2-time Thunder Stock champion Mike Thorne is moving up to the new Strickland's GMC Crate Sprint Car division. (Photo-Dale Calnan/Imagefactor.ca)

Ohsweken, Ontario –The roster for Ohsweken Speedway's new Strickland's GMC Crate Sprint Car division continues to grow in advance of Opening Night on May 16. The latest name on that list is two-time Thunder Stock division champion Mike Thorne, while his girlfriend Laura Hughes takes over the team's Affordable Towing and Recovery Thunder Stock division driving duties.

Hughes claimed a Mini Stock feature win on May 24 last season, and finished 5th in the championship standings. Thorne finished 5th in the Thunder Stock standings last season after claiming consecutive championships in 2011 and 2012.

Both cars for the #55 team will have sponsor support from Burger Barn and Ace 1 Construction, while Mike's mother Karen, father Dave, and brother Kevin are all part of the crew, along with John Sargeant, Trevor Roszell, and Scott Murray. Visit the Burger Barn website at www.BurgerBarn.ca

"I really don't know what to say," Mike says. "We are fortunate to have amazing people behind us. I am so excited to try out a Sprint Car. I never thought I would ever have a chance to try it. Since I'm in the Crate Sprint, Laura will be in my Thunder Stock. She did well in Mini Stock, so I'm sure she will do fine with the Thunder Stock. We have been hard at work in the garage, and look forward to getting on the track."

The first on-track activity at Ohsweken of the 2014 season takes place tonight - Friday, May 9 - with the annual Test & Tune night. Grandstand admission is FREE for this event. Pit gates open at 5:30pm, with cars on track at 7:30pm.

Ohsweken Speedway's 19th season of racing begins on Friday, May 16 with 2014 Opening Night, including 25 lap features for the Corr/Pak Merchandising 360 Sprint Cars, and Affordable Towing & Recovery Thunder Stocks, 20 lap features for the Strickland's GMC Crate Sprint Cars, and HRW Automotive Mini Stocks, and a 15 lap feature for the Gale's Auto Aftermarket Bombers.

About Ohsweken Speedway: Founded in 1996, Ohsweken Speedway is a motorsports complex which includes a 3/8 (0.375) mile clay oval track. The facility is owned by the Styres family, and located in the village of Ohsweken, Ontario, Canada. Ohsweken's weekly Friday night racing program runs from May to September each year, featuring 360 Sprint Cars, Crate Sprint Cars, Thunder Stocks, Mini Stocks, and Bombers, while the season finishes each year with the annual Canadian Sprint Car Nationals. Ohsweken Speedway also hosts weekly Micro Sprint racing on Thursday nights, and has been a yearly stop on the World of Outlaws Sprint Car series schedule since 2007.

Visit the official Ohsweken Speedway website at www.OhswekenSpeedway.com, like us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/OHSWEKENSPEEDWAY, follow us on Twitter @OhswekenSpdway, and subscribe to our YouTube channel at www.YouTube.com/user/OhswekenSpdway

Ohsweken Speedway thanks the following sponsors for their support: Arrow Express, Corr/Pak Merchandising Inc., Renway Energy, O'Neil's Farm Equipment, McDonald's Restaurants of Paris & Brantford, Nathan Ackland State Farm Insurance, Strickland's GMC, Mobil 1, Burger Barn, Affordable Towing & Recovery, HRW Automotive, and Gale's Auto Aftermarket.