Photo Credit: Ashley McCubbin
Following a successful first two races, the drivers of the APC Auto Parts United Late Models of Ontario Tour presented by Grisdales Race Products tour are set for the third race of the year. This race weekend at Sauble Speedway means a lot to many of the drivers to get in, as the series was unable to get a race in there last year due to rain.
2015 Sauble Speedway Track Champion 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 – however he was able to bounce back with an eighth at Sunset Speedway. He’ll be hoping to post his first career APC top-five this weekend on a track the track he knows best on the tour.
Jamie Cox enters this weekend with momentum following a runner-up and sixth to start the 2016 season.
Matt Pritiko is hoping for a strong run this weekend after finishing fifth at Flamboro and 10th at Sunset Speedway. The other Mat – Mat Box – is also looking to do the same after posting a best finish of ninth in the first two races this year.
Jason Parker is always quick at Sauble Speedway, notably having won a past track championship. He will look to continue the strong momentum going after posting an seventh at Sunset Speedway.
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 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 first two APC races of the season. He also has proven that he knows how to get around Sauble Speedway, picking up the dominating victories at the beach in the past.
Dale Shaw will be a driver that many will be keeping their eye on as he scored the championship last season. He’s done well in Sauble’s summer events previously, and has started off the year with a pair of podium finishes.
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, this year hasn’t started off a well as he finished eighth at Flamboro, and got caught in an early wreck at Sunset en route to a 16th place finish. Meanwhile, his Spira Racing teammate Steve Laking will look to carry the early season momentum after posting a pair of top-nine finishes to start 2016.
Shawn Chenoweth is one of the quickest drivers behind the wheel of a late model, and hopes to carry his winning fortune to Sauble Speedway as a past winner of ther summer special. He started off the year with a fourth at Flamboro, though ended up 12th at Sauble.
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.
Nick Goetz hopes to find some better luck with the pro late this year, and the cue the charm of old for him at Sauble Speedway as he used to be a regular at the beach. Notably, he has a best finish of 11th in the first two races this year.
Marvin Freiburger hopes he has better luck at Sauble 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 is looking to carry the early season momentum through Sauble Speedway following a seventh at Flamboro and a third at Sunset Speedway to start the season.
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. He started off solid with a 10th at Flamboro, but ran into issues at Sunset Speedway resulting in a 17th place finish.
Rick Burbridge hopes to once again be at the front of the field after posting his first APC top-five with a fifth at Sunset Speedway. Meanwhile, Tom Gibbons needs some momentum following a 20th to start the year.
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-15 finish in the first two races.
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. So far, they’re not off to a strong start as none of them have posted a top-15 finish this year.
Cole Powell will be looking for stronger results following a 14th place finish at Sunset Speedway.
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 Sauble Speedway this weekend.
