Gary McLean scores second straight OSCAAR Hanover Holiday Modified Feature Victory

After a thrilling battle with Gary Elliott in the closing laps of the feature, it’d be Gary McLean picking up his second straight OSCAAR Hanover Holiday Modified Feature victory.

Terry Baker won the first heat after his impressive debut at Kawartha two weeks ago, followed by Matt Barton, Elliott, Drew Stieler and Brian Strawn. Strawn would be making his 2014 season debut, filling in for his son Chad. The night didn’t go well as Strawn had a spin on lap two of the first heat, and did not return to the track the rest of the night.

The second heat didn’t start off smoothly as Dustin Jackson would get into Davey Terry while the pair battled for the lead, resulting in Terry going around. Max Beyore would pick up the win in his first Barrie start followed by Brian McLean, Terry, Jackson and Bobby Tolton.

Gary McLean won the third heat ahead of Brent McLean, Tommy Robb, Andre Pepin and John Harper.

Gary Elliott scored his first career heat victory in the fourth heat ahead of Baker, Barton and Stieler.

The fifth heat wasn’t smoothy peachy as Tolton would go for a single-car spin on lap five. Beyore made the daily double ahead of Brian McLean, Terry, Tolton and Jackson.

After having to put his car back together following a wreck at Full Throttle Motor Speedway last weekend, Tommy Robb won the final heat ahead of Gary McLean, Pepin, Brent McLean and Harper.

Come feature time, it’d be Matt Barton starting pole ahead of Gary Elliott, Tommy Robb, Brian McLean, Gary McLean, Terry Baker, Max Beyore, Brent McLean, Davey Terry, Andre Pepin, Drew Stieler, Bobby Tolton, John Harper and Dustin Jackson.

Barton and Elliott would battle side-by-side for the lead on the drop of the green, with Elliott being able to put his No. 36 Lincoln Electric/Quaker State Modified out front. Barton would then fall back to fifth by lap seven as Brian McLean, Robb and Gary McLean were able to get by. It seemed the handling was off for Barton and as a result, he’d go for a spin to bring out the first caution. Under yellow, Stieler, Tolton, Barton and Brent McLean used it as an opportunity to get some adjustments. With 22 laps to go, Elliott led Brian McLean, Robb, Gary McLean, Baker, Beyore, Pepin, Terry, Jackson, Harper, Brent McLean, Stieler, Barton and Tolton.

Elliott would clear Brian McLean on the restart ahead of Robb as Baker and Gary McLean battled for fourth, when the caution flew once again at lap 12 for Tolton spinning in turn two as the handling was off for him as well. With 18 laps to go, Elliott led Brian McLean, Robb, Gary McLean, Baker, Beyore, Pepin, Terry, Jackson, Stieler and Harper.

On the restart, Elliott cleared Brian McLean once again ahead of Gary McLean, Baer and Robb as Beyore and Pepin battled for sixth at lap 14. Beyore held off Pepin, allowing Terry to try and get seventh from Pepin. However, the rookie was able to hold on and keep the spot as Jackson and Stieler rounded out the top 10 behind them. Terry would get a second spot at lap 21, completing the pass a lap later to move into seventh. Meanwhile at the back end of the top 10, Stieler would fall out as Brent McLean passed him at lap 26 just before the caution flew for a second spin by Tolton.

Elliott would get the jump as brothers Brian and Gary McLean battled for second. Brian would get loose off of turn two, falling back a bit through the field. As they headed into turn three, contact was made as Robb would get into Brian, causing him to spin. In the aftermath, Brent McLean, Terry, Jackson and Stieler would get collected – though everyone was able to continue.

The second attempt at a restart gave Gary McLean the opportunity that he needed as he would clear Elliott to grab the spot behind the wheel of his No. 8 McLean Industrial Design and Fabrication Limited and McLean Farms Modified. Beyore would look for second on Elliott, however Elliott held him off.

That’d open the door for Baker to look for third on Beyore, though Beyore would keep the spot as contact was made between the pair, resulting in Baker getting into the turn one infield grass. The resulting action bunched the field up, with Harper making slight contact with Tolton to trigger a multi-car crash on the backstretch. Stieler would get worst in heavy front end damage, while Robb suffered some minor front-end damage. There was a slight red flag delay as Robb spoke with the paramedics, so we do wish the driver of the No. 88r a speedy recovery. The rest of the drivers involved – Terry, Jackson, Barton, Brent McLean, Brian McLean Tolton, Harper – were each able to drive away from the scene.

For Gary McLean at the front of the field, it marks another notch in the belt as he chases his third straight OSCAAR Hanover Holiday Modified Championship this season. Gary Elliott scored his best career finish with a second in his second OSCAAR Mod start, citing that maybe he would’ve had something for McLean if the power steering had not gone out with 12 laps to go. Max Beyore would score a solid third place finish to keep his early season momentum going. Terry Baker and Andre Pepin rounded out the top five.

The rest of the field is unknown by me at this time due to the last lap wreck. OSCAAR officials will have the duty of putting together the finishing order based on the events and will have it posted on the official site in the coming days.