Horner, Lavalle and Graham Earn 2012 Kawartha Speedway Rookie Awards

FRASERVILLE, ON – Whether you’re just starting out in the world of motorsports or moving into a new division, the goal of any driver is to gain as much experience as possible and earn the respect of your fellow drivers. The 2012 rookie crop at Kawartha Speedway was comprised of 2 runners with understanding in other classes and another – who at the age of 14 – isn’t old enough to hold a licence that would allow him to drive on the street.

Bowmanville’s Jamie Horner comes from a family of racers. After some solid efforts behind the wheel of a Thunder Car, she advanced to the Fraserville oval’s former Limited Late Model division and earned the rookie of the year honours in 2008. Although she has yet to earn a main event win, the 2011 graduate of the Anthropology program at the University of Waterloo ran well enough to finish 9th in the final point standings for Kawartha Speedway’s headline NAPA Auto Parts ACT Late Model division and claimed the rookie of the year award at the track’s annual award’s celebration.

His racing career started in what is now known as the Hasiuk Trailer and Container Rental Mini Stock class and following some solid seasons in the track’s entry level division, Peterborough’s Brad Lavalle started the 2012 campaign at the controls of a Thunder Car. The move to the bigger, heavier machines wasn’t without its bumps in the road and Lavalle’s #6 Monte Carlo ride was actually sidelined for a few weeks late in the season after a multi car incident. That didn’t stop the second generation speedster from recording a top 10 point finish and taking the Thunder Car division’s top freshman honours.

There is a strong bond that exists between a father and son and occasionally, that bond extends to the racetrack. After watching his father Craig compete in Kawartha Speedway’s Limited Late Model and NAPA Auto Parts ACT Late Model divisions before developing his own talents in a go-kart, Brandt Graham entered the track’s Hasiuk Trailer and Container Rental Mini Stock field to kick-off the 2012 season. At just 14 years of age, the youngster from Orono has only ever driven while wearing a helmet, firesuit and driving gloves. Some solid runs during his first season saw him earn the rookie of the year award in the 4 cylinder pack. Not content to rest on his laurels, Graham has set a long-term goal of running head-to-head in the same field as his father.