With the co-operation of the weather man and a full pit area, the Night Before the Nationals presented by Village Pizza, Sit-n-Bull Construction, and Village Cafe at Ohsweken Speedway got underway on Friday night, and when all was said and done Jason Barney and Dustin Daggett had guaranteed themselves a starting spot in Saturday night’s $8,000-to-win Canadian Sprint Car Nationals feature by winning twin 15 lap features. The Village Pizza Ohsweken Shootout and Dave McLeod Memorial Mr. Sprint Car Challenge were also part of the festivities on Friday night, and defending Nationals champion Steve Poirier swept those two events in dominating fashion. The ESSO Thunder Stocks, ESSO Mini Stocks, and Friday Night Fun Stocks also competed on Friday night in their Season Championship events, and 3 drivers took home their first feature wins of the season at Ohsweken, as Kevin Hilborn, Rob Knapp, and Mike Taylor visited Engine Pro Racing victory lane.
The Sprint Car portion of the program began with the 4th annual Village Pizza Ohsweken Shootout, featuring the top finishers from each affiliate sanction’s event at Ohsweken held in 2008, and top points finishers from the National Racing Alliance and Ohsweken’s Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Car division. Defending Canadian Sprint Car Nationals winner Steve Poirier drew the pole for the event, and was not seriously challenged in the 10-lap affair, taking the win in convicing fashion. Glenn Styres, Keith Dempster, Jared, Zimbardi, and Dustin Daggett rounded out the top 5. Poirier also claimed victory in the 2nd annual Dave McLeod Memorial Mr. Sprint Car Challenge, which again featured a unique tournament-style 1-on-1 match racing format. In the final round, Poirier defeated Dain Naida to claim the $1,000 prize and the title of Mr. Sprint Car for 2008.
A total of 55 sprint car drivers signed in for competition on Friday night and drew for starting positions in the 6 heat races, which were run nearly without incident until the 6th and final heat race when Rick Wilson and Jared Fink got together on the front straight, sending both flipping wildly into the entrance of turn 1. Both drivers climbed from their seriously damaged machines unhurt, but neither car will be in competition on Saturday night. Wilson however set to work preparing a backup and is expected to be in competition when Saturday night’s Canadian Sprint Car Nationals get underway.
The top 5 finishers from each heat race qualified for the twin-15 lap features, with the rest of the field left to wait for Saturday night, while the top 2 finishers from each heat redrew for starting feature positions, putting Jim Price and Jared Zimbardi on the front row of the Village Cafe feature, while Dustin Daggett and Rob Ledingham assumed the top spots for the Sit-n-Bull feature. Jason Barney quickly made his way forward in the Village Cafe feature and opened up a large lead with Kevin Job giving chase, but Poirier again made his presence known, however Barney, who has finished 2nd to Poirier in each of the last 2 Nationals features, was not to be denied in this one, and took the feature win, followed by Poirier, Job, Bobby Breen, and Brian McDonald.
Dustin Daggett and Rob Ledingham drew the lucky pills to start on the front row of the Sit-n-Bull feature, and from the drop of the green, Daggett was on a mission to be the fastest car on the track. Star driver Wayne Johnson driving the backup Styres machine started 4th and quickly made his way to 2nd, but could not make up any ground on Daggett, who drove a flawless race to come home with the feature win and a guaranteed starting spot in Saturday’s A-Main along with Barney. Plenty of action kept things entertaining behind Daggett as Chuck Hebing moved into the top 5 from his starting spot outside row 4, while Bryan Howland did the same after starting 11th. Hebing would eventually catch and pass Dale Blaney for the 3rd spot, following runner-up Johnson home, while Blaney settled for 4th, matching his finish from his other Friday night appearance at Ohsweken in 2006, and Howland rounded out the top 5.
The ESSO Thunder Stocks season championship feature got underway with Shane Pierce and Ron Kingsbury on the front row, and those two drivers spent much of the extended 20-lap feature swapping the lead back and forth, but behind them Rob Knapp was charging to the front after starting dead last, and Billy Bleich, Sr. was also making his presence felt. Knapp, driving his brother Kevin’s car for the evening, suffered a flat in his heat race and made heavy contact with the back stretch wall, but it appeared nothing was going to stop the St. Catharines driver on this night. After charging from the back row, Knapp was able to take advantage of the battle between Pierce and Kingsbury and made his way by the 2 visiting drivers to claim the victory, while Bleich also got by to finish 2nd, followed by Pierce, Kingsbury, and Kevin Knapp driving the #777 which Cody McPherson drove to the 2008 Thunder Stock points title at Ohsweken.
The ESSO Mini Stocks also ran their season championship feature on Friday night, with Kelly Hallett and Chris Teal making up the front row. Hallett was out front early, but began to fade, while Kevin Hilborn was the man on the move in his orange #72. Hilborn made his way to the front and then held off the persistent challenges of Brent Hill to claim the victory, his first ever. Hill settled for 2nd, followed by Mike Evers, Chase Hess, and Rick Emberson rounding out the top 5.
The Friday Night Fun Stocks tried something a little bit different on Friday night, running 10 laps counter-clockwise the conventional way around the infield oval, and then switching to run 10 laps clockwise. The top 3 drivers of Mike Taylor, Lee Hils, and Karl Sault were all racing hard for the win in both directions, but in the end Taylor was able to hold off the two drivers who have dominated the Fun Stock division this year to claim his first ever feature win in the division. Hils and Sault settled for 2nd and 3rd, followed by Chris Hils and Mark Czuba.
Saturday, September 27 is the date for the Arrow Express Canadian Sprint Car Nationals, with an $8,000 cheque on the line for the 30-lap Feature winner, while $600 is guaranteed for every driver who qualifies for the 28-car field. Featuring 70 or more of the best 360 sprint car teams and drivers from Ontario, Quebec, New York, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, and beyond, the Nationals have quickly grown into a must-see event for Canadian race fans and Sprint Car fans everywhere. Another great field is expected on September 27, featuring the best drivers from the 5 affiliate sanctioning bodies on board for this year’s Nationals, including the Southern Ontario Sprints, National Racing Alliance, Empire Super Sprints, ASCS Sprints on Dirt, and ASCS Patriots, as well as Ohsweken’s weekly Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Car division competitors, and potential surprise visitors from all over North America and beyond!
Reserved seats for Saturday night are available at a cost of $35 for adults, $5 for kids ages 6-12, and free for kids 5 and under, while general admission seating will be available on race day at a cost of $20 for adults, $5 for kids ages 6-12, and free for kids 5 and under. Pit gates will open at 8:00a.m. on Saturday, September 27, while spectator gates will open at 1:00p.m., hot laps are slated for 5:00p.m. followed by time trials, and racing will get underway at 7:00p.m. Fans who purchased reserved seats for the Nationals before the event was rained out may use those tickets on September 26 and 27. Plenty of free camping is available on the Speedway grounds! Please visit www.OhswekenSpeedway.com for additional information about ticket sales, scheduling, directions to the speedway, and much more! For fans who cannot attend the Canadian Sprint Car Nationals, a live audio webcast will be broadcast on www.HighSpeedRadio.com featuring Ohsweken track announcers Greg Calnan, Clinton Geoffrey, and Tommy Goudge along with webcast host and ASCS Patriot region announcer Rich Vleck. Visit www.HighSpeedRadio.com to listen in!
OHSWEKEN SPEEDWAY FRIDAY NIGHT THUNDER
OHSWEKEN, ONTARIO, CANADA
SEPTEMBER 26, 2008
EVENT SPONSORS – VILLAGE PIZZA, SIT-N-BULL CONSTRUCTION, & VILLAGE CAFE
THE NIGHT BEFORE THE NATIONALS
VILLAGE PIZZA OHSWEKEN SHOOTOUT (10 laps)
1. 28fm Steve Poirier (Saint-Mathieu-de-Beloiel, QC), 2. 0 Glenn Styres (Ohsweken), 3. 5 Keith Dempster (Alton), 4. 35 Jared Zimbardi (Salamanca, NY), 5. 2m Dustin Daggett (Portland, MI), 6. 79x Brett Mann (Goshen, IN), 7. 6b Dale Blaney (Hartford, OH), 8. 52 Scott Kreutter (Alden, NY), 9. 25p Michael Parent (Granby, QC), 10. 51h Bryan Howland (Auburn, NY), 11. 25 Warren Mahoney (Lefroy), 12. 6n Dain Naida (Belleville, MI)
HEAT RACES (Top 2 Redraw for Feature Starting Spots, Top 5 Transfer to Features)
Heat Race #1
1. 87 Jason Barney (Constantia, NY), 2. 9b Bobby Breen (Savannah, NY), 3. 23 Ben Rutan (Jerome, MI), 4. 151kb Brian McDonald (Cornwall), 5. 81 Derek Jonathon (Lewiston, NY), 6. 9jr Tim Zack (Dain City), 7. 90 James Evans (Beamsville), 8. 36 Mike Stelter (Ontario, NY), 9. 35 Jared Zimbardi (Salamanca, NY)
Heat Race #2
1. 7 Jim Price (Wainfleet), 2. 21x Kevin Job (Campbellville), 3. 5b Bubba Broderick (Brookfield, CT), 4. 69 Rob Pietz (Gasline), 5. 71 Craig Downie (Burlington), 6. 7m Justin Martin (St. Thomas), 7. 31t Andy Teunessen (Hastings, MI), 8. 79 Dick Mahoney (Newmarket), 9. 47x Louie Carufel (Port Huron, MI)
Heat Race #3
1. 28fm Steve Poirier (Saint-Mathieu-de-Beloiel, QC), 2. 5d Dave Dyksta (Port Colborne), 3. 1a John Riegling (Chatham), 4. 77x Ryan Hunsinger (Brantford), 5. 52 Scott Kreutter (Alden, NY), 6. 6n Dain Naida (Belleville, MI), 7. 8b Alain Bergeron (St. Pie, QC), 8. 7x Kyle Moffitt (South Dayton, NY), 9. 31 John Burbridge, Jr. (Simcoe)
Heat Race #4
1. 0 Glenn Styres (Ohsweken), 2. 19jr Rob Ledingham (Port Colborne), 3. 25p Michael Parent (Granby, QC), 4. 8 Blake Breen (Savannah, NY), 5. 22 Jim Porter (Grand Island, NY), 6. f37 Jamie Collard (Burford), 7. 50 Normand Beaudreault (St. Ours, QC), 8. 94 Stan Zanchin (Ford Erie), 9. 10 Bob Crawford (Sutton)
Heat Race #5
1. 5m Brad Malloy (Niagara Falls), 2. 6b Dale Blaney (Hartford, OH), 3. 45 Chuck Hebing (Ontario, NY), 4. 51h Bryan Howland (Auburn, NY), 5. 83w James Whittaker (Lynden), 6. 01 Mikey Kruchka (Hamilton), 7. 25 Warren Mahoney (Lefroy), 8. 01w Kyle Wilson (Joyceville), 9. 15aw April Wilson (Joyceville)
Heat Race #6
1. 94j Wayne Johnson (Mustang, OK), 2. 2m Dustin Daggett (Portland, MI), 3. 27h Tom Huppunen (Fenwick), 4. 38 Brad Knab (Delevan, NY), 5. 15k Gord Kynoch (Spruce Grove, ALTA), 6. 30 Adam West (Ridgetown), 7. 79x Brett Mann (Goshen, IN), 8. 5 Keith Dempster (Alton), 9. 21f Jared Fink (Germantown, NY), 10. 42w Rick Wilson (Joyceville)
DAVE MCLEOD MEMORIAL MR. SPRINT CAR CHALLENGE (1 on 1 Match Races):
FIRST ROUND (2 laps each):
A – 25p Michael Parent def. 94j Wayne Johnson
C – 51h Bryan Howland def. 77x Ryan Hunsinger
E – 28fm Steve Poirier def. 35 Jared Zimbardi
G – 47x Louie Carufel def. 0 Glenn Styres
B – 8b Alain Bergeron def. 5 Keith Dempster
D – 6n Dain Naida def. 25 Warren Mahoney
F – 23 Ben Rutan def. 52 Scott Kreutter
H – 21x Kevin Job def. 15k Gord Kynoch
QUARTER FINALS (2 laps each):
I – 25p Michael Parent def. 51h Bryan Howland
K – 28fm Steve Poirier def. 47x Louie Carufel
J – 6n Dain Naida def. 8b Alain Bergeron
L – 21x Kevin Job def. 23 Ben Rutan
SEMI-FINALS (2 laps each):
M – 28fm Steve Poirier def. 25p Michael Parent
N – 6n Dain Naida def. 21x Kevin Job
DAVE MCLEOD MEMORIAL MR. SPRINT CAR CHALLENGE FINAL (3 laps):
28fm Steve Poirier def. 6n Dain Naida
VILLAGE CAFE FEATURE (15 laps)
Position. # Name (Starting Position)
1. 87 Jason Barney (2)
2. 28fm Steve Poirier (3)
3. 21x Kevin Job (4)
4. 9b Bobby Breen (5)
5. 151kb Brian McDonald (10)
6. 5b Bubba Broderick (8)
7. 23 Ben Rutan (7)
8. 52 Scott Kreutter (15)
9. 69 Rob Pietz (11)
10. 5d Dave Dykstra (6)
11. 7 Jim Price (1)
12. 71 Craig Downie (14)
13. 1a John Riegling (9)
14. 77x Ryan Hunsinger (12)
15. 81 Derek Jonathon (13)
SIT-N-BULL FEATURE (15 laps)
Position. # Name (Starting Position)
1. 2m Dustin Daggett (1)
2. 94j Wayne Johnson (4)
3. 45 Chuck Hebing (8)
4. 6b Dale Blaney (3)
5. 51h Bryan Howland (11)
6. 25p Michael Parent (7)
7. 27h Tom Huppunen (9)
8. 19jr Rob Ledingham (2)
9. 0 Glenn Styres (6)
10. 22 Jim Porter (13)
11. 38 Brad Knab (12)
12. 15k Gord Kynoch (15)
13. 8 Blake Breen (10)
14. 5m Brad Malloy (5)
15. 83w James Whittaker (14)
ESSO MINI-STOCKS
HEAT RACES:
Heat Race #1
1. 7x Chase Hess (Ohsweken), 2. 265 Mike Evers (Caledonia), 3. 37 Rob Hoskins (Harley), 4. 11 Mike Giberson (Caledonia), 5. 113 Mark Thorne (Waterford), 6. 55 Rob Slater (Dundas), 7. 05 David Goodacre (Brantford), 8. 02 Mike Miller (unknown), 9. 88 Kelly Hallett (Wilsonville)
Heat Race #2
1. 28 Abel Castelein (Cayuga), 2. 72 Kevin Hilborn (Brantford), 3. 86 Rick Emberson (Paris), 4. 397 Brent Hill (Ohsweken), 5. 04 Wyatt Van Wart (Cambridge), 6. 222 John Marsh (Hamilton), 7. 27 Dan Stewart (Hamilton), 8. 777x Chris Teal (Ohsweken)
ESSO MINI-STOCKS SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP A-FEATURE (20 laps)
Position. # Name (Starting Position)
1. 72 Kevin Hilborn (14)
2. 397 Brent Hill (10)
3. 265 Mike Evers (15)
4. 7x Chase Hess (17)
5. 86 Rick Emberson (12)
6. 04 Wyatt Van Wart (8)
7. 55 Rob Slater (7)
8. 777x Chris Teal (2)
9. 27 Dan Stewart (4)
10. 11 Mike Giberson (11)
11. 222 John Marsh (6)
12. 88 Kelly Hallett (1) DNF
13. 05 David Goodacre (5) DNF
14. 02 Mike Miller (3) DNF
15. 37 Rob Hoskins (13) DNF
16. 28 Abel Castelein (16) DNF
17. 113 Mark Thorne (9) DQ
ESSO THUNDER STOCKS
HEAT RACES:
Heat Race #1
1. 88 Shane Pierce (Wainfleet), 2. 12 Brad Herron (Brantford), 3. 08 Kirk Wilson (Port Robinson), 4. o44 Jamie Cox (Cambridge), 5. 9 Glen Leinen (Hannon), 6. 31jr Michael Bosse (St. Catharines), 7. x3 Lee Winger (Caledonia), 8. 40 Terry Osmond (Cambridge), 9. 57 Murray Nicholls (Hamilton)
Heat Race #2
1. 18k Ron Kingsbury (), 2. 3m Billy Bleich, Sr. (Port Robinson), 3. 777 Kevin Knapp (St. Catharines), 4. 55 Mike Thorne (Caledonia), 5. 18 Dave Bailey (Hagersville), 6. 17 Rob Disher (Grimsby), 7. 24k Kyle Magrin (Hamilton), 8. 11 Mike Azzopardi (unknown), 9. 00 Robbie Johnson (unknown)
Heat Race #3
1. 0x Bernard Neiburg (Caistor Centre), 2. 8 Ryan Dinning (Caledonia), 3. 37 Jeremy Bean (Stoney Creek), 4. 18a Amanda Stoner (Hamilton), 5. 13 Mark Saul (Hagersville), 6. 98 Sohgwayandisails Styres (Ohsweken), 7. 62 Brian Pescetti (Stoney Creek), 8. 86c Brian Clark (St. Catharines), 9. 4k Rob Knapp (St. Catharines)
ESSO THUNDER STOCKS SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP A-FEATURE (20 laps)
Position. # Name (Starting Position)
1. 4k Rob Knapp (27)
2. 3m Billy Bleich, Sr. (5)
3. 88 Shane Pierce (1)
4. 18k Ron Kingsbury (2)
5. 777 Kevin Knapp (8)
6. o44 Jamie Cox (10)
7. 08 Kirk Wilson (7)
8. 12 Brad Herron (4)
9. 37 Jeremy Bean (9)
10. 18a Amanda Stoner (12)
11. 9 Glen Leinen (13)
12. 40 Terry Osmond (21)
13. 13 Mark Saul (15) DNF
14. 18 Dave Bailey (14) DNF
15. 8 Ryan Dinning (6) DNF
16. x3 Lee Winger (19) DNF
17. 31jr Michael Bosse (16) DNF
18. 57 Murray Nicholls (23) DNF
19. 55 Mike Thorne (11) DNF
20. 17 Rob Disher (17) DNF
21. 62 Brian Pescetti (25) DNF
22. 24k Kyle Magrin (20) DNF
23. 98 Sohgwayandisails Styres (18) DNS
24. 11 Mike Azzopardi (22) DNS
25. 00 Robbie Johnson (24) DNS
26. 86c Brian Clark (26) DNS
27. 0x Bernard Neiburg (3) DQ
FRIDAY NIGHT FUN STOCKS SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP A-FEATURE (10 laps counter-clockwise, 10 laps clockwise)
Position. # Name (Hometown)
1. 72 Mike Taylor (unknown)
2. 181 Lee Hils (Dundas)
3. 81 Karl Sault (Dundas)
4. 818 Chris Hils (Dundas)
5. 801 Mark Czuba (unknown)
6. 397 Brad Hill (unknown)
7. 88 Dale Cooke (unknown)