OHSWEKEN SPEEDWAY: CORR/Pak vs. ASCS Challenge at Ohsweken - Friday, Aug. 20/10

By Tommy Goudge (Friday, August 20, 2010) - Dustin Daggett once again dominated at Ohsweken Speedway on Friday night, claiming the ASCS vs. Corr/Pak Sprint Car Challenge feature by more than five seconds over second place Travis Cunningham.  Larry Czinege, Jr. got his first career win in the ESSO Thunder Stock division, while Abel Castelein was the ESSO Mini Stock winner, and Jeremy Hughes won the Bomber feature.  The Tillsonburg Outlaw Mini Sprints also made an appearance at the track, with D.J. McRae and Kate Courtnage claiming feature wins.

ASCS VS. CORR/PAK SPRINT CAR CHALLENGE

Travis Cunningham and Bubba Broderick shared the front row for the twenty-five lap feature, and Travis Cunningham got out to the early lead while Dustin Daggett moved from fifth to third on the first lap.  Daggett moved by Broderick on lap four and set his sights on Cunningham out front, and Dave Dykstra got by Broderick for third on lap seven.

Cunningham was sticking to the bottom groove while Daggett worked the top side.  Daggett made his move for the lead around the outside on lap ten and immediately switched to the low groove to extend his lead.  The only stoppage of the race occurred on lap seventeen when Jared Zimbardi spun and did a slow rollover in turn four. 

The race restarted with two lapped machines between leader Daggett and second place Cunningham, and Daggett drove away on the restart to lead the rest of the way.  Cunningham settled for second, followed by Bryan Howland, Dykstra, and Broderick.

"We've found something that works here, and I don't know what we could have done to make the car any faster tonight," said Daggett in victory lane. "The thing was hooked up and on a rail.  The crew did a great job getting this thing ready. 

Cunningham was happy with second, highest finisher of Ohsweken's weekly Corr/Pak Merchandising division.

"I'm gonna get one, I promise," said the sophomore driver. "I just stuck to my game plan.  I stink up top, so run the bottom and hope she goes good."

Howland extended his points lead in the ASCS Patriot standings by finishing third while second place Jared Zimbardi had trouble.

"That's not really the way you wanna do it," said Howland afterwards. "When he's over here on his side, that's not the way you want to gain on points.  Jared's a good friend of mine so you don't want to see that, but by the same token it was a good run for us."

Heat races for the thirty-eight car field were claimed by Kyle Moffit, Jared Zimbardi, Bryan Howland, and Don Adamczyk.  Dain Naida and Glenn Styres claimed the B-Main victories.

ESSO THUNDER STOCKS

Rob Disher and Chris Dickie started the twenty lap Thunder Stock feature on the front row, but the rest of the field quickly got in on the fight for the lead.  Rookie driver Larry Czinege, Jr. looked like a veteran, making three-wide moves around the outside groove to take over the lead by lap five.

Czinege was pulling away from the rest of the field when the caution flag flew on lap seven for spins by Wyatt Van Wart and Derek Martin.  Czinege was never challenged the rest of the way, but the fight for second was a good one between Billy Bleich, Jamie Cox, Mike Thorne, and Lee Winger.  That contest was especially important for Cox and Bleich, who entered the night first and second in the point’s standings.

Czinege took the win, followed by Bleich, Cox, Thorne, and Ryan Dinning.

"I'm out of breath right now," said Czinege, after winning in just his third outing at Ohsweken.  "It was kind of nerve-wracking getting out front and then trying to hold it off.  I didn't know who was behind me, or how far ahead I was or anything, but I did it and here I am.  This is such a fun track to drive, it's unreal."

Heat races wins for the twenty-two car field went to Winger, Thorne, and Czinege.

ESSO MINI STOCKS

Ethan Martin and Rob Slater started the fifteen lap Mini Stock feature on the front row, but Slater spun in turn four on the first lap to bring out a caution flag.  When the green flag came back out, Abel Castelein quickly made his way to the front while recent winner Mike Taylor and division point’s leader Trevor Goulding gave chase.

Castelein stayed just far enough ahead for the rest of the way and got the feature win, while Taylor settled for second, followed by Craig Erskine, Goulding, and Steve Hess.

"I kept hearing noises out of this motor," said the former track champion. "I was surprised it lasted the whole race.  I knew if I made one mistake, somebody was going by."

Heat races for the twenty-three car field were claimed by Erskine, Taylor, and Mike Evers.

BOMBERS

Jeremy Hughes moved from fourth to the lead quickly in the twelve lap Bomber feature and got through heavy traffic to take the win.  Kacey Huffman finished second, followed by John Cote, Chris Cowell, and Sarah Rutherford.

Heat races for the twenty-four car field were claimed by Hughes and Dave Patton, while Trevor Roszell won the B-Main.

NEXT WEEK AT OHSWEKEN

HRW Automotive presents "Goodbye to Summer" next Friday, August 28. Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprints, ESSO Thunder Stocks, ESSO Mini Stocks, and Bombers are all part of round eleven of Friday Night Thunder, plus the Mod Lite Stars Championship Tour North division, and Blindfold Racing! Gates open at 6:00 with racing starting at 7:45!  Visit www.OhswekenSpeedway.com and Feel The Excitement!