Photo Credit: Ashley McCubbin
Following a successful string of races, the drivers of the APC Auto Parts United Late Models of Ontario Tour presented by Grisdales Race Products tour are set for the sixth race of the year. The series is set to head to Sauble Speedway, which produced the closest finish in series history earlier this year.
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. Following his first career top-five at Peterborough Speedway, Stade will hope to improve on the 10th place finish from June.
Jamie Cox enters this weekend with momentum following a top-eight finish in each race this year, including an eighth at Sauble in June.
Matt Pritiko is hoping for a strong run this weekend after posting a top-11 finish in each race this season. He made the headlines at Sauble Speedway in June, as he managed to beat Shawn Chenoweth by a mere bumper to score teh win following a last lap pass. The other Mat – Mat Box – is also looking to do the same after posting a top-nine finish in each of the first five races.
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 four top-eight finishes, including a third at Sauble in June.
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 finishing 19th at Peterborough.
Andrew Gresel enters this weekend with confidence on his side, as he scored the Triple Crown victory at Delaware Speedway, followed by winning the three of the five 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. He finished sixth in June at Sauble after having to start from deep in the field.
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 enters with momentum following a sixth at Peterborough. Notably, he finished fourth at Sauble in June.
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, he’s been solid this year with three top-10 finishes, including a runner-up a couple weeks ago at Peterborough. Meanwhile, his Spira Racing teammate Steve Laking started the year with three top-nine finishes, but needs to turn things around recently after a pair of finishes outside of the top-10.
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 the summer special. Notably, he has only one finish outside of the top-10 this season with a win a couple weeks ago at Peterborough.
He will also have a teammate in the field as Andy Kamrath will be 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. He was solid in his first start of the season, finishing fifth at Sauble Speedway last month.
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 12th at Sauble last month.
Shawn McGlynn is looking to carry the early season momentum through Sauble Speedway following three top-10s in the first five races this 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 has failed to repeat the top-10 performance since.
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 best finish of 15th so far this 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, but has finished inside of the top-15 the last three.
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, across the board, they have two top-15s to the family team.
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.
