Both OSCAAR Modified and Super Late Models Divisions Look To Expand

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December 15, 2013

After a successful 2013 season that saw a pair of back-to-back champions, all things are pointing towards an even better 2014 season. Both the OSCAAR Super Late Model and OSCAAR Modified divisions look to be expanding as we head into the new season.

For the OSCAAR Super Late Models, a lot of the front runners will be returning once again.

Two-time champion Brandon Watson will look to win his third championship in a row, though it won’t be an easy feat.

Andrew Gresel will be entering his sophomore season after an impressive rookie season that saw him finish second in points with four wins this year.

Derrike Tiemesma and Glenn Watson will lead the veteran charge into the new season, while Tyler Hawn will continue his hunt for his first career Super Late win.

Other returning drivers – but not limited to – include Todd Campbell, Gary Passer, Kyle Passer, Shane Gowan, Dwayne Baker and John Owen, among others.

Though beyond the returning faces, some fresh faces to the series will add a new flavor. Peterborough Speedway veteran Kelly Balson purchased a Super Late Model earlier this year and was out testing it already at Peterborough Speedway. The Late Model veteran will look to bring his experience to the table this coming season.

Dave Doucette will also be making the jump from the Thunder Car ranks to the OSCAAR ranks. The Thunder Car veteran sold his thunder car after finishing second in Barrie Speedway’s points this past season. Inside Track revealed at the beginning of the month that the 2007 Thunder Car Champion has purchased a Howe chassis in hopes to contend for Rookie of the Year and run the full schedule, if funds are there.

Expect the fields to reach 25 to 30 cars on any given week as they did a couple times throughout the 2013 season.

Though the Super Lates are the only division that is running strong. The Modifieds head into their third full season and the car counts look to continue to climb based on early indications.

Gary McLean will look to win the Modified championship for the third straight year in a row. Though it won’t be an easy feat as a tough field will look to take charge.

Brent McLean won a couple races this past season and finished second last year and will look to upset his uncle’s string of success.

Davey Terry, who finished third in points, will be looking for his first career Modified win, along with sophomore driver Branden Bullen. Bullen finished fourth in his rookie season. Fellow sophomore drivers Mike Westwood and Shane Stickel are also returning next season in search of the same success. Westwood has already started on building a new car for next year after selling his ‘red rocket’ – more on that later.

Other drivers that look to return include – but not limited to – Bobby Tolton, Brad Pearsall, Matt Barton, Ryan Dick, Brian McLean, Dean Scott and Dave Osbourne.

Though beyond the usual suspects, they’ll be a new face in the field. Entering his 46th season racing, Gary Elliott will hop up into the OSCAAR Modified ranks after success in both the Late Model and the Canadian Vintage Modified ranks. He bought the car piloted last year by Mike Westwood and will be unveiling it at the 2014 Canadian Motorsports Expo.

With both series looking to be at the top of their game, the 2014 season looks to be the biggest yet for OSCAAR. The schedule will be released in the spring – as normal – and look for the top drivers in Ontario to hit all the tracks across the province, taking their show on the road.

James Buescher to Compete Full Time in NASCAR Nationwide Series with RAB Racing in 2014

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SM Archive

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December 13, 2013

Turner Scott Motorsports Announces James Buescher’s Departure in 2014

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December 13, 2013

James Buescher to run full schedule for RAB Racing

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SM Staff

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December 13, 2013

jamesbuescher_ronaldcostigan — Photo Credit: Ronald Costigan

Silly Season is in full force as RAB Racing announced today that James Buescher will drive the No. 99 Toyota for the full season next year in the Nationwide Series. Chris Rice, who worked with that team last year, will be the crew chief, with sponsorship details to come. It is a multi-year partnership.

Buescher drove the No. 31 Turner-Scott Motorsports truck the last couple of seasons, winning a championship in 2011.

Turner-Scott Motorsports will be announcing their driver line-up in the weeks to come, but it has already been announced that Jeb Burton will be back full-time next year in the Truck Series, with a part-time Nationwide Series schedule. Most fans expect close to the same line-up as this past season, with the addition of Dylan Kwasniewski moving up to the Truck Series after winning the K&N Pro Series East title.

Alex Bowman, who drove the No. 99 Toyota last year, was at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Sprint Cup Series test behind the wheel of one of the BK Racing cars. Could he be moving up to Sprint Cup in 2014?

Stay tuned to SpeedwayMedia.com for more on Silly Season news.

Austin Theriault Places Third in Snowball Derby

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SM Staff

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December 13, 2013

austin — Photo Credit: Vermont Motorsports Magazine

Sunday’s 46^th Annual Snowball Derby was filled with disappointment and enjoyment across the drivers who started the prestigious Super Late Model race. Austin Theriault was among the few drivers who went home satisfied with their placement in the finishing order.

Theriault, 19, is a developmental driver at Brad Keselowski Racing whose captured a multitude of victories over his career stretching from many different local divisions. He recently won two PASS events at Southern National Motorsports Park and Dillon Motor Speedway.

He capped off an impressive 2013 season by finishing third in his second Snowball Derby last weekend. He explained to me what the finish meant to him and how it could affect his future.

“Running good in the snowball derby is great for any aspiring race car driver. It’s a place where you have the best all from all across the country trying to win.” Theriault explained. “Placing third will not stand out as much as a win would, but for the people that are interested in short track, I’m sure they know who finished second and third.”

Theriault was one of the few that had a NASCAR team supporting them in the Snowball Derby. I spoke with him on how important it is to have an experienced team to back him up and when we could see him leap into the BKR’s NCWTS program.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to race for BKR and have learned many things with them the past several years.” Theriault expressed. “I am looking to move forward next year in a higher series, depending on how many sponsors want to be involved.”

After the already impressive third place finish I asked him what he or the team could have done differently to steal victory at Five Flags Speedway,

“Looking back in retrospect is always difficult if not impossible (to improve).” Theriault told me. “There are so many variables that can impact a race. To say that we would have won it if we had the opportunity to change one or two things is unrealistic.”

Theriault now will direct his focus towards next season as he prepares his surge towards a NASCAR ride. The Fort Worth, Maine driver opened eyes in the racing community on Sunday and can only elaborate on that moving forward.