FRASERVILLE, Ont. (July 21, 2017) – Flyin’ Ryan Kimball started on the pole for the OSCAAR Outlaw Super Late Model 50-lap Feature and dominated the first 18 laps of Friday’s main event at Kawartha Speedway. The run went south, though, for Kimball when his No.29 blew a rad hose going into turn three.
The mechanical problem ended Kimball’s night and handed the lead to second-starting John Cadman Jr., but put him beside Glenn Watson who had raced to third from the seventh starting spot. Cadman led for two laps before Watson eventually pulled ahead, dominated the remaining 30 laps and lapped all but the top six cars on the way to his second win at Kawartha Speedway this year.
“I could put this car right on the bottom and it just stuck,” Watson said following the win. “I could have drove through the grass with it. It was that good.”
Cadman kept Watson’s lead to about 10 car lengths for most of the event until the top duo raced through lapped traffic over the final 20 laps of the race. Watson’s lead grew to a straightaway over Cadman at that point, but was reduced back to roughly 10 car lengths with two laps to go when Watson took his time working through the slower traffic, knowing he had a gap to work with.
Watson’s win extends his point lead in the OSCAAR Outlaw Super Late Model standings over Charlie Gallant, who finished fourth behind Kelly Balson. Those two drivers had an extended battle through the middle portion of the race before Balson eventually made room at the bottom of turn one to pass Gallant. Derrick Tiemersma rounded out the top-five following a late pass of Tyler Hawn.
Cole Powell Scores First OSCAAR Modified Win
The main event for the OSCAAR Modifieds produced the most thrilling race of the evening. The 25-car field assembled for 25 laps with David Balych and Marty Monette on the front row. Balych drove to the lap one lead, but Monette powered around the outside to lead lap two and brought Chris Milwain with him to second.
Milwain worked quickly to erase Monette’s advantage and took the lead on lap four. One lap later, the race saw its first caution when Balych, Max Beyore and Luke Gignac tangled and spun at the bottom of turn two. The race was slowed again after another incident on a restart, but Milwain was able to maintain his lead over AJ Emms when the race got back to speed.
Behind the two leaders was a furious set of battles inside the top-five. Cole Powell a former NASCAR Whelen Modified Series regular from Mount Brydges, Ont., who started outside the top-10, found his way into third on the restart while Cory Horner and John Harper jockeyed for fourth.
On lap nine. Powell took second from Emms in turn four, but then drifted high in turn one to allow Emms to grab the spot back. Powell promptly turned his No.5 back underneath Emms and took the spot again in turn three in a thrilling battle up front.
Powell got up beside Milwain on another restart at lap 10, but the latter driver kept his position. Powell refused to surrender and stayed within a car length of Milwain until the final caution on lap 20 for Tim Tolton, who hit the inside retaining wall on the front stretch.
Milwain again was strong on the restart, but couldn’t distance himself from Powell. Then on lap 23, Milwain slipped up the racetrack in turn three, which allowed Powell to grab the inside lane coming to two laps to go. Powell drove away from Milwain over the final two laps to score the first OSCAAR Modified win of his career and celebrated with donuts and a burnout in turn three. Milwain held on to second ahead of Harper. Emms and Horner rounded out the top-five.
Archibald Storms to OSCAAR Hot Rod Win
The OSCAAR Hot Rod Series made their second ever appearance at Kawartha Speedway on Friday night. Stirling, Ont. driver Art Rogers and Steve Mayhew of Cobourg, Ont. brought the field to the green flag for the main event. However, it was fourth-starting Tyler Hawn of Oro Station, Ont. who jumped out to the lead on lap two and was quickly followed by Innisfil’s Dan Archibald, who started sixth.
One lap later, Archibald was able to get underneath Hawn and take the lead on lap three. From there, the two drivers remained close, with Archibald leading by just three car lengths at the halfway mark. Archibald, however, seemed to find another gear in the latter half of the race as he pulled away from Hawn while running in the second groove and claimed the victory by half a straightaway. Hawn and North Bay’s Adam Misener rounded out the podium.
Discussion about this post