GRAND BEND, ON – The Auto Fusion Towing Legend Car Series presented by McColl Racing Enterprises wheeled in to ¼ mile tri-oval on Saturday night for the first event of 2013. Teams from both sides of the border came to do battle at the Beach Town Race Track.
After heat races set the field, drivers lined up for a 30 lap extravaganza which would prove very entertaining. Belle River driver Josh Indig #5 would lead the field to green and would lead early, Rochester Hills Michigan driver Cole Landau #74L would take his turn at the front before surrendering the lead to another US driver, Sean McPherson #13, of Riley Centre Michigan.
McPherson was the class of the field for much of the event, extending his lead to five to six car lengths at times.
Further back in the field, a fierce battle ensued for the third spot between Josh Indig, London driver Jamie Marche, Bothwell’s Steve Aubertin and Brandon Thurlby from Windsor. The dog fight didn’t end well for Thurlby and Aubertin, as they both lost traction on the outside lane and brought out the first caution 1/3 of the way through.
On the restart, McPherson went back out front and held a 4 car length lead on Cole Landau. Disaster struck soon after, as the #13 went up in a ball of flames on the front straightaway. The engine had expired and the flames filled the driver’s compartment, but were quickly extinguished and Sean McPherson was unharmed.
Cole Landau inherited the lead on the ensuing restart and the crowd was left to watch a battle for second between Indig and Marche. Watching the battle take place was Brandon Thurlby and patiently waited and let Jamie Marche do the heavy lifting, Marche was able to sneak by Indig with a handful of laps to go. Thurlby was close enough to follow him through into third. With a lap to go, Thurlby wrestled second place away from Marche to take second place.
Cole Landau would score the win and was very thankful for the win. In post-race ceremonies, Landau expressed concern for fellow driver Sean McPherson and spoke of the challenge of racing Grand Bend and its tricky back straight-away and the dogleg.
The Auto Fusion Towing Can-Am Legends return to Grand Bend on Sunday June 2 for a race on the 1.4km road course. The series is expecting some road racing experts to make an appearance for that event.
Results:
Feature Podium: 1. #74L Cole Landau 2. #2 Brandon Thurlby, 3. #66 Jamie Marche
Heats Wins: 1. #5 Josh Indig, 2. #13m Sean McPherson, 3. #2 Brandon Thurlby, 4. #13m Sean McPherson.
From: Alan Pinsonneault/ GM McColl Racing Enterprises
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