STYRES GETS BACK ON TRACK

Release by: ImageFactor.ca  Photos by: Dale Calnan

Brighton Speedway – July 9, 2005


The second half of the Southern Ontario Sprints 10th Anniversary season is now underway.  The Brighton Speedway had another full crowd on hand to view round nine of the sixteen race tour.  The night would have several ups and downs as it would see Glenn Styres finally get back to victory lane after three straight weeks of bent up race cars.  It would be a rough night however for a pair of SOS regulars.  Rookie Brian Lee found himself in the back stretch creek during hot laps after losing control of the car off of the second turn.  Title contender Jim Porter also found trouble as he flipped his car during the second qualifying heat.  Both were uninjured, but suffered evening ending damage to their cars.

Daryl Turford and John Watson would bring the 17 car field to the green flag for the 21 lap feature event.  The field rumbled into corner one on the opening lap but would quickly go yellow as Gary Evans spun in corner two.  Evans would get restarted and joined the tail of the field.  On the restart Daryl Turford grabbed the early lead and pulled out to a convincing advantage over the rest of the pack.

Turford ran a smooth, solid race after having rolled the car the previous evening at Ohsweken.  Daryl would pace the field for the opening laps and was as strong as his closest challengers Adam West, Glenn Styres and the Wilson's.  On lap 13 however Adam West made a move to the inside of Turford going into turn one.  As West was making the pass it was apparent something was wrong on the #93 car.  Turford would slow entering the second corner.  Mechanical problems would end a career run for the 'Mitchell Missile'.

On the restart Adam West and Glenn Styres raced into the first corner.  West was unable to hold the bottom line and the 'Ohsweken Flyer' moved passed the SOS point leader for the top spot.  Rick Wilson also slipped by West for a short time but was unable to hold onto the second position.  Both Kyle and Rick Wilson would battle with West for several laps while the leader Glenn Styres checked out.  

On lap 17 Kyle Wilson spun in the second corner and brought out the yellow flag.  This would set up a 4 lap shootout for the win.  However, Styres would easily pull ahead on the restart and and left the rest of the field fighting for second place.  West would hold on for second and pad his point lead while Rick Wilson, Ken Swan and John Watson would round out the top five.

Glenn thrilled the fans with a fence crawl after the victory.  "Adam couldn't hold his line into corner one and I got under him for the lead" said an excited Styres.  It was his fourth SOS win on the season and the tenth of his career pulling him to within 5 victories of all time leader Keith Dempster.  

Heat race victories went to Styres, John Watson and Rick Wilson. Ken Swan captured his first ever checkered flag in a 360 sprint car by winning the SOS Fan-Dash for Cash, sharing his victory with fan, Kyle McCann.

The next stop on the Southern Ontario Sprints 10th Anniverary Season Tour will be a doubleheader weekend at the Ohsweken Speedway on Friday July 22nd and the South Buxton Raceway on Saturday July 23rd.

Results: 19-car field

Pennzoil Heat
1. #0 – Glenn Styres, Ohsweken, ON; 2. #93 – Daryl Turford, Mitchell, ON; 3. #1a – John Riegling, Chatham, ON; 4. #71 – Craig Downie, Burlington, ON; 5. #17m - Charlie McCann, London, ON; 6. #5c - Chris Pyle, Cambridge, ON; DNS 7. #8 - Brian Lee - Kitchener, ON; DNS

Wiseco Heat
1. #26 – John Watson, St. Thomas, ON; 2. #16k - Kyle Wilson, Joyceville, ON; 3. #30 - Adam West, Ridgetown, ON; 4. #42s – Ken Swan, Lockport, NY; 5. #20 - Jeff Daniels, Chatham, ON;  6. #22 - Jim Porter, Grand Island, NY; DNF 

Kenetic Heat
1. #42w - Rick Wilson, Joyceville, ON;  2. #25 – Warren Mahoney, Lefroy, ON; 3. #17 – Gary Evans, Thorndale, ON; 4. #79 – Dick Mahoney, Newmarket, ON; 5. #10 - Bob Crawford, Sutton, ON; 6. #12 - Keith Dempster, Alton, ON;

Leaf Racewear Dash
1. #42s – Ken Swan; 2. #16k - Kyle Wilson; 3. #42w - Rick Wilson; 4. #0 - Glenn Styres; 5. #71 - Craig Downie; 6. #12 Willy Northcott; 7. #5c - Chris Pyle


Signet Tool A-Main
1. #0 - Glenn Styres; 2. #30 - Adam West; 3. #42w - Rick Wilson; 4. 42s - Ken Swan; 5. #26 - John Watson; 6. #79 - Dick Mahoney; 7. #25 - Warren Mahoney; 8. #71 - Craig Downie; 9. #12 - Keith Dempster; 10. #10 - Bob Crawford; 11. #1a - John Riegling; 12. #17m - Charlie McCann; 13. #16k - Kyle Wilson; 14. #17 - Gary Evans; 15. #20 - Jeff Daniels; 16. #5c - Chris Pyle; 17. #93 - Daryl Turford; 18. #22 - Jim Porter; 19. #8 - Brian Lee DNS;

Cortland Innovations Hard Charger Award - #42s Ken Swan