Photo Courtesy of Thompson Photography
For the second time under OSCAAR sanctioning, the Hoosier OSCAAR Modifieds are set to take to Flamboro Speedway in their fourth season of competition. Modified racing has always been part of Flamboro’s racing traditions, but adding the OSCAAR element can only mean that the action will be kicked up a notch.
The inaugural event in 2013 for OSCAAR at Flamboro saw Brian McLean got to victory lane after getting by Brent McLean in the closing laps when Brent ran into mechanical problems. For McLean, it marked his second OSCAAR Modified tour victory. He is hoping that good fortune rolls over to this weekend following a solid sixth place finish to start the season at Sunset Speedway despite no practice.
Gary Elliott enters his sophomore season of OSCAAR competition, but this will mark his first trip to the oval in a modified. He has experience there, though, having ran there for a number of years behind the wheel of a Limited Late Model. Coming off of a fifth place finish at Sunset Speedway, he is hoping to find the quick way around in the modified.
Shane Stickel impressed in his OSCAAR return at Sunset Speedway, running up front all feature long en route to finishing second. He knows his way around Flamboro, having posted a fourth place finish in 2013. The combination of early speed and experience should bode well for Stickel this weekend.
Ryan Dick has continued to improve with each modified event, and started off the season on a solid note with a ninth place finish. He ran Flamboro in 2013 during his rookie season, posting a third place finish. The previous experience should bode well, but the fact that he has also ran some races there already this year should help, too. Dick has spent his time racing in the Ontario Modified Racing Series when OSCAAR has been off.
Gary McLean showed up at Sunset Speedway with no practice on the car, missing the pre-race practice sessions due to still preparing the car for the night of action. He did what a defending three-time champion does, as he snatched up the victory in the feature. He hopes that will carry into positive momentum at Flamboro this weekend. Flamboro hasn’t treated him well in the past, though, as he sustained heavy damage in the last event there in 2013 following a mid-race big wreck.
Chad Strawn showed a ton of speed in the season opener, but a loose plug wire took Strawn from a possible chance at winning to a fourth place finish. Strawn will hope to have all the pieces stay together this weekend to have a good run at Flamboro. He knows the car is quick there, as evident by the performances put in by Brad Stevenson in OMRS.
A bunch of rookies have made their presence known in OSCAAR competition this year, and many of them head to Flamboro Speedway with lack of experience under their side.
Dan Price hopes to find the quick way around Flamboro after missing the top-10 at Sunset Speedway with a 13th place finish. Price made the move up to the modified division after finding success in the Thunder Car ranks at Peterborough Speedway and Kawartha Speedway. Another driver that finds himself entering hte same boat as Price is Baker Jr., following a 12th place finish in the season opener.
Cory Horner is also hoping for the quick way around, and he’ll enter this weekend with a lot of momentum on his side following a third place finish in the season opener. If you combine that with the top-five finish last season at Peterborough Speedway, he’s certainly kicking off his modified career with a solid start.
Chris Milwain unloaded off the trailer at Sunset Speedway showing a lot of speed right away, scoring the victory in his heat. Unfortunately, the night didn’t end as he wanted with mechanical problems taking him out of the feature. Hopefully he can work the bugs out and find the speed this weekend.
Mike Hearty is set to make the long haul to Hamilton from Sault St. Marie this weekend in his first trip to Flamboro Speedway. He will hope to top his eighth place finish from Sunset Speedway as he continues to adjust to the car.
A.J. Emms and David Balych are hoping their open-wheel experience translates to getting used to their modified quickly and finding the right set-up for Flamboro Speedway. The pair started off their seasons solidly, finishing 10th and seventh respectively in the season opener.
