by Tommy Goudge
(June 21, 2011) – The first special event of the Ohsweken Speedway season hits the track this Friday when Jones Brown Insurance presents the first of four races in the Northern Summer Nationals Sprint Car series. The Lighthouse Tattoos Thunder Stocks, HRW Automotive Mini Stocks, and Pierced Parts Bombers will also be in action this Friday night, June 24 for round 4 of Friday Night Thunder.
NORTHERN SUMMER NATIONALS
The first two rounds of the Northern Summer Nationals series will take place this weekend, with Friday racing at Ohsweken Speedway, and Saturday at South Buxton Raceway. Four affiliated sanctioning bodies have officially signed up for the series, including Ohsweken’s Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Car division, along with the Southern Ontario Sprints club, ASCS Sprints on Dirt series, and Patriot Sprint Tour. Several drivers from the Empire Super Sprints have also expressed interest in attending, and the $3,000 winner’s prize on Friday night is sure to attract a surprise entrant or two as well.
The Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Car regulars will defend home turf on Friday night, with “The Tilbury Tornado” Kyle Patrick leading the way. Patrick is the only driver who has finished in the top 10 in all 3 Corr/Pak events held in 2011. Jim Huppunen of Fenwick is just one point behind Patrick however, and had an impressive runner-up finish last Friday. Defending Corr/Pak champ Dave Dykstra of Port Colborne is third in the standings, followed by Burford driver Jamie Collard, and a 5th place tie between Grimsby’s Travis Cunningham, and opening night winner Kyle Moffit of South Dayton, NY.
Patriot Sprint Tour drivers have been hard to ignore at Ohsweken over the past couple of weeks. Salamanca, NY driver Jared Zimbardi leads the PST points standings through 6 events, and won the Corr/Pak feature at Ohsweken on June 10. Bryan Howland of Auburn, NY is second in the PST standings, and won last Friday’s Corr/Pak feature at Ohsweken, along with Saturday’s PST event at Merrittville Speedway. Howland won the 2008 Northern Summer Nationals, and was on his way to winning the ’09 event when his front wing came loose with 3 laps to go. Tim Kelly of Rockstream, NY, “Williamsville (NY) Warrior” Don Adamczyk, Vern Wasson of Jersey Shore, PA, and Alden, NY’s Scott Kreutter are some of the other PST drivers expected to visit Southern Ontario this weekend.
Dustin Daggett’s name is the first mentioned whenever the ASCS Sprints on Dirt series is involved with an Ohsweken event. The Grand Ledge, Michigan resident has already won 3 times on the ASCS SOD tour this season, and sits tied for second all-time on the Ohsweken Speedway feature win list with 9, after 3 wins at Ohsweken last year. Daggett has also won a Northern Summer Nationals event twice before. 2010 ASCS Sprints on Dirt champion Ryan Grubaugh of St. Johns, Michigan is also expected in action this weekend, and should be a threat to win too. Grubaugh has run once already this year at Ohsweken, claiming a runner-up finish on opening night for the Corr/Pak division.
The Southern Ontario Sprints club has competed once so far this season, while another event was rained out. “The Joyceville Jet” Rick Wilson got the SOS feature win at Brighton Speedway in May and leads the standings, but is unlikely to make the trip to compete this weekend. That leaves Demorestville driver Chris Jones, “Batman” Adam West from Ridgetown, Sutton driver Bob Crawford, Alexandria’s Lee Ladouceur, and others to fight for the SOS points lead this weekend. Dick Mahoney of Newmarket, Stouffville driver Brad Lodge, Mount Hope’s Frank Baranowski, and Pickering’s Jim Munsie are also expected to compete at Ohsweken on Friday, while Warren Mahoney of Lefroy is likely to join the tour on Saturday at South Buxton.
LIGHTHOUSE TATTOOS THUNDER STOCKS
Twin 15’s for the Thunder Stocks highlighted last week’s card at Ohsweken, with Devin Habiuk of Port Robinson, and Cambridge driver Wyatt Van Wart picking up feature wins, and an extra $50 each from Engine Pro Racing. Habiuk leads the championship chase by 5 markers over Caledonia driver Mike Thorne, while opening night feature winner Larry Czinege, Jr. of Ridgeway, Brantford’s Brad Herron, and first-time winner Van Wart round out the top 5. Cory Turner of Caistor Centre is 6th overall, and leads the way in the Rookie of the Year quest. Lee Winger also has a feature win in the Thunder Stock division this year, and sits 10th in the standings.
HRW AUTOMOTIVE MINI STOCKS
Caledonia’s Mike Evers visited the Engine Pro Racing Winner’s Circle last Friday for the first time since May 30, 2008, breaking Karl Sault’s win streak in the process. Sault, of Dundas, won the first two features of his Mini Stock career, and continues to hold the points lead after a 4th place finish on Friday. Brantford’s Jake Brown is second in the standings, followed by Evers, Smithville driver Mike Sarantakos, and Burlington’s Mike Taylor. Cayuga driver Abel Castelein returned to the track after a flip the week before, and drove a borrowed ride to 2nd place at the end of the feature. The two-time champ is 6th in the standings. Sault leads the Rookie of the Year standings, with 7th overall Jeremy Hughes the next closest challenger for the rookie title.
PIERCED PARTS BOMBERS
Trevor Roszell got his second straight feature win in Bomber action last Friday. The Waterdown resident leads the championship chase, with Rockton’s Dave Patton 8 points behind. Team #38 with drivers Rodney and Randy Rutherford is third in the standings, followed by Craig Dowd, and Sarah Rutherford.
TICKETS PLEASE!
Advanced reserved seat tickets for “Tony Stewart at Ohsweken” July 26, World of Outlaws Sprint Cars “Six Nations Showdown” July 27, and Canadian Sprint Car Nationals September 15, 16, and 17 at Ohsweken are on sale now! Please visit www.OhswekenSpeedway.com and call 1-888-720-RACE to order yours today!
RIDE WITH THE PROS
Ohsweken Speedway has two custom-built two-seater Sprint Cars available each race night for rides during intermission and after the races. Please visit www.OhswekenSpeedway.com to learn how you can take the ride of your life with one of the stars of the Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Cars!
OUR SPONSORS
About Jones Brown Insurance: Jones Brown Motorsport is Canada’s insurance provider to the motorsports industry. They offer the widest range of products specifically designed to protect motorsports associations, facilities, teams, and special events. As this country’s only dedicated supplier of motorsports insurance products and services, they provide the broadest coverage, exclusive risk management advice, and the strongest negotiation available on your behalf. Their team’s in-depth knowledge of industry challenges and service requirements includes over 50 years of first-hand experience. For more information on motorsport products and programs, please visit www.JonesBrown.com
About Corr/Pak Merchandising: Founded in 1997, Corr/Pak Merchandising Inc. is based in Richmond Hill, Ontario, and is a designer and producer of Point of Purchase (POP) displays for retail. Strong emphasis on creative design and speed of response has seen Corr/Pak achieve great success in a very competitive industry. Their in-house capabilities and broad range of trusted suppliers enable them to develop any sort of effective solution for your retail display needs, no matter the materials used – whether corrugated, wood, boxboard, plastic, wire, steel, or any combination of those. Corr/Pak’s support of the Sprint Car division at Ohsweken continues for a fourth consecutive season in 2011. Please visit www.CorrPak.ca for more information on the title sponsor of Sprint Car racing at Ohsweken Speedway.
About Lighthouse Tattoos: The friendly and knowledgeable staff at Lighthouse Tattoos are there to assist you in choosing a tattoo from thousands of in-store designs, or they can create a custom tattoo using your own idea. Lighthouse Tattoos is a clean and sterile environment, and is health department inspected and approved. They provide a fun and relaxing atmosphere to make sure your tattoo experience is a memorable one. Visit the title sponsor of Thunder Stock racing at Ohsweken at 245 Lakeshore Road East in Mississauga, or online at www.LighthouseTattoos.com
About HRW Automotive: Visit the title sponsor of Mini-Stock Racing at Ohsweken Speedway for all your Automotive needs. HRW Automotive is located at 163 Baptist Church Road in Caledonia, and available by phone at 519-752-2063.
About Pierced Parts: Operators of Silver Dragon Alternative Body Fashion retail stores in Brantford and Waterloo, and soon-to-be-opened locations in London and Port Stanley, they offer wicked selections of body jewelry, crazy contacts, and hair dye for the alternative lifestyle. Pierced Parts Studios will also open soon, offering the best jewelry from Silver Dragon, plus professional body piercing services, and other fashion accessories, and apparel. Visit the title sponsor of Bomber racing at Ohsweken on the web at www.PiercedParts.com
THIS WEEK AT OHSWEKEN
Ohsweken Speedway’s Friday Night Thunder continues this Friday, June 24 when Jones Brown Insurance presents the opening round of the Northern Summer Nationals Sprint Car series. Ohsweken’s Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Car stars will be joined by drivers and teams from the Southern Ontario Sprints, ASCS Sprints on Dirt, and Patriot Sprint Tour for a big $3,000-to-win event. The Lighthouse Tattoos Thunder Stocks, HRW Automotive Mini Stocks, and Pierced Parts Bombers will also be part of the fourth round of Friday Night Thunder this week.
Friday Night Thunder at Ohsweken offers affordable exciting family entertainment just a short drive away from most Mid-Western Ontario locations. Adult General Admission for this special Northern Summer Nationals event is just $20, while Seniors and Students are $8, and Kids age twelve and under are FREE! Spectator gates open @ 6:00p.m., with the first race taking the green flag at 7:45p.m. this Friday, June 24! Visit www.OhswekenSpeedway.com and Feel The Excitement!