SOS - For immediate release: Bill Oldroyd - Ohsweken Speedway – May 27, 2005 - ‘Friday Night Thunder’ at Ohsweken Speedway was not just a slogan this past Friday as the Southern Ontario Sprints 10th Anniversary season returned to the ‘Big O’ under threatening skies. However, the weather conditions did but distract track owner, Glenn Styres aim at yet another SOS victory. For the 2nd time this season and the 8th time in his career, Styres came home victorious in the SOS Feature event of the night.

Gary Evans of Thorndale paced the 20-car field to the green but on lap one the race was red-flagged when Warren Mahoney from Lefroy lost control in turn three and flipped off the track. The Mahoney car eventually came to rest beside the large packing machine giving the veteran driver a real scare. Fortunately Mahoney was not injured in the crash.

When the race was restated, Belle River’s Jack Pillon immediately jumped into the lead. Veteran race driver Fred Cade, making only his 3rd start in a sprint car, moved up quickly from this 7th place starting position to set claim on the 3rd spot. Cade started his racing career in ASA competing against the likes of Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin. More recently he has competed in the Dirt Modified division.

Another driver making an early move was the current SOS points leader, Adam West. The Ridgetown native started the Feature in 12th but by lap three had already move up to 5th position. The second caution of the night flew on lap six when rookie Andrew Reaume of Blenheim, spun in turn three. This was Reaume’s first race in a sprint car. The top five at this point in the race were Pillon, Cade, West, Dick Mahoney from Newmarket and Craig Downie of Burlington.

The caution would fly again on lap 10 for debris. At this point in the event, Styres was beginning to make his way towards the top spot. Styres, who started the Feature in 11th, was now inside the top five in 4th place while the Eldarodo Logistics machine of Pillon was still in command on the event.

Pillon’s hope of his first Feature victory were dashed on lap fifteen when he spun in turn two attempting to hold off a charging West. This handed the lead to West with Styres now up to 2nd. Running in the third position and having a great run was Jim Porter for Grand Island, NY. Porter started the Feature back in 18th place. Cade was still running strong in 4th with Mark Schulz of Newfane, NY sitting in the 5th position. Schultz is off to a great start in this young season.

West held the lead for a couple of laps but Styres took over the top spot with only a few laps remaining. The last caution of the night came on lap eighteen when a disappointed Porter spun dropping him deep in the field for the restart. This gave another rookie driver his first opportunity at a top-five finish. John Watson of St Thomas had never finished a Feature race in his brief career. On this night he started the Feature in the seventeenth position and ran a very steady race. At the mid-point of the event he was in the 10th position and would make the final restart of the night in 7th.

When the 21-lap Feature was completed, Styres found himself in victory lane, followed by West, Schulz, Cade and Watson who did get his first-ever top 5 finish.

Heat race winners were Pillon, West and Schulz with Pillon also taking the Dash for Cash.

The 10 Anniversary tour will continue with a double-header weekend on June 10th & 11th. The SOS will return to Ohsweken Speedway, Friday June10th. Then on Saturday June 11th, the SOS will make the tow back to Brighton Speedway for a double-Feature make-up from opening day.

Results: 22-car field

Leaf Racewear Heat
1. #18j – Jack Pillon, Belle River, ON; 2. #0 – Glenn Styres, Ohsweken, ON; 3. #17 – Gary Evans, Thorndale, ON; 4. #79 – Dick Mahoney, Newmarket, ON; 5. #17m – Charlie McCann, London, ON; 6. #12 – Willy Northcott, London, ON; dns. #20 – Jeff Daniels, Chatham, ON

Signet Tool Heat
1. #30 – Adam West, Ridgetown, ON; 2. #71 – Craig Downie, Burlington, ON; 3. #10 – Bob Crawford, Sutton, ON; 4. #93 – Daryl Turford, Mitchell, ON; 5. #8 – Brian Lee, Kitchener, ON; 6. #33 – Jamie Collard, Princeton, ON; 7. #22 – Jim Porter, Grand Island, NY

Pennzoil Heat
1. #32 – Mark Schulz, Newfane, NY; 2. #12c – Fred Cade, Niagara Falls, ON; 3. #25 – Warren Mahoney, Lefroy, ON; 4. #42s – Ken Swan, Lockport, NY; 5. #40t – Andrew Reaume, Blenheim, ON; 6. #26 – John Watson, St. Thomas, ON; 7. #75 – Jim Sweers, Westover, ON; 8. #27h – Tom Huppunen, Fenwick, ON

Kenetic Dash
1. #0 – Glenn Styres; 2. #18j – Jack Pillon; 3. #32 – Mark Schulz; 4. #30 – Adam West; 5. #71 – Craig Downie

Wiseco Feature
1. #0 – Glenn Styres; 2. #30 – Adam West; 3. #32 – Mark Schulz; 4. #12c – Fred Cade; 5. #26 – John Watson; 6. #79 – Dick Mahoney; 7. #22 – Jim Porter; 8. #10 – Bob Crawford; 9. #18j – Jack Pillon; 10. #33 – Jamie Collard; 11. #17 – Gary Evans; 12. #40t – Andrew Reaume; 13. #17m – Charlie McCann; 14. #12 – Willy Northcott; 15. #75 – Jim Sweers; 16. #8 – Brian Lee; 17. #71 – Craig Downie; 18. #27h – Tom Huppunen; 19. #93 – Daryl Turford; 20. #25 – Warren Mahoney
dns - #20 – Jeff Daniels, #42s – Ken Swan

Leaf Racewear Award – Mark Schulz

Inside Canadian Racing “Newsmaker of the Race” Award – John Watson

Cortland Innovations “Hard Charger” Award – John Watson