CHESLEY, ON- Second-generation racer Josh Stade cemented himself as one of Ontario’s top Late Model competitors this season, clinching his first career track championship at Sauble Speedway after an impressive yearlong breakout campaign.
“It’s tough to explain what this means to our entire family and team,” beams Stade. “This was the season we’ve been working towards from the first day we put this program together. I’ve never felt so confident in this team”
“These guys worked their hearts out this season and I can’t possibly thank them enough. It took a ton of work, and a lot of hours, but it’s an honour to be able to represent Sauble Speedway as its champion”
After struggling through the 2014 season, ‘Primetime’ emerged quickly as a potential champion in 2015, storming his way to the top of the standings in early July.
“There were weeks last season where I didn’t think we would ever win a race again – much less a track championship,” admits Stade. “We turned it around towards the end of the year, but there were a lot of weeks where we were stuck scratching our heads and wondering where we were going wrong. My Dad and Brian MacDonald kept telling me not to worry, and that these sort of things take time, but I couldn’t help from getting down on myself. This is proof of how quickly you can turn around a frustrating situation”
With his first career championship now under his belt, Stade notes his family-run team has not made any concrete plans for the 2016 season just yet.
“We’re really not sure about our plans for next year,” says the second-generation racer. “At this point, we have a really good Ltd. Late Model and a really good Pro Late Model, so there are lots of options”
“We juggled them both this season, running the full Sauble schedule as well as the APC [United Late Model] Series, but I’m not sure we’ll do that again,” continues Stade. “It’s a lot to ask of our team, I mean, just having one car prepared is an insane amount of work. Going back and forth on two cars has been a huge undertaking. So, we’ll sit down at the end of the year with the guys and see what everyone wants to do. Right now, the sky is the limit”
The Chesley, ON native also makes sure to credit his father – former Sauble Speedway champion Duane Stade – for guiding him to his first career track championship.
“I could sit here all day and still not have enough time to thank my Dad for everything he’s done for me,” says Josh. “This man has given me every single opportunity to succeed, and he means the absolute world to me. He wanted this championship just as bad as I did, and it was an amazing feeling rolling back to the trailer at the Sauble finale and knowing that I had got the job done for us”
“He works a lot of hours on the road, at the business, to pay for all of this stuff and puts in just as many hours at the shop to make sure these cars are ready to go,” adds the 23-year old. “He’s my hero, man. I’m elated that I could bring him this championship, and I can’t wait to see where we’re headed next.”
Josh will return to action with the APC United Late Model Series this Saturday at Delaware Speedway’s Great Canadian Race.
For more information, visit www.DelawareSpeedway.com or www.APCRacingSeries.com.
Josh Stade’s 2015 season is powered by Upper Canada Title, FLO Enterprises, Nicol Insurance, Barclay Wholesale, Jim Cavil Fuels, MEI Paving, Bruce Service Sales and Rentals, APC and Kunkel Bus Lines.
To learn more about ‘Prime Time’ Josh Stade, visit the Stade Motorsports page on Facebook and follow Josh on Twitter @PrimeTimeStade.
By Spencer Lewis (@itsspencerlewis)
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