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OHSWEKEN SPEEDWAY TO FEATURE WEEKLY SPRINT CAR ACTION IN ‘08
One of the worst kept secrets on the Ontario racing scene is a
secret no more. After months of deliberation, the Styres family owned
Ohsweken Speedway has made a decision that will reshape their future.
“It has always been my dream and now Ohsweken Speedway will headline “Outlaw
360 Sprints” on our regular weekly racing program during 2008” track
promoter Glenn Styres has declared. “We have analyzed a number of factors
based on the program that we currently offer weekly including a downward
spiraling trend in attendance” Styres stated. “We reached a decision that we
could not continue to operate without making adjustments in what we are
offering to the race fans. Our statistics show that the largest support
comes from our fans when the sprints are on the card. The Canadian Nationals
has become very successful and with the World of Outlaws confirmed once
again for 2008 we see an opportunity to commit to a weekly sprint car show
in hopes of attracting new fans as well as giving our current fans a chance
to see this type of racing on a consistent basis” Styres went on.
Over the last couple of seasons the crowds have been declining at Ohsweken
when the sprints are not on the program. While the Mini Stock division
remains strong, the Thunder Stocks and the DIRT Sportsman class which
headlines the weekly show have not been able to draw full feature fields.
“Sprint cars seems to be what our fan base wants and that is what we intend
to give them” exclaimed Styres.
In order to make room for the sprint cars, one of the current regular
divisions will be eliminated. “The Thunder Stocks offer us an opportunity to
maintain an eight cylinder stock car class and will remain on the weekly
program. We don’t feel that a second premier division is in our best
interest and the DIRT Sportsman division will not be in our plans when the
gates open on May 23rd for our 12th season. Coinciding with the elimination
of the Sportsman as the feature division, the long term relationship with
DIRT Motorsports will be severed” Styres continued.
Schedule, purse structure, point fund, rules package, and procedures are
currently being finalized with expectations that they will be released
within the next couple of weeks. Styres emphasized that “I don’t see much of
a difference in rules from those that we currently utilize for the “Canadian
Sprint Car Nationals”. We plan to pay a weekly purse that will see the
winner collect $1,200 along with a respectable point fund. We also still
plan to run special events for the Empire Super Sprints, Patriot Sprint
Group, Sprints On Dirt, and of course the Southern Ontario Sprints
throughout the season, much like we have the past few years. And the
“Canadian Sprint Car Nationals” will remain as the season closer and our
premier event for the year. There is a lot of work to do to make this happen
but I believe the future of Ohsweken Speedway depends on this” Styres
emphasized.
Ken Pelkie, who has been instrumental in organization and development of the
“Canadian Sprint Car Nationals” and “Six Nations Showdown World of Outlaw”
events will head up the transition to the weekly sprint car show and oversee
its implementation. Any and all questions regarding sprint cars and their
programs should be addressed through Ken at our new toll free number
-1-877-445-RACE (7223) or HYPERLINK "mailto:pelkiekj@ebtech.net"
pelkiekj@ebtech.net “ Styres concluded.
A further announcement regarding an information meeting and distribution of
rules and procedures will be forthcoming in the next few days. Be sure to
log on to the official website of Ohsweken Speedway at HYPERLINK
"http://www.ohswekenspeedway.com" www.ohswekenspeedway.com for further
announcements.
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