Ontario Dirt Late Models - ODLM
BOOM !!! Briggs Wins ODLM Civic Holiday Challenge at Humberstone
By James Baker
PORT COLBORNE, ON, CANADA- August 3- Rick "Boom" Briggs luck is getting
better in Canada.
The last time Briggs raced in Canada he took a wild ride, violently flipping
his Late Model several times during hot laps of a "World of Outlaws Late
Model Series" event at Cornwall (ON) Motor Speedway in June.
Sunday night the Bear Lake, PA native took a different kind of ride...a ride
to victory lane in the $2000 to win, Ontario Dirt Late Models "Civic Holiday
Challenge" finale at Humberstone Speedway. The win was the first career
"Ontario Dirt Late Models" victory for Briggs who was honoured in 2004 as
the "World of Outlaws Late Model Series Crew Chief of the Year" while
working for driver Chub Frank.
Briggs used some of his crew chief "set-up knowledge" at Humberstone as he
led 20-laps of the 30-lap main event.
Doug Ricotta of Warsaw, NY jumped out to the early lead and paced the field
for the first 10 laps. But on lap 11 a determined Briggs took control of the
race and never looked back.
Chad Valone of Warren, PA returned with a vengeance after breaking a drive
shaft in the series opener Saturday at Merrittville Speedway. Valone took
the runner-up spot with early leader Ricotta settling for third. Chris Ross
of Wallaceburg, ON and Greg Oakes of Franklinville, NY ran a strong fourth
and fifth respectively, but perhaps the best story of the evening was saved
for the sixth place finisher.
Finishing sixth was Adam West of Ridgetown, ON who was competing in just his
second-ever Late Model race. West, a veteran sprint car driver, is a regular
competitor with the "Southern Ontario Sprints." He was the organization's
2005 champion and finished fourth in a series event Saturday night before
arriving at Humberstone.
Completing the top ten were Dale Glassford (Thamesville, ON), 2005 and 2007
UMP Canadian Late Model champion Andrew Reaume (Blenheim, ON), Jeff Dayman (Welland,
ON) and Mike Lewis (Wallaceburg, ON).
Rounding out the field were Joe Field (Chatham, ON), Jim Jones (Chatham,
ON), Rick Baker (Ridgeway, ON), Keith Cameron (Tilbury, ON), Gregg Haskell
(Chatham, ON), Jason Haskell (Chatham, ON), 2005 ODLM series champion Jim
Dale, Jr.(Shrewsbury, ON), Saturday night's winner Adam Ferri (Port Colborne,
ON), Paul Rivait (Tilbury, ON) and Ed Carley (Freedom, NY).
Ricotta, Valone and Dale prevailed in the heat races.
The "Ontario Dirt Late Models" visit Ohsweken (ON) Speedway on Friday,
August 29. The series closes out its 2008 racing campaign at Brighton (ON)
Speedway on Saturday, September 20.
John Steckley contributed to this story.
"Civic Holiday Challenge"... Rick "Boom" Briggs, Chad Valone, Doug
Ricotta, Chris Ross, Greg
Oakes, Adam West, Dale Glassford, Andrew Reaume, Jeff Dayman, Mike Lewis,
Joe Field, Jim Jones,
Rick Baker, Keith Cameron, Gregg Haskell, Jason Haskell, Jim Dale, Jr., Adam
Ferri, Paul Rivait
and Ed Carley.
Ferri Captures Civic Holiday Challenge Opener at Merrittville
By James Baker
THOROLD, ON, CANADA- August 2- For many years Adam Ferri was a regular
competitor in the Sportsman and 358 Modified divisions at Merrittville
Speedway.
Saturday evening Ferri used that experience to his advantage, capturing the
$2000 to win, opening leg of the Ontario Dirt Late Models "Civic Holiday
Challenge" at Merrittville Speedway.
Much pre-race publicity shadowed the race. The show was the first-ever
appearance of the Ontario Dirt Late Models(Canada's only dirt Late Model
touring series) at the Erica Bicknell promoted facility, one of the most
professionally operated speedways in Canada.
It was however, the local favourite Ferri, from nearby Port Colborne, ON,
who stole all the thunder for the popular win.
Ferri's trip to victory lane was well-earned. The veteran of many Saturday
night battles at the Merrittville oval had to hold off the challenges of
Chris Ross to preserve the historic win.
And containing Ross is no easy task as the Wallaceburg, ON driver has
developed into one of Canada's most promising Late Model drivers this
season.
But there was no stopping Ferri Saturday night at Merrittville. The
converted open wheel driver was on a mission as he recorded his second
career Ontario Dirt Late Models victory.
Polesitter Ferri and Chad Valone diced back and forth for the lead in the
early-going of the 25-lap main event. By the fourth lap, Ferri had taken the
lead for good with Valone retiring to the infield with a broken drive shaft
on lap 11.
After a caution flag, Ferri and Ross separated themselves from the rest of
the field on the restart, with Ferri nosing out Ross at the checkered flag
by a car length.
"I'm glad to be back, this is such a great track," said Ferri. "We've been
racing in the states but there's nothing else like it though, right here at
Merrittville."
Ross conceded that Ferri had the better car Saturday night.
"I was just trying to maintain," said Ross. "I wanted to be there in case
anything happened to the leader. In the end, I just didn't have enough for
Adam (Ferri)."
Ross earned $1000 for his runner-up finish.
Trailing Ferri and Ross was the trio of Greg Oakes (Franklinville, NY), Doug
Ricotta (Warsaw, NY) and 2005 ODLM series champion Jim Dale, Jr. of
Shrewsbury, ON.
Hard-charging Justin Coulter of Leamington, ON impressed with a sixth place
finish while Paul Rivait (Tilbury, ON), Paul Turner (Picton, ON), Jeff
Dayman (Welland, ON) and Keith Cameron (Tilbury, ON) rounded out the top
ten. Completing the finish were Gregg Haskell (Chatham, ON), Rick Baker
(Ridgeway, ON), Mike Lewis (Wallaceburg, ON), Valone (Warren, PA) and Ed
Carley (Freedom, NY).
Ferri and Ross were heat race winners.
Other feature winners on the Merrittville card were Sportsman, Brad Rouse;
Stock, Dolf McCready; 4-Cylinder, Trevor Goulding and 4-Cylinder Truck, Jim
Horton.
The "Civic Holiday Challenge" closes Sunday (August 3) at Humberstone
Speedway in Port Colborne, ON with $2000 paid to the winner. In addition,
racers will vie for a $1500 bonus offered by Ontario Dirt Late Models race
coordinator Debbie Brush to be split among the top five drivers in points
from the two-day event. The racing program, part of Humberstone's "Molson
All Canadian Championship," will begin at 7 p.m.
And no doubt, the local favourite Adam Ferri will be in the house very
focused on defending hometown honours.
Erica Bicknell contributed to this story.
"Civic Holiday Challenge"...Adam Ferri, Chris Ross, Greg Oakes, Doug
Ricotta, Jim Dale, Jr.,
Justin Coulter, Paul Rivait, Paul Turner, Jeff Dayman, Keith Cameron, Gregg
Haskell, Rick
Baker, Mike Lewis, Chad Valone and Ed Carley.
Canadian Late Model Touring Series
Hosts Civic Holiday Challenge
By James Baker
BLENHEIM, ON, CANADA - Canada's only touring series for dirt late model racers,
the "Ontario Dirt
Late Models," will take national stage on the coming civic holiday week-end
with a two-day show
set for two Ontario speedways.
"The Civic Holiday Challenge" opens at the 3/8 mile dirt oval Merrittville
Speedway in Thorold,
ON on Saturday, August 2 and concludes Sunday August 3 at another nearby 3/8
mile dirt oval,
Humberstone Speedway in Port Colborne, ON.
In an effort to increase the series' visibility on a national level, the
"Ontario Dirt Late
Models" have invited 37 of Canada's top dirt late model drivers to compete
in the
organization's 2008 events. The invitation to western province drivers is
the first step in
eventually crowning a true Canadian national dirt late model champion.
Included in the invitees are Thunder Bay, ON drivers Tom Nesbitt, Joel
Cryderman, Danny Young
and Bob Slater and Manitoba racers Mike Balcaen of Winnipeg, MB, Ricky Weiss
of St. Francois
Xavier, MB, Dave "Turk" Tyrchniewicz of St. Andrews, MB, Kevin Sexton of
Lorette, MB, Mike
McCaughan of St. Francois Xavier, MB, Shawn Holden of Winnipeg, MB, Scott
Greer of East St.
Paul, MB, Jeff Pritchard of Carman, MB, Les Pritchard of Rolland, MB, Tom
Balcaen of Winnipeg,
MB, Gord Hockevich of Winnipeg, MB and Terry Newhouse of Brandon, MB.
Invited from Alberta were Dave Smith of Edmonton, AB, Brad Cameron of Virney,
AB, Dave Vennard
of Edmonton, AB, Brian Saipe of St. Albert, AB, Kelvin Bell of Hardisty, AB,
Todd Dale of
Warranilla, AB, Curtis Fortowsky of Edmonton, AB, Don Roberts of Fort
Saskatchewan, AB, Terry
Carter of Fort Saskatchewan, AB, Dan Billey of Edmonton, AB, Murray Phillips
of Edmonton, AB,
John Jones of Rimbey, AB, Aaron Dowler of Fort Saskatchewan, AB, Craig
Akerstrom of Edmonton,
AB, Ron Brisbois of Hinton, AB, Ryan Hodgson, Callihoo, AB, Brad MacLeod of
Hinton, AB, Trevor
Emond of Edmonton, AB, Stewart Hayward of Calgary AB and Steve Lee of
Calgary, AB. Saskatchewan
driver Ed Turnbull of Estevan, SK was also extended an invitation.
With few western tracks featuring late models on a regular basis, the 37
drivers have become
"true warriors of the dirt." Some of the drivers travel 1200 miles each
week-end to race in the
US when the Winnipeg and Edmonton venues are not running their division.
Mike Balcaen, Weiss,
Smith and Turnbull recently competed in some of the events on the "World of
Outlaws Late Model
Series" Western Tour.
Many of the western drivers have already expressed interest in participating
in the "Ontario
Dirt Late Models" events despite the long tow.
The "Ontario Dirt Late Models" will be making their debut appearance at
Merrittville Speedway.
In previous "ODLM" events at the Humberstone oval, Darren Kish of Port
Colborne, ON captured
both 2006 races with Rob Ledingham of Port Colborne, ON taking the 2007
show.
An additional incentive has been offered to drivers who participate in the
holiday week-end
shows. "ODLM" race coordinator Debbie Brush has announced that the series
will pay a $1500
bonus to be shared by the top five drivers in points from the two-day event.
Both the
Merrittville and Humberstone events will pay $2000 to win with $1000
guaranteed to the runner-up.
Expected to represent the "Ontario Dirt Late Models" in the "Civic Holiday
Challenge" are four
drivers who competed in the "ODLM/World of Outlaws Late Models Series"
co-sanctioned event at
Ohsweken, ON Speedway on June 20. Chris Ross of Wallaceburg, ON led the ODLM
parade with a 12th
place finish. Adam Ferri of Port Colborne, ON was 16th with Ed Carley of
Freedom, NY 18th and
Chad Valone of Warren, PA 24th.
An array of stellar Ontario, Quebec, New York and Pennsylvania late model
drivers are
tentatively expected to represent the ODLM at Merrittville and Humberstone
including Justin
Coulter of Leamington, ON, Gregg Haskell of Chatham, ON, Jeff Dayman of Port
Colborne, ON, Greg
Oakes of Franklinville, NY, Doug Ricotta of Warsaw, NY, Mike Lewis of
Wallaceburg, ON, Peter
Mantha, Jr. of Gatineau, Quebec, Paul Rivait of Tilbury, ON, Tim Mackenzie
of Chatham, ON, Rick
"Boomer" Briggs of Bear Lake, PA, Rick Baker of Port Erie, ON, John
Vanderlinden of Chatham,
ON, Dale Glassford of Thamesville, ON and 2003, 2004 and 2005 ODLM champion
Brad Authier of
Chatham, ON.
The Saturday night show at Merrittville Speedway will also feature a full
racing card of
Sportsman, Stocks, 4-Cylinders and Pro 4 Trucks. Gates open at 5:30 p.m with
hot laps at 6:30 p.m. and racing at 7 p.m. The Merrittville facility is located 12 miles from
the US border at
Niagara Falls.
A full day of fun is planned for the Sunday night finale at Humberstone
Speedway. Humberstone
will be hosting "The Molson All-Canadian Championship" with activities
beginning at 11 a.m.
Free camping will be offered to race fans all week-end with live bands also
featured. Also
included in the racing program will be Mini Stocks, Pro 4 Trucks, Street
Stocks, Sportsman,
Week-end Warriors and School Buses. Racing will began at 7 p.m.
Rules, purse and other information regarding the "Ontario Dirt Late Models"
can be obtained by
visiting the series' website at:
www.ontariodirtlatemodels.com
ODLM Looks for National Exposure;
Invites Western Drivers to 2008 Shows
By James Baker
BLENHEIM, ON, CANADA- Canada's only dirt late model touring series, the
"Ontario Dirt Late Models," has invited the top drivers from the western
provinces to participate in the series' 2008 events. Included on the invite
list are top late model drivers from Manitoba, Alberta, Saskatchewan and
Thunder Bay, Ontario.
The effort is the first step in eventually crowning a true Canadian national
dirt late model champion.
Heading the list of invitees are Tom Nesbitt and Joel Cryderman, both from
Thunder Bay, ON , Mike Balcaen of Winnipeg, MB, Ricky Weiss of St. Francois
Xavier, MB and Dave Smith of Edmonton, AB.
The 68-year old Nesbitt, a 2005 National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame
inductee, began racing in 1959 and has won 601 features. Cryderman has won
175 main events and eight track championships in a career that began in
1979.
Balcaen is a six-time track champion at River Cities Speedway in Grand
Forks, ND while Weiss captured the 2007 track title at Red River Co-Op
Speedway in Winnipeg, MB. Smith was the 2007 track champion at Castrol
Raceway in Edmonton, AB.
Also invited were Dave "Turk" Tyrchniewicz of St. Andrews, MB, Kevin Sexton
of Lorette, MB, Mike McCaughan of St. Francois Xavier, MB, Shawn Holden of
Winnipeg, MB, Scott Greer of East St. Paul, MB, Jeff Pritchard of Carman,
MB, Les Pritchard of Winnipeg, MB, Tom Balcaen of Winnipeg, MB, Gord
Hockevich of Winnipeg, MB, Terry Newhouse of Brandon, MB, Brad Cameron of
Virny, AB, Stewart Hayward of Calgary, AB, Ed Turnbull of Estevan, SK, Danny
Young of Thunder Bay, ON and Bob Slater of Thunder Bay, ON.
The 20 racers are "true warriors of the dirt."
With few western tracks running late models on a regular basis, many of
these drivers are forced to travel 600 miles one-way to race in the United
States on week-ends.
The "Ontario Dirt Late Models" opened their 2008 campaign with a "World of
Outlaws Late Model Series" co-sanctioned show on June 20 at Ohsweken(ON)
Speedway. Tim McCreadie of Watertown, NY captured the $10,000 to win, "Six
Nations 50" at Ohsweken which is located on the Six Nations Reserve.
Chris Ross of Wallaceburg, ON led the "ODLM" with an impressive 12th place
finish. Other "ODLM" finishers were Adam Ferri of Port Colborne, ON 16th, Ed
Carley of Freedom, NY 18th, Andrew Reaume of Blenheim, ON 23rd and Chad
Valone of Warren, PA 24th.
"Ontario Dirt Late Models" race coordinator Debbie Brush has scheduled a
special two-race, holiday week-end show for the series in August. The "Civic
Holiday Challenge" will open Saturday, August 2 at Merrittville Speedway in
Thorold, ON with competition Sunday, August 3 at Humberstone Speedway in
Port Colborne, ON.
Brush also announced that the "Civic Holiday Challenge" will offer a $1000
bonus to be shared
by the top three drivers in points from the two-day event.
The series returns to Glenn Styres' Ohsweken Speedway on Friday, August 29.
The "ODLM" finale will be held at Brighton(ON) Speedway on Saturday,
September 20.
Rules and other information regarding the "Ontario Dirt Late Models" can be
obtained by visiting the series' website at:
www.ontariodirtlatemodels.com
Canadian Late Model Racer - Chris Ross
By James Baker
WALLACEBURG, ON, CANADA- Aspiring race
drive Chris Ross lives in southwestern Ontario, a region that does not offer
many opportunities to run a dirt late model.
Few tracks there feature the late models as part of their weekly racing
programs, leaving the "Ontario Dirt Late Models" series as the only avenue
for an Ontario driver to race in his own province. The "ODLM" is Canada's
only dirt late model touring series and has offered race dates at select
Ontario tracks since 2003.
Ross began his racing career in 2000 and has gained his share of success
over the past eight years. The 27-year old Wallaceburg, ON resident started
with a steel-block motor, limited late model and began racing with the now
defunct "Great Lakes Late Models" series. He found victory lane often,
winning four features at Ohsweken (ON) Speeedway and 11 main events at South
Buxton Raceway in Merlin, ON from 2000 through 2003.
Ross owned his first ride in 2000 but drove for his stepfather, Garry
Lemesurier for the next six years.
In 2003, Ross was crowned the champion of the "Great Lakes Late Models" and
also captured the track championship at South Buxton Raceway.
But Ross was not satisfied.
It was always his dream to move on to bigger and better things in the dirt
late model world. He had hopes of one day racing with the "World of Outlaws"
and winning races in the United States.
After several more developmental years, Ross moved up the ladder to the
costly aluminum-block engines and into the very competitive arena of the
super late models. In 2006, he began to travel to the states and raced at
tracks like Oakshade Raceway in Wauseon, OH, the famous Eldora Speedway in
Rossburg, OH, Butler Motor Speedway in Quincy, MI and I-96 Speedway in Lake
Odessa, MI.
Success did not come easy at first, but Ross was one step closer to
realizing his dream. He began to qualify for feature events at the tracks he
visited and was opening eyes on the American racing scene.
Enter 2008...the break-out season for Chris Ross.
After a slow start early in the season, Ross won a feature event in a rare
appearance at South Buxton Raceway.
The win wasn't a season-maker, but it was a beginning.
But the best was yet to come.
In May, Ross traveled to Attica (OH) Raceway Park for a "World of Outlaws"
late model series show. There he would be on center-stage with the best dirt
late model drivers in the world.
Ross appeared to be a sure transfer for the main event from his heat race,
but got a little over-anxious and spun in a circle. However, the spin-out
would only temporarily derail his dreams of making a "WOO" feature.
The "World of Outlaws" late models had booked a Canadian tour and were set
to open at Ohsweken Speedway along with the "Ontario Dirt Late Models." Ross
was up to the challenge, and made the two and one-half hour tow to Ohsweken
for the event.
The determined Wallaceburg racer made the most of his opportunity and
qualified for his first "WOO" feature by finishing fourth in his heat. Not
to be out-done, he backed that up with a very impressive 12th place finish
in the main event, finishing ahead of
defending "WOO" champion Steve Francis and perennial favourite Chub Frank.
Chris Ross had arrived.
He had proven that he belonged on the same track with the best dirt late
model drivers in the world on that night at Ohsweken.
"It is definitely a dream come true," said Ross of his Ohsweken effort. "It
was only about three or four years ago that I was watching these guys (the
World of Outlaws) and just thinking how cool it would be to be able to race
with them on a competitive basis."
Ross knows that to fully realize his dream he will have to do more racing
in the U.S. His plans for the rest of the season are to run Oakshade and all
of the late model events at Eldora.
That means Ross will probably not be racing much in Canada this season. He
may run the "Ontario Dirt Late Models" series shows and the "Castrol
Canadian Shoot-Out" at South Buxton Raceway, but his focus will remain
across the border.
"I plan on running over there (the U.S.) as long as I can afford to do it,"
said Ross. "I am hoping to gain some sponsorship to help me along which is
the ultimate goal. I have met some awesome people the past couple of years
that have helped me a bunch, so I am very thankful for that. I'd love to run
the "UMP Summer Nationals" one day. But you have to prove yourself this day
and age and know the right people to get an opportunity like that."
Ross has fielded his own racing team since 2007 along with his grandmother,
Shirley "Grams" Ross and his uncle, Greg Ross. His crew is limited with just
his uncle and Doug "Frosty" Frost wrenching on the car.
"The only thing that I can do at this time is just try to keep racing and
gaining more experience to try to compete at this level," he said. "Even the
local tracks that I race at like Oakshade are very tough. I feel that if I
keep doin' this I will someday be able to win some races down the road."
Like many other drivers, Ross has been bitten by the experience of racing
at Eldora Speedway. With its long straight-aways and high-banked turns,
Eldora can be an unforgiving and intimidating track to even the most
experienced racers, but Ross feels that he has settled in at the big
half-mile oval.
"The first time I ran there I was so excited and nervous all wrapped up in
one person," said Ross. "Driving around there is very intimidating even to
this day. But I have tried to knock the wall down on more than one occasion
so it doesn't really bother me as much now. Now it's more thrilling than
anything."
Ross calls Eldora his favourite track and speaks of his experiences there
like a seasoned veteran.
"I love going there," he said. "I wish I could race there every week. It is
so tough because anytime you show-up there, you know there is goin' to be
some big guys show-up and try to tame the place. You can learn so much by
watching and racing with the guys who are really good around there."
Despite his recent successes, Ross is still not completely satisfied with
his performance this season.
"This year has been really high, or rock bottom...we have really struggled
this year with our new car(a Rocket chassis)," he said. "We still have
limited experience in this game and you pretty much have to unload fast off
the trailer or you are behind. I am confident that we are goin' in the right
direction and we will keep our heads up and drive on."
And goals remain for the future.
"The first thing, I wanna win a feature in the U.S.," said Ross. "I don't
care where it is. I'd love to win even just an ALMS (American Late Model
Series) show at Eldora, that is a huge goal. If I ever got the opportunity
to run a series like Lucas Oil or WOO, I'd jump all over it. I wanna make
"The Dream" and the "World 100" (both Eldora Speedway races) and then if I
can do that, I'll change my goal to winning them."
One thing is certain about Chris Ross
If determination is any factor...he'll reach his dreams.
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