PLATTSVILLE, ON- APC United Late Model Series runner-up Shawn Chenoweth will be keeping busy this weekend at Peterborough Speedway’s lauded Autumn Colours Classic. In addition to the 115-Lap Pro Late Model event, ‘The Mastodon’ will also return to Super Late Model competition in the 50-Lap OSCAAR tour season finale on Sunday.
“I think our game plan for ‘the Classic’ has changed about a dozen times now,” laughs Chenoweth. “But, I’m pretty sure this is the one that we’re sticking with”
“At first, we were bringing the Pro Late Model and the Thunder Car. Then, we sold the Thunder Car and that sort of shuffled the deck,” explains the former Flamboro Speedway champion. “So, then we were bringing the Pro Late Model and the Super [Late Model], but I didn’t like the way the Super reacted at Sunset two weeks ago, so we scrapped that plan”
“But, once [Team Owner] Mike [Schmidt] got word that [Andrew] Gresel wasn’t running the OSCAAR event, I knew that he was going to use his jedi mind tricks on me to bring both cars. So, here we are, three days before ‘the Classic’ and we’re getting ready to put both cars in the box”
When asked about the commitment of fielding two entries – in two different divisions – over the course of the three-day event, Chenoweth insists the biggest hurdle is in the pit area as opposed to on the track.
“The toughest part about running two cars, believe it or not, is not the physical aspect,” says Chenoweth. “I could run 400-laps on Sunday if I had the chance to. The toughest part, by far, is all the preparation that goes into it”
“I know that some of the other guys in the pits like to look at us as this big conglomerate of a team, but we’re far from it,” adds the London Recreational Racing representative with a chuckle. “There aren’t many pairs of hands over here on race day, so when you have two cars that require the utmost attention and dedication, it gets pretty crazy”
Chenoweth – a former Autumn Colours Classic winner in the Pro Late Model division – will sit on the pole in the 115-Lap headliner on Sunday, and has complete confidence in his team’s odds to repeat as ‘Classic’ champions.
“I have no doubts about our abilities and our chances in the Pro Late Model division,” says the second-generation competitor. “That car has been as reliable as anything I’ve ever driven. I know that it’s going to be there, ready to work, on Sunday night”
“Running with the [APC] tour all season has us prepared as we’ve ever been for this event,” continues Chenoweth. “A lot of the same guys that’ll be at the front all weekend are the ones we’ve been battling for months. When you develop that familiarity with your competition – it goes a long way”
However, after a frustrating 6th place performance during Sunset Speedway’s Velocity 250 event on September 27th, Chenoweth feels as though his Super Late Model program could require a level of fine-tuning prior to Sunday’s A-Main.
“The Super Late Model is a little different,” shrugs the veteran. “That car and I – we haven’t been seeing eye to eye lately. I’m not sure if we need some couples therapy or what, but if we unload at Peterborough in the same condition we were in at Sunset, were in for a long weekend”
“The car went back to McColl’s last week, and I have a lot of faith in Mike [McColl] and what he can do with these things. So, hopefully he can work his magic, and we can drive this thing the way it’s meant to be driven on Sunday”
“This [London Recreational Racing] team had a huge weekend at Peterborough last year, so obviously we want a strong follow up to that this season,” adds Chenoweth. “We’re all bringing a lot of really good iron to Peterborough, and it’s hard not to think that we’re going to be able to contend for some wins”
“Andy [Kamrath] is as good as just about anyone in the province when it comes to Mini Stock racing and my car has the pole for the Pro Late Model deal, which is a fantastic way to start a 115-lap race. So, now all we need to do is find a way for [Kelly] Balson and myself to put together a Super Late Model setup that can give [Kevin] Cornelius and JR [Fitzpatrick] more of a headache than they’ve had all season.”
For more information on the Autumn Colours Classic, visit www.PeterboroughSpeedway.com.
Shawn Chenoweth’s 2015 season would not be made possible without London Recreational, Bennett GM, KR Communications, Midas of Orangeville, Castrol Edge, Hitman Hotrods, Wilson Ponds, Graybar, McColl Racing Enterprises, Innerkip Plumbing and Heating, ProWraps and Automotive Truck & Tire.
By Spencer Lewis (@itsspencerlewis)
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