PETERBOROUGH, ON (September 7, 2021)- With a limited schedule because of COVID-19, teams with the Ontario Modifieds Racing Series have been more excited than ever to get the opportunity to hit the track. The popular tour logged its final event of the 2021 season Saturday, September 4 during the annual Championship Clash at Peterborough Speedway.
Following a moment of silence to mark the second anniversary of the passing of former series racer and official Bill Pickford, Rick Warnes and Bob Franks brought the starting field to the starting line at the venue known as Canada’s Toughest 1/3-Mile Oval. On a night where the outside line seemed to be the hot ticket, Franks got the jump on Warnes and grabbed the early race lead. John Baker Jr. quickly moved in the third position and was quickly being challenged by Chad Strawn, the group’s most recent main event winner.
JBJ moved into the lead with six laps on the scoreboard, with Strawn taking third at the same time. The field was slowed for the race’s first yellow flag – for an incident in the second turn – as the lap counter showed 14 complete. Baker Jr. and Strawn lined-up side-by-side for the restart and the front row runners set-off in a two-car breakaway. With less than five laps remaining, everything changed as Chad Strawn coasted to a stop at the entrance to the first turn. The driver said he could feel something clanking around and the culprit turned-out to be a broken rear-end.
John Baker Jr. led the rest of the way and took the checkered flag over Franks, Warnes, Ben Gruntz, Shane Pollock, Willow Barberstock, Randy Hollingsworth and Strawn.
John Baker Jr. and Chad Strawn shared the night’s Ontario Modifieds Racing Series qualifying events.
2021 OMRS Notebook: John Baker Jr. posted a eulogy for a left front tire on social media after his Saturday night win. He said the racing recap rubber had been on the car for five years and thanked OMRS officials for making the choice to bring tire costs in-line with a racer’s budget…The starting line-up was missing No. 50 of Alex Cuzzilla. The hard-charging youngster decided to skip a night of racing and spend some time in the Muskoka’s for a relaxing weekend on the lake. While most at his age are headed-off to college or university at this time of year, Cuzzilla is enrolled in an apprentice program that allows him to further his education and continue to live at home.
Photo attachment: Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media
Eventual race winner John Baker Jr. (No. 63) and Chad Strawn race side-by-side during Ontario Modifieds Racing Series action – Saturday, September 4th – at Peterborough Speedway.
Prepared by Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media
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