OHSWEKEN, ON – Two huge events are set to go at Ohsweken Speedway this week. NASCAR champion Tony Stewart will take on the best drivers from Ohsweken’s Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Car division on Monday, July 30, while the World of Outlaws Sprint Car series contests the “Six Nations Showdown” on Tuesday, July 31. Ohsweken’s weekly Lighthouse Tattoos Thunder Stocks, HRW Automotive Mini Stocks, and Pierced Parts Bombers will join the Sprint Cars on Monday, and the Modified Lite Stars International Championship Tour will support the World of Outlaws on Tuesday.
TONY STEWART AT OHSWEKEN: Tony Stewart’s return to Ohsweken has been one of the most highly-anticipated events of the Ontario racing season. He made his Ohsweken debut last year, finishing 3rd after starting 15th in a caution-free Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Car feature on July 26, 2011 . He decided to stay and race at Ohsweken the following night, and was rewarded with what he considers one of the highlights of his storied career – his first ever World of Outlaws Sprint Car series feature win.
Stewart’s illustrious racing career began on Indiana dirt tracks, and he has never forgotten his roots, despite unprecedented success in the highest echelons of racing. “Smoke” is the only driver with NASCAR, IndyCar, and USAC championships on his resume, and he was the first to win USAC’s “Triple Crown” – Silver Crown, Sprint Car, and Midget titles in the same season.
The Columbus, IN driver still competes regularly in dirt track events, despite his busy schedule not only as a NASCAR star, but team owner as well. His most recent dirt track start came on Saturday night at Eldora Speedway, where he took the lead with two laps to go and went on to win the Engine Pro NRA Invaders Sprint Car series feature. He also won another World of Outlaws feature on July 17 at Lernerville, Pennsylvania.
Stewart is also involved in dirt track racing in an ownership capacity, with involvement in several facilities including the famous Eldora Speedway, and owns several dirt track racing teams too, including those of Steve Kinser, and Donny Schatz.
CORR/PAK MERCHANDISING SPRINT CARS: Stewart will take on Ohsweken’s tough weekly Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Car teams in an event that pays full points towards their season championship, and $3,000 to the feature winner.
Chris Steele of Fenwick, Ontario leads the way for the local contingent at Ohsweken. He scored the first two feature wins of his Sprint Car career on , and leads Ohsweken’s own Glenn Styres in the Corr/Pak division standings. Styres cut into Steele’s points lead on Friday night when he claimed his third Corr/Pak win of the season, while Steele settled for a third place finish. Grimsby driver Travis Cunningham has two feature wins this year, and sits third in the standings, followed by Tom Huppunen of Fenwick, and Tecumseh, Michigan’s Dain Naida.
LIGHTHOUSE TATTOOS THUNDER STOCKS: Cambridge driver Wyatt Van Wart continues to enjoy a healthy lead in the Thunder Stock standings, but Wainfleet’s Jack Myers has held a hot hand lately, with three wins in the last four weeks. Myers is second in the standings, followed by Caledonia drivers Mike Thorne and Lee Winger, and the Niagara-region team of Devin Habiuk and Pete Reid.
HRW AUTOMOTIVE MINI STOCKS: Caledonia’s Mike Evers is still atop the Mini Stock standings, but his lead is now down to just 3 points heading into Monday’s race. Karl Sault of Dundas is currently in the runner-up spot, followed by the Burlington team of Mike Taylor and Mark Czuba, Ohsweken’s Steve Hess, and Hamilton driver Jason Lungaro.
PIERCED PARTS BOMBERS: Max Chechalk of Hamilton scored his fourth feature win of the season on Friday night, and extended his championship lead to 20 points over Carlisle’s Davey Boughton in the process. Hagersville driver Dusty DeBoer is third in the standings, followed by Jeremy May of Hamilton, and Ohsweken’s Brady Longboat.
WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SERIES: The World of Outlaws Sprint Car series regulars have been busy this season, with 45 events already in the record books. Their visit to Ohsweken ends a four race Canadian swing which also includes stops at Granby, Quebec, Drummondville, Quebec, and Cornwall, Ontario.
Minnesota driver Craig Dollansky heads to Ohsweken as the series points leader. “The Crowd Pleaser” holds a slim 14-point advantage over 20 time series champion Steve Kinser, followed by Joey Saldana, Sammy Swindell, and Donny Schatz. The top 5 drivers are seperated by just 49 points in one of the closest championship chases in series history.
The World of Outlaws Sprint Car series has competed at Ohsweken on six occasions since the inaugural event in 2007. Jason Sides won that first event on July 25, 2007, and also recorded wins at Ohsweken on July 29, 2009, and July 30, 2010. Jason Meyers won at Ohsweken on July 28, 2009, while Donny Schatz won on August 1, 2010, and Tony Stewart took the checkered flag on July 27, 2011.
MOD-LITE STARS CHAMPIONSHIP TOUR NORTH: The Mod-Lite tour has visited Ohsweken three times already this season, and Middleport, New York driver Derek Wagner has been in the Engine Pro Racing Winner’s Circle at the conclusion of two of those features. He enters Tuesday’s race as one of the favourites to win, along with Josh Sliter, Paul Klager, Shawn Sliter, and many more.
MEET SMOKE!: A special “Meet and Greet” with Tony Stewart will take place at Ohsweken Speedway on Monday, July 30 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The cost is $50, with wristbands on sale at 3:30 p.m. at a designated area near the Pit Entrance. Space is limited to 150, so don’t be late! You must present your Monday Night race ticket to be eligible to purchase a “Meet & Greet” wristband.
Ohsweken Speedway offers affordable, exciting, family entertainment just a short drive from many Mid-Western Ontario locations. Visit www.OhswekenSpeedway.com.
From Tommy Goudge
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