After taking the lead at halfway, Brent McLean wouldn’t look back as he would lead the rest of the way en route to scoring the victory in the OSCAAR Hanover Holiday Modified Autumn Colors Classic 50.
“I was sick to my stomach in what could happen,” Brent commented post-race. “I just wanted it over with our luck for this year. I didn’t know what way it’d go. I may have run him a little high, but it’s the Classic and I wanted it badly.”
While Brent celebrated in victory lane, uncle Gary McLean would be officially crowned the 2014 OSCAAR Hanover Holiday Modified Champion, marking his third straight series championship.
When the feature started, it’d be Max Beyore and Davey Terry starting on the front row after finishing one-two at the Chase for the Colors in August. Matt Barton started third, followed by Gary Elliott, Dustin Jackson, Gary McLean, Brent McLean, Chad Strawn, Cory Horner, Drew Stieler, Tommy Robb and Erin McLean. Beyore would pull out to the early lead on the start ahead of Terry and Barton. Elliott would fall back after being passed by Gary Mclean before the first caution flew at lap three as a result of Horner spinning. Strawn would run sixth, followed by Brent McLean, Jackson, Brian McLean, Erin McLean, Ryan Dick, Stieler, Nick Lees, Terry Baker, Robb, Daniel Bois, Dean Scott, Duane Cinnamon, Bill Burrows and Richard Warnes.
The first attempt at a restart brought forth a caution as Gary McLean would spin Beyore out while the pair battled with Terry for the lead. Under caution, both Cinnamon and Warnes would stop in turn four. The second attempt at a restart would be messy as well, with Elliott taking a trip through the grass; Elliott would keep it clean and going, though, resulting in no caution.
Meanwhile, Barton would get by Terry to take over the lead in the event. Brian McLean’s poor luck at Peterborough would continue as he’d get backflagged for smoking on lap nine. Both Burrows and Cinnamon would go a lap down, making it dicey for the leaders as they went by. With the pair of lap cars battling for position, it blocked up the track and resulted in a chain reaction deal that sent Stieler for the spin at lap 20. With Stieler down out of the way in the grass and getting it back going, there would once again be no caution. The caution would fly two laps later, though, as a result of Dick stopping in turn two. Under the caution, Strawn would head down pit road with a motor issue. With 28 laps to go, Barton led Terry, Brent McLean, Baker, Lees, Gary McLean, Jackson, Beyore, Scott, Robb, Elliott, Bois, Stieler, Dick, Erin McLean, Strawn, Cinnamon and Burrows.
Brent McLean would get a good restart, clearing Terry for second before passing Barton for the race lead at the halfway mark at lap 25. He would be dealt a restart three laps later as the caution would fly for Gary Mclean going sliding through the infield grass and into the inside retaining wall, virtue of contact from Terry. With 22 laps to go, Brent McLean led Barton, Baker, Lees, Jackson, Beyore, Scott, Elliott, Robb, Horner, Dick, Terry, Stieler and Erin McLean.
Brent McLean would get a good restart ahead of Barton, Baker and Lees while Beyore would be able to get by Jackson for fifth before the next caution. The fifth caution would fly at lap 34 as a result of Scott spinning on the backstretch and collecting Horner and Cinnamon. With 16 laps to go, Brent McLean led Barton, Baker, Lees, Beyore, Jackson, Elliott, Robb, Terry, Dick, Bois, Stieler, Horner, Erin McLean, Scott, Burrows and Cinnamon.
Brent McLean would get another good restart and looked to be set to grab the checkered flag without anymore drama, though wouldn’t have it go as smoothly as he wanted. The caution would fly on the last lap when Jackson would spin, collecting both Burrows and Terry. As a result, there’d be a green-white-checkered.
Brent McLean mastered the GWC, running Barton up the track a little, picking up the victory. Max Beyore would get second after getting into Terry Baker on the final lap and sending him up the track. Nick Lees finished third, followed by Matt Barton, Gary Elliott, Tommy Robb, Cory Horner, Ryan Dick, Drew Stieler, Daniel Bois, Erin McLean, Terry Baker, Dustin Jackson, Dean Scott, Duane Cinnamon and Bill Buorrows.
