Ohsweken Speedway – June 4, 2004

Long-time Southern Ontario Sprints competitor and 1997 series champion, John Riegling of Chatham, Ontario captured the feature at Ohsweken Speedway, Friday, June 4th and lead every lap in the process.  Riegling found himself sitting in victory lane at the same track that had ended his season one year ago when he had a violent crash coming out of turn four that destroyed his race car.  This was the forth round of the season for the SOS and there has yet to be a repeat winner.

Riegling started the feature race on the pole with rookie, Jack Pillon from Belle River, Ontario along side.  At the drop of the flag, Riegling jumped into the lead with Pillon following a close second.  During the first few laps, Riegling was able to open up a bit of a gap however an early caution would close up the field.

On the restart, Riegling again jumped into the lead and began to pull away.  However, the battle for positions back in the field was intense.  Young Cody Geldart of Mossley, Ontario started in the eight position and was quickly making his way towards the front.  Other drivers that were on the move were last week’s feature winner Keith Dempster from Alton, Ontario, Glenn Styres of Ohsweken and Warren Mahoney from Lefroy, Ontario.

At the mid-point in the race, Riegling was still in control however; Geldart, Styres and Mahoney had all cleared the balance of the field and had their sights on the top spot.  Sanborn, NY driver, Curt Sherwood was hanging onto fifth and would eventually finish a respectable seventh, driving the entire race with no power steering.  Pillon was still running a strong race sitting in sixth place.  He would finish the feature in ninth place and increase his lead in the Rookie of the Year battle.

A couple more cautions would bunch up the field but Riegling would time his move on the restart perfectly each time and open up a gap between himself and Styres, who was now running in the second position.  Styres closed the gap down to about two car lengths at the drop of the checkered flag giving Riegling his first victory in five years.  Geldart would take the last podium position with Mahoney finishing forth and Billy Krull of Wheatfield, NY making a late race charge to finish in fifth.

A note of interest, Dick Mahoney who had a very serious crash one week ago, destroying his race car, was back in his old car and was able to take home a top ten finish.

Heat race wins on this night would go to Styres, Geldart and Warren Mahoney.  The Dash format was modified for this event to give the rookies some track time and a chance to sit in victory lane.  Rookie of the Year leader, Pillon proved his worth by taking the checkered in a very well run event.  Pillon started the night off with a strong heat race as well with a second place finish.  He held the top spot for more than half the race with only Styres able to pass the young driver.

Next up the series travels to Brighton Speedway for the second night of their first double header of the season.

Signet Tool Heat

1. #0 – Glenn Styres, Ohsweken, ON; 2. #18j – Jack Pillon, Belle River, ON; 3. #21 – Tim Phillips, Grand Island, NY; 4. #10 – Bob Crawford, Sutton, ON; 5. #93 – Daryl Turford, Stratford, ON; 6. #12 – Willy Northcott, London, ON; dns #99 – Al Gaukel, Cambridge, ON

Wiseco Heat

1. #6 – Cody Geldart, Mossley, ON; 2. #5 – Keith Dempster, Alton, ON; 3. #79 – Dick Mahoney, Newmarket, ON; 4. #32 – Mark Schulz, Newfane, NY; 5. #33 – Jamie Collard, Princeton, ON; 6. #18 – Stephanie Christiano, Tonawanda, NY

Kenetic Heat

1. #25 – Warren Mahoney, Lefroy, ON; 2. #1a – John Riegling, Chatham, ON; 3. #31 – Curt Sherwood, Sanborn, NY; 4. Billy Krull, Wheatfield, NY; 5. #30 – Adam West, Ridgetown, ON; 6. #17 – Gary Evans, Thorndale, ON; dns #75 – Jim Sweers, Westover, ON

Leaf Racewear Dash

1. #18j – Jack Pillon; 2. #17 – Gary Evans; 3. #12 – Willy Northcott; 4. #18 – Stephanie Christiano; 5. #75 – Jim Sweers; 6. #33 – Jamie Collard

Pennzoil Feature

1. #1a – John Riegling; 2. #0 – Glenn Styres; 3. #6 – Cody Geldart; 4. #25 – Warren Mahoney; 5. #7 – Billy Krull; 6. #5 – Keith Dempster; 7. #31 – Curt Sherwood; 8. #30 – Adam West; 9. #18j – Jack Pillon; 10. #79 – Dick Mahoney; 11. #21 – Tim Phillips; 12. #33 – Jamie Collard; 13. #93 – Daryl Turford; 14. #12 – Willy Northcott; 15. #18 – Stephanie Christiano; 16. #17 – Gary Evans; 17. #10 – Bob Crawford; 18. #32 – Mark Schulz; 19. #75 – Jim Sweers

Did not start #99 – Al Gaukel  

LEAF RACEWEAR AWARD - Cody Geldart