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 t