By Tommy Goudge (September 18, 2009) – Seventy-one Sprint Car drivers signed in Friday to compete in the “Night Before the Nationals” presented by Village Pizza, Sit n’ Bull Construction, and Village Café night at Ohsweken Speedway. When the final checkered flag flew, Brian McDonald and Shane Stewart had locked themselves into Saturday night’s $9,000 to win Canadian Sprint Car Nationals feature by virtue of winning the two Twin Fifteen lap features. Steve Poirier repeated as winner of both the Village Pizza Ohsweken Shootout and Dave McLeod Memorial Mr. Sprint Car Challenge, while Lee Winger won the ESSO Thunder Stocks feature, Abel Castelein took ESSO Mini Stock honours, and Lee Hils claimed the Bomber win.
SPRINT CARS
Trevor Lewis and Brian McDonald started at the front for the first of the Twin Fifteens, but Lewis fell back at the start while McDonald took the early lead. Glenn Styres and Dustin Daggett also got around the Lewis machine, and Styres immediately went to work on McDonald for the top spot. In a classic duel for the lead, Styres and McDonald went side-by-side lap after lap.
Meanwhile back in the pack, Chuck Hebing moved up from thirteenth to ninth in the first lap, and gained two more positions a lap later, while Wayne Johnson moved from ninth to fifth by the time lap three was in the books. Styres and McDonald continued to at it at the front of the field, and Styres actually led laps four and five at the line before giving way again to McDonald.
The top five positions stabilized during the middle portions of the race, while McDonald worked traffic to his advantage and opened a bit of a gap. On lap nine, Johnson got by Lewis to take the fourth spot, but like the lead battle, he would fight back and take the spot two laps later.
At the same time Lewis was making his way back around Johnson, Dustin Daggett moved around Styres to take over the runner-up spot and set his sights on McDonald. On lap twelve, Lewis took over third from Styres and that is how the feature would end, with McDonald holding off Daggett by less than two tenths of a second. Daggett held on for second, followed by Lewis, Johnson, and Chuck Hebing.
The second half of the Twin Fifteens got underway with Paul McMahan and Bobby Breen on the front row, and it was McMahan showing the way early while Shane Stewart moved up from fourth to second on the first lap. Behind them Michael Parent and Bryan Howland put Breen back to fifth, and then brother Blake relegated him to sixth on lap seven.
During the eighth lap, Stewart made his move by going between leader McMahan and a lapped car. Stewart took off during the last few laps of the race, eventually winning by over three and a half seconds. McMahan settled for second, followed by Parent, Howland, and Gregg Dalman who brought Jason Barney along with him for fifth and sixth place finishes after starting eleventh and fifteenth respectively.
Heat races for the seventy-one sprint cars in action Friday night were claimed by Lewis, McDonald, Steve Poirier, McMahan, Bobby Breen, and Michael Parent, while Poirier repeated his wins in the Village Pizza Ohsweken Shootout, and Dave McLeod Memorial Mr. Sprint Car Challenge.
ESSO THUNDER STOCKS
Brian Pescetti and Dave Bailey started on the front row for the last ESSO Thunder Stocks feature of the 2009 season at Ohsweken, but it was Lee Winger quickly moving up into the lead while Ryan Dinning advanced to second, and Bailey fell to third.
Dinning gradually decreased Winger’s advantage during the middle portion of the race, but then spun in turn two to hand second place back to Baily.
Winger would not be seriously challenged as the race wound to a close, and Winger was happy to claim his second feature win in two nights. Heat races for the ESSO Thunder Stocks were claimed by Bailey and Dinning.
ESSO MINI STOCKS
Mark Thorne and Rob Hoskins started at the front for the ESSO Mini Stocks feature, but it was Steve Hess quickly moving through the field. Abel Castelein fought it out with Mike Evers and Rick Emberson as the race moved along and eventually broke free to get to second place.
Castelein gained gradually on Hess as the laps wound down, but a small slip opened the gap again and Castelein looked to be stuck in second until a caution flag waved with three laps to go. On the restart, Castelein made his move for the lead and succeeded after a brief battle with Hess. Castelein took the feature win followed by Craig Erskine all the way from sixteenth on the grid, Mike Evers, and Paul Goodale.
Heat races were claimed by Dave Goodacre and Steve Hess.
BOMBERS
Lee Hils took the lead early in the Bomber feature and was never seriously challenged. Karl Sault settled for second, followed by Shawn Ireland, Adam Reidel, and Kacey Huffman.
OHSWEKEN SPEEDWAY RACE REPORT
“NIGHT BEFORE THE NATIONALS
SEPTEMBER 18, 2009
OHSWEKEN, ONTARIO
EVENT SPONSORS:
VILLAGE PIZZA, SIT N’ BULL CONSTRUCTION, AND VILLAGE CAFÉ
Race Start: 7:45 P.M.
Race End: 11:20 P.M.
VILLAGE PIZZA OHSWEKEN SHOOTOUT
(10 Laps)
1. 28fm Steve Poirier
2. 79 Brett Mann
3. 21L Trevor Lewis
4. 8 Blake Breen
5. 35 Jared Zimbardi
6. 0 Glenn Styres
7. 00 Ryan Grubaugh
8. 2m Dustin Daggett
9. 10 Jeff Cook
10. 27 Jamie Collard
11. 6n Dain Naida
12. 77x Ryan Hunsinger
13. 30 Adam West
14. 7m Justin Martin
15. 32 Justin Barger
Time – 2:23.291
SPRINT CAR HEAT RACES
HEAT RACES (Top 5 Transfer To A-Feature, Top 2 Redraw for Feature Starting Spots):
Heat Race #1
1. 21L Trevor Lewis (Upper Black Eddy, PA), 2. 0 Glenn Styres (Ohsweken), 3. 21x Kevin Job (Campbellville), 4. 64 Jessica Zemken (Sprakers, NY), 5. 45 Chuck Hebing (Ontario, NY), 6. 14h Jim Huppunen (Fenwick), 7. 32 Justin Barger (Montrose, NY), 8. 94 Stan Zanchin (Fort Erie), 9. 15aw April Wilson (Joyceville), 10. 01 Kyle Fraser (White Lake), 11. 14 Doug Banks (Kingston), 12. 12c Tom Huppunen (Fenwick) DNS. Time – 1:55.765
Heat Race #2
1. 151kb Brian McDonald (Cornwal), 2. 2m Dustin Daggett (Grand Ledge, MI), 3. 75 Tommy Wickham (Constantia, NY), 4. 5d Dave Dykstra (Port Colborne), 5. 18 Kevin Loveys (Hamilton), 6. 77x Ryan Hunsinger (Brantford), 7. 6n Dain Naida (Bellville, MI), 8. 7m Justin Martin (Shedden), 9. 71 Travis Cunningham (Grimsby), 10. 5 Keith Dempster (Alton), 11. 71jr Jason Pietz (), 12. 19jr Rob Ledingham (Port Colborne). Time – 1:57.119
Heat Race #3
1. 28fm Steve Poirier (Saint-Mathieu-de Beloeil, QC), 2. 90 James Evans (Beamsville), 3. 07x Wayne Johnson (Knoxville, IA), 4. 42w Rick Wilson (Joyceville), 5. 00 Ryan Grubaugh (St. Johns, MI), 6. 8b Alain Bergeron (Saint-Pie, QC), 7. 12 Tim Kelly (Rock Stream, NY), 8. 7 Kyle Moffit (South Dayton, NY), 9. 52L Daniel Lampron (Saint-Valere, QC), 10. 35 Jared Zimbardi (Salamanca, NY), 11. 9jr Tim Zack (Dain City), 12. 17j Lance Yonge (Penn Yan, NY) DNF. No Time
Heat Race #4
1. 39c Paul McMahan (Nashville, TN), 2. 3g Shane Stewart (Pittsboro, IN), 3. 51 Bryan Howland (Auburn, NY), 4. 5b Bubba Broderick (Brookfield, CT), 5. 8r Travis Rutz (Langley, BC), 6. 11 Tim Allison (Lima, OH), 7. 6s J.R. Stewart (Bellefontaine, OH), 8. 21j John Burbridge, Sr. (Simcoe), 9. 38 Brad Knab (Arcade, NY), 10. 11j Chris Jones (Demorestville), 11. 47x Louie Carufel (Port Huron, MI), 12. 67 Chris Durand (Port Stanley). Time – 1:55.980
Heat Race #5
1. 9 Bobby Breen (Savannah, NY), 2. 8 Blake Breen (Savannah, NY), 3. 51L Lee Ladouceur (Alexandria), 4. 49t Gregg Dalman (Lyons, MI), 5. 5m Brad Malloy (Niagara Falls), 6. 24k Devin Caron (Cornwall), 7. 20k Thomas Kennedy (Winnipeg, MB) DNF, 8. 01k Mikey Kruchka (Hamilton) DNF, 9. 15k Gord Kynoch (Spruce Grove, AB) DNF, 10. 27 Jamie Collard (Burford) DNF, 11. 7a Al Blanchard (Welland) DNF, 12. 10 Jeff Cook (Antwerp, NY) DNF. No Time
Heat Race #6
1. 25 Michael Parent (Granby, QC), 2. 1a John Riegling (Chatham), 3. 3b Scott Bonnell (Fairlawn, PA), 4. 30 Adam West (Ridgetown), 5. 87 Jason Barney (Constantia, NY), 6. 79 Brett Mann (Goshen, IN), 7. 21k Lou Kennedy, Jr. (Winnipeg, MB), 8. 33 Doug Emery (South Onondaga, NY), 9. 97 Jessica Lavallee (Onoway, AB), 10. 57 Doug Bowman (London), 11. 3 Wayne Ashton (Kitchener) DNF. Time – 1:59.973
DAVE MCLEOD MEMORIAL MR. SPRINT CAR CHALLENGE (1 on 1 Match Races):
FIRST ROUND (1 lap each):
A – 28fm Steve Poirier def. 11 Tim Allison
C – 21x Kevin Job def. 97 Jessica Lavallee
E – 6s J.R. Stewart def. 51 Bryan Howland
G – 79 Brett Mann def. 7m Justin Martin
B – 12c Tom Huppunen def. 32 Justin Barger
D – 2m Dustin Daggett def. 30 Adam West
F – 35 Jared Zimbardi def. 49t Gregg Dalman
H – 3g Shane Stewart def. 15k Gord Kynoch
QUARTER FINALS (1 lap each):
I – 28fm Steve Poirier def. 21x Kevin Job
K – 79 Brett Mann def. 6s J.R. Stewart
J – 2m Dustin Daggett def. 12c Tom Huppunen
L – 35 Jared Zimbardi def. 3g Shane Stewart
SEMI-FINALS (1 lap each):
M – 28fm Steve Poirier def. 79 Brett Mann
N – 35 Jared Zimbardi def. 2m Dustin Daggett
DAVE MCLEOD MEMORIAL MR. SPRINT CAR CHALLENGE FINAL (2 laps):
28fm Steve Poirier def. 35 Jared Zimbardi
VILLAGE CAFÉ FEATURE (15 laps)
Position. # Name (Starting Position)
1. 151kb Brian McDonald (2)
2. 2m Dustin Daggett (5)
3. 21L Trevor Lewis (1)
4. 07x Wayne Johnson (9)
5. 45 Chuck Hebing (13)
6. 28fm Steve Poirier (3)
7. 0 Glenn Styres (4)
8. 21x Kevin Job (7)
9. 64 Jessica Zemken (10)
10. 75 Tommy Wickham (8)
11. 00 Ryan Grubaugh (15)
12. 18 Kevin Loveys (14)
13. 14h Jim Huppunen (16)
14. 5d Dave Dykstra (11)
15. 90 James Evans (6)
16. 42w Rick Wilson (12) DNS
Time – 3:48.577
SIT ‘N BULL FEATURE (15 laps)
Position. # Name (Starting Position)
1. 3g Shane Stewart (4)
2. 39c Paul McMahan (1)
3. 25 Michael Parent (3)
4. 51 Bryan Howland (7)
5. 49t Gregg Dalman (11)
6. 87 Jason Barney (15)
7. 8 Blake Breen (5)
8. 9 Bobby Breen (2)
9. 3b Scott Bonnell (9)
10. 1a John Riegling (6)
11. 51L Lee Ladouceur (8)
12. 5m Brad Malloy (14)
13. 30 Adam West (12)
14. 5b Bubba Broderick (10)
15. 8r Travis Rutz (13)
Time – 3:46.493
ESSO THUNDER STOCKS
HEAT RACES:
Heat Race #1
1. 31 Dave Bailey (Hagersville), 2. 17 Rob Disher (Grimsby), 3. 24k Kyle Magrin (Hamilton), 4. 37 Jeremy Bean (Stoney Creek), 5. 52 Harry Crumb, 6. 40 Terry Osmond (Cambridge), 7. 11 Michelle Johnson (Caledonia)
Heat Race #2
1. 8 Ryan Dinning (Caledonia), 2. 83 Lee Winger (Caledonia), 3. 4k Kevin Knapp (St. Catharines), 4. 7 Remington Price (Wainfleet), 5. 108jr Billy Bleich, Jr. (Port Robinson), 6. 62 Brian Pescetti (Stoney Creek), 7. 13x Mike Miller
ESSO THUNDER STOCKS A-FEATURE (20 laps)
Position. # Name (Starting Position)
1. 83 Lee Winger (5)
2. 31 Dave Bailey (2)
3. 8 Ryan Dinning (7)
4. 37 Jeremy Bean (8)
5. 4k Kevin Knapp (11)
6. 108jr Billy Bleich, Jr. (9)
7. 7 Remington Price (12)
8. 40 Terry Osmond (3)
9. 17 Rob Disher (6)
10. 24k Kyle Magrin (4)
11. 62 Brian Pescetti (1) DNF
12. 11 Michelle Johnson (13) DNF
13. 52 Geoff Cooper (10) DNF
14. 13x Mike Miller (14) DNS
ESSO MINI-STOCKS
HEAT RACES:
Heat Race #1
1. 05 Dave Goodacre (Brantford), 2. 37 Rob Hoskins (Harley), 3. 265 Mike Evers (Caledonia), 4. 86 Rick Emberson (Paris), 5. 55 Rob Slater (Dundas), 6. 113 Mark Thorne (Waterford), 7. 11 Mike Giberson (Caledonia), 8. 77x Ethan Martin (Ohsweken), 9. 9 Kevin Magrin (Hamilton), 10. 2 Brittani Myers DNF
Heat Race #2
1. 777x Steve Hess (Ohsweken), 2. 28 Abel Castelein (Cayuga), 3. 79 Steve Miller, 4. 02 Mike Taylor (Burlington), 5. 14 Paul Goodale, 6. 48 Craig Erskine, 7. 6x Mike Sarantakes, 8. 27 Dan Stewart (Hamilton), 9. 10 Jacob Brown (Brantford), 10. 72 Robbie Rounce
ESSO MINI-STOCKS A-FEATURE (15 laps)
Position. # Name (Starting Position)
1. 28 Abel Castelein (12)
2. 777x Steve Hess (4)
3. 48 Craig Erskine (16)
4. 265 Mike Evers (9)
5. 14 Paul Goodale (3)
6. 72 Robbie Rounce (19)
7. 86 Rick Emberson (11)
8. 113 Mark Thorne (1)
9. 02 Mike Taylor (15)
10. 55 Rob Slater (5)
11. 11 Mike Giberson (7)
12. 79 Steve Miller (14)
13. 05 Dave Goodacre (10)
14. 77x Ethan Martin (6)
15. 10 Jacob Brown (18)
16. 37 Rob Hoskins (2) DNF
17. 27 Dan Stewart (8) DNF
18. 6x Mike Sarantakes (17) DNF
19. 9 Kevin Magrin (13) DNF
20. 2 Brittany Myers (20) DNS
BOMBERS A-FEATURE (20 laps)
Position. # Name (Hometown)
1. 181 Lee Hils (Dundas)
2. 81 Karl Sault (Dundas)
3. 113 Shawn Ireland
4. 00 Adam Reidel
5. 13 Kacey Huffman (Hamilton)
6. 13c Corrie Cowell (Delhi)
7. 17 Brittany Gyorkery
8. 03 Bill Rutherford (Waterdown)
9. 88j Jesse McDonald (Caledonia)
UP NEXT @ OHSWEKEN SPEEDWAY:
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2009
ARROW EXPRESS PRESENTS:
FIFTH ANNUAL CANADIAN SPRINT CAR NATIONALS
PLUS MOD-LITE STARS CHAMPIONSHIP TOUR NORTH
ADULT RESERVED SEATS $35, ADULT GENERAL ADMISSION $20,
KIDS AGES 6-12 $5, KIDS AGE 5 AND UNDER FREE
SPECTATOR GATES OPEN @ 4:00 P.M., RACING @ 7:00 P.M.