Photo Credit: Ashley McCubbin
Despite being challenged throughout the event by Billy Zardo, there’d be no holding Taylor Holdaway back as he’d score his second victory in three points races this year, and third victory in four events total.
Holdaway started the day by setting the quick time of 14.922 seconds in qualifying behind the wheel of the No. 41 Bay Auto and Truck Parts, Holdaway Automotive, Image Factor Motorsports Design and Photography, KartSTART presented by Toyota, Yamaha Motor Canada, Wix Filters, Castrol Canada, Sunshine Super Wash, and Stefko Racing Engines Late Model.
Billy Zardo qualified second (14.926), followed by Travis Hallyburton (15.025), Gord Shepherd (15.029) and Jason Hathaway (15.102). Nick Goetz was sixth, followed by Chris Morrow, Lane Zardo, Thayne Hallyburton, Mike Bentley, Sean Cronan, Paul Maltese, Britney Gresel, Al Inglis, Adam Martin, Cayden Lapcevich, Dwayne Baker, Tom Walters, Scott Wylie, Ernie Fumerton, Danny Benedict, Dwight Brown, Mat Box, Kyle Passer, Jordan Latimer and Mike Wilkinson.
Holdaway didn’t lead the first lap, as it’d be Billy Zardo putting the No. 40 Holmes on Homes, National Exhaust, Shelby Roofing, Big Chute Marina, Round One Transport, Hassell Automotive, Marvin Freiburger Trucking, GreenSteelRoof.ca, Al Tupper Insurance, DJ’s Photos & Design, Holland and Crosby Late Model ahead of Holdaway while Travis Hallyburton and Shepherd battled for third.
Hallyburton got the spot on Lap 3 ahead of Shepherd, as Morrow moved into fifth on Lap 5 ahead of Hathaway, Cronan, Thayne Hallyburton, Bentley, Lane Zardo, Martin and Gresel. Bentley then got alongside Hallyburton for eighth at Lap 8, with the caution flying a lap later for an incident involving Passer and Wilkinson.
Under the caution, Nick Goetz headed down pit road as he was smoking as a result of left front fender hitting the fender. With 27 laps to go, Billy Zardo led Holdaway, Travis Hallyburton, Shepherd, Morrow, Hathaway, Cronan, Thayne Hallyburton, Bentley, Lane Zardo, Martin, Gresel, Baker, Maltese, Wylie, Inglis, Walters, Lapcevich, Fumerton, Box and Latimer.
The restart saw a battle for the lead between Billy Zardo and Holdaway, with Holdaway taking the advantage on Lap 11, Travis Hallyburton tried to get by Zardo for second, but was unable to before the second caution flew on Lap 13 for Fumerton and Maltese getting together in turn two; Martin and Latimer both got damage, resulting in pit stops under the yellow flag.
Holdaway got a good restart to maintain the lead ahead of Billy Zardo as Shepherd and Morrow battled for third ahead Travis Hallyburton. Outside of the top-five, Bentley got alongside Hathaway for sixth, while Cronan and Lane Zardo battled for eighth. Cronan got the spot on Lap 16 ahead of Zardo and Maltese as Gresel and Thayne Hallyburton battled for 11th .
At the front of the field, Billy Zardo was able to track down Holdaway and get alongside him for the lead at Lap 18, however unable to complete the pass as he fell back in line three laps later. Shepherd finally cleared Morrow to take the third spot at Lap 22, bringing Travis Hallyburton through with him. Morrow continued to slide back, as Hathaway passed him for fifth at Lap 28, followed by Bentley with a pass on Lap 28 and Lane Zardo on Lap 30. Morrow now ran eighth ahead of Gresel, Cronan, Maltese, Inglis and Thayne Hallyburton.
Taylor Holdaway led the rest of the feature en route to scoring the victory ahead of Billy Zardo, Gord Shepherd, Travis Hallyburton, Jason Hathaway, Mike Bentley, Lane Zardo, Britney Gresel, Chris Morrow, Sean Cronan, Paul Maltese, Nick Goetz, Al Inglis, Thayne Hallyburton, Dwayne Baker, Scott Wylie, Tom Walters, Cayden Lapcevich, Mat Box, Adam Martin, Danny Benedict, Jordan Latimer and Mike Wilkinson.
