Ohsweken Speedway: Art Hill Memorial this Friday Night

By Tommy Goudge (August 5, 2009) – A very special event takes to the track this Friday night at Ohsweken Speedway when the ESSO Mini Stock division honours Art Hill, the only driver to lose their life in the history of the track.  The Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Cars will also return to competition after nearly a month off, along with the ESSO Thunder Stocks, and Bombers, plus the first annual Hot Dog Eating Contest!

The ESSO Mini Stocks head into their big event with Mitchell Brown leading the way in the points standings, followed by Kevin Hilborn, Mike Evers, Rick Emberson, and David Goodacre, but points will not be a factor in the big race this Friday.  Brown won a thrilling race over Steve Hess last Friday night for his eighth victory of the season, while Hess settled for a close second, followed by Ethan Martin, Emberson, and Paul Goodale.  Brown is also the defending winner of the Art Hill race, overcoming Rick Robinson, Abel Castelein, Hilborn, and Craig Erskine for the victory in the forty-two lap feature.

Do you have what it takes to become the 2009 Ohsweken Speedway Hot Dog Eating Champion?  The first annual Hot Dog Eating Contest will take centre stage at intermission on Friday night, with a trophy for the winner and Speedway gift packs for the top three.  The entry fee is just $10, and registration will be limited to the first ten registered applicants.  More details and rules are available on the Speedway website: www.OhswekenSpeedway.com.

Tom Huppunen leads the way in the Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Car standings, while Glenn Styres, Kevin Job, Dave Dykstra, Keith Dempster, and others give chase.  Huppunen passed Mikey Kruchka for the lead and eventual feature win in the last event on July 10, while Kruchka settled for the runner-up spot, followed by Jamie Collard, Styres, and Dempster.

The ESSO Thunder Stocks points race continued to heat up last Friday night as leader Shayne Pierce and second place-sitting Billy Bleich both experienced problems in the feature event.  Pierce salvaged an eighth place finish, while Bleich took ninth, but the gap remains close between those two at the top, while chasers Brad Herron, Jeremy Bean, Jamie Cox, Ryan Dinning, and Lee Winger all gained on the leaders.  Cox took his second feature win of the season last Friday after holding off repeated challenges from Herron, while Winger, Bean, and Mike Ward finished out the top five.

Karl Sault continues to lead the way in the Bomber standings and took his third feature win of the year on Friday night, while Kacey Huffman, Jesse McDonald, Team 113, Dale Cooke, and others give chase.

Tickets are on sale now for the Fifth Annual Arrow Express Canadian Sprint Car Nationals, coming up September 17, 18, and 19!  Please visit www.OhswekenSpeedway.com and call 1-888-720-RACE to order yours today! 

Friday Night Thunder at Ohsweken Speedway offers affordable family entertainment just a short drive away from most mid-western Ontario locations.  Friday Night Thunder resumes on Friday, August 7 when the Rochester Knighthawks present the Art Hill Memorial for ESSO Mini Stocks, plus the Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Cars, ESSO Thunder Stocks, ESSO Mini-Stocks, Bombers, and the First Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest!

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.