From SOS
London, Ontario (June 27th 2011) – For the first time since the 2009 season, the Southern Ontario Sprints returned to South Buxton Raceway in Chatham-Kent Saturday night. This was round #4 on the SOS schedule and what was to be the 2nd of four races in a co-sanctioned series with Ohsweken Speedway, SOD and PST. The third race of the season, and initial race of the two double header weekends, at Ohsweken Speedway was rained out on Friday night. The weather was still overcast and spotty showers surrounded the region but it did not keep the fans from packing the grandstand for one of the biggest sprint car shows ever held at South Buxton Raceway.
Nine Southern Ontario Sprints regulars, the most of any of the co-sanctioning bodies, made the trip to the track at the western end of the province. A total of 25 cars were in the pits for the event.
Heat race action got things under way with Travis Cunningham coming home 4th in the first heat while Frank Baranowski pulled in early with motor issues that would plague him for the rest of the evening. Warren Mahoney won the second heat race over Dustin Daggett of SOD, while Adam West would also pull off with engine problems. The team scrambled to track down the problem which turned out to be an ignition issue that they were able to fix in time for the feature event. Bob Crawford finished 5th in a tough race, ahead of former SOS rookie of the year, Kyle Patrick.
Warren Mahoney would have been thrilled to pull the pole position in a normal SOS night redraw. Unfortunately for Warren, the format for these co-sanctioned races meant he had to give the pole away to one of the other redraw eligible drivers. Warren chose former SOS champion, Keith Dempster, to pass the pole position on to, while Warren would start back in the 8th position.
All 25 cars in the pits were ready for battle come feature time, so instead of sending one car home, the field was expanded to start all 25. The sophomore jinx struck for the 2 of Brad Lodge early in the night when he was forced to retire with rear end problems. Keith Dempster moved out to an early lead and showed the way till after the half way point of the race. Dustin Daggett had moved steadily through the field from the 7th spot and after several attempts, made the pass on Dempster to take the lead. Once out in front Daggett would pull away from the field to cross the finish line first. Unfortunately, in post race inspection it became apparent that Daggett’s top wing, which is legal under ASCS Sprints on Dirt rules, did not meet the agreed upon rules for these co-sanctioned races which are similar to the CSCN rules. It was an obvious letdown and unintended mistake for the SOD point leader. The disqualification handed the win to Keith Dempster. “I really don’t like to win it this way, but we’ll take it,” stated Dempster, a two-time Southern Ontario Sprints Champion, upon learning of his first win in over a year. Warren Mahoney was the highest placing SOS regular with a 5th place finish for the night. Lee Ladouceur was 8th in his first ever visit to the South Western Ontario speedway. Bob Crawford was just outside the top ten in 11th and Jim Munsie had a solid finish in 13th. Adam West’s night ended early with further motor problems. Dick Mahoney was suffering brake issues and wisely parked his ride early rather than risk it on the tricky D shaped oval. Travis Cunningham, who was running sixth at the time, was caught by a spinning Dain Naida and wound up 20th.
The Southern Ontario Sprints will head back to the other end of the province when they return to action July 9th at Brighton Speedway.
2010 SOS EVENT #4
South Buxton Raceway – South Buxton, Ontario
SOS ENTRIES (9 cars)
(Number Name – Hometown)
2 Brad Lodge – Stouffville
9 Jim Munsie – Newmarket
10 Bob Crawford – Sutton
25 Warren Mahoney – Lefroy
30 Adam West – Ridgetown
51 Lee Ladouceur – Alexandria
66 Frank Baranowski – Mount Hope
71 Travis Cunningham – Grimsby
79 Dick Mahoney – Newmarket
HEAT RACES
HEAT RACE #1
1. Glenn Styres (0)
2. Bryan Howland (51)
3. Tim Kelly (12)
4. Travis Cunningham (71)
5. Mitch Brown (10)
6. Brad Lodge (2)
7. Jim Munsie (9)
8. Jim Lingar (70)
9. Frank Baranowski (66)
HEAT RACE #2
1. Warren Mahoney (25)
2. Dustin Daggett (2M)
3. John Burbridge (31)
4. Dick Mahoney (79)
5. Lee Ladouceur (51L)
6. Jamie Collard (7x)
7. Robert Huisken (46)
8. Adam West (30) (dns)
HEAT RACE #3
1. Dain Naida (07x)
2. Keith Dempster (5)
3. Don Adamczyk (21)
4. Jared Zimbardi (35)
5. Bob Crawford (10c)
6. Kyle Patrick (33k)
7. Chris Durand (67)
8. Ken Mackey (25M)
‘A’ FEATURE
(25 laps)
Finish. Name (Number)
1. Keith Dempster (5)
2. Jared Zimbardi (35)
3. Glenn Styres (0)
4. Bryan Howland (51)
5. Warren Mahoney (25)
6. Kyle Patrick (33k)
7. Ken Mackey (25M)
8. Lee Ladouceur (51L)
9. Jamie Collard (7x)
10. Robert Huisken (46)
11. Bob Crawford (10c)
12. Dain Naida (07x)
13. Jim Munsie (9)
14. Mitch Brown (10)
15. Jim Lingar (70)
16. Chris Durand (67)
17. Adam West (30)
18. Tim Kelly (12)
19. Dick Mahoney (79)
20. Travis Cunningham (71)
21. John Burbridge (31)
22. Frank Baranowski (66)
23. Don Adamczyk (21)
24. Brad Lodge (2)
25. Dustin Daggett (2M)
UNOFFICIAL TOP 5 IN POINTS AFTER ROUND #4
1. Lee Ladouceur, 2. Bob Crawford, 3. Warren Mahoney, 4. Adam West, 5. Travis Cunningham