by Tommy Goudge (June 12, 2009) – Heading into round five of Ohsweken Speedway’s Friday Night Thunder, Glenn Styres’ career sprint car feature win total stood at twenty. Styres claimed win number twenty-one in spectacular fashion after the mount on his top wing broke with less than a lap left in the twenty-five lap American Sprint Car Series Sprints on Dirt tour feature. Also claiming feature wins in the fast-paced program which ended just after 10:30 p.m. were Shayne Pierce in the ESSO Thunder Stocks, Rick Robinson in ESSO Mini Stock action, and Jesse McDonald once again in the Bomber division.
Brett Mann and Keith Dempster started on the front row of the ASCS SOD tour feature, with Mann taking the early lead. Dempster, however looked to be on a mission early on and took the lead from Mann during the third circuit. That pass was negated however when Ryan Hunsinger lost a radius rod in corner two to bring out a caution. On the restart, Mann was not about to let Dempster get by so easily and took off, leaving Dempster to fight off the advances of Ryan Grubaugh and Glenn Styres. Styres powered by both Grubaugh and Dempster during the ninth lap and set sail after Mann.
Styres drew close to Mann’s machine a number of times during the next few laps, but his progress was hampered in lapped traffic. After a caution at halfway for a spin by James Evans cleared the traffic, Styres made short work of Mann, blasting by on the top side coming out of corner four on lap fifteen. Mann was left to contend with Ryan Grubaugh and a hard-charging Dustin Daggett for the remaining ten laps, with Grubaugh eventually taking over the runner-up spot.
With the white flag in the air, Styres’ lead seemed insurmountable, until the supports for his top wing began to come apart. Going through the final set of corners, the wing flipped back completely, but Grubaugh was too far back to take advantage of Styres’ misfortune. Styres crossed the line just over one second ahead of Grubaugh, while Mann held on for third, followed by Daggett, and Mikey Kruchka who charged all the way from eighteenth on the grid.
Heat races for the twenty cars in attendance were won by Dustin Daggett, Jared Zimbardi, and Keith Dempster, while Daggett also claimed the four lap Fast Car Dash in record time on the very fast surface. Jared Zimbardi’s lap of 13.346 seconds on his way to the heat victory is the fastest recorded lap ever at the Speedway for a 360 Sprint Car.
The ESSO Thunder Stocks brought another competitive field of twenty cars on Friday night. At the end of twenty lap feature, Shayne Pierce came away with the victory, becoming the first repeat winner of the season in the process. The feature began with Dave Bailey and Ryan Dinning on the front row, with Bailey getting the early advantage. The action was heated behind him as drivers jockeyed for position, and Pierce quickly made his way forward from his starting spot inside row five.
Pierce made short work of the competition and took off out front, while Mike Ward, Jamie Cox, and Billy Bleich eventually separated themselves from the pack. Bleich appeared to have the fastest car on the track as the feature wound to a close, but Ward fought hard for the runner-up spot, delaying Bleich’s move to the front. Pierce claimed the feature win, followed by Bleich, Ward, Cox, and Jeremy Bean. Heat races were won by Ward and Pierce.
In ESSO Mini-Stocks action, Rick Robinson ended Mitchell Brown’s streak of feature wins at three. In victory lane, Robinson said “Mitchell and I are good friends and we help each other with our cars, but I am glad to beat him!”
The Mini-Stocks feature began with Cam Hill and Robinson sharing the front row, with Robinson getting the early jump and pulling away. Behind him, the race was on for the runner-up spot as Hill and Mike Evers went at it. All eyes were on Brown, however, as the young driver was quickly slicing through the field from his starting spot outside row five. With a big lead out front, Robinson’s machine began to smoke, but did not slow down.
With less than five laps to go, the race was stopped for a hard crash by Wyatt Van Wart in turn two. Van Wart climbed out uninjured but the same could not be said for his badly damaged machine. Back under green, Evers, Brown, and Kevin Hilborn were now right on Robinson’s tail, and Evers used the low line to challenge for the lead. Robinson was able to hold on for the win, while Brown got by Evers to finish second, followed by Hilborn in fourth and Hill in fifth. Heat races for the seventeen ESSO Mini-Stocks on hand were claimed by Robinson and Brown.
The Bombers went at it again on the infield oval, and once again it was Jesse McDonald and Karl Sault battling for the win. McDonald fought various issues including a deflating right front tire to hold Sault off and claim the victory, his third in a row. Sault settled for second, followed by Steven Hils, Shawn Ireland, and Kacey Huffman.
A huge event returns to Ohsweken this Thursday, June 18 when Arrow Express presents the “Six Nations 50” for the World of Outlaws Late Model series, featuring special guest star Ken Schrader, plus the Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprints! Good seats are still available. Please visit www.OhswekenSpeedway.com and call 1-888-720-7223 for more information. On Thursday night, gates open at 4:00p.m., hot laps followed by time trials at 6:30p.m., and the first race taking the green flag at 8:00p.m.
Friday Night Thunder resumes on Friday, June 19 when Outhouse Image and Design presents the first “UMP Modified Summer Sizzler” in conjunction with South Buxton Raceway, plus the ESSO Thunder Stocks, ESSO Mini-Stocks, and Bombers! Friday Night Thunder at Ohsweken Speedway offers affordable family entertainment just a short drive away from most mid-western Ontario locations. Friday Night Thunder Adult General Admission is just $10, while Seniors and Students are $8, and kids 12 and under are FREE! Please visit www.OhswekenSpeedway.com for more information. On Friday night, gates open at 6:00p.m., with the first race at 7:45p.m.
FRIDAY NIGHT THUNDER 2009
ROUND 5 RACE REPORT – JUNE 12, 2009
OHSWEKEN SPEEDWAY
OHSWEKEN, ONTARIO
EVENT SPONSOR – ENGINE PRO RACING
Race Start: 7:45 P.M.
Race End: 10:30 P.M.
ENGINE PRO AMERICAN SPRINT CAR SERIES SPRINTS ON DIRT TOUR
HEAT RACES (8 laps – Top 8 in passing points redraw for feature starting spots):
Heat Race #1
1. 2m Dustin Daggett (Grand Ledge, MI), 2. 0 Glenn Styres (Ohsweken), 3. 6n Dain Naida (Bellville, MI), 4. 31 John Burbridge, Jr. (Simcoe), 5. 49t Gregg Dalman (Lyons, MI), 6. 11 Chris Jones (Demorestville), 7. f37 Jim Porter (Grand Island, NY). Time – 1:52.022
Heat Race #2
1. 35 Jared Zimbardi (Salamanca, NY), 2. 84 Tyler Rand (Consecon), 3. 00 Ryan Grubaugh (St. Johns, MI), 4. 18 Kevin Loveys (Hamilton), 5. 3g Tim Norman (Warsaw, IN), 6. 90 James Evans (Beamsville), 7. 01 Mikey Kruchka (Hamilton). No Time
Heat Race #3
1. 5 Keith Dempster (Alton), 2. 79 Brett Mann (Goshen, IN), 3. 46 Robert Huisken (Marne, MI), 4. 77x Ryan Hunsinger (Brantford), 5. 27 Jamie Collard (Burford), 6. 67 Chris Durand (Port Stanley). No Time
FAST CAR DASH
(4 laps)
1. 2m Dustin Daggett, 2. 79 Brett Mann, 3. 0 Glenn Styres, 4. 35 Jared Zimbardi.
Time – 56.373 NEW TRACK RECORD
ENGINE PRO AMERICAN SPRINT CAR SERIES
SPRINTS ON DIRT TOUR FEATURE (25 laps)
Position. # Name (Starting Position)
1. 0 Glenn Styres (3)
2. 00 Ryan Grubaugh(6)
3. 79 Brett Mann (1)
4. 2m Dustin Daggett (7)
5. 01 Mikey Kruchka (18)
6. 5 Keith Dempster (2)
7. 3g Tim Norman (11)
8. 18 Kevin Loveys (12)
9. 6n Dain Naida (9)
10. 27 Jamie Collard (15)
11. 49t Gregg Dalman (10)
12. 46 Robert Huisken (8)
13. 90 James Evans (16)
14. 84 Tyler Rand (4)
15. 35 Jared Zimbardi (5)
16. f37 Jim Porter (17) DNF
17. 31 John Burbridge, Jr. (14) DNF
18. 77x Ryan Hunsinger (13) DNF
19. 67 Chris Durand (19) DNF
20. 11 Chris Jones (20) DNS
No Time
ESSO THUNDER STOCKS
HEAT RACES:
Heat Race #1
1. 95 Mike Ward (Niagara Falls), 2. 31 Dave Bailey (Hagersville), 3. 44 Jamie Cox (Cambridge), 4. 7 Remington Price (Wainfleet), 5. 40 Terry Osmond (Cambridge), 6. 37 Jeremy Bean (Stoney Creek), 7. 83 Lee Winger (Caledonia), 8. 13 Mark Thorne (Waterford), 9. 1 Chris Dickie (Brantford), 10. 24k Kyle Magrin (Hamilton) DNF
Heat Race #2
1. 88 Shayne Pierce (Wainfleet), 2. 8 Ryan Dinning (Caledonia), 3. 17 Rob Disher (Grimsby), 4. 108jr Billy Bleich (Port Robinson), 5. 12 Brad Herron (Branford), 6. 55 Mike Thorne (Caledonia), 7. 32 Rodney Rutherford (Waterdown), 8. 33 Colin Court (Jerseyville), 9. 9 Glen Leinen (Hannon), 10. 02 Erinn Bailey (Paris) DNF
ESSO THUNDER STOCKS A-FEATURE (20 laps)
Position. # Name (Starting Position)
1. 88 Shayne Pierce (9)
2. 108jr Billy Bleich (6)
3. 95 Mike Ward (7)
4. 44 Jamie Cox (5)
5. 37 Jeremy Bean (11)
6. 31 Dave Bailey (1)
7. 12 Brad Herron (8)
8. 83 Lee Winger (13)
9. 8 Ryan Dinning (2)
10. 55 Mike Thorne (12)
11. 1 Chris Dickie (15)
12. 02 Erinn Bailey (20)
13. 13 Mark Thorne (14)
14. 24k Kyle Magrin (17) DNF
15. 17 Rob Disher (4) DNF
16. 40 Terry Osmond (3) DNF
17. 7 Remington Price (10) DNF
18. 33 Colin Court (18) DNF
19. 32 Rodney Rutherford (16) DNS
20. 9 Glen Leinen (19) DNS
ESSO MINI-STOCKS
HEAT RACES:
Heat Race #1
1. 50 Rick Robinson (Brantford), 2. 72 Kevin Hilborn (Brantford), 3. 77x Ethan Martin (Ohsweken), 4. 7x Chase Hess (Ohsweken), 5. 397 Cam Hill (Ohsweken), 6. 86 Rick Emberson (Paris), 7. 113 Gord Bates (York), 8. 04 Wyatt Van Wart (Cambridge) DNF, 9. 777x Steve Hess (Ohsweken) DNS
Heat Race #2
1. 10 Mitchell Brown (Brantford), 2. 11 Mike Giberson (Caledonia), 3. 27 Dan Stewart (Hamilton), 4. 265 Mike Evers (Caledonia), 5. 37 Rob Hoskins (Harley), 6. 88 Drew Spencer, 7. 05 David Goodacre (Brantford), 8. 55 Rob Slater (Dundas)
ESSO MINI-STOCKS A-FEATURE (15 laps)
Position. # Name (Starting Position)
1. 50 Rick Robinson (2)
2. 10 Mitchell Brown (10)
3. 265 Mike Evers (6)
4. 72 Kevin Hilborn (9)
5. 397 Cam Hill (1)
6. 37 Rob Hoskins (8)
7. 7x Chase Hess (7)
8. 86 Rick Emberson (11)
9. 27 Dan Stewart (3)
10. 05 David Goodacre (14)
11. 77x Ethan Martin (4)
12. 113 Gord Bates (13)
13. 11 Mike Giberson (5)
14. 88 Drew Spencer (12)
15. 55 Rob Slater (15)
16. 04 Wyatt Van Wart (16) DNF
17. 777x Steve Hess (17) DNS
BOMBERS A-FEATURE (20 laps)
Position. # Name (Hometown)
1. 88j Jesse McDonald (Caledonia), 2. 81 Karl Sault (Dundas), 3. 6 Steven Hils (Dundas), 4. 113 Shawn Ireland (Burlington), 5. 13 Kacey Huffman (Hamilton), 6. 53 Chris Rivers, 7. 4 Dale Cooke (Hamilton) DNF
UP NEXT @ OHSWEKEN SPEEDWAY:
THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2009
ARROW EXPRESS PRESENTS:
THE WORLD OF OUTLAWS LATE MODELS “SIX NATIONS 50”
FEATURING GUEST STAR KEN SCHRADER
PLUS CORR/PAK MERCHANDISING SPRINT CARS!
ADULT RESERVED SEATS $35, ADULT GENERAL ADMISSION $20,
KIDS 12 AND UNDER RESERVED SEATS $20, KIDS 12 AND UNDER GENERAL ADMISSION $10
SPECTATOR GATES OPEN @ 4:00 P.M., HOT LAPS FOLLOWED BY TIME TRIALS @ 6:30 P.M., RACING @ 8:00 P.M.
FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2009
OUTHOUSE IMAGE AND DESIGN PRESENTS:
“UMP MODIFIED SUMMER SIZZLER” OHSWEKEN/SOUTH BUXTON SPECIAL
WITH ESSO THUNDER STOCKS, ESSO MINI STOCKS, AND BOMBERS
PLUS THE MOD-LITE STARS CHAMPIONSHIP TOUR NORTH AND AUTOGRAPH NIGHT!
ADULTS $10, SENIORS AND STUDENTS $8, KIDS 12 AND UNDER FREE!
SPECTATOR GATES OPEN @ 6:00 P.M., RACING @ 7:45 P.M.