Photo Credit: Dale Calnan - Image Factor Photography
By Greg Calnan (Sunday, June 5, 2016) – Rain was the headline story of the first Southern Ontario Sprints doubleheader weekend of the season. Saturday’s stop at South Buxton Raceway in Merlin, Ontario was washed away while a large weather system threated the event at Humberstone Speedway in Port Colborne, Ontario on Sunday. A brief shower delayed the start of the race program however the clouds parted and the entire program was completed. In the end Ryan Susice of Ransomville, New York claimed his first win.
Dylan Westbrook and Cory Turner lead the field to the green flag in the 20 lap main event. Turner jumped out to the early lead while Westbrook and Ryan Susice raced side by side for the second spot.
On lap four Westbrook grabbed the lead momentarily before going over the berm in corner two allowing both Turner and Susice to get by. As the top two drivers broke away Susice set up the pass and got by Turner for the lead on lap six.
Just two cautions slowed the event. Westbrook would overtake Turner for the second position leaving Cory to battle with father Jamie for third. The two raced side by side over the final laps while race leader Susice cruised to the win. Westbrook was second while Jamie, Cory and Ryan Turner completed the top five.
“We felt like this was a long time coming, even though we haven’t been racing sprints for very long” said an excited Susice. The win was his first with the Southern Ontario Sprints and first in a 360 Sprint Car.
The Southern Ontario Sprints continue their 2016 season on Saturday, June 18th at Brighton Speedway in Brighton, Ontario.
SOUTHERN ONTARIO SPRINTS RACE REPORT
2016 SEASON EVENT #1 – SATURDAY, MAY 21, 2016
BRIGHTON SPEEDWAY – BRIGHTON ON
ENTRY LIST
(Number Name – Hometown)
01Jr Barry Beck Jr. – Port Colborne ON
9 Steve Lyons – Carlisle ON
11t Jamie Turner – Caistor Centre ON
18 Ryan Susice – Ransomville NY
15 Mike Ferrell – London ON
27z Stan Zanchin – Fort Erie ON
43 Scott Sherk – Port Colborne ON
47x Dylan Westbrook – Oakland ON
66 Frank Baranowski – Mount Hope ON
71s Shawn Sliter – Port Colborne ON
77x Alex Hill – Six Nations ON
91 Ryan Turner – Caistor Centre ON
97 Cory Turner – Caistor Centre ON
HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps – Top 3 redrew for A-Feature starting positions)
Finish. Number Name (Starting Position)
1. 11 Jamie Turner (1)
2. 47x Dylan Westbrook (5)
3. 18 Ryan Susice (7)
4. 91 Ryan Turner (4)
5. 2 Lee Winger (6)
6. 27z Stan Zanchin (3)
7. 66 Frank Baranowski (2)
HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps – Top 3 redrew for A-Feature starting positions)
Finish. Number Name (Starting Position)
1. 97 Cory Turner (3)
2. 77x Alex Hill (4)
3. 71s Shawn Sliter (5)
4. 9 Steve Lyons (1)
5. 15 Mike Ferrell (6)
6. 01jr Barry Beck (7)
DNS 43 Scott Sherk
FEATURE (20 laps)
Finish. Number Name (Starting Position)
1. 18 Ryan Susice (3)
2. 47x Dylan Westbrook (1)
3. 11 Jamie Turner (6)
4. 97 Cory Turner (4)
5. 91 Ryan Turner (7)
6. 71s Shawn Sliter (2)
7. 9 Steve Lyons (8)
8. 77x Alex Hill (5)
9. 2 Lee Winger (9)
10. 27z Stan Zanchin (11)
11. 43 Scott Sherk (13)
12. 15 Mike Ferrell (10)
13. 66 Frank Baranowski (12)
14. 01jr Barry Beck (14)
A-Feature Lap Leaders – Cory Turner (1-3, 5), Dylan Westbrook (4), Ryan Susice (6-20)
Hard Charger – Jamie Turner (+3)
2016 SEASON FEATURE WINNERS:
Mitch Brown – 1 (Brighton May 21), Ryan Susice – 1 (Humberstone June 5)
UP NEXT:
Brighton Speedway – Saturday, June 18th, 2016
About the Southern Ontario Sprints: Founded in 1996, the Southern Ontario Sprints series is a traveling winged 360 Sprint Car tour based in Ontario, Canada. 2016 marks the 21st year of operation for the Southern Ontario Sprints, brought to you this season by The National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum,www.ImageFactor.ca, and www.OnDirtRacingNews.com
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Twitter: @SOSsprints
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