NORTHERN CRATE / SPRINT CAR NATIONALS

By Brent Otchere

The second annual Northern Crate Nationals took place at Ohsweken Speedway on September 15, where the 30-lap A-Main featured Mack DeMan and Mike Bowman on the front row for the Action Sprint Tour event.

DeMan set the pace and quickly encountered traffic by Lap 5. Bowman was close behind and applying pressure, finally making the pass in heavy traffic after 18 laps. Johnny Miller ran a steady pace in the low groove and overtook DeMan for second, with only six laps remaining.

Bowman held a steady line through the constant traffic, enjoying a six-second advantage over Miller in the closing laps. With no one else to contend with, Bowman sailed across the finish line, picking up the victory and $5,000 grand prize. The win makes Bowman a two-time champion of the Northern Crate Nationals; he’s the only driver to win the prestigious event. Miller, DeMan, Brett Stratford, and Matt Billings rounded out the top-five.

For the 360 Sprint Cars, a pair of guaranteed starting spots in the Northern Sprint Car Nationals were available to the winners of the NSCN Twin 15’s. Sam Hafertepe Jr. started on pole for the first main and rocketed out in front; it was the Hafertepe show the rest of the way, as he drove a flawless race through traffic, crossing the finish line with a 4.4-second advantage over second place Darren Dryden.

Ryan Turner and Nick Sheridan brought the field to green for the second Twin 15. Turner set a blisteringly fast pace during the opening laps, quickly asserting himself as the driver to beat.

Sheridan smelled a chance at the lead, as Turner picked his way through traffic; he began to close the gap, but time ran out, as Turner picked up the win.

Dave Bailey and Ryan Beagle made contact during a green-white-checkered finish in the 20-lap Thunder Stock A-Main, with Bailey taking the win, ahead of Kyle Wert, as Beagle dropped to fifth. Kyle Rothwell cruised to victory in the 15-lap Mini Stock A-Main, ahead of Fabio Olivieri.

Night Two

The 19th running of the Northern Sprint Car Nationals took place at Ohsweken on September 16, with the highest payday in track history up for grabs. Hafertepe started on pole for the 35-lap A-Main.

A red flag was thrown before the first lap was completed, due to Jason Barney flipping on the backstretch; Barney climbed out unharmed. Jordan Poirier made a bold move to take the lead after a complete restart, while Bowman and Hafertepe battled for second. Poirier encountered traffic by Lap 5, which slowed him down and allowed Hafertepe to claim the lead.

Sheridan brought out the second stoppage of the race, as he came to a halt with significant damage, after bouncing off the frontstretch wall. Hafertepe restarted well, but Bowman was close behind and found a new line that was much faster, overtaking Hafertepe a few laps later.

There was no stopping Bowman once he took the position; he led the final 15 circuits to pick up the Northern Sprint Car Nationals win – and the $30,000 grand prize – in his first outing in this prestigious event. Hafertepe, Liam Martin, Dylan Westbrook, and Poirier completed the top-five.

In the Action Sprint Tour, Tom Pellezari and Steve Murdock brought the field to green for the 25-lap Crate Sprint Car A-Main. Murdock enjoyed a healthy lead in the opening laps, before a caution for an incident between John Verney and Pellezari.

Murdock held off Billings for two laps after the restart, before Billings assumed the lead. Bowman started 15th and could be found charging through the field, eventually battling Murdock for second. Billings was out of reach for Bowman, with only two laps left and victory in sight, before Cameron Thomson made hard contact with the frontstretch wall to bring out the yellow flag.

The caution gave Bowman the chance he needed, with a green-white-checkered finish, but Billings was not to be denied; he defended against Bowman brilliantly, by driving a very fast and defensive line, which choked off any advances by Bowman. Billings secured the victory, while Bowman settled for second. Murdock, Mack DeMan, and Andrew Hennessy rounded out the top-five. IT