Photo Credit: Ashley McCubbin
ORILLIA, Ont. – MAY 30, 2016 – Taylor Holdaway continues to build momentum after earning a win and a top-five finish in Saturday’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series twin features at Sunset Speedway on May 28.
Holdaway kick started the night with a fast time award to take the pole for the first 35-lap feature in his Bay Auto & Truck Parts/KartSTART by Toyota No.41. The position produced an exciting side-by-side battle with Billy Zardo over the first 15 laps with neither driver able to gain a clear advantage.
A restart around the midway point of the race allowed Holdaway his chance to pull away. Using the top lane, the Orillia, Ont. native powered to the race lead and didn’t look back on his way to the victory.
“I was able to pinch him down (on the restart) and he wasn’t able to stay up. I cleared him up top and I ran pretty much the high groove the whole race,” Holdaway explained. “I think he burnt his stuff up a little bit trying to catch us. We opened it up to about eight car lengths and was able to save the stuff to win that one.”
The win in the first feature meant Holdaway took the 14th starting position for the second event. His march to the front was stalled when he was stuck behind a hard and extended battle between Brittany Gresel and Zardo.
“It’s definitely tough starting 14th with the field as close as it is. There’s so many cars that are very competitive. All you have to do is get stuck behind two cars running side-by-side. We didn’t gain a spot in the second feature until lap 15. Brittany Gresel and Billy Zardo were running side-by-side and I was stuck running behind them waiting for one of them to clear,” Holdaaway said.
“You can see the clock and the laps are counting down, but there’s nothing you can do. You’re just sitting there riding, hoping something happens,” he added.
On a green-white-checkered restart at the end of the race that involved multiple attempts, Holdaway jumped from seventh to fourth to earn a top-five finish. The team’s ability to finish consistently at the front of the field has been nothing short of impressive and has been the result of a patient approach.
“The biggest thing is we haven’t changed much. When we hit on a good spot, we just stay with it and don’t stray too far from what we have going,” Holdaway stated. “The confidence definitely helps. When you can go in for the first three weeks of the year and pick up a win, it makes it easy to show up to the track confident.”
Holdaway will now have to wait a week before returning to action on Saturday, June 10 for another pair of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series 35-lap events where he will search for win number four. Complete event details are available at www.sunsetspeedway.ca.
Follow Taylor Holdaway’s 2016 season online at www.taylorholdaway.com, by ‘Liking’ Holdaway Motorsports on Facebook, and by following @41Holdaway on Twitter.
Taylor Holdway’s 2016 season is supported by 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.
Prepared By Clayton Johns Media
