Photo Credit: Ashley McCubbin
Going into the season, J.R. Fitzpatrick was predicted as one of the early season favourites for the championship, and he put the field on notice on opening night as he dominated at Flamboro Speedway.
Fitzpatrick started the afternoon in victory lane as he won the first heat ahead of Todd Campbell, Shawn Chenoweth, Glenn Watson, Gary Passer, Dustin Jackson and Rob Reimer.
Tyler Hawn made his return to victory lane in the second heat ahead of Derrick Tiemersma, Roy Passer, Charlie Gallant, Craig Stevenson, Gary Elliott and Mike Westwood.
Roy Passer scored the victory in the third heat ahead of J.R. Fitzpatrick, Shawn Chenoweth and Glenn Watson.
The fourth heat didn’t go as Derrick Tiemersma as he’d run into mechanical issues on Lap 4. He was already in a borrowed car from Adrian Foster after blowing his motor while testing the week prior to the season opener. Charlie Gallant picked up the win ahead of Todd Campbell, Dustin Jackson and Gary Elliott.
With the feature re-draw in place, it’d be Glenn Watson starting pole ahead of Charlie Gallant, Shawn Chenoweth, Roy Passer, J.R. Fitzpatrick, Todd Campbell, Tyler Hawn, Dustin Jackson, Gary Passer, Craig Stevenson, Derrick Tiemersma, Rob Reimer, Mike Westwood and Gary Elliott.
Watson jumped out the early lead behind the wheel of the No. 22 Line-X Protective Coatings – Barrie, Race2way.ca, Rival Office Solutions, Williamson UxBridge GM, TSS Top Shops Auto Body Supply, Klotz Canada, ERA Tours and Port City Race Cars SLM. The one to watch early, though, was Fitzpatrick as he started making his move quickly, up to second on Lap 2 as Chenoweth battled Gallant for third.
Fitzpatrick’s climb to the front was complete on Lap 3 as he’d put the No. 84 Auto Parts Centres, Meineke Car Care, Transaxle Heavy Truck & Trailer Parts, Cambridge Rigging, Equipment Express, Jenco Equipment, McColl Racing Enterprises, Creative Edge Signs, Wix Filters, Permatex, Driven Steering Wheels, Spray Nine, Deon Racecars, Clayton Johns Media and ImageFactor.ca Motorsport Designs SLM into the lead on Lap 3.
Watson and Chenoweth battled side-by-side for second, with Chenoweth taking the spot on Lap 4, bringing Roy Passer and Campbell through with him. Gallant then climbed to fifth on Lap five ahead of Watson, Hawn, Gary Passer, Jackson, Stevenson and Elliott. Unfortunately, the early laps didn’t go as a couple hoped with Tiemersma, Westwood and Reimer each pulling off with mechanical problems.
The top-five remained the same as Hawn got alongside Watson for sixth at Lap 7, while Gary Passer and Jackson battled behind them. Unfortunately, Campbell’s early top-five run was cut short when he was black-flagged at Lap 8 by race officials. He headed pit side, returning several laps later to the race. Watson wasn’t as fortunate as he’d run into mechanical issues at Lap 10, resulting in his race ending early.
At the front of the field, Fitzpatrick continued to lead ahead of Chenoweth, Roy Passer, Gallant, Hawn, Gary Passer, Jackson, Stevenson and Elliott. Roy Passer would join his teammate at the front of the field, passing Chenoweth for the runner-up spot at the halfway mark.
The only caution of the race flew on Lap 34 when Gary Passer spun off of turn four.
J.R. Fitzpatrick got a good restart, leading the rest of the way to score the feature victory ahead of Roy Passer. Charlie Gallant used the final restart to his advantage, passing Shawn Chenoweth to finish third. Tyler Hawn would round out the top- five, while Dustin Jackson finished sixth in his first career super late start. Gary Passer finished seventh, followed by Craig Stevenson, Gary Elliott, Todd Campbell, Glenn Watson, Rob Reimer, Mike Westwood, Derrick Tiemersma.
The next race for the OSCAAR Super Late Models is at Flamboro Speedway on June 18.
