by Tommy Goudge
(September 9, 2011) – Four new champions were crowned at Ohsweken Speedway on Friday night, and one new face visited the Engine Pro Racing Winner’s Circle too. Mitch Brown won his second Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Car feature this season, while Jim Huppunen survived an opening lap crash to claim the 2011 championship. Mike Miller won his first ever Lighthouse Tattoos Thunder Stock feature, and Mike Thorne won the title. Karl Sault finished his championship season in the HRW Automotive Mini Stocks in style by winning Friday’s feature, as did Rodney Rutherford in the Pierced Parts Bombers division.
CORR/PAK MERCHANDISING SPRINT CARS
Mitch Brown and Chris Steele made up the front row for the Sprint Car Season Championship feature, but a melee in turn four took out several contenders before a lap was completed. Championship contender Kyle Patrick’s car was one of the most heavily damaged cars in the incident, and he was unable to restart. Points leader Jim Huppunen was also involved, but escaped with minor damage and restarted the race.
A second try at starting the race failed when Jamie Collard got upside down hard on the frontstretch when the green flag came out. Collard was ok, but his car was too damaged to continue, and his title hopes were also dashed.
The third attempt to start was successful, and Brown got the jump out front. Kyle Moffit moved up from row five to make things interesting, but couldn’t quite catch Brown, who cruised to his second feature win of the season. Moffit settled for second, followed by Chris Steele, Dave Dykstra, and Tom Huppunen. Todd Hoddick advanced from row seven to finish sixth, followed by Travis Cunningham, Jamie Turner, Keith Dempster – who recovered from an early spin – and Jim Huppunen.
“There was a few laps there I got off my marks,” said Mitch after the race. “I could hear somebody there a couple laps, and you just have to keep going forward. You can’t worry about what’s behind you – just worry about what you can do.”
Heat races for the 22 car field were claimed by Dave Dykstra, Travis Cunningham, and Jamie Collard, who also got the Nathan Ackland State Farm Insurance “Top Gun” award for accruing the most heat race passing points.
Jim Huppunen will make his championship official next week when he takes a green flag in a Canadian Sprint Car Nationals event, while Jamie Collard, Kyle Patrick, Kyle Moffit, Mitch Brown, Travis Cunningham, Todd Hoddick, Chris Steele, Dave Dykstra, and Dain Naida make up the rest of the top ten, and Jesse Costa is the Rookie of the Year.
LIGHTHOUSE TATTOOS THUNDER STOCKS
Mike Thorne had already locked up the championship by virtue of his amazingly consistent season, but he wanted a feature win to finish off the season in style. Unfortunately for Mike, he got a bit too anxious on a restart and was penalized two positions. He got another chance when the caution came out again late in the race, but Mike Miller was too strong up front, and collected his first ever Thunder Stock feature win. Devin Habiuk settled for second, followed by Thorne, Cory Turner, and Lee Winger.
“This feels great,” said Miller afterwards. “I thought this would never happen. I’ve got to thank Dave Bailey for helping me so much, and my car owner Mike Bell, and Ohsweken for having this track here.”
Heat races for the 19 car field went to Terry Martin and Devin Habiuk.
Mike Thorne is officially the Thunder Stocks champion, while Cory Turner is second and wins Rookie of the Year. Devin Habiuk, Wyatt Van Wart, Chris Dickie, Mike Miller, Lee Winger, Rob Disher, Jim Lampman, and Ryan Dinning make up the rest of the top ten in the final standings.
HRW AUTOMOTIVE MINI STOCKS
Karl Sault started sixth and quickly moved to the lead of the Mini Stock feature, with Steve Hess giving chase. The rookie driver stayed out front and claimed his sixth feature win of the season, and clinched the championship as well. Steve Hess settled for second, followed by Lee Hils, Mike Evers, and Chase Hess.
“It’s been a lot of fun racing here,” said Karl. “It’s great sportsmanship out here, and everyone has fun! I’d like to thank my uncle and everybody for helping me out on this car, friends and family for coming out and supporting me. This is a good year.”
Heat races for the 27 car field went to Dan Erskine, Steve Hess, and Lee Hils.
Karl Sault is officially the Mini Stocks champion for 2011, while Mike Evers, Jake Brown, Abel Castelein, Steve Hess, Dale Cooke, Jeremy Hughes, Steve Miller, Jason Lungaro, and Dan Erskine finished in the top ten.
PIERCED PARTS BOMBERS
Rodney Rutherford only had to keep race leader Jesse McDonald in sight to claim the Bomber championship, but he wasn’t content with that and made the winning pass on the frontstretch for his sixth feature win this season. Sarah Rutherford and Jeremy May also got by to finish second and third, while McDonald got fourth, and Dusty DeBoer fifth.
“This (championship) means everything to me,” Rodney said afterwards. “I’ve got to thank my family – my Dad especially, my uncle Bill, everybody – this is just an amazing feeling.”
Heat races for the 16 car field went to Aaron Turkey and Jesse McDonald.
Rodney Rutherford is the 2011 Bombers champion, while Jesse McDonald, Jeremy May, Sarah Rutherford, Dusty DeBoer, Kathi Dickie, Tylor Brock, Brady Longboat, Craig Dowd, and Dale Gyokery make up the rest of the top ten.
NEXT WEEK AT OHSWEKEN
Esso Speedway Variety helps to kick off the Canadian Sprint Car Nationals weekend by presenting “Fan Appreciation Night” next Thursday, September 15. The Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprints, Lighthouse Tattoos Thunder Stocks, HRW Automotive Mini Stocks, and Pierced Parts Bombers are all part of this special event. Gates open at 6:00 with racing starting at 7:45!
FRIDAY NIGHT THUNDER 2011
ROUND RACE REPORT – SEPTEMBER 9
OHSWEKEN SPEEDWAY
OHSWEKEN, ONTARIO
EVENT SPONSOR – ROCHESTER KNIGHTHAWKS
Race Start – 7:45p.m.
Race End – 10:30p.m.
Total Entries – 84
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. [1] 0 Dave Dykstra (Port Colborne), 2. [2] 27h Tom Huppunen (Fenwick), 3. [4] 7 Kyle Moffit (South Dayton, NY), 4. [5] 5 Keith Dempster (Alton), 5. [6] 80 Chris Steele (Fenwick), 6. [8] 49 Todd Hoddick (Cheektowaga, NY), 7. [7] 52 Jesse Costa (St. Thomas), DNS. [3] 07x Dain Naida (Tecumseh, MI).
GRISDALE RACING PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #2
1. [2] 71 Travis Cunningham (Grimsby), 2. [6] 33k Kyle Patrick (Tilbury), 3. [1] 30g Steve Goldner (Aylmer), 4. [5] 11 Jamie Turner (Caistor Centre), 5. [3] 3 Wayne Ashton (Kitchener), 6. [7] 5c Conor Mahoney (Waterdown), DNS. [4] 84 Tyler Rand (Consecon).
BS&B RADIATOR HEAT RACE #3
1. [5] 7x Jamie Collard (Burford), 2. [3] 81 Derek Jonathan (Lewiston, NY), 3. [4] 10 Mitch Brown (Brantford), 4. [1] 14h Jim Huppunen (Fenwick), 5. [2] 90 James Evans (Beamsville), 6. [6] 67 Chris Durand (Port Stanley), 7. [7] 9jr Tim Zack (Dain City).
CORR/PAK MERCHANDISING
SPRINT CAR A-FEATURE (25 laps)
Position. # Name (Starting Position)
1. 10 Mitch Brown (1)
2. 7 Kyle Moffit (10)
3. 80 Chris Steele (2)
4. 0 Dave Dykstra (9)
5. 27h Tom Huppunen (4)
6. 49 Todd Hoddick (13)
7. 71 Travis Cunningham (7)
8. 11 Jamie Turner (5)
9. 5 Keith Dempster (11)
10. 14h Jim Huppunen (14)
11. 81 Derek Jonathan (3)
12. 9jr Tim Zack (20)
13. 3 Wayne Ashton (16)
14. 07x Dain Naida (21) DNF
15. 84 Tyler Rand (22) DNF
16. 7x Jamie Collard (6) DNF
17. 67 Chris Durand (18) DNF
18. 30g Steve Goldner (8) DNF
19. 33k Kyle Patrick (12) DNF
20. 90 James Evans (17) DNF
21. 52 Jesse Costa (19) DNF
22. 5c Conor Mahoney (15) DNF
SPRINT CAR AWARDS:
Nathan Ackland State Farm Insurance “Top Gun” (highest passing points total): 7x Jamie Collard ($100)
RNB Restorations Feature Winner: 10 Mitch Brown (case of Champion Motor Oil)
LIGHTHOUSE TATTOOS THUNDER STOCKS (19 entries)
HEAT RACES (8 laps each)
ENGINE PRO RACING HEAT RACE #1
1. 38 Terry Martin (Ohsweken), 2. 17 Rob Disher (Grimsby), 3. 77 Brett Rodwell (Caledonia), 4. 13 Kacey Huffman (Hamilton), 5. 04 Wyatt Van Wart (Cambridge), 6. 00 Robbie General (Ohsweken), 7. 57 Murray Nicholls (Hamilton), 8. 191 Gord Bates (Selkirk), 9. 77b Brittany Gyokery (Jarvis).
6 NATIONS BINGO HEAT RACE #2
1. 5h Devin Habiuk (Port Robinson), 2. 55 Mike Thorne (Caledonia), 3. 73 Mike Miller (Caledonia), 4. 83 Lee Winger (Caledonia), 5. 19 Cory Turner (Caistor Centre), 6. 28 Jim Lampman (Caistor Centre), 7. 1 Chris Dickie (Brantford), 8. 3b Blaine Barrow, 9. 23 Tim DeBoer (Caledonia) DNF, 10. 52 Chad Crumb DNF.
LIGHTHOUSE TATTOOS THUNDER STOCKS
A-FEATURE (25 laps)
Position. # Name (Starting Position)
1. 73 Mike Miller (8)
2. 5h Devin Habiuk (7)
3. 55 Mike Thorne (9)
4. 19 Cory Turner (12)
5. 83 Lee Winger (10)
6. 38 Terry Martin (6)
7. 1 Chris Dickie (14)
8. 17 Rob Disher (3)
9. 57 Murray Nicholls (13)
10. 04 Wyatt Van Wart (5)
11. 23 Tim DeBoer (18)
12. 77b Brittany Gyokery (17)
13. 13 Kacey Huffman (1) DNF
14. 28 Jim Lampman (11) DNF
15. 3b Blaine Barrow (16) DNF
16. 77 Brett Rodwell (4) DNF
17. 00 Robbie General (2) DNF
18. 191 Gord Bates (15) DNF
DNS. 52 Chad Crumb (19)
HRW AUTOMOTIVE MINI STOCKS (27 entries)
HEAT RACES (8 laps each)
ENGINE PRO RACING HEAT RACE #1
1. 69e Dan Erskine (Caistor Centre), 2. 77x Ethan Martin (Ohsweken), 3. 01 Brittani Myers (Hamilton), 4. 81 Karl Sault (Dundas), 5. 99 Robin Elliott (Woodstock), 6. 64 Doug Erskine (Hamilton), 7. 11 Mike Giberson (Caledonia), 8. 05 Dave Goodacre (Brantford), 9. 13c Corrie Cowell (Tillsonburg).
ESSO SPEEDWAY VARIETY HEAT RACE #2
1. 777x Steve Hess (Ohsweken), 2. 44 Dale Cooke (Hamilton), 3. 31 Abel Castelein (Cayuga), 4. 79 Steve Miller (Paris), 5. 265 Mike Evers (Caledonia), 6. 55 Rob Slater (Dundas), 7. 10j Jeremy Hughes (Burlington), 8. 69 Rob Twitchett (Dundas), 9. 84rk Ryan Beagle (Vittoria) DNF.
O’NEIL’S FARM EQUIPMENT HEAT RACE #3
1. 1 Lee Hils (Dundas), 2. 7x Chase Hess (Ohsweken), 3. 02 Mike Taylor (Burlington), 4. 7 Jason Lungaro (Hamilton), 5. 10 Jake Brown (Brantford), 6. 52 Kevin Ross (Hamilton), 7. 27 Dan Stewart (Hamilton), 8. 4 Jason Coutu (St. Catharines), 9. 22c Johnny Myers (Hamilton).
HRW AUTOMOTIVE MINI STOCKS
FEATURE (20 laps)
Position. # Name (Starting Position)
1. 81 Karl Sault (6)
2. 777x Steve Hess (9)
3. 1 Lee Hils (14)
4. 265 Mike Evers (10)
5. 7x Chase Hess (15)
6. 69e Dan Erskine ()
7. 79 Steve Miller (8)
8. 99 Robin Elliott (5)
9. 02 Mike Taylor (13)
10. 01 Brittani Myers (1)
11. 05 Dave Goodacre (22)
12. 7 Jason Lungaro (17)
13. 10 Jake Brown (16)
14. 64 Doug Erskine (3)
15. 55 Rob Slater (7)
16. 84rk Ryan Beagle (27)
17. 22c Johnny Myers (26)
18. 31 Abel Castelein (11) DNF
19. 27 Dan Stewart (21) DNF
20. 44 Dale Cooke (12) DNF
21. 13c Corrie Cowell (25) DNF
22. 11 Mike Giberson (19) DNF
23. 52 Kevin Ross (18) DNF
24. 69 Rob Twitchett (23) DNF
25. 10j Jeremy Hughes (20) DNF
26. 77x Ethan Martin (2) DNF
27. 4 Jason Coutu (24) DNF
PIERCED PARTS BOMBERS (16 entries)
HEAT RACES (8 laps each)
HEAT RACE #1
1. 199 Aaron Turkey (Ohsweken), 2. 66r Cole Rodwell (Caledonia), 3. 97 Max Chechalk (Hamilton), 4. 16 Jeremy May (Hamilton), 5. 44 Tylor Brock (Dunnville), 6. 53 Sarah Rutherford (Dundas), 7. 77 Dale Gyokery (Jarvis), 8. 388 Craig Dowd (Caledonia).
HEAT RACE #2
1. 88 Jesse McDonald (Caledonia), 2. 23 Dusty DeBoer (Hagersville), 3. 38 Rodney Rutherford (Waterdown), 4. 18 Josh Shantz, 5. 113 Shawn Ireland (Burlington), 6. 21 Mark Bauzin (Caledonia), 7. 66 Brady Longboat (Ohsweken), 8. 5 Kathi Dickie (Brantford) DNF.
PIERCED PARTS BOMBERS
FEATURE (15 laps)
Position. # Name (Starting Position)
1. 38 Rodney Rutherford (9)
2. 53 Sarah Rutherford (6)
3. 16 Jeremy May (5)
4. 88 Jesse McDonald (7)
5. 23 Dusty DeBoer (8)
6. 66r Cole Rodwell (2)
7. 66 Brady Longboat (14)
8. 97 Max Chechalk (3)
9. 44 Tylor Brock (4)
10. 113 Shawn Ireland (10) DNF
11. 77 Dale Gyokery (13) DNF
12. 199 Aaron Turkey (1) DNF
13. 388 Craig Dowd (15) DNF
14. 21 Mark Bauzin (12) DNF
15. 5 Kathi Dickie (16) DNF
DNS. 18 Josh Shantz (11)
UP NEXT @ OHSWEKEN SPEEDWAY:
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2011
ESSO SPEEDWAY VARIETY PRESENTS:
“FAN APPRECIATION NIGHT”
FEATURING CORR/PAK MERCHANDISING SPRINT CARS,
LIGHTHOUSE TATTOOS THUNDER STOCKS,
HRW AUTOMOTIVE MINI-STOCKS,
& PIERCED PARTS BOMBERS
ADULTS $15, SENIORS AND STUDENTS $8, KIDS 12 AND UNDER FREE!
SPECTATOR GATES OPEN @ 5:00 P.M., RACING @ 7:45 P.M.