Watch Brandon Watson’s Post-Race Interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppLNa2BNBPY
Stayner, ON – Brandon Watson (No.9 Shear Metal Products/Barrie Frame and Alignment/Ken Mackinnon Construction/Klotz Synthetics/Knightworks Design Camaro) has had a dream start to his OSCAAR Super Late Model season. The 20-year-old from Stayner, Ont. earned his third win in four starts with the OSCAAR tour on Sunday at Sunset Speedway on night two of the 2013 Don Biederman Memorial.
Watson finished third in the 50-lap feature on Saturday night after starting fourth and was determined to improve on the mark for Sunday night’s main event.
Hanging in the balance was a chance at a second career Biederman Memorial trophy. For the first time in the series’ history, OSCAAR would take an average from the two nights to determine the Biederman winner.
Starting from the third spot in the 22 car field after winning his heat earlier in the night, Watson wasted little time making his presence known at the front.
Watson ran nose-to-tail with race leader Dwayne Baker (No.48) and second-place runner Kevin Cornelius (No.17) for the first 29 laps of the event until the race saw its first caution.
On the ensuing restart, Baker appeared to spin the tires, allowing both Cornelius and Watson to gain positions.
Cornelius held the top spot for another 11 laps, until Watson got the better of the rookie contender on a lap 40 restart. With Cornelius in the preferred outside line for the 10-lap dash to the finish, Watson got the better run off of turn two, while Cornelius scraped the outside wall.
From that point on, Watson never looked back en route to his third win of the campaign.
“We definitely had to make a few changes from last night. We weren’t quite as good (Saturday) as we were (Sunday),” explained Brandon. “The crew did a great job getting the car changed up and we got the win.”
Although he did start inside the second row, Watson said the victory was more satisfying having to work for the lead.
“It was tough getting to the front. A few restarts came in to play at the end and really helped us out,” he said. “We were able to get out front and hold the lead for the last 10 or so laps.”
Watson didn’t get a complete free pass at the end of the night as a pair of late race cautions reeled him back beside Cornelius. On both restarts, Watson chose the outside line.
“The outside lane had been working for me better all weekend. We couldn’t get any grip on the bottom,” explained Watson. “It was a pretty easy decision to take the outside lane with the grip we found there and obviously it worked out for us.”
Despite having the same average finish as both Baker and Cornelius over the two nights, Baker held the tie-break by virtue of winning Saturday’s event.
“We’re obviously happy to get the win. It’s unfortunate we didn’t get the Biederman (trophy). We’ll just have to try again next year. It’s a bit of a tough pill to swallow,” said Watson of losing in the tie-break.
“We did get a win and a third-place finish, so we can’t be too disappointed.”
Watson, however, quickly turned his attention to the series next stop at Sauble Speedway on July 13. The team had a good run at ‘the Beach’ last season, but fell short of a victory. Watson also has experience at Sauble in his Pro Late Model car as part of the Speedway’s annual ‘Beat the Heat 150’.
“We got in a bit of trouble there early (last year) and had to pit. We made our way back up though. I like Sauble, it’s a fun track,” said Watson. “We’ll have to try to get the win in a couple of weeks.”
Watson was quick to thank his sponsors, his crew and support staff for a successful weekend which keeps him at the top of the OSCAAR standings through four events.
“There’s a bunch of guys that help out. Stu, Stevie, Steve Parsons, Kevin. Everybody that comes out. My mom, my brother, my sister – they always come out, my grandma,” he said.
“Of course I have to thank all of my sponsors, Shear Metal Products, Barrie Frame and Alignment, Klotz Synthetics, Ken Mackinnon Construction, and Knightworks Design.”
By Clayton Johns (@cjohnsmedia)
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