Photo Credit: Ashley McCubbin
Back in the off-season, it was announced that OSCAAR would be hosting the “Mini Stock Nationals” at Kawartha Speedway as a way to put the best of the best against each other on one of the fastest tracks in Ontario twice this season and see who will come out on top. Beyond simply putting on a show, they’ll have their names and cars in front of the same fans that watch the OSCAAR Super Lates and OSCAAR Modifieds.
The idea worked out successful for round one of the Mini Stock Nationals last month as top drivers from Sunset Speedway, Barrie Speedway, Peterborough Speedway, Capital City Speedway, Flamboro Speedway and Kawartha Speedway faced off against each other to determine who was the best. The fans got treated to a show as Andy Kamrath cemented his name into the history books with the victory in dominating fashion.
Now heading into the second round of the event this Sunday, let’s reflect upon the top finishers and whether success from June can be repeated in July.
1. Andy Kamrath
Since dominating the spring edition, Andy Kamrath hasn’t slowed down as he posted a second place finish at Sauble Speedway to Billy Schwartzenburg and returned to Sunset Speedway to pick up another feature victory for his second of the season. The victory at Mini Stock Nationals cemented Kamrath’s strength in the divison, but was no surprise as he also won the Spring Derby 100 at Sunset Speedway to start off the year. Heading into this weekend, everybody will have their eye on the No. 35 Honda Civic.
2. Neil Hannah
Any track that Hannah goes to he is strong and as a past Kawartha Speedway winner, it was no surprise to find him finish second. It just adds to the multiple podium finishes that he has produced, whether it be Sunset Speedway’s Velocity 250 or Peterborough Speedway’s Autumn Colors Classic. Keep an eye on the No. 9 this weekend as he may have made the right tweaks to catch Kamrath.
3. Doug Butler
There was a time when if Butler entered his name into the ring of competition, he would come out victorious. While his winning ways have slowed, he still seems to find himself at the front of any event as he did in the spring by finishing third. Butler has been impressive all year as he currently leads Barrie Speedway’s Pure Stock points after winning the Mid-Season 35-lap feature and posting a series of podium finishes.
4. Ryan Babin
A Peterborough Speedway regular, Babin is quick at any track that he tackles and speed will definitely matter at a track like Kawartha with the size and configuration. Babin proved himself last year as he won the biggest invitational of them – the Autumn Colors Classic. He also showed his strength, finishing fourth in June.
5. Kyle Baker
The Capital City Speedway driver is always one to watch at invitationals as he’s proven that at Peterborough’s end of year event in past years. For that reason, despite last time out being his first trip to Kawartha, he snuck in and grabbed a fifth place finish.
6. Brandon McFerran
Coming into the event, McFerran was just stoked to try out the track and see how he’d fare against the top guys across the province. After the June race, McFerran remarked multiple times just how much he enjoys Kawartha and was able to come home with a solid sixth place finish. Currently leading the points at Sunset Speedway with seven feature victories including back-to-back weekend sweeps, McFerran will be searching for some additional speed this weekend to crack the top five.
7. Tyler Junkin
When Kawartha Speedway was running every Friday night, Tyler Junkin was one of the guys to watch as he showed speed on a weekly basis. That momentum continued in June as he posted a solid seventh place finish. A past feature winner, Junkin has shown speed as a past victor at Sunset Speedway and front runner at Peterborough Speedway. For that reason and his experience, Junkin will be one to watch on Sunday.
8. Casey Cavannah
From the time that Casey Cavannah started touring with his mini stock, he has shown speed and that was true in June with a eighth place finish. Cavannah should be strong once again this weekend as he looks to crack the top-five.
9. Billy Schwartzenburg
Billy Schwartzenburg is always one to watch. How so? The young stud has picked up wins at Sauble Speedway, Sunset Speedway and Full Throttle Speedway so far this season. Looking for a win at Kawartha Speedway to add another track to the list, Schwartzenburg hopes to top the eighth from June in finding more speed with his No. 86 Spira Mustang.
10. Cory Young
Cory Young has been on a terror this year, picking up multiple feature wins at Full Throttle Speedway. He also has ran strong at Sauble Speedway and finished 10th in June. Starting in the second spot, Young was at the front for much of the first half of the event. If he can find a little extra, perhaps he can stay up there the full events.
Rounding out the top-15 in the spring was Warren Paxton, Ryan Oosterholt, Mike Gettliffe, Brandon Crumbie and Brandt Graham. Chad Corcoran finished 16th, followed by Donovan Price, Jake Watson, the 13, Dave Crumbie, Terry Woodley, Brad Lavelle and Dan Demers.
These drivers all will be looking for better runs this time around, as a couple other names are expected to throw themselves into the mix. One of those to keep an eye on will be Sunset Speedway feature winner Miles Tyson if he makes his Kawartha Speedway debut. Tyson has shown speed at each track that he has attended so don’t be surprised if a new face graces the top 10.
Be sure to head out to Kawartha Speedway this weekend for the “Summer Rush” as the Mini Stock Nationals will be a show to watch, on top of the OSCAAR Super Late Models, OSCAAR Hanover Holiday Modifieds, four funs and the Vanderlaan Building Products Pro Late Models that run on dirt at Brighton Speedway. All the details about the show can be found at http://www.oscaar.ca.
