KAWARTHA: No air conditioning, but plenty of fans

FRASERVILLE, ON – 14-year-old Brandt Graham is turning heads in the Hasiuk Trailer and Container Rental Mini Stock division at Kawartha Speedway. The youngster from Orono, ON, who’ll enter the 9th grade in September, is doing amazing things behind the wheel of his #12B P.J. Larkin Salvage/Hot Rod Swag Chevrolet Cavalier machine and currently sits 8th in track points.

Moving into the mini stocks after a couple of seasons in a go-kart, Graham says he loves the challenge of running as fast as he can around the spacious Kawartha layout and although this is his first year in the class, he counts avoiding a backstretch wreck during the second week of action as his biggest racing thrill… until he gets to race against his father Craig in the late model division.

“It would be fun to go head-to-head with Dad,” said the talented teen, whose car carries the number 12 because 2012 is his first year at the Fraserville oval, as well as his birthday being May 12. “It’s been fun and I’m learning a lot. Having Marten and Mark Rottine, Blair and Ian Graham and my Dad helping on the car every week has been a real boost.”

After a mid-season break Friday, July 13, Kawartha Speedway’s next night of action on Friday, July 20, is all about the fans. The annual Fan Appreciation Night features an on-track autograph and meet n’ greet session with drivers in all three regular classes, in addition to a full evening of racing with the NAPA Auto Parts ACT Late Models, Thunder Cars and a 50-lap invitational event for the Hasiuk Trailer and Container Rental Mini Stocks. The Fraserville oval’s entry level class turns in some of the track’s best racing and often run their feature races without a yellow flag.

As always, gates open Friday, June 20, at 3 p.m. with rotating practice rounds getting underway at 5 p.m. The night’s first green flag is at 7 p.m.

Kawartha klips: The OSCAAR Outlaw Super Late Model/OSCAAR Modified events that were rained-out Friday, June 1, will be made-up Friday, September 7. The show will also include the year’s final appearance by the Ontario Legends Series and the second 50 lapper for the Hasiuk Trailer and Container Rental Mini Stocks…Thunder Car teams run 50 lap main events Friday, July 27 and August 24. NAPA Auto Parts ACT Late Models have a 100-lap invitational Friday, August 17. The annual running of the 75 lap OSCAAR Outlaw Super Late Model Don Biederman Memorial is Friday, August 10. The 2012 calendar concludes with the 250 lap NASCAR Canadian Tire Series finale Saturday, September 22…For details on the complete 2012 schedule and the latest track news, see www.kawarthaspeedway.com.