From Tommy Goudge
Ohswekent, ON — (September 2, 2011) — Jamie Collard is getting hot at the right time. The Canadian Sprint Car Nationals are two weeks away, and Collard has asserted himself as one of the local favourites for that event by winning three Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Car features in a row at Ohsweken Speedway. Other Friday Night Thunder action at Ohsweken this week included Larry Czinege, Jr. going back to the Engine Pro Racing Winner’s Circle in the Lighthouse Tattoos Thunder Stock feature, Steve Hess winning the HRW Automotive Mini Stock feature, and Rodney Rutherford padding his points lead in the Pierced Parts Bomber race.
CORR/PAK MERCHANDISING SPRINT CARS
Jamie Turner and Travis Cunningham led the field to the green flag, but Chris Steele took over the lead on lap 3. The race was slowed by numerous caution periods, but between those the racing was good all through the pack, with many drivers looking to improve their points position heading into next week’s Championship night.
Jamie Collard started 8th, but had already made his way to 3rd by the time 5 laps were complete. Collard made his move on lap 9 and took over the lead just before a red flag flew for Tom Huppunen, who rolled his brand new car onto its side in turn 4 when something broke in the front end.
Collard had to survive several restarts, but took off from the field each time, while Steele and Turner traded slide jobs for the runner-up spot during the green flag runs. Collard won his 3rd feature in a row by 0.663 seconds over Steele, Turner, points leader Jim Huppunen, and Cunningham. Turner’s car did not pass post-race inspection, which moved Kyle Moffit into 5th after he started dead last.
“The car was awesome again tonight. I was a little worried when I got out there. The track looked a little more slippery than I thought it was going to be but wow, the car is just on fire. I don’t think I can do anything wrong with it. It’ll go top, bottom, wherever I want it to,” said Collard after the race.
“This Gaerte motor’s been taking off good all year long, and I noticed when I was following the 80 car he was having a little trouble and I had to pedal it every time behind him so I didn’t run him over, so I knew if I just took it down nice and slow, I could really get a good jump on him at the start,” Collard said of the restarts.
Many were watching the leaders, but the championship chase was also something to watch, as points leader Jim Huppunen started 12th, behind both Kyle Patrick and Jamie Collard who are chasing him. Huppunen and Patrick ran just ouside the top 5 for most of the race, but Patrick fell back to 10th at the end, while Huppunen ended up 3rd. Unofficially, Huppunen will carry a 28 point lead over Patrick, and 30 point lead over Collard into next Friday’s championship race.
Heat races for the 22 car field went to Kyle Patrick, Jamie Collard, and Jim Huppunen. Huppunen also claimed the Nathan Ackland State Farm Insurance “Top Gun” award for topping the passing points list in the heat races.
LIGHTHOUSE TATTOOS THUNDER STOCKS
Robbie General and Gord Bates began the Thunder Stock feature on the front row, but Mike Miller moved up from 7th to take the lead early. Larry Czinege, Jr. got by Miller for the lead just after the halfway mark, while points leader Mike Thorne spun while challenging in the top 3. Miller chased Czinege, but could not get back around him, while Thorne recovered to finish 7th. Czinege won his 5th feature of the season, followed by Miller, Devin Habiuk, Jim Lampman, and Cory Turner, who recovered from an early flat tire.
Heat races for the 21 car field went to Robbie General and Lee Winger.
HRW AUTOMOTIVE MINI STOCKS
Ethan Martin and Doug Erskine made up the front row for the Mini Stock feature, but attention quickly turned to the points leaders who started further back. Karl Sault entered the night with the points lead in hand, but he had problems on lap 5 and went to the pits. Sault’s trouble was a golden opportunity for Abel Castelein, but he couldn’t capitalize on his chance as he was involved in 2 seperate incidents and eventually retired from the race with 1 lap left.
Steve Hess got out front early and could not be caught. Hess got his first win of the season, followed by Jason Lungaro, Mike Evers, Trevor Goulding, and Chase Hess. Evers wound up being the one who took advantage of the points leaders trouble, as he erased much of the 44 point gap which seperated he and Sault in the standings. Sault will unofficially start Friday’s championship event with a 12 point lead over Evers.
PIERCED PARTS BOMBERS
Aaron Turkey started on the pole of the Bomber feature and took off at the start, but had trouble getting through traffic, which allowed Rodney Rutherford to catch up and make what would be the winning pass in the non-stop affair. Turkey settled for 2nd, followed by Jesse McDonald, Brady Longboat and Kathi Dickie.
Heat races for the 18 car field went to Turkey and Rutherford.
NEXT WEEK AT OHSWEKEN
Rochester Knighthawks lacrosse presents “Season Championships” next Friday, September 9. The Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprints, Lighthouse Tattoos Thunder Stocks, HRW Automotive Mini Stocks, and Pierced Parts Bombers will all decide champions on Friday night with extra-distance feature races. Gates open at 6:00 with racing starting at 7:45!
FRIDAY NIGHT THUNDER 2011
ROUND RACE REPORT – SEPTEMBER 2
OHSWEKEN SPEEDWAY
OHSWEKEN, ONTARIO
EVENT SPONSOR – PIERCED PARTS
Race Start: 7:45p.m.
Race End: 10:50p.m.
CORR/PAK MERCHANDISING SPRINT CARS (22 entries)
HEAT RACES (8 laps each – Top 12 in passing points redraw for A-Feature starting positions):
Finish. [Starting Position] Number Name (Hometown)
ENGLER MACHINE & TOOL HEAT RACE #1
1. [2] 7x Jamie Collard (Burford), 2. [1] 07x Dain Naida (Tecumseh, MI), 3. [6] 11 Jamie Turner (Caistor Centre), 4. [5] 71 Travis Cunningham (Grimsby), 5. [4] 52 Jesse Costa (St. Thomas), 6. [3] 0 Dave Dykstra (Port Colborne), 7. [7] 30g Steve Goldner (Aylmer). Time – 2:06.292.
GRISDALE RACING PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #2
1. [1] 33k Kyle Patrick (Tilbury), 2. [2] 49 Todd Hoddick (Cheektowaga, NY), 3. [3] 90 James Evans (Beamsville), 4. [7] 5 Keith Dempster (Alton), 5. [5] 67 Chris Durand (Port Stanley), 6. [6] 81 Derek Jonathan (Lewiston, NY), 7. [4] 96 Shane Butler (St. Thomas). Time – 1:57.422.
BS&B RADIATOR HEAT RACE #3
1. [4] 14h Jim Huppunen (Fenwick), 2. [5] 80 Chris Steele (Fenwick), 3. [1] 4 Bob Reis (Elma, NY), 4. [3] 10 Mitch Brown (Brantford), 5. [6] 27h Tom Huppunen (Fenwick), 6. [7] 7a Al Blanchard (Welland), 7. [8] 9jr Tim Zack (Dain City), 8. [2] 7 Kyle Moffit (South Dayton, NY) DNF. Time – 1:58.003.
CORR/PAK MERCHANDISING
SPRINT CAR FEATURE (20 laps)
Position. # Name (Starting Position)
1. 7x Jamie Collard (8)
2. 80 Chris Steele (3)
3. 14h Jim Huppunen (12)
4. 71 Travis Cunningham (2)
5. 7 Kyle Moffit (22)
6. 10 Mitch Brown (9)
7. 0 Dave Dykstra (19)
8. 49 Todd Hoddick (5)
9. 07x Dain Naida (10)
10. 33k Kyle Patrick (4)
11. 30g Steve Goldner (20)
12. 90 James Evans (7)
13. 81 Derek Jonathan (17)
14. 67 Chris Durand (14)
15. 9jr Tim Zack (18)
16. 52 Jesse Costa (15) DNF
17. 4 Bob Reis (11) DNF
18. 7a Al Blanchard (16) DNF
19. 27h Tom Huppunen (13) DNF
20. 5 Keith Dempster (6) DNF
DQ. 11 Jamie Turner (1)
DNS. 96 Shane Butler (21)
No Time.
SPRINT CAR AWARDS:
Nathan Ackland State Farm Insurance “Top Gun” (highest passing points total): 14h Jim Huppunen ($100)
RNB Restorations Feature Winner: 7x Jamie Collard (case of Champion Motor Oil)
LIGHTHOUSE TATTOOS THUNDER STOCKS (21 entries)
HEAT RACES (8 laps each)
ENGINE PRO RACING HEAT RACE #1
1. 00 Robbie General (Ohsweken), 2. 77 Brett Rodwell (Caledonia), 3. 191 Gord Bates (Selkirk), 4. 38 Terry Martin (Ohsweken), 5. 5h Devin Habiuk (Port Robinson), 6. 17 Rob Disher (Grimsby), 7. 13 Kacey Huffman (Hamilton), 8. 57 Murray Nicholls (Hamilton), 9. 05 Pete Reid (Stevensville), 10. 77b Brittany Gyokery (Jarvis).
6 NATIONS BINGO HEAT RACE #2
1. 83 Lee Winger (Caledonia), 2. 73 Mike Miller (Caledonia), 3. 55 Mike Thorne (Caledonia), 4. 33c Larry Czinege, Jr. (Ridgeway), 5. 28 Jim Lampman (Caistor Centre), 6. 19 Cory Turner (Caistor Centre), 7. 52 Harry Crumb (Hamilton), 8. 04 Wyatt Van Wart (Cambridge), 9. 3b Blaine Barrow, 10. 23 Tim DeBoer (Caledonia), 11. 1 Chris Dickie (Brantford) DNF.
LIGHTHOUSE TATTOOS THUNDER STOCKS
A-FEATURE (20 laps)
Position. # Name (Starting Position)
1. 33c Larry Czinege, Jr. (10)
2. 73 Mike Miller (7)
3. 5h Devin Habiuk (6)
4. 28 Jim Lampman (8)
5. 19 Cory Turner (12)
6. 83 Lee Winger (9)
7. 55 Mike Thorne (11)
8. 05 Pete Reid (17)
9. 57 Murray Nicholls (15)
10. 38 Terry Martin (5)
11. 191 Gord Bates (2)
12. 23 Tim DeBoer (20)
13. 17 Rob Disher (3)
14. 00 Robbie General (1)
15. 1 Chris Dickie (21)
16. 3b Blaine Barrow (18)
17. 13 Kacey Huffman (13)
18. 77 Brett Rodwell (4) DNF
19. 04 Wyatt Van Wart (16) DNF
20. 77b Brittany Gyokery (19) DNF
21. 52 Harry Crumb (14) DNF
HRW AUTOMOTIVE MINI STOCKS (27 entries)
HEAT RACES (8 laps each)
ENGINE PRO RACING HEAT RACE #1
1.64 Doug Ersine (Hamilton), 2. 69e Dan Erskine (Caistor Centre), 3. 11 Mike Giberson (Caledonia), 4. 05 Dave Goodacre (Brantford), 5. 55 Rob Slater (Dundas), 6. 77x Ethan Martin (Ohsweken), 7. 99 Robin Elliott (Woodstock), 8. 22 Brittani Myers (Hamilton), 9. 13c Corrie Cowell (Tillsonburg).
ESSO SPEEDWAY VARIETY HEAT RACE #2
1. 81 Karl Sault (Dundas), 2. 777x Steve Hess (Ohsweken), 3. 10j Jeremy Hughes (Burlington), 4. 10 Jake Brown (Brantford), 5. 265 Mike Evers (Caledonia), 6. 44 Dale Cooke (Hamilton), 7. 79 Steve Miller (Paris), 8. 69 Rob Twitchett (Dundas), 9. 84rk Ryan Beagle (Vittoria).
O’NEIL’S FARM EQUIPMENT HEAT RACE #3
1. 7 Jason Lungaro (Hamilton), 2. 31 Abel Castelein (Cayuga), 3. 1 Lee Hils (Dundas), 4. 7x Chase Hess (Ohsweken), 5. 6 Trevor Goulding (Welland), 6. 38 John Cote (Hamilton), 7. 02 Mike Taylor (Burlington), 8. 22c Johnny Myers (Hamilton), 9. 52 Kevin Ross (Hamilton) DNF.
HRW AUTOMOTIVE MINI STOCKS
FEATURE (15 laps)
Position. # Name (Starting Position)
1. 777x Steve Hess (7)
2. 7 Jason Lungaro (16)
3. 265 Mike Evers (10)
4. 6 Trevor Goulding (18)
5. 7x Chase Hess (15)
6. 10 Jake Brown (9)
7. 1 Lee Hils (14)
8. 44 Dale Cooke (12)
9. 05 Dave Goodacre (6)
10. 55 Rob Slater (5)
11. 84rk Ryan Beagle (26)
12. 69 Rob Twitchett (23)
13. 77x Ethan Martin (1)
14. 10j Jeremy Hughes (11)
15. 13c Corrie Cowell (25)
16. 31 Abel Castelein (13) DNF
17. 64 Doug Erskine (2) DNF
18. 99 Robin Elliott (19)
19. 81 Karl Sault (8)
20. 11 Mike Giberson (4) DNF
21. 38 John Cote (17) DNF
22. 69e Dan Erskine (3) DNF
23. 02 Mike Taylor (21) DNF
24. 22 Brittani Myers (22) DNF
25. 22c Johnny Myers (24) DNF
26. 52 Kevin Ross (27) DNF
27. 79 Steve Miller (20) DNF
PIERCED PARTS BOMBERS (18 entries)
HEAT RACES (8 laps each)
HEAT RACE #1
1. 199 Aaron Turkey (Ohsweken), 2. 97 Derek Chechalk (Hamilton), 3. 44 Tylor Brock (Dunnville), 4. 77 Dale Gyokery (Jarvis), 5. 388 Craig Dowd (Caledonia), 6. 66r Cole Rodwell (Caledonia), 7. 15 Brad McCarten (Dunnville), 8. 5 Kathi Dickie (Brantford), 9. 16 Jeremy May (Hamilton).
HEAT RACE #2
1. 38 Rodney Rutherford (Waterdown), 2. 88 Jesse McDonald (Caledonia), 3. 23 Dusty DeBoer (Hagersville), 4. 1988 Matt Smith (Rockton), 5. 53 Sarah Rutherford (Dundas), 6. 66 Brady Longboat (Ohsweken), 7. 113 Shawn Ireland (Burlington), 8. 21 Mark Bauzin (Caledonia), 9. 18 Josh Shantz.
PIERCED PARTS BOMBERS
FEATURE (16 laps)
Position. # Name (Starting Position)
1. 38 Rodney Rutherford (7)
2. 199 Aaron Turkey (1)
3. 88 Jesse McDonald (8)
4. 66 Brady Longboat (11)
5. 5 Kathi Dickie (15)
6. 23 Dusty DeBoer (10)
7. 44 Tylor Brock (3)
8. 388 Craig Dowd (6)
9. 113 Shawn Ireland (14)
10. 16 Jeremy May (17)
11. 1988 Matt Smith (9)
12. 53 Sarah Rutherford (12)
13. 21 Mark Bauzin (16)
14. 66r Cole Rodwell (2)
15. 18 Josh Shantz (18)
16. 15 Brad McCarten (13)
17. 97 Derek Chechalk (5) DNF
18. 77 Dale Gyokery (4) DNF
VINTAGE CARS
HEAT RACES (8 laps each)
HEAT RACE #1
1. 13 Mark Saul (Hagersville), 2. 47b Alan Byerly (Jamestown, PA), 3. 16 Daryl Bray (Rainham Centre), 4. 2 Glen Leinen (Hannon), 5. 24 Harold Sonnenburg (Sherkston), 6. 3 Tom Curran (Wainfleet), 7. 4 Chic Voit (Kenmore, NY).
HEAT RACE #2
1. 99 Dave Charczuk (Lewiston, NY), 2. 43 Brian Page (Ridgeway), 3. 62 Al Harju (Cayuga), 4. 27 Doug Fralick (Port Colborne), 5. 00 Bill Harju (Fisherville), 6. 6 Lowry Siemens (Dunnville).
VINTAGE CARS
A-FEATURE (10 laps)
1. 99 Dave Charczuk
2. 43 Brian Page
3. 27 Doug Fralick
4. 62 Al Harju
5. 13 Mark Saul
6. 47b Alan Byerly
7. 16 Daryl Bray
8. 00 Bill Harju
9. 24 Harold Sonnenburg
10. 2 Glen Leinen
11. 3 Tom Curran
DNS. 6 Lowry Siemens
DNS. 4 Chic Voit
CHAIN RACE WINNERS: Glen Hils and Lee Hils
UP NEXT @ OHSWEKEN SPEEDWAY:
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011
ROCHESTER KNIGHTHAWKS PRESENT:
“SEASON CHAMPIONSHIPS”
FEATURING CORR/PAK MERCHANDISING SPRINT CARS,
LIGHTHOUSE TATTOOS THUNDER STOCKS,
HRW AUTOMOTIVE MINI-STOCKS,
& PIERCED PARTS BOMBERS
ADULTS $10, SENIORS AND STUDENTS $8, KIDS 12 AND UNDER FREE!
SPECTATOR GATES OPEN @ 6:00 P.M., RACING @ 7:45 P.M.
Photo Gallery