Poirier Wins Inaugural Brockville SOS Visit
by Tommy Goudge (May 31, 2008) -
Despite threatening skies, a large crowd gathered at the Brockville Ontario Speedway to witness the first ever visit by the Southern Ontario Sprints tour. The event was the first sprint car race at the Eastern Ontario track after offseason renovations, and a smooth and very fast racing surface greeted the 19 teams who made the trip. Rain late in the afternoon delayed the program slightly, but the BOS staff persevered and the reward was great racing all evening, and a completed night entered into the record books for all divisions.
Warren Mahoney and Craig Downie paced the field to start the 20 lap feature, with Mahoney jumping out to the early lead. One lap was recorded before Glenn Styres jumped the cushion in turns 3&4 and spun to a top, bringing out a caution. Mahoney reasserted his lead when the green flag flew again, with fellow 2 time SOS champion Keith Dempster giving chase. Behind them, a torrid battle began as Steve Poirier, Michael Parent, Rick Wilson, and Brian McDonald began to advance towards the front of the pack. Dempster showed Mahoney his front wheels a couple of times, but wasn’t able to get ahead of Mahoney’s #25. Lapped traffic became a factor during the last half of the race as Mahoney closed in on Styres in an attempt to put him a lap down, but was unable to get by the very fast #0 machine, which Glenn had driven to heat race and dash wins earlier in the evening. The traffic also caused Dempster to slide high in turns 3 & 4, which allowed the 42w of Wilson to take over the 2nd position, and the #151kb of McDonald took advantage as well by moving into 3rd.
A frightening incident at the end of the 16th lap brought out the red flag when Brian McDonald and Rick Wilson got together in lapped traffic on the frontstretch. McDonald’s #151kb machine hopped the left rear of Wilson’s mount and flipped wildly, landing very hard on top of the concrete barrier which separates the infield from the track surface entering turn 1. McDonald’s car suffered severe damage, especially to the front end, but fortunately Brian emerged unscathed and in fact competed in the 358 Modified feature held later in the evening. Wilson’s car suffered damage to the left rear and also to the left side of the top wing, forcing him to retire from the event.
When the race resumed for a 4 lap dash to the finish, it was Mahoney leading the #28fm of Poirier, followed by Dempster, Craig Downie’s #71, and Chris Jones’ #11j. Mahoney opened a slight advantage and appeared poised to take his first feature win since August 16, 2003 at Merrittville. Poirier though had other plans, and was able to get by Mahoney exiting turn 2 on lap 18. Poirier then dashed to victory while Mahoney settled for 2nd, followed by Dempster, a hard-charging Michael Parent, and Jones, who took home his 2nd straight top 5 finish in SOS competition.
NOTES:
- After taking home his first ever sprint car feature win at Ohsweken on Friday night, Ryan Hunsinger made his return to SOS competition after 6 years away, but unfortunately experienced mechanical problems and was not able to get his engine fired.
- Kyle Wilson also made his return to sprint car competition on Saturday after some time away from the driver’s seat. Kyle, son of Rick and brother of April, was behind the wheel of Bill Baldwin’s #14 for the evening, but mechanical issues prevented him from starting his heat, or finishing the feature.
- For many of the SOS competitors, Brockville was a place they had yet to visit. After the event, the track drew rave reviews from many drivers and crew members. The tour will return to promoter Paul Kirkland’s fine facility on October 18 for a special non-points challenge event against the teams and drivers of the Empire Super Sprints.
- Jeff Ciglich of North Augusta was the lucky winner of the Frisbee toss, as he caught the one autographed earlier in the evening by eventual feature winner Poirier. Jeff was presented with a Have Bus Will Travel travel package for 2 to the World of Outlaws sprint car series event coming up in July at the Ohsweken Speedway. A 3rd Have Bus package will be given away at the next SOS event, coming up June 14 at Brighton Speedway.
Race Report – Saturday, May 31, 2008
Southern Ontario Sprints 2008 Season Event #2
Brockville Ontario Speedway – Brockville, Ontario
ENTRIES
0 Glenn Styres - Ohsweken
5 Keith Dempster - Alton
10 Bob Crawford - Sutton
11j Chris Jones - Demorestville
14 Kyle Wilson - Joyceville
15 Mike Ferrell - London
15aw April Wilson - Joyceville
25 Warren Mahoney - Lefroy
25p Michael Parent - Granby, QC
28fm Steve Poirier - Saint-Mathieu-de-Beloeil, QC
29 Daryl Turford - Guelph
30 Adam West - Ridgetown
42w Rick Wilson - Joyceville
51 Lee Ladouceur - Alexandria
71 Craig Downie - Burlington
77x Ryan Hunsinger - Hamilton
79 Dick Mahoney - Newmarket
81 Derek Jonathon - Lewiston, NY
151kb Brian McDonald - Cornwall
HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps)
Finish. Number - Name (starting position)
1. 25 Warren Mahoney (2)
2. 151kb Brian McDonald (6)
3. 28fm Steve Poirier (7)
4. 30 Adam West (4)
5. 10 Bob Crawford (3)
6. 15 Mike Ferrell (1)
7. 14 Kyle Wilson DNS
HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps)
Finish. Number - Name (starting position)
1. 0 Glenn Styres (4)
2. 71 Craig Downie (2)
3. 42w Rick Wilson (5)
4. 25p Michael Parent (6)
5. 15aw April Wilson (1)
6. 81 Derek Jonathon (3)
HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps)
Finish. Number - Name (starting position)
1. 5 Keith Dempster (2)
2. 11j Chris Jones (4)
3. 51 Lee Ladouceur (5)
4. 79 Dick Mahoney (3)
5. 29 Daryl Turford DNF (1)
6. 77x Ryan Hunsinger DNS
SAMURE CONSTRUCTION DASH FOR CASH (4 laps)
Finish. Number - Name (starting position)
1. 0 Glenn Styres (2)
2. 151kb Brian McDonald (4)
3. 28fm Steve Poirier (3)
4. 5 Keith Dempster (6)
5. 71 Craig Downie (1)
6. 11j Chris Jones (5)
”A” FEATURE
Finish. Number - Name (starting position)
1. 28fm Steve Poirier (9)
2. 25 Warren Mahoney (1)
3. 5 Keith Dempster (3)
4. 25p Michael Parent (11)
5. 11j Chris Jones (5)
6. 51 Lee Ladouceur (
7. 71 Craig Downie (2)
8. 79 Dick Mahoney (12)
9. 30 Adam West (10)
10. Bob Crawford (13)
11. 0 Glenn Styres (4)
12. 81 Derek Jonathon (17)
13. 151kb Brian McDonald (7) DNF
14. 42w Rick Wilson (6) DNF
15. 15aw April Wilson (14) DNF
16. 15 Mike Ferrell (16) DNF
17. 29 Daryl Turford (15) DNF
18. 14 Kyle Wilson (18) DNF
DNS. 77x Ryan Hunsinger
Lap Leaders: W. Mahoney (1-18), Steve Poirier (19-20)
Hard Charger: Poirier (gained 8 positions)
Caution Flags: 1 (lap 2)
Red Flags: 1 (lap 16)
NEXT SOS RACE
Saturday, June 14th @ Brighton Speedway – Brighton, Ontario
www.SouthernOntarioSprints.comwww.BrightonSpeedway.com ************************
************************
Tommy Goudge
Media Officer
www.SouthernOntarioSprints.comtommygoudge@hotmail.com
519-319-0051
Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=7598.msg44236#msg44236
