"Awesome" Night Coming Up At Ohsweken This Friday

By Tommy Goudge (June 10, 2008)

OHSWEKEN, ON - With 4 competitive rounds of Ohsweken Speedway Friday Night Thunder already in the record books, Round 5 is set for this Friday night, June 13 with more great racing expected.  Awesome Racewear presents the 4-division Friday Night Thunder action this week, once again featuring the Corr/Pak Merchandising Winged Sprints, ESSO Thunder Stocks, ESSO Mini-Stocks, and Fun Stocks.

Salamanca, NY resident Jared Zimbardi won his first Corr/Pak Sprint Car feature of the season last Friday, extending his season-long points lead over 3rd place finisher Keith Dempster of Alton, Ontario in the process.  Kevin Job of Campbellville finished 2nd to Zimbardi on Friday after leading much of the way, but his disappointment can be tempered with the knowledge that he jumped from 5th to 3rd in the points on Friday.  Ryan Hunsinger came home with a solid 6th place last Friday after taking his first career sprint car feature win in round 3.  Hunsinger, who recently moved to Brantford, now sits 4th in points ahead of Fred Cade of Niagara Falls, who dropped to 5th in the standings after a 7th place finish on Friday.  The Corr/Pak Sprints have provided more than their share of great racing already this season, with 4 different winners in 4 weeks, while the last 3 feature races have seen lead changes during the last 5 laps of the race.  With a competitive field of weekly competitors and possible surprise invaders, it’s anybody’s guess who will end up in victory lane every Friday.

Cody McPherson’s name has appeared in the win column in 3 of 4 ESSO Thunder Stock events held so far this season, including a win last Friday, but as Terry Osmond showed in Round 3, McPherson is not unbeatable.  Brian Pescetti actually led much of the event on Friday, but was freight-trained at the end and then made contact with the backstretch wall, but was still able to come home 5th.  Vince Fargnoli and Glen Leinen followed McPherson through the field and came home 2nd and 3rd respectively after a hard fought battle, however Fargnoli was disqualified after the race, moving Leinen up to 2nd, and also moving Leinen’s #9 into 2nd in the points standings.  Osmond followed up his round 3 feature win with a 6th place on Friday night and now sits 3rd in points, while the consistency of Ryan Dinning has him up to 4th in points after a 4th place finish on Friday night.  Defending ESSO Thunder Stock champ Brad Bacher is still hanging onto 5th in points despite a lost wheel which prevented him from finishing the feature on Friday night, which saw a season-high 19 cars take the green flag, including the new entries of Colin Court and Mike Ward, who took home an 8th place finish after starting 17th.

A new face visited ESSO Mini-Stock victory lane on Friday night as Chase Hess took his first ever feature win, but it is 5 veterans leading the way in the points standings.  Defending track champion Abel Castelein has picked up right where he left off last season with consistent finishes, including a 6th place on Friday night, and continues to lead the Mini-Stock standings.  Kevin Hilborn finished 4th for a 3rd time this season on Friday night and is now 2nd in points, followed by Mark Thorne, Jim Swing, and Rick Emberson, who all finished in the top 5 on Friday, with Emberson finishing 2nd after starting 14th.

In Fun Stock action, Chris Hils became the 4th different feature winner in 4 weeks, vaulting from 3rd to 1st in the points standings for the new division in the process. 

Awesome Racewear presents the Friday Night Thunder action this week at Ohsweken.  Specializing in custom race suits and sublimated crew shirts, Awesome Racewear also has a wide variety of other racing equipment and accessories available for purchase.  Visit www.AwesomeRacewear.com for more information. 

The first big event of the Ohsweken Speedway season is fast approaching.  Thursday, June 19 is the date of the first visit ever by the World of Outlaws Late Models to Ohsweken, and they will be joined for the night by the Ohsweken Speedway Corr/Pak Merchandising Winged Sprint Cars to create one of the must-see racing events in Ontario this season!  The Empire Super Sprints tour will visit Ohsweken the following evening and those who present their June 19 ticket stubs at the ESS event on June 20 will be admitted for just $5!  There is plenty of free camping area available adjacent to the Speedway for those who wish to attend both events.  Lots of advance reserved seat tickets for the Thursday, June 19 event remain available - Call 1-888-720-RACE to get yours today!

Friday Night Thunder at Ohsweken Speedway is affordable family entertainment just a short drive away from most mid-western Ontario locations.  Adult General Admission is $10, Seniors & Students 13 - 17 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, June 6!