Styres Captures First SOS Feature of the Season

Bill Oldroyd

Ohsweken Speedway, May 20, 2005


Ohsweken Speedway was the scene for round two of the Southern Ontario Sprints 10th Anniversary season. Local favourite and track owner Glenn Styres, did not disappoint the large crowd on hand May 20th as he captured his first feature of the season and takes the early points lead in the hunt for the championship.

A total of 26 sprinters were on hand to take on the high-speed Ohsweken Speedway oval. “Cobra” Chuck Hebing from Ontario, NY, who is a regular with the Patriots Sprint Group and currently second in points with that series, was the first to retire for the evening. During hot laps, Hebing was exiting turn-four when a mechanical failure caused him to drive head-on into the front stretch wall and flip several times. His race machine was a write-off as everything from the radiator forward was ripped off his sprinter. Fortunately Hebing escaped without injury.

Craig Downie of Burlington paced the field to the green for the feature event of the evening and jumped into the early lead however two complete restarts were required for minor incidents. The first caution was brought out when Gary Evans from Thorndale had his sprinter come to a stop in turn two with mechanical problems. Jim Porter of Grand Island, NY also spun in turn four at the same time. The second caution flew when Jack Pillon had a spin exiting turn two on the restart.

When the Feature did get underway, Downie held the lead for several laps. This was the first time Downie had lead in a Feature race with the SOS. John Riegling of Chatham quickly jumped into second with Styres coming from his 8th starting position to take 3rd. Styres took over 2nd on lap three and set his sights on Downie. The tow battled for a few laps but Styres was able to dive under Downie in turn four to take the lead on lap six.

After the race Downie said to Styres “I thought I could race with you for a few laps but you quickly got away from me. I just didn’t have enough to stay with you.”

Adam West of Ridgetown who started in 7th made his way towards the front by getting past Riegling and Downie putting him in the 2nd position. Another driver having a good run was Brad Knab from Delevan, NY. Knab started the feature mid-pack and quickly move up in the field running in the top five most of the night.

Styres and West had to negotiate very heavy traffic as the race went green until lap eighteen. Pillon suffered mechanical problems and came to a stop in turn four bringing out the third caution on the night. On the restart, Dick Mahoney from Newmarket cut down a front left tire trying to avoid a spinning Bob Crawford of Sutton in turn two. As a result of the contact, Mahoney stalled, bring out the final caution of the night.

Styres held off a charging West during the last tow laps to take home his first victory of the young season. Riegling finished a strong third, sporting a new eye-catching paint scheme while Downie had a career best 4th place finish in his Ford–powered, JDH Rod and Custom sprinter.

Porter made a fine recovery from his first lap spin to battle back to a 5th place finish.

Heat race winners included Styres, Riegling and Pillon. Jack Pillon, who was teamed up with race fan Hugh McArthur, won the SOS Fan-Dash for Cash.


Results: 26 car field

Leaf Racewear Heat
1. #0 – Glenn Styres, Ohsweken, ON; 2. #25 – Warren Mahoney, Lefroy, ON; 3. #10 – Bob Crawford, Sutton, ON; 4. #22 – Jim Porter, Grand Island, NY; 5. #42s – Ken Swan, Lockport, NY; 6. #31 – Curt Sherwood, Sanborn, NY; 7. #17 – Gary Evans, Thorndale, ON;

dns - #6 – Dave Schulz, Barker, NY; #21c – Chuck Hebing, Ontario, NY

Wiseco Heat
1. #1a – John Riegling, Chatham, ON; 2. #79 – Dick Mahoney, Newmarket, ON; 3. #30 – Adam West, Ridgetown, ON; 4. #13 – Billy Coffey, Avon, NY; 5. #38 – Brad Knab, Delevan, NY; 6. #33 – Jamie Collard, Princeton, ON; 7. #93 – Daryl Turford, Mitchell, ON; 8. #26 – John Watson, St. Thomas, ON; 9. #42 – Fred Cade, Niagara Falls, ON

Kenetic Heat
1. #18j – Jack Pillon, Belle River, ON; 2. #71 – Craig Downie, Burlington, ON; 3. #86 – Jeremy Barnard, Albion, NY; 4. #32 – Mark Schulz, Newfane, NY; 5. #17m – Charlie McCann, London, ON; 6. #75 – Jim Sweers, Westover, ON; 7. #8 – Brian Lee, Kitchener, ON; 8. #20 – Jeff Daniels, Chatham, ON

Pennzoil Dash
1. #18j – Jack Pillon; 2. #0 – Glenn Styres; 3. #1a – John Riegling; 4. #25 – Warren Mahoney; 5. #79 – Dick Mahoney; 6. #71 – Craig Downie

Signet Tool Feature
1. #0 – Glenn Styres; 2. #30 – Adam West; 3. #1a – John Riegling; 4. #71 – Craig Downie; 5. #22 – Jim Porter; 6. #38 – Brad Knab; 7. #86 – Jeremy Barnard; 8. #10 – Bob Crawford; 9. #32 – Mark Schulz; 10. #42s – Ken Swan; 11. #33 – Jamie Collard; 12. #79 – Dick Mahoney; 13. #25 – Warren Mahoney; 14. #42 – Fred Cade; 15. #13 – Billy Coffey; 16. #17m – Charlie McCann; 17. #75 – Jim Sweers; 18. #8 – Brian Lee; 19. #18j – Jack Pillon; 20. #20 – Jeff Daniels; 21. #26 – John Watson; 22. #93 – Daryl Turford; 23. #31 – Curt Sherwood; 24. #17 – Gary Evans

dns #6 – Dave Schulz; #21c – Chuck Hebing



Leaf Racewear Award – Chuck Hebing

Cortland Innovations “Hard Charger” Award – Jeremy Barnard