PHOTO GALLERY: Ohsweken Speedway July 1st, 2011

OHSWEKEN SPEEDWAY: SEASON OPENER, TAKE TWO

By Tommy Goudge (May 19, 2010) – Mother Nature decided to give Ohsweken Speedway’s race teams and fans an extra week to get ready for the 2010 season, but now the sky has cleared and it’s time to go racing! Ohsweken’s fifteenth anniversary season kicks off this Friday night when RapStar Energy Drink presents Friday Night Thunder featuring the Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Cars, ESSO Thunder Stocks, ESSO Mini Stocks, and Bombers, plus the first of three visits by the Mod Lite Stars Championship Tour North!

The Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Cars are once again the headline division for Friday Night Thunder in 2010, and 2009 Corr/Pak Champ Tom Huppunen enters the season as the driver to beat. Veterans Kevin Job, Keith Dempster, Glenn Styres, Mikey Kruchka, and Jamie Collard are just a few of the challengers for the title this season, while former Ohsweken feature winner Mike Ling returns to dirt after a decade of pavement racing. The Rookie of the Year award is sure to be fiercely contested as an even half dozen first year drivers are signed up, including Jamie Turner, Chris Steele, Stevin Goldner, Shane Butler, Todd Hoddick, and 2009 Ohsweken Speedway ESSO Mini Stock champion Mitchell Brown

The always competitive ESSO Thunder Stocks division featured the closest points chase of any Friday Night Thunder division last season, and the same could happen this year. Defending champ Shayne Pierce will be back this season, this time in his family owned car. Meanwhile, other top ten drivers such as Billy Bleich, Jamie Cox, Jeremy Bean, Mike Thorne, Brad Herron, Ryan Dinning, Rob Disher, Lee Winger, and Chris Dickie would all like to take their first Thunder Stock title.

The ESSO Mini Stock division won't feature a repeat champion in 2010, as '09 champ Mitchell Brown has moved to the Corr/Pak Sprints. Former champions Abel Castelein (2007, 2008), Rick Emberson (2005), Kelly Hallett (2000, 2001) and Mike Giberson (1996) will try to add to their totals, while Dave Goodacre, Dan Stewart, Rob Slater, Ethan Martin, and Mike Evers are sure to compete for feature wins as well. Five first year drivers are also signed up to compete for the Rookie of the Year award, including Jacob Brown in the #10 seat vacated by brother Mitchell, along with Ryan Beagle, Brittani Myers, Jamie Goudge, and Robin Elliott.

The driver to beat in the Bomber division is Karl Sault, who claimed his first championship in 2009. The always unpredictable Bombers are also likely to include Jesse McDonald, Kacey Huffman, new driver Rob Twitchett, and a host of others having fun in the very affordable division.

Before Friday's action takes the green flag, Thursday night features Test and Tune for all divisions competing at the Speedway in 2010. The Test and Tune session offers a sneak peek at the 2010 season, and the best part? It's free for fans to observe from the main grandstand!

Ohsweken Speedway's Friday Night Thunder kicks off this Friday, May 21 when RapStar Energy Drink presents the Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Cars, ESSO Thunder Stocks, ESSO Mini-Stocks, and Bombers, plus the Mod Lite Stars Championship Tour North.

Friday Night Thunder at Ohsweken offers affordable exciting family entertainment just a short drive away from most Mid-Western Ontario locations. Friday Night Thunder Adult General Admission is $10, while Seniors and Students are $8, and Kids age 12 and under are FREE! Please visit www.OhswekenSpeedway.com for more information.

Spectator gates open @ 6:00p.m., with the first race taking the green flag at 7:45p.m. this Friday, May 21

COUNTDOWN TO OHSWEKEN OPENER HEATS UP AS TRACK SAFETY TEAM GATHERS

By Ken Pelkie - For the past two seasons Ohsweken Speedway in Southwestern Ontario has embarked on a program to enhance safety for everyone who attends the track. The commitment has been rewarding to teams and fans alike as Ohsweken has visibly improved the number of personnel in safety positions at the speedway.

This past Sunday, a dozen of the speedways first line fire and safety personnel gathered in Brantford for a full day of classroom training in scene assessment; first aid and basic life support; firefighters role and basic fire suppression; and immobilization for extrication. This training will be enhanced with supplementary hands on sessions when the team gathers for “Test and Tune” day on May 8th at the speedway.

“This training has been in the planning stages since last fall and I have received a lot of positive feedback from many of the attendees” stated track owner Glenn Styres on Monday morning. “To me you cannot put a price on Safety and we want to provide a feeling for everyone who attends our track that we are serious about their well being and have them know we are trained and prepared to handle every situation that arises”. “We just hope that we never have to use the knowledge but we have to be prepared”. “This is just a sensible approach for the business we are in and we plan to build on the base that we have set”. “I would really like to thank everyone who gave up their Sunday and especially to Kevin Barry and Darren Allan from EMR for providing the training” Styres concluded.

When the gates swing open on May 14th for the opening round of “Friday Night Thunder”, fans will be able to “Feel The Excitement” each week as the ground pounding winged Sprint Cars embark on a seventeen race chase to the championship as the main draw at Ohsweken. They will be supported by Thunder Stocks, Mini Stocks, and Bombers. Vintage cars will visit monthly over the summer and the Mod Lites will make three appearances. The World of Outlaw Sprint series will run two programs in 2010 with July 30 and 31 appearing on their schedule and the 6th Annual Canadian Sprint Car Nationals will close out the season with a $10,000 to win show on September 16, 17, & 18. Special events designed to entertain every fan are scattered over the summer with something different being presented each week. With “Affordable Family Entertainment” as the primary goal, Ohsweken Speedway is the place to be at 7:45 PM each Friday night for an evening of action packed entertainment.

The Junior Fan Club will take on a new look in 2010 as Amy Dale has agreed to breathe new life into the social gathering of the young fans. Exciting activities will be available weekly to kids’ ages 6 through 12 that will promise to interest all.

“We have been focusing our attention toward family entertainment while giving our fans a true racing alternative in the area” states Ken Pelkie, Director of Racing Operations. “Our commitment to the fans is to provide an entertaining, first class show that the whole family will enjoy and present it in a timely manner. Two to two and one-half hours is the target for completion of the program throughout the season” Pelkie concluded.

Many sponsors have committed to return and support Ohsweken Speedway in a major way throughout the season. Grisdale Racing Products, BS&B Radiator, Outhouse Imaging & Design, Awesome Racewear, Best Western Cairn Croft Hotel, Engine Pro Racing, Village Pizza, Arrow Express, and Jones Brown Insurance headline our list of marketing partners who support Ohsweken Speedway. Trailers by Jim Bray, Evers Financial, WISECO Pistons, Gales Auto Aftermarket, Metal Works, HRW Automotive, The Rochester Americans, The Rochester Knighthawks, and Speedway Variety, appear as weekly program sponsors. Zemco Speed Equipment, HRP Racing Products, Canton Racing Products, Saldana Racing Products, DMI, KING Racing Products, The Brakeman, Winters Performance, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, and Kinser Air Filters combined will expand the Corr/Pak Sprint Car point fund to over $25,000 in cash and product.

Advanced Ticket Sales for all events where reserved seating will be utilized which include the World of Outlaws shows and the Canadian Nationals continue to the general public, Monday through Thursday during normal business hours at 1-888-720-7223. The transfer of these sales to Ticket Master will be coming in the very near future. Please follow instructions to obtain your tickets as posted on the official website at www.ohswekenspeedway.com . Any questions should be directed to Cheryl or Ken Pelkie at (1-888) 720-7223 or email to pelkiekj@ebtech.net.

Until the sound of racing engines fill the spring air, Ohsweken Speedway will be participating in a couple of final static displays this week. The first two will take place Wednesday, April 21 through Saturday, April 24 at the Lynden Park Mall in Brantford. Sprint cars of Glenn Styres, Mikey Kruchka, and Mitchell Brown will be on display along with the Thunder Stock of Rob Disher and the Mini Stock of Jacob Brown. A Bomber recently completed by Glen Hills will also be on display along with information on rules for the very affordable novice racing class. The second event takes place in Ancaster at the Ancaster Flea Market located at the Ancaster Fair Grounds. The Sunday show is open from 9:00AM to 5:00PM.

Be sure to come out and see us and for more information please check out the official website of Ohsweken Speedway at www.ohswekenspeedway.com.

From Ken Pelkie/Ohsweken Speedway

OHSWEKEN SPEEDWAY STAFF AND RACERS READY FOR 2010 SEASON

By Tommy Goudge (April 1, 2010) – Test and tune day at Ohsweken Speedway is coming up fast, and racers and Speedway staff gathered at Brantford's Best Western Brant Park Inn on Saturday for the annual registration and information meeting, as preparations continue for the track's fifteenth anniversary season.  If the standing room only turnout at the meeting is any indication, this season is shaping up to be the best ever at Ohsweken.

MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
Procedure and rules changes were outlined during the meeting, while officials in new roles were introduced to those in attendance. 

Wing and tire rule amendments including designation of the Hoosier 105/18 – 15 RD15 plated HTC as the Right Rear SPEC tire for the 2010 season were outlined for the Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Car division.

Introduction of the American Racer RJS Stocker branded medium compound tire as an option for the ESSO Thunder Stocks also highlighted the changes.

The formation of a new competition committee for the ESSO Mini Stock and ESSO Thunder Stock divisions was also announced.  The committee will interact with track officials on rules issues and other items that can improve the stock car divisions.

Details on rules changes can be found on the Ohsweken Speedway website at www.OhswekenSpeedway.com/rules.htm

DRIVER ROSTERS
As the season approaches, more news is coming in each day on the driver front.  Rookies are plentiful in all divisions, especially in the Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Car division, where no less than six drivers are set to compete for the Rookie of the Year award including Shane Butler, Stevin Goldner, Mitchell Brown, Chris Steele, Todd Hoddick, and Jamie Turner.

Veteran driver Kyle Patrick is set to return in his potent Sprint Car after some time away from the track, while local favourite Ryan Hunsinger will sit out much of the 2010 season for personal reasons. The seat of the Myles Hill Racing machine will be filled with the return of London-area open wheel star Mike Ling. 

Ling is returning to dirt track action after a lengthy and successful stint on the asphalt Sprint Car circuit in the United States.  The Mount Brydges driver was a top contender in the late 90’s at Ohsweken and other area tracks, and racked up eight feature wins – including two at Ohsweken – before moving to the pavement where he’s claimed six more feature wins and fifty-five “top 5’s” in the last ten years.

Fender fans will see Wyatt Van Wart moving up from the Mini Stocks and running for ESSO Thunder Stocks Rookie of the Year driving a former Mark Thorne machine, while local karting veteran Philip Nyssen is moving to Thunder Stocks as well.

The ESSO Mini Stocks Rookie of the Year award will be hotly contested this season.  Another member of the Brown family will get behind the wheel when Jacob Brown takes over the seat of the #10 which carried brother Mitchell to the ESSO Mini Stock track championship last season.  Brittani Myers is moving into the Mini Stocks after some time in the Bombers, while newcomers Jamie Goudge and Robin Elliott will also be Mini Stock rookies.

CAR SHOWS
Ohsweken Speedway also participated in the London Auto Expo at the Western Fairgrounds over the weekend.  Ohsweken Speedway would like to thank all the fans who visited the Speedway booth over the weekend and got a chance to check out John Riegling's #1a Sprint Car.

One more opportunity for fans to get a sneak peak at the 2010 paint schemes and meet their favourite drivers is coming up at the Ohsweken Speedway Brantford Mall show.  The show runs at the Lynden Park Mall from Wednesday, April 21 to Saturday, April 24 during regular mall hours. 

A final stop on the show circuit will take place at the Ancaster Fair Grounds on Sunday, April 25 at the annual spring Flea Market.  Stop by and get a bit of bench racing in before the action gets underway on the track for the 2010 season.

HISTORY PROJECT
Do you have old Ohsweken Speedway programs, photos, videos, or results pages just sitting around collecting dust?  The Ohsweken Speedway history project can use your help.  If you would like to contribute to the project, just send an e-mail to media@OhswekenSpeedway.com and share your favourite photos and other items with the world!

NEXT AT OHSWEKEN
Ohsweken Speedway’s fifteenth anniversary season is coming up faster than you think!  Just five weeks remain until the engines fire for the first time at the Speedway for Test and Tune on Saturday, May 8.  Make sure to visit www.OhswekenSpeedway.com and make your plans to attend Friday Night Thunder each week starting May 14, as well as the World of Outlaws Sprint Series events on July 30th and 31st, and the Sixth Annual Canadian Sprint Car Nationals September 16th to 18th!

ABOUT
Ohsweken Speedway is located in the village of Ohsweken, Ontario approximately twenty-five minutes Southeast of Brantford, forty minutes Southwest of Hamilton, one hour and twenty minutes West of Niagara Falls, one hour and twenty minutes East of London, and one hour and twenty minutes Southwest of Toronto. 

Ohsweken Speedway is a state-of-the-art Styres family-owned three-eighths mile clay oval racing facility featuring Musco lighting and seating for 8,000.  

Friday Night Thunder provides weekly racing at the track, featuring Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Cars, ESSO Thunder Stocks, ESSO Mini Stocks, and Bombers, along with touring series visits by the World of Outlaws Sprint Series, Empire Super Sprints, ASCS Patriots, and Mod-Lite Stars Championship Tour North. 

The track’s signature event is the Canadian Sprint Car Nationals held in September each season.  Up to eighty or more of the best 360 sprint car drivers and teams from across Canada, the United States, and beyond will converge on Ohsweken to contest the Sixth Annual Canadian Sprint Car Nationals September 16 – 18, 2010.

Regular Friday Night Thunder admission is just $10, while students and seniors are $8, and Kids age 12 and under get in free.  Please visit www.OhswekenSpeedway.com for more information, or call 1-888-720-RACE!