For Immediate Release - Ken Pelkie

The curtain fell on the 2007 Southern Ontario Sprint season Friday night at Ohsweken Speedway with their annual Championship Invitational event. Persistent drizzle early in the evening threatened to scrub the event however point leader going in to the event and track owner, Glenn Styres was determined to settle the championship run on the track. Styres and track crew worked feverishly to groom the speedway and almost two hours after the scheduled starting time, the track was race ready and the first heat race of the night emerged. With threatening weather still in the area, the sprint car portion of the program was hurried along and Styres, driving the Keith Dempster prepared Eagle chassis was declared the point champion when the checkers fell by virtue of his 3rd place finish.

Derek Jonathan and James Whittaker paced the field with Styres and Dempster making up the second row. Derek Jonathan gained the advantage at the drop of the green and led the first half dozen circuits before giving way to Kyle Patrick. Patrick would not be tested significantly over the rest of the distance as Kevin Job closed on the final lap but could not muster a serious challenge. Dempster followed Styres home in fourth with Jamie Collard rounding out the top five. Dick Mahoney, Derek Jonathan, Joe Middlemiss, Joel Lehman, and Bob Crawford completed the top ten.
The race was slowed by several cautions and one red flag for Mike Ferrell as contact with the turn one wall heavily damaged the 15.

Heat races were won by Derek JONATHON, Glenn STYRES and Keith DEMPSTER. 

Next the Southern Ontario Sprints will return to Ohsweken Speedway September 14 & 15 to take part in the 3rd Annual Canadian Sprint Car Nationals presented by Arrow Express. Friday night’s program takes place at 8:00 PM and will feature the inaugural “Dave McLeod - Mr. Sprint Car Challenge” along with a full program of sprint and Mini Stock Racing. Then at 7:00 PM Saturday, the 3rd Annual Canadian Sprint Car Nationals will go 30 laps to see who collects the $7,000 top prize.

For all of the latest news and year end awards banquet information on the Southern Ontario Sprints be sure to log on to the official website at HYPERLINK "http://www.southernontariosprints.com" www.southernontariosprints.com . 

Results: 19 cars in Pit

Heat #1
1/ 81 - Derek JONATHON, Lockport, NY 
2/ 25 - Warren MAHONEY, Lefroy, ON 
3/ 21X - Kevin JOB, Campbellville, ON 
4/ F37 - Jamie COLLARD, Princeton, ON 
5/ 24 - Bob McDONALD, Woodstock, ON 
6/ 10m - Rob MIDDLEMISS, St. Catherines, ON 
7/ 71 - Craig DOWNIE, Burlington, ON (DNS) 

Heat #2
1/ 0 - Glenn STYRES, Ohsweken, ON 
2/ 79 - Dick MAHONEY, Newmarket, ON 
3/ 33K - Kyle PATRICK, Tilbury, ON 
4/ 29 - Daryl TURFORD, Mitchell, ON 
5/ 15 - Mike FERRELL, London, ON 
6/ 20 - Jeff DANIELS, Chatham, ON 


Heat #3
1/ 5 - Keith DEMPSTER, Alton, ON
2/ 11 - Joe MIDDLEMISS, St. Catherines, ON 
3/ 83 - James WHITTAKER, Lynden, ON 
4/ 10 - Bob CRAWFORD, Sutton, ON 
5/ 4Z - Joel LEHMAN, Guelph, ON 
6/ 21J - John BURBRIDGE, Simcoe, ON(DNS) 


“A” MAIN
1/ 33K - Kyle PATRICK (8) 
2/ 21X - Kevin JOB (9) 
3/ 0 - Glenn STYRES (3) 
4/ 5 - Keith DEMPSTER (4) 
5/ F37 - Jamie COLLARD (10) 
6/ 79 - Dick MAHONEY (6) 
7/ 81 - Derek JONATHON (2) 
8/ 11 - Joe MIDDLEMISS (7) 
9/ 4Z - Joel LEHMAN (15) 
10/ 10 - Bob CRAWFORD (12) 
11/ 24 - Bob McDONALD (13) 
12/ 25 - Warren MAHONEY (5) 
13/ 71 - Craig DOWNIE (19) 
14/ 10m - Rob MIDDLEMISS (16) 
15/ 83 - James WHITTAKER (1) 
16/ 15 - Mike FERRELL (14) 
17/ 21J - John BURBRIDGE (18) 
18/ 29 - Daryl TURFORD (11) 
19/ 20 - Jeff DANIELS (17) 

** NOTE ** The #21x was disqualified following post race inspection.

Grisdale Racing Products winner - Derek Jonathon