The OSCAAR Super Late Model tour has had a week to gather itself following the series June 15 event at Barrie Speedway and a number of drivers are preparing for the two-day Don Biederman Memorial event at Sunset Speedway on June 29 and 30. The list of drivers with the intention to compete in the event continues to increase and some interesting developments have occurred over the past week ahead of the Biederman Memorial.
Todd Campbell (#07 Campbell’s Sanitation) will have a new power plant next weekend at Sunset for the series’ biggest event of the year. The Guelph, Ont. driver is upgrading to a built motor from the Chevy crate motor he has run for the past two and a half seasons. Campbell will take the new motor to Sunset before a return to Sauble Speedway on July 13 where he earned his best career OSCAAR finish, a fourth-place result, last July.
Despite intentions to run with OSCAAR this season, Don Thomson Jr. (No. 4) has sold his Super Late Model before entering in to active competition. Peterborough Speedway part-time driver Kelly Balson has purchased the chassis previously owned by Len Couvillon. Thomson, who is the crew chief for J.R. Fitzpatrick’s NASCAR Canadian Tire Series entry, felt he could not make the commitment to OSCAAR with the team’s current NCATS deal. He has not ruled out a return to OSCAAR in a different car next season.
Balson, meanwhile, has said he will wait until the 2014 season to begin his OSCAAR Super Late Model career. Balson currently owns a Limited Late Model and a Lucas Oil Sportsman Cup (LOSC) car, which is piloted by his girlfriend Amanda Connolly. Unless the LOSC car sells before season’s end, Balson will wait a year to race the Super Late Model to avoid any potential problems that might occur in competition.
Former Sunset Speedway mini-stock driver Rob Gibson (No. 3) will make his first career OSCAAR start this weekend at his hometrack. The Orillia, Ont. driver, who operates as driver and crew for his Super Late Model, has spent the last four months preparing the car on his own. Gibson intends to practice this Wednesday night at Sunset and, if all goes well, will attempt to make the field for the first 50-lap feature of the Don Biederman Memorial on Saturday night.
Sophomore driver Paul Law (No. 72 Midas of Orangeville/Ron Little Trucking) has confirmed his intention to run in the Biederman Memorial as well. The 2012 Rookie-of-the-Year runner-up intended to make his debut at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park on June 1 before the event was rained out, and was unable to make the start at Barrie due to business commitments. Law will look to pilot his Jeff-Hanley built Chevrolet to a podium finish for the first-time in a young OSCAAR career.
After making his first OSCAAR start of the season at Barrie last weekend, Ian Bourque (No. 83 Bourque Transmission) will be in attendance for the Biederman event at Sunset. Bourque, who has historically run a partial schedule with OSCAAR and who has been competing full-time in a Limited Late Model at Barrie this season, will look for his first career OSCAAR victory.
Corey Jones (No. 82 RBC/Remax/Accountable Automotive) continues to be on track for his OSCAAR debut at Sunset this weekend. Jones’ car is being prepared out of the Shane Gowan (No. 39 Lucas Oil/Hallett Fabrication) racing stable with significant contribution from Gowan’s crew chief Kelly Hallett. Gowan will also pilot a new Port City Racecars chassis this weekend at Sunset.
Stay tuned to www.oscaar.ca throughout the week for more information regarding the 15th annual Don Biederman Memorial weekend at Sunset Speedway on June 29 and 30, including race format, a probable entry list, a full preview, and the full schedule of events for race weekend.
The OSCAAR Super Late Model tour is presented by a number of dedicated sponsors throughout Ontario, including: Knightworks Design, Hoosier Racing Tire, Klotz Synthetics Canada, Race2way.ca, Dave Franks Photos, Dickson Printing, Finishline Fabrication, McColl Racing Enterprises, McGunegill Engine Performance, Stefko Racing Engines, VP Racing Fuels, OntarioOval.com, RaceTime Radio, Inside Track Motorsport News, Jenco Equipment, Midas of Orangeville, Reinhart Trailer Sales, North Toronto Auctions, and South Shore Services.
By Clayton Johns (@cjohnsmedia)
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