Photo Credit: Ashley McCubbin
Each day of the week, the column will highlight a division, highlighting five drivers and mentioning things that you should know going into the next week of racing.
Last weekend, the Hooiser OSCAAR Modifieds kicked off their fourth season of competition and in the end, the winner wasn’t a surprise. Three-time Series Champion Gary McLean would end the night in victory lane. Given the fact that he’s won the series championship each season, this is something that is to be expected. Combine that with the fact that he’s now won nine of the last 14 races at Sunset Speedway – yep, no surprise.
This win came a little different, though. McLean missed practice and his first laps on the car since rebuilding over the winter were the laps in his first heat. While some of his competitors have had multiple sessions on their cars going into the night, McLean was able to tweak the car in the pair of 10 lap heats to put on a show in the feature. Keep an eye on the No. 8 all year long.
McLean’s victory didn’t come easy, as he had to fight off a field of strong cars. Shane Stickel would finish second in his return to open-wheel competition after leading the first 12 laps of the event. Stickel has steadily improved with each start and could very well pick up his first career win over the season.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the night was the third place podium performance by Cory Horner. Horner joins the schedule as a rookie after running the season finale last season, finishing seventh in the Autumn Colors Classic at Peterborough Speedway. Horner has experience at Peterborough so the finish wasn’t too surprising. However, to come to a new track with a new car and pull of a podium within the OSCAAR crop of talent, that’s making a statement. As the year goes forward, he can only get stronger – which very well puts him in a good spot to be a darkhorse for the top of the points.
Chad Strawn running up front in the season opener and finishing fourth is not a surprise. After all, he won the event last season. Though the surprise comes from the fact that he finished that race on seven cylinders virtually after a spark plug wire came off. Needless to say, talent and set-up played a big key into holding off the strong pack of drivers behind him. Combine that with some added speed in the future with all plug wires on, he could very well make a couple visits to victory lane.
Chris Milwain joined the tour as a rookie this year, and came out of the gate real strong – scoring the victory in his first career heat race. He backed it up with a solid fourth in his second. Unfortunately, mechanical issues would remove Milwain from competition in the feature. If he can get the bugs worked out by Flamboro, keep your eyes on the No. 21 as he is looking to surprise you.
May 15th – Five Things You Need To Know: Signs of Innovations Mighty Minis – Phinnemore, Woyslaw, Jordan, Inglis and Allard
May 14th – Five Things You Need To Know: Graham Landscape Mini Stocks – Kamrath, McFerran, Paxton, Benedict and Adams
May 13th – Five Things You Need To Know: St. Onge Recreation Super Stocks – Zardo, Bentley, Weeda, Tooley and Morrison
May 12th – Five Things You Need To Know: Sauble Falls Tent and Trailer Park Late Models – Goetz, Shepherd, Inglis, Baker and Walters
May 7th – Five Things You Need To Know: Graham Landscape Mini Stocks – McFerran, Townsend, Paxton, Tiemersma and Butler
May 6th – Five Things You Need To Know: St. Onge Recreation Super Stocks – Lapcevich, Zardo, Weeda, Semple and Morrison
May 5th – Five Things You Need To Know: Sauble Falls Tent and Trailer Park Late Models – Shepherd, Stade, Gresel, Inglis and Travis Hallyburton
