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Pre Entries Open As "CANADIAN SPRINT CAR NATIONALS" Preparation Continues
The third edition of the "Canadian Sprint Car Nationals" presented
by Arrow Express is scheduled to take place at Ohsweken Speedway, the Styres
family owned three-eight mile clay oval just outside Brantford, Ontario on
Saturday, September 15. As pre entries begin to file in, early indications
are encouraging as five regional sanctioning groups have once again cast
their support behind the fall event which in only two years has gained a
reputation as a "must see" on the sprint car calendar.
In conjunction with the "Arrow Express - Canadian Sprint Car Nationals"
running on September 15, "Village Pizza; Village Café; and Sit-N-Bull
Construction" will host "The Night Before the Nationals" on Friday,
September 14. The Friday portion of the weekend will feature the third
running of the "Village Pizza - Ohsweken Shootout" along with a pair of 15
lap "A" Main's that will guarantee the winners a position in the Saturday
feature starting grid. Also on the card will be a full Mini Stock program
with a series of sprint heats lined up by a random draw.
The third annual "Arrow Express - Canadian Sprint Car Nationals" will retain
a one day format but will take on a slightly new look. As in the past, time
trials will once again set the starting line-ups for the heat races with six
cars being inverted in each heat. There will however, be a couple subtle
differences from there on. First of all there will be six heat races, up
from four the previous two years. The winners of the heats will transfer
directly to the "A" Main and be lined up according to their time trial
results. The dash races will then be eliminated in an effort to shorten the
length of the program with hope of an earlier finish.
In keeping with the initial goal of adding to the purse each year and
building the event into the premier sprint car race in the north-east, the
"A" Main winner will collect $7,000 for their efforts, up from $6,000 in
2006; and $5,000 in 2005 while positions 11 through 26 will see an increase
with the final position collecting $600. Again in 2007, all prize money will
be paid out in U.S. currency. The Saturday show will be a "Sprint Only"
event with no support class.
The Southern Ontario Sprints who have called Ohsweken Speedway home since
their inception have signed on once again. Keith Dempster driving an
Ohsweken Speedway house car will lead the pack of SOS competitors with the
likes of Adam West, Warren Mahoney, Kevin Job, and Fred Cade always a threat
to stand in victory lane at Ohsweken.
>From New York State, the Empire Super Sprints are once again backing the
event. Last year, ESS "Rookie of the Year" Steve Poirier stood in victory
lane at the Canadian Nationals with a popular win and is among the early
entries for this year's event. Lance Yonge, Justin Barger, Jeff VanDusen and
Jessica Zemken are all expected to be on hand when the gates swing open for
the third running.
Also from New York State, the ASCS Patriots have again signed on. Like the
SOS and ESS, the Patriots have been instrumental in the success of the
Canadian Sprint Car Nationals from day one. The team of Bryan Howland and
Chuck Hebing are poised to challenge for the win this year as the green flag
drops.
The State of Michigan will be represented as the ASCS Sprints On Dirt
organization has once again signed on to support the event. Dustin Daggett
has indicated that he will return for another try at capturing the Nationals
crown along with Tim Norman, Brett Mann and Dain Naida.
Returning for their second year as an affiliate, the NRA Sprint Invaders of
Ohio will see Tim Allison and Phil Gressman carrying the NRA Banner. Car
Owner Ron Hammons who had Dale Blaney wheeling one of his entries in last
year's event has indicated he will also return with the three cars with
regular driver Mike Dussel wheeling one of them.
With independents such as the Rick Wilson team from Joyceville, Ont., Kyle
Patrick of Tilbury, Ont., Mark Broughman of Hillsdale, Mich., J.R. Stewart
of Bellefontaine, Ohio, and a possible Mike Woodring entry, the field is
poised to be as strong as ever. The previous two runnings of the event have
averaged 80 cars and with this year's $7,000 winner's share of the posted
$55,000 purse the competition is expected to once again be fierce.
Make your plans now to join us at Ohsweken Speedway on September 14 & 15,
2007 for the "Arrow Express - Canadian Sprint Car Nationals" weekend. Be
sure to watch for more race information and sponsorship news as plans are
finalized. Log on to the official website of Ohsweken Speedway at
www.ohswekenspeedway.com and
click on the "Canadian Sprint Car Nationals" ad on the left side of the home
page for rules and entry forms.
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