by Tommy Goudge (June 14, 2008) - It had been over 2 full seasons since Glenn Styres visited victory lane in Southern Ontario Sprints competition, and the Ohsweken, Ontario resident made sure that streak didn't go any longer by winning Round #3 of the 2008 SOS season at Brighton Speedway. Styres, who is co-owner/promoter of the Ohsweken Speedway, last won an SOS feature at Brighton on May 6, 2006, and earlier this season ended his overall winless drought in weekly competition at Ohsweken.

Bob Crawford and Warren Mahoney led the field to the green flag to start the 20 lap feature, with Crawford taking the early lead. Styres quickly made his presence known, however, and made his way from the 5th starting spot into the lead after just 5 laps. Shortly after Styres took the lead, the race was slowed by the yellow flag as the 14 of Bill Baldwin came to a stop in turn 3 and retired for the night. 

Styres reasserted his lead on the restart and was never seriously challenged as the race went green the rest of the way, but behind him the race for 2nd was fast and furious. Mahoney passed Crawford for the position, but a hard charging Rick Wilson had made his way to the top 5 after starting 8th. Wilson and Mahoney staged an entertaining duel for the 2nd position during the last few laps of the race, with Wilson eventually prevailing, leaving Mahoney to settle for 3rd, followed by Keith Dempster, and Crawford. 

Chris Jones entered the night as the points leader and came home with a 6th place finish after starting 9th. Ryan Hunsinger, who made his first ever sprint car start at Brighton in 2001, came home 7th, followed by Adam West, Dick Mahoney, and Derek Jonathon.

Dempster entered the night just 7 points behind Jones, and unofficially emerged with the points lead, with Wilson also moving in front of Jones. The top 3 of Dempster, Wilson, and Jones are seperated by just 5 points as the SOS tour heads into its first doubleheader weekend of the season June 28 at South Buxton Raceway and June 29 at Humberstone Speedway.

NOTES:
- Heat race victories went to Ryan Hunsinger and Warren Mahoney. Hunsinger was very fast early in the evening, but couldn't muster the same speed come feature time as he slid from his 3rd starting spot to finish 7th.

- Daryl Turford and Derek Jonathon went for wild rides in their respective heat races. Turford was battling brake issues on the #29 and slid off the banking entering turn 3, rolling the car onto it's side after catching a berm in the grassy area outside the track. Turford was able to bolt on a spare wing borrowed from Dick Mahoney and compete in the feature. Jonathon made contact with the right rear of Mike Ferrell in turn 1 at the start of heat race #2 and flew over the banking, landing hard but fortunately on all 4 wheels in the grass outside turn 2. The #81 suffered damage to the left front and left rear, but the #81 crew was able to make repairs for the feature and come home with a top 10 finish.

- The 3rd place was Warren Mahoney's 2nd straight 'podium' finish after finishing 2nd at Brockville 2 weeks ago, and while he did not gain any positions in the points, Warren cut the gap between himself and the leader in half, from 28 to just 14. The feature win moved Styres up 4 spots in the standings as he is now 5th, 13 points behind Mahoney. Dempster, Mahoney, and Styres are all in contention to become the first 3 time champion in SOS history.

- An entertaining Dash for Cash sponsored by Rowley Electric saw Warren Mahoney and Glenn Styres battling side by side while Ryan Hunsinger and Dick Mahoney did the same, with Warren taking the victory.

Race Report - Saturday, June 14, 2008
Southern Ontario Sprints 2008 Season Event #3
Brighton Speedway - Brighton, Ontario

ENTRIES
0 Glenn Styres - Ohsweken
5 Keith Dempster - Alton
10 Bob Crawford - Sutton
11j Chris Jones - Demorestville
14 Bill Baldwin - Courtice
15 Mike Ferrell - London
15aw April Wilson - Joyceville
25 Warren Mahoney - Lefroy
29 Daryl Turford - Guelph
30 Adam West - Ridgetown
42w Rick Wilson - Joyceville
77x Ryan Hunsinger - Brantford
79 Dick Mahoney - Newmarket
81 Derek Jonathon - Lewiston, NY

HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps)
Finish. Number Name (starting position)
1. 77x Ryan Hunsinger (4)
2. 10 Bob Crawford (3)
3. 79 Dick Mahoney (5)
4. 30 Adam West (6)
5. 11j Chris Jones (7)
6. 15aw April Wilson (2)
7. 29 Daryl Turford (1)

HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps)
Finish. Number Name (starting position)
1. 25 Warren Mahoney (3)
2. 0 Glenn Styres (5)
3. 5 Keith Dempster (7)
4. 42w Rick Wilson (6)
5. 15 Mike Ferrell (1)
6. 14 Bill Baldwin (2)
7. 81 Derek Jonathon (4)

ROWLEY ELECTRIC DASH FOR CASH (4 laps)
Finish. Number Name (starting position)
1. 25 Warren Mahoney (2)
2. 0 Glenn Styres (1)
3. 79 Dick Mahoney (4)
4. 77x Ryan Hunsinger (3)

'A' FEATURE (20 laps)
Finish.. Number Name (starting position)
1. 0 Glenn Styres (5)
2. 42w Rick Wilson (8)
3. 25 Warren Mahoney (2)
4. 5 Keith Dempster (6)
5. 10 Bob Crawford (1)
6. 11j Chris Jones (9)
7. 77x Ryan Hunsinger (3)
8. 30 Adam West (7)
9. 79 Dick Mahoney (4)
10. 81 Derek Jonathon (14)
11. 29 Daryl Turford (13)
12. 15 Mike Ferrell (10)
13. 15aw April Wilson (11)
14. 14 Bill Baldwin (12)

Hard Charger: Rick Wilson (gained 6 positions)
Caution Flags: 1

UNOFFICIAL TOP 10 IN POINTS AFTER ROUND #3
Rank. Number Name Total (Positions Gained/Lost)
1. 5 Keith Dempster 454 (+1)
2. 42w Rick Wilson 450 (+1)
3. 11j Chris Jones 449 (-2)
4. 25 Warren Mahoney 440 (--)
5. 0 Glenn Styres 427 (+4)
6. 30 Adam West 411 (-1)
7. 10 Bob Crawford 399 (+3)
8. 79 Dick Mahoney 390 (-2)
9. 81 Derek Jonathon 378 (-1)
10. 29 Daryl Turford 333 (+1)

NEXT SOS RACE(S):
Saturday, June 28 @ South Buxton Raceway - South Buxton, Ontario
www.SouthBuxtonRaceway.com

Saturday, June 29 @ Humberstone Speedway - Port Colborne, Ontario
www.HumberstoneSpeedway.com

Please visit www.SouthernOntarioSprints.com for more information about the Southern Ontario Sprints. 2008 marks the 13th year of operation for the Southern Ontario Sprints, brought to you this season by Pennzoil, Wiseco Piston, Kenetic Photos, and www.ImageFactor.ca.