Photo Credit: Ashley McCubbin
A familiar face returned to Sunset Speedway victory lane as Brandon Watson won the inaugural race for the Avenue Auto Parts Super Late Model Series presented by For Your Eyes Only & The Landing Strip Gentlemen’s Clubs of Toronto at Sunset Speedway as part of Spring Velocity.
The day started off with time trials, which saw Watson post the quickest time at 13.757 seconds. Past Velocity 250 winner Jeff Hanley was second quickest (13.833), followed by 2015 Velocity 250 SLM runner-up J.R. Fitzpatrick (13.833). Roy Passer and Glenn Watson rounded out the top-five.
With a seven car invert in place, though, it’d be Dustin Jackson starting on pole for the feature ahead of Kelly Balson, Glenn Watson, Passer, Fitzpatrick, Hanley, Brandon Watson, Daniel Bois, John Cadman, Dave Doucette, Ian Bourque, Gord Shepherd, Todd Campbell, Dwayne Baker, Kerry Micks and Gary Passer. Notably, Tom Walters qualified Micks’ car in time trials as Micks was racing at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park in the NASCAR Pinty’s Series. Also, Dwayne Baker experienced throttle issues in time trials.
A past podium finisher at Sunset Speedway, Kelly Balson wasted no time putting the No. b10 London Recreational Racing, Cochrane Automotive, Brandon’s Landscapes, Castrol Edge, Bennett Chevrolet of Cambridge, GTA Racing Design and McColl Racing Enterprises SLM out front ahead of Passer, Fitzpatrick and Brandon Watson.
Passer was set to challenge for the lead, getting underneath Balson through turns three and four on Lap 4. Unfortunately, Passer got a little loose, checking up to catch it – which resulted in contact from behind courtesy of Fitzpatrick, sending Passer for a spin. Passer would be the only driver sent to the back for the restart.
Therefore with 72 laps to go, it’d be Balson leading Fitzpatrick, Brandon Watson, Hanley, Jackson, Glenn Watson, Bourque and Doucette.
Fitzpatrick 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 out front on the restart as Balson and Brandon Watson battled for second. The caution then flew once again, though, as Passer spun for a second time in turn two.
The restart marked the perfect opportunity for Watson as he put the No. 9 SHEAR METAL PRODUCTS, KNIGHTWORKS DESIGNS SLM out front, while Hanley gave Fitzpatrick a bump to take over the second spot. The caution then flew again for the third time, though, as Doucette went for a spin. With 69 laps to go, Watson led Hanley, Fitzpatrick, Balson, Glenn Watson, Jackson, Bois, Bourque, Cadman, Micks, Campbell, Baker and Shepherd.
The first attempt at a restart brought forth the fourth caution as Bois and Doucette both went around for a spin on the frontstretch. Micks headed down pit road under caution, done for the event with a mechanical issue.
The second attempt was clean, with Brandon Watson maintaining the lead ahead of Hanley, Fitzpatrick and Balson as Jackson and Glenn Watson battled for fourth. Jackson grabbed the spot on Lap 9 ahead of Watson, while Bourque, Cadman, Baker, Passer, Campbell, Shepherd, Bois, Passer and Doucette rounded out the field. The fifth caution flew on Lap 24 as a result of Balson going up in smoke. It marked a frustrating end to his weekend as he’d suffered transmission issues early in the afternoon.
The restart saw Hanley give Watson a bump to put the No. 70 SLM out front as Fitzpatrick ran third ahead of Jackson and Cadman while Passer and Bourque battled for sixth. Passer got the spot on Lap 27, with Baker following through a lap later. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t last long as Baker brought out the sixth caution with a spin in turn two. At the same time, there was contact between Shepherd and Doucette.
The contact for Shepherd may have been what cost him a finish, as he’d stall on the restart to bring forth the seventh caution. Under caution, Glenn Watson headed down pit road for adjustments.
The second attempt at a restart was clean with Hanley holding serve ahead of Brandon Watson as Fitzpatrick and Jackson battled for third. Jackson completed the pass at Lap 34 to take the third spot ahead of Fitzpatrick, while Campbell rounded out the top-five. Cadman ran sixth ahead of Roy Passer as Bois and Baker battled for eighth.
Baker got the eighth spot at Lap 36, passing Passer to move up to seventh a lap later. Bourque then got by Passer for ninth at Lap 38, with Glenn Watson looking to follow suit.
At the front of the field, Brandon Watson would return to the lead with a pass on Hanley as Jackson ran third ahead of Fitzpatrick. The racing on-track was kept interesting with Campbell and Cadman battling for fifth at Lap 40 ahead of Baker, Bourque, Glenn Watson, Bois and Passer.
Campbell got the spot on Lap 43, with Baker following suit two laps later. Baker then got alongside Campbell for fifth, completing the pass at Lap 49. Cadman then followed suit, passing Campbell for sixth at Lap 52. Glenn Watson was set to make a move on Bourque for eighth at Lap 58, though headed down pit road a lap later with a problem.
At the front of the field, it was all Brandon Watson as he led the rest of the way en route to scoring the victory ahead of Jeff Hanley and Dustin Jackson. Notably, this event was Jackson’s second career SLM start following a sixth in his OSCAAR Outlaw Super Late debut at Flamboro Speedway. J.R. Fitzpatrick and Dwayne Baker rounded out the top-five.
John Cadman finished sixth, followed by Todd Campbell, Ian Bourque, Daniel Bois and Roy Passer.
Avenue Auto Parts Super Late Model Series presented by For Your Eyes Only & The Landing Strip Gentlemen’s Clubs of Toronto
- Brandon Watson
- Jeff Hanley
- Dustin Jackson
- JR Fitzpatrick
- Dwayne Baker
- John Cadman
- Todd Campbell
- Ian Bourque
- Daniel Bois
- Roy Passer
- Glenn Watson
- Gord Shepherd
- Dave Doucette
- Gary Passer
- Kelly Balson
- Kerry Micks
