Photo Credit: Ashley McCubbin
Through the first half of the year, it seemed nothing would go Dwayne Baker’s way. Now into the second half, everything is going how he’d hope as he scored his second feature victory of the season on Saturday night.
In time trials, it’d be Nick Goetz laying down the quickest lap of the session at 14.973 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.
Dwayne Baker posted the second quickest lap (15.057), followed by Travis Hallyburton (15.058), Taylor Holdaway (15.086) and Thayne Hallyburton (15.093). Gord Shepherd qualified sixth, followed by Sean Cronan, Mike Bentley, Brittney Gresel and Paul Maltese. Lane Zardo qualified 11th, followed by Shaun McWhirter, Billy Zardo, Ryan Kimball, Kevin Cornelius, Jordan Latimer, Danny Benedict, Al Inglis, Mike Wikinson, Chance Isherwod and Jordan Howse.
Off the drop of the green flag, Baker put the No. 48 Zancor Custom Homes, G.D. Coates Used Car Superstore, McGunegill Engine Performance, Four Valley’s Excavating, Clearview Heating & Cooling, Baker Performance Parts and Nisco National Leasing Late Model out front ahead of Goetz, Travis Hallyburton and Thayne Hallyburton as Shepherd and Holdaway battled for fifth.
Travis Hallyburton made his way around Goetz for second, with Thayne getting alongside Goetz for third. Thayne had a little bobble, but managed to get by – only for contact to happen with Goetz spinning Thayne for the first caution. The unfortunate innocent victim in the incident with Taylor Holdaway, who got collected with heavy front end damage to his late model. Despite damage all around, everyone was able to continue.
Baker got a good restart to maintain the lead ahead of Travis Hallyburton, Bentley and Shepherd as Maltese and Cronan battled for fifth. The second caution then flew on Lap 8 as Inglis spun in turn two. With 27 laps to go, Baker led Hallyburton, Bentley, Shepherd, Cronan, Maltese, McWhirter, Billy Zardo, Gresel, Lane Zardo, Latimer, Kimball, Cornelius, Benedict, Isherwood and Goetz.
Baker got a good restart to keep the advantage ahead of Travis Hallyburton, Shepherd and Bentley as Cronan and Maltese battled for fifth. Cronan got the spot on Lap 11 ahead of Maltese, McWhirter, Gresel and Lane Zardo as Kimball and Latimer battled for 10th. Latimer got the spot on Lap 14, with Thayne Hallyburton getting alongside Latimer for 11th.
Further up the field, Gresel got alongside McWhirter for seventh at Lap 15. Thayne was able to get 11th at Lap 15, with Goetz following him through. Goetz then got alongside Thayne for 12th at Lap 17, while Gresel cleared McWhirter for seventh at Lap 18. Billy Zardo ran ninth with Goetz now 10th ahead of Lane Zardo and Thayne.
With 21 laps on the board, Baker led ahead of Travis Hallyburton, Shepherd, Bentley, Cronan, Maltese and Gresel as McWhirter and Billy Zardo ran side-by-side for eighth. Hallyburton was able to get alongside Baker for the lead at Lap 24, though fell back in line a lap later just before the caution flew for Zardo spinning in turn four courtesy of contact from Goetz. With 10 laps to go, Baker led Hallyburton, Shepherd, Bentley, Cronan, Maltese, Gresel, McWhirter, Thayne Hallyburton, Lane Zardo, Latimer, Kimball, Benedict and Cornelius.
The restart was a little messy with Inglis taking a trip through the turn three grass as Baker held serve while Bentley and Travis Hallyburton ran side-by-side for second. There’d be contact between the pair, resulting in the field stacking up throughout and Kimball getting left front damage.
The caution came out a lap later on Lap 28 as a result of McWhirter spinning courtesy of contact from Gresel. Under the yellow flag, Thayne Hallyburton stalled. With seven laps to go, Baker led Travis Hallyburton, Shepherd, Bentley, Maltese, Cronan, Lane Zardo, Latimer, Benedict, Goetz, Wilkinson, Holdaway, Billy Zardo, Isherwood, Inglis and Kimball.
Baker got another good restart to keep ahead of Travis Hallyburton and Bentley. Shepherd was set on gaining some more ground, getting alongside Bentley for third on Lap 29 ahead of Cronan and Maltese as Goetz and Latimer battled for seventh. Shepherd got third on Lap 31, while Goetz got by Latimer for seventh. Goetz then got alongside Maltese for sixth, completing the pass with two laps to go.
Dwayne Baker led the rest of the way en route to victory ahead of Travis Hallyburton, Gord Shepherd, Mike Bentley and Sean Cronan. Nick Goetz finished sixth, followed by Paul Maltese, Jordan Latimer, Lane Zardo and Danny Benedict.
Chance Isherwood finished 11th, followed by Mike Wilkinson, Billy Zardo, Taylor Holdaway, Ryan Kimball, Al Inglis, Brittney Gresel, Shaun McWhirter, Thayne Hallyburton, Kevin Cornelius and Jordan Howse.
