OHSWEKEN SPEEDWAY: World of Outlaws Late Models with Ken Schrader, Corr/Pak Sprints and J.R. Fitzpatrick on Thursday night

By Tommy Goudge (June 16, 2009) – A highly anticipated event takes the green flag at Ohsweken Speedway this Thursday night, June 18 when the stars of the World of Outlaws Late Models series will contest the second annual “Six Nations 50” presented by Arrow Express, with special guest star Ken Schrader competing.  Ohsweken’s Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Cars will also be on hand for a complete points-paying event.  On June 19, Friday Night Thunder resumes at Ohsweken featuring the first ever visit of the UMP Modified division to the track, plus the Mod-Lite Stars Championship Tour North and the ESSO Thunder Stocks, ESSO Mini Stocks, and Bombers.

While not a stranger to racing in Canada, Ken Schrader will be making his first visit to Ohsweken on Thursday night.  The Fenton, Missouri native is well known for his love of racing and has competed and won in almost every oval racing division imaginable during his long career.  Perhaps best known for his NASCAR accomplishments, Schrader also has two USAC championships to his credit, and now spends much of his time competing on the dirt tracks in Modifieds and Late Models.  Now in his fifties, Schrader also takes an active role in speedway and team ownership, and promotion of short track racing, including at the track where he grew up racing – I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Missouri.

Last year’s inaugural “Six Nations 50” proved to be one of the highlights of the Ohsweken Speedway season, with Tim McCreadie coming away with the victory over a stellar field of more than forty competitors.  McCreadie’s victory sparked a strong second half for the Watertown, New York star as he went on to claim a handful of victories, including the Knoxville Late Model Nationals in September.  In January, McCreadie suffered severe injuries after a wild flip during the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals, and is targeting Thursday’s event at Ohsweken as his comeback date.  Despite missing half the season, McCreadie is a former series champion and has to be considered a favourite heading into the race, as he is the defending winner.

Meanwhile, the current World of Outlaws Late Model series points leader is Kentucky’s Steve Francis, who has five WoO LM feature wins to his credit this year already.  Francis leads fellow Kentucky native and defending series champion Darrell Lanigan by thirty-four points heading into the grueling ten day, nine race “Great Northern Tour”, which kicks off at Ohsweken on Thursday night.  A multi-time series champion, Francis had a dismal night in last year’s event at Ohsweken and will be looking for much better results on Thursday.  Josh Richards of West Virginia, Shane Clanton of Georgia, and Rick Eckert of Pennsylvania round out the top five in the standings, and all have feature wins to their credit this season.

Quick time in qualifying for last year’s inaugural event was set by Georgia driver Clint Smith at 16.094 seconds, but that mark is likely to fall on Thursday night, with more favourable track conditions expected.  Smith is expected back this year, along with other series points chasers such as New Yorkers Tim Fuller and Vic Coffey, Chub Frank of Pennsylvania, Brady Smith of Wisconsin, and series Rookie of the Year candidates Jordan Bland of Kentucky, Russell King from Ohio, North Dakota native Dustin Hapka, Brent Robinson of Virginia, and fourteen year old Californian Tyler Reddick.  Also expected to follow the Great Northern Tour are Pennsylvanians Dan Stone, Matt Lux, and Greg Satterlee, seventeen year old Seaford, Delaware native Austin Hubbard, Georgia driver Tony Knowles, April Farmer from Tennessee, and New Yorker Greg Oakes.

As if that weren’t enough, a host of local drivers are also expected in the field on Thursday night, including Adam Ferri, who claimed victory in an Ontario Dirt Late Model event at Ohsweken in August, and put on a show in last year’s “Six Nations 50” after mechanical problems forced him to qualify though the B-Main.  Other locals expected include regular UMP Late Model competitors from South Buxton Raceway, such as Chris Ross, Andrew and Brett Reaume, Jim Dale, Jr., Brad Authier, Joe Field, and Dale Glassford.  The South Buxton regulars and other Late Model drivers will also visit Ohsweken in July for the UMP-sanctioned “Summer Sizzler” event.

The Corr/Pak Sprint Cars will also be in action on Thursday night, and head into the evening with Tom Huppunen leading the way in the championship chase.  Huppunen has claimed two feature wins already this year, while Dain Naida also has one, and Glenn Styres claimed the most recent sprint car feature win at the Speedway on Friday night, defeating the invaders on ASCS SOD tour night.  Ryan Hunsinger trails Huppunen in the Corr/Pak standings, followed by Kevin Job, Styres, and Naida.  A full field of sprints is expected on Friday night as the drivers and teams compete for valuable points in the quest for the Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Car championship.  The rookie of the year standings are also heating up, as Kevin Loveys leads Jim Huppunen by just seventeen points, followed by Travis Cunningham, Wayne Ashton, and Tyler Rand.  Also on hand Thursday night will be current NASCAR Truck Series driver J.R. Fitzpatrick, who will be making his debut behind the wheel of a sprint car in one of the Styres Racing backup machines.

After Thursday night’s event, fans are encouraged to stay overnight in the spacious free camping areas at the track and enjoy a full breakfast at the Speedway on Friday morning!  Later that night, Round Six of Ohsweken Speedway Friday Night Thunder will take the green flag, as Outhouse Image and Design presents the first ever “UMP Modified Summer Sizzler” Ohsweken/South Buxton special, plus the first of three visits to Ohsweken this season by the Mod-Lite Stars Championship Tour North, and the ESSO Thunder Stocks, ESSO Mini Stocks, and Bombers.

The UMP Modifieds will be making their first appearance at Ohsweken on Friday night.  Expected in competition are regulars from the South Buxton Raceway, including 2009 feature winners Chris Van De Wiele and Curtis Coulter, as well as Late Model regular Jim Dale, Jr., and former sprint car driver Jeff Daniels.  The second half of the Summer Sizzler weekend will be contested at South Buxton on Saturday night, with the best finishing driver from both nights combined earning the title of Summer Sizzler champion.

The Mod-Lite Stars Championship Tour North will also make the first of three stops at Ohsweken on Friday night, featuring drivers such as Merrittville points leader Jamie Gilbert, and last year’s Ohsweken feature winners Paul Klager and Adam Leslie, along with a host of other strong competitors in the ultra-fast division.

Meanwhile ESSO Thunder Stocks points leader Shayne Pierce, ESSO Mini Stocks point leader Mitchell Brown, and Bombers points leader Karl Sault will try to fend off the challenges from all the regular Friday Night Thunder stars this week.

This Thursday night, June 18, 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. Adult reserved seat tickets are $35, while reserved seats for Kids age 12 and under are $20.  A limited number of general admission tickets will be available on race day ONLY at a cost of $20 for Adults and $10 for Kids age 12 and under.  Spectator gates open at 4:00p.m., with an autograph session with Ken Schrader and other World of Outlaws Late Model series stars at 4:30p.m. in the tent at the pit entrance outside turn two, then hot laps at 6:30p.m. followed by time trials, and the first race taking the green flag at 8:00p.m. this Thursday, June 18!

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, and autograph night for all divisions! 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, spectator gates open at 6:00p.m., with the first race at 7:45p.m. this Friday, June 19!