INNISFIL, ON- In his first start on Canadian soil since October 2013, 2-time OSCAAR Super Late Model champion Brandon Watson did not disappoint, registering a 3rd place finish in Sunset Speedway’s $5,000 to win APC 100 Pro Late Model invitational.
The third-generation driver has spent the entirety of the young 2014 season competing south of the border, primarily with the Midwestern-based CRA Super Series.
“It felt great to race at home again”, said Watson. “Sunset is one of our favourite speedways. Anytime we get a chance to race here, we look forward to it”
After qualifying 3rd, Watson found himself running just outside the top-5, when his role in an early-race tangle relegated him to the tail end of the field.
“Around lap-20, Tom [Walters] got into me heading into turn-3, and it slid me up the racetrack into Jamie [Cox]”, explained Watson. “The caution came out and all three of us were sent to the rear as involved cars”
“As soon as I took a look at how many good cars were ahead of us on that restart, I realized we had our work cut out for us”
Watson would spend the balance of the next 50-laps carving his way through the field, with Walters in tow.
“That was alot of fun”, quipped Watson. “Tom and I pretty near battled our way through the entire field nose-to-tail. That’s the kind of racing that makes you a better driver”
Watson would climb as high as 3rd, but would run out of time before he could mount a charge to reel in eventual winner Dwayne Baker and runner-up Jason Witty.
“We fought a loose racecar all day”, said Watson. “We changed a couple things just before the feature, and it worked until lap 25. From there, I was fighting this thing almost every lap”
“So, to have the run we did, despite our handling issues, is fantastic. We definitely used alot of this car up coming through the field after the early caution. I’d love to know how good we could’ve been if we didn’t get caught up in that”
Brandon will return to action with the CRA Super Series on May 26th at Illiana Motor Speedway in Schererville, IN for the Calypso Lemonade 150.
Brandon’s 2014 season is made possible thanks to support from Shear Metal Products, Royal Distributing, Barrie Frame & Alignment, The Smart Exchange and Knightworks Designs. Additional packages are still available.
Fans can keep up with Brandon via his Twitter account @BrandonWatson15 and his brand new Brandon Watson Racing Facebook page.
By Spencer Lewis (@itsspencerlewis)
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