1995 East Cost Speedway Race Results

Woodstock 1/2 Mile National Round #1 May 21, 1995
by Duncan Luke

John Kehoe got off to an excellent start in defense of his National Long-Track title by winning the first round of this year's championship at Woodstock, Ontario on the Victoria Day weekend.

As expected, the final was another in the series of close battles between Kehoe and perennial rival veteran Len Dillon, but before this, Jeff Orosz and Patrick Ahlund added spice to the meeting by forcing Kehoe and Dillon to come from behind to win their qualifying heat races. Orosz was particularly impressive. He outgated Kehoe in both qualifying heats and beat back his challenges until John powered under him going into turn one on the last lap of each race and went on to win.

In the final, Kehoe was first off the line and led from start to finish, but had to fight off a strong challenge from Dillon, who almost caught him on the second lap and came close again on the final one. However, Kehoe had enough power to hold him off and win an exciting race with Orosz finishing a strong third.

This year, half mile events are being run over four laps rather than the traditional three, and the extra lap allowed Kehoe to set a new lap record time for Woodstock. With Dillon pushing him all the way, he equaled his own previous record of 26.85 seconds, set last year, in the third lap of the final and finished in style with a new time of 26.66 seconds over the final lap.

It all points to another exciting season's racing to decide this year's title.

Heat 1
1 L Dillon
2 P Ahlund
3 K Tudhope
4 T Ford
5 P Gradwell

Heat 2
1 J Kehoe
2 J Orosz
3 A Harris
4 A Chisholm
5 B Marshall

Heat 3
1 L Dillon
2 P Gradwell
3 A Harris
4 T Ford
5 B Marshall

Heat 4
1 J Kehoe
2 J Orosz
3 P Ahlund
4 A Chisholm
- K Tudhope e/t

Consolation
1 T Ford
2 K Tudhope
3 A Chisholm
4 B Marshall
(Top 6 scorers from qualifying heats to final, plus top two from Consolation)

Final
1 J Kehoe
2 L Dillon
3 J Orosz
4 P Gradwell
5 P Ahlund
6 A Harris (started 10 yd's behind start tape)
7 T Ford
- K Tudhope (dnf)