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Ferri Captures Ohsweken ODLM Race
In Dramatic Last Lap Finish |
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By James Baker
OHSWEKEN, ON, CANADA- August 29- Doug Ricotta's misfortune turned into Adam Ferri's glory in Friday night's "Ontario Dirt Late Models" event at Ohsweken Speedway.
After maintaining a dominant lead throughout the 25-lap feature, the hard-charging Ricotta took the white flag and appeared destined for an easy victory. But entering the first turn the Warsaw, NY driver encountered the lapped car of Paul Rivait.
The surprise encounter gave Ricotta little choice but to slide high between turns one and two, allowing Ferri to drive past the race leader.
Albeit late, that was the only opportunity that Ferri needed. After chasing Ricotta the entire race, Ferri capitalized on the mishap and coasted to the $2000 to win, final lap victory.
And the trip to victory lane was dramatic as well.
Although unexpected, Friday's triumph was a milestone victory for Ferri as he celebrated his 100th career win racing modifieds and late models. It was also the Port Colborne, ON driver's third career "Ontario Dirt Late Models" win with previous victories coming at Brighton(ON) Speedway in 2007 and the recent opening night win of the "Civic Holiday Challenge" at Merrittville Speedway in Thorold, ON.
Friday's event seemed to be destined as a "battle royale" between Ricotta and Ferri from the beginning. Both drivers won their heat races and started the main event on the front row.
Several caution flags slowed the pace in the early going of the race, including Rick Baker of Ridgeway, ON crashing hard into the front-stretch wall. Baker was uninjured but his car received heavy damage.
Upon resumption of the event, Ricotta found the outside groove of the racetrack to his liking, and built a sizeable advantage over Ferri. It appeared that Ricotta, who had previously won an "ODLM" race at Ohsweken in 2006, was on his way to his second career series victory.
But the best that Ricotta could do after his fateful, turn one encounter was hold on to second place ahead of a fast advancing Greg Oakes of Franklinville, NY. Jim Dale, Jr., the 2005 ODLM series champion form Shrewsbury, ON, finished fourth with Dale Glassford of Thamesville, ON fifth, Adam West of Ridgetown, ON sixth, Chris Ross of Wallaceburg, ON seventh, 2007 ODLM champion Rob Ledingham of Port Colborne, ON eighth, Joe Field of Chatham, ON ninth and 2003,2004 and 2006 ODLM champion Brad Authier of Chatham, ON tenth.
West, a top competitor with the "Southern Ontario Sprints," again turned in an sound performance in just his third effort behind the wheel of a late model. West also placed sixth in the "Civic Holiday Challenge" event at Humberstone Speedway in Port Colborne, ON.
Ledingham, the defending series champion, was making his first late model start of the season in the Stan Miskin Motorsports car.
Completing the 23-car field were Mike Lewis, Wallaceburg, ON, Don Gordon, Chatham, ON, Jeff Dayman, Welland, ON, Paul Rivait, Tilbury, ON, Chad Valone, Warren, PA, Brett Reaume, Blenheim, ON, Andrew Reaume, Blenheim, ON, Gregg Haskell, Chatham, ON, Keith Cameron, Tilbury, ON, Gerald Giroux, Pain Court, ON, Jeff Jardine, Dover Centre, ON, Rick Baker, Ridgeway, ON and Jason Haskell, Chatham, ON.
Ricotta, Ferri and Andrew Reaume were the heat winners.
While Ricotta was dejected after losing the feature win, his runner-up performance at Ohsweken vaulted him into the "Ontario Dirt Late Models" points lead with 305 points ahead of Oakes with 297 and previous points leader Ross with 292. Not far behind in the points chase are Ferri(285), West(267) and Valone(262).
Giroux received the "Humber Nurseries" of Brampton, ON "New to the ODLM Award." Co-winners of the "Thruway Muffler" of Port Colborne, ON "Hard Charger Award" were West and Ledingham.
In other Ohsweken Speedway action Friday evening, track owner Glenn Styres of Ohsweken, ON held off numerous challenges from Dave Dykstra to capture the sprint feature. Cody McPherson capped a championship season to win the thunder stock main event. Rick Robinson prevailed in the mini stocks with Lee Hils the "Friday Night Fun Stocks" victor.
The "Ontario Dirt Late Models" put the lid on their sixth season with a show at Brighton(ON) Speedway on Saturday, September 20. The Brighton race will pay $2000 to win, but the purse for the event has been dramatically enhanced by the efforts of Brampton, ON businessman Ron Piotrowski.
Piotrowski, the owner of the largest garden centre in Ontario, Humber Nurseries in Brampton, ON, has secured $3450 in lap money from Canadian businesses which will be distributed to ODLM drivers at Brighton.
The "Ontario Dirt Late Models" will crown their 2008 champion on Saturday, December 6 at the annual ODLM Awards Banquet and Christmas Party in Blenheim, ON.
Heat 1 (8 laps)
o1 Doug Ricotta
2v Chad Valone
4 Joe Field
Rh94 Jason Haskell
11 Paul Rivait
92c Keith Cameron
5 Jeff Dayman
7 Rob Ledinham
Heat 2
1F Adam Ferri
60 Dale Glassford
1A Brad Authier
22 Greg Oakes
33 Don Gordon
18R Chris Ross
92 Adam West
99 Gerald Giroux
Heat 3
88 Andrew Reaume
77 Brett Reaume
00 Jim Dale Jr.
78 Rick Baker
21 Gregg Haskell
05 Mike Lewis
28 Jeff Jardine
Feature Event (25 Laps)
1 - Adam Ferri
2 - Doug Ricotta
3 - Gregg Oakes
4 - Jim Dale Jr.
5 - Dale Glassford
6 - Adam West
7 - Chris Ross
8 - Rob Ledingham
9 - Joe Field
10 - Brad Authier
11 - Mike Lewis
12 - Don Gordon
13 - Jeff Dayman
14 - Paul Rivait
15 - Chad Valone
16 - Brett Reaume
17 - Andrew Reaume
18 - Gregg Haskell
19 - Keith Cameron
20 - Gerald Giroux
21 - Jeff Jardine
22 - Rick Baker
23 - Jason Haskell
Humber Nurseries New to ODLM Award - Gerald Giroux
Thruway Muffler Hard Charger Award - Adam West & Rob
Ledingham
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Final 2009
Standings |
| 1. |
22 |
Greg
Oakes |
437 |
| 2. |
18R |
Chris
Ross |
-16 |
| 3. |
28J |
John
Lobb |
-25 |
| 4. |
92 |
Adam
West |
-64 |
| 5. |
7 |
Jeff
Dayman |
-71 |
| 6. |
78 |
Rick
Baker |
-89 |
| 7. |
21 |
Gregg
Haskell |
-105 |
| 8. |
34 |
Jim
Jones |
-107 |
| 9. |
92c |
Keith
Cameron |
-111 |
| 10. |
94 |
Jason
Haskell |
-118 |
| more
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Bernheisel
Race Components
Rookie of the Year
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for Final 2009
Standings |
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