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Wilson Jets to Victory Lane at Brighton SOS Opener
By Tommy Goudge (May 10, 2008) - A familiar face graced Brighton Speedway's victory lane on Saturday night when Joyceville, Ontario's Rick Wilson won the opening event for the Southern Ontario Sprints 2008 season. It was Wilson’s 3rd opening night victory at Brighton and his 12th career SOS feature win all time at the speedway, a traditional stop on the SOS tour.
John Burbridge, Sr. and Jeff Daniels brought the field down for the green flag with Burbridge taking command going into turn 1, but his lead would be short-lived. “The Joyceville” Jet lined up on the outside of the 3rd row at the start of the 20 lap A Feature and quickly moved through the field, advancing to 3rd before the completion of the first lap. Wilson then quickly got by the #20 of Daniels and moved around Burbridge, Sr.’s #21j during lap 3 to take a lead he would never relinquish. Wilson's victory was not uncontested however, as Glenn Styres had advanced quickly from his 5th starting position. “The Ohsweken Flyer” closed in on Wilson's Focus Eye Centres #42w after a brief battle with Burbridge, Sr., which set up an entertaining duel during the second half of the 20 lap feature.
Styres’ pursuit of victory came to an abrupt halt in corner 2 on the last lap as Bob Crawford, Craig Downie, and Mike Ferrell got tangled up. Styres was collected in the melee, which brought out the red flag for the only stoppage during the feature event. Styres was able to be pushed off again, but his Ohsweken Speedway #0 machine was no longer in contention for the win. All the drivers involved were unhurt in the incident.
The race went back to green for a two lap dash to the finish, but nobody was able to challenge Wilson, who took the checkered flag followed by John Burbridge, Sr., Kevin Job, Chris Jones, and Adam West. Burbridge’s and Jones’ finishes were career bests for the two up and coming drivers who made their first SOS starts in 2007.
NOTES:
- It was also opening night for Brighton Speedway after last weekend's scheduled opening event was cancelled due to inclement weather, and a slightly rough track greeted the 17 SOS teams who made the trip. Track owner/promoter Mark Rinaldi and his crew went to work prior to the SOS Dash for Cash and a smooth and fast surface greeted the drivers when it was time to contest the feature.
- It was a night of ups and downs for the Wilson team. During preliminary action, Rick's daughter April went for a wild ride at the beginning of the first heat race. After clipping one of the tractor tires which seperate the infield from the track surface in turns 1 and 2, April went for a series of flips and rolls, landing very hard on the tail section of the #15aw. Keith Dempster, Craig Downie, and Bob Crawford also sustained damage in the incident, but were able to make repairs and start the feature. Wilson, who took home her first sprint car victory in heat race action at Brighton last season, emerged from her machine under her own power but made a trip to the hospital for precautionary reasons and was later released.
- Opening night gremlins plagued a few teams on Saturday night, most notably front row starter Jeff Daniels and 3rd place starter Warren Mahoney, who both took their cars to the pits early in the feature. Daniels took home his first ever victory in a sprint car earlier in the evening as he guided his sharp looking #20 to victory in the second heat race. Bill Baldwin was on hand but was scratched due to fuel pump problems with his #14.
- Kim Stuckless was the lucky winner of the Have Bus Will Travel trip for 2 to Ohsweken Speedway's World of Outlaws Sprint series events coming up in July. 2 more packages will be given away at the upcoming SOS events at Brockville Ontario Speedway on May 31, and Brighton Speedway on June 14.
- During breaks in the action, SOS tour announcer Greg Calnan was able to keep the local fans informed of the score of the Belleville Bulls/Kitchener Rangers game going on at the nearby Yardmen Arena. The Bulls won 6-3, forcing game 7 Monday night in Kitchener, much to the delight of the local fans, who were also happy to see local favourite Wilson in victory lane.
Race Report – Saturday May 10, 2008
Southern Ontario Sprints 2008 Season Event #1
Brighton Speedway – Brighton, Ontario
ENTRIES:
0 Glenn Styres – Ohsweken
5 Keith Dempster – Alton
10 Bob Crawford – Sutton
11j Chris Jones – Demorestville
14 Bill Baldwin – Courtice
15 Mike Ferrell – London
15aw April Wilson – Joyceville
20 Jeff Daniels – Chatham
21j John Burbridge, Sr. – Simcoe
21x Kevin Job – Campbellville
25 Warren Mahoney – Lefroy
29 Daryl Turford – Mitchell
30 Adam West – Ridgetown
42w Rick Wilson – Joyceville
71 Craig Downie – Burlington
79 Dick Mahoney – Newmarket
81 Derek Jonathon - Lockport, NY
HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps)
Finish. Number - Name (starting position)
1. 42w Rick Wilson (4)
2. 21x Kevin Job (7)
3. 10 Bob Crawford (5)
4. 25 Warren Mahoney (2)
5. 15aw April Wilson (1)
6. 5 Keith Dempster (3)
7. 71 Craig Downie (6)
DNS. 15 Mike Ferrell
DNS. 14 Bill Baldwin
HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps)
Finish. Number - Name (starting position)
1. 20 Jeff Daniels (2)
2. 21j John Burbridge, Sr. (1)
3. 11j Chris Jones (4)
4. 0 Glenn Styres (5)
5. 30 Adam West (6)
6. 81 Derek Jonathon (3)
7. 79 Dick Mahoney (8)
8. 29 Daryl Turford (7)
WISECO PISTONS DASH FOR CASH (4 laps)
Finish. Number - Name (starting position)
1. 42w Rick Wilson (1)
2. 21j Burbridge (3)
3. 20 Daniels (4)
4. 21x Job (2)
"A" FEATURE
Finish. Number - Name (starting position)
1st. 42w - Rick Wilson (6)
2nd. 21j - John Burbridge, Sr. (1)
3rd. 21x - Kevin Job (8)
4th. 11j - Chris Jones (4)
5th. 30 - Adam West (9)
6th. 81 - Derek Jonathon (11)
7th. 5 - Keith Dempster (10)
8th. 0 - Glenn Styres (5)
9th. 79 - Dick Mahoney (13)
10th. 10 - Bob Crawford (7) DNF
11th. 71 - Craig Downie (12) DNF
12th. 15 - Mike Ferrell (15) DNF
13th. 29 DarylTurford (14) DNF
14th. 20 Jeff Daniels (2) DNF
15th. 25 Warren Mahoney (3) DNF
DNS. 15aw - April Wilson
DNS. 14 - Bill Baldwin
Lap Leaders: Burbridge, Sr. (1-2), R. Wilson (3-20)
Hard Charger: Wilson, Job, Jonathon (gained 5 positions)
Yellow Flags: 0
Red Flags: 1 (lap 19)
NEXT SOS RACE:
Saturday, May 31st @ Brockville Ontario Speedway - Brockville, Ontario. |
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