FENWICK FLYER: ONWARD AND UPWARD

by Tommy Goudge (June 3, 2010) - Tom Huppunen's 2010 racing season hasn't gone according to plan so far after a spin in the first week, and a crash last Friday. The Fenwick, Ontario-based driver and the #12c Best Western Cairn Croft Hotel will try to get back on track this Friday, June 4 at Ohsweken Speedway as they look to defend their 2009 championship in the Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Car division.

On opening night, Tom had a race-long battle for the fifth position with Kyle Moffit. With just two laps to go Tom got high in turn three and spun to a stop. He salvaged an eleventh place finish.

In week two, Tom's night ended in his heat race when a car got sideways in front of him and Tom had nowhere to go. The #12c rolled over, causing enough damage to force the team out of action.

"The car should be fixed after tonight," said Tom on Monday. "We’ve got to straighten the right front torsion tube. The frame will still be a little bent but it won’t affect the handling. We will run some of last year's stuff to get by."

Tom and the team are testing out a new line of tires for Competition Tire Canada/Goodyear Racing.

"They've donated two left rear tires to test. They are the first ones from their new line of sprint tires and are equivalent to the Hoosier left rears that we usually run in every way - weight, size, and durometer reading."

Tom and the team would also like to welcome three new sponsors to the fold:

Five Star Racing Products, builders of Mod-Lite race cars, and suppliers of REAL Racing Wheels and WINTERS Racing components to the #12c team.

Excalibur Crossfit is on board helping Tom start a new fitness regimen. Check them out at www.ExcaliburCrossfit.com.

OMNI Media in St. Catharines is helping out too. Look for some new Fenwick Flyer videos later this summer.

This Friday, June 4, Tom and the rest of the Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Car regulars from Ohsweken Speedway will take part in the first round of the "Battle on the Grand" versus the traveling New York-based ASCS Patriots series. Despite the slow start to his season, Tom is considered one of the favourites heading into the night.

TOM'S TRIVIA
This Friday's race is on June 4. Tom has raced a Sprint Car once before on that date - a feature win with the Southern Ontario Sprints tour at Ransomville Speedway on Friday, June 4, 1999. It was the Fenwick Flyer's first career Sprint Car feature win.

WHAT'S HUPPUNEN?
Randy from Woodstock asks: "Do you think racing at Ohsweken weekly gives you and the other local racers an advantage when the travelling series come to town?"

Tom answers: "No, I don`t think racing weekly is an advantage here at Ohsweken. I believe the team that can read the track and set up the car accordingly with a driver that can adapt his/her driving style will be up front. I believe the key to success is a mixture of experience and knowledge bound together with a heavy dose of good luck!"

Tom and the #12c team would like to thank all their sponsors and partners for their support during the 2010 season, including Best Western Cairn Croft Hotel, NGK Spark Plugs, Cobra Motorhomes & Trailers, Five Star Racing Products, Excalibur Crossfit, OMNI Media, Jawzy Graphics, Kim Arndt Photography, Niagara Custom Powder Coating, Gaerte Engines, Maxim Racing Chassis, Mom's Videography, Colleen, Meghan, Andrew and Jimmy's Crew Service, MW Graphics and Outlaw R/C Motorsports.

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