STROUD, ON (August 20, 2017)- The APC Series made its second appearance of the 2017 season at Sunset Speedway on August 19, the seventh race of the season. After Sunset Speedway played host to the season opening event back in May, the AP Exhaust 100 had lots of hype surrounding it as drivers prepared to do battle once again.
The evening’s action got started with Bennett GM Group Qualifying as drivers took to the track and attempted to break the track record set back in May. Brandon Watson would extend his points lead by winning the Bennett GM Pole Award with a lap time of 14.222, missing the track record by a mere 0.001 seconds. Matt Pritiko qualified second with Jamie Cox timing in third quick.
The race started with Andrew Gresel on the pole after pulling the spot in the pill draw. Andy Kamrath would lineup alongside as Gresel elected to start from the high side. Gresel would take sole possession of the lead right away as the field charged behind. Just four laps into the race, Matt Pritiko pulled alongside Andrew Gresel and into the top position.
Andrew Gresel and Brandon Watson made contact off of turn two while racing for second on lap 14, resulting in Watson advancing ahead. Watson would begin to reel in the race leader right away as Pritiko caught lapped traffic. 34 laps into the race the first caution flag came out when Jamie Cox and Nick Goetz tangled. Both drivers would continue after a brief discussion and demonstration of their displeasure.
Just after the race resumed on lap 34 with Brandon Watson leading, Shawn Chenoweth entered the top five after charging from a 17th place starting spot. The second caution came out on lap 43 when Rick Spencer Walt and Rick Burbridge made contact entering turn one. Several cars scrambled to miss the spun #2 car, however Shawn McGlynn clipped Burbridge ending his AP Exhaust 100.
Brandon Watson led the field back to the green flag with Matt Pritiko alongside as Shawn Chenoweth entered the top three just after the restart. The race would get into a rhythm with battles all around the high banked surface, including one with Shae Gemmell and Andy Kamrath for fifth. Kermit would slip back from his front row starting spot into the seventh position by lap 77. The fifth position heated up once again within 10 to go as Shawn McGlynn rallied back and mounted a charge on Gemmell.
When the race appeared to be over and Brandon Watson was in cruise mode, the caution came out on lap 99 and set up a green-white-checkered finish. Watson held off a last ditch effort from Matt Pritiko as Shawn Chenoweth rounded out the podium finishers ahead of Andrew Gresel and Shae Gemmell.
The next event for the APC Series is the massive Rankin Construction Shootout at Jukasa Motor Speedway on August 26th and 27th. The APC Series will run practice, Bennett GM Qualifying and a last chance race on Saturday with twin 75 lap races on Sunday. Advance tickets can be purchased on www.jukasamotorspeedway.com and more information about the event is available on www.apcracingseries.com
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