MILLGROVE, Ontario (June 15, 2021)— Flamboro Speedway has played host to some of the best battles among Pro Late Model drivers through the years, and will look to do so once again this coming weekend.
The first round of the Grisdale Triple Crown is set to open up the 2021 season on Saturday, June 19, with live coverage set to take place on GForceTV.
The last time the stars battled for the Triple Crown honors, it was Shae Gemmell taking the prize barely over J.R. Fitzpatrick.
Gemmell has been one of the biggest rising stars on the APC Auto Parts United Late Models, scoring his first victory on the tour at Sauble Speedway a couple years ago. However, Flamboro did not treat him as nicely with finishes of 19th and seventh, both involving contact along the way.
Fitzpatrick, meanwhile, was the biggest star at Flamboro Speedway in 2019 as he took home the track championship. He was also fast in both events last season, pacing laps en route to a pair of fourth-place finishes.
The 2020 campaign saw a NASCAR Pinty’s Series star, D.J. Kennington, and one of the newer faces on the tour, Jade Franklin, each visit victory lane.
Kennington out-ran Matt Box and Shawn Chenoweth in June, and is trying to be a part of the field this coming weekend. If not, though, his teammate Rick Verberne will be someone to watch. Despite this being his Pro Late Model debut, he has experience surrounding him, combined with knowing his way around Flamboro Speedway after battling Ken Grubb for the win in the Super Stock feature last year.
Franklin, meanwhile, out-ran the best in a chaotic finish in October to crown the Frostoberfest Classic victory. It marked a break-out performance after seeing steady gains behind the wheel through Super Stock competition, and a couple stars on the APC Series tour. Though after a sixth and a win last year, you cannot count him out now.
The changing of the guard could be a coming theme as Connor James, Jake Sheridan, and Kyle Steckly are set to make their first couple stars in Pro Late Model competition.
James, who is planning to run the full APC Schedule this year, will have experience on his side with the car being prepared by Holdaway Motorsports. He has proven himself behind the wheel, running up front in Pinty’s Series competition, while winning an Ontario Sportsman Cup Championship.
Sheridan showed speed all last year, as evident by a pair of top-10 finishes with a third in the fall. That isn’t a surprise, though, after placing in the top-10 in the APC Series Standings the past two years. While he has yet to score a win during that time, there has been some strong performances including a pair of podiums in 2019.
Steckly made his debut last fall at Frostoberfest, and ran just outside the top-10 with some of the biggest names prior to placing 16th. The success should come down the road, though, given his trips to victory lane behind the wheel of a mini stock prior to this jump up the ladder.
Before we allow the young guns to take charge, though, you cannot overlook the likes of Shane Maginnis, Andrew Gresel and Shawn Chenoweth. Each has won some of the highest paying events at Flamboro Speedway in the past, whether in Pro Late Models or other divisions. Chenoweth and Maginnis showed speed last year, each scoring a podium finish as they battled for victories.
As previously announced, they will be joined by the Canadian Vintage Modifieds, as well as the Super Stocks, Mini Stocks, and Pure Stocks.
Track officials announced recently the event will be live streamed on GForceTV.net. The speedway previously partnered with the service last season to carry numerous events, and found success with fans tuning in from not only across the province, but across Canada and North America.
For more details about the event, including how to register if you are a competitor, you can read the full original news release at https://www.flamborospeedway.ca/post/flamboro-speedway-to-kick-off-2021-campaign-with-first-round-of-grisdale-triple-crown. The Flamboro Speedway website also has your pit notes, payouts, and the screening form that must be filled out prior to entry.
Be sure to keep up with the latest by checking out Flamboro Speedway’s website at http://www.flamborospeedway.ca. You can also keep up via your favorite social networking website by following the speedway on Twitter at https://twitter.com/FlamboroSpdwy and Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/flamborospeedway. Fans are encouraged to like the speedway’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Flamboro-Speedway-Authorized-Page-102328664646735/.
By: Ashley McCubbin
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