After putting on a stellar two-day show at Sunset Speedway for the Don Biederman Memorial two weeks ago, the OSCAAR Super Late Models return to the track this weekend. With the heat wave of summer hitting full force, it’s fitting that they’re headed to the beach this weekend – Sauble Beach.
Sauble Speedway always puts on an action packed race, with room to pass on the ¼ mile oval. The Super Late Models will be joined at Sauble by the OSCAAR Modifieds and Sauble’s own Jr. Late Models.
Last year, George Wilson took home the victory, though has already announced that he doesn’t intend in running the full schedule this season. Wilson was at the Don Biederman Memorial , where he finished a seventh and a 14th across the two nights.
One of the previous Sauble race winners that will definitely be in the field come this weekend is Glenn Watson, who picked up the victory in 2011. Watson will look to bounce back after failing to finish the second of the two Biederman Memorial features after being taken out of the running through contact with Gary Passer.
Jeff Hanley won at Sauble in both 2008 and 2010 (2009 was rained out), though has not confirmed whether he will be at Sauble this weekend. He was at the Biederman Memorial, finishing top 10 both nights. However, he wasn’t up to his true prime of being a front contender.
Points leader Brandon Watson will look to extend his points lead this weekend. He currently leads Derrike Tiemersma by 24 points after a third place finish overall in the Biederman Memorial, including a victory in Sunday’s feature. Watson has one start at Sauble, last year, in which he finished third.
Tiemersma, meanwhile, has three starts at Sauble, though has only finished in the top five in one of those starts. Could his luck change this year? So far, he has finished in the top five each week.
Rookie Kevin Cornelius grew up racing at Sauble Speedway, though hasn’t race there in a while in any type of car. How well Cornelius does will depend on how quickly he can get re-accustomed with the track. So far, Cornelius has finished in the top seven in each of the four races this year, including a pair of seconds at the Don Biederman Memorial.
Fellow rookie Andrew Gresel will also be in attendance. Gresel is used to Sauble Speedway, having ran many laps the past few years in both Limited Late Model and Pro Late Model around the ¼ mile. Gresel has had a solid season so far also, finishing in the top six in three of the four starts. The race that he didn’t finish in the top six was the first race of the season and that was due to his super late not being ready and running a template body car instead.
Keeping the rookie battle interesting will be Sean Cronan as he hasn’t made many laps around Sauble much either. Cronan picked up his first top 10 of the year at Sunset Speedway two weeks ago on the Sunday and will look to continue that string of positive finishes this weekend.
Tyler Hawn picked up a ninth place feature finish in the second of the two features at Sunset Speedway at the end of June. Hawn will be at Sauble this weekend, looking to best his ninth place finish from last year at Sauble.
Gary Passer has been at each event this year and will most likely be at Sauble this weekend. Passer had a solid run in the second of the two Biederman Memorial features, finishing 10th. Passer has finished top 10 in his previous two Sauble starts.
Shane Maginnis will most likely be in attendance after a top 10 finish on day one of the Biederman Memorial. Maginnis has looked fast so far this year, but is still looking for that elusive top five finish. Maginnis’ only Sauble start was in 2008, which he finished 12th.
Shane Gowan had his run cut short at Sunset Speedway due to a rear-end failure. However, he has confirmed that he will be in attendance at Sauble Speedway this weekend.
Lloyd Ritchie suffered a fire during practice for the Biederman Memorial as a result of a loose oil line. Look for Ritchie to be at Sauble after finishing fourth two years ago.
Don Biederman Memorial winner Dwayne Baker will not be at Sauble Speedway as he will be racing in the Limited Late Model division at Sunset Speedway, vying for the track championship. With the OSCAAR’s back at Sunset later this month, look for Baker to be part of the field that weekend.
J.R. Fitzpatrick made his first start of the season at the Don Biederman Memorial, however will miss this weekend’s event at Sauble Speedway due to the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race.
Currently, Rob Poole sits fourth in points, 42 points behind points leader Brandon Watson. However, he blew a motor on the last lap of Sunday’s feature at Sunset Speedway and may miss this weekend’s event as a result.
Charlie Gallant sustained heavy damage in the first of two features at Sunset Speedway after contact with Hanley. Like many others, it’s unclear whether Gallant will be at Sauble.
Jesse Kennedy missed the race at Sunset due to not having his motor ready in time, and there has yet to be confirmation as to whether he will be at Sauble.
Front runner Rob Clarke missed Sunset Speedway so there are questions as to whether he will be at Sauble.
After record car counts and two solid competitive days of racing for the Don Biederman Memorial, expectations for this weekend to be a great weekend for OSCAAR are high. Make sure to join us at Sauble Speedway as racing will start at 7pm, with an autograph session at 6:20pm.
