Photos courtesy of Rick Wellman Photography // http://www.rickwellmanphotography.com // 905 354 4445
NAIDA NAILS DOWN SPRINT CAR VICTORY AT OHSWEKEN; COX, BROWN, AND MCDONALD ALSO VICTORIOUS
By Tommy Goudge (May 22, 2009) – Dain Naida and his Michigan-based team chose to skip a weekend of racing close to home and instead made the trek to Ohsweken Speedway. That decision paid off as Naida charged from eighth on the grid to win the Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Car Feature on Friday night. The ESSO Thunder Stocks feature was also exciting, as Jamie Cox beat opening night feature winner Shayne Pierce to the finish line by mere inches. Meanwhile Mitchell Brown won his second ESSO Mini Stocks feature in a row, and Jesse McDonald became the latest new face in victory lane in Bomber competition, in a fast and exciting program which ended shortly before 10:15 p.m.
The twenty lap Corr/Pak Sprint feature began with Ryan Hunsinger and Brad Malloy on the front row, and it was Malloy taking early command. As the field came down the front stretch to complete the first lap, fifth place starter Kyle Moffit experienced problems for the second week in a row and slowed in front of much of the field. Amazingly, only Chuck Hebing and Travis Cunningham were collected in the incident, and Hebing was able to make repairs and return to the race. When the race restarted, Malloy once again took command out front, but hard-charging Tom Huppunen quickly made his way to the front, passing Malloy with five laps in the books.
Lapped traffic quickly became a factor in the race as Huppunen was running the fastest laps of the race, but Malloy was keeping pace behind him, with Ryan Hunsinger and Dain Naida closing in as well. Naida quickly made his way into third and began to challenge Malloy for the runner-up position, eventually taking the spot during the thirteenth lap. The last seven laps were spectacular as Huppunen and Naida darted in and out of lapped traffic, sometimes going three-wide as they battled for the lead. Naida was able to hold on for the win, his first at Ohsweken in fifteen tries. Huppunen came home second, followed by a hard-charging Glenn Styres, Malloy, and Hunsinger. Heat races for the twenty-eight cars in attendance were won by Huppunen, Jamie Collard, and Hunsinger, while the Consi was claimed by Brad Knab.
The ESSO Thunder Stocks began their twenty lap feature with Dave Bailey and Brad Herron on the front row, with Herron getting a good start and jumping out front, bringing Jamie Cox with him. Behind him a fierce battle raged, while Mike Ward and Shayne Pierce made their way to the front from the fourth and fifth rows, respectively. Ward’s night came to an end prematurely, with mechanical gremlins once again the culprit.
After winning on opening night, Pierce looked to be the class of the field again, but after Pierce took over the lead on a restart, Cox kept pace and made his move in turns three and four on the last lap, barely beating Pierce to the finish line in a photo finish. The jubilant driver celebrated his first ever win at Ohsweken in victory lane while Pierce settled for runner-up, followed by Herron, Jeremy Bean, and Kyle Magrin. Heat races for the twenty-four Thunder Stocks in attendance were claimed by Herron, Ward, and Glen Leinen.
A familiar story played itself out in the ESSO Mini-Stocks feature as Mitchell Brown, Abel Castelein, and Kevin Hilborn all quickly made their way to the front when the green flag dropped on the fifteen lap feature. Pole sitter Rob Hoskins was strong out front, however and held a healthy lead over the trio until a caution flag slowed the field. On the restart, Hoskins’ machine did not take off as well as the others, allowing Castelein to take over the lead. Brown was not to be denied though, and quickly made his way to the lead and claiming his second feature win in a row at Ohsweken. Heat races for the nineteen Mini Stocks in attendance were won by Hoskins, Castelein, and Chase Hess.
In the Bomber feature, Jesse McDonald took off when the green flag dropped, while last week’s top finishers Karl Sault and Dale Cooke renewed acquaintances, fighting for the second position for much of the race. Sault eventually dispatched Cooke to third, but it was too late to catch McDonald, who added his name to the list of winners in entry level division that was created last season.
Friday Night Thunder returns to Ohsweken Friday, May 29 when the Best Western Cairn Croft Hotel presents a special card featuring the Empire Super Sprints tour, 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. Adult General Admission for this Special ESS event is just $15, while Seniors and Students are $8, and kids 12 and under are FREE! Please visit 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, May 29!
FRIDAY NIGHT THUNDER 2009
ROUND 2 RACE REPORT – MAY 22, 2009
OHSWEKEN SPEEDWAY
OHSWEKEN, ONTARIO
EVENT SPONSOR – GRISDALE RACING PRODUCTS
Race Start: 7:45 P.M.
Race End: 10:15 P.M.
CORR/PAK MERCHANDISING SPRINT CARS
HEAT RACES (Top 5 Transfer To A-Feature):
BS&B RADIATOR Heat Race #1
1. 12c Tom Huppunen (Fenwick), 2. 7 Kyle Moffit (South Dayton, NY), 3. 01 Mikey Kruchka (Hamilton), 4. 18 Kevin Loveys (Hamilton), 5. 5 Keith Dempster (Alton), 6. 38 Brad Knab (Delevan, NY), 7. 75 Jim Sweers (Hamilton), 8. 10 Bob Crawford (Sutton), 9. 84 Tyler Rand (Consecon) DNF, 10. 5d Dave Dykstra (Port Colborne) DNS. Time – 1:48.839 NEW TRACK RECORD
BEST WESTERN CAIRN CROFT HOTEL Heat Race #2
1. 27 Jamie Collard (Burford), 2. 14h Jim Huppunen (Fenwick), 3. 5m Brad Malloy (Niagara Falls), 4. 71 Travis Cunningham (Grimsby), 5. 94 Stan Zanchin (Fort Erie), 6. 1a John Riegling (Chatham), 7. 3 Wayne Ashton (Kitchener), 8. 4z Joel Lehman (Elora), 9. F37 Jim Porter (Grand Island, NY) DNS. Time – 1:58.784
GRISDALE RACING PRODUCTS Heat Race #3
1. 77x Ryan Hunsinger (Brantford), 2. 35 Jared Zimbardi (Salamanca, NY), 3. 6n Dain Naida (Belleville, MI), 4. 0 Glenn Styres (Ohsweken), 5. 21x Kevin Job (Campbellville), 6. 45 Chuck Hebing (Ontario, NY), 7. 11 Chris Jones (Demorestville), 8. 21j John Burbridge, Sr. (Simcoe), 9. 90 James Evans (Beamsville). Time – 1:53.835
CONSI
(Top 5 Transfer To A-Feature)
1. 38 Brad Knab, 2. 45 Chuck Hebing, 3. 5d Dave Dykstra, 4. 1a John Riegling, 5. 11 Chris Jones, 6. 3 Wayne Ashton, 7. 10 Bob Crawford, 8. 4z Joel Lehman, 9. 84 Tyler Rand, 10. 90 James Evans, 11. 21j John Burbridge, Sr., 12. 75 Jim Sweers, 13. f37 Jim Porter. Time – 2:28.256
CORR/PAK MERCHANDISING
SPRINT CAR FEATURE (20 laps)
Position. # Name (Starting Position)
1. 6n Dain Naida (8)
2. 12c Tom Huppunen (4)
3. 0 Glenn Styres (3)
4. 5m Brad Malloy (2)
5. 77x Ryan Hunsinger (1)
6. 5d Dave Dykstra (18)
7. 35 Jared Zimbardi (11)
8. 21x Kevin Job (15)
9. 5 Keith Dempster (13)
10. 01 Mikey Kruchka (7)
11. 38 Brad Knab (16)
12. 18 Kevin Loveys (10)
13. 1a John Riegling (19)
14. 11 Chris Jones (20)
15. 27 Jamie Collard (12)
16. 14h Jim Huppunen (9)
17. 94 Stan Zanchin (14) DNF
18. 45 Chuck Hebing (17)
19. 7 Kyle Moffit (5)
20. 71 Travis Cunningham (6)
No Time
ESSO THUNDER STOCKS
HEAT RACES:
Heat Race #1
1. 12 Brad Herron (Brantford), 2. 37 Jeremy Bean (Stoney Creek), 3. 88 Shayne Pierce (Welland), 4. 24k Kyle Magrin (Hamilton), 5. 8 Ryan Dinning (Caledonia), 6. 33 Colin Court (Jerseyville) DNF, 7. 32 Rodney Rutherford (Waterdown) DNF, 8. 40 Terry Osmond (Cambridge) DNF
Heat Race #2
1. 95 Mike Ward (Niagara Falls), 2. 44 Jamie Cox (Cambridge), 3. 83 Lee Winger (Caledonia), 4. 31 Dave Bailey (Hagersville), 5. 55 Mike Thorne (Caledonia), 6. 1 Chris Dickie (Brantford), 7. 9m Tyler Anderson (St. Catharines) DNF, 8. 88x Mike Granton (St. Catharines) DNS
Heat Race #3
1. 9 Glen Leinen (Hannon), 2. 108 Billy Bleich, Jr. (Port Robinson), 3. 17 Rob Disher (Grimsby), 4. 31b Barry Blanchard (Welland), 5. 02 Erinn Bailey (Paris), 6. 18 Amanda Stoner (Hamilton) DNF, 7. 13 Mark Saul (Hagersville) DNS, 8. 00 Robbie General DNS
ESSO THUNDER STOCKS A-FEATURE (20 laps)
Position. # Name (Starting Position)
1. 44 Jamie Cox (3)
2. 88 Shayne Pierce (11)
3. 12 Brad Herron (2)
4. 37 Jeremy Bean (8)
5. 24k Kyle Magrin (5)
6. 31b Barry Blanchard (12)
7. 83 Lee Winger (6)
8. 9 Glen Leinen (7)
9. 1 Chris Dickie (16)
10. 33 Colin Court (17)
11. 32 Rodney Rutherford (20)
12. 55 Mike Thorne (14) DNF
13. 95 Mike Ward (9) DNF
14. 31 Dave Bailey (1) DNF
15. 17 Rob Disher (4) DNF
16. 8 Ryan Dinning (13) DNF
17. 02 Erinn Bailey (15) DNF
18. 108 Billy Bleich, Jr. (10) DNF
19. 9m Tyler Anderson (18) DNF
20. 18 Amanda Stoner (19) DNS
21. 40 Terry Osmond (21) DNS
22. 88x Mikey Granton (22) DNS
23. 13 Mark Saul (23) DNS
24. 00 Robbie General (24) DNS
ESSO MINI-STOCKS
HEAT RACES:
Heat Race #1
1. 37 Rob Hoskins (Harley), 2. 72 Kevin Hilborn (Brantford), 3. 2ez Evan Curtis (Wainfleet), 4. 05 Dave Goodacre (Brantford), 5. 777x Steve Hess (Ohsweken), 6. 55 Rob Slater (Dundas)
Heat Race #2
1. 28 Abel Castelein (Cayuga), 2. 265 Mike Evers (Caledonia), 3. 50 Rick Robinson (Brantford), 4. 02 Mike Taylor (Burlington), 5. 04 Wyatt Van Wart (Cambridge), 6. 27 Dan Stewart (Hamilton)
Heat Race #3
1. 7x Chase Hess (Ohsweken), 2. 10 Mitchell Brown (Brantford), 3. 11 Mike Giberson (Caledonia), 4. 86 Rick Emberson (Paris), 5. 88 Kelly Hallett (Wilsonville), 6. 58 Baden Curtis (Fenwick), 7. 77x Ethan Martin (Ohsweken)
ESSO MINI-STOCKS A-FEATURE (15 laps)
Position. # Name (Starting Position)
1. 10 Mitchell Brown (10)
2. 28 Abel Castelein (9)
3. 72 Kevin Hilborn (8)
4. 37 Rob Hoskins (1)
5. 777x Steve Hess (13)
6. 50 Rick Robinson (12)
7. 265 Mike Evers (6)
8. 2ez Evan Curtis (11)
9. 11 Mike Giberson (3)
10. 7x Chase Hess (7)
11. 02 Mike Taylor (2)
12. 05 Dave Goodacre (5)
13. 58 Baden Curtis (18)
14. 04 Wyatt Van Wart (14)
15. 77x Ethan Martin (19)
16. 88 Kelly Hallett (15) DNF
17. 86 Rick Emberson (4) DNF
18. 27 Dan Stewart (17) DNF
19. 55 Rob Slater (16) DNF
BOMBERS A-FEATURE (20 laps)
Position. # Name (Hometown)
1. 88j Jesse McDonald, 2. 81 Karl Sault (Dundas), 3. 4 Dale Cooke, 4. 26 Dan Patton, 5. 113 Shawn Ireland, 6. 53 Chris Rivers, 7. 13 Kacey Huffman (Hamilton)
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