By Greg Calnan
(Sunday, August 9, 2015) – Port Colborne, Ontario – The Southern Ontario Sprints made their second trip of the season to Humberstone Speedway in Port Colborne, Ontario for the ninth race of the 2015 season on Sunday. It was a memorable night for Glenn Styres, as he not only captured his fourth SOS win of the year, but also collected victory number 50 of his Sprint Car career.
22 cars lined up for the 25 lap feature with rookie pilot Ryan Turner and veteran Adam West on the front row. The field took two attempts on the initial start, after a spin by Darren Zumpe caused Frank Baranowski to spin to a stop in corner two.
The second and only other caution flag of the race flew on lap two, as Cory Turner challenged Mitch Brown for the 4th position. Turner dove into the third turn and lost control of the rear of the car, causing his #19 to spin. The previous night’s winner rejoined the tail of the field, and rallied to finish 10th.
Cory’s younger brother Ryan held the lead for the opening 3 laps until Styres powered around the top lane to take the lead. The battle for second heated up, as both Brown and Chris Steele moved past Turner and into the top three. Traffic worked to Steele’s advantage, and he made a daring move to take the second position away through the middle stages of the race.
At the front of the pack, heavy traffic did little to slow the ‘Ohsweken Flyer’ from pulling away from the rest of the field. Styres used any lane possible to hold his lead, and cruised to his fourth SOS win of the year, and 50th career Sprint Car victory. Steele finished second, while championship leader Brown kept Styres – his nearest title contender – in sight with a third place finish. Ryan Turner finished a solid fourth, while veteran driver Jim Porter returned for an impressive fifth.
The Southern Ontario Sprints return to Brighton Speedway for two nights of racing at the SOS Labour Day Classic Weekend on Saturday, September 5th and Sunday September 6th before crowning the 2015 champion at Merrittville Speedway on Friday, September 11th.
NOTES
– James Thompson withdrew from competition after hot laps to allow Shawn Sliter to drive his car. Sliter suffered engine issues with his own car.
– Three points races remain on the 2015 SOS schedule, including Labour Day Classic weekend at Brighton Speedway on September 5 and 6, followed by a September 11 event at Merrittville Speedway.
SOUTHERN ONTARIO SPRINTS RACE REPORT
2015 SEASON EVENT #9 – SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2015
HUMBERSTONE SPEEDWAY – PORT COLBORNE ON
ENTRY LIST
(Number Name – Hometown)
0 Glenn Styres – Ohsweken ON
2w Lee Winger – Mount Hope ON
5 Keith Dempster – Alton ON
6 Curtis Gartley – Thamesford ON
10 Bob Crawford – Sutton ON
10b Mitch Brown – Brantford ON
11j Chris Jones – Picton ON
11t Jamie Turner – Caistor Centre ON
11z Darren Zumpe – St. Catharines ON
14h Jim Huppunen – Fenwick ON
15 Mike Ferrell – London ON
19 Cory Turner – Caistor Centre ON
21j John Burbridge Jr. – St. Williams ON
22 James Thompson – St. Catharines ON
22p Jim Porter – Grand Island NY
27 Ryan Susice – Ransomville NY
30 Adam West – Ridgetown ON
43 Scott Sherk – Port Colborne ON
66 Frank Baranowski – Mount Hope ON
71s Shawn Sliter – Port Colborne ON
80 Chris Steele – St. Catharines ON
91 Ryan Turner – Caistor Centre ON
94z Stan Zanchin – Fort Erie ON
HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps – Top 3 redrew for A-Feature starting positions)
Finish. Number Name (Starting Position)
1. 80 Chris Steele (2)
2. 19 Cory Turner (4)
3. 43 Scott Sherk (1)
4. 14h Jim Huppunen (6)
5. 5 Keith Dempster (5)
6. 27 Ryan Susice (7)
7. 21j John Burbridge Jr. (3)
DNS. 22 James Thompson
HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps – Top 3 redrew for A-Feature starting positions)
Finish. Number Name (Starting Position)
1. 6 Curtis Gartly (1)
2. 10b Mitch Brown (6)
3. 0 Glenn Styres (2)
4. 22p Jim Porter (4)
5. 10 Bob Crawford (3)
6. 94z Stan Zanchin (7)
7. 15 Mike Ferrell (5)
8. 11z Darren Zumpe (8)
HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps – Top 3 redrew for A-Feature starting positions)
Finish. Number Name (Starting Position)
1. 30 Adam West (2)
2. 22 Shawn Sliter (1)
3. 91 Ryan Turner (5)
4. 11j Chris Jones (6)
5. 11t Jamie Turner (7)
6. 2w Lee Winger (4)
7. 66 Frank Baranowski (3)
A-FEATURE (25 laps)
Finish. Number Name (Starting Position)
1. 0 Glenn Styres (4)
2. 80 Chris Steele (9)
3. 10b Mitch Brown (8)
4. 91 Ryan Turner (1)
5. 22p Jim Porter (11)
6. 71s Shawn Sliter (5)
7. 11j Chris Jones (12)
8. 11t Jamie Turner (15)
9. 5 Keith Dempster (13)
10. 19 Cory Turner (6)
11. 27 Ryan Susice (22)
12. 14h Jim Huppunen (10)
13. 6 Curtis Gartly (7)
14. 21j John Burbridge Jr. (18)
15. 66 Frank Baranowski (20)
16. 43 Scott Sherk (3)
17. 10 Bob Crawford (14)
18. 94z Stan Zanchin (16)
19. 15 Mike Ferrell (19)
20. 2w Lee Winger (17)
21. 11z Darren Zumpe (21)
22. 30 Adam West (2)
DNS. 22 James Thompson
A-Feature Lap Leaders – Ryan Turner (1-3), Glenn Styres (4-25)
Hard Charger – Ryan Susice (+11)
2015 SEASON FEATURE WINNERS:
Glenn Styres – 4 (Brighton Speedway June 20, Ohsweken Speedway July 3, Brighton Speedway July 11, Humberstone Speedway August 9)
Mitch Brown – 2 (Brighton Speedway May 16, South Buxton Raceway July 4)
Parker Price-Miller – 1 (Humberstone Speedway May 17)
Chris Jones – 1 (South Buxton Raceway June 6)
Cory Turner – 1 (Brighton Speedway August 8)
UP NEXT:
Saturday, September 5, 2015: Brighton Speedway – Brighton ON
Sunday, September 6, 2015: Brighton Speedway – Brighton ON
About the Southern Ontario Sprints: Founded in 1996, the Southern Ontario Sprints series is a traveling winged 360 Sprint Car tour based in Ontario, Canada. 2015 marks the 20th year of operation for the Southern Ontario Sprints, brought to you this season by Klotz Canada Synthetic Lubricants, Speedway Motors, The National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum,www.ImageFactor.ca, Kreitz Oval Track Parts, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, and www.OnDirtRacingNews.com
Website: www.SouthernOntarioSprints.com
Twitter: @SOSsprints
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/SouthernOntarioSprints
YouTube: www.YouTube.com/user/SOSsprints