WILSON & STYRES VICTORIOUS AT BRIGHTON SPEEDWAY LABOUR DAY CLASSIC WEEKEND

Bill Oldroyd

Brighton Speedway – September 3rd & 4th, 2005

The third annual Labour Day Classic Weekend at Brighton Speedway was once again a huge success. The stands were packed full of enthusiastic fans both days as they cheered for their favorite SOS drivers. The very popular ‘Joyceville Jet’ Rick Wilson captured victory on day one and then on day two, the 2003 SOS Champion, ‘Ohsweken Flyer’ Glenn Styres fought his way to the top spot on the podium.

Saturday, September 3, 2005

The current SOS Rookie of the Year leader, John Watson and Willy Northcott paced the field to the green flag for the first Feature of the weekend. Watson jumped into the early lead with Charlie McCann taking up chase from his third place starting position.

The first caution of the night came out on lap three when Gary Evans coasted to a stop on the back-stretch. On the re-start, Watson maintained his lead with McCann, Craig Downie, Daryl Turford and Styres rounding out the top five. Another driver on the move was Rick Wilson who started in the eleventh position. He passed Styres and then had a side-by-side battle for several laps with Turford. On lap eight, several drivers checked up in turn one with Turford and Wilson closing in fast. Turford had no place to go and came in contact with McCann. Turford was forced to retire with a damaged front axle. Downie was also forced pit side with an oil leak while running in the second position.

At the half way point in the race, Wilson was able to pass Watson to take over the lead with Styres, McCann and the current point’s leader Adam West rounding out the top five.

Styres then got passed Watson and took up the chase on Wilson. Several times Styres attempted to pass Wilson but each time Wilson was able to hold him off. A couple of late race cautions bunched the field but Wilson was able to hold on to take the victory on night one of the Labour Day Classic Weekend. Styres, Adam West, Watson and McCann rounded out the top five.

Craig Downie, who ran strong all weekend would take his first-ever, checked flag with the SOS when he won his Heat race. ‘Fast’ Freddy Cade also won his Heat race and took his first ever Fan-Dash for Cash win by holding off a hard-charging Rick Wilson. Cade shared his Dash victory with fan A.J. Taft. Wilson was also a Heat race winner on night one on the Classic.

Notes of interest: 

- John Watson unofficially captured the 2005 SOS Rookie of the Year title with his strong fourth place finish.

- Joe Middlemiss making his first appearance with the SOS and only his second night behind the wheel of a sprint car had a fine outing. He finished second in his Heat race, third in the Fan-Dash for Cash and eighth in the Feature.

- Warren Mahoney had a violent flip in his heat while leading the event but was able to bring out his back-up car to finish seventh in the Feature. Dick Mahoney also brought out the red flag when he and Cade made contact in turn two. All the drivers escaped injury.

Results: 20-car field

Leaf Racewear Heat
1. #12c – Fred Cade, Niagara Falls, ON; 2. #11m – Joe Middlemiss, St Catharines; 3. #0 – Glenn Styres, Ohsweken, ON; 4. #26 – John Watson, St. Thomas, ON; 5. #10 – Bob Crawford, Sutton, ON; 6. #17 – Gary Evans, Thorndale, ON; 7. #22 – Jim Porter, Grand Island, NY

Wiseco Heat
1. #71 – Craig Downie, Burlington, ON; 2. #30 – Adam West, Ridgetown, ON; 3. #93 – Daryl Turford, Mitchell, ON; 4. #12 – Willy Northcott, London, ON; 5. #6 – Dave Schulz, Barker, NY; 6. #16k – Kyle Wilson, Joyceville, ON; dns #69 – Garry Evans, London, ON

Kenetic Heat
1. #42 – Rick Wilson, Joyceville ON; 2. #79 – Dick Mahoney, Newmarket, ON; 3. #17m – Charlie McCann, London, ON; 4. #5c – Chris Pyle, Cambridge, ON; 5. #25 – Warren Mahoney, Lefroy, ON; dns #20 – Jeff Daniels, Chatham, ON

Pennzoil Dash
1. #12c – Fred Cade; 2. #42 – Rick Wilson; 3. #11m – Joe Middlemiss; 4. #93 – Daryl Turford; 5. #71 – Craig Downie; 6. #79 – Dick Mahoney

Signet Tool Feature
1. #42 – Rick Wilson; 2. #0 – Glenn Styres; 3. #30 – Adam West; 4. #26 – John Watson; 5. #17m – Charlie McCann; 6. #10 – Bob Crawford; 7. #25 – Warren Mahoney; 8. #11m – Joe Middlemiss; 9. #12c – Fred Cade; 10. #17 – Gary Evans; 11. #12 – Willy Northcott; 12. #5c – Chris Pyle; 13. #79 – Dick Mahoney; 14. #16k – Kyle Wilson; 15. #71 – Craig Downie; 16. #20 – Jeff Daniels; 17. #93 – Daryl Turford; 18. #6 – Dave Schulz

dns - #22 – Jim Porter; #69 – Garry Evans

Leaf Racewear Award – Glenn Styres

Inside Canadian Racing “Newsmaker of the Race” Award – Craig Downie