In this Inside Track Ontario Short Track Notebook, Spencer Lewis includes news on several racers, including Leonard Johnston, Brandon McFerran, Brian Wilson Jr., Donny Beatty, Brent McLean and Steve Laking.
Barrie Speedway Thunder Car frontrunner Leonard Johnston (above) has announced he will campaign for Limited Late Model Rookie of the Year honours in 2013. The Bracebridge, ON veteran logged a 3rd place finish in the season-end Thunder Car points in 2012, and has purchased a Limited Late Model chassis from multi-time Barrie feature winner Keith McLeod.
Johnston joins former champions Gord Shepherd and Al Inglis in the growing number of drivers that have committed to a full season of Barrie Limited Late Model competition. Johnston’s 2013 marketing support will come from XCOPPER Legal Services, Orillia Fast Freight, AKN Automotive, Greavette Auto Body, Sublime Graphics, Wally’s Garage, Mister Transmission, Krown Rust Control, McLaren Press Graphics Ltd. and The Engine Works. Johnston will make his first start with the speedway’s premier division when Barrie kick-starts its season on May 4th.
2012 Flamboro Speedway Oktoberfest Mini Stock champion Brandon McFerran has announced his intentions to return to the Hamilton-area oval for the 2013 season. The second-generation pilot will look to earn his first career track championship, fresh off of a sophomore campaign that saw the 13-year old collect a pair of victories at Flamboro in addition to a feature race triumph at Sunset Speedway.
‘The Astronaut’ debuted his brand new look at the MegaSpeed Custom Car & Truck show on March 22nd. McFerran’s 2013 sponsors include Peter D. Laird Transportation, Meisner Construction, ThringCo., Roadranger, Finish Line Painting, East End Car Wash, AbsoluteWedsite.com, Crawfords Bakery and Makay Trailer Services.
Sunset Speedway Super Stock regular Brian Wilson Jr. has solidified plans to enter the speedway’s Limited Late Model division in 2013. The Brampton, ON youngster will campaign for Rookie of the Year honours, in a chassis formerly piloted at Sunset by Dave Hassell. The teenager has confirmed that Smurf’s Towing will return as the team’s primary sponsor, while the search for additional marketing support is ongoing. Wilson will compete alongside ‘The Cheque Casher’ Herb Walters and road-racing convert John Lockhart for the 2013 ROTY title.
Former Kawartha Speedway champion Donny Beatty will compete fulltime with Peterborough Speedway’s revived Thunder Car division in 2013. The Beaverton, ON driver joins 2012 Kawartha titlist Matt Spence on the burgeoning roster of competitors set to bring regular Thunder Car competition back to Peterborough for the first time in several seasons. Beatty purchased Nick Roth’s camaro (the one that Roth piloted to a second place finish in the overall Sunset Super Stock points in 2012) to compete at Peterborough.
2012 OSCAAR Modified tour runner-up Brent McLean unveiled his brand new look for the 2013 at the recent MegaSpeed Custom Car & Truck show. The Conn, ON driver will return to the second-year series, with a full schedule planned, in search of his first career Open Wheel Modified championship. The 2012 Rick Woolner Memorial winner has also confirmed plans to campaign a ‘Sportsman’ Mod at several events throughout Western New York throughout the upcoming season, whenever his OSCAAR schedule permits. McLean’s efforts on both sides of the border will be supported by Bowmanville Home Building Centre, Mito Graphics, Bender Construction, RN Manufacturing and McLean Farms.
Here’s a look at Steve Laking’s entry for this weekend’s PASS South ‘Easter Bunny 150’ event. The Guelph, On veteran and his Greg Gibson-led team attempted to make their second career PASS Super Late Model start at Hickory Motor Speedway on March 30th. Laking previously logged an impressive 15th place finish in his PASS South debut at Concord Speedway’s Mason-Dixon Meltdown last November.
By Spencer Lewis
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