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James Baker
PORT COLBORNE, Ontario (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.
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