WEST AND WILSON HEAT UP THE NIGHT AT BRIGHTON SPEEDWAY

Bill Oldroyd


Brighton Speedway – June 11, 2005


A huge crowd and steamy weather greeted the Southern Ontario Sprints as they returned to Brighton Speedway for the second time this season. But before round six of the 10th Anniversary tour could begin, the battle from the season opener, which had to be postponed, was to be settled first.



The current SOS points leader, Adam West of Ridgetown, entered this event having never visited victory lane with an SOS Feature win. All this was about to change as the bridesmaid was about to become the third different driver to see the checkers this season.



As West stood before the cameras he commented “I’m shaking all over with excitement. I can’t believe I finally got my first Feature win”



West started the Feature on the inside of the second row but before lap one was completed, he had already taken over the top spot. Joyceville’s Kyle Wilson, also made his move quickly coming from his fifth starting position to take over second place by lap two.



The first caution flew on lap two when Dick Mahoney from Newmarket got out of shape in turn four. On the restart, West and Wilson stayed glued together as they would for most of the race. Former SOS Champion Glenn Styres also wanted a piece of the action as he closed in on the leaders. Jim Porter of Grand Island NY was in fourth with rookie John Watson from St. Thomas a close fifth.



At the mid-point of the race it was still West, Wilson and Styres heading the field. On lap twelve Porter would spin, dropping him back to the rear of the pack and handing fourth place to Watson. Veteran driver Charlie McCann from London found himself in fifth with a fine run up to this point.



Two late-race yellows would fly, both for Styres, whose car had become extremely loose on the changing track conditions. The West and Wilson battle would go right down to the checkered flag with West taking home his first career SOS Feature win. Wilson had to settle for second with Watson, who had a fine run, coming home in the third position. Dick Mahoney and Porter would round out the top five.


A special Dash for Cash was also run for those competitors that were not eligible for the first Feature. The winner of this Dash was fan-favourite, Rick Wilson from Joyceville.



Signet Tool Feature (Make-up from May 7, 2005)
1. #30 – Adam West, Ridgetown, ON; 2. #16k – Kyle Wilson, Joyceville, ON; 3. #26 – John Watson, St. Thomas, ON; 4. #79 – Dick Mahoney, Newmarket, ON; 5. #22 – Jim Porter, Grand Island, NY; 6. #10 – Bob Crawford, Sutton, ON; 7. #0 – Glenn Styres, Ohsweken, ON; 8. #17m – Charlie McCann, London, ON; 9. #71 – Craig Downie, Burlington, ON; 10. #17 – Gary Evans, Thorndale, ON; 11. #25 – Warren Mahoney, Lefroy, ON; 12. #8 – Brian Lee, Kitchener, ON; 13. #93 – Daryl Turford, Mitchell, ON





A strong field of twenty-one sprinters was in the pits to do battle for the second Feature of the night. Kyle Wilson, who had been fast all night, would come from his eleventh place on the grid to take home a convincing win in this, the sixth round of the SOS 10th Anniversary season.



McCann and Ken Swan of Lockport, NY led the field to the green flag with Swan taking the early lead. On lap two, the race was slowed for the only caution of the event when rookie Brian Lee of Kitchener, spun in turn two.



On the re-start, Swan held the lead with McCann in second and Jamie Collard from Princeton in third. By lap three, Styres had moved into the third spot coming from ninth on the grid. Two other drivers quickly moving forward were the father and son Wilson team.



On lap six, Kyle Wilson would take over the top position and, as they say, the rest is history. The young Wilson had the field covered for this race as he pulled out to over a half a lap lead. At the mid point of the race, Kyle Wilson was leading with his father, Rick Wilson now up to second. Collard was third with Swan in fourth and Mark Schulz from Newfane, NY in fifth.



Kyle Wilson crossed the line for the win with Schulz taking second and Styres coming home in third. Rick Wilson had to settle for a fourth place finish due to an infraction during the restart. Collard would take the fifth position, which put both MacLeod machines (Collard and Schulz) in the top five.



Heat race winners for this round included Kyle Wilson, Bob Crawford of Sutton and West. Styres, who was teamed up with fan Linda E. Harris, took the Fan-Dash for Cash.


Next up the SOS will take the 10th Anniversary tour to South Buxton Raceway on June 18th. This event will also be the first round of the SOS/SOD Can Am Challenge. For more information, be sure to visit the SOS Web Site at www.southernontariosprints.com



Results: 21-car field



Wiseco Heat
1. #16k – Kyle Wilson, Joyceville, ON; 2. #32 – Mark Schulz, Newfane, NY; 3. #42s – Ken Swan, Lockport, NY; 4. #33 – Jamie Collard, Princeton, ON; 5. #93 – Daryl Turford, Mitchell, ON; 6. #12c – Fred Cade, Niagara Falls, ON; 7. #17 – Gary Evans, Thorndale, ON



Kenetic Heat
1. #10 – Bob Crawford, Sutton, ON; 2. #0 – Glenn Styres, Ohsweken, ON; 3. #42w – Rick Wilson, Joyceville ON; 4. #26 – John Watson, St. Thomas, ON; 5. #25 – Warren Mahoney, Lefroy, ON; 6. #71 – Craig Downie, Burlington, ON; 7. #77 – Les MacMillan, Belmont, ON



Pennzoil Heat
1. #30 – Adam West, Ridgetown, ON; 2. #17m – Charlie McCann, London, ON; 3. #22 – Jim Porter, Grand Island, NY; 4. #79 – Dick Mahoney, Newmarket, ON; 5. #27h – Tom Huppunen, Fenwick, ON; 6. #12 – Willy Northcott, London, ON; 7. #8 – Brian Lee, Kitchener, ON



Signet Tool Dash
1. #0 – Glenn Styres; 2. #16k – Kyle Wilson; 3. #42w – Rick Wilson; 4. #32 – Mark Schulz; 5. #22 – Jim Porter; 6. #17m – Charlie McCann



Leaf Racewear Feature
1. #16k – Kyle Wilson; 2. #32 – Mark Schulz; 3. #0 – Glenn Styres; 4. #42w – Rick Wilson; 5. #33 – Jamie Collard; 6. #30 – Adam West; 7. #22 – Jim Porter; 8. #79 – Dick Mahoney; 9. #25 – Warren Mahoney; 10. #12c – Fred Cade; 11. #42s – Ken Swan; 12. #10 – Bob Crawford; 13. #27h – Tom Huppunen; 14. #17m – Charlie McCann; 15. #71 – Craig Downie; 16. #17 – Gary Evans; 17. #12 – Willy Northcott; 18. #77 – Les MacMillan; 19. #8 – Brian Lee; 20. #93 – Daryl Turford; 21. #26 – John Watson