PETERBOROUGH, Ontario – A masterful drive was put on display as a pair of drivers weaved their way through traffic, with Bill Zardo Sr. picking up the checkered flag in the Qwick Wick OSCAAR Hot Rod feature fueled by EPIC Racewear at Peterborough Speedway.
The first JRS Auctions heat went to Steve Book ahead of Tom Walters, Donny Beatty, Nick Clarke, Ryan Cowan, Bill Clarke, Sean Walker, and Matt Spry.
Jeremy McLean won the second qualifier in front of Rob Bromley, Paul Senior, Bill Zardo Sr., Connor Ellis, Gary Hannah, and Steve Mayhew.
The third heat did not go well, with Cowan going around on the backstretch on the opening lap. The troubles continued with Steve Mayhew laying down fluid going into turn one, followed by Tom Walters and Paul Senior sliding through the fluid into the wall, as Bill Clarke went for a spin. Bill Zardo picked up the checkered flag ahead of Clarke, Cowan, Ellis, and Spry.
Rob Bromley won the fourth qualifier in front of Book, Beatty, Hannah, Nick Clarke, McLean, and Walker.
Come feature time, Donny Beatty started pole in front of Ryan Cowan, Bill Zardo Sr., Tom Walters, Steve Book, Rob Bromley, Jeremy McLean, Connor Ellis, Nick Clarke, Paul Senior, Gary Hannah, Bill Clarke, Matt Spry, and Sean Walker.
The initial green flag would see everyone get checked up behind Cowan, resulting in Book hitting Cowan, followed by Walters tagging Book, with Book going for a trip through the frontstretch grass. Book was able to keep straight and going, rejoining the field but deep in the running order.
Donny Beatty avoided the chaos to grab the early advantage in front of Zardo, Walters, Cowan, Bromley, Ellis and McLean, with Nick Clarke and Book side-by-side for ninth on Lap 4. Book got the spot a lap later, as Hannah rounded out the top-11 competitors.
The shuffling continued through the field, with Bromley moving up to fourth on Lap 6, bringing Ellis through with him, as Cowan ran sixth in front of Book, Senior, Clarke, McLean, Hannah, Bill Clarke, and Walker. Book continued his charge back forward, getting alongside Ellis for fifth on Lap 11, and completing the pass a lap later as Senior ran seventh.
Through the run, Bill Zardo Sr. was able to reel Beatty in for the top spot, staying with him through traffic, making his move to take the top spot on Lap 12. Walters would follow him through, bumping Beatty back to third in front of Bromley, Book, and Senior, as Ellis battled Nick Clarke for seventh. Clarke got the spot on Lap 15, bringing Cowan through with him.
Book continued his climb, getting alongside Bromley for fourth on Lap 16, passing him a lap later. Senior remained sixth in front of Clarke, Cowan, Ellis, and Hannah, as McLean headed down pit road on Lap 19. Senior would challenge Bromley for fifth on Lap 20, completing the pass a lap later, with Ellis taking his turn down pit road with nine laps to go. Bromley continued to fade, as Clarke got by him on Lap 27, followed by Cowan a lap later.
The front of the field, meanwhile, was a clinic as the veterans weaved their way through traffic, splitting cars at times three-wide in the midst of their own battle for the top spot.
Through everything, Bill Zardo Sr. held on to score the victory in front of Tom Walters, Steve Book, Donny Beatty, and Paul Senior.
The Qwick Wick OSCAAR Hot Rods are back in action on Saturday, August 13 at Brighton Speedway.
Be sure to keep up with OSCAAR by staying tuned to the series website at http://www.oscaar.c Also, make sure to “like” the official OSCAAR Racing Facebook page, while following both the Twitter and Instagram accounts (@OSCAARRacing) to keep up to date on everything you need to know.
Report and photos from Ashley McCubbin
