Photo Credit: Ashley McCubbin
When Taylor Holdaway completed last season with a string of success that included a victory in the season finale, a victory in the Canadian Limited Late Model Championship 125 and a third place finish at the Velocity 250, he was placed as one of the early season favourites to win the championship. It seemed to make sense, too, as he had continued to improve with each passing season, since breaking out with a victory in 2011’s season finale.
On Saturday night, Holdaway hit those expectations with a big nail on the head, scoring the 2015 Sauble Falls Tent and Trailer Park Limited Late Model Championship at Sunset Speedway. He also locked up the NASCAR Ontario Championship in the process. Though even bigger, Holdaway looks to becomes the highest Canadian finisher ever in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Standings, currently sitting third.
“We’ve been putting a lot of effort in with how close we were,” Holdaway commented. “I just drive the thing every week, but it’s all the hours behind the doors that make the effort there, and all the fans for coming out every weekend. It’s been a dream season. Hopefully it can get us third in the National points. We’re going to be glued to the computer to see what goes on. You don’t want to hope a guy loses, but as of right now, we should be second in points.”
Though, the first night didn’t go as he had planned at all – a broken clutch in the first feature saw Holdaway go from running top-five to a 15th place finish. He was also unable to run the second feature.
“What a lot of people don’t realize is we’re a race behind everyone here. We had some bad luck opening night,” Holdaway said. “There’s been a lot of bumps along the road. Obviously, our motor got claimed and I have to thank John Stefco; I can’t thank him enough. He stayed late in the shop every night to make sure we were ready to come out and compete.”
The family team didn’t pack it in, though, knowing that anything was possible as their competitors could easily find themselves in the same position as the season. Holdaway then came out the next four races, finishing fourth, forth, second and third. The consistency would see Holdaway climb the standings, but he knew that he had to step it up if he was going to top some of the best drivers in the province at Sunset Speedway.
The whole season changed pace on June 19 when Holdaway took home the victory in the Garry Reynolds Memorial invitational. Returning to weekly competition following the big victory, he would go on a tear. He would become the first driver to sweep a night, winning both features on July 4. The second feature victory of the pair would be the more impressive, as when you win the first feature, you have to start 14th for the second feature. Holdaway was able to make his way through the field with ease, taking the lead in the final 10 laps.
The driver of the No. 41 Holdaway Automotive, Imagefactor.ca Motorsports Design and Photography, Wix Filters, Castrol Canada, Kart Start presented by Toyota, Sunshine Super Wash, and Stefko Racing Engines Late Model then followed that up with two more features victories in the next two weeks, to complete the month with four victories out of the six features in July. In August, the trend continued with five straight victories, followed by a fifth, and then two more victories to complete the month.
He would then finish off his season in September with a second and fifth, followed by the victory at the season finale in the 75-lap feature.
Looking back on his success, he said on Saturday night that it “means the world” to him as you’re racing with the best in the business at Sunset Speedway, with past track champions from across the province featured among those on the roster. He credits the success all to Wylie Performance Racing and McColl Racing Enterprises.
“(McColl) builds an amazing racecar as you can tell by everything that’s up front here,” he commented. “I can’t thank Mike and all the guys at the shop there. Scott Wylie and his dad Rick, also. Don’t get me wrong – we put in a lot of hours this year, we came out guns blazing and now we’re going to do it on another car for Scott.”
With the season complete, Holdaway is now shifting his focus to the Short Track Play-Off season, where he hopes to win Sunset Speedway’s Velocity 250 and Peterborough Speedway’s Autumn Colors Classic. Moving forward to 2015, though, things are up in the air as to what he will be doing.
“I’m just going to enjoy the moment while it’s here,” he said. “We’re going to sit down over the winter time and see what we’re going to do. First off, we’re going to have some fun tonight.”
