Photo Credit: Ashley McCubbin
Taylor Holdaway hasn’t let up any from last season as he scored his second straight Spring Velocity and second win in three races so far this year this past weekend.
Paul Maltese won the first heat ahead of Mike Bentley, Tom Walters, Billy Zardo, Thayne Hallyburton and Brittney Gresel.
Nick Goetz won the second heat ahead of Holdaway, Chris Morrow, Lane Zardo, Joshua Stade, Marvin Freiburger and Danny Benedict. Scott Wylie started this heat, but ran into issues that resulted in not finishing.
Thayne Hallyburton won the third heat ahead of Bentley, Gresel, Billy Zardo, Walters, Maltese and Wylie.
Joshua Stade won the final heat ahead of Lane Zardo, Morrow, Holdaway, Freiburger and Benedict. This heat saw a dramatic turn on the night, as well, as Nick Goetz had a throttle hang going into turn three, resulting in heavy contact with the outside retraining car. His No. 24 LM was heavily damaged, but ‘Livewire’ climbed from the car uninjured.
With qualifying complete, the feature line-up would be set with Tom Walters starting pole ahead of Paul Maltese, Thayne Hallyburton, Taylor Holdaway, Joshua Stade, Mike Bentley, Billy Zardo, Brittney Gresel, Lane Zardo, Marvin Freiburger, Danny Benedict, Kyle Passer, Scott Wylie and Rick Spencer-Walt.
Maltese pulled out the early lead in the No. 28 EIESSES FARMS, PRESTO APPLIANCE REPAIR, PARAGON OFFICE INSTALLATION, AUTO TRIM DESIGN BARRIE, ONTARIO STEEL SALES, MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING, CRIME STOPPERS, ONTARIO ACOUSTIC SUPPLY Late Model while Walters and Hallyburton battled for second. Walters got the spot on Lap 4 ahead of Hallyburton with Holdaway up to fourth ahead of Bentley as Stade and Billy Zardo battled for sixth.
Stade got the spot on Lap 6, but didn’t last long as the next lap, Zardo made contact with Stade, sending the Sauble Speedway Champion for a spin.
With 68 laps to go, Maltese led Hallyburton, Walters, Holdaway, Bentley, Lane Zardo, Frieburger, Spencer-Walt, Gresel, Wylie, Passer, Benedict, Stade and Billy Zardo.
Walters wouldn’t restart in his position, though, dropping out of line as the field went to take the green with a mechanical problem. Maltese was able to hold Hallyburton off to maintain the lead, with Bentley now up to third ahead of Holdaway as Spencer-Walt and Freiburger battled for fifth. While Maltese got the jump on the restart, Hallyburton eventually found his way by, putting the No. 14 RITTER SPORT, HILLSDALE SERVICE CENTRE, HUSKY FOODS AND TRANSAXLE TRUCK PARTS Late Model out front on Lap 11, while Maltese and Bentley battled for second.
The caution then flew two laps later, though, as Passer spun in turn two. Under caution, Lane Zardo headed down pit road. With 64 laps to go, Thayne Hallyburton led Bentley, Maltese, Holdaway, Freiburger, Spencer-Walt, Gresel, Wylie, Stade, Billy Zardo, Benedict, Passer and Lane Zardo.
Hallyburton got a good restart to maintain the lead ahead of Bentley, Holdaway and Spencer-Walt as Maltese battled Wylie for fifth. Wylie got the spot on Lap 16 with Maltese slipping back to sixth ahead of Billy Zardo, Gresel, Freiburger and Stade as Benedict and Lane Zardo battled for 11th. Zardo got the spot as Stade got alongside Freiburger for ninth at Lap 19.
There’d be battles all around the speedway, as Gresel got alongside Billy Zardo for seventh at Lap 21, and Holdaway got alongside Bentley for second a lap later. Holdaway took the spot on Lap 23, with Spencer-Walt following him through to move up to third.
Bentley now ran fourth as Gresel and Wylie battled for fifth. Gresel got the spot at the 1/3 mark for the 75-lap feature ahead, bumping Wylie back to sixth ahead of Billy Zardo, Stade, Freiburger, Lane Zardo, Benedict, Passer and Maltese. Maltese’s day would end on Lap 28 as he’d head down pit road with a mechanical issue.
The third caution then flew at Lap 33 as Stade had a problem. Under the caution flag, both Freiburger and Benedict headed down pit road for adjustments.
The restart marked the perfect opportunity for Holdaway as he put the No. 41 IMAGE FACTOR MOTORSPORT DESIGNS & PHOTOS, HOLDAWAY AUTOMOTIVE, KLEEN-FLO, SUNSHINE EXPRESS DETAILING, TOYOTA KARTSTART, CASTROL, WIX FILTERS Late Model out front as Hallyburton and Bentley battled for second.
Bentley got the spot on Lap 34 ahead of Hallyburton, as Spencer-Walt and Wylie battled for fourth. Wylie grabbed the advantage, getting alongside Hallyburton for third at Lap 41. Wylie got the spot on Lap 43, though lost it a lap later as Spencer-Walt got by both Wylie and Hallyburton to move into third.
The caution then flew, though, as Gresel spun off of turn four, with Passer around as well. With 32 laps to go, Holdaway led Bentley, Wylie, Spencer-Walt, Lane Zardo, Freiburger, Passer, Benedict, Gresel, Billy Zardo, Hallyburton and Stade.
Holdaway got another strong restart to hold serve ahead of Bentley as Wylie and Spencer-Walt battled for third. Spencer-Walt took the spot at Lap 47, bumping Wylie back to fourth ahead of Lane Zardo, Freiburger, Benedict and Passer.
Hallyburton looked to move his way back to the front, getting by Passer for eighth at Lap 49, bringing Gresel through with him. The climb continued as Hallyburton got alongside Benedict a lap later. Both Hallyburton and Gresel got by Benedict, with Gresel getting alongside Hallyburton at Lap 51. Gresel claimed the seventh spot at Lap 53 ahead of Hallyburton and Stade as Benedict now battled Billy Zardo for 10th. Zardo cleared Benedict at Lap 56, with Passer looking to follow him through, but unable to complete the pass.
The battle was also hot within the top-five with Lane Zardo looking for anyway possible by Wylie for fourth with the laps winding down. Zardo finally accomplished the feat, taking the spot at Lap 66. Gresel ran sixth behind them, ahead of Freiburger and Hallyburton.
At the front of the field, Taylor Holdaway cruised to the victory ahead of Mike Bentley, Rick Spencer-Walt, Lane Zardo, Scott Wylie, Britney Gresel, Marvin Freiburger, Thayne Hallyburton, Joshua Stade, Billy Zardo, Danny Benedict and Kyle Passer.
