Durham, ON – The OSCAAR Modified tour is set for its biggest weekend of the 2013 season, and biggest in the series history. Accordingly, the 15th annual Rick Woolner Memorial weekend will also be the biggest in the event’s history.
This weekend marks the second time the event has been run under OSCAAR sanctioning, and the second race format in the same time period. For the first time in the events history, the event will feature a preliminary 30-lap event on Saturday night before the 50-lap Memorial on Sunday evening.
For the second time this season, OSCAAR Modified drivers will have to time trial to set heat race lineups for Saturday night’s full points event. Heat race results will set the line-up for the 30-lap feature. Saturday’s feature results will set the line-up for Sunday’s heats and the starting lineup for the 50-lap memorial will emerge from the final set of heat races.
The best Ontario Modified drivers are expected to be on display this weekend to honour one of the most proficient open-wheel pilots in Ontario`s history.
Series points leader and nine-time Woolner Memorial winner Gary McLean (No.8 McLean Industrial Design) took the worst of a lap nine wreck at Flamboro last week. The front steering components, among other parts, appeared to be completely destroyed. This week’s Memorial, however, is personal for the most accomplished tour driver, so the team will be eager to rebound and earn the 10th career memorial win which eluded them last season.
After being in commanding control last week, Brent McLean (No.7) suffered heartbreak when the pan-hard bar broke with five laps remaining on his Bowmanville Home Building Centre sponsored Troyer. The defending Woolner Memorial champion, Brent is looking for win three on the season and hopes to further reduce the 28-point gap for the championship with four races remaining, including this weekend. Look for the third-year modified pilot to be on his A-game this weekend.
Davey Terry (No.14 Wasteco) sits third in the championship standings, and after being collected in an incident on lap six last week, will look to avenge his DNF this weekend. Terry quickly became a fan of Varney in his two stops at the speedway last year and is eager to finish on the podium in the high-profile event. Look for Terry to bring his best piece this week.
Rookie contender Shane Stickel (No.39 MSD Machine Tool) survived the lap nine melée at Flamboro with minimal cosmetic damage to the car’s nose, allowing him to finish fourth. Stickel closed the gap on Branden Bullen (No.67jr Alliston Transmission) for the rookie points lead last weekend, and with a pair of good finishes this weekend, could take over the lead.
Speaking of Bullen, the second-generation driver persevered through a tough set of circumstances, including a disaligned tow and flat right-front tire on Sunday night. Saturday will mark Bullen’s first-career start at Varney in an open-wheel modified, but once the high-school student gets his feet wet, look for him to battle near the front.
Justin Demelo (No.82 EMCO Waterworks) will make his first OSCAAR start at Varney this weekend. Demelo donated his fifth-place winnings from last Sunday at Flamboro to this weekend’s race purse in honour of Rick Woolner. Demelo has two wins with the tour this year, but battled various issues last week. Expect the EMCO team to be back up to speed this weekend and near the top of the speed charts for time trials after setting a new track record at Delaware earlier this year.
Mike Westwood (No.91 Stryker Chassis) may hold an advantage entering this weekend’s event. The Milton, Ont. driver has piloted a Varney Outlaw Pro-Four modified throughout the year, and has turned the most open-wheel laps at Varney of anybody in the OSCAAR field this year. Look for Westwood to use the edge and earn his first OSCAAR podium finish this weekend.
Brian McLean (No.47 Bowmanville Home Building Centre) is coming off his second career OSCAAR win last weekend at Flamboro. Brian, who also won at Peterborough Speedway in 2012, is a multi-time winner of the event and would like to complete the hat-trick. If he can replicate his performance from five days ago, expect the eldest McLean to be in contention.
After earning his career-best second-place finish last weekend, Dave Osborne (No.11 O`Neil`s Farm Equipment) will be in action on Sunday night. Osborne will attend to his duties as track preparation manager at Ohsweken Speedway on Saturday night, but is eager to make his first Woolner Memorial start under OSCAAR sanctions.
The OSCAAR and Ontario racing communities have come together to make the Rick Woolner Memorial the biggest race in Ontario Modified history. Between individual lap sponsors and specialty awards, an additional $3000 has been awarded to the weekend purse.
Knightworks Design will award an additional $100 to the best appearing car for the weekend, as voted by the fans. Fans will receive ballots at the racetrack on Saturday to vote for their favourite car, with the winner being announced on Sunday afternoon.
Wasteco will present $150 to the top-qualifier in Sunday`s main event and $100 to the driver who leads the most feature laps over the course of the weekend.
Jim Brown Trucking has increased the winner’s share of Saturday’s purse by $250, while Mike Allen has increased offered a $250 bonus to Sunday’s winner.
For a full list of specialty awards and lap sponsors see the complete list below.
Saturday`s event gets underway at 5:00pm, with spectator gates opening at 3:00pm and will also feature Four Funs, Mini Stocks, Street Stocks, Outlaw Modifieds, Hurricane Midgets, and the always popular train races.
Sunday`s 50-lap Rick Woolner Memorial will once again feature Four Funs, Mini Stocks, Street Stocks, and a `Checkers or Wreckers` event.
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About Rick Woolner: Rick Woolner was one of Ontario’s fiercest open-wheel modified racers from the 1980’s until his death in 1999. Born in 1953, Woolner began racing a street stock in 1983 and later moving to a Late Model before settling in to an open-wheel modified. Varney Speedway would always be Woolner’s home, despite racing one year at Holland Speedway in New York.
In 1999, Woolner was diagnosed with lung cancer and passed away at summer’s end. The first Memorial race was held in Woolner’s memory at the end of the 1999 season and has been held every year since. Woolner’s spirit lives on each summer at Varney with the 50-lap Rick Woolner Memorial for open-wheel modifieds. In 2012, the race was run under the sanctioning of the OSCAAR Modifieds for the first time.
2013 Rick Woolner Memorial Lap Sponsors
Saturday 30-lap Feature
1 – Performance 1B Racing
8 – Warrior Wheels (McLean Industrial Design)
21 – Paul Tolton
24 – In Memory of Dennis Wright (Darryn Wright)
28 – Pryde Truck Service (Fergus)
30 – Plaza Kia (Thornhill)
Sunday 50-lap Feature
1 – The Spray Dogs (Listowel)
2 – Air Boss Rubber Compound
3 – Carquest (Fergus)
4 – Sheridan & Brayden McLean
5 – Murray Group of Moorefield
6 – In memory of Fred Bullen
7- In memory of Fred Bullen
8 – John Woolner
9 –Monty and Cindy Kelly (Kelly Racing)
10 – Rodson Sod Supply (Mount Forest)
12 – Around the House Contracting of Acton
13 – At a Glance Screen Printing
14 – Air Boss Rubber Compound
15 – Arctic Clear (Fergus)
16 – Daphne Sullivan
17 – McNicol Racing
18 – Matteo’s Pizza (Mount Forest)
19 – #19 Wilson Racing
20 – JJ McLellan Plumbing (Mount Forest)
21 – Delaware Speedway/Autumn Colours Classic
22 – Marshalls Serivce Centre (Orangeville)
23 – 2Tech Auto (Mount Forest)
24 – Daryn Wright Motorsports
25 – Sapphire Motorsports on Behalf of Special Olympics Ontario North Wellington
26 – Tanya Darryl Brayden McDougall
27 – McLean Farms
28 – McLean Farms
29 – Bowmanville Home Building Centre
30 – Marshalls Serivce Centre (Orangeville)
31 – Josh Gruntz Motorsports
33 – Darryl & Janet Willfang
34 – Lawmac Racing
35 – Chalmers Fuel (Palmerston)
38 – Scott,Selena,Sheldon Way of Cheatin S.O.B Racing
39 – Robb Racing
40 – R&S Automotive (Palmerston)
42 – Tim & Tabatha Hastie in Honour of Veterans
43 – V & L Transportation (Hamilton)
44 – Delaware Speedway/Demelo Racing
45 – Murray Group (Moorefield)
46 – Peterborough Speedway/Autumn Colours Classic
47 – Peterborough Speedway/ Autumn Colours Classic
48 – Tolton Motorsports Autism Awareness
49 – The Spray Dogs (Listowel)
50 – Past Time Pub & Grill
Specialty Awards
Sunday Top Qualifier – Wasteco ($150)
Most Laps Led (Combined Days) – Wasteco ($100)
Hard Luck Award – Bentinck Motors ($200)
Highest Finishing Rookie (Both Days) – Sheila Eccles (Craig McDonald Reddon Insurance) ($50)
Saturday Winners Bonus – Jim Brown Trucking ($250)
Sunday Winners Bonus – Mike Allen ($250)
Halfway Leader (Sunday) – Engines by Hal ($100)
Best Appearing Car (As Determined by Fans) – Knightworks Design ($100)
Long-Haul Award – McLean Industrial Design Ltd. ($50)
Giant Cookie Award (Awarded to First Driver to Exit Saturday Feature) – Donna Rossiter
Gift Pack – APC: 1 Hat, 1 T-shirt, 5 gallons of 110 octane racing fuel
Gift Pack – TSC of Listowel
Gift Pack – Darlene Terry: Four $25 Petro-Canada Gift Cards & Four $25 Canadian Tire Gift Cards
Gift Pack – Larry Hudson GM of Listowel: Framed Collector Stamp Collection and Camaro Plaque
Gift Pack – Home Hardware Palmerston: Four 4L Motor Oil & 200 Shop Towels
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Tickets: Admission (Both Days) – Adults: $15, Seniors: $12, Children: 6-12 $8. Family Pass (2 Adults & 4 Children): $42. Pit Admission (All Ages): $22.
Directions: Varney Speedway Motorplex is located on Highway 6 between Mount Forest and Durham, Ontario. For address and MapQuest directions, please visit http://www.varneyspeedwaymotorplex.com/contact.php.
The OSCAAR Modifed 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) – OSCAAR Media and Public Relations
Contact: oscaar.media@gmail.com
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