by Tommy Goudge, Peter Anderson photo
(August 5, 2011) – Kyle Patrick ended a winless drought of more than three years on Friday night at Ohsweken Speedway. The Tilbury driver went to the Engine Pro Racing Winner’s Circle despite driving much of the Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Car feature with no water left in his cooling system. Phil Nyssen won his second Lighthouse Tattoos Thunder Stock feature in a row, while Abel Castelein claimed a special win in the “Art Hill Memorial 42” for HRW Automotive Mini Stocks, and Rodney Rutherford got the Pierced Parts Bombers win.
CORR/PAK MERCHANDISING SPRINT CARS
Kyle Patrick and Kyle Moffit started on the front row of the Sprint Car feature and spent much of the 20 lap distance side-by-side. Patrick officially led the first 8 laps before Moffit got by in traffic. It was apparent early on that Patrick had lost a radiator hose, but that didn’t slow him down one bit, as he was hungry for his first feature win since Spetember 7, 2007.
Patrick was able to cool things down when the caution flag flew for a Wayne Ashton spin, and again during a red flag period when Steve Goldner tipped over in turn 3. Moffit was the leader for the lap 16 restart, but he too experienced mechanical problems and couldn’t keep the determined Patrick behind him. Patrick got the lead and held it for the final 2 laps, while Moffit settled for 2nd. Jamie Collard had another strong run with a 3rd place finish, followed by Todd Hoddick, and Travis Cunningham.
Heat races for the 22 car field went to Kyle Patrick, Kyle Moffit, and Keith Dempster, while Jamie Collard was the Nathan Ackland State Farm Insurance “Top Gun” for topping the heat race passing points.
LIGHTHOUSE TATTOOS THUNDER STOCKS
An entertaining Thunder Stock feature ensued between some caution periods and one red flag. Wild action ensued early, but it turned into a three horse race between Phil Nyssen, Mike Thorne, and Larry Czinege, Jr. Nyssen prevailed in the end, claiming his 2nd consecutive feature win. Mike Thorne scored another top 5 finish by claiming the runner-up spot, followed by Czinege, Wyatt Van Wart, and Lee Winger.
Heat races for the 26 car field were claimed by Van Wart, Czinege, and Thorne.
HRW AUTOMOTIVE MINI STOCKS
The biggest race of the Mini Stock season took the green flag with Lee Hils and Abel Castelein on the front row for the “Art Hill Memorial 42” which honours the only driver ever to lose their life at Ohsweken Speedway. Hils had the early lead, but eventually fell out of the race with mechanical problems. Castelein drove a steady race and stayed out front while many of his competitors were not able to finish.
Craig Erskine advanced to 2nd and began eating into Castelein’s lead but ran out of time, and then simply had to survive the final few laps when his car began to falter. He held on to finish 2nd, while Kevin Hilborn had a 3rd place finish in sight before his car overheated. Steve Hess had a damaged machine after an early incident, but persevered to take 3rd, followed by Nick Roth, and Jason Lungaro, who started in the 12th row.
Heat races for the 35 car field went to Karl Sault, Mike Taylor, Nick Roth, and Jake Brown, while Rob Hoskins won the B-Main.
PIERCED PARTS BOMBERS
Championship leader Rodney Rutherford survived a wild Bomber feature and eventually pulled away for the win. Jesse McDonald kept the points chase close by finishing 2nd, followed by Dusty DeBoer, Davey Boughton, and Greg Dadson.
Heat races for the 19 car field went to Dadson and McDonald.
NEXT WEEK AT OHSWEKEN
Trailers By Jim Bray presents “Haldimand County Night” next Friday, August 12. The Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprints, Lighthouse Tattoos Thunder Stocks, HRW Automotive Mini Stocks, and Pierced Parts Bombers are all part of Friday Night Thunder this week, along with Vintage Cars, and a Double Flag Pole Race. All fans with proof of residence in Haldimand County will receive 2-for-1 admission on Friday night. 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, while the 7th annual Canadian Sprint Car Nationals September 15-17 are coming up fast! Make sure to visit www.OhswekenSpeedway.com for all the information on these special events.
FRIDAY NIGHT THUNDER 2011
ROUND 9 RACE REPORT – AUGUST 5
OHSWEKEN SPEEDWAY
OHSWEKEN, ONTARIO
EVENT SPONSOR – HRW AUTOMOTIVE
Race Start – 7:45p.m.
Race End – 11:00p.m.
Total Car Count – 102
CORR/PAK MERCHANDISING SPRINT CARS (22 entries)
HEAT RACES (8 laps each – Top 16 in passing points transfer to A-Feature):
Finish. Number Name [Starting Position] (Hometown)
ENGLER MACHINE & TOOL HEAT RACE #1
1. 33k Kyle Patrick [2](Tilbury), 2. 5d Dave Dykstra [4](Port Colborne), 3. 49 Todd Hoddick [1](Cheektowaga, NY), 4. 12 Tim Kelly [6](Rock Stream, NY), 5. 01 Mikey Kruchka [3](Hamilton), 6. 10 Mitch Brown [7](Brantford), 7. 80 Chris Steele [5](Fenwick), 8. 67 Chris Durand [8](Port Stanley) DNS. Time – 1:55.139.
GRISDALE RACING PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #2
1. 7 Kyle Moffit [2](South Dayton, NY), 2. 90 James Evans [1](Beamsville), 3. 07x Dain Naida [4](Tecumseh, MI), 4. 71 Travis Cunningham [5](Grimsby), 5. 14h Jim Huppunen [3](Fenwick), 6. 30g Steve Goldner [6](Aylmer), 7. 14w Scott Wood [7](Thorold). Time – 1:58.707.
BS&B RADIATOR HEAT RACE #3
1. 5 Keith Dempster [3](Alton), 2. 7x Jamie Collard [6](Burford), 3. 0 Glenn Styres [4](Ohsweken), 4. 11 Jamie Turner [4](Caistor Centre), 5. 52 Jesse Costa [7](St. Thomas), 6. 3 Wayne Ashton [1](Kitchener), 7. 96 Shane Butler [2](St. Thomas) DNF. No Time.
CORR/PAK MERCHANDISING
SPRINT CAR FEATURE (20 laps)
Position. # Name (Starting Position)
1. 33k Kyle Patrick (1)
2. 7 Kyle Moffit (2)
3. 7x Jamie Collard (5)
4. 49 Todd Hoddick (8)
5. 71 Travis Cunningham (9)
6. 11 Jamie Turner (3)
7. 5d Dave Dykstra (10)
8. 5 Keith Dempster (12)
9. 0 Glenn Styres (7)
10. 14h Jim Huppunen (16)
11. 10 Mitch Brown (14)
12. 07x Dain Naida (6)
13. 90 James Evans (4)
14. 52 Jesse Costa (13)
15. 12 Tim Kelly (11)
16. 80 Chris Steele (21)
17. 14w Scott Wood (18)
18. 01 Mikey Kruchka (15) DNF
19. 30g Steve Goldner (17) DNF
20. 3 Wayne Ashton (20) DNF
21. 96 Shane Butler (19) DNS
22. 67 Chris Durand (22) DNS
No Time.
SPRINT CAR AWARDS:
Nathan Ackland State Farm Insurance “Top Gun” (highest passing points total): 7x Jamie Collard ($100)
RNB Restorations Feature Winner: 33k Kyle Patrick (case of Champion Motor Oil)
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5GHf-Jf07Q