Photo Credit: Ashley McCubbin
Nick Goetz put together a late-race charge, but it wouldn’t be enough as Dwayne Baker held him off to score the victory in the 125-lap Canadian Limited Late Model Championship feature.
The day started off with time trials, which saw Goetz lay down the quickest lap behind the wheel of his No. 24 Lake Huron Rod & Gun, Mondo Car Wash, Boston Pizza, Super 8 Motel, Lord Elgin Fish & Chips, Rosner’s Service Centre, Roberto’s Pizzeria, Great Lakes Concrete, Austin Graphics and ImageWraps.ca Late Model at 14.816 seconds. Travis Hallyburton (14.917) was second quickest, followed by Baker (14.919), Scott Wylie (14.924), Taylor Holdaway (14.947) and Lane Zardo (15.083), qualifying for Billy Zardo.
Though come feature time after the invert, it’d be Dwayne Baker starting 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 ahead of Travis Hallyburton, Goetz, Wylie, Holdaway, Chris Morrow, Brittney Gresel, Tom Walters, Darryl St. Onge, Gord Shepherd, Marvin Freiburger, Thayne Hallyburton, Paul Maltese, Bryan Sudsbury, Rick Walt, Dario Capirchio and Gary Elliott.
The beginning of the feature saw a battle for the lead between Dwayne Baker and Travis Hallyburton, with Travis putting the No. 39 Hillsdale Service Center/H.S.C Powersports/Knightworks Designs Late Model out front on lap three, with Wylie moving into second ahead of Goetz.
Wylie would then look alongside Travis for the lead, putting the No. 44 ImageFactor.ca, Holdaway Automotive, kartSTART, Castrol, Kleen-flo, Wix Filters, TEAMLTD, Sunshine Express, OntarioOval.com and Wylie Racing Performance Late Model into the lead on lap six. Goetz would slip up into second ahead of Travis Hallyburton, Baker, Holdaway, St. Onge, Morrow, Walters and Thayne Hallyburton.
Goetz continued his climb to the front, taking the lead on lap nine ahead of Wylie as Travis Hallyburton continued to run third ahead of Baker, Holdaway, St. Onge, Morrow, Walters, Thayne Hallyburton, Shepherd, Freiburger and Gresel. The stretch of green flag racing would come to an end, though, as Maltese and Gresel would tangle in turn three on lap 14. Walt, Elliott and Sudsbury would all use this as an opportunity to pit for adjustments.
With caution laps counting, the race would restart at lap 20 with Goetz holding the advantage ahead of Wylie, Baker, Travis Hallyburton, St. Onge, Holdaway, Walters, Shepherd, Thayne Hallyburton, Morrow, Freiburger and Capirchio. Freiburger would then get alongside Morrow for 10th, completing the pass at lap 28. Morrow would now run 11th as Capirchio and Maltese battled for 12th behind him. Capirchio would get the spot on lap 35, wit Gresel getting alongside Maltese for 13th.
Further up the field, the majority of the field would be strung out single-file, looking to preserve tires and equipment for the final half of the 125-lap feature. However, there were a couple battles throughout the field with Shepherd getting alongside Walters for seventh at lap 37. The pair would battle all the way till the caution at lap 41 for Walt spinning off of turn two. Under the caution, Morrow, Maltese, Walt and Sudsbury all headed down pit road. Morrow would be done for the event following his trip down pit road, as a result of a broken shock.
On the restart at lap 46, Wylie would take the lead ahead of Goetz, but the caution would fly once again for Walters spinning St. Onge in turn four. Walters, Capirchio, St. Onge, Walt and Sudsbury each took a trip down pit road.
The first attempt at a restart would see Goetz jump the start, going in turn three when you’re supposed to restart in turn four.
The second attempt at restarting the race at lap 58 saw a battle for the lead between Goetz and Wylie, with Goetz grabbing the advantage at lap 60 ahead of Wylie, Baker, Holdaway and Travis Hallyburton. Baker would then get by Holdaway on lap 62 to move into third, while Shepherd and Thayne Hallyburton battled for sixth behind Travis. Shepherd would get the spot on lap 64 ahead of Thayne, St. Onge and Freiburger as Walters and Gresel battled for 10th.
Walters would get 10th on lap 66 ahead of Gresel and Maltese. Walters would continue his climb through the field, getting by Freiburger to move into ninth at lap 69. Freiburger would now run 10th ahead of Gresel, Maltese, Capirchio, Elliott, Sudsbury and Walt. Walt would head down pit road on lap 75, done for the rest of the event. Notably, the team was using the event as a test session to get ready for the playoff portion of the 2015 short track schedule.
The battles would continue on track, with St. Onge getting alongside Thayne Hallyburton for seventh at lap 76, and Shepherd getting alongside Travis Hallyburton for fifth at lap 78. The action would come to a halt, though, as Sudsbury would spin in turn one with a broken trailing arm at lap 79.
The restart at lap 88 saw a battle for the lead between Wylie and Goetz, with Wylie grabbing the lead a lap later. Baker would then get by Goetz to move into second while Holdaway ran fourth. Baker would then get alongside Wylie for the lead, when the caution would fly as Holdaway would stall in turn four with a motor problem. Under caution, both Freiburger and Elliott headed down pit road. With 32 laps to go, Baker was scored as the leader ahead of Wylie, Goetz, St. Onge, Walters, Shepherd, Thayne Hallyburton, Capirchio, Maltese, Freiburger, Travis Hallyburton, Gresel and Elliott.
The first attempt at a restart would see Baker grab the lead ahead of Wylie and Goetz, but he caution would fly the next lap as Goetz slowed in turn four with a flat tire. He would head down pit road, getting it changed before returning to the track at the tail of the field.
The second attempt went cleanly with Baker holding the lead ahead of Wylie as St. Onge and Walters battled for third at lap 95. St. Onge would get the spot on lap 99, with Thayne Hallyburton moving into fourth at lap 100. Walters would now run fifth ahead of Shepherd, Travis Hallyburton and Goetz. Shepherd would then get alongside Walters for fifth at lap 102, with Thayne getting alongside St. Onge for third at lap 106. Their battle wouldn’t go smoothly as St. Onge would get loose in turns one and two at lap 109, sliding up into Thayne and sending him around for the spin.
The restart saw Baker continue leading as Shepherd got alongside Wylie for second. Shepherd would get the spot at lap 110, with Goetz getting alongside Wylie for third as the caution flew for debris on the front stretch.
Another restart, another stellar job by Baker continue to lead as Shepherd and Goetz battled for the second spot. Goetz would take the spot at lap 117, focusing in on trying to track down Baker. Over the course of the final eight laps, Goetz was able to close the gap and found himself right on Baker’s bumper with the laps closing winding down quickly.
Dwayne Baker would be able to hold off the charge, though, scoring the victory. Nick Goetz would finish second followed by Gord Shepherd, Scott Wylie, Travis Hallyburton, Thayne Hallyburton, Tom Walters, Darryl St. Onge, Brittney Gresel, Marvin Freiburger, Paul Maltese, Gary Elliott and Dario Capirchio.
