Photo Credit: Ashley McCubbin
It goes without saying that each season at any track is memorable for it’s own reasons as there’s things that will always stand out in the mind of each driver, crew member, official and fan. Sometimes people will share the same moments, and sometimes people won’t. Regardless, there are always reasons to remember a year of racing.
So without further-ado, here are some of the most memorable moments of the 2015 season for the St. Onge Recreational Super Stocks at Sunset Speedway.
Cayden Lapcevich’s Second Straight Championship
There’s times when you’re sitting in the grandstands and you know that you’re watching something memorable, special or significant. For fans at Sunset Speedway, it’s been that way for the past two seasons in watching Cayden Lapcevich. The teenager has matured as a driver and gotten stronger behind the wheel, and certainly become one of the youngsters to watch for all the fans in the grandstands.
This past season, he had an exceptional run en route to scoring the championship. No matter where he started in the feature, he was always a driver that you had to keep an eye on as he’d be at the front of the field by the end of the race. Notably, his season statistics back that up as he finished on the podium every night of the season with four trips to victory lane.
If you missed his epic run to the championship, be sure to check out the feature article that I released following his crowning.
RELATED: Cayden Lapcevich Scores Second Straight Championship at Sunset Speedway
Fan Submitted Memory: The Ryan Semple Victory. A big win for the team – James Downing
Over the course of the season, a bunch of different drivers made their way to feature victory and got to enjoy the fruits of their labour. One of the most memorable – Ryan Semple on August 29. Starting at the front of the field in the second spot, Semple would take the lead on the opening lap and didn’t look back as he led the flag-to-flag in the 30-lap feature en route to scoring the victory. For Semple, it didn’t mark his first career victory – but it marked his first in a long time, which registered with many of the fans in the grandstands.
As stated by Downing, it was a huge win for the team and respectfully so. Semple was a strong runner throughout the whole season to that point, posting seven top-five finishes, including three third place finishes, leading up to that point in the season. You could also tell that it was an emotional victory by the smile on his face in victory lane.
Sliding it Sideways, Putting it All on The Line
The competition in the Super Stock division was top notch every week with tight battles for the lead on any given week. Sometimes, those battles would go to the next level, bringing a couple extra cheers from the stands.
Lane Zardo is known as the Thrillbilly. There’s a reason for that weekend – he’s always delivering thrills for the fans every week. And July 19, fans saw the art of sliding it sideways, putting it all on the line for the victory.
Of all the photos that I have of the Super Stocks this season, this is my favourite without a doubt. Furthermore, this is also my favourite heat qualifier moment.
Fan Submitted Memory: The Thunder Car race at Canadian Nationals didn’t ahve a great battle for the lead, but if I recall, second through sixth was amazing. – Kyle Sedan
As soon as Kyle mentioned this memory, a smile formed on my face. The images began to flood my mind immediately of watching Ken Grubb and Lane Zardo go back and forth, with Brendan Adams and Dan Archibald behind them side-by-side as well.
Matt Bentley took the advantage in this event on lap 14, leading the rest of the way in dominating fashion. He would quickly get the lead on the restarts that followed and stretch it out immediately with no contender in sight. Behind him, though, it was a war back and forth. Rather than try to explain it all again, I’m just going to copy and past what I wrote in the race report.
Matt Bentley would continue to lead at the front of the field, with Ken Grubb and Lane Zardo continuing to battle for second. Zardo would clear Grubb for the spot at lap 57, but Grubb was able to get back alongside a lap later. Behind them, Brendan Adams ran fourth ahead of Dan Archibald and Randy Rusnell. Archibald would then get alongside Adams for fourth at lap 60, completing the pass three laps later as Grubb got by Zardo for second. Archibald would then get alongside Zardo for third, completing the pass at lap 67.
Archibald would get alongside Grubb for second a lap later, but was unable to complete the pass as he fell back in line in third ahead of Zardo. Brendan Adams would then get alongside Zardo for fourth, completing the pass with five laps to go. Rusnell would then look to follow suit, getting alongside Zardo for fifth.
At the front of the field, Matt Bentley led the rest of the way to score the victory ahead of Ken Grubb, Dan Archibald, Brendan Adams, Randy Rusnell and Lane Zardo.
Beyond the moments here, there are certainly many more that I could talk about, ranging from some of the biggest wrecks of the season to a couple other thrilling winners. If warranted, a part two of memorable moments could be released – yes I know, same thing that I said following the late model article. But let’s face it – it’s a long off-season and this could offer us some entertainment as we wait for next year to begin.
However, beyond this, I want you to have a say as well. Comment with your favourite memorable moments from the season. What is something that perhaps has slipped my mind that you can’t seem to forget?
