INNISFIL, Ontario — Taking the lead midway through the event, Jesse Kennedy would score his first career OSCAAR Hot Rod Series victory on Saturday at Sunset Speedway.
Jesse Kennedy started off the night in victory lane by winning the first qualifier in front of Tyler Hawn, Amanda Balson, Adrian Foster, Dan Rothwell, Jim Blackwell, and Sean Walker.
Trevor Thompson won the second heat ahead of Kyle Fetterly, Marty Monette, Paul Senior, Billy Alderson Jr., Sean McFell, and Jeremy Taggert.
Cole Weber won his first career qualifier ahead of Steve Book, Rob Bromley, Dave Waite, Dalen Martin, Gary Hannah, Steve Mayhew, and Jaymee Adams.
The fourth heat featured a quick yellow flag with Fetterly and Alderson Jr. going around for a spin. Marty Monette picked up his first career win ahead of Balson, Hawn, Kennedy, Fetterly, Senior, Rothwell, and Alderson Jr.
There was a caution in the fifth qualifier, with Adams going around in turn two. Trevor Thompson scored the daily double ahead of Martin, Waite, McFell, McLean, and Adams.
Steve Book won the sixth heat ahead of Weber, Foster, Mayhew, Hannah, Cowan, and Blackwell. Unfortunately, the qualifier ended in a bad way for Blackwell as he made significant contact with the inside frontstretch wall.
Come feature time, Cole Weber started pole ahead of Amanda Balson, Dave Waite, Tyler Hawn, Marty Monette, Steve Book, Trevor Thompson, Jesse Kennedy, Adrian Foster, Kyle Fetterly, Dalen Martin, Paul Senior, Steve McFell, Steve Mayhew, Jeremy Taggert, Billy Alderson Jr., Ryan Cowan, Dan Rothwell, Jaymee Adams, Gary Hannah, Sean Walker, and Jeremy McLean.
Amanda Balson would grab the lead off the initial drop of the green, as Hawn battled Weber for second ahead of Kennedy, Book, and Fetterly. Hawn got the spot on Lap 5, with Kennedy following him through. Kennedy would then pass Hawn two laps later to take over second, as Weber ran fourth ahead of Book, Fetterly, Monette, Thompson, Senior, and Waite.
Alderson Jr. would then get by Waite for 10th on Lap 9, bringing Foster and Martin through with him. Waite now ran 13th ahead of McLean, McFell, and Mayhew. Book would then get alongside Weber for fourth on Lap 13, but all eyes focused on the front of the field as Kennedy tracked down Balson for the top spot.
Kennedy would try a couple laps in a row, though was unable to clear despite drawing alongside. However on Lap 15, his efforts paid off as Kennedy put the No. 10 out front of the field. The caution would then fly a lap later for Hannah and Cowan slowing on the frontstretch.
The restart would reignite the battle for the lead between Kennedy and Balson, as Hawn ran third with Monette and Book side-by-side for fourth. Book got the spot on Lap 19 with Thompson sixth as Weber and Fetterly battled for seventh. Meanwhile, Senior headed down pit road with issues.
Kennedy’s persistence would pay off, as he cleared Balson to take over the top spot on Lap 22. Hawn continued to run third ahead of Book, Monette, Thompson, Weber, Fetterly, and Alderson. Fetterly continued to move forward, passing Weber for seventh on Lap 25, as Rothwell headed into the pits. Weber’s issues got bigger as he slowed off turn three a lap later, before pulling into the infield.
Once Jesse Kennedy got out front, he set it on cruise control en route to scoring the victory ahead of Amanda Balson, Tyler Hawn, Steve Book, and Trevor Thompson.
Following the first event of the season, Jesse Kennedy holds a three-point advantage over Marty Monette in the series standings.
Sunset Speedway OSCAAR Hot Rods Results
1. Jesse Kennedy, 2. Amanda Balson, 3. Tyler Hawn, 4. Steve Book, 5. Trevor Thompson, 6. Marty Monette, 7. Kyle Fetterly, 8. Billy Alderson Jr., 9. Adrian Foster, 10. Jeremy McLean, 11. Dalen Martin, 12. Steve Mayhew, 13. Sean McFell, 14. Jeremy Taggert, 15. Sean Walker, 16. Jaymee Adams, 17. Paul Senior, 18. Cole Weber, 19. Dan Rothwell, 20. Dave Waite, 21. Gary Hannah, 22. Ryan Cowan, 23. Jim Blackwell – DNS, 24. Rob Bromley – DNS
Race Report by Ashley McCubbin
