Photo Credit: Ashley McCubbin
With at least 10 cars from each division for a total of over 40 cars over the span of six hours, Saturday’s Test & Tune Day at Sunset Speedway proved to be a strong sign ahead of next week’s season opener at Sunset Speedway.
A mix of rookies and veterans would take to the track in the each of the divisions, making valuable laps as they worked at getting cars dialed in. There would be some mishaps on the day – a blown motor for Nick Goetz, a couple spins by competitors, and mechanical gremlins – but that’s what these days are all about. Teams know there are bugs to get worked out and if they can work them out before April 30, then hopes are opening night will go strongly.
While there wee some with issues, there were others that showed speed and promise to be front running contenders in their respective divisions. Ranging from Chris Morrow, Taylor Holdaway, Tom Walters and Mike Bentley just to name a few in late model, to about eight of the rookies in Super Stocks, there was speed shown across the board. Known as having some of the “best competition in Ontario”, this year’s season opener promises to be stronger than ever.
One of the drivers whom was able to make valuable laps ahead of the season is Danny Benedict, as he makes the move from Mini Stock to Late Model.
“It feels pretty good,” he said. “We’re a little off but trying to work on the set-up a little bit and get it a little faster, and get a little closer to the top guys.”
With April 30 marking his debut in the division, Benedict added that he hopes to make the show and keep the fenders clean so that way he can get as much seat time as possible.
Veteran Paul Maltese was also making laps as while he has experience behind the wheel, he will be debuting a brand new McColl Racing Enterprises chassis this season in hope of having a stronger year.
“Things are looking up this year,” he said. “There will be no excuse for me this year it’s all on my shoulders to drive better and try and finish races in one piece.”
Last year, Maltese didn’t have the season that he was hoping for, as he struggled at times, finding the worst luck of any driver during the year with getting involved in a bunch of wrecks. As a result, he only scored five top-15 finishes over the season. That’s why this season, Maltese says he needs to stay out of the wrecks, and get some finishes under his belt as he believes that they can have a good season with the car underneath him.
While “fresh” is the key word with Benedict and Maltese, you could almost call Travis Hallyburton the opposite as he enters into his third year of late model competition, hoping to pick up the championship after scoring the Autumn Colours Classic victory last season to end the year.
“I’ve been so close in every division that I’ve raced and haven’t got it,” he said. “So it’d be the pinnacle to do so.”
The Late Models aren’t the only division with full stack in their field as the super stocks have plenty of new faces, set to do battle with some familiar faces in the division. A bunch of the rookies were getting laps on Saturday, ranging from Ethan Constable and Treyten Lapcevich to Jordan Howse and Kendra Adams.
“I can definitely say that there are more rookies for 2016 than I anticipated,” Adams noted earlier this year. “When I announced a year ago that I moving up in 2016, I thought there would be a couple others but there are at least six that I know of. And very talented rookies too. I think this may be one of the most talented rookie years ever.”
RELATED: Read a preview on this year’s rookie crop on OnPitRoad.com — Part 1 & Part 2
On the flip side of the spectrum, the mini stocks look to have just as strong as a field, with Jake Watson hoping to be one of the early season front runners.
“I think the 2016 season is gonna be a great season,” he said. “I feel our team is going to be stronger this year than it was last year. We have had so much help from the Spira crew and a bunch of others from the track.”
Last season, Watson had a solid season en route to finishing ninth in points with five feature top-10 finishes over the course of the year. Now Watson feels he’s ready to get his first feature victory under his belt and break into the top-five, but notes the key this year will be focusing on their own program, rather than spending time on what other teams are doing as their own focus will be key.
See photos from testing by checking out Ashley McCubbin’s facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/ashleymccubbin.media/
