Andrew Gresel dominates OSCAAR Super Late Model feature at Kawartha

The 50-lap OSCAAR feature at Kawartha Speedway brought forth a familiar sight as Andrew Gresel would dominate to score his fifth career OSCAAR Super Late Model victory and his second straight at Kawartha. Gresel didn’t have it easy as he had to come from the rear after having to go pit side early in the event for a tire-rub.

The afternoon started off with Jesse Kennedy winning the first heat ahead of Rudy Oppersma, John Owen, Dave Doucette, Jeff Dunford, Scott Field and Shane Gowan.

The second heat wouldn’t go smoothly as Ethan Cournyea would get into Derrike Tiemerms as the pair raced for the lead, with Tiemersma making heavy contact with the outside wall. Tiemersma’s car would catch fire following the contact, however the driver of the No. 7 Wayfright Super Late Model would be okay. Glenn Watson picked up the win ahead of Rob Poole, Mike Beyore and Mark Dilley.

Andrew Gresel won the final heat ahead of Kevin Cornelius, Dwayne Baker, Jeff Hanley, Corey Jones, Rob Bickle and Gary Passer.

When it came feature time, it’d be Kevin Cornelius starting his No. 17 Halton Crushed Stone, Lee Sand & Gravel, Sandbox Tech Child Care, TripleCrete Ltd., Hanson Pipe & Precast, Alliston Transmission, Ed’s Automotive and MacMaster Pontiac Buick GMC Super Late Model on pole ahead of Rudy Oppersma, Mike Beyore, Andrew Gresel, Jesse Kennedy, Rob Poole, Glenn Watson, Dwayne Baker, John Owen, Dave Doucette, Jeff Hanley, Mark Dilley, Shane Gowan, Jeff Dunford, Kelly Balson, Rob Bickle, Scott Field, Bruce Wheeler, Gary Passer and Ethan Cournyea. Cory Jones was supposed to start mid-pack, though would stall under the pace laps and be done for the afternoon.

Cornelius would get the jump on the restart, though the caution flew quickly as Rudy Oppersma got sideways off turn two, resulting in the field bottling up. As a result, Doucette would get sideways and get into Gowan, causing Gowan to make significant contact with the outside wall. Gowan and Doucette would both be done for the afternoon. Under caution, Gresel headed pit side to fix a tire rub as Poole made contact with the back of Gresel, putting the fender in on the tire. Gresel would pull it out and return to the field, restarting at the tail end.

The second restart went smoother with Cornelius leading ahead of Beyore, Kennedy, Poole and Watson as Oppersma and Baker battled for sixth. Baker would clear Oppersma the next lap, as Oppersma began falling through the field. Hanley moved into seventh, followed by Owen, Balson and Gresel. Gresel continued his climb, passing Balson to move into ninth. Unfortunately, Cournyea’s day ended early as he would pull off due to overheating.

The second caution would fly at lap 15 just after Kennedy got by Beyore for second when Watson would make significant contact with the outside turn one wall. Going into the corner, Watson and Hanley were battling for fifth when they’d come up the lap car of Wheeler. Hanley moved up to not get into Wheeler, instead making contact with Watson’s rear quarter panel and sending Watson for a ride into the wall. With 35 laps to go, Cornelius led Kennedy, Beyore, Gresel, Poole, Baker, Owen, Balson, Oppersma, Hanley, Dunford, Passer, the 16, Field and Dilley.

On the restart, Kennedy would grab the lead in his No. 10 Cameron Crane and Riggers Ltd.-London, Bev’s Auto & Smoke Shop-Oneida, Quality Collision and Auto Body-London and GRE Super Late Model. However, Kennedy didn’t get away as Gresel quickly moved alongside of him. Gresel would clear Kennedy to put the No. 81 Sauble Falls Tent & Trailer Park, London Recreational, Canadian Union of Skilled Workers, HY-Grade Roofing, Have1.com and Raden Givari of eHomes Super Late Model out front of the field. Kennedy slipped back solidly into second ahead of Cornelius as Poole and Beyore battled for fourth. Poole would clear Beyore two laps later, bringing Owen and Hanley with him. Owen would then get by Poole a couple laps later to grab fourth. As the laps continued to tick away, Gary Passer would run into issues, pulling off the track as the field continued to race hard.

Gresel would continue to hold serve at the front of the field ahead of Kennedy, Cornelius, Owen, Poole, Hanley, Baker, Beyore, Balson, Oppersma, Dilley and Dunford. Poole would start to the lose handling, slipping back a couple spots as both Hanley and Baker slipped by.

Gresel would look to have the race in the bag with a huge lead, till the caution flew with four laps to go for Cornelius stopping in turn four. Prior to stopping in the corner, Cornelius led a trail of fluid down the backstretch. It was at first believed to be a possible blown motor, however the team discovered post-race that the power steering line had come loose.

Andrew Gresel would get a good restart and lead the final four laps in route to victory. Jesse Kennedy finished second, followed by Jeff Hanley, John Owen, Rob Poole, Dwayne Baker, Mike Beyore, Kelly Balson, Rudy Oppersma, Jeff Dunford, Scott Field, the 16 and Mark Dilley.