Photo Credit: Ashley McCubbin
ORILLIA, Ont. – June 13, 2016 – Taylor Holdaway’s 2016 season roared back to life on Saturday night at Sunset Speedway and the Orillia, Ont. native scored a perfect night at the Stroud oval.
‘Hollywood’ Holdaway drove his No.41 Bay Auto and Truck Parts/KartSTART by Toyota car to a pole position with a fast time of 15.108 seconds. The quick time gave him the top starting spot for the first of two 35-lap main events in NASCAR Whelen All-American Weekly Series action after a week hiatus.
“The track was really dusty because of the rain and lost some grip, but I thought our car was really good all day,” Holdaway commented. “We were good in practice and we were able to put it on the pole in time trials.”
Holdaway battled with Gord Shepherd repeatedly throughout the first feature, but emerged with the victory despite a late caution that tightened the field. The longer green flag runs played to Holdaway’s advantage, he said.
“We ran side-by-side with Gordie for half the race and had a really good run with him. Just like two weeks ago, the longer the run went, my car was able to stay consistent,” Holdaway explained, adding “he would fall off a little bit. Once I cleared him, I was slowly able to open up a gap after five or six laps.”
The 14-car finish invert meant Holdaway started 14th and in the middle of the highly competitive field for the second main event. Lady Luck was on his side Saturday night, as he drove through several wrecks and plenty of carnage to win the second feature as well.
“I thought we still had a good car the last two weeks in the second feature, but we got caught up in all the wrecks. This week we were lucky enough to miss it and ended up near the front,” Holdaway said.
“It’s one of those years where you have to be prepared to have some fenders knocked off the way everyone’s racing. It’s all just cosmetic, there’s no suspension damage. It could have been a lot worse,” Holdaway added.
The weekend sweep gives Holdaway four wins in six weekly series starts at Sunset so far this season and five wins in seven starts overall.
“If they could all go like this, I would love it. I have no problem doing body work if I can win both features,” Holdaway laughed.
The Holdaway Motorsports team has a short week before returning to action on Friday, June 17 for two more NASCAR Whelen All-American Series races. The rare Friday night show was scheduled to accommodate Saturday’s NASCAR Pinty’s Series race. Regardless, Holdaway feels he and his team are in good shape for Saturday’s event.
“You lose a day, but usually we take Sundays off. We didn’t this week, so we have a head start there. It’s nothing major, so we can put it back together for Friday night,” he explained.
Follow Taylor Holdaway’s 2016 season online at www.taylorholdaway.com, by ‘Liking’ Holdaway Motorsports on Facebook, and by following @41Holdaway on Twitter.
Taylor Holdway’s 2016 season is supported by Bay Auto and Truck Parts, Holdaway Automotive, Image Factor Motorsports Design and Photography, KartSTART presented by Toyota, Yamaha Motor Canada, Wix Filters, Castrol Canada, Sunshine Super Wash, and Stefko Racing Engines.
Prepared By Clayton Johns Media
Photo Attachment: Taylor Holdaway celebrates in Victory Lane following the first of two feature wins on Saturday night at Sunset Speedway. (Ashley McCubbin photo).
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