Bryan Howland Wins Inaugural ASCS Northern Summer Nationals Finale at Ohsweken
Rich Vleck, OHSWEKEN, Ontario, (July 5, 2008)- Bryan Howland had hit a self-proclaimed dry spell, going winless for nearly two years; but he returned to glory on Saturday at the site of his last win nearly two years ago.
Howland captured the rare ASCS sweep, winning his heat, which still sent him to the “Four Laps of Fame”. After dominating that race too, he started eighth in the feature and instantly charged to the front of the pack.
On the first lap he went from eighth to fourth, two laps later he was in second, and over the next 10 laps he slowly closed in on Darren Long and waited for him to slip up.
The pass for the lead was a carbon-copy of the pass he made on Chuck Hebing two years ago to capture his 6th career ASCS Patriot Win. Nearly two years later, this win was even sweeter.
After assuming the lead, Howland put seven lapped cars in between himself and second-place Darren Long. When the race’s first stoppage came on lap 22 for a hard Ryan Grubaugh flip, Howland had clean racetrack and a seven-car buffer.
In terms of money won, only his win in the ASCS SOD Full Throttle Nationals in 2005 topped his earnings on Saturday Night at the Ohsweken Speedway.
Howland also turned the quick lap of the night, running a 13.40 second lap around the 3/8-mile in his heat race.
After losing the lead to Howland, Darren Long from Elida, OH had to fend of challengers for the runner-up spot. After the red flag, he began picking off the lapped cars and could see Howland but ran out of laps.
Behind Long was Scott Kreutter, who finished in third for the second-straight night. Opening Night Winner Dustin Daggett was fourth with Canadian Kevin Job completing the top-five.
Mike Stelter completed a solid weekend in sixth, ahead of polesitter Brett Mann and Ben Rutan, the final cars on the lead lap. Tim Norman and Keith Dempster completed the top-10.
A total of 37 cars checked into the pit area for the second night of this inaugural event. Among the incidents on the night was a crash between Blake Breen and Fred Cade in the heat race, sending Cade’s No. 12c flipping end-over-end. Bobby Breen, while running the Total Seal/ Gaerte Motors Dash for Cash, had a mechanical failure and crashed into the wall, ending his night. Ryan Hunsinger was also running strong in his heat when he broke his engine.
On a more positive note, Bubba Broderick scored his first career heat win spectacular finish by starting dead last. Howland, Long and Mann would also collect heat wins.
ASCS Patriots Results: 7/5/08, Ohsweken Speedway, Ohsweken, Ontario, Canada.
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