Fraserville, ON – Darren Kearnan (No.46 TTR Transport) wasted little time proving he had the car to beat on Sunday night Kawartha Speedway, cruising to his first career OSCAAR Modified tour win.
Kearnan, a part-time driver with the tour, made the pass for the lead around the outside of polesitter and championship points leader Gary McLean (No.8 McLean Industrial Design) on lap eight and was never challenged for the remaining 17 circuits in the 25-lap main event.
The only caution of the night came on lap nine when Brad Pearsall (No.1B Plaza Kia/Performance Signs) and Ryan Dick (No.88 Johnston Bros. Sand and Gravel) made contact and spun in turn four. Both drivers were able to re-fire and return to the field.
Kearnan got out to a comfortable lead on the ensuing restart as Justin Demelo (No.82 EMCO Waterworks/CAT Toromont) used the restart to jump up in to the second spot.
Max Beyore (No.91N Jeff Hanley Chassis) made his second career start with the tour and moved his way in to the top three by lap 20, shuffling Gary McLean to the fourth spot. The point leader continued to run ahead of Brent McLean (No.7 Bowmanville Home Hardware/RN Manufacturing), who sat fifth.
Kearnan extended his lead with each passing lap, never giving Demelo a glimmer hope of challenging for the lead. Unlike most of the field, Kearnan benefitted from four brand new tires in his first race of the season, unlike most drivers who were limited to one new Hoosier slick.
Demelo spoke after the race to say he ran the race on the tires he previously competed on at Sunset Speedway in order to save his new tire for next weekend’s race at his home track, Delaware Speedway.
The London, Ont. driver would finish second, but said in Knightworks Design victory lane he didn’t feel he would have been able to challenge Kearnan for the lead, even with a couple of extra laps.
Beyore would finish third in his Jeff Hanley-built chassis. In just two starts on the tour, Beyore has finished on the podium both times.
Gary McLean held on to the fourth spot for his fourth consecutive top-five finish while Brent McLean finished fifth.
Davey Terry (No.14 Wasteco) made an impressive run to the front after starting 12th, but ran out of laps to crack the top-five.
Kearnan said in victory lane he hoped only to come out of the event with a top-five finish, and a feature win was certainly something the veteran driver was excited to take home.
The pilot of the No.46 stated he will run at the Autumn Colours Classic with OSCAAR on Thanksgiving weekend.
Rookie driver Ryan Dick won his first career Klotz qualifying heat race of the night with an impressive power move around the outside of Demelo in the fourth heat of the night.
The OSCAAR Modified tour is back in action next Friday and Saturday night at Delaware Speedway. The tour will run time trials and Klotz Qualifying heat races next Friday night, and will be joined by the ISMA SuperModifieds. Drivers will run a 50-lap A-Main Feature event on Saturday afternoon. For a full schedule of events, log on to www.oscaar.ca throughout the week.
Results: Kawartha Speedway 25-Lap A-Main – August 11, 2013
(Starting Position in Parentheses)
1. 46 Darren Kearnan (3)
2. 82 Justin Demelo (5)
3. 91N Max Beyore (4)
4. 8 Gary McLean (1)
5. 7 Brent McLean (2)
6. 14 Davey Terry (12)
7. 77 Chad Strawn (6)
8. 38 Lane Zardo (7)
9. 39 Shane Stickel (10)
10. 2 Matt Barton (16)
11. 88 Ryan Dick (9)
12. 1B Brad Pearsall (8)
13. 79 John Harper (13)
14. 67jr Branden Bullen (11)
15. 62 Darryn Wright (17)
16. 48 Ted Patterson (14) (DNF)
17. 91 Mike Westwood (15) (DNF)
Klotz Qualifying Heat Race Winners: 77 Chad Strawn, 8 Gary McLean, 7 Brent McLean, 88 Ryan Dick, 46 Darren Kearnan, and 91N Max Beyore.
The OSCAAR Modified tour is presented by a number of dedicated sponsors throughout Ontario, including: Knightworks Design, Hoosier Racing Tire, Klotz Synthetics Canada, Race2way.ca, Dave Franks Photos, Dickson Printing, Finishline Fabrication, McColl Racing Enterprises, McGunegill Engine Performance, Stefko Racing Engines, VP Racing Fuels, OntarioOval.com, RaceTime Radio, Inside Track Motorsport News, Jenco Equipment, Midas of Orangeville, Reinhart Trailer Sales, North Toronto Auctions, and South Shore Services.
By: Clayton Johns (@cjohnsmedia) – OSCAAR Media and Public Relations
Contact: oscaar.media@gmail.com
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