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[/media-credit]After nearly a full month off, round two of the OSCAAR Super Late Models series is set to go at Barrie Speedway this Saturday night. Drivers have been eagerly waiting to get back at the track after rain washed away racing at Kawartha Speedway on Friday June 1. The layoff since May 20 has allowed drivers some extra time to prepare for the second event of the year which should see a handful of new faces take the green flag. An impressive field of 23 drivers took the green flag at Sunset Speedway, yet all will be looking to improve when the Supers invade Barrie for the first time since 2007.
Sunset winner Brandon Watson (#9 Shear Metal/Royal Distributing/Barrie Frame & Alignment/ Knightworks Design Chevrolet) would like to better his result – or at least the way it was achieved. The Stayner, ON native was deemed the winner after George Wilson (#77 Port City Racecars/Morollo Racing Engines/ Union Cab Ford Fusion) failed post-race technical inspection inspection. The win was Watson’s second-career victory in an OSCAAR Super Late Model, but the teenager is still looking for that second victory lane photo. If the talent-laden OSCAAR field isn’t challenge enough for Watson, Saturday night’s race is sandwiched between a pair of Late Model invitational races at Kawartha and Sunset Speedways on Friday and Sunday, respectively.
George Wilson will look to put up some points in the standings after receiving the bad news following his dominating performance at Sunset. The ‘Steel City Outlaw’ has acknowledged his mistake and assurd it will not happen again. The multi-time champion at Laird Int’l Raceway and Kinross Speedway Park in an Outlaw Super Late Model is poised to show that he is willing to fight back. After all, the native of Sault Ste. Marie ON doesn’t make the over 1000km round trip to Barrie Speedway to finish second.
Defending champion Glenn Watson (#22 Rival Office Solutions/Race2way.ca/ Top Shops/ Klotz Fuels Chevrolet) sits in unfamiliar waters in the 11th position in OSCAAR points. Watson has not been outside the top-ten in four seasons. A crash in to the front stretch wall at Sunset ended Watson’s night with a 16th place finish and, if not for a pair of heat race wins earlier in the night, it could be a lot worse for the driver of the #22. He will look to return with vengeance at his former home track of Barrie Speedway and get back on top of the pile.
Mike Beyore’s (#54 Stemac/Millenium Crane/Metals Plus/ CNC Custom Machining/MGS Custom Tune Cadillac) return performance after his year absence in 2011 was a strong one as the veteran finished in sixth. A calm and collected Beyore is seeing success from his new attitude and hopes the luck will propel him in to the top-five at Barrie.
Derrick Tiemersma (#7 Wayfreight/Spira Chevrolet) was impressive in the revival of his OSCAAR career following a podium third-place finish at Sunset. The Newmarket, ON native has been using the off-time to improve a very-quick car in hopes of getting to victory lane for the first time since August 14 of 2010 at Mosport Speedway.
The race for the rookie-of-the-year title appears as though it will be as close as ever. Three rookies, Jesse Kennedy (#10 Bev’s Auto Repair/GRE/ Cameron Crane & Riggers/ Quality Collision Chevrolet), Paul Law (#72 Midas/Ron Little Trucking/Hawk Shop of Orangeville Chevrolet), and Rob Poole (#45 VisserFarms/RA Electrical/Alliston Auto Sales Chevrolet) finished the opening race in the top-ten. Kennedy and Law finished fourth and fifth respectively, while Poole finished ninth despite running in the top-five most of the night. With a new points system, the rookie standings will be closer than ever. Look for Law and Poole to try and jump ahead of Kennedy on Saturday night.
In addition to the OSCAAR Super Late Models, the OSCAAR Modifieds will be in action at Barrie Speedway on Saturday night to accompany Barrie’s weekly Limited Late Models division. Pit gates open at 3pm for all divisions, with the grandstand opening at 5pm and the first green flag at 7pm. The first Super Late Model race at Barrie since 2007 and the first-ever modified event at Barrie since its resurfacing is an event you don’t want to miss.
