Photo Credit: Ashley McCubbin
After taking a week off due to family commitments, Gary McLean was back behind the wheel this weekend at Delaware Speedway, picking up the victory in the 30-lap feature.
The night started off with a couple of quick spins in the first heat, courtesy of Dan Price and Dale Reinhart. A.J. Emms picked up the win ahead of Jamie Cox, Cory Horner, Luke Gignac, Ryan Dick, Dan Price, David Baylch, Dale Reinhart and Justin Demelo.
Barry Newman edged out Cole Powell in the second heat to pick up the win ahead of Chris Milwain, Gary McLean, Jeff Showler, John Harper, Duane Cinnamon and Gary Elliott.
Come feature time, it’d be A.J. Emms starting pole ahead of Horner, Cox, Newman, McLean, Gignac, Dick, Showler, Price, Cinnamon, Powell, Baylch, Demelo, Reinhart, Harper and Elliott.
Emms put the No. 14 Sunshine Super Wash – Orillia, Davenport Subaru, Creecher’s Design, Klotz Canada, Artech Promotional Wear – Orillia, Bromley Automotive, and TSS Top Shops – Barrie Modified out front ahead of Cox and Horner, McLean quickly worked his way to the front, moving to third and bringing Milwain through with him. Newman moved into fifth ahead of Horner, Gignac, Showler and Powell.
Behind them, Dick and Cinnamon battled for 10th, with Cinnamon taking the spot on Lap 5 ahead of Dick, Demelo, Harper, Price, Elliott, Reinhart and Baylch. Showler began to make his move, getting alongside Horner for sixth and making the pass on Lap 9. Gignac continued to run eighth ahead of Powell, Cinnamon, Dick, Horner, Demelo and Price. Elliott was able to get by Price for 14th, getting alongside Demelo for 13th at Lap 11.
Unfortunately, bad luck bit a couple teams as Milwain slowed on Lap 13 with a problem after running in the top-five early. With Milwain slowing, it’d bump Newman up to fourth ahead of Powell and Horner. The first caution then flew at Lap 16 for Dick spinning in turn four.
The first restart resulted in a second caution with Elliott going for a spin in turn two. The second restart was clean, with Emms holding down the top spot now ahead of McLean, as Cox and Powell battled for third. Powell got the spot on Lap 17 ahead of Cox, Newman, Gignac, Horner and Showler. Back in the field, Price got outta shape on Lap 19, but was able to get it back straight and keep going.
On Lap 20, there’d be a change at the front of the field as Gary McLean put the No. 8 McLean Industrial Design and Fabrication Ltd. and McLean Farms Modified out front ahead of Emms, Powell, Cox, Newman, Gignac, Harper, Showler and Horner as Reinhart and Cinnamon ran side-by-side for 10th. Unfortunately, the battle went affray with Reinhart going for the quick spin on Lap 24 in turn two.
McLean got a good restart to maintain the lead while Powell moved into second ahead of Newman, Emms, Cox, Gignac and Harper. Gignac then got alongside Cox for fifth as the laps closed down to the end.
Gary McLean led the rest of the way en route to victory ahead of Cole Powell, Barry Newman, A.J. Emms and Jamie Cox. Luke Gignac finished sixth, followed by Jeff Showler, John Harper, Cory Horner and Justin Demelo. Dan Price finished 11th, followed by Dale Reinhart, David Baylch, Duane Cinnamon, Gary Elliott and Ryan Dick.
