Photo Credit: Ashley McCubbin
Following the closest finish in series history, he drivers of the APC Auto Parts United Late Models of Ontario Tour presented by Grisdales Race Products tour are set for the fourth race of the year. This race weekend at Delaware Speedway will look to produce the same top shelf action fans have grown accustom to in the first three races this season.
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 two straight top-10s. He’ll be hoping to post his first career APC top-five this weekend after posting a best finish of ninth last season at Delaware.
Former Delaware Speedway regular Jamie Cox enters this weekend with momentum following three top-eight finishes to start the 2016 season. Cox knows his way around the half-mile oval, posting a sixth place finish last September.
Former Delaware Speedway Track Champion Matt Pritiko will be looking for his second straight win of the season after edging out Shawn Chenoweth by a nose at Sauble Speedway. Pritiko has notably started off the year strong, posting a top-10 finish in each of the first three races. Delaware Speedway treated him well last year with a pair of third place finishes. The other Mat – Mat Box – is also looking for a strong run after posting a best finish of ninth in two separate races, in the first two races this year. He was also solid last year at Delaware, posting a pair of top-eight finishes.
Jason Parker will look to continue the strong momentum going after posting an seventh at Sunset Speedway and a third at Sauble Speedway. He was decent last year at Delaware Speedway, posting an 11th and a 10th place finish.
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 and a sixth at Sauble. Unfortunately, both Delaware Speedway races last year didn’t go as he would’ve hoped with a pair of finishes outside of the top-15.
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 at Delaware previously with a fifth last fall, and has started off the year with three top-four 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 as well as he hoped with a best finish of eighth in the first three races. Meanwhile, his Spira Racing teammate Steve Laking will look to carry the early season momentum after posting three top-nine finishes to start 2016.He was solid last year in the fall at Delaware, posting a seventh place finish.
Shawn Chenoweth is one of the quickest drivers behind the wheel of a late model, and hopes to carry the early season momentum from a pair of top-fives in the first four races to start the year into this weekend. He was solid last year in the fall at Delaware Speedway, posting a runner-up finish.
Nick Goetz hopes to find some better luck with the pro late this year as he has a best finish of 11th in the first three races this year.
Marvin Freiburger hopes he has better luck at Delaware Speedway this year after failing to post a top-10 in his pro late starts so far this year.
Shawn McGlynn is looking to carry the early season momentum through Delaware Speedway following a pair of top-10s 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 the following two races.
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, followed by an 11th at Sauble Speedway. Meanwhile, Tom Gibbons needs some momentum following a pair of finishes outside of the top-15 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. He posted his best finish of the season so far this past weekend at Sauble, finishing 13th.
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. He won at Delaware Speedway last fall.
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 Delaware Speedway on Friday night.
