In his first career OSCAAR Hanover Holiday Modified start on Sunday, Cayden Lapcevich would impress as he grabbed the lead late in the feature to pick up the victory. The 14-year-old becomes the youngest OSCAAR modified feature winner in series history.
It also marks the second straight event that OSCAAR has seen a first-time winner, following Terry Baker’s win in the Saturday night Sunset Speedway feature. Interestingly, Lapcevich was driving the exact modified that Baker drove the previous night, marking the second straight win for car owners Terry Baker and Kevin Jobs.
Lapcevich’s win also show the diversity of the OSCAAR Hanover Holiday Modifieds as he becomes the fourth different winner this year, joining Chad Strawn, Gary McLean and Baker. Dating back to McLean’s win at Barrie two weeks ago, the modifieds have seen three different winners in the last three races.
The night started off with Brent McLean finding victory lane in the first heat after struggling the previous night ahead of Gary McLean, Max Beyore, Matt Barton, Drew Stieler and Bill Burrows.
The second heat didn’t go smoothly as Gary Elliott would go for a spin on the second lap. Elliott had been fighting steering issues throughout the weekend and the teams worked to try and repair them, though the struggles would continue. Despite the struggles, Sunday night would mark a memorable night for the veteran as he’d make his 700th consecutive start, dating back to June 1987.
Ryan Dick didn’t have luck in the second heat either, as he would go for a spin on the third lap. Dick stated post-race that he was on old tires as he wanted to save his newer tires for the 30-lap feature later that night. Justin Demelo picked up the win ahead of Shane Stickel, Brian McLean, Davey Terry, Dick and Elliott.
The third heat saw the spin cycle continue as Branden Bullen got his experience on the eighth lap while running in the top three. Tommy Robb grabbed the win ahead of Lapcevich, Strawn, Bullen, Dustin Jackson and John Harper.
The spin cycle continued in the fourth heat with Stieler and Barton both going around off of turn four on lap two. Gary McLean picked up the win ahead of Brent McLean, Barton, Beyore and Stieler.
Davey Terry won the fifth heat ahead of Stickel, Dick, Brian McLean, Demelo and Elliott.
Lapcevich won the final heat to become the youngest OSCAAR Modified heat winner ahead of fellow teenager Dustin Jackson, Bullen, Robb, Harper and Strawn.
Come feature time, Justin Demelo would start pole ahead of Davey Terry, Tommy Robb, Shane Stickel, Gary McLean, Cayden Lapcevich, Brent McLean, Max Beyore, Branden Bullen, Matt Barton, Brian McLean, Dustin Jackson, Ryan Dick, Chad Strawn, Drew Stieler, John Harper and Bill Burrows.
Davey Terry would quickly prove why his No. 14 Wasteco, Castrol, Brennan Haulage, Keeler Electric, Mann Hydraulics, Terry Farms and Dominion Mini Storage Modified is quick as he grabbed the lead on lap two after a side-by-side battle with Demelo. Lapcevich began making quick work as by lap two, he was battling Stickel for third. Lapcevich would grab the spot on lap four ahead of Stickel while Beyore grabbed fifth from Robb, Gary McLean and Brent McLean on lap six. Bullen and Barton would round out the top 10 as they all started to spread out, single-file.
Unfortunately, Gary Elliott’s night came to an end on lap 13 as he headed down pit road with mechanical issues.
Back on track, Terry continued to lead at the halfway mark (lap 15) while Lapcevich had caught Demelo for second. Lapcevich grabbed the spot on lap 18 while Gary McLean and Stickel now rounded out the top five. McLean would get alongside Demelo at lap 19, passing him at lap 20 before the caution would fly for Stickel spinning in turn two.
On the restart, Terry and Lapcevich ran side-by-side for a couple lap with Terry grabbing the advantage as Gary McLean ran third, followed by Demelo, Brent McLean, Jackson, Barton, Bullen, Strawn and Harper. Brent McLean would get alongside Demelo for fourth and get by him, however contact ensued with Demelo sending McLean around for a caution at lap 28.
The restart would come with two laps to go and Cayden Lapcevich made the most of it behind the wheel of his No. 26 Baker Performance of Hamilton, Tim Hortons, Troy Cove Marine, Springers Meats, EPIC Racewear by OnePromo.ca and Cathcart Trucking Modified, clearing Davey Terry to pick up the victory. Gary McLean would grab second on the last lap from Terry, handing Terry a third place finish. Max Beyore finished fourth, followed by Dustin Jackson, Matt Barton, Tommy Robb, Shane Stickel, John Harper, Brent McLean, Drew Stieler, Justin Demelo, Branden Bullen and Chad Strawn.
