Photo Credit: Ashley McCubbin
With Sauble Speedway not starting their season for a couple of weeks, Josh Stade made the trip up to Sunset Speedway to try his hand against the track’s front runners. He would have the perfect night as he scored the feature victory in the second event of the evening.
The 14-car invert of the first feature resulted in Ernie Fumerton on pole in his No. 10 Late Model ahead of Mat Box, Josh Stade, Larry Jackson, Allan Inglis, Nick Goetz, Billy Zardo, Dwayne Baker, Tom Walters, Scott Wylie, Jason Witty, Travis Hallyburton, Jason Hathaway, Gord Shepherd, Frank Davey, Ian Bourque, Andre Pepin, A.J. Emms, Marcus Keeler, Mike Wilkinson, Thayne Hallyburton, Rick Walt, Chris Morrow, Jordan Latimer, Paul Maltese, Rick Terry and Dave Bartlett.
On the start, Box would grab the lead behind the wheel of the No. 27 Transport Trailer Sales Incorporated Late Model while Jackson battled Fumerton for second. Jackson would grab the spot as Terry took his car to pit road. Jackson was then able to chase down Box for the lead, getting alongside him on lap four while Stade and Goetz battled for third. The pair of battles would continue all the way till the first caution at lap 12 for Travis Hallyburton experiencing a problem. With 24 laps to go, Jackson led the field in the No. 55 Late Model that he was running in memory of long-time competitor Bruce Rankin. Box ran second, followed by Goetz, Stade, Baker, Wylie, Walters, Inglis, Fumerton, Witty, Zardo, Shepherd, Hathaway, Bourque, Davey, Walt, Pepin, Emms, Latimer, Thayne Hallyburton, Morrow, Keeler, Bartlett, Wilkinson, Travis Hallyburton and Maltese.
The battle for the lead between Jackson and Box would resume on the restart, however the caution would fly once again as Bartlett and Latimer got together in turn four. The restart once again saw the battle continue, with Jackson grabbing the advantage on lap 14. Stade would then get alongside Box for second, completing the pass while Goetz and Baker battled for fourth. Jackson would continue to lead with Stade now second, as Baker moved his way up to third while Goetz and Box battled for fourth. Goetz would get the spot, with Inglis trying to follow through for fifth but unable to.
At the front, Stade was able to catch Jackson for the lead and got alongside him for the spot – but the battle was brought to a halt as the caution flew on lap 22 for Davey stopping in turn four. Stade would be credited with the lead, having held the advantage through turn one. With 14 laps to go, Stade led Jackson, Baker, Goetz, Box, Inglis, Walters, Shepherd, Wylie, Witty, Hathaway, Walt, Zardo, Travis Hallyburton, Fumerton, Morrow, Thayne Hallyburton, Bartlett, Maltese, Pepin, Keeler, Latimer, Bourque, Emms, Wilkinson and Davey.
The restart allowed the battle for the lead to continue with Jackson grabbing the advantage on lap 23 as Baker and Goetz battled for third. Stade would fight back, though, getting back alongside Jackson at lap 26 for the lead. The battle wouldn’t last, though, as Jackson was able to gain the advantage, with Baker getting alongside Stade for second. Battles continued throughout the pack, and unfortunately, one of those battles resulted in contact. Walters and Goetz would make contact, causing Goetz to go around, collecting Shepherd and Inglis in the process. Despite being involved cars, Shepherd and Inglis were allowed to keep their positions for the restart. So with seven laps to go, Jackson led Stade, Baker, Shepherd, Witty, Inglis, Walt, Morrow, Box, Wylie, Travis Hallyburton, Zardo, Thayne Hallyburton, Bartlett, Hathaway, Fumerton, Wilkinson, Davey, Pepin, Bourque, Latimer, Emms, Keeler, Goetz, Walters and Wilkinson.
The final restart of the night would be the perfect opportunity for Stade as he was able to get by Jackson to take the lead in 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. Shepherd was then able to get alongside Jackson for second, completing the pass for the spot with two laps to go, with Inglis following suit.
At the front, it was all Josh Stade as he claimed the victory ahead of Gord Shepherd, Al Inglis, Larry Jackson, Dwayne Baker, Chris Morrow, Scott Wylie, Jason Witty, Rick Walt, Mat Box, Travis Hallyburton, Billy Zardo, Thayne Hallyburton, Dave Bartlett and Paul Maltese.
