Photo Credit: Ashley McCubbin
As the weekends begin to count down in the Sunset Speedway season, the competition seems to just intensify on a weekly basis with everyone wanting to score the next victory. With each passing week, there have been drivers standing out above the rest – so here is, without further-ado, the drivers to watch heading into Saturday night.
Matt Bentley
With five feature victories on the season, Matt Bentley leads the points standings with only three weekends of racing left on the season. Bentley came into the season as the favourite after finishing second in the points last year to Cayden Lapcevich.
Bentley has been putting the numbers up all year – only finish off the podium in first nine races this season – till this past weekend when he finished 16th. He was running in the top-five once again till mid-race contact knocked the back bumper loose, requiring a trip down pit road. Restarting tail of the field, he was unable to make up much ground before the checkered flew.
Coming off his worst performance of the year, he’ll certainly be wanting to get back to victory lane this weekend.
Stan Coe
Stan Coe is known as the quiet consistent driver, solidly putting up the numbers on a weekly basis against all odds. He also knows how to sneak in a win each year as he was able to accomplish on June 25 this season. With only one finish outside of the top-10 this year – 14th on July 23 – he has put himself in championship contention.
Coming off three straight podium finishes, Coe could perhaps pick up his second win of the year to help vault him forward in the standings.
Miles Tyson
With the rookie class bursting with talent, everyone knew there’d be success to be found and it’s happened this year.
Miles Tyson has had the typical rookie hiccups – notably posting only two top-10 finishes in the first nine races this year, but managed to show speed in the process. It’s starting to pay off as he posted a fifth and ninth this past weekend.
Already having scored a Thunder Car victory at Peterborough Speedway this year, Tyson has a chance to become the sixth different face in victory lane this year.
Jordan Howse
Speaking of rookies, the most impressive rookie this year has to be Jordan Howse with three victories and 10 top-10s in 11 races this season.
Howse has been solid all year, avoiding the rookie hiccups which found Tyson. He only posted his one finish outside of the top-10 – 18th on July 30 – as a result of a late race incident. While Bentley found trouble this past weekend, Howse put together a pair of solid races despite some adversity so he could gain as many points as possible. Despite going to the rear of the field due to leaking fuel and contact with the left side door, he scored a runner-up in the first feature, followed by a win in the second.
With momentum on his side, Howse could make a late-race charge to win the championship, following up his Mini Stock Championship from last season.
Ken Grubb
Ken Grubb may not be a full-time competitor, but don’t count him out either. Known for his strong finishes in Sunset’s invitational races of the past, he has recently come on strong, posting a fifth place finish on August 20.
If Grubb can get up front early in the feature, he could make a trip to victory lane at Sunset Speedway.
Treyten Lapcevich
Treyten Lapcevich impressed everyone behind the wheel of his Mighty Mini, winning the championship at the tender age of 11. A year older, he hasn’t slowed down one bit as he has scored five top-fives with only one finish outside of the top-10 this year.
After missing this past weekend’s event, Lapcevich will most certainly be looking to battle with the front runners on Saturday night.
Justin Holmes
Like Miles Tyson, Justin Holmes was another rookie which got off to a rough start this year with two finishes outside of the top-20 in the first four races of the season. It seems as though he’s getting things sorted out, though, as he’s posted a top-five in his last three starts.
If you’re looking for an underdog, Holmes is the driver to cheer for as coming off a runner-up last weekend, he could sneak in there.
Johnny Morrison
After showing speed late last year, Johnny Morrison was a driver pinned to possibly be a front runner all year. Ultimately, the prediction fell short as he posted only one top-10 in his first 10 races this season. Morrison seems to have found the magic ticket once again, though, finishing fourth this past weekend.
Look for Morrison to try and finish the year strong, as he did last season.
