PREVIEW: Dickies OSCAAR Outlaws Presented by London Recreational Racing at Flamboro Speedway

Following a successful start to the season with the Lucie Alywin Memorial 53 at Sunset Speedway, the Dickies OSCAAR Outlaws Presented by London Recreational Racing are set for the next step on the tour. For the first time since 2013, the outlaw super late models will take to Flamboro Speedway to put on a 50-lap show full of excitement at each turn. The tight, one-groove oval will be a challenge for the drivers, but the best of the best in the province should figure it out in due time.

The last time the Super Lates were in attendance, Andrew Gresel dominated, picking up the win ahead of Brandon Watson in a dominating performance. The defending champion will not be in attendance, though, with his focus on the APC United Late Models of Ontario Tour presented by Grisdales Race Products.

Before the 2013 race, though, the super late had not been to Flamboro since 2009 when Jeff Hanley drove to victory lane in the Ocktoberfest Classic. Hanley also posted a runner-up finish in October of 2005. Hanley was not in attendance at Sunset Speedway, loaning his car to Mike Beyore. Beyore’s car wasn’t ready in time for the season so Beyore borrowed the No. 70 SLM to get some points. If Beyore’s car is ready, there’s a chance that Hanley could be in attendance this weekend.

Speaking of Beyore, his trip to Sunset Speedway didn’t go positively, as he found himself out of the race after mid-race contact caused heavy damage to his ride. He will certainly be looking to turn his luck around this weekend.

While Hanley won the last event that Flamboro hosted, it was Charlie Gallant that crossed the line in the second position. Gallant is one of a few that will enter this weekend with experience at Flamboro, and has momentum on his side to go with it. Gallant had a strong showing at Sunset Speedway, finishing fifth. It was nice sight for the fans after the hard crash that he experienced last year at the season ending event at Peterborough.

2008 Ocktoberfest winner Derrick Tiemersma hopefully will be in attendance after he missed Sunset Speedway due to breaking a motor in practice. Tiemersma is really hopeful for that OSCAAR return as he hasn’t raced since a wreck at Kawartha last year caused heavy damage to his ride. Flamboro would make a good spot for him to make his return, though. Beyond the win in 2008, he finished seventh in May 2007, sixth in September 2007, third in October 2009 and fourth in 2013.

Motor issues seemed to be a trend at the season opener as Tiemersma was one of five drivers that ran into problems over the weekend. Glenn Watson, Tyler Hawn, Shane Gowan and Shawn Chenoweth were the other four drivers.

Watson hasn’t posted any updates on social media, but he isn’t the type to miss an OSCAAR event. He saw his motor blow up during the race while running near the front. Flamboro would mark the perfect spot for Watson to get his season on track as in the previous six OSCAAR events, Watson has two wins and five top-fives.

Hawn, who saw his motor during qualifying, has been making repairs to his ride and getting a new motor installed. Hawn ran the event in 2013, finishing 10th after mechanical problems took him out of the running.

Gowan blew his motor in practice, returned home and brought the back-up car, finishing ninth. No matter which car he takes to Flamboro, he will be looking to kick up some positive momentum after a bad luck filled season last year. Notably, he finished ninth in the 2013 event.

Chenoweth blew his motor in practice, missing the event last weekend, but has been working hard to get a mtoor in the car for this weekend. There’s a good reason why, though. He has a ton of experience at Flamboro, winning in previous trips behind the wheel of a pro late model, limited late model and super stock. Beyond that, he posted a second place finish in the OSCAAR event in 2008.

Roy Passer is also looking to keep the positive Sunset Speedway momentum going, as he had a strong run going till a mechanical issue took him out of the running in the final laps. With the mechanical issue fixed, combined with his experience, he should be able to find the quick way around Flamboro this weekend. He finished eighth in his last Flamboro start in 2009.

J.R. Fitzpatrick has had success at Flamboro in a super stock, and hopes that carries over to the super late. He is needing a good run after running into problems at Sunset, with a rear trailing arm mount breaking early in the feature. Unfortunately, though, his Tuesday night test did not go as well as he hoped. With experience on his side, though, he has time and the will to get the No. 84 SLM running well for Saturday night.

Jay Palumbo is also hoping to turn his luck around as he found himself out of the event early at Sunset Speedway with a wreck mid-race. Palumbo is new to the scene, so a solid top-10 finish on Saturday night could be what the doctor ordered.

Sean Grosman was caught up in the same incident that took Palumbo out of the event. The rookie showed a ton of speed, slotting in as the top qualifier. However, he has plenty of previous laps around Sunset. Flamboro – not so much the case. Depending how quickly he adapts will depend whether he sees success.

Paul Howse is new to super late model racing, and had a rough go at Sunset en route to finishing eighth. Though while he’s new to super late models, Flamboro isn’t a new track for him. He has spent the majority of his career racing there in a pro late model. Given that experience, it should help in getting the super late model set-up for this weekend.

In his sophomore season of competition, Corey Jones has been solid to start the year – posting a fourth place finish at Sunset Speedway. That fourth place finish wasn’t easy to come by, though, as it took a year of hard work in getting the super late model driving as he wanted. Whether that new approach for this year will carry into Flamboro is something that has everybody wondering.

While Jones is inexperienced, Todd Campbell has been around these cars for a ton of years. He also enters this weekend with momentum after a strong third place finish on Saturday night. Will that translate to victory at Flamboro?

Kelly Balson had a solid rookie season, but wasn’t consistently top-five. He then chose a new approach for 2015, hiring a couple new crew members. The results were tremendous as he led laps and ran up front all race long at Sunset Speedway en route to finishing second. Like many drivers, though, inexperience at Flamboro could bite him this weekend.

The track inexperience is something that is true also for Kevin Cornelius. The Lucie Alywin Memorial 53 winner has set foot on Flamboro Speedway in his career. While he has shown speed at every other track on the tour, it’s a question of whether he can adapt and show that same speed this weekend