by Tommy Goudge
(July 15, 2011) – Fans from Norfolk County were treated to 2 for 1 admission on Best Western Cairn Croft Hotel night at the speedway on Friday night, and they were also treated to some great racing action. Jim Huppunen won a second consecutive Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Car feature, while Brad Herron won the Lighthouse Tattoos Thunder Stock race, Jeremy Hughes tasted victory for the first time in HRW Automotive Mini Stock action, Jesse McDonald squeaked out a Pierced Parts Bomber win, Brian Page took Vintage Car honours, and Rodney Rutherford claimed the “Small Car” Figure 8 race.
CORR/PAK MERCHANDISING SPRINT CARS
Mitch Brown and last week’s winner Jim Huppunen started on the front row and Huppunen grabbed the early lead. The Fenwick driver cruised to his second career win, and second in a row, after a couple of close calls in traffic.
“The track was pretty good there,” said Jim afterwards. “It had some slick spots, so I had to really be careful there. It’s awesome to get a second win here, especially back to back, and especially with Best Western Cairrn Croft sponsoring the night. And I got my regular crew tonight, so it’s pretty awesome!”
Mikey Kruchka won the Nathan Ackland State Farm Insurance “Top Gun” award for topping the passing points list in the heat races, and had a good feature run going until a flat tire sent him pit-side. Jared Zimbardi and Dave Dykstra put on a good show racing for 2nd for much of the race, with Zimbardi prevailing. Dykstra took 3rd, followed by Mitch Brown, and 13th starter Travis Cunningham. Dain Naida and Jamie Collard finished 6th and 7th, followed by Kyle Patrick, Keith Dempster, and Glenn Styres.
Heat races for the 22 car field were claimed by Mikey Kruchka, Jamie Collard, and Jared Zimbardi.
LIGHTHOUSE TATTOOS THUNDER STOCKS
It was anyone’s race in the Lighthouse Tattoos Thunder Stock feature. Multiple drivers led the race, but at the end of the 20 lap affair it was Brad Herron standing in the Engine Pro Racing Winner’s Circle. Herron held on to the win after a caution flag bunched the field with 2 laps to go, while Lee Winger and Rob Disher got together behind him. Disher got the worst of the exchange, ending up with a flat tire.
Early leader Brian Pescetti came home second, followed by Mike Thorne, who had been to the pits to change 2 flat tires earlier in the race. Devin Habiuk also led laps, but settled for 4th, followed by Winger.
Heat races for the 21 car field were claimed by Phil Nyssen, Lee Winger, and Mike Thorne.
HRW AUTOMOTIVE MINI STOCKS
The Mini Stocks feature was wild and woolly, with racing four and five wide at times. All the racing was for second though, as Jeremy Hughes grabbed the early lead and sailed to his first career Mini Stock win. Karl Sault and Mike Taylor did their best to catch Hughes, but came up short, while Jake Brown, and Abel Castelein rounded out the top 5.
Heat races for the 25 car field went to Jason Lungaro, Steve Hess, and Jeremy Hughes.
PIERCED PARTS BOMBERS
Aaron Turkey and Dale Gyokery started on the front row, but Jesse McDonald was on a mission and stretched out a lead. The win came down to the wire though, as Rodney Rutherford ran down McDonald. Rutherford came up just a few inches short, while McDonald claimed his first Bomber win of the season.
Heat races for the 21 car field went to Dusty DeBoer and Jesse McDonald, while Kevin Magrin won the B-Main.
NEXT WEEK AT OHSWEKEN
Outhouse Image and Design presents “Christmas in July” featuring Santa Claus and Autograph Night next Friday, July 22. The Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprints, Lighthouse Tattoos Thunder Stocks, HRW Automotive Mini Stocks, and Pierced Parts Bombers are all part of Friday Night Thunder next week. Gates open at 6:00 with racing starting at 7:45!
COMING SOON
“Christmas in July” will kick off a busy week of action at the track which includes “Tony Stewart Night” on July 26, the World of Outlaws Sprint Car series on July 27, and another round of Friday Night Thunder on July 29. August will start with a bang when Ohsweken’s annual Hot Dog Eating Championship takes centre stage along with a full racing card, including the Art Hill Memorial 42 for the HRW Automotive Mini Stock division. Make sure to visit www.OhswekenSpeedway.com for all the information on these special events.
FRIDAY NIGHT THUNDER 2011
ROUND 6 RACE REPORT – JULY 15
OHSWEKEN SPEEDWAY
OHSWEKEN, ONTARIO
EVENT SPONSOR –
BEST WESTERN CAIRN CROFT HOTEL
RACE START: 7:45p.m.
RACE END: 11:00p.m.
TOTAL ENTRIES: 107
CORR/PAK MERCHANDISING SPRINT CARS (22 entries)
HEAT RACES (8 laps each – Top 12 in passing points redraw for feature starting positions):
Finish. [Starting Position] Number Name (Hometown)
ENGLER MACHINE & TOOL HEAT RACE #1
1. [5] 01Mikey Kruchka (Hamilton), 2. [4] 80 Chris Steele (Vineland), 3. [7] 5d Dave Dykstra (Port Colborne), 4. [6] 11 Jamie Turner (Caistor Centre), 5. [1] 21j John Burbridge, Jr. (St. Williams), 6. [3] 67 Chris Durand (Port Stanley), 7. [2] 96 Shane Butler (St. Thomas), 8. [8] 75 Jim Sweers (Millgrove). Time – 1:58.342.
GRISDALE RACING PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #2
1. [1] 7x Jamie Collard (Burford), 2. [4] 33k Kyle Patrick (Tilbury), 3. [7] 10 Mitch Brown (Brantford), 4. [3] 7 Kyle Moffit (South Dayton, NY), 5. [6] 81 Derek Jonathan (Lewiston, NY), 6. [5] 30g Steve Goldner (Aylmer), 7. [2] 52 Jesse Costa (St. Thomas). Time – 2:06.967.
BS&B RADIATOR HEAT RACE #3
1. [2] 35 Jared Zimbardi (Salamanca, NY), 2. [1] 49 Todd Hoddick (Cheektowaga, NY), 3. [6] 14h Jim Huppunen (Fenwick), 4. [3] 71 Travis Cunningham (Grimsby), 5. [7] 07x Dain Naida (Tecumseh, MI), 6. [5] 5 Keith Dempster (Alton), 7. [4] 0 Glenn Styres (Ohsweken). Time – 2:03.963.
CORR/PAK MERCHANDISING
SPRINT CAR FEATURE (20 laps)
Position. # Name (Starting Position)
1. 14h Jim Huppunen (2)
2. 35 Jared Zimbardi (3)
3. 5d Dave Dykstra (4)
4. 10 Mitch Brown (1)
5. 71 Travis Cunningham (13)
6. 07x Dain Naida (7)
7. 7x Jamie Collard (10)
8. 33k Kyle Patrick (11)
9. 5 Keith Dempster (17)
10. 0 Glenn Styres (18)
11. 49 Todd Hoddick (5)
12. 7 Kyle Moffit (9)
13. 67 Chris Durand (19)
14. 11 Jamie Turner (12)
15. 81 Derek Jonathan (14)
16. 30g Steve Goldner (16)
17. 96 Shane Butler (21)
18. 21j John Burbridge, Jr. (15)
19. 01 Mikey Kruchka (6) DNF
20. 75 Jim Sweers (22) DNF
21. 80 Chris Steele (8) DNF
22. 52 Jesse Costa (20) DNF
No Time
SPRINT CAR AWARDS:
Nathan Ackland State Farm Insurance “Top Gun” (highest passing points total): 01 Mikey Kruchka ($100)
RNB Restorations Feature Winner: 14h Jim Huppunen (case of Champion Motor Oil)
Best Western Cairn Croft Hotel Feature Winner: 14h Jim Huppunen