PREVIEW: OSCAAR Super Late Models at Barrie Speedway

With a pair of races in the books to start the season, the stars of the OSCAAR Super Late Model tour now turn their attention to the tight short track known as Barrie Speedway. The Super Lates missed attendance in 2010 and 2011, though have put on a pair of thrilling shows the past two years to a near capacity crowd. Last year’s feature marked a surprise for everyone as there were only one caution the entire 50 lap feature for a single-car spin.

Summer Rush Round 1 winner and current points leader Andrew Gresel heads into this weekend looking to have a solid performance following a pure show of domination two weeks ago at Kawartha Speedway. Gresel made his first career Barrie start last season, finishing third on the night that he debuted his outlaw chassis. A whole year later and a much better understanding of adjustments, look for Gresel to be strong once again this weekend.

Of course, right on his tail will be Jesse Kennedy. Kennedy has started the year with a pair of solid finishes – a fifth and a second – and Barrie is the perfect track for the trend to continue. Kennedy won the event in 2012 for his first career OSCAAR Super Late Model victory after taking the lead with 10 laps to go. Look for Kennedy to possibly back-up that performance on Saturday night.

The previous two years, Jeff Hanley hasn’t made the trek to Barrie Speedway. However committed to the full schedule in 2014, the No. 70 SLM will be in attendance. Hanley’s tough as they come attitude will work perfectly for Barrie in the tight racing that it offers in leaving you the options to sometimes have to use the bumper. Keeping that attitude in balance, though, will be the difference as to whether he is successful.

Perhaps one of the early surprises this season is the strong run that John Owen posted at Kawartha Speedway with a fourth place finish. Not known as one of the stronger drivers over the past couple of years, Owen looks to be finding his groove once again.

Following a pair of top-sevens to start the year, Rob Poole is hoping to keep the positive momentum going in his favor as he currently sits fourth in points. Poole had a good run going in 2012, before breaking a rear-end on lap 39 to end his run early. Last year, he posted a solid ninth place finish. Looking stronger already early in the year, expect Poole to be a top-five contender this weekend.

Coming off an early wreck in the feature at Kawartha, Glenn Watson is hoping to get his season turned around and start to gain points as he chases his fifth series championship. The pilot of the No. 22 Super Late Model has lots of laps in a limited late model around the short track and has been strong at Barrie in the past, posting a pair of fourth places the past two years.

Another driver looking for some luck after misfortune at Kawartha is Kevin Cornelius. Cornelius was running third with five laps to go when a power steering line let go, sending him behind the wall. In his rookie season, Cornelius posted a solid fifth place finish at Barrie last year. Expect Cornelius to be upfront this season as he searches for his first career super late model victory.

Speaking of bad luck, Shane Gowan got a bad draw at Kawartha as his car was destroyed following a first lap crash on the backstretch. Whether the No. 39 SLM will be repaired in time is yet to be known for 100% certainty. However, if Gowan is in an attendance, he will be looking for a solid top-10 to get his year on-track.

Rookies Kelly Balson and Dave Doucette will both be looking to find the right groove this weekend at Barrie. Balson has started off his year strong with a ninth and an eighth. Now heading to a track that he doesn’t have a lot of experience, it will be interesting to watch how well he adapts. On the flip side, Doucette hasn’t started off the year as he would’ve hoped as he was involved in the wreck with Gowan at Kawartha. Though Barrie is the perfect spot for him to turn it around given the multiple laps – including feature victories – that he has around the track in a thunder car.

After missing the first two races of the season due to personal reasons, Tyler Hawn looks to make his 2014 debut at Barrie Speedway this weekend. The hometown driver will be looking to have a good run to kick off his year and has a good chance to do so following a sixth-place finish last year.

Mechanical issues have caused a lot of heartache for Corey Jones to start he year as he blew a motor at Sunset, and finished 21st at Kawartha Speedway. The results don’t reflect the effort as Jones could’ve finished in the top 10 at both events. Hopefully the pilot of the No. 82 SLM has all the bugs worked out for the 50-lapper on Saturday.

As with every trip to Barrie Speedway, the fans are always treated to exciting, fast racing by the talented list of drivers mentioned above, along with some others who will throw name in the ring. For some drivers, this weekend marks an opportunity to add to their success. FOr others, it marks a weekend to get their season in order so they don’t fall too far behind in points.