NY), 6. 10c Bob Crawford (Sutton), 7. 01 Mikey Kruchka (Hamilton), 8. 21x Kevin Job (Campbellville).
BS&B RADIATOR HEAT RACE #3
1. 7 Kyle Moffit (South Dayton, NY), 2. 14h Jim Huppunen (Fenwick), 3.
5m Brad Malloy (Niagara Falls), 4. 7x Jamie Collard (Burford), 5. 30g Stevin Goldner (Aylmer), 6. 67 Chris Durand (Port Stanley), 7. 75 Jim Sweers (Millgrove), 8. 90 James Evans (Beamsville).
CORR/PAK MERCHANDISING
SPRINT CAR FEATURE (25 laps)
Position. # Name (Starting Position)
1. 7 Kyle Moffit (2)
2. 3w Ryan Grubaugh (7)
3. 07x Dain Naida (1)
4. 33k Kyle Patrick (8)
5. 14h Jim Huppunen (3)
6. 67 Chris Durand (13)
7. 5d Dave Dykstra (9)
8. 12c Tom Huppunen (4)
9. 71 Travis Cunningham (11)
10. 5 Keith Dempster (14)
11. 7x Jamie Collard (6)
12. 10 Mitch Brown (16)
13. 0 Glenn Styres (18)
14. 49 Todd Hoddick (20)
15. 81 Derek Jonathan (5)
16. 11 Jamie Turner (10)
17. 10c Bob Crawford (17)
18. 52 Jesse Costa (22)
19. 90 James Evans (21)
20. 5m Brad Malloy (12)
21. 30g Stevin Goldner (15)
22. 75 Jim Sweers (19)
DNS. 01 Mikey Kruchka
DNS. 21x Kevin Job
SPRINT CAR AWARDS:
Nathan Ackland State Farm Insurance “Top Gun” (highest in heat race passing points): Dain Naida RNB Restorations Feature Winner: Kyle Moffit