by Tommy Goudge
(July 29, 2011) – The first half of Dave Dykstra’s 2011 season did not go as planned, but he got back to championship form by winning the Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Car feature on Gale’s Auto Aftermarket night at Ohsweken Speedway. Phil Nyssen claimed his first ever Lighthouse Tattoos Thunder Stock win, Mike Evers took his second HRW Automotive Mini Stock win of the season, and Jesse McDonald got the “hat trick” by winning his third consecutive Pierced Parts Bombers feature.
CORR/PAK MERCHANDISING SPRINT CARS
Dave Dykstra and Jared Zimbardi started the 20 lap feature on the front row, and Dykstra shot out to the lead right away while Zimbardi fended off challenges from Chris Steele. Dain Naida was fast until contacting the backstretch wall, which damaged his car and ended his night. Jamie Collard and Travis Cunningham both moved up through the pack until Cunningham’s mount lost power just short of the halfway mark.
Steele finally wrestled the second spot away from Zimbardi on lap 13, but Dykstra was too far ahead. Jamie Collard appeared to be the fastest car on the track in the late going, but had only 2 laps left by the time he got around Steele. Dykstra won by 1.39 seconds, followed by Collard, Steele, Zimbardi, and Kyle Patrick.
“First of all I have to thank my whole crew,” said Dykstra in the Engine Pro Racing Winner’s Circle. “This year has been the worst year I have ever raced. This is for them, because we’ve worked our tail off, and they haven’t given up on me. This is for them, and for everybody out here who watches. I also have to thank Glenn Styres because if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t even be here. I cooked the motor, and he put a motor under this thing, so my hat’s off to him. ”
Heat races for the 21 car field were claimed by Kyle Patrick, Jamie Turner, and Dain Naida.
LIGHTHOUSE TATTOOS THUNDER STOCKS
The Thunder Stock feature began with carnage as Kacey Huffman lost an axle at the start/finish line and Dave Bailey flipped wildly. Fortunately Bailey climbed from his badly damaged machine without injury. The green flag flew again with Robbie General and Murray Nicholls on the front row.
Phil Nyssen lost a win in post-race technical inspection earlier this month, but nothing could keep him from the spoils of victory this time. Nyssen drove through the field from his 14th starting spot to get his first ever Thunder Stock feature win. Ryan Dinning also drove from deep in the field to take the runner-up spot, while early leader Cory Turner settled for 3rd. Mike Thorne and Tuesday night feature winner Chris Dickie rounded out the top 5.
Heat races for the 21 car field were claimed by Murray Nicholls, Devin Habiuk, and Mike Thorne.
HRW AUTOMOTIVE MINI STOCKS
Mike Evers made it through some wild action during the first few laps of the Mini Stock feature to get the lead and stay there for his second feature win of the season. Dale Cooke drove a steady race to get the runner-up spot in the non-stop affair, while Jake Brown, Karl Sault, and Lee Hils rounded out the top 5.
Heat races for the 26 car field were claimed by Rob Twitchett, Mike Taylor, and Karl Sault.
PIERCED PARTS BOMBERS
Jesse McDonald made some daring moves to get to the front from his starting spot outside row 5, and won his third Bomber feature in a row. Dusty DeBoer finished 2nd, followed by Rodney Rutherford, Brady Longboat, and Trevor DeBoer.
Heat races for the 22 car field went to Craig Dowd and Jesse McDonald, while Aaron Turkey took B-Main honours.
NEXT WEEK AT OHSWEKEN
HRW Automotive presents the “Art Hill Memorial 42” for HRW Automotive Mini Stocks next Friday, August 5, along with the 4th annual Ohsweken Speedway Hot Dog Eating Contest. The Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Cars, Lighthouse Tattoos Thunder Stocks, HRW Automotive Mini Stocks, and Pierced Parts Bombers are all part of round 9 of Friday Night Thunder. Gates open at 6:00 with racing starting at 7:45!
COMING SOON
The last two rounds of the Northern Summer Nationals are set for August 19 at Ohsweken, and August 20 at South Buxton Raceway. Make sure to visit www.OhswekenSpeedway.com for all the information on these special events.
FRIDAY NIGHT THUNDER 2011
ROUND 8 RACE REPORT – JULY 29, 2011
OHSWEKEN SPEEDWAY
OHSWEKEN, ONTARIO
EVENT SPONSOR – GALE’S AUTO AFTERMARKET
Race Start: 7:45p.m.
Race End: 10:30p.m.
Total Car Count: 99
CORR/PAK MERCHANDISING SPRINT CARS (21 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. [2] 33k Kyle Patrick (Tilbury), 2. [3] 5 Keith Dempster (Alton), 3. [1] 80 Chris Steele (Fenwick), 4. [4] 90 James Evans (Beamsville), 5. [5] 10 Mitch Brown (Brantford), 6. [6] 30g Steve Goldner (Aylmer), 7. [7] 7 Kyle Moffit (South Dayton, NY) DNS. Time – 1:54.635.
GRISDALE RACING PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #2
1. [2] 11 Jamie Turner (Caistor Centre), 2. [3] 35 Jared Zimbardi (Salamanca, NY), 3. [6] 5d Dave Dykstra (Port Colborne), 4. [1] 49 Todd Hoddick (Cheektowaga, NY), 5. [5] 52 Jesse Costa (St. Thomas), 6. [4] 21j John Burbridge, Sr. (Simcoe), 7. [7] 75 Jim Sweers (Hamilton). Time – 1:57.541.
BS&B RADIATOR HEAT RACE #3
1. [2] 07x Dain Naida (Tecumseh, MI), 2. [1] 14j Jim Huppunen (Fenwick), 3. [6] 7x Jamie Collard (Burford), 4. [4] 71 Travis Cunningham (Grimsby), 5. [5] 96 Shane Butler (St. Thomas), 6. [7] 0 Glenn Styres (Ohsweken) DNF, 7. [3] 01 Mikey Kruchka (Hamilton) DNF. Time – 1:55.825.
CORR/PAK MERCHANDISING
SPRINT CAR FEATURE (20 laps)
Position. # Name (Starting Position)
1. 5d Dave Dykstra (1)
2. 7x Jamie Collard (7)
3. 80 Chris Steele (4)
4. 35 Jared Zimbardi (2)
5. 33k Kyle Patrick (12)
6. 11 Jamie Turner (10)
7. 14h Jim Huppunen (11)
8. 10 Mitch Brown (13)
9. 0 Glenn Styres(16)
10. 49 Todd Hoddick (8)
11. 01 Mikey Kruchka (20)
12. 90 James Evans (3)
13. 5 Keith Dempster (6)
14. 21j John Burbridge, Sr. (18)
15. 52 Jesse Costa (15)
16. 30g Steve Goldner (17)
17. 96 Shane Butler (14)
18. 75 Jim Sweers(19)
19. 71 Travis Cunningham (9) DNF
20. 07x Dain Naida (5) DNF
21. 7 Kyle Moffit (21) DNS
No Time.
SPRINT CAR AWARDS:
Nathan Ackland State Farm Insurance “Top Gun” (highest passing points total): 33k Kyle Patrick ($100)
RNB Restorations Feature Winner: 5d Dave Dykstra (case of Champion Motor Oil)