OPC: Josh Nicholson scores Pro Challenge victory and championship at Sunset Speedway

Josh Nicholson would hold off Dennis Thomson in the closing laps at Sunset Speedway to score the feature victory at the Velocity 250 to secure his first career Ontario Pro Challenge Series Championship.

Peter Hattin would score the victory in the first heat ahead of Dan Alder, Owen Smith, Rick Seeley, Bud Racing and Tim Shanahan.

Tim Norris won the second heat ahead of Thomson, Mike Westwood, Nicholson, Kyle Batty and Robin McLean.

Come feature time, Hattin would jump out to the early lead ahead of Smith, Norris, Westwood and Nicholson as Batty and Bud Racing battled for sixth. Norris would get along Smith for second at lap two, completing the pass a lap later and bringing Westwood through with him. However, the good news wouldn’t last much longer for Norris and Westwood as contact between the pair would result in Norris going for the spin.

Hattin would get a good restart to hold the lead, now ahead of Nicholson as Smith battled Batty for third. Batty would grab the spot on lap six, bringing Thompson through with him. Smith now ran fifth ahead of Shanahan, Bud Racing and Norris.

On lap eight, Nicholson would get alongside Hattin for the lead, completing the pass a lap later. Thomson would quickly move into second with Batty in tow, as Hattin slipped back to fourth ahead of Smith, Shanahan, Bud Racing and Norris. Norris would continue his climb back to the front, passing Bud Racing for seventh at lap 11. He would then pass Shanahan to move into the sixth spot at lap 12, while Bud Racing, Seeley, Alder and McLean rounded out the field.

Norris’ climb continued as he would get alongside Shanahan for fifth at lap 14, completing the pass a lap later. At the front of the field, Nicholson continued to hold a slim advantage over Thomson as Thomson kept searching both high and low for a way by. Batty solidly rode in third ahead of Hattin and Norris. Norris would get alongside Hattin for fourth at lap 18, completing the pass a lap later. Smith would try to follow Norris through, but wasn’t able to complete the pass on Hattin.

Darting by a couple lap cars, Josh Nicholson held control of the field all the way to the checkered to grab the victory and the championship. Dennis Thomson finished second, followed by Kyle Batty, Tim Norris, Peter Hattin, Owen Smith, Tim Shanahan, Bud Racing, Seeley, Alder and McLean.

About the Author

Ashley McCubbin

Joining OnPitRoad.com mid-2013 season, Ashley McCubbin is now the Managing Editor and contributes to each racing division as needed. Since studying journalism at the University of Guelph-Humber, Ashley has published articles on a couple of different websites, while serving as a public relations representative for different short track teams. Born in North York, Ontario, Ashley currently lives in Bradford, Ontario and spends her weekend at the local short tracks in the area. She has spent her entire life at the short track level, falling in love with the sport at the age of five. Beyond her love of short track racing, she also has grown an interest for both NASCAR and the IndyCar Racing Series. She also enjoys taking photos and working on websites, while playing a couple rounds of Candy Crush afterwards.

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