Photo Credit: Ashley McCubbin
Taking the lead with six to go, Brandon Watson held off Gord Shepherd en route to scoring the Sauble Falls Tent and Trailer Park Limited Late Model feature victory at Sunset Speedway.
Nick Goetz set quick time in qualifying with a lap of 15.141 seconds behind the wheel of the No. 24 Lake Huron Rod & Gun, Mondo Car Wash, Boston Pizza, Super 8 Motel, Lord Elgin Fish & Chips, Rosener’s Service Centre, Roberto’s Pizzeria, Great Lakes Concrete, Austin Graphics, Pierson Motors of Kincardine and ImageWraps.ca Late Model.
Kevin Cornelius qualified second (15.148 seconds), followed by Taylor Holdaway (15.186), Gord Shepherd (15.187) and Scott Wylie (15.195).
Brandon Watson qualified sixth, followed by Paul Maltese, Chris Morrow, Billy Zardo, Lane Zardo, Thayne Hallyburton, Travis Hallyburton, Ryan Kimball, Mike Bentley, Sean Cronan, Al Inglis, Mike Wilkinson, Jordan Latimer, Danny Benedict, Britney Gresel, Justin Holmes and Ryan Semple,
The drop of the green flag saw Kevin Cornelius put the No. 17 Shane Michael Sales, Pillar to Post Home Inspectors, Sandbox Tech Child Care, Triplecrete, Neon Energy Drinks and Fierce Wraps Late Model. Behind him, Goetz and Shepherd battled for second, with Shepherd getting the spot on Lap 4. Watson looked to follow Shepherd through, however fell back in line behind Goetz on Lap 6.
Behind them, Holdaway ran sixth as Wylie and Morrow battled for seventh ahead of Maltese. The first caution of the race then flew on Lap 10 as Holmes spun in turn four. With 26 laps to go, Cornelius led Shepherd, Goetz, Watson, Holdaway, Wylie, Maltese, Billy Zardo, Lane Zardo, Travis Hallyburton, Thayne Hallyburton, Kimball, Cronan, Inglis, Gresel, Wilkinson, Benedict, Latimer and Holmes.
The restart saw Cronan head down pit road with a problem, while Shepherd and Cornelius battled side-by-side for the lead. While they battled, contact ensued behimd them resulting in Billy Zardo going around turn four for the second caution.
The second restart saw a continuation of the battle for the lead as Watson moved into third, while Wylie and Goetz battled for fourth. Holdaway ran sixth ahead of Morrow, Maltese and Thayne Hallyburton, with Hallyburton getting alongside Maltese for eighth at Lap 19.
Back at the front, Shepherd put the No. 10s PROGRESSIVE WASTE SOLUTIONS, THE DOCK GUY, COOKSTOWN AUTO CENTRE, TORBRAM ELECTRICAL SUPPLY, HAMEL MASONRY, HWY 400 TRANSMISSION, SEASONED PAINTING, NORTHWAY TRUCK STOP, FOX’S BAKERY AND DELI, KREUGER ELECTRIC, TSS TOP SHOPS, DESJARDANS Late Model out front on Lap 20.
Watson followed him through, passing Cornelius for second at Lap 22. Behind them, Wylie had cleared Goetz to move into fourth, with Holdaway running sixth ahead of Morrow, Travis Hallyburton and Maltese. Watson continued his climb forward, getting alongside Shepherd for the lead at Lap 26.
The pair battled for the top spot, while Wylie got alongside Cornelius for third. Cornelius was able to get back in front of Wylie at Lap 28, with Goetz getting alongside Wylie for fourth a lap later. Goetz was able to make the pass with ease, as trouble struck Wylie with a spin due to an issue. With seven laps to go, Shepherd led Watson, Cornelius, Goetz, Holdaway, Travis Hallyburton, Morrow, Bentley, Kimball, Thayne Hallyburton, Billy Zardo, Lane Zardo, Gresel, Maltese, Wilkinson, Inglis, Benedict, Latimer, Holmes and Cronan.
The restart saw a continuation of the battle for the lead, with Watson putting the No. 9 SHEAR METAL PRODUCTS, KNIGHTWORKS DESIGNS Late Model out front with four laps to go. Shepherd made slight contact with Watson a lap later, sending him for a bit of a slide but Watson was able to save the car and keep the lead. Meanwhile, the caution flew as Holmes went around in turn three.
Brandon Watson got a good final restart to pick up the win ahead of Gord Shepherd, Kevin Cornelius, Nick Goetz, Travis Hallyburton, Taylor Holdaway, Mike Bentley, Chris Morrow, Billy Zardo and Ryan Kimball. Lane Zardo finished 11th, followed by Thayne Hallyburton, Paul Maltese, Brittney Gresel, Jordan Latimer, Al Inglis, Danny Benedict, Mike Wilkinson, Justin Holmes, Scott Wylie and Sean Cronan.
