LONDON, Ontario (July 2, 2022)- — Getting the lead on a mid-race restart, Jesse Kennedy led the rest of the way en route to winning the Qwick Wick Fire Starter OSCAAR Hot Rod feature fueled by EPIC Racewear on the first of two-days for the OSCAAR Nationals at Delaware Speedway.
Rob Bromley won the first heat in front of Jesse Kennedy, Cole Weber, Bill Brekelsman, Jeremy Taggart, Jerry Broom, Robb Starr, and Dave Evison Sr.
Paul Senior was victorious in the second qualifier ahead of Bill Zardo Sr., Amanda Balson, Nick Clarke, Steve Book, Mat Hopkins, Dalen Martin, Ryan Cowan, Connor Ellis, and Gary Hannah.
Come feature time, Paul Senior led the field to green in front of Bill Zardo Sr., Amanda Balson, Nick Clarke, Rob Bromley, Cole Weber, Jesse Kennedy, Bill Brekelsman, Jeremy Taggart, Steve Book, Jerry Broom, Mat Hopkins, Robb Starr, Dalen Martin, Dave Evison Sr., Ryan Cowan, Jeremy McLean, Connor Ellis, Stephen Mayhew, Gary Hannah, Steve Book, Bill Clarke, and Jordan Morris.
Paul Senior broke out to the early advantage ahead of Balson, with Bromley and Zardo side-by-side for third. Zardo’s feature hit a snag early, though, as he went around off of turn two, collecting Weber in the process, bringing out the yellow flag on Lap 2. With 24 laps to go, Senior led Balson, Bromley, Kennedy, Taggart, Clarke, Walters, Broom, Starr, Martin, Hopkins, Evison Sr., Cowan, and McLean.
Senior got a good restart to maintain the advantage ahead of Balson and Bromley, with Kennedy and Walters side-by-side for fourth as Clarke battled Broom for sixth. Kennedy got the spot, getting alongside Bromley for third on Lap 5, completing the pass a lap later. Walters tried to follow him through, but was unsuccessful in his attempt. Behind them, Broom ran sixth, as Taggart and Starr battled for seventh in front of Hopkins.
Kennedy continued to move forward, passing Balson for second on Lap 9, as Starr got alongside Taggart for seventh. Their battle would not go well, with contact resulting in Starr spinning on the frontstretch for the yellow flag at Lap 14. With 12 laps to go, Kennedy led Senior, Balson, Walters, Bromley, Broom, Hopkins, Taggart, Evison Sr., Book, Brekelsman, Martin, McLean, Ellis, and Cowan.
Jesse Kennedy got a good restart, taking over the top spot as Senior ran second in front of Balson, Walters, Bromley, Broom, Hopkins, Book, and Brekelsman. Unfortunately, Broom’s strong run came to end on Lap 17 as he headed to the pits. That moved Hopkins up to sixth in front of Book, Brekelsman, Evison Sr., and McLean, with Taggart and Cowan side-by-side for 11th. Taggart got the spot on Lap 19, as Hannah and Ellis rounded out the top-13.
The late stages of the event brought a couple battles, with Walters poised for the podium in getting alongside Balson for third with three laps to go. His challenge would be worth it, as he grabbed the spot.
Jesse Kennedy led the rest of the way en route to scoring the checkered flag in front of Paul Senior, Tom Walters, Amanda Balson, and Rob Bromley.
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Race Report by: Ashley McCubbin
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