FRASERVILLE, ON – This year marks the 200th Anniversary of the War of 1812, but history could be made at Kawartha Speedway, with nearly the entire field in the running for the Hasiuk Trailer and Container Rental Mini Stock title.
Heading into action Friday, August 24th there is a log jam at the top of the track’s entry level point standings, as the first 7 drivers are split by just 124 markers. Promoter/General Manager Derek Lynch says he can’t remember seeing a fight this close so late in the season.
“I’ve been here for almost 10 years and I don’t think I’ve ever seen the point race so tight,” said Lynch. “Whenever we drop the green flag, every driver in that division has the chance to make it to the winner’s circle. A couple of the guys have had hot streaks, but there has been no way to predict who will finish in the top 10 on any given night.
This bunch treats the fans to some of the best racing anywhere in the province and they deserve a lot more recognition than they might usually get.”
With Darragh ‘Too’ Moroney stepping aside after claiming the 2011 crown, there will be a new name engraved on the championship hardware. Daryl Fice leads the quest for the cup, but is just 35 points ahead of last season’s rookie of the year Ryan Oosterholt. Scoring a clean sweep Friday, August 17th allowed Brad Martin to move into 3rd, but is 50 points behind Fice. Peterborough high school auto shop instructor Rob Flindall is 71 markers off the top spot, with Michael Batchelor and Alex Lees a respective 91 and 106 points off the leader’s pace.
Although he has yet to claim a main event win, 18 year-old Batchelor continues to wheel his #5 Body Boomers Fitness Club/State Farm Insurance – Nicole Curry/Nick Oram Auto Body/Re/Max – Darragh Moroney Honda toward the front of the pack.
“I’m still having fun and hoping for the best possible result in every race,” said the teen from Nestleton, Ontario. “There have been a couple of heat race victories and the occasional semi feature. That gives me the confidence to know that a trip to winner’s circle after an ‘A’ main can’t be too far away.”
Batchelor may not have won a feature race, but his car knows how to the get to the front of the pack. After a hard crash near the end of the 2011 season parked the car he had been running, he acquired the piece ‘Too’ Moroney steered to last year’s Hasiuk Trailer and Container Rental Mini Stock track champion prior to the start of the current season.
“The best thing about what we do is that anyone has a chance to win,” said Batchelor. “A good starting spot and a little luck will do the trick. There are just 2 shows left in the year and one of them is a 50 lap invitational. We’ll give a good shot and see how things play out when it’s all over. One thing is certain. Even if I don’t win this year, I’ll have a blast trying.”
Prepared by Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications
Discussion about this post