Photo Credit: Ashley McCubbin
For the second straight race, a familiar face was in victory lane as Gary McLean picked up the feature victory on Saturday night at Flamboro Speedway.
John Harper picked up the win in the first heat ahead of A.J. Emms, Chris Milwain, Dale Reinhart, Gary Elliott and Rob Di Venanzo.
Luke Gignac got his first career heat victory in the second race ahead of Gary McLean, Brian McLean, Brent McLean, Dan Price and Cory Horner.
A.J. Emms won the third heat ahead of Horner, Brent McLean, Gignac, Price and Reinhart.
The fourth and final heat featured some contact as Brian McLean spun Di Venanzo on Lap 1 in turn three. Then on Lap 3, Gary McLean spun Elliott. Chris Milwain picked up the win ahead of Harper, Brian McLean, Elliott, Gary McLean and Di Venanzo.
Right from the start of the feature, it was easy to tell whose night it’d be as Gary McLean took the lead behind the wheel of the No. 8 McLean Industrial Design and Fabrication Ltd. and McLean Farms Modified on the opening lap and never looked back. It marks his second straight series victory, and fourth straight top-eight finish to start the season.
“As far as we went, it went really good, clean run,” McLean said. “We had quite the deal in the first heat, which I’m still not happy about. Overall, the feature wasn’t bad. It wasn’t the cleanest start – not sure what happened there – but after that, it was a pretty good race for the most part.”
Rookie Luke Gignac continued to impress, finishing second for his first career OSCAAR podium finish.
“Pretty impressed with Luke, the 99 car, the rookie,” McLean added. “He’s there every night lately. You know that? That’s one of the cleanest drivers to drive with out there and he’s right there with us.”
A.J. Emms finished third with his third top-five of 2016, while Cory Horner and Gary Elliott rounded out the top-five; notably, it was Elliott’s first top-five of the season.
Dan Price finished sixth, followed by Rob Di Venanzo, Chris Milwain and Dale Reinhart. Notably, it wasn’t a clean run for Di Venanzo as he went for a spin at the second caution at Lap 21. Brent McLean finished 10th after pulling off at Lap 2 with motor issues.
Unfortunately, John Harper and Brian McLean didn’t get to complete a lap as both were involved in a wreck coming to the green, which started with contact between Harper and McLean.
The OSCAAR Modifieds will now turn their attention to Delaware Speedway on July 22 for the fifth race of the season. Flamboro race winner Gary McLean finished third last month.
“Most times, Delaware is pretty good for us,” McLean said. “I’m pretty confident. We’re going to try some stuff and see how that’s going to go. But as far as that goes, I look forward to going to Delaware. It’s one of those places where if the driver wants to get up on the wheel he can make a big difference on how your night comes out, so I enjoy that. That’s a place that I like going to.”
