Photo Credit: Ashley McCubbin
Following a successful first season, the drivers of the APC Auto Parts United Late Models of Ontario Tour presented by Grisdales Race Products tour are in the midst of their second season. So far, all the hopes are high following a successful opening race of the season at Flamboro Speedway last week. Given the early excitement, combined with the close racing Sunset Speedway produced last year, it’d be no surprise if it’s another exciting afternoon of action on Sunday.
Joshua Stade had a solid campaign last year, finishing in the top-13 in each of the events to finish sixth in points. Notably, this year didn’t start off as strong as he finished 15th at Flamboro. He’ll be hoping to post his first career APC top-five this weekend at Sunset Speedway after finishing sixth last fall and a pair of top-six finishes in Sunset Speedway’s weekly season opener.
Jamie Cox had success at Sunset Speedway last year, finishing second and fifth in the pair of events. He has never got to victory lane at the Innisfil, Ontario oval, something that he looks to change this weekend as he come off a runner-up finish at Flamboro.
With an eighth and a second last year at Sunset Speedway, Matt Pritiko is hoping for a strong run this weekend after finishing fifth at Flamboro. The other Mat – Mat Box – is also looking to do the same after posting finishes of third and seventh last year as part of his road to finishing third in the standings. Box didn’t start off the APC year as strong, finishing ninth at Flamboro.
Jason Parker is always quick at Sunset Speedway, having won the Velocity 250 in 2014 in a limited late model. After finishing fifth in points last year, he will look to build on last year’s fifth and fourth place finishes – especially considering he finished 21st at Flamboro.
Whenever Dan McHattie steps behind the wheel of a pro late model, you need to keep an eye on him. He’s a multi-time Kawartha Speedway track champion and has won multiple features at Peterborough Speedway, including the Autumn Colors Classic. He will be looking for a solid run after posting a best-finish of ninth at Sunset in his two starts last year. He enters the weekend following an eighth place finish at Flamboro.
Andrew Gresel enters this weekend with confidence on his side, as he scored the Triple Crown victory at Delaware Speedway, followed by winning the APC season opener at Flamboro Speedway. He also has proven that he knows how to get around Sunset Speedway, picking up the win last year after taking the lead with two laps to go.
Dale Shaw will be a driver that many will be keeping their eye on as he scored the championship last season. En route to the crown, he posted a third place finish at Sunset Speedway last summer. He’s started off this strong, finishing third in the season opener.
Billy Schwartzenburg impressed many fans last year in his rookie season with a sixth place finish in his late model debut at Sunset en route to finishing eighth in points. So far, he’s off to a decent start as he finished 11th at Flamboro. Meanwhile, his Spira Racing teammate Steve Laking will look to improve on his ninth place finish last year at Sunset Speedway. He’s proven that he can be fast, scoring the Grisdale Triple Crown Victory at Flamboro Speedway last year to round out the year and a sixth in the season opener.
Shawn Chenoweth is one of the quickest drivers behind the wheel of a late model, and hopes to carry his winning fortune to Sunset Speedway after finishing fourth last May. He started off the year with a fourth at Flamboro after having to roll out the back-up car due to a practice incident.
He will also have a teammate in the field as Andy Kamrath makes his return to late model competition, driving Chenoweth’s second entry. Kamrath has proven that he can get it done in the late model, having scored wins at Peterborough Speedway, Sunset Speedway and Sauble Speedway. He also knows his way around Sunset Speedway, given the amount of wins he has been able to rack up with his mini stock.
Nick Goetz hopes his limited late model winning ways carry over to the pro late model after scoring the victory on Sunset Speedway’s opening night despite fighting motor issues throughout the day. Goetz has done well with the pro late previously at Sunset Speedway, finishing eighth last August. He just hopes the mechanical gremlins that bit him at Flamboro don’t translate over to this weekend.
Marvin Freiburger hopes he has better luck at Sunset Speedway this year after failing to post a top-10 in either pro late model event last season. Notably, he finished 13th at Flamboro.
Shawn McGlynn proved he could run in the top-10 last week, scoring his first career APC top-10 with a seventh at Flamboro. He hopes he can carry the momentum through Sunset this weekend.
Willie Reyns made the jump from Super Stock competition to Late Model competition last year, and no doubt will be looking for stronger results this year after posting a best finish of 14th on the tour last year. So far, he’s off to a solid start with a 10th at Flamboro.
Rick Burbridge will be hoping to crack the top-10 this weekend after posting an 11th place finish at Sunset Speedway last May and a 14th in the season opener at Flamboro. You can also add Tom Gibbons to the same category, as his best finish at Sunset was a 17th last August.
After making a single APC start last year, Shae Gremmell will be joining the tour full-time in hopes of having success. Unfortunately, he failed to post a top-20 finish at Flamboro.
The Jacobs Racing team will be out in full force, with Marc, Jaxson and Paighton all set to run the APC schedule this season. The boys have been racing for a while with some success to their credit, while this will mark Paighton’s first year in a late model. Flamboro saw them all run together – finishing 17th thru 19th. They all will hope for stronger results this weekend.
The guy that lots will have their eye on is Dwayne Baker as he will be looking to repeat last year’s success after winning the May APC event last year on the Innisfil, Ontario oval.
With this many talented drivers, along with the possibility of others, set to take part in the series this year, it promises to be an exciting season from start to finish. So be sure to be in attendance at Sunset Speedway this weekend.
