2013 Barrie Speedway Late Model Champion: Gord Shepherd

With Barrie Speedway’s format of running double Late Model features each weekend, it can be tough on teams.

“We’ve been wrecked in the first one and done our best to get him back out there for the second,” Ridge Road Racing crew chief Jeff Cuculick commented. “You spend a lot of time double checking to make sure nuts and bolts are tight.”

It also can be frustrating on the driver as when you win the first feature of the night, you have start at the back of the second feature. Cuculick says the frustration with his driver Gord Shepherd is that he wants to get up to the front quickly.

“He’s tough for spotter due to the frustration, but once he’s calmed down he’s okay,” Cuculick added.

Last season at Barrie Speedway, Shepherd, Cuculick and Ridge Road Racing had a top notch successful season as they won the championship with nine feature wins. RRR was honored for their accomplishments at the 2014 Canadian Motorsports Expo as part of the Short Track Night of Champions. Also, Shepherd was ranked eighth on the Inside Track Year End Short Track Power Rankings.