For Immediate Release – Ken Pelkie – Ohsweken Speedway

For the past two seasons Ohsweken Speedway in South-western Ontario has embarked on a program to solidify Sprint Car racing in Ontario. The commitment has been rewarding to teams and fans alike as Ohsweken has been the scene of a solid field of cars with fast paced, non-stop excitement for the growing legion of fans. 

When the gates swing open on May 14th for the opening round of “Friday Night Thunder” the transformation will be complete. Absent from the schedule this season will be Modifieds and Late Models. “The fans have indicated to us through their attendance that Sprint Cars is what they choose to watch at Ohsweken” states Owner / Promoter Glenn Styres. “We have been experimenting for the past couple of seasons to get a feel for what our fans want and it is quite clear to us that even though our support classes have a good following, Sprints are the main draw here at Ohsweken and they will be our focus for 2010 and beyond”.

Fans will be able to “Feel The Excitement” each week as the ground pounding winged Sprint Cars embark on an eighteen race chase to the championship and a piece of the $20,000 posted point fund backed by Corr/PAK Merchandising of Richmond Hill. The Sprint Cars will be joined each week by the ESSO Thunder Stocks, Mini Stocks, and Bombers. Special events designed to entertain every fan are scattered over the summer with something different being presented each week. With “Affordable Family Entertainment” as the primary goal, Ohsweken Speedway is the place to be at 7:45 PM each Friday night for an evening of action packed entertainment. 

“We have been focusing our attention toward family entertainment while giving our fans a true racing alternative in the area” states Ken Pelkie, Director of Racing Operations. “Our commitment to the fans is to provide an entertaining, first class show that the whole family will enjoy and present it in a timely manner. Two to two and one-half hours is the target for completion of the program throughout the season” Pelkie concluded. 

Fans will have to wait just a little over four months before an open practice session takes place. Saturday, May 8th will see all classes of cars that will compete at the speedway during 2010 testing the speedway for the first time in the new season while they shake down their equipment. On track action will begin at 12:00 noon and is Free to spectators. 

The season then officially gets underway on Friday night, May 14th when Corr/Pak Merchandising presents the opening round in the season long point championship race for the weekly Sprint Car on the fast 3/8 mile clay oval.

RapStar Energy Drink will host the “Rumble On The Rez” May 21st as the Championship Tour North Dwarf Cars join the program in the first of three appearances in 2010.

Rounding out the month of May, Engine Pro who sponsors all victory lane interviews for the season along with Melling Performance Pumps and Ferrera Valves will present ”Bring Your Neighbour Night” as all Adults bringing a guest will receive 2 for 1 admission. Also on the program will be the first of our Novelty Races for the season as the “Gauntlet Run” will be staged. 

The Best Western Cairn Croft Hotel will host round #1 of the “Battle On The Grand” on June 4th. The ASCS Patriots will be at the track to co sanction the event with our Corr/PAK Sprints. The co sanctioning of the “Battle On The Grand” series is sure to host large car counts and heart stopping action. The top finishing Patriot regular members will gain guaranteed berths in the annual “Village Pizza – Ohsweken Shootout” as part of the Canadian Nationals weekend in September. 

June racing continues on the 11th as Trailers by Jim Bray hosts “Haldimand County Night” for Corr/Pak Sprints, ESSO Thunder Stocks, Mini Stocks, and Bombers. Any spectators showing proof of residence in Haldimand County will be admitted to the speedway for half price. Vintage Cars will make the first of four appearances while the popular Mini Van Figure 8 race and Demolition Derby will close out the night.

June 18th finds Awesome Racewear hosting “Kids Night”. Special prizes are in store for the kids as a full program featuring Corr/Pak Sprints will be offered. The night will be highlighted by the first of three autograph sessions at the speedway. 

As June ends and “Summer Begins”, BS&B Radiator will present “Twin 15’s for Thunder Stocks” on June 25th. Sprints, Mini Stocks, and Bombers will also be on the program along with the first of three “Box Car” races for the kids.

An exciting month of July gets underway on Friday night, July 2nd when the 3rd Annual “Northern Summer Nationals” highlights the action. Presented by Jones Brown Insurance, this year’s event is co sanctioned by our Corr/PAK Sprints, the ASCS Patriots, the ASCS Sprints On Dirt, and the Southern Ontario Sprints. The program will consist of a series of heat races followed by a group of qualifying events which will position the starting feature line up. “B” Main(s) will be run to fill out the field and a 25 lap ”A” Main will close out the evening. With three of the four sanctioning bodies paying season points toward their championships, an overflow field of cars is expected to swell the pits. A full program for Thunder Stocks, Mini Stocks, and Bombers is also slated for the evening.

Mid Season Championship night is next up as WISECO Pistons presents the midyear classics for Corr/PAK Sprints, Thunder Stocks, and Bombers while Evers Financial hosts the championship round for the Mini Stocks. Extra laps and extra cash await the drivers while the Vintage Cars return to the night’s action.

Gales Auto Aftermarket plays host to round #2 of the “Battle On The Grand” on July 16th. The Empire Super Sprints will invade the track to co sanction the event with our Corr/PAK Sprints. Once again a large car count and heart stopping action is expected to preview what can be expected when the 6th Annual Canadian Sprint Car Nationals takes to the track in September. The second of three “Box Car” races is also on tap.

July 23rd finds Outhouse Image & Design hosting “Christmas In July” when a visit from Santa is on his schedule. Along with the second of two autograph sessions, the annual “Toy Drive” is also on tap for the evening with 100% of the donations distributed to needy organizations in neighbouring communities. Last year’s collection showed the true generosity of our fans and supporters and was graciously received. Everyone donating a toy this year will receive a 2 for 1 admission coupon that can be used for any regular priced race night for the remainder of the season. Corr/PAK Sprints, Thunder Stocks, Mini Stocks, and Bombers will provide the on track action for the evening which will be topped off by a “Chain Race”.

Leading up to the return visit of the “World Of Outlaw” Sprint Cars, the 2nd Annual “Adam Beach Golf Classic” will tee off on Thursday, July 29th at Sundrin Golf Course in Caledonia. Presented by Ohsweken Speedway, Adam Beach will return to host the event where some World of Outlaw drivers along with other celebrities are expected to be present. The World of Outlaw Sprints take to the track on Friday and Saturday nights, July 30th and 31st. Full programs will be presented each night by Arrow Express consisting of Time Trials, Heat races, “B” Mains and “A” Mains paying $10,000 to the winner plus valuable points toward the season long championship chase. All the regulars on the Outlaw circuit including Donny Schatz, Steve Kinser, Joey Saldana, Jason Meyers, and others including Jessica Zemken will be on hand to try to dethrone two time and defending champion of the “Six Nations Showdown”, Jason Sides who is the only winner of the event. Thunder Stocks will run as the support division for the Friday portion of the two day stand while the Stars Championship Tour North Dwarf Cars will compete on the Saturday date. Also on hand Saturday will be a static display of the Tillsonburg Outlaw Mini Sprints in the spectator side of the speedway. These miniature sprint racing machines will be returning August 20th for an on track exhibition event. August 1st has been secured if needed as a makeup date for the two World of Outlaw events.

The Art Hill Memorial will once again be contested by the Mini Stocks on August 6th. Presented by the Rochester Knighthawks, the 42 lap affair will again pay $1,000 to the winner. Joining the Mini Stocks on the program will be the Corr/PAK Sprints, Thunder Stocks, and Bombers while the 2nd Annual “Ohsweken Speedway Hot Dog Eating Championship” will be contested at the flag stand during intermission.

The final drive to the season long championships gets underway on August 13th when Metal Works presents “Brant County Night”. All adults proving residence in Brant County will be admitted to the speedway for half price. Corr/PAK Sprints, Thunder Stocks, Mini Stocks, and Bombers will be joined for the third time in 2010 by the Vintage Cars. Rounding out the night’s action will be a “Flag Pole Race”.

Grisdale Racing Products will host a full program of Corr/PAK Sprint Cars, Thunder Stocks, Mini Stocks, and Bombers on August 20. Tillsonburg Outlaw Mini Sprints will return to present a series of exhibition races and take part in the third and final Autograph session of the season which will take place on the track at intermission.

August 31 HRW Automotive will present a full program of racing with Corr/Pak Sprints, Thunder Stocks, Mini Stocks, and Bombers as we say Goodbye to Summer. Making their third and final appearance will be the Stars Championship Tour North Dwarf Cars while the evening will conclude with a “Blindfold Race”.

Season Championship races are on tap September 3rd along with the starting positions for the “Village Pizza – Ohsweken Shootout” for the Corr/PAK Sprints when the Rochester Americans host the evenings action. The Vintage Race Cars will make their final appearance for 2010 while point races end for the Thunder Stocks, Mini Stocks, and Bombers. The final “Box Car” race of the season will also be hosted during intermission.

The speedway will be silent on September 10th as many of the sprint teams will be heading to Black Rock Speedway in New York for the resurrection of the Black Rock Nationals September 10th and 11th.

Ohsweken will roar back to life on Thursday, September 16th as ESSO Speedway Variety presents Fan Appreciation night as the Canadian Sprint Car Nationals weekend gets underway.

Friday, September 17th the 6th Annual Village Pizza – Ohsweken Shootout returns to headline the Night Before the Nationals. Along with twin 15 lap features for the Sprint Cars presented by Sit-N-Bull Construction and Village Café that guarantee the winners a starting position in the Saturday feature event, the Ohsweken Shootout provides an opportunity to see qualified cars from the sanctioning bodies compete head to head in a 10 lap showdown. The 4th Annual Dave MacLeod Memorial – Mr. Sprint Car Challenge is also scheduled to run on Friday night. The Bracket style elimination event to honour the life long competitor from the western New York region has become a fixture on the Friday night portion of Nationals weekend.

Then the season closes on Saturday, September 18th as the 6th Annual Canadian Sprint Car Nationals presented by Arrow Express takes to the speedway. In its five year history, the Canadian Nationals has provided some of the finest fields of competitors anywhere and has quickly become the flagship event of Ohsweken Speedway while ranking among the top events for 360 Sprint Cars in North America. This year paying $10,000 to win the Feature event has been expanded to 35 laps and the addition of two more starters will see thirty cars line up for the green flag. $700 will go to the last place finisher. As an added incentive for teams to compete again this year, a non Qualifiers Second Chance “Little Feature” will be presented by Riverside Bar & Grill which will see the winner locked into the 30th starting position of the Main Event. 

Several other sponsors have committed to return and support Ohsweken Speedway in a major way throughout the season including Zemco Speed Equipment, HRP Racing Products, Canton Racing Products, Saldana Racing Products, DMI, KING Racing Products, The Brakeman, Winters Performance, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, and Kinser Air Filters who combined will expand the Corr/Pak Sprint Car point fund to over $25,000 in cash and product. The renewal period for last year’s Reserved Seat ticket holders had now ended. Advanced Ticket Sales for all events where reserved seating will be utilized which include the World of Outlaws shows and the Canadian Nationals will open to the general public March 8th, Monday through Thursday during normal business hours at 1-888-720-7223. Please follow instructions to obtain your tickets as posted on the official website at www.ohswekenspeedway.com . Any questions should be directed to Cheryl or Ken Pelkie at (1-888) 720-7223 or email to pelkiekj@ebtech.net.

Until the sound of racing engines fill the spring air, Ohsweken Speedway will be taking part in several racing shows and static displays. The first two are coming up soon with the London area fans being able to stop by and visit with us at the CPT Racing Experience in the Agriplex Building at the Western Fair grounds January 15th & 16th. For more information visit their website at www.cptrace.com . The second event takes place in Toronto at the International Centre. The Canadian Motorsports Expo runs three days from January 22nd through the 24th. Both shows will feature the cars of Glenn Styres and the newest member of Tony Stewart Racing, Jessica Zemken who will be available to sign autographs throughout the events.