ULMOT/ST: Josh Stade Looks Towards Busy Late Model Season

Following a solid season in 2014, Josh Stade is looking to have his hands full this year as he will be running both the full Sauble Speedway Limited Late Model schedule, and the full APC United Late Model Ontario Tour.

“It’s going to be busy, for sure,” he commented. “Putting two cars together, we’re going every weekend – I think we have only one weekend off. A lot of it is going to be a lot of hard work.”

Stade said that he made the decision to run the APC tour partially due to being an associate owner of APC, owning a pair of stores.

“Naturally we just wanted to get involved,” he said. “It’s going to be the next best thing in Ontario so obviously, with all the names that are going into it, we want to be apart of it.”

Since the announcement of the tour’s inaugural season, over 40 drivers have registered, including series and provisional champions from all ends of the province. The tour is set to hit five different tracks for eight races, debuting at Sunset Speedway on May 23rd. Stade has experience at Sunset Speedway behind the wheel of a Limited Late Model, including a top-five finish.

“I’m excited to try the Pro Late at Sunset and Delaware,” Stade said. “I’ve never raced Delaware, so I’m anxious to try that one – for sure.”

The driver of the No. 17 Barclay Wholesale (Scott & Mary-Lynn Cumming), Flo Enterprises (Gene & Sara from Mount Morris, PA.), Nicol Insurance (Owen Sound), MEI Paving (Chesley), APC Bruce Service (Hanover, Owen Sound & Chesley), Ken’s Truck Painting (Teeswater), Upper Canada Title (Rick Taylor in Burlington), Kunkel Bus Lines (Mike & Steve in Hanover) and Family Fun Land (Kincardine) Late Model will be looking to have a solid year, improving on last year’s fourth place points finish at Sauble Speedway.

“Last season was a good season,” Stade reflected. “We learned a lot. We did a bunch of stuff to our Limited Late this year so I think it’s going to be better running. It’s going to be more competitive this season – it was competitive last season, but I think it’s going to be right up there with all the big guys.”