The Southern Ontario Sprints were in town on Friday night and put on a classic battle. No less than six drivers were in contention to win for most of the 20 lap feature. In the end it was Styres Racing driver Keith Dempster finding his way back to victory lane for the first time since May of 2004 at Ohsweken. Kyle Patrick was second while Warren Mahoney was third. In the Thunder Stock class point leader Brad Bacher and second place driver Glen Leinen both had troubles. Those problems led to Terry Osmond winning his first career feature. The finish also tightened up the division standings with the season slowly winding down. Meanwhile Dave Bailey notched another win in the Mini Stock class.

For Immediate Release - Ken Pelkie for the SOS

The Southern Ontario Sprints made their next to last appearance at Ohsweken Speedway Friday, August 10th with Keith Dempster shaking a three year long winless streak taking the “A” Main in convincing fashion. As the track returned to the smooth, fast, and dustless surface that it has been known for, Dempster modestly stood in victory lane and was joined by a jubilant Styres Racing crew who celebrated their first victory of the 2007 season.

“I can’t forget Dave McLeod who was my car owner one year ago” Dempster stated emotionally. “We lost him this past winter and I owe this win and my whole situation this year with Glenn to him”. Derek Jonathan and Bob Crawford paced the field to the green flag with Crawford getting the early lead as the feature event got underway. Crawford continued to lead for the first five circuits until Adam West took control of the point. The red flag waved on lap eight as Mark Swain made contact with second place Bob Crawford as he was being lapped at the exit of turn two. Swain flipped violently into the new catch fence and came to rest between the guard rail and fence, emerging from the ordeal uninjured. Crawford also retired from the event with enough damage to end his evening.On the restart, West again took control which he held until lap twelve. Dempster who had overhauled second place Jamie Collard one lap earlier, ducked under West as the two exited turn two. Dempster held on for the rest of the distance to take the win over Kyle Patrick, Warren Mahoney, Glenn Styres and Rob Pietz. West came across the line sixth followed by Empire Super Sprint star Alain Bergeron, Brad Malloy, Joe Middlemiss, and Fred Cade returning form a trip to the 360 Nationals in Knoxville, Iowa rounding out the top ten. 

Heat races were won by Jamie COLLARD, Derek JONATHON, Kyle PATRICK and Glenn STYRES. The B Main was won by Rob PIETZ. 

Next up the series will move to Brighton Speedway Saturday, Aug. 11th to complete the weekend. Come out to a speedway near you to be a part of the action as the series continues on it’s 2007 tour and for all of the latest news and information on the Southern Ontario Sprints be sure to log on to the official website at www.southernontariosprints.com. 

Results: 28 cars in Pit 

Heat #1
1/ 37 – Jamie COLLARD, Princeton, ON 
2/ 30 – Adam WEST, Ridgetown, ON 
3/ 69 – Garry EVANS, London, ON 
4/ 7 – Justin MARTIN, St. Thomas, ON 
5/ 12C – Fred CADE, Niagara Falls, ON 
6/ 21J – John BURBRIDGE, Simcoe, ON 
7/ 29 – Daryl TURFORD, Mitchell, ON 

Heat #2 
1/ 81 – Derek JONATHON, Lockport, NY 
2/ 20 – Jeff DANIELS, Chatham, ON 
3/ 11m – Joe MIDDLEMISS, St. Catherines, ON 
4/ 79 – Dick MAHONEY, Newmarket, ON 
5/ 25 – Warren MAHONEY, Lefroy, ON 
6/ 69P – Rob PIETZ, Port Colborne, ON 
7/ 14 – Bill BALDWIN, Coutice, ON 

Heat #3 
1/ 42 – Kyle PATRICK, Tilbury, ON 
2/ 5 – Keith DEMPSTER, Alton, ON 
3/ 94 – Stan ZANCHIN, Fort Erie, ON 
4/ 05 – Mark SWAIN, Port Perry, ON 
5/ 83 – James WHITTAKER, Lynden, ON 
6/ 5m – Brad MALLOY, Niagara Falls, ON 
7/ 15 – Mike FERRELL, London, ON 

Heat #4 
1/ 0 – Glenn STYRES. Ohsweken, ON 
2/ 10 – Bob CRAWFORD, Sutton, ON 
3/ 8b – Alain BERGERON, QC 
4/ 71JR – Jason PIETZ, 
5/ 19 – Dean HOFFMAN, St. Catherines, ON 
6/ 24 – Bob McDONALD, Woodstock, ON 
7/ 4Z – Joel LEHMAN, Guelph, ON 

B MAIN 
1/ 69P – Rob PIETZ 
2/ 5m – Brad MALLOY 
3/ 29 – Daryl TURFORD 
4/ 14 – Bill BALDWIN 
5/ 15 – Mike FARRELL 
6/ 21J – John BURBRIDGE (DNS) 
7/ 4Z – Joel LEHMAN (DNS) 

“A” MAIN 
1/ 5 – Keith DEMPSTER (5) 
2/ 42 – Kyle PATRICK (10) 
3/ 25 – Warren MAHONEY (18) 
4/ 0 – Glenn STYRES (7) 
5/ 69P - Rob PIETZ (21) 
6/ 30 – Adam WEST (6) 
7/ 8b – Alain BERGERON (11) 
8/ 5m – Brad MALLOY (22) 
9/ 11m – Joe MIDDLEMISS (9) 
10/ 12c – Fred CADE (17) 
11/ 20 – Jeff DANIELS (4) 
12/ 94 – Stan ZANCHIN (12) 
13/ 69 – Garry EVANS (8) 
14/ 79 – Dick MAHONEY (14) 
15/ 37 – Jamie COLLARD (3) 
16/ 81 – Derek JONATHON (1) 
17/ 71JR – Jason PIETZ (16) 
18/ 7 – Jason MARTIN (13) 
19/ 83 – James WHITTAKER (19) 
20/ 29 – Daryl TURFORD (23) 
21/ 10 – Bob CRAWFORD (2) 
22/ 05 – Mark SWAIN (15) 
23/ 19 – Dean HOFFMAN (20) 
24/ 14 – Bill BALDWIN (24)  

Grisdale Award winner - Joe Middlemiss