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James Baker
BLENHEIM, Ontario. (August 5) - Chris Ross of Wallaceburg, ON is the 2008 Ontario Dirt Late Models "Civic Holiday Challenge" points champion.
Ross captured the event's inaugural points title by virtue of two strong finishes in the series races over the past week-end at Merrittville and Humberstone speedways. At the opening event at Merrittville Speedway in Thorold, ON on Saturday evening, Ross finished second to winner Adam Ferri. Sunday night in the finale at Humberstone Speedway in Port Colborne, ON, Ross placed fourth.
Rick "Boom" Briggs of Bear Lake, PA was the feature winner at Humberstone.
The "Civic Holiday Challenge" championship is the latest accolade for Ross who is in his ninth year of racing. Previous honours included the "Great Lakes Late Models" title and the South Buxton track crown in 2003. Ross, who has broadened his racing program to the U.S. this season, also finished 12th in the "ODLM/World of Outlaws Late Model Series" co-sanctioned race at Ohsweken (ON) Speedway in June.
Ross took the "Civic Holiday Challenge" points crown by a slim two-point margin over Doug Ricotta of Warsaw, NY. Ross led the way with 129 points followed by Ricotta with 127, Greg Oakes of Franklinville, NY with 124, Chad Valone of Warren, PA with 111 and Adam Ferri of Port Colborne, ON with 105.
At Merrittville Speedway, Paul Turner of Picton, ON received the "Thruway Muffler Hard Charger" award with Jeff Dayman of Welland, ON taking the "Humber Nurseries of Brampton New ODLM Top Driver" honours.
Dayman was the recipient of the "Thruway Muffler Hard Charger" award at Humberstone Speedway. Adam West of Ridgetown, ON was recognized as the "Humber Nurseries of Brampton New ODLM Top Driver" at the Port Colborne track.
West, a veteran sprint car driver with the "Southern Ontario Sprints," finished sixth at the Humberstone event in just his second time behind the wheel of a late model.
Ross is also the current "Ontario Dirt Late Models" point leader with 224 points. The top ten consists of Ricotta(222), Oakes(219), Valone(206), Ferri(200), the duo of West/Turner who shared duty in the #92 car(198), Dayman(190), Justin Coulter of Leamington, ON/Jason Haskell of Chatham, ON in the #RH94 car(188), Mike Lewis of Wallaceburg, ON and Paul Rivait of Tilbury, ON tied for ninth(183) and Rick Baker of Ridgeway, ON(181).
The "Ontario Dirt Late Models," Canada's only dirt late model touring series, swing back into action with a show at Ohsweken(ON) Speedway on Friday, August 29. The ODLM concludes its 2008 season on Saturday, September 20 at Brighton(ON) Speedway.
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