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[/media-credit]A full month away from the racetrack for the OSCAAR Modified tour has created a number of anxious race car drivers. So far, just the inaugural event is in the books after rained washed away the scheduled race at Kawartha Speedway on June 1st. The event marks the first ever modified race at Barrie Speedway since its reconfiguration and resurfacing in 2007. The Mods will battle for another 30-lap event as a number of drivers seek to become the second winner in OSCAAR Modified history.
Gary McLean will be defending his inaugural race win at Barrie after a very exciting battle with Barry Newman on opening night. The native of Conn, ON has announced his plans to run the full tour in the #8 Greg Gibson-owned machine. If he is to defend his opening race win, he will have to surmount a number of hungry competitors including a pair of family members.
Brent McLean (#7 Home Hardware Cobalt) has also announced his plans to race full-time on the tour. He currently sits fifth in the standings, but did finish on the podium in third at Sunset. Brent will look to challenge his uncle Gary on Saturday night.
Brent’s cousin Aaron McLean is expected to make his OSCAAR Modified debut in the #4 machine this Saturday. The defending Varney Motor Speedway modified champion is sure to be a tough battle when the green flag drops.
A number of modified rookies had impressive debuts on opening night including Tim Burke. The driver of the #99x finished sixth at Sunset in his late-model-turned-modified science project. With the entire
field starting with a blank page of notes at Barrie, look for Burke to try and gain the advantage early on.
Brandon Crumbie was strong in his modified debut as well, earning a top-five fifth place finish. The former Sunset Speedway Limited Late Model competitor has put a lot of time and effort in to his 2012 campaign that he hopes will result in more finishes at the front of the field. Look for another smooth and consistent performance for the #72.
Larry Mackenzie had a good start to his season with a seventh place finish in his first try behind the wheel of the unsponsored #96 mod. The ‘Mad Dog’ will look to crack the top-five on Saturday night with his aggressive driving style.
After moving up from Kawartha Speedway’s thunder car division, Josh Gruntz did not have the start he had hoped for in his first event. The driver of the #31 finished tenth but is always looking for more from his 2011 Autumn Colours Classic championship chassis. Gruntz tested at Barrie over the off season and may be one-step ahead of the competition before the drop of the green flag.
Dave Terry (#14 Castrol/Wasteco/Brennan Haulage/Keeler Electric Modified) finished a respectable ninth in his modified debut. Terry has spent some long days in the shop preparing his entry for Barrie in order to finish at the front. The Erin, ON native battled a loose car at Sunset and is hoping to use the knowledge he gained in the inaugural event towards a better finish.
Matt Barton (#2 MDB Racecars Modified) will make his second start of a limited 2012 schedule. Barton finished eleventh despite running mid-pack most of the race before getting tangled in a pair of spins. If Barton can stay clean, look for the #2 to be knocking for a top-five on Saturday evening.
Alongside the OSCAAR Modifieds Saturday night will be the OSCAAR Super Late Models in their first event at Barrie Speedway since 2007. The OSCAAR duo will accompany Barrie’s weekly Limited Late Model division for an impressive line-up of Saturday night racing at the Oro, ON oval. Pit gates open at 3pm with the grandstand opening at 5pm and the first green flag at 7pm.
