The 2015 Season Starts this Friday!
(May 13, 2015) – Ohsweken, Ontario – Ohsweken Speedway’s 20th annual Opening Night presented by 98.9 myFM will take the green flag on Friday, May 15 at 7:30pm, with large fields expected in all of the regular Friday night divisions. The opening event of Ohsweken’s season will include the Corr/Pak Merchandising 360 Sprint Cars, Strickland’s GMC Crate Sprint Cars, Affordable Towing & Recovery Thunder Stocks, HRW Automotive Mini Stocks, and Gale’s Auto Aftermarket Bombers.
CORR/PAK MERCHANDISING 360 SPRINT CARS
Glenn Styres enters the 360 Sprint Car season opener ready to defend his 2014 track championship, his first since weekly Sprint Car racing began at Ohsweken in 2008. Past champions Keith Dempster, Jim Huppunen, Chris Steele, and Dave Dykstra are just a few of the drivers capable of challenging for feature wins this year, along with 2014 feature winners like Mitch Brown and Dain Naida. Shane Ross, Todd Hoddick, Jamie Turner, and 2014 Rookie of the Year Cory Turner all finished in the top 10 in the 2014 standings, and are on the cusp winning as well.
Occasional invaders are sure to have a say in who wins races as well. One of those invaders will be Indiana driver Parker Price-Miller, who will drive a Miles Hill-owned machine this Friday. The 16 year old scored the first two 410 Sprint Car feature wins of his career in consecutive weekends last month.
The Rookie of the Year award will see plenty of competition, with Lee Winger, James Thompson, Adam Murphy, Tyler Hendricks, Kris Root, and Ryan Turner among the drivers set to join the 360 Sprint Car ranks.
STRICKLAND’S GMC CRATE SPRINT CARS
Ryan Hunsinger was the champion of the inaugural season for the Crate Sprint Car division, and will return to defend that title this year. He will have lots of competition, as 2014 feature winners Aaron Turkey, Jake Brown, Josh Shantz, Brad Herron, Mark Czuba, and Dylan Westbrook are all returning for their second year in the division. Kyle Durnin also came close to feature wins last season, losing out only to minor technical infractions.
Several talented drivers will contest the Crate Sprint Car Rookie of the Year award, including Mack DeMan, Eric McGlone, Steve Lyons, Corey Gruhl, Ed Green, Chris Longthorne, and Alex Hill.
AFFORDABLE TOWING & RECOVERY THUNDER STOCKS
Dave Silverthorn, Jr. will return to the Thunder Stock division to defend his 2014 championship, but he’s sure to have lots of competition for the title. Wyatt Van Wart, Dave Bailey, and Chris Dickie were among the drivers who claimed Thunder Stock feature wins last season and plan to be back this year.
Like the 360 Sprint Car division, occasional invaders are sure to have a hand in the Thunder Stock division results. 2015 Sprint Car rookies Lee Winger and James Thompson both claimed Thunder Stock feature wins last season, and could race in selected stock car events this season. Winger, also the 2013 Thunder Stock champion, is planning to bring his Thunder Stock to Ohsweken this Friday with 360 Sprint Car veteran Mikey Kruchka slated to drive.
The Duel on the Dirt series being run in conjunction with Brighton Speedway, Merrittville Speedway, Humberstone Speedway, and Ohsweken Speedway will also bring some new faces to the track this year.
The quest for the Thunder Stock Rookie of the Year award will also be competitive. As many as 7 drivers could be going after that honour, including Alex Schuts, Jeremy May, David Hodges, Jerry Hill, Brandon McFerran, Mike Klazinga, and Max Chechalk.
HRW AUTOMOTIVE MINI STOCKS
Tyler Lafantaisie won 5 Ohsweken features on his way to the 2014 Mini Stock championship, and will make an attempt to go for another title this season. He will have stiff competition, with more than 50 drivers already signed up as Mini Stock division members. One contender will be Mark Bazuin, who finished 2nd in the championship standings last season, and won the Rookie of the Year award along with 4 feature victories.
Brandon Janssens and Jon Janssens both scored their first Mini Stock feature wins last season, and combined for a 4th place finish in the points standings, while Robin Elliott finished 5th in those standings, and will be in contention to get his first feature win.
The chase for the Rookie of the Year award has the potential to be extremely competitive, with a whopping 18 Mini Stock members eligible for that title.
GALE’S AUTO AFTERMARKET BOMBERS
Dusty DeBoer will return to the Bomber division this season looking for a three-peat. He claimed his 2nd consecutive Bomber title last season with 2 wins, 11 podium finishes, and 15 top five finishes in 15 races.
Joe DeBoer scored 4 feature wins last season and finished 2nd in the standings. He figures to be a championship contender this season, along with 2014 feature winners Patrick Abrahamsson and Wayde Thorne.
Plenty of rookie drivers will make the Bomber division interesting, with 6 first year drivers already officially signed up.
TICKETS PLEASE!
Advanced reserved seat tickets are now on sale for the inaugural Triple Crown Showdown featuring the Super DIRTcar Big Block Modified series, the Burger Barn Northern Summer Nationals featuring DIRTcar 358 Modifieds and Corr/Pak Merchandising 360 Sprint Cars, the Arrow Express Six Nations Showdown featuring the World of Outlaws Sprint Car series, the Burger Barn Night Before the Nationals, and the 11th annual Arrow Express Canadian Sprint Car Nationals! Please visit www.OhswekenSpeedway.com for more information, or contact Lorraine Pedersen, Ohsweken Speedway Office Administrator, by phone at 519 717-0023, or by e-mail at lorraine@ohswekenspeedway.com
About 98.9 myFM: The new official radio station of Ohsweken Speedway, 98.9 myFM is based in Simcoe, Ontario. 98.9 myFM is the #1 source for local news, weather, and sports in Norfolk County. Stay tuned for Friday night pre-race reports, race results, and chances to win Family Fun Night Ticket Packs and Dirt Track Date Night tickets! Visit the 98.9 myFM website at www.NorfolkToday.ca, find their Facebook page by searching “989-myFM”, and follow them on Twitter @myFM989
About Corr/Pak Merchandising: Founded in 1997, Corr/Pak Merchandising Inc. is based in Richmond Hill, Ontario, and is a designer and producer of Point of Purchase (POP) displays for retail. Strong emphasis on creative design and speed of response has seen Corr/Pak achieve great success in a very competitive industry. Their in-house capabilities and broad range of trusted suppliers enable them to develop any sort of effective solution for your retail display needs, no matter the materials used – whether corrugated, wood, boxboard, plastic, wire, steel, or any combination of those. Corr/Pak’s support of the 360 Sprint Car division at Ohsweken continues for an 8th consecutive season in 2015. Please visit www.CorrPak.ca for more information on the title sponsor of 360 Sprint Car racing at Ohsweken Speedway.
About Strickland’s GMC: Strickland’s is a family owned and operated business that has been serving Southwestern Ontario for over 30 years. They have never been afraid to change in order to better serve their customers, but one thing has remained the same – they have always run their company based on the old proverb “Treat others the way you wish to be treated”. Strickland’s is the only full line General Motors dealer in Brantford and the surrounding area, serving the community for over 90 years. Strickland’s returns as the title sponsor of the Crate Sprint Car division for a second consecutive season in 2015. Strickland’s GMC is located at 19-21 Lynden Road in Brantford, at the intersection of Lynden Road and Wayne Gretzky Parkway, and just 15 minutes from Ohsweken Speedway. Visit Strickland’s GMC online at www.Stricklands.com, or call them at 1-800-599-5558.
About Affordable Towing & Recovery: Affordable Towing & Recovery provides a full range of towing and breakdown services in Brantford and Southwestern Ontario, as well as flat-bed freight and equipment hauling, and police towing. They can get your vehicle out, no matter where it’s located – from an underground parking garage to a creek bed. Affordable Towing & Recovery offers roadside assistance, and a vehicle storage compound, as well as towing services for anything from motorcycles to big trucks. Affordable Towing & Recovery returns as title sponsor of Ohsweken’s Thunder Stock division for a third consecutive season in 2015. Affordable Towing & Recovery is located at 55 Shaver Street in Brantford, near the intersection of Garden Avenue North and Colborne Street East, and just 10 miles from Ohsweken Speedway. For solutions to any vehicle transport need, go to Affordable Towing & Recovery. Visit them online at www.affordable-towing.ca, or call them at (519) 755-7526.
About HRW Automotive: HRW Automotive was founded by Robert Workman in 1990. By providing good old-fashioned customer service, HRW has gained a loyal following in the community. Many area residents and businesses have come to depend on the expertise of HRW’s friendly staff to keep their vehicles and equipment in peak condition. You can entrust all of your vehicle’s service and repair needs to the team of automotive professionals at HRW Automotive. HRW Automotive is located at 163 Baptist Church Road in Caledonia near the intersection of Pauline Johnson Road, and just 5 miles from Ohsweken Speedway. HRW Automotive returns as title sponsor of Ohsweken’s Mini Stock division for a fifth consecutive season in 2015. Visit them on the web at www.HRWAutomotive.com, or call HRW today at 519-752-2063, and find out what good customer service is all about!
About Gale’s Auto Aftermarket: All your automobile parts and supply needs can be met at Gale’s Auto Aftermarket, located on RR 6 near Hagersville, Ontario, just 15 miles from Ohsweken Speedway. Gale’s Auto Aftermarket has been a proud supporter of local racing for many years, and returns as title sponsor of Ohsweken’s Bomber division for a third consecutive season in 2015. Call 519-445-2659 for more information.
THIS WEEK AT OHSWEKEN
Ohsweken Speedway’s 20th season of racing begins this Friday, May 15 when 98.9 myFM presents Opening Night 2015, featuring the Corr/Pak Merchandising 360 Sprint Cars, Strickland’s GMC Crate Sprint Cars, Affordable Towing & Recovery Thunder Stocks, HRW Automotive Mini Stocks, and Gale’s Auto Aftermarket Bombers.
Weekly Friday night racing at Ohsweken offers affordable, exciting, family entertainment just a short drive from many Mid-Western Ontario locations. Weekly Friday night racing adult general admission is just $12, while seniors and students are $10, and kids age 12 and under are FREE! Spectator gates open at 6:00p.m., with the first race taking the green flag at 7:30pm this Friday, May 15! Visit the official Ohsweken Speedway website at www.OhswekenSpeedway.com and Feel The Excitement!
About Ohsweken Speedway:
Founded in 1996, Ohsweken Speedway is a motorsports complex which includes a 3/8 (0.375) mile clay oval track. The facility is owned by the Styres family, and located in the village of Ohsweken, Ontario, Canada. Ohsweken’s weekly Friday night racing program runs from May to September each year, featuring 360 Sprint Cars, Crate Sprint Cars, Thunder Stocks, Mini Stocks, and Bombers, while the season finishes each year with the annual Canadian Sprint Car Nationals. Ohsweken Speedway also hosts weekly Micro Sprint racing on Thursday nights, and has been a yearly stop on the World of Outlaws Sprint Car series schedule since 2007.
Visit the official Ohsweken Speedway website at www.OhswekenSpeedway.com, like us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/
Ohsweken Speedway thanks the following partners for their support: Arrow Express, Corr/Pak Merchandising Inc., Renway Energy, O’Neil’s Farm Equipment, Hoosier Tire Canada, EPIC Racewear, McDonald’s Restaurants of Paris & Brantford, Nathan Ackland State Farm Insurance, Strickland’s GMC, Mobil 1, Burger Barn, Affordable Towing & Recovery, HRW Automotive, and Gale’s Auto Aftermarket.
