By Clayton Johns (@cjohnsmedia)

Stroud, Ont. – Brandon Watson (#9 Shear/Barrie Frame and Alignment/Knightworks Design Chevrolet) led all 51 laps of the Lucie Aylwin Memorial presented by North Toronto Auctions at Sunset Speedway en route to victory in the 2013 OSCAAR Super Late Model season opener.

Starting from the pole, Brandon fended off multiple challenges from Derrick Tiemersma (#7 Wayfreight/Spira Chevrolet) and Uncle Glenn Watson (#22 Line-X/Race2way.ca/Rival Office Solutions Chevrolet) to begin the defense of his 2012 championship title.

“It was amazing. The crew did a great job to get the car here. It was great all night, right out of the trailer,” said Watson.

Brandon led by as much as two seconds over Tiemersma during a 32-lap green flag run from lap nine to 41.

Glenn Watson would finish second after using a final restart with eight laps remaining to get by second place runner Tiemersma, who would wind up third.

The 21-car field was slowed for caution six times, including two red flags. The first caution, and subsequent first red flag, came with just one lap complete as Rob Clarke (#49 London Mechanical/JBM Leasing/FLF Racecars Chevrolet) was turned on the backstretch by Shane Maginnis (#03 Budds GMC Chevrolet).

The two were running near the front of the field, and a number of drivers stacked up as a result, including Ethan Courneyea (#71c Jenco Equipment Chevrolet) who ended the incident with the front of his car resting on the hood of John Owen’s #2 (Owen Performance/DVR Masonry Chevrolet). The red flag was displayed as officials lifted Courneyea’s car from Owen’s front end. Both were able to continue.

Charlie Gallant (#40P South Shore Services Chevrolet) was also collected in the mess, his second set of misfortune on the evening, ending his night. Jim Bowman (#63 TMG Mortgages/Remax/Hanover Holidays Chevrolet) was tagged as well in the wreck and did continue before retiring on lap 21.

The second caution of the night came on lap four when Dwayne Baker (#48 Baker Performance Parts Ford) stopped in turn four with a flat right front tire.

Caution came out once more with nine complete for debris before 32 laps of consecutive green flag action. The top-five of Brandon Watson, Tiemersma, Jesse Kennedy (#10 Cameron Crane/Bev’s Auto/Quality Collision Ford), Glenn Watson, and Rob Poole (#45 Visser Farms/Alliston Auto Sales/RA Electrical Chevrolet) maintained their order for the duration of the run.

The real battle was for the seventh spot, between Clarke, Baker, and Maginnis. The trio ran nose to tail and side-by-side for much of the interval, until Maginnis spun in turn four with 41 laps complete. Maginnis appeared to have an oil line break, leading to the spin.

As a result, Maginnis laid oil all the way around the race track, forcing officials to red flag the race again while track crews cleaned up.

On the ensuing restart with ten to go, Brandon surprised many by choosing the outside line for the restart. He made it work to his advantage, despite having to try the restart twice after Tiemersma jumped early on the first attempt.

“I wasn’t really sure what I was going to do coming to the ‘double-up’ sign,” said Brandon. “My car was starting to get tight from the centre and off, so I thought I would be able to keep my momentum on the outside better.”

“The crew left it up to me. It’s a good thing I made the right decision,” joked Brandon.

Jesse Kennedy surrendered his third-place position just prior to the green to change a right-front tire that had gone soft.

The final caution with eight to go came as Gary Passer (#13 Jenco Equipment Chevrolet) got mixed up in turn four, but escaped unscathed. Kennedy ended his night with eight to go, after he lost oil pressure following the restart.

“I noticed just before we took the white the right-front seemed soft,” said Kennedy. “We lost oil pressure. Not sure what that’s about yet, but we’ll try to fix ‘er up and come back next time.”

Clarke would also fail to finish as he lost power under caution on the front stretch and was taken off on the hook.

Brandon chose the outside line for the final restart as well. Tiemersma appeared to spin the tires, allowing fourth-place runner Glenn Watson to make a pass for second on the outside.

Rookie Kevin Cornelius (#17 Halton Crushed Stone/Lee Sand & Gravel/Triplecrete Pontiac) had restarted third, but was pinched behind Tiemersma, falling to fourth. Dealing with a misfire throughout the night, the problem would rear its ugly head in the closing laps as Cornelius fell to seventh.

“On the last restart, I tried to dial some more front break in to it, but my adjuster jammed up, so I had a ton of rear-break going in to the turn on the high-side,” said Cornelius, “it just got away from me.”

Glenn Watson didn’t appear to have anything for nephew Brandon in the closing laps, as the twenty-year-old held on for the first victory of 2013.

Klotz Synthetics Qualifying Heat race winners were Brandon Watson (#9), Rob Clarke (#49), Shane Maginnis (#03), Jesse Kennedy (#10), Glenn Watson (#22), and Derrick Tiemersma (#7).

The OSCAAR Super Late Models are back in action in two weeks on Saturday June 1 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP) for round two of the 2013 tour.

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News & Notes

After two wrecks on opening night, Charlie Gallant is expected to miss the series next event at CTMP on June 1.

Despite heavy body damage to start the year, Jim Bowman has said his team will return to action at CTMP, likely with a new body on the car.

After a strong showing in his first ever Super Late Model heat, Brent McLean missed the feature due to an oil pump issue that could not be resolved at the track.

George Wilson, driving for Shane Gowan to start the year, was pitside following the first caution due to a broken drive shaft. The team was able to repair it on pit road in order to finish the race, but three laps down.

Andrew Gresel ran a template body late model to start the season. His outlaw bodied car was not ready to start the season, but he has said it will be finished for CTMP. Cole Powell was the only other driver to run a template body.

Results: Lucie Aylwin Memorial 51 presented by North Toronto Auctions (Sunset Speedway – May 19, 2013) (Starting Position in parentheses)

1. #9 Brandon Watson (1); 2. #22 Glenn Watson (8); 3. #7 Derrick Tiemersma (2); 4. #48 Dwayne Baker (6); 5. #45 Rob Poole (10); 6. #07 Todd Campbell (9); 7. #17 Kevin Cornelius (12); 8. #2 John Owen (13); 9. #73 Cole Powell (16); 10. #00 Wayne Isaacs (21); 11. #42 Tyler Hawn (22); 12. #13 Gary Passer (7); 13. #81 Andrew Gresel (19); 14. #39 George Wilson (14); 15. #10 Jesse Kennedy (5)(DNF); 16. #49 Rob Clarke (3) (DNF); 17. #03 Shane Maginnis (4) (DNF); 18. #63 Jim Bowman (DNF) (18); 19. #71c Ethan Courneyea (20) (DNF); 20. #8 Sean Cronan (11) (DNF); 21. #40P Charlie Gallant (15)(DNF); 22. #15x Brent McLean (DNS); 23. #57 Craig Stevenson (DNS).

The OSCAAR Super Late Model tour is presented by a number of dedicated sponsors throughout Ontario, including: Knightworks Design, Hoosier Racing Tire, Klotz Synthetics Canada, Race2way.ca, Dave Franks Photos, Dickson Printing, Finishline Fabrication, McColl Racing Enterprises, McGunegill Engine Performance, Stefko Racing Engines, VP Racing Fuels, OntarioOval.com, RaceTime Radio, Inside Track Motorsport News, Jenco Equipment, Midas of Orangeville, Reinhart Trailer Sales, North Toronto Auctions, and South Shore Services.

Photos by Eric Uprichard / www.SpeedwayPhoto.ca

By Clayton Johns (@cjohnsmedia)

The 2013 edition of the OSCAAR Super Late Model tour is finally upon us, and most fans couldn’t be more excited. This season is one of the most anticipated since the series’ inception in 1990. Much of the reason for the hype surrounds the level of competition. Most enthusiasts believe as many as 15 different drivers have a chance to win on any given night, but that number goes as high as 20.

Sunday marks the second annual Lucie Aylwin Memorial at Sunset Speedway. Lucie was among the victims of the Elliott Lake mall collapse last May. She is described by many as a kind-hearted soul who would take the time to talk to anybody, doing so with a smile on her face.

The memorial race was initiated by her fiancé Gary Gendron, who was a member of George Wilson’s racing crew for the past few seasons. As Gendron explained, Lucie never felt she was above anybody and, as a social worker, was always happy and willing to help in any way she could.  Gendron has created a brand new trophy to be awarded for the first time this weekend. Brandon Watson won the first memorial race in Lucie’s honour.

Reigning series champion Watson (#9) will compete at Autodrome Chaudière (QC) on Saturday before making a ten hour haul in order to be back at Sunset for the opener. The youngster won twice at Sunset last season, his former home track. Uncle Glenn Watson (#22) was shutout of victory lane last year despite seven wins in 2011. He’s especially hungry to get back there in 2013 and will come back with a vengeance.

Jesse Kennedy (#10) and Gary Passer (#13) both won races in 2012 and should be in tight competition for a top-ten finish Sunday evening. Kennedy battled mechanical failures at Sunset last year on a couple of occasions, but is hoping to have rectified those problems.

Shane Gowan (#39) returns to the tour after a one-year hiatus last season. Gowan destroyed the front-end of his car in the first heat of opening night in 2011. Evidently, the Lucas Oil team will hope to go home in one piece to start the year.

Tyler Hawn (#42) will debut a brand new car as well. The Oro Station, Ont. native is beyond excited to pilot the best equipment he has ever owned.  Look for a new paint scheme this year on the Fox’s Bakery Camaro.

Let’s not forget about Rob Clarke (#49) either. Clarke is a five-time champion of the series who won at Delaware last year and Sunset two seasons ago. He will drive a car that has only been raced a half-dozen times and is almost sure to be near the front on opening night .

And what about 2007 champion Derrick Tiemersma (#7)? He will once again feature his traditional white paint scheme. With a championship under his belt, Tiemersma is more interested in finding victory lane this season.

Add Mike Beyore (#54) in to the mix as he looks to solve his engine woes by returning to a McGunigill spec engine.

This season’s rookie class looks as though it will be the most competitive in recent years, and perhaps all time. Former Delaware Speedway regular Andrew Gresel is debuting a completely new car #81. Gresel competed at Daytona Int’l Speedway in February in the competitive ARCA series.

Kevin Cornelius’ #17 is the first ever Super Late Model to come from London, Ont.-based McColl Racing Enterprises. Cornelius knows his way around Sunset, as he was the 2011 Limited Late Model track champion. He should be in contention for a win on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Sean Cronan will make his first OSCAAR start in car #8. Cronan was the 2011 McColl Summer Series champion at Sunset, so he will feel right at home in his first start. Cronan’s car is the same chassis formerly piloted by Jeff Dunford. Terry Snyder remains car owner.

With no clear favourite for the season opener, this Sunday is a race no OSCAAR fan should miss. Spectator gates open at 4:30pm, with the first green flag scheduled to fly at 6pm. Pit gates open at 12:30pm for competitors. The Super Late Models will be joined by the OSCAAR Modifieds and Can-Am TQ Midgets.

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News & Notes

Jeff Dunford has divested his part ownership of the Super Late Model he drove over the past number of seasons. Terry Snyder was the other part owner, buying Dunford out of his portion. Dunford, however, stressed it was not due to any disagreement between he and Snyder. “There were no problems between Terry and I. The decision was purely for financial reasons,” explained Dunford. “I want to thank my friends and competitors for everything over the last few years.” He also stressed he hopes to return to the series in the near future.

Canadian recording artist Lucas Rogerson will perform his rendition of O’Canada this Sunday to open the 2013 OSCAAR Racing season. Rogerson is a long-time member of the Settlers Creek band and is in the process of beginning a new solo career. His first solo album, ‘Streetlights’, is set to release next Wednesday, May 22. It will be available on iTunes and can be pre-ordered now. OSCAAR Modified driver Davey Terry has been instrumental in the process of having Rogerson perform this evening. Despite the friendship, Rogerson has never been to a stock car race. “I’m expecting excitement. I’m excited to see the cars. I never realised how much thought goes in to the cars. I’m excited to see the crowd,” he said. You can check out the duo’s promotional video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ADsrZThXnDk

By Clayton Johns (@cjohnsmedia)

Five-time CASCAR Super Series champion Don Thomson Jr. has announced he will be competing with the OSCAAR Super Late Model tour on a part-time basis in 2013.

The Hamilton, Ont. native will drive a Fitzpatrick Motorsports-prepared chassis purchased from Len Couvillon, of which he is part owner. Thomson will drive his traditional car #4 for the first time at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP) Speedway on June 1. He is hoping to make at least two more appearances later in the season, with a possibility of running both events at the Don Biederman Memorial on June 29 and June 30.

“Nothing is set in stone, it’s pending. At this point, I’m thinking (CTMP) oval, Flamboro, and Sunset,” said Thomson. As far as Autumn Colours, if we’re still in good shape, and I’m still in good shape, maybe I can sneak that one in too.”

Thomson retired from the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series (NCATS) at the end of the 2011 season, choosing to take a position as the crew chief for J.R. Fitzpatrick instead. The short-track expert said he would like to compete in more events, but conflicts with the NCATS schedule prevent it.

Thomson’s only other OSCAAR appearance was in 2005 at Peterborough Speedway’s Autumn Colours Classic where he won in a car previously owned by Bill Zardo. He has not set foot in a Super Late Model since October 9, 2005.

“When I ran that OSCAAR race years ago, I always liked the way they treated me,” said Thomson. “I couldn’t have asked for a better weekend. Whether I won or not, it didn’t matter. I liked the group of guys.”

The opportunity to get back in to a Super Late Model will fulfill a life-long desire and allow Thomson to stroke another item from his bucket list.

“For me, growing up I always wanted to run Super Late Models,” said Thomson. “When I went to Flamboro every weekend and ran my street stock or late model, the Super Late Model class was pretty healthy. I’ve always loved the series. My path changed and I decided to go to CASCAR, but I always kind of liked Super Late Models.”

Thomson has considerable experience at CTMP Speedway (previously Mosport) throughout his CASCAR/NCATS career, but isn’t sure he’ll have a leg up on the competition.

“I don’t think it’ll be an advantage. Where I’m behind is the racecars themselves,” explained Thomson. “They’re evolved a lot since I last ran. Last time I ran OSCAAR we were on a pretty conventional setup and the car worked decent. Now, with guys on bump stops, I have no experience yet with stuff like that.”

Thomson will be teammates with J.R. Fitzpatrick for each event the two compete in, but he isn’t sure what to expect of the first time the two have battled as teammates since 2010.

“We’re both pretty competitive guys,” said Thomson. “I know when we raced against each other in the CASCAR/NCATS series, we used to give J.R.’s dad (John Fitzpatrick) fits.”

Thomson did, however, reassure the two have always raced one another clean.

“We always give each other lots of room out there. We’ll race each other like we always have. There won’t be any shenanigans between us two.”

While Thomson dominated his only OSCAAR start back in 2005, he is well aware of the competition he will face in the ultra-competitive series this year.

“It’s not going to be a cake walk. I’m not a spring chicken anymore,” joked Thomson. “I turned 50 last year. Like anything, you’ve got some new and young and exciting kids with a ton of talent. They’re the future of our sport.

“Us 50-year-olds, we’re kind of winding down. I don’t think I have as much piss and vinegar as some of these young guys like J.R. He’s a pretty good driver. When I was 25, I was pretty good too, I think.”

Thomson has yet to secure sponsorship for his OSCAAR endeavours in 2013, but is still welcoming marketing opportunities. For more information, please email to oscaar.media@gmail.com.

By Clayton Johns (@cjohnsmedia)

Veteran Ontario short-track racer and NASCAR Canadian Tire Series (NCATS) star J.R. Fitzpatrick will drive an OSCAAR Super Late Model on a regular basis throughout the 2013 season. Fitzpatrick is expected to pilot the Roy Passer-owned #27 in as many as 10 races throughout the upcoming campaign.

“My heart and soul seems like it belongs in a Super Late,” said Fitzpatrick of his decision to join the tour on a more permanent basis.

As of right now, the 2006 CASCAR Super Series champion is expecting to miss only three dates on the 2013 OSCAAR schedule (June 15 – Barrie, July 27 – Sunset, August 11 – Kawartha).

“I hope it rains every race I’m not there,” joked Fitzpatrick, who says he is most looking forward to races at Flamboro Speedway and Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP) Speedway.

Fitzpatrick’s involvement doesn’t stop there. The Ayr, Ont. driver also purchased his own car, a near-new Outlaw from Len Couvillon over the off-season, which he may drive on a couple of occasions, but the primary focus remains on the Passer Racing #27.

As a result, the two drivers may only race door-to-door on one occasion, at the 2013 Don Biederman Memorial, since both drivers are eager to be a part of the event.

“I would race Roy just as hard as anyone else,” said Fitzpatrick, who is dating Passer’s daughter, Alaura. “But think about how awkward the situation would be if one of us wrecked one another.”

Fitzpatrick’s personally-owned left-hander chassis is guaranteed to see the racetrack at least one other time. It will be piloted by five-time CASCAR Super Series champion Don Thomson Jr. on June 1^st at CTMP Speedway and will sport his familiar #4.

“For me, growing up I always wanted to run Super Late Models,” said Thomson. “When I went to Flamboro every weekend and ran my street stock or late model, the Super Late Model class was pretty healthy. I’ve always loved the series. My path changed and I decided to go CASCAR, but I always kind of liked Super Late Models.”

Fitzpatrick and Passer have logged extensive hours over the winter to completely refresh the #27 Chevrolet. After a couple of mid-season incidents last year, the pair decided to dissect the car to the bare frame.

“The car was weird. When he wrecked it at Delaware, we decided something was wrong,” explained Fitzpatrick. “Basically, the suspension was binding up so bad it would lock the steering.”

“That thing is brand new now. There isn’t one old piece on that car anymore. Roy has been really supportive in making his car better.”

In comparing his Super Late Model to his NCATS #84, Ftizpatrick found the weight variance to be among the biggest differences in the two cars.

“The Super Lates are a lot lighter so you can really maneuver them,” explained Ftizpatrick. “Compared to the NCATS car, they feel like a really fast go-kart. You don’t have to muscle them as hard. They’re really fun to drive.”

One of the biggest adjustments for Fitzpatrick in his move to OSCAAR is a much shorter race distance. NCATS races typically run at least 200 laps on ovals, and as long as 300, while each OSCAAR feature is a short 50 laps in comparison.

“Fifty laps, that drives me crazy! I’m just getting warmed-up by lap 50,” said Fitzpatrick. “In some NCATS races, I do 100 laps of practice.”

Fitzpatrick will be in attendance in the OSCAAR Season Opener on May 19, but will face unique circumstances. Fitzpatrick will be at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park for an afternoon race in his NCATS #84. He will then make a mad dash from the Bowmanville, Ont. facility to Sunset Speedway for a 6pm start.

“Somebody, probably Roy, is going to take the (Super Late) to the track and have it warmed up for me,” he said.

Fitzpatrick finished fifth at Sunset at the Velocity event last September, but said he was battling conditions besides the competition around him through the race.

“I’m quite a bit bigger than Roy and I was sitting in a seat designed for a baby,” joked Fitzpatrick. “The head rest was actually in to my neck.”

“By lap 40, my neck was about to fall off. I was too worried about getting my neck off the seat than actually racing. I think I’ve picked up two-tenths (of a second) just getting comfortable.”

The 24 year-old driver is hoping to compete for an OSCAAR championship in 2014, but will continue to focus on his NCATS program for the remainder of 2013. Fitzpatrick says his interest in the series has grown considerably with President Dave Gainforth at the helm.

“Dave has been great. He really represents the series well,” said Fitzpatrick. “Obviously the whole series is growing. There’s going to be 40 Super Lates this year.”

Catch J.R. Fitzpatrick and the entire cast of OSCAAR Super Late Models when the season opens at Sunset Speedway on May 19.

By Clayton Johns (@cjohnsmedia)

Defending OSCAAR Super Late Model champion Brandon Watson will return to the popular Ontario tour for the 2013 season, but is unsure if he will attempt to defend his title.

Brandon, who won four races in 2012 to dethrone Uncle Glenn Watson from his streak of four consecutive championships, is expecting to attend the majority of OSCAAR events in 2013.

However, he also admitted the team will pursue other interests in Quebec and south of the border that many force them to miss a race.

Brandon will be at the OSCAAR season opener on May 19^th at Sunset Speedway, but not before logging over 2000 kilometres in the 48 hours before hand.

Brandon is expecting to compete in the Autodrome Chaudière ‘Autobus Québecoise Triple Crown’ through the summer at the Vallée-Jonction, Que. facility, approximately 300 kilometres north-east of Montreal. The first edition of the three race mini-series goes Saturday May 18, on the eve of the OSCAAR opener.

Brandon and crew will make a nearly 1000-kilometre haul back to their Stayner, Ont. shop after the 150-lap event to reload for the OSCAAR event at Sunset. The team will travel to Quebec with the same chassis which accompanied them to the Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, FL last December.

The remaining two races of the Chaudière Triple Crown are on August 6, an event which will feature NASCAR Sprint Cup Star Kyle Busch, and September 7.

Those dates do not conflict with the OSCAAR schedule, but Brandon is debating a few other dates south of the border. Included is a July 21 date at Oxford Plains Motor Speedway for the prestigious TD Bank 250, which would keep Brandon from a July 20 OSCAAR date at Flamboro Speedway.

An absence from one OSCAAR tour race would likely eliminate Brandon from championship contention. The 20-year-old admitted it would be difficult to miss a mid-season race if he were among championship hopefuls.

“It definitely would be (tough),” explained Brandon. “It’s likely that we’re going to miss a few races, but we’ll see how it goes and make bigger decisions throughout the year.”

Brandon and crew, led by his father Tim Watson, have made few changes to the 2012 championship chassis over the course of the winter, choosing to follow an ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ mentality.

“We didn’t make too many adjustments,” said Brandon. “We had the motor freshened, but not a lot (of other changes).”

Brandon has been keeping up-to-date on the influx of talent to the Super Late Model tour and feels new blood in the series can only be a good thing.

“It’s a good thing for the series. It’s a lot more cars, a lot newer and better stuff, which is good,” he said. “There’s definitely going to be some new competitive drivers this year that I’ll have to watch out for.”

While he realises the competition is substantially deeper in OSCAAR this season, Brandon still hopes to continue his success atop the podium.

“It would definitely be good to do as well as last year,” said Brandon. “If we could get the same number of wins, that would be great. We’re just trying to get in to the winner’s circle as much as we can.”

When the 2013 OSCAAR schedule was revealed, Brandon took notice of the changes to the format for the Don Biederman Memorial. The new two-day event at Sunset Speedway is being viewed as a new opportunity.

“I like Sunset, but I like Kawartha too. It’s good to see the race move around,” he said. “I enjoy longer races, but it’s different switching it up to two fifty-lap races. It’s definitely a good thing.”

After a long off-season of uncertainty surrounding Kawartha, which will not host a weekly racing program in 2013, Brandon was happy to see it on the OSCAAR schedule this year.

“Kawartha is one of my favourite tracks,” he explained. “It’s big, it’s fast and we always seem to do well there. We’ll have to make the most of our one race there.”

Brandon also hopes to battle the province’s best late model drivers at invitational events throughout 2013, but has not yet set a schedule.

However, the team has discussed making appearances at Sunset Speedway, Flamboro’s Grisdale Triple Crown, and Sauble Speedway’s Dash for Cash or Beat the Heat 150.

“I’m sure we’ll try to get out here as much as we can, but we’re not officially sure what we’re doing yet.”

All of Brandon’s racing efforts for the 2013 campaign will be backed by long-time supporter Shear Metal Products, transport provider Royal Distributing, Barrie Frame and Alignment, and car graphics provider Knightworks Design.

Amongst the uncertainty, you can catch Brandon Watson at Sunset Speedway on May 19 as he helps kick off the OSCAAR Super Late Model tour.

By Clayton Johns (@cjohnsmedia)

Former Sunset Speedway mini-stock competitor Rob Gibson is taking a big plunge in to the OSCAAR Super Late Model series for the 2013 campaign.

Gibson, nicknamed the ‘One Man Army’, joins a growing list of rookie-of-the-year contenders, which includes Kevin Cornelius, Andrew Gresel, Sean Cronan, and J.R. Fitzpatrick.

Gibson will pilot car #3 for the 2013 campaign with a traditional black and silver paint scheme inspired by his racing hero Dale Earnhardt Sr.

After initially purchasing the chassis driven by Tyler Hawn throughout the 2011 and 2012 seasons, Gibson later purchased another piece from Jeff Walt. Since then, he has been taking the best of both cars.

“I started doing some research and found that it was a pretty old chassis. So I picked up a 2008 Howe chassis as well,” explained Gibson. “I started fitting some stuff from Tyler’s old car to this new car. Basically, I’m going to be using is the motor, the (transmission) and the rear-end.”

The winter has been a long and eventful one for Gibson, who is going through the process of piecing together a Super Late Model for the first time.

“We pretty much started from scratch,” said Gibson. “It’s a learning experience that’s for sure.”

The Orillia, Ont. native still finds the experience of owning a Super Late Model to be surreal after watching the series at nearby speedways for most of his life.

“I always watched them and I always loved them. I actually never thought I would drive one,” said Gibson. “Tyler (Hawn) started working at my work and we got talking. I went to the bank and next thing I know there’s an OSCAAR in my garage. I don’t really know how it happened.”

The relationship between the two drivers has extended beyond the workplace, blossoming in to a friendship at the racetrack as well.

“We’re pretty good buddies now. He’s helped me a lot,” said Gibson of Hawn. “Jeff Walt’s helped me a lot too.”

The transition to a powerful 500-horsepower Super Late Model from a four-cylinder Honda won’t be easy for Gibson, but he feels he will learn the trade with enough seat time.

“I think I’ll be fine driving wise once I get some practice,” said Gibson. “The closing rate is a lot faster, I can tell that just from watching. I guess I’ll just have to pick it up (as I go).”

Gibson has already warned he won’t be ready for opening day on May 19, but is eyeing a June 1^st debut at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP) Speedway. The original plan for the rookie contender was to run a full season, but with a limited schedule, Gibson is looking forward to races at CTMP, Peterborough, and Sauble.

Operating as a lower-budget car, Gibson knows he will have to stay clean in order to make as many races as possible.

“If I get in a bad wreck, it’s going to take a little bit to fix it,” he said. “I don’t have the money to re-clip (the car) and be out the next week.”

By the same token, if Gibson earns enough prize money he will continue to race.

“If I can cover some of my costs, I’ll keep going as much I can. I’m not scared to race it, that’s for sure.”

The Sunset veteran has set the bar of expectations quite high for his rookie season.

“I’d love to be in the top-ten consistently. A top-five would be like a win for me,” explained Gibson. “With the names going in to (the series) it’s pretty far-fetched, I realise. But some nights they can have trouble and maybe I won’t.”

“You keep seeing all the names that are joining and it’s just ‘wow’.”

Finally fulfilling his OSCAAR dream, Gibson is likely to be a kid in a candy store when he takes his first green flag behind the wheel of a Super Late Model in June.

By Clayton Johns (@cjohnsmedia) – Veteran Ontario late model driver Sean Cronan has announced he will drive a Terry Snyder-owned OSCAAR Super Late Model for the entirety of the 2013 season.

Cronan explained the deal with Snyder had been in the works since the 2012 Autumn Colours Classic at Peterborough Speedway. Cronan, who will pilot a chassis previously driven by Jeff Dunford, feels the transition will be simple with the veteran Snyder at the helm.

“We’ve got a big asset with Terry having been around for so many years,” explained Cronan. “He’s a bit of a Super Late Model guru. He lives and breathes racing.”

Cronan will drive car #8 during his rookie season.

“I’m so thankful just to be racing for Terry Snyder. It’s a great car and a great honour,” said Cronan.

Along with his full-time move to OSCAAR, Cronan says he will still see some action in his limited late model, although the only confirmed event is the 21^st edition of the Autumn Colours Classic October 11-13, 2013, where he will pull double-duty.

The 2011 Sunset Speedway McColl shootout champion Cronan says he has dreamt of his chance to pilot a Super Late Model since he first started watching short track racing in Ontario.

“It’s always been one of those dreams where I thought ‘it would sure be nice to setup one of those cars’,” explained Cronan.

Cronan, who previously called Sunset Speedway home, is the fifth driver to announce his competition for rookie-of-the-year. The Barrie, Ont. native will be up against tough competition in fellow Sunset graduate Kevin Cornelius, Andrew Gresel, J.R. Fitzpatrick, and Rob Gibson for the rookie title.

“These guys are good. It’s not easy by any stretch,” said Cronan. “These guys are all very accomplished racecar drivers. We’ll see how it all works out, but that’s a stout field of rookies.”

The transition to a bigger, faster, yet lighter Super Late Model will not necessarily be easy, but Cronan is up for the tough challenge against a strong cast of competitors.

“You have to react faster, they brake harder, they come out of the corners a lot faster,” said Cronan. “Everything about a Super Late Model is faster. That’s going to be the biggest learning curve for me.”

“I’ve never shied away from competition before in my life, so I don’t think now is a time to start. I’m ready for the challenge and we’ll see what we’ve got at the end of the year.”

The veteran Cronan has yet to reach out to other OSCAAR competitors for advice, but says he hopes to before the season starts.

“It’s a racecar, and it turns left. I might give somebody call. If all else fails, we’ll wing it,” joked Cronan.

Regardless of the competition level, Cronan says he will be more focused on his own consistency, and admitted he may follow the model of a fellow competitor.

“You’ve got to finish races,” said Cronan. “That’ll probably be a strong asset for Kevin Cornelius. He doesn’t seem to get himself in to too much trouble.”

The burgeoning size of OSCAAR caught Cronan’s eye over the past few years and gave him the final nudge to make the jump.

“OSCAAR is a growing series. There is no doubt about that,” stated Cronan. “You look at the roster list and the money these guys are spending, and it just keeps going. It’s unbelievable. To even be a part of that is a huge honour.”

With just under a month remaining until the season opener, Cronan is optimistic he and his team are poised to compete well.

“With my guys coming on board and a little bit of experience from (Terry), I think we can put a solid program together.”

Cronan will enjoy extensive sponsorship in 2013 from Spira Fire Protection, The Lockeroom Sports Bar & Grill, Women In Stride, Super Cuts, Gunk Canada, Plumbtech Plumbing Inc., Rental City, Knightworks Design, Speedy Auto Machine, Sturdy Power Lines, Bourque Transmission, Paul’s Auto Body, Sophie’s Place Restaurant, Allen Roofing, and Septech Septic Service.

Cronan will be in action on Sunday May 19 for the OSCAAR season opener at Sunset Speedway.

By Clayton Johns (@cjohnsmedia) – After a disappointing 2012 season Michel (Mike) Beyore is preparing a new program for his OSCAAR Super Late Model. The veteran driver from Whitby, Ont. has had a long time to prepare for the opening day of 2013 following his final race at Kawartha Speedway in late September.

A full-season hiatus two years ago had Beyore itching to get back behind the wheel last May, but suffered a pair of engine failures which interrupted his 2012 campaign.

Despite a year which did not meet his expectations, Beyore retained all of his sponsorship for this coming season.

“Pretty well everybody is coming back. I was happy that even though we had kind of a down year last year, everybody stayed with me,” said Beyore. “These guys have been with me for a long time and they understand when things go wrong.”

Beyore will once again enjoy support on his #54 Chevrolet from Stemac Machinery, Millenium Crane, CNC Fabricating, Metals Plus, MGS Performance, Praxair, Don’s Auto Body, and Mayhew Graphics.

A sixth-place finish at Sunset Speedway to begin his return had the veteran driver in high spirits. However, the first engine failure just two weeks later had Beyore scrambling to reorganize.

After another failure at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP) mid-season, Beyore vowed to make a change for the 2013 campaign to ensure a consistent and complete season.

“We’re going back to the (McGunegill) spec motor,” explained Beyore. “It’s proven and reliable. I might be a bit underpowered, but I’m hoping I can make it work.”

“A few of the things I don’t understand why I’m having problems, so I’m eliminating the problem. We we’re going, showing up, and we’re not even making it out of practice. I’m tired of blowing up.”

Beyore has also decided to make changes to the car’s body style as well, adding a two-inch lip to the top of the car’s rear quarter-panels as a way to improve downforce.

With the amount of new and high-quality competition entering OSCAAR, Beyore knew he had to solidify his program to make a title run in 2013.

“When I came to OSCAAR, there were maybe four or five guys to beat,” explained Beyore. “Now, you’ve got to fight to get a top-ten. You better be on your game or that’s it. It’s going to get to the point where we draw a decent amount of cars and you’re going to have to qualify to get in (to the feature).”

“If you look around the province, what other series can tell you they’ve got 40 cars? None.”

When the Super Late Model schedule was released for the upcoming season, Beyore, like most other competitors, knew he needed to be strong at Sunset in order to be amongst the top tier of competitors.

“Five races at Sunset, you need to be good. You need to spend some time there, and that’s what I’m going to do,” said Beyore, who plans to attend the OSCAAR practice day at Sunset on May 12.

Regardless of the schedule, the ‘Whitby Warrior’ is looking forward to the June 1 date at CTMP (formerly Mosport), which he once called home.

“I always like going to Mosport. I’ve got a lot of laps there,” explained Beyore. “Kawartha is the next one, but we’ve only got one race there. Hopefully something changes there for the next year.”

Beyore will have added support this year from his brother Max, a former Kawartha Speedway late model competitor, who will travel with him as he competes in a new Jeff Hanley-built OSCAAR Modified.

Both drivers are hoping brotherly love will translate to success on the race track.

Photos by Dan Little

By Clayton Johns (@cjohnsmedia) – After making the decision to move to an OSCAAR Super Late Model last fall, Kevin Cornelius (#17 Halton Stone/Lee Sand and Gravel/Triple Crete/Hanson Pipe/Aliston Transmission Chevrolet) is set for his rookie season.  Cornelius, the 2011 Sunset Speedway Limited Late Model champion, will pilot the first ever Outlaw Super Late Model to come from London, Ont.-based McColl Racing Enterprises. With the season opener just five weeks away on May 19, Cornelius is itching to get his car to the track for testing.

“We’ve talked to Steve Slaughter at Sunset and expressed interest in going to his speedway and doing some testing as soon as the snow is gone,” said Cornelius. “Being down at the Mega Speed show got me the itch a little more. It seems winter is taking forever to go by.”

Cornelius has endured a long off-season, made longer by this week’s winter storm to pass through Southern Ontario, after his final race in late September at Sunset’s Velocity Weekend, and is looking forward to a few events on the 2013 OSCAAR tour.

“I just wish the first one would get here,” laughed Cornelius. “Sauble Speedway is where I kind of got my start so I’m looking forward to going back there and trying to remember how to drive that track.”

“Sunset is where we got our first championship and it’ll always be home.”

A number of factors led Cornelius to leave Sunset for a new home at OSCAAR, but his family was at the forefront of the decision making process after his wife, Robin, gave birth to twins Carter and Avery in November.

“The schedule of 12 to 13 races, instead of 26 to 27 races with the expanded family we have, made it appealing,” said Cornelius.

Now that Cornelius has made the decision, he is looking forward to the added strategy involved in a 50-lap feature, in lieu of the weekly 30-lap show at Sunset.

“The longer races are more appealing to me,” he said. “You can sort of lay back and conserve a bit and race smarter as opposed to the Limited Late where you only have 30 laps and you have to get the front as quick as you can.”

While the two cars have their similarities, Cornelius knows there will be significant differences in the transition to his brand new Super Late Model.

“I’m really interested to see how much different they do handle,” said Cornelius. “Everybody’s telling me they’re quite a different animal. The horsepower is going to be the biggest thing to adjust to along with the tire.”

“The tires are a lot softer. You’re going to have a lot more tire wear over the course of a 50-lap race, as opposed to what we were used to.”

Cornelius will be in tough in his quest for a Rookie-of-the-Year title against strong competitors in Andrew Gresel and J.R. Fitzpatrick, as well as former Mini-stock driver Rob Gibson.

“Against those guys, that would be an accomplishment in itself,” said Cornelius. “That’s a whole lot of talent. At the end of the year, if we come out on top or we don’t, as long as we go out every week and we’ve done our best, than that’s all we can ask for.”

As he prepares for his OSCAAR debut in 37 days, Cornelius has been relying on 2012 OSCAAR Rookie-of-the-Year runner-up and former Sunset competitor Rob Poole for advice during the change.

“I’ve leaned on Rob quite a bit actually. I’m trying to get a handle on what to expect when you get in the car,” said Cornelius. “I think a lot of Rob’s bad luck came from purchasing a car that had sat for a while. He was just working through some of the bugs. I think you’re going to see a lot more consistency and a lot more competitive RPR team this year.”

Cornelius’ KDR Motorsports team had to put their offseason preparations on hold for a couple of weeks in March when his daughter Avery was diagnosed with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). In the average adult, RSV would be experience like a common cold, but at just four months old, Avery was hospitalized for nine days.

“The process was really slow for getting her better,” said Cornelius, who reassured Avery has since made a full recovery.

The entire OSCAAR Super Late Model tour and its officials wish Kevin and the entire Cornelius family a healthy and successful 2013 race season.

By Clayton Johns (@cjohnsmedia) - Veteran Ontario Pro Late Model driver Andrew Gresel has announced he will field a car for a full season with the OSCAAR (Ontario Stock Car Association of Asphalt Racers) Super Late Model tour in 2013.

Gresel, who has previously called Delaware and Sauble Speedway home throughout his racing career, will pilot a brand new Hamke Race Cars chassis from the Mooresville, NC company.

Gresel, a native of Sauble Beach, Ont., says he has wanted to make the jump to OSCAAR for the past two seasons.

“I’ve always liked the idea of OSCAAR,” said Gresel. “I like the way the series has been run the last few years.”

Gresel will enjoy sponsorship from Sauble Falls Tent and Trailer Park, London Recreational, the Canadian Union of Skilled Workers, Overland Heating and Cooling, McRobert Fuels, Spira Fire Protection, and Shoreline Property Management for his 2013 campaign and is in the process of securing more support.

A large influx of new talent has bolstered OSCAAR’s driver roster over the past three seasons, with Gresel the latest to throw his name in for the championship chase. The increase in driver talent in OSCAAR was a big reason for Gresel’s move to OSCAAR, he said.

As a veteran of Ontario short-track racing, Gresel has raced at each track on the 2013 OSCAAR schedule, with the exception of Barrie Speedway since it reconfiguration in 2004. However, Gresel isn’t sure he will be able to use any of his existing track notes as an advantage.

“It’s not going to play in a lot. Our setup will be totally different (from the Pro Late Model),” said Gresel. “The big concern with this car is they’re quite a bit more horsepower and actually lighter than what we’re used to running.

In terms of driving and getting the car on to the racetrack and performing, I should be alright that way.”

Regardless, Gresel won’t settle for a mediocre performance on the track and nobody would expect anything less from a proven winner.

“Hopefully we’ll have some top-five finishes right off the bat,” said Gresel. “It’s going to be hard to do. We’re kind of late starting to build the car so we might not get a whole lot of practice time.”

“We’re putting a lot of effort in to the way this car is going together, so I think it should perform well,” he said.

Gresel does have one advantage over the rest of the OSCAAR field: he’s already been behind the wheel of a stock car this calendar year. In February, Gresel raced at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, FL with the ARCA (Automobile Racing Club of America) tour as part of Florida’s Speedweeks.

Unfortunately for Gresel the trip didn’t go as planned as he failed to qualify for the main event, but says he gained valuable experience on the famed superspeedway against some tough competition.

“The competition down there is crazy. You’re up against some major teams with some major (sponsorship) support,” explained Gresel. “It’s a great experience. I would never have learned anything about the superspeedways if I didn’t do that Daytona deal. If I get another chance I know it’ll be different.”

Now that he is back on home soil, Gresel and his crew are focused 100 per cent on the OSCAAR tour.

“We are putting every effort in to being championship contenders out of the gate,” said Joe Chisholm Jr., one of Gresel’s crew members.

When the 2013 OSCAAR schedule was released in early January, Gresel circled August 11 on his calendar, the series’ only stop at Kawartha Speedway in Fraserville, Ont.

“I’m really looking forward to the Kawartha deal. I’ve raced there a few times, but never in a late model series,” explained Gresel of the high-banked 3/8-mile oval. “I like the size of the track. It’s going to be fast, and that’s what I’m in to.”

Gresel’s announcement has only increased the buzz around Ontario’s fastest touring series. With less than two months until opening day, time is of the essence for Gresel who will make his OSCAAR debut on May 19 at Sunset International Speedway in Innisfil, Ont.

By OntarioOval.com – Spring is in the air and with it comes anticipation for the 2013 racing season. It’s the time of year when teams are putting the finishing touches on their cars and preparing for five months of non-stop action. The final stop before the cars hit the track will be Durham’s Fast & Furious Motorsports Show. Many Ontario short track teams will have their cars on display for the two day event which runs April 6^th & 7^th at the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Centre in Bowmanville, Ontario.

This is the inaugural year for the show and already space has filled up quickly. Included to the exhibitors list are Brighton Speedway, Ohsweken Speedway, Canadian Tire Motorsports Park as well as the OSCAAR Outlaw Super Late Models and Modifieds series and one of their strongest supporters, Knightworks Design.

A good cross section of race cars will be on hand including Amanda Connolly and Kelly Balson who will both have their 2013 stock cars on display and will be helping to promote the upcoming season at Peterborough Speedway. From the OSCAAR ranks, 2012 Super Late Model Champion Brandon Watson will have his #9 on display. Brandon Bullens will be representing the OSCAAR Modifieds.

For dirt track racing fans the #11 Sprint Car of Jamie Turner will be on display along side the Ohsweken Speedway booth. There fans can pick up their 2013 pocket schedules, poster and calendars and learn more about reserved seating for the upcoming Northern Summer Nationals and World of Outlaws Sprint Car events that will feature three-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart.  The #25 DIRTcar Pro Late Model of Greg Belyea will also be on hand to help promote the first ever World of Outlaws Late Model Series event at Brighton Speedway this June.

Also in attendance will be ImageFactor.ca Motorsport Designs & Photos. The designers and operators of www.OntarioOval.com will have a booth featuring all of their design services available to the motorsports market including websites, autograph cards and many other promotional products. They will be a part of the ‘dirt section’ of the show and will be announcing some new and exciting news to the Ontario dirt scene during the weekend.

The Fast & Furious Motorsports Show runs from 10am to 7pm on Saturday, April 6^th and from 10am to 4pm on Sunday, April 7^th. Admission is just $5 per person while children 12 and under are free. There will be plenty of things to see for all motorsports enthusiasts from stock cars to motorcycles and everything in between. For directions and exhibitor information visit www.durhamfastandfurious.com.

By Clayton Johns (@cjohnsmedia)

After one of the most successful seasons in series history, the OSCAAR Outlaw Super Late Models are preparing for an extensive season. The 2013 will feature a 13-race schedule that will see Ontario’s premier asphalt touring series reach eight different Ontario short-tracks. The 2013 schedule offers a new look from previous seasons, however the series’ staple events remain intact. All events on the 2013 schedule will be 50 lap features.

The OSCAAR Super Late Models will be accompanied by the OSCAAR Modifieds for 11 of their 13 events in 2013, an increase from eight in 2012.

“It took a bit longer than expected to get everything finalised,” said OSCAAR President Dave Gainforth. “The end result will be well worth the wait. OSCAAR fans are going to be treated to great Super Late Model and Modified racing action at their favourite track throughout the entire summer.”

The Super Late Models season will once again kick off at Sunset International Speedway on Sunday May 19 on Victoria Day weekend. The season opener marks the first of five events on the 2013 schedule at Sunset. OSCAAR Super Late Model drivers will pay tribute to Lucie Aylwin at the event for the second consecutive season. Aylwin was the fiancé of Gary Gendron, a crewmember for driver George Wilson, who was tragically killed in the collapse of the Algo Centre mall in Elliot Lake, Ont. on June 23, 2012.

Drivers will then have two weeks off before returning to action on at The Speedway at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park on June 1 for their only trip to the Bowmanville, ON facility in 2013.

After another two-week hiatus, the series heads to Barrie Speedway on June 15 for the season’s third event where 2012 Inside Track Rookie-of-the-Year Jesse Kennedy will try to defend his 2012 win.

The series will be in action two weeks later on back-to-back nights on June 29 and 30 at Sunset for the Don Biederman Memorial. A new format for the Biederman will see back-to-back complete race nights, each culminating in a 50-lap feature for the Outlaws. The results of the two races will be combined to determine the 2013 Don Biederman Memorial winner. The exact formula for determining the 2013 Biederman winner has yet to be determined, but will be made available to the public once it has been finalized.  Both races are full points events.

Following the Biederman event, drivers will have a two-week break to prepare for a pivotal month in the championship hunt with five consecutive weekends of racing. The series will return to action July 13 on the Grey-Bruce Peninsula at Sauble Speedway in Hepworth, ON. George Wilson is the defending race winner at ‘the Beach’.

A week later, OSCAAR returns to Flamboro Speedway for the first time in five seasons on July 20. Derrick Tiemersma was the last OSCAAR winner at Flamboro in 2008 as part of the Oktoberfest year-end special.

The eighth event of the season will be one week later at Sunset on July 27.

Drivers will start the month of August at Peterborough Speedway on August 3 for the Chase for the Colours. The top two finishers in the 50-lap feature will be locked in to the front row for the Autumn Colours Classic on Thanksgiving Weekend, while the third and fourth place finishers will be guaranteed starting spots of no worse than 13^th and 14^th, respectively.

OSCAAR will remain in the Peterborough-area one week later for an exclusive race at Kawartha Speedway on Sunday August 11. The afternoon event is currently the only stock car race on the 2013 schedule for Kawartha. The Super Late Models will run a 50-lap feature alongside a 25-lap race for the OSCAAR Modifieds.

The series will put the championship hunt on hold for two weeks before returning to action at Peterborough on August 24. The race moves forward one week from its previous position on Labour Day. Charlie Gallant won his first career OSCAAR feature at the event in 2012.

The remaining pair of events will take place as part of the Ontario stock car racing ‘post-season’, beginning with the Velocity Weekend at Sunset on September 29. The year-end special will be the fifth and final stop at the Innisfil, ON-oval in 2013. Jeff Hanley was the 2012 victor.

As always, the 2013 OSCAAR Super Late Model champion will be crowned at Peterborough Speedway as part of the 21^st Autumn Colours Classic. Defending OSCAAR points champion Brandon Watson won his second OSCAAR Autumn Colours event in 2012 en route to his first championship.

The schedule, which is one race longer than the 2012 edition, is expected to produce one of the closest championship points races. With a collection of new talent entering the division, Series President Dave Gainforth is preparing for one of the most exciting Super Late Model seasons to date.

“If OSCAAR fans thought 2012 was entertaining, wait until they see what’s in store for them in 2013,” said Gainforth.

The OSCAAR Super Late Model season gets underway unofficially at the Mega Speed show at the International Centre in Toronto, Ont. from March 22-24. Cars, drivers, officials, and series merchandise will all be on hand at the OSCAAR booth.

Marketing opportunities are still available with the OSCAAR Super Late Models for the 2013 season. Contact Dave Gainforth by email at oscaargainforth@gmail.com for more information.

 2013 OSCAAR Outlaw Super Late Model Schedule

* Note: The 2013 Don Biederman Memorial Champion will be crowned after combining the results of both the races on June 29 and June 30.

By Clayton Johns (@cjohnsmedia)

One of the biggest news releases entering the 2012 season was Brandon Watson’s (#9 Royal Distributing/Shear Metal Products/Knightworks Design/Barrie Frame and Alignment Chevrolet Impala SS) announcement he would run full time on the OSCAAR tour for the first time in his career. The teenager from Stayner, ON had run in select events over the past three seasons as well as gaining tour experiencing with the CRA Jegs All-Star Tour south of the border. Immediately, Watson became a championship contender.

Right out of the gate, Watson did not disappoint at Sunset Speedway as he would be named the winner of the opening race at Sunset International Speedway following a thrilling battle with George Wilson.

A month later at Barrie Speedway, Watson controlled the first 39 laps before a slip on a late race restart would force him to second behind eventual race winner Jesse Kennedy.

Watson and grew never relented their efforts however, and returned to Watson’s former home track at Sunset to earn his second win of the season, this time in decisive fashion. Podium finishes in the first three events had Watson firmly at the top of the standings at the quarter-pole.

“It feels good to be in victory lane again. We’ve had all good finishes. We’ll be happy with taking the points lead,” said Watson following the victory.

Another pair of podium finishes at Sauble Speedway and Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (both races were won by George Wilson) furthered Watson’s hold on the top spot and a fifth-place finish at Peterborough on August 4 meant ending the first half in first place.

Watson couldn’t track down Rob Clarke at Delaware Speedway as ‘Magic Shoes’ earned his first win of the season, meaning the youngster would finish second for the third time on the campaign.

A pair of eighth-place finishes at Peterborough and Sunset in September allowed a handful of other championship hopefuls a glimmer of hope.

“The bad luck kind of continued for me today. Unfortunately, a trailing arm broke going in to (turn) one,” explained Watson following the Sunset event. “The rear-end was moving all around going in to the corner. The car was jumping two feet to the right.  There on, I was just trying to hold on.”

Any hope remaining for other drivers was dashed when Watson rattled off a win at Kawartha Speedway in the biggest race of the season, the Don Biederman Memorial. Watson’s first Biederman Memorial win meant he needed only to start the feature in the final event of the season, the Autumn Colour’s Classic at Peterborough.

Watson did more than just start the feature as he went on to claim his fourth win of the season and his first career OSCAAR championship. After going to the tail of the field following early problems, Watson wrestled his way to the front of the field to claim the win before the capacity crowd.

“It was definitely hard to get back up through the field. We had a good car to start,” explained Watson. “We had lots of grip and were able to pull away a bit and keep a solid lead. We got a flat there, we had to go to the back.”

“I was looking forward to this night all year. I’m really happy with all my crew and my sponsors,” said Watson after being presented with the championship trophy. “I definitely have to thank my dad, my mom, my brother, my sister, Steve, Stu, Vic, Mike, and everybody that helps out.”

“Of course all my sponsors, especially Royal Distributing who came on this year. They were a big help for us. Shear Metal Products, Barrie Frame and Alignment, of course Knightworks Design for wrapping our cars the past two years and making them look good.”

At the year-end banquet, Watson’s #9 Chevrolet was voted the Best Appearing Car by the drivers of the series.

The OSCAAR Super Late Model tour and its officials would like to congratulate Brandon Watson on his 2012 championship.

Photos by Dan Little

By Clayton Johns (@cjohnsmedia)

Markham, ON – OSCAAR Racing held its annual year-end awards banquet on Saturday at the Holiday Inn Markham to honour its 2012 champions and specialty award winners. The Super Late Model and Modified division drivers were recognized for their accomplishments in front of the largest gathering in OSCAAR history with over 250 drivers, crew members, and fans in attendance.

Gary McLean was officially crowned the inaugural OSCAAR Modified champion, taking home a brand-new championship trophy and ring. McLean finished outside the top-ten just one time in 2012, and won eight different events on the 12 event schedule. McLean was quick to thank crew chief Greg Gibson and the rest of his crew for the success. McLean was presented with a championship Hoosier Racing Tire jacket as well.

Brandon Watson officially received his first Super Late Model championship trophy and ring following a season in which he won three races. The season marked the first time Watson ran full-time on the tour. Brandon thanked his father and Crew Chief Tim Watson as well as his family, crew, and sponsors for their support. Brandon also received a commemorative plaque courtesy of Dave Franks Photos for his Don Biederman Memorial victory in September and a Hoosier Racing Tire champion’s jacket.

Knightworks Design sponsored the championships for both drivers, who will receive a complete car graphics package as well as 12 custom crew shirts and hats for the 2013 season.

OSCAAR President Dave Gainforth honoured each of the contingency sponsors in attendance for their support, including Knightworks Design, Hoosier Racing Tire, South Shore Services, Jenco Equipment, Dave Franks Photos, and Race2way.ca. Each sponsor received a commemorative die-cast Outlaw Super Late Model, customized with the sponsor’s logo on the hood.

Gainforth also recognized the contributions of the OSCAAR staff and officials in 2012, who were each presented with a personalized travel bag.

A number of specialty awards were handed out to drivers of both divisions, all of which were decided by vote of the drivers of the respective divisions.

The first specialty award to be handed out was the Hard Luck driver award. The Super Late Model award went to rookie driver Rob Poole (#45 Visser Farms Chevrolet) who suffered through a number of mechanical failures in his first season but persevered to complete all but one race on the schedule. As the recipient of the award, Poole receives a new Outlaw body for his car in 2013 courtesy of Finishline Fabrication (FLF Racecars).

The Hard Luck award in the modified division went to Brad Pearsall (#1B Ponderosa Nature Resort/Performance Signs Chevrolet). Pearsall endured a mountain of engine trouble throughout the season, but continued to support the series throughout. For his troubles, Pearsall is also the recipient of a $500 gift certificate to the Racer’s Edge.

Next on tap were the Most Improved Driver awards. The Super Late Model award went to Charlie Gallant (#40P South Shore Services/East Point Marina Chevrolet) who finished tied for fourth in the overall championship standings. Gallant acquired the 2011 championship chassis from Glenn Watson to improve his operation in 2012. Gallant did just that as he earned his first feature win at Peterborough Speedway in early September.

The inaugural Most Improved Driver award in the modified division went to Davey Terry (#14 Wasteco/Brennan Haulage Toyota). Terry began the year running just inside the top-ten, but by season’s end was competing for the top step on the podium. With two runner-up finishes at Sunset Speedway’s Velocity weekend and at Kawartha Speedway it was clear Terry and his team made great improvements over the course of the five month season.

The Best Appearing Car awards were presented to Brandon Watson in the Super Late Model divison and Josh Gruntz in the modified division. Both drivers maintained immaculately prepared racecars both in terms of appearance and performance at each event on tour. As a result of their dedication to appearance, both drivers will receive 250 professionally customized and designed hero cards courtesy of ImageFactor.ca.

Both Inside Track Rookie-of-the-Year drivers were honoured for their accomplishments in 2012 with a special trophy. Super Late Model driver Jesse Kennedy (#10 Cameron Crane/Bev’s Auto Body/Quality Collision Chevrolet) had clinched the rookie title following the Don Biederman Memorial with one race still remaining on the schedule. Kennedy experienced a roller-coaster season, but proved to be a contender every night, winning at Barrie Speedway in June.

Davey Terry was recognized as the modified Inside Track Rookie-of-the-Year. Terry led the rookie standings throughout the entire second half of the season and was presented with a commemorative plaque for his title courtesy of Dave Frank’s photography.

The final specialty award was the Sportsman-of-the-Year, given to Todd Campbell (#07 Campbell Sanitation/Remax Deb Olender Chevrolet) in the Super Late Model class for his constant positive attitude both on and off the track, as well as his constructive additions to the series. Campbell, the 2011 Rookie-of-the-Year, earned his first top-five finish in 2012 at Sauble Speedway.

The Sportsman-of-the-Year award in the modified division went to Josh Gruntz, his second specialty award of the night. Gruntz was selected by his peers as a driver constantly exhibiting a positive attitude and encouraging a co-operative union between the drivers of the newly formed series.  As a rookie to modified racing, Gruntz was always welcome to assistance from veteran drivers and remained one of the cleanest racing drivers on tour from start to finish.

Each driver finishing in the top-ten in the championship standings for each division was honoured with a customized commemorative banner. Brent McLean was presented with a commemorative plaque for his win at the Rick Woolner Memorial.

The 2012 banquet officially brings one of the most exciting and successful OSCAAR season’s to a close. The next event on the OSCAAR calendar is the annual Rules Meeting on December 9, also at the Holiday Inn Markham. Please see www.oscaar.ca for more details.

By Clayton Johns (@cjohnsmedia) – After several seasons at Laird International Raceway and Kinross Speedway Park, George Wilson (#77 Port City Racecars/Morollo Racing Engines/Let the Fur Fly Pet Saloon/Union Cab For Fusion) competed full-time on the OSCAAR Super Late Model tour in 2012 for the first-time. Having made sporadic appearances on the tour over the past few seasons, many fans were already familiar with Wilson at the onset of this season.

The season appeared to start off with the best of results in the opener at Sunset Speedway as Wilson dominated the 50-lap event to earn the first win of the season. However, a disqualification in post-race technical inspection due to an illegal carburetor set the team back early in the year.

Refusing to let the ‘DQ’ hinder his championship hopes, Wilson bounced back at Barrie two weeks later  with a third place finish at the tight Oro Station, ON oval. The result came after a fierce battle with Brandon Watson for the second race in a row and eventual race winner Jesse Kennedy.

Returning to Sunset on June 30, Wilson finished second to points leader Brandon Watson after the two locked horns once again, both drivers declaring themselves at the top of the class.

In the series annual visit to the ‘beach’ at Sauble Speedway, Wilson finally broke through with a dominating performance on the ¼-mile oval just west of Hepworth, ON. Wilson was the top-qualifier on the night and started third before taking the win. The win, however, did not come easy as four-time champion Glenn Watson gave everything he had to Wilson, but the Sault Ste. Marie, ON native emerged the victor.

Wilson showed his diversity as he was in victory lane for the second-straight race two weeks later at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park’s (CTMP) ½-mile oval, dominating the series only stop at the Bowmanville-area facility. Wilson pulled away from the main pack, taking Brandon Watson along for the ride, but only teased the teenager with the chance at victory.

“My spotter was telling me Brandon was working so I just tried to correct and roll through the centre. I just hoped he didn’t get a good run on me. It’s nice to not just run away with it,” said Wilson.

A seventh-place finish at Peterborough Speedway disappointed Wilson after he lead early on, but was sent to the back as an involved car following a spin with Shawn Chenoweth.

Wilson rebounded with consecutive third place finishes at Delaware and Peterborough to close out July. After Brandon Watson had his first setback at Peterborough with a broken rear-axle, Wilson gained some ground in the championship standings. However, the veteran Outlaw driver was cautiously optimistic with three races remaining.

“There’s still a long ways to go. That’s his first miss, the first hiccup Brandon’s had all year. He’s ran so consistent. Mechanical failures are something nobody wants. I hate to see it happen, I’d rather beat him on the racetrack,” said Wilson following the Peterborough event, the first OSCAAR race to be broadcast live by Racetime Radio. “I gave him 60 points too at the start of the season. They’re not going to give them back to me, so I’ll take the points when he does break and take advantage of it.”

It appeared Wilson’s dramatic comeback was not meant to be late in the season. A hard wreck at Sunset Speedway in to the inside retaining wall handed Wilson a DNF. A week later transmission issues at Kawartha gave Wilson another DNF in the Biederman Memorial, a race Wilson says is at the top of his ‘to win’ list.

Not helping matters was Brandon Watson’s win at Kawartha to extend the point lead heading in to the final event. Brandon merely had to start the final race to be crowned the 2012 champion, leaving Wilson hoping for a final win to complete a hat-trick of victories. Despite a hard battle with the eventual champion, Wilson would settle for the runner-up spot at Autumn Colours and in the championship standings.

When the dust settled on the 2012 campaign, Wilson had proven himself one of the most dominant drivers on the tour. Rarely out of win contention, Wilson amassed eight top-ten finishes, including seven results inside the top-five. The statistics are most impressive for a team whose shortest travel time is nearly eight hours to Barrie Speedway. Plans for 2013 have yet to be confirmed for Wilson, but it is likely he will at least compete part time on the tour.

The OSCAAR Super Late Model tour and its officials would like to congratulate George Wilson on his second-place finish in the 2012 championship standings. Wilson will be recognized for his achievements at the 2012 OSCAAR awards banquet on Saturday November 24, 2012 at the Holiday Inn in Markham, ON.