ORO STATION, Ont. (July 12, 2016) – Tyler Hawn’s 2016 OSCAAR Super Late Model season continued with a tumultuous day that resulted in a sixth-place finish at Flamboro Speedway on July 9.
Hawn was eager to return to the track after mechanical issues prevented him from full competition at Flamboro last month. The afternoon started off on the wrong note though, as the power plant on Hawn’s No.2h was not performing properly.
“We got out for practice and the car was just flat. There was no power. After three laps of practice we came in to the pits. We took the valve covers off and that’s when we saw the broken push rods,” Hawn said.
With help from Engine’s From Hal engine builder Harold Norry, Hawn was able to get the required replacement parts, but missed his first heat in the process. He drove to a fifth-place finish in his second scheduled heat, which acted primarily as a practice after missing the majority of the afternoon sessions.
“In the heat we found a bit of a setup issue, so we made some adjustments, but they were blind adjustments,” Hawn explained. “When the feature came around, the car was decent, but five laps in I started having brake issues. I couldn’t get in to the corner hard.”
A handful of cautions throughout the race helped Hawn keep the brakes cool and continue his charge at the front of the field. A slow leak in the car’s left front tire hindered his efforts late in the race and Hawn was forced to nurse the car to a sixth-place finish.
Following two challenging races in which mechanical failures took control out of Hawn’s hands, the Oro Station, Ont. driver hopes to put all the pieces together soon. He’ll have that opportunity when the tour makes its only stop of the season at Delaware Speedway on July 22.
“We need a good couple of weeks with good hard racing to build some confidence and we can go from there. You never know when everything is going to come together. It could be any race,” Hawn commented. “You just have to keep fighting and fighting. Eventually, everything will work itself out.”
Hawn’s last experience at the big half-mile oval near London, Ont. was not a positive one as he was involved in a damaging wreck. However, that will act as motivation for a Hawn Motorsports team that is determined to return to the top-five.
“I’m a bit nervous, but I’m going to have to shake that, put the helmet on and run as hard as I can,” Hawn said affirmatively. “It will be nice to see what the new power plant has on the long track. I feel that with some confidence on my part, we should be there and we’ll really see what the car has.”
The OSCAAR Super Late Model event at Delaware Speedway will also feature the OSCAAR Modifieds. Race time is 7:30pm. Event details are available at www.delawarespeedway.com.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – TSS Top Shops
TSS Top Shops auto body supplies and Darryl Stephenson are proud supporters of the Hawn Motorsports team. TSS Top Shops has supported Tyler Hawn since his inaugural Super Late Model season in 2011 and provides the paint scheme on the No.2h. TSS Top Shops Auto Body Supplies is the one-stop shop for paint, accessories, and the know-how you need to get your vehicle looking great to suit your individual taste.
“He gets some crazy ideas for paint schemes, but they always turn out awesome,” Hawn said. “He’s always there and helping in the shop. He’s a good guy to have around.”
SEASON STATS
Tyler Hawn 2016 Season: 3 Starts – 0 Wins, 1 Top-5, 3 Top-10s
UP NEXT
July 22 – OSCAAR Super Late Models at Delaware Speedway
MEDIA LINKS
Website: www.hawnmotorsports.com
Facebook at facebook.com/HawnMotorsports
Twitter: @Hawn42 and @HawnRacing
Tyler Hawn’s 2016 OSCAAR Super Late Model season is supported by several dedicated sponsors, including: Fox’s Bakery and Deli, Atlas Bath Centre, TSS Top Shops, Auto Trim Barrie, Belt Conveyor Guarding, and Backwoods Maple Syrup.
Photo Attachment 1: Tyler Hawn races down the backstretch at Flamboro Speedway. (Ashley McCubbin photo).
