Photo by Dale Calnan/Image Factor Media
By Clayton Johns
OHSWEKEN, Ont. (August 8, 2019) – After a weekend off from competition, the Action Sprint Tour is set to resume action with the first of two August races when the tour visits Humberstone Speedway in Port Colborne, Ont. on Sunday, August 11. The tour has three races remaining on its 2019 schedule, with a stop at Brighton Speedway the following weekend on Saturday, August 17 before concluding at Ohsweken Speedway’s Canadian Sprint Car Nationals on Saturday, September 14.
Entering the stretch drive, Beamsville’s Josh Hansen has emerged as the clear title favourite. The driver of the No.88h has scored a pair of wins in six races and has finished outside the top-five only once to help open a 58-point lead at the top of the standings. Binbrook’s Liam Martin will have his work cut out for him to cut into the deficit and make a championship push, but the teenager has proven he can win with a win in June at Southern Ontario Motor Speedway.
The most recent winner with the Action Sprint Tour was Steven Beckett when he picked up a victory one month ago on July 14. The Fonthill, Ont. native scored his first tour win in the series’ only prior visit to Humberstone (the June 2 date was rained out). He currently sits sixth in the series standings.
Prior to Beckett, Action Sprint Tour graduates Aaron Turkey and Shone Evans scored Humberstone wins with the tour in 2018. The only American driver to have competed with the series, Matt Farnham, has won two straight with the series and also has a past Humberstone victory that came on September 2, 2018. With Farnham’s recent hot streak and the Sunday race at Humberstone near the United States border, it would be no surprise to see the driver of the No.7ny look for a three-peat.
Behind Martin in the championship standings is sophomore Sprint Car pilot Paul Klager. The Beamsville native is only six markers back of Martin for second in the standings and will be motivated to try and score his first win on tour as he races less than an hour from home. Another motivated driver is Port Colborne native Jacob Dykstra. The teenage pilot of the No.5d always relishes the opportunity to race in front of his home town crowd. He currently sits fourth in the standings, just eight points back of Klager.
Finally, rounding out the top-five is veteran Ryan Hunsinger. The Caledonia, Ont. driver has been strong throughout the season with the tour, but will be looking to rebound from an uncharacteristic 17th-place result at Merrittville last time he unloaded his No.r52.
Race time at Humberstone Speedway is 6:30pm, with Sprint Car hot laps immediately before the scheduled start time. For additional track or event information, visit www.humberstonespeedway.com.
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Action Sprint Tour Points Update (Top 10)
1. 88h-Josh Hansen, 491 Points; 2. 29-Liam Martin, 433; 3. 1eh-Paul Klager, 424; 4. 5d-Jacob Dykstra, 416; 5. R52-Ryan Hunsinger, 396; 6. 08-Steven Beckett, 381; 7. 3b-Blaine Barrow, 374; 8. 49h-Jerry Hill, 360; 9. 9c Brian Nanticoke, 334; 10. 28 Jordan Hill, 330
2019 Action Sprint Tour Schedule
Mon. May 20 – Merrittville Speedway – Thorold, Ont. – Winner: Josh Hansen
Sun. June 2 – Humberstone Speedway – Port Colborne, On – Rained Out
Sat. June 8 – Southern Ontario Motor Speedway – Merlin, Ont. – Winner: Liam Martin
Mon. July 1 – Merrittville Speedway – Thorold, Ont. – Winner: Josh Hansen
Sun. July 14 – Humberstone Speedway – Port Colborne, Ont. – Winner: Steven Beckett
Tue. July 23 – Ohsweken Speedway – Six Nations, Ont. – Winner: Matt Farnham
Sat. July 28 – Merrittville Speedway – Thorold, Ont. – Winner: Matt Farnham
Sun. August 11 – Humberstone Speedway – Port Colborne, Ont.
Sat. August 17 – Brighton Speedway – Brighton, Ont.
Sat. September 14 – Ohsweken Speedway – Ohsweken, Ont. – Canadian Sprint Car Nationals
ACTION SPRINT TOUR MEDIA
Website: www.ActionSprintTour.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ActionSprintTour
Twitter: @ActionSprints
About the Action Sprint Tour: The Action Sprint Tour is a travelling Winged Sprint Car Series based in Ontario, Canada. The cars on the Action Sprint Tour are powered by GMC 602 Crate Motors modified specifically to fit a Sprint Car chassis. The Series ran its inaugural season in 2018 and in 2019 will run 10 races at five different Ontario tracks. Drivers will compete for a point fund and bonuses totaling $10,000. For additional information, including rules, event purse and series point fund, visit the Action Sprint Tour official website at www.ActionSprintTour.com.