by Tommy Goudge (May 30, 2008), Ohsweken, Ontario –
Despite cloudy skies and pessimism from the weather man, as Trailers By Jim Bray Round 3 of Friday Night Thunder at Ohsweken Speedway was completed in its entirety on Friday night. Great racing, first time winners, and winners who lined up on the inside of row 2 were the order of the evening.
In Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Car action, Hamilton’s Ryan Hunsinger (Sprint Car #77x) took home his first career sprint car feature win after a late race charge saw him pass race-long leader Rob Pietz (Sprint Car #69) with just 2 laps left to run in the 20 lap feature. The race began with Dave Dykstra (Sprint Car #5d) and Pietz on the front row, and it was Pietz getting the early lead, which he would hold for the majority of the race. Behind Pietz, the action was fast and furious throughout the pack as Kyle Patrick (Sprint Car #42), Fred Cade (Sprint Car #12c), Kevin Job (Sprint Car #21x), and Jared Zimbardi (Sprint Car #35) all began making moves towards the top 5. “The Gunslinger” Hunsinger started in the 3rd spot and jockeyed for position in the top 5 for the majority of the race before suddenly coming alive with 5 laps to go, first disposing of Cade in turn 2, and completing his charge to the front by passing Pietz coming out of turn 4. Pietz settled for 2nd, matching his career best at Ohsweken, while Patrick, Cade, and Job rounded out the top 5. Zimbardi, who entered Friday as the points leader in the sprint car divison, took home a solid 6th place finish, just ahead of 2nd place point man Keith Dempster (Sprint Car #5). The race was slowed just once as the #71 of Craig Downie got pointed the wrong way coming out of turn 2, with many skilled evasive manoeuvres performed by his fellow competitors enabling Downie to continue and eventually take home a 12th place finish.
Heat race wins went to Glenn Styres (Sprint Car #0), Cade, and Dempster. The B-Main was scratched in order to move the show along under threatening skies. A total of 23 Corr/Pak Sprinters signed in for action on Friday night, with 22 making the call to start the feature. John Burbridge, Jr. (Sprint Car #31) unfortunately suffered mechanical difficulties in hot laps and scratched for the evening. His father John Burbridge, Sr. (Sprint Car #21j) hopes to be back on the track soon after a similar problem on opening night. Jamie Collard (Sprint Car #f37) was seen in the pits helping various crews and hopes to be in action later this season.
The Modified Lite Star Championship Tour North made the first of 2 scheduled stops at Ohsweken on Friday night with a fine field of 18 of the ultra-fast “mini-modifieds” on hand. Josh Sliter and Rick Brubacher paced the field to the green flag to begin the 20 lap feature, but the yellow flag appeared repeatedly in the first half of the event. The second half of the feature went caution free, and it was the #1 of Paul Klager quickly asserting himself out front to take a lead he would never relinquish, while the #53 of Jamie Gilbert and #28 of Adam Murphy made their way to 2nd and 3rd place finishes after starting 8th, and 10th respectively, with Shawn Sliter and Josh Sliter rounding out the top 5. Entertaining heat race wins went to Josh Sliter and Brubacher. The Mod-Lites will return to Ohsweken’s Friday Night Thunder on August 22.
Another good field of 18 ESSO Thunder-Stocks entered the pits on Friday night with Kyle Magrin (Thunder Stock #24k) and Gord Bates (Thunder Stock #191) making their first appearances of 2008. Shayne Pierce (Thunder Stock #88) and Mike Thorne (Thunder Stock #55) brought the field to green, but all eyes were on the #777 of Cody McPherson, who quickly charged into the top 5 after starting 10th on the grid. Meanwhile, Terry Osmond drove his #40 into the lead and opened a slight advantage, but the young lions McPherson and Pierce kept pace and dogged Osmond for the entire event. Pierce dove under Osmond in turn 2 on the white flag lap, but couldn’t get enough traction in the bottom groove to get by Osmond’s #40, as Terry picked up his first feature win of 2008, after taking his first career win last season. Ryan Dinning (Thunder Stock #8) and Jamie Cox (Thunder Stock #044) rounded out the top 5. 2nd place points man Vince Fargnoli (Thunder Stock #55f) salvaged a last place finish in his heat by charging from the tail of the feature grid to 7th when the checkered flag came out. Brad Bacher (Thunder Stock #3), who entered the night just 2 points behind Fargnoli, spun while running 6th in the feature, but managed to come back to finish 10th at the end, minimizing the damage to his points position. Heat wins went to Bacher and Pierce.
19 ESSO Mini-Stocks were on hand for round 3, with Chase Hess (Mini-Stock #7x) and Mike Peterson (Mini-Stock #4p) on the front row at the start of the 15 lap feature, but it was the #265 of Mike Evers who charged into the lead quickly and never looked back. Behind him, Mitchell Brown (Mini-Stock #10) and Abe Castelein (Mini-Stock #28) – 2nd and 1st respectively in points entering the evening – were picking their way to the front from their starting spots in the 6th row. Brown finished the feature in 2nd followed by Chase Hess, Dan Stewart (Mini-Stock #27), and Castelein rounding out the top 5. Heat race wins went to Chase Hess, Mike Peterson, and Brent Hill (Mini-Stock #397).
2 more Fun Stocks were in the pits this week, bringing the total to 6 and doubling the field that ran the first Fun Stock feature on opening night. At the end of 25 laps on the “little O” in Ohsweken’s infield, newcomer Dave Hils and his #18 were found in victory lane. He was chased by last week’s feature winner Lee Hils for much of the event, but pulled away for a comfortable victory as the laps waned down. Karl Sault – opening night feature winner and point leader entering the evening – did not finish the event.
Friday Night Thunder resumes next Friday, June 6 when Lone Wolf Pit Stop presents another action packed 4-division event featuring the Corr/Pak Winged Sprints, ESSO Thunderstocks, ESSO Mini-Stocks, and Fun Stocks. Friday Night Thunder at Ohsweken is affordable family entertainment just a short drive away from most mid-western Ontario locations. Adult General Admission is once again $10, Seniors & Students (ages 13-17) are $8, with kids 12 and under FREE! Please visit HYPERLINK “http://www.OhswekenSpeedway.com” for more information. Gates open at 6:00p.m. with the first race taking the green flag at 7:45p.m. this Friday, June 6!
OHSWEKEN SPEEDWAY FRIDAY NIGHT THUNDER
ROUND 3 RESULTS – MAY 30, 2008
EVENT SPONSOR: TRAILERS BY JIM BRAY
CORR/PAK MERCHANDISING SPRINT CARS
BS&B RADIATOR Heat Race #1:
1. 0 Glenn Styres (Ohsweken), 2. 19jr Rob Ledingham (Port Colborne), 3. 01 Mikey Kruchka (Hamilton), 4. 7 Jim Price (Wainfleet), 5. 71 Craig Downie (Burlington), 6. 10 Bob Crawford (Sutton)
BEST WESTERN CAIRN CROFT HOTEL Heat Race #2:
1. 12c Fred Cade (Niagara Falls), 2. 35 Jared Zimbardi (Salamanca, NY), 3. 5d Dave Dykstra (Port Colborne), 4. 69 Rob Pietz (Port Colborne), 5. 21x Kevin Job (Campbellville), 6. 22 Jim Porter (Grand Island, NY), 7. 29 Daryl Turford (Guelph), 8. 99c Nick Cupulo (Thorold)
GRISDALE RACING PRODUCTS Heat Race #3:
1. 5 Keith Dempster (Alton), 2. 77x Ryan Hunsinger (Hamilton), 3. 42 Kyle Patrick (Tilbury), 4. 94 Stan Zanchin (Fort Erie), 5. 52L Daniel Lampron (St. Valere, QC), 6. 38 Brad Knab (Delevan, NY), 7. 81 Derek Jonathon (Lewiston, NY), 8. 1a John Reigling (Chatham)
SCRATCHED BEFORE HEATS:
31 John Burbridge, Jr. (Simcoe)
CORR/PAK MERCHANDISING SPRINT CAR A-FEATURE
Position # Name (Starting Position)
1. 77x Ryan Hunsinger (3)
2. 69 Rob Pietz (2)
3. 42 Kyle Patrick (8)
4. 12c Fred Cade (7)
5. 21x Kevin Job (14)
6. 35 Jared Zimbardi (10)
7. 5 Keith Dempster (5)
8. 19jr Rob Ledingham (4)
9. 5d Dave Dykstra (1)
10. 7 Jim Price (6)
11. 22 Jim Porter (17)
12. 71 Craig Downie (13)
13. 94 Stan Zanchin (12)
14. 10 Bob Crawford (16)
15. 01 Mikey Kruchka (9)
16. 52L Daniel Lampron (15)
17. 81 Derek Jonathon (20)
18. 0 Glenn Styres (11)
19. 38 Brad Knab (18)
20. 99c Nick Cupulo (21)
21. 29 Daryl Turford (19)
22. 1a John Riegling (22)
MODIFIED LITE STARS CHAMPIONSHIP TOUR NORTH
Heat 1:
1. 17 Josh Sliter (Welland), 2. 1 Paul Klager (Beamsville), 3. 5c Jordan Curran (Port Colborne), 4. 18 Andy Tallman (Vineland), 5. 31 Scott Billing (Waterloo), 6. 96 Joel Szigatti (Welland), 7. 14 Kelly Mason (Virgil), 8. 37 Wally Billing (Elmira), 9. 33 Kory Howe (St. Catharines)
Heat 2:
1. 67 Rick Brubacher (St. Clements), 2. 71 Shawn Sliter (Port Colborne), 3. 15 Adam Leslie (Port Colborne), 4. 53 Jamie Gilbert (Welland), 5. 28 Adam Murphy (Niagara Falls), 6. 4e Blair Young (Niagara Falls), 7. 19 Jason Corless (Bolton), 8. 116 Bob Bredin (Niagara Falls), 9. 13 Scott Phillips (Hagersville)
MODIFIED LITE STARS CHAMPIONSHIP TOUR NORTH FEATURE (20 laps)
1. 1 Paul Klager (3)
2. 53 Jamie Gilbert (8)
3. 28 Adam Murphy (10)
4. 71 Shawn Sliter (4)
5. 17 Josh Sliter (1)
6. 33 Kory Howe (17)
7. 4e Blair Young (12)
8. 31 Scott Billing (9)
9. 14 Kelly Mason (13)
10. 37 Wally Billing (15)
11. 116 Bob Bredin (16)
12. 13 Scott Phillips (18)
13. 15 Adam Leslie (6) DNF
14. 5c Jordan Curran (5) DNF
15. 18 Andy Tallman (7) DNF
16. 67 Rick Brubacher (2) DNF
17. 96 Joel Szigatti (11) DNF
18. 19 Jason Corless (14) DQ
ESSO THUNDER STOCKS
Heat 1:
1. 3 Brad Bacher (Townsend), 2. 777 Cody McPherson (St. Catharines), 3. 044 Jamie Cox (Cambridge), 4. 55 Mike Thorne (Caledonia), 5. 17 Rob Disher (Grimsby), 6. 191 Gord Bates (York), 7. 1 Chris Dickie (Brantford), 8. 13 Mark Saul (Hagersville), 9. 38 Terry Martin (unknown)
Heat 2:
1. 88 Shayne Pierce (Wainfleet), 2. 9 Glen Leinen (Hannon), 3. 8 Ryan Dinning (Hagersville), 4. 12 Brad Herron (Brantford), 5. 40 Terry Osmond (Cambridge), 6. 11 Michelle Johnson (Caledonia), 7. 24k Kyle Magrin (Hamilton), 8. 62 Brian Pescetti (Stoney Creek), 9. 55f Vince Fargnoli (Niagara Falls)
ESSO THUNDER STOCKS A-FEATURE (15 laps):
Position # Name (Starting Position)
1. 40 Terry Osmond (3)
2. 88 Shayne Pierce (1)
3. 777 Cody McPherson (10)
4. 8 Ryan Dinning (5)
5. 044 Jamie Cox (4)
6. 9 Glenn Leinen (6)
7. 55f Vince Fargnoli (18)
8. 17 Rob Disher (7)
9. 55 Mike Thorne (2)
10. 3 Brad Bacher (9)
11. 13 Mark Saul (15)
12. 11 Michelle Johnson (12)
13. 1 Chris Dickie (13)
14. 24k Kyle Magrin (14)
15. 62 Brian Pescetti (16)
16. 12 Brad Herron (8)
17. 38 Terry Martin (17)
18. 191 Gord Bates (11)
ESSO MINI-STOCKS
Heat 1:
1. 7x Chase Hess (Ohsweken), 2. 265 Mike Evers (Caledonia), 3. 777x Steve Hess (Ohsweken), 4. 28 Abel Castelein (Cayuga), 5. 88 Marc Hallett (Brantford), 6. 05 David Goodacre (Brantford), 7. 55 Rob Slater (Dundas)
Heat 2:
1. 4p Mike Peterson (Woodstock), 2. 27 Dan Stewart (Hamilton), 3. 72 Kevin Hilborn (Brantford), 4. 40 Jim Swing (Jarvis), 5. 04 Wyatt Van Wart (Cambridge), 6. 11 Mike Giberson (Caledonia)
Heat 3:
1. 397 Brent Hill (Ohsweken), 2. 86 Rick Emberson (Paris), 3. 10 Mitchell Brown (Brantford), 4.113 Mark Thorne (Waterford), 5. 31 Dave Bailey (unknown), 6. 20 Chris Spencer (Cambridge)
MINI-STOCKS A-FEATURE (15 laps):
Position # Name (Starting Position)
1. 265 Mike Evers (3)
2. 10 Mitchell Brown (11)
3. 7x Chase Hess (1)
4. 27 Dan Stewart (4)
5. 28 Abel Castelein (12)
6. 40 Jim Swing (8)
7. 72 Kevin Hilborn (10)
8. 86 Rick Emberson (7)
9. 113 Mark Thorne (9)
10. 397 Brent Hill (5)
11. 4p Mike Peterson (2)
12. 31 Dave Bailey (15)
13. 11 Mike Giberson (17)
14. 55 Rob Slater (19)
15. 777x Steve Hess (6)
16. 05 David Goodacre (16)
17. 88 Marc Hallett (13)
18. 20 Chris Spencer (18)
19. 04 Wyatt Van Wart (14)
FUN STOCKS A FEATURE (25 laps):
1. 18 Dave Hils (unknown), 2. 181 Lee Hils (unknown), 3. 72 Evan Ritchie (unknown), 4. 5 Steve Hils (unknown), 5. 818 Chris Hils (unknown), 6. 81 Karl Sault (Dundas)