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BROWN WINS 20TH SEASON OPENER AT BRIGHTON SPEEDWAY

By Greg Calnan

BRIGHTON, ON (Saturday, May 16, 2015) The 20th season of racing for the Southern Ontario Sprints got underway at Brighton Speedway and was a night to remember. Mitch Brown used determination, a fast racecar and a little good fortune to capture the win.

Paul Pekkonen and defending series champion Glenn Styres led the 21 car field to the green flag in the 25 lap feature. Styres quickly took the lead, while Mitch Brown jumped from his sixth start position to third on the opening lap.

The first two cautions of the event came on laps 3 and 12 for spins by Bob Crawford and Keith Dempster. Brown would use the second restart to his advantage and moved by Pekkonen for the second position. From there he set his sights on Styres and followed closely in his tire tracks before Dain Naida and Rick Wilson made contact on lap 14. Wilson’s car was sent airborne and rolled violently in the fourth turn before coming to a rest in the infield. Neither driver was injured in the accident.

Brown would continue his pursuit of Styres on the restart with Charlie Sandercock and Parker Price-Miller giving chase. On lap 21 the race took a drastic change as a pair of lapped cars tangled in corner one just as the leaders approached. Styres turned abruptly in an attempt to avoid the incident, but slammed into the stopped car of Alex Hill. Brown managed to drive around the scene and claim the lead.

A pair or late race restarts proved no challenge for the Brantford, Ontario native as Brown powered his way to his first win of the season and fourth win in the past seven races at Brighton Speedway. 16 year old Price-Miller was second while Sandercock finished third.

“I couldn’t have done it without these three guys that travelled with me tonight� said Brown as he referred to his father Doug, brother Jake and crew chief Nick Christensen. The win gives the driver of the #10B the early point lead as the series turns to Humberstone Speedway on Sunday, May 17th, 2015.

Notes: Justin Martin flipped his car in hot laps, but was able to race the heat with a backup car. He later withdrew and did not compete in the feature. Jim Munsie scratched for the evening do to mechanical issues. Heat winners were Warren Mahoney, Rick Wilson and Glenn Styres.

ENTRY LIST (23 Entries)

0 Glenn Styres – Ohsweken, ON
01 Kyle Fraser – White Lake, ON
5 Keith Dempster – Alton, ON
7m Justin Martin - Rodney, ON
9 Jim Munsie – Pickering, ON
10B Mitch Brown – Brantford, ON
10C Bob Crawford – Sutton, ON
11J Chris Jones – Picton, ON
11T Jamie Turner – Caistor Centre, ON
15 Mike Ferrell – London, ON
15AW April Wilson – Joyceville, ON
19 Cory Turner – Caistor Centre, ON
22 James Thompson - St. Catharines, ON
25 Warren Mahoney – Lefroy, ON
42W Rick Wilson – Joyceville, ON
57 Charlie Sandercock – Carrying Place, ON
66 Frank Baranowski – Mount Hope ON
71s Shawn Sliter – Port Colborne, ON
77 Dain Naida - Tecumseh, MI
77P Parker Price-Miller - Kokomo, IN
77x Alex Hill - Ohsweken, ON
91 Ryan Turner - Caistor Centre, ON
98 Paul Pekkonen – Brockville, ON

HEAT 1 (8 Laps – Top 3 Redraw)

1. 25 Warren Mahoney
2. 11J Chris Jones
3. 98 Paul Pekkonen
4. 77P Parker Price-Miller
5. 71s Shawn Sliter
6. 7m Justin Martin
7. 77x Alex Hill
8. 10 Bob Crawford

HEAT 2 (8 Laps - Top 3 Redraw)

1. 42w Rick Wilson
2. 77 Dain Naida
3. 11 Jamie Turner
4. 5 Keith Dempster
5. 15aw April Wilson
6. 91 Ryan Turner
7. 15 Mike Ferrell (DNS)

HEAT 3 (8 Laps - Top 3 Redraw)

1. 0 Glenn Styres
2. 57 Charlie Sandercock
3. 10B Mitch Brown
4. 19 Cory Turner
5. 66 Frank Baranowski
6. 22 James Thompson
7. 01 Kyle Fraser (DNF)
8. 9 Jim Munsie (DNS)

 

FEATURE (25 Laps) [Starting Position]

1. 10B Mitch Brown [6]
2. 77P Parker Price-Miller [10]
3. 57 Charlie Sandercock [7]
4. 11J Chris Jones [9]
5. 98 Paul Pekkonen [1]
6. 11T Jamie Turner [4]
7. 25 Warren Mahoney [5]
8. 77 Dain Naida [8]
9. 5 Keith Dempster [11]
10. 19 Cory Turner [12]
11. 01 Kyle Fraser [16]
12. 15aw April Wilson [14]
13. 66 Frank Baranowski [15]
14. 77x Alex Hill [21]
15. 71s Shawn Sliter [13]
16. 0 Glenn Styres [2]
17. 10 Bob Crawford [17]
18. 91 Ryan Turner [19]
19. 22 James Thompson [20]
20. 42w Rick Wilson [3]
21. 15 Mike Ferrell [18]
    DNS – Justin Martin, Jim Munsie.

The Southern Ontario Sprints would like to thank their 2015 partners: Klotz Synthetic Lubricants, The National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum, ImageFactor.ca, Kreitz Oval Track Parts, and OnDirt.ca

Find The Southern Ontario Sprints online at: www.southernontariosprints.com
Follow The Southern Ontario Sprints on Twitter: @sossprints
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