OHSWEKEN, ON – The roar of sprint car engines once again filled the air in the tiny hamlet of Ohsweken, Ontario as the third annual "Arrow Express Canadian Sprint Car Nationals" capped the 2007 season at the Styres' Family owned 3/8 mile clay oval; Ohsweken Speedway. Despite the heavy rain that fell as the cars were preparing to take to the track for hot laps on Friday evening, cancellation of the evening's program left everyone even more determined to try the reconfigured speedway as the sun broke the horizon on Saturday morning. The "Village Pizza Ohsweken Shootout" and the inaugural "Dave MacLeod Memorial Mr. Sprint Car Challenge" were carried over from the Friday schedule as dozens of the top sprint car drivers and teams from five sanctioning groups covering the entire north-east assembled for the Saturday, September 15th running of the 3rd Annual "Arrow Express Canadian Sprint Car Nationals".
Kears Speed Shop located in Tiffin, Ohio awarded "Fast Qualifier" Bryan Howland from Auburn, NY with a cash bonus of $500 for his lap of 13.614, just shy of the standing track record of 13.377 held by Ohio's Kenny Jacobs. Howland also picked up an additional cash bonus when he received the CORR-Pak Merchandising "Best Appearing Car Award" in pre race ceremonies. "Fastest Canadian Qualifier" Steve Poirier was also the recipient of a cash bonus as Bicknell Racing Products recognized his achievement.
While collecting the Canadian Nationals title for the second year in a row, Quebec's Steve Poirier in only his second year at the controls of a sprint car came away with over nine thousand dollars in cash and contingency awards. Among them was a new driver suit provided by Awesome Racewear while The Brakeman; Diversified Machine Inc; Winters Performance; and Hoosier Tire Canada contributed to his totals.
BUTLERBuilt, a leader in the manufacturing of innovative safety seats provided certificates toward the purchase of a new custom made "Advantage Seat" to Indiana's Brett Mann for his 10th place finish in the "A" Main. BUTLERBuilt also provided certificates to Ontario's Jason Pietz, Pennsylvanian Kramer Williamson, and Quebec's Normand Beaudreault for their 10th place finishes in the three "B" Mains that were contested. Simpson awarded a new helmet to Blake Breen of Savannah, NY as the "Hard Luck" recipient was the first to crash out of the "A" Main in the early laps. The other "Hard Luck" award provide by Triple XXX Race Cars went to rookie Justin Martin of St. Thomas, Ontario as he destroyed his car during time trials.
The KSE Racing Products "Hard Charger" awards went to Mike Stelter of Ontario, NY and Joyceville, Ontario's Rick Wilson. Stelter had to qualify through a "B" Main finished 9th after starting 23rd while Wilson moved from 19th to 7th when the checkers fell. Weld Wheels also provided valuable certificates to the two "Hard Chargers". Oliver Racing Parts awarded third place finisher Kevin Job of Campbellville, Ontario and 26th starter Gary Fast of Kalkaska, Michigan a set of new engine rods while J & J Chassis provided certificates to Rick Wilson, Bobby Breen, and Scott Kreutter as the highest finishing J & J Chassis at the Canadian Nationals.
"We are extremely pleased to be able to offer these post race awards" stated event registrar and sponsorship coordinator Cheryl Pelkie. Over thirty of the leading suppliers in the Sprint Car industry cast their support behind the Nationals this year. "They have been most helpful and generous throughout this process of collecting contingency awards and offer nothing
but encouragement. We are convinced that the sponsors supporting the Canadian Nationals offer a great line of products and hope the competitors return their support" Cheryl concluded.
Six heat races made up the first round of preliminary action this year with sponsorship by WISECO Pistons, BS&B Radiators, Kinser Air Filters, ZEMCO Speed Equipment, PRO Shocks, and Motor State Distributing.
The Best Western CAIRN CROFT Hotel contributed a cash bonus to each of the second place finishers in the three "B" Mains that were sponsored by GRISDALE Racing Products, COMP Cams, and ROCKET Headers. All entries received a $30 certificate from ROD END Supply when registering to participate while the twenty-six starters in the "A" Main collected a
certificate from KEISER Aluminum Wheels valued at $50. Other supporting contingency sponsors in 2007 included Fisher Performance, Glenn HEPFNER Inc, Saldana Racing Products, Seals-IT, and Schoenfeld Headers.
Plans are already underway for the 4th Annual "Canadian Sprint Car Nationals" scheduled for September 12 & 13, 2008 once again at Ohsweken Speedway.
For more information be sure to log on to the official website of Ohsweken Speedway at www.ohswekenspeedway.com.
For Immediate Release: Ken Pelkie, Event Coordinator
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