Turner wants to belong to an exclusive club
This Saturday night, Ohsweken Speedway will host the 13th running of the Canadian Sprint Car Nationals.
Of those past 12 races, only one Canadian has won.
Cory Turner would like his name to be added to this short list.
“The car is in a good spot,” he said this week about competing in the biggest Sprint Car race in the country, which pays $12,000 US to the winner. “We have been racing a lot and are dialed in.”
This is the fourth year of racing for the Caistor Centre resident, and a successful year as well, with a feature win at Ohsweken and several podium finishes at that track and other area dirt ovals, including Humberstone and Merrittville.
But Turner, who is one third of the family racing effort with father Jamie and brother Ryan, knows the Nationals will not be a piece of cake.
“It’s a tough go with all the professional U.S. drivers that come in,” said the Hills Racing Team driver, “and it gives us a good gauge at our program.
“But they (the U.S. teams) have no advantage over us,” he said. “We all use the same wing and tire for this race, and all will be equal when we race.”
The Nationals is the annual season-closing event for the dirt track, and in past years it has seen an average of 70 Sprint Car teams from five provinces, 16 U.S. states, Australia, and New Zealand vying to line up for the 35-lap A-feature on the third-mile oval. The event is presented by Arrow Express.
The sole Canadian to win the Nats is Quebec’s Steve Poirier, who has won it three times. Shane Stewart of Oklahoma has also won three times. The track one-lap record for the 360-class Sprint Car was set by Chris Steele of St. Catharines in 2012 with a 13.30-second, 101.44m.p.h. posting.
While the big race is Saturday night, the Burger Barn will sponsor tomorrow night’s racing, which features a pair of 15-lap Sprint Car mains, plus racing for the Thunder Stock, Mini-Stock, and Bomber divisions.
Turner said he is ready for Saturday’s main event.
The 29-year-old is a third-generation driver (along with father Jamie, grandfather Don Turner was a popular local driver), and his uncle, Joe Plazek, was a prominent big-block Modified racer.
“We’ve been on a hot streak and we’re peaking,” Turner said. “For us, the Nationals comes at the right time.
“We’ll be there for sure. This one is for all the marbles. I’ve never been more excited.”
Post time will be at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday.
UPCOMING EVENTS: This season is starting to wind down, but there are still events in several racing disciplines to enjoy.
Toronto Motorsports Park: The CSCS (Canadian Sport Compact Series) will be at TMP Sept. 17 for a day of racing, drifting, and show and shine. The OSCA (Ontario Street Car Association) take to the drag strip Sept. 22-24, and the final rounds in this year’s Race Cayuga Sportsman Series and Can-Am Stock/Super Stock Series compete in quarter-mile action Sept. 29.
Flamboro Speedway: This Saturday night, the one-third paved oval will host a 100-lap feature for the Lucas Oil Sportsman Series, plus a regular card of racing, all to get underway at 6:30.
Jukasa Motor Speedway: The newly-reopened and former Cayuga Speedway will hold the final NASCAR Pinty’s Series race Sept. 23, along with Pro Late Model competition.
Ohsweken Speedway: While the cars finish on the clay oval this weekend, Flat Track Canada will hold its final event for the year for all classes of motorcycles and ATVs. Heats begin at 3 p.m. with features to follow.
Tim Miller is the author of several books on auto racing and can be reached at timmillerthecarguy@gmail.com.