Story By: ASHLEY MCCUBBIN / FLAMBORO SPEEDWAY – MILLGROVE, ONT – Despite having to take the green from the tail of the field, J.R. Fitzpatrick worked his way through the traffic en route to winning the Ontario Outlaw Super Late Model Frostoberfest feature on Saturday at Flamboro Speedway.
Fitzpatrick laid down the quickest lap in time trials at 15.543 seconds, but was disqualified in technical inspection due to being slightly underweight. As a result, he gave up the pole to start tail of the 16 car field.
The past Flamboro Speedway track champion wasted no time making his way through the traffic, breaking into the top-10 on the second lap, before finding his way inside the top-five with 10 laps on the board. He continued to make moves, ultimately taking over the lead at the halfway mark from Glenn Watson.
Despite a restart with 10 laps to go, Fitzpatrick was able to maintain his advantage over the competition, finding himself in the lead when the race was called with five laps remaining due to the lights going out around the speedway.
Doug Gillispie ran inside the top-five throughout, making his move on the final restart for a runner-up in front of Todd Campbell and Chris Burrows. Glenn Watson led eight laps en route to placing fifth, which was enough for him to be crowned the 2023 Ontario Outlaw Super Late Model Champion.
Brandon Passer battled just outside the top-five to sixth ahead of Gary McLean, who rebounded for seventh after an early race spin due to a flat tire after contact. Thayne Hallyburton was eighth in front of Mike Wilkinson and Mike Miller.
Chase Wilson slowed with 10 laps to go, with Charlie Gallant making significant contact with the rear-end of the No. 77 machine and the outside wall en route to placing 11th and 12th, respectively. Dario Capirchio and Randy Capassie followed, while Scott Beatty and Adrian Foster did not take the green flag.
OSCAAR Modifieds
Starting from the pole as virtue of the eight-car invert, Shawn Chenoweth broke out to the early advantage and ultimately drove away from the field as the laps ticked away. He paced all 40 laps and crossed the finish line in the first position. However, he was disqualified during post-race technical inspection.
Dale Reinhart took the green flag on the second row, finding his way up into second at the halfway mark. Jason Keen was able to make his way forward after starting fifth, finding his way to third. He would challenge Reinhart throughout the second half of the event, all over the rear bumper of the No. 51, but was unable to find his way by.
Dale Reinhart was credited with the victory ahead of Jason Keen, TJ Edwards, Chad Strawn, and Ryan Dick. Rick Spencer-Walt made his way forward for a sixth-place finish in front of AJ Emms, Bryan Batty, Steve Trendall, and Chris Milwain.
Tyler Liscum faded back to place 11th, followed by Wally Wilson, Alvin McNicol, and David Mathers. Jake Watson pulled off on Lap 13 with mechanical issues, while Cole Quinton went pit side the lap before due to contact resulting in right front damage.
OSCAAR Hot Rods
When it came time for the main event, Rick Spencer-Walt started on the front row and dominated as he built up a considerable gap between himself and the field en route to pacing all 30 laps to visit McColl Racing Enterprises victory lane.
Trevor Thompson parlayed a front row starting spot into a runner-up, with points leader Tyler Hawn carving his way through the field for a third. Steve Book and Cole Weber completed the top-five, ahead of Rob Bromley, Cory McAllister, Ryan Cowan, Steve Ecker, and Ed Peterson.
Jeremy McLean was 11th, followed by Kyle Woods, Connor Ellis, Dave Evison Sr., Matt Spry, Paul Bogensberger Jr., Bill Clarke, Nick Clarke, and Luke Gignac. Gignac saw his feature end early on Lap 9 with a mechanical issue and a spin in turn one and two. McMahon did not take the green flag.
Great Lakes Legend Car Series
Jordan Latimer wasted no time in finding his way to the front of the field, taking the lead on Lap 6 of the 25-lap feature as he looked ready to set sail. However, he was unable to shake Jade Franklin through the remainder of the feature, with the pair staying close together as Franklin continued to challenge for the lead.
In the end when the checkered flag waved, it was Jordan Latimer crossing the finish line in first ahead of Jade Franklin, while their teammate Zach Latimer completed the podium. Gregory Rudzik and Matt Boyes rounded out the top-five ahead of Cole McFadden, Kenny McNicol Jr., Austin Arnel, Steve Gareau, and Andrew McFadden.
Matt Thompson was 11th, followed by Joe Adams, Junior Farrelly, Todd Dolton, Wyatt Seburn, Kevin D’Amore, Joe Russ, Lonnie Scott, Dan Russ, and Kent Ribson. The McNicol Racing teammates of Hailey McNicol and Zach Hatch both did not have the days they intended, pulling off with issues.
Joe Sherman, meanwhile, went for a flip down the frontstretch after contact en route to rounding out the field. He was uninjured in the wreck.
Mini Trucks
Although Caleb Goertz led the opening laps of the first feature, Hayden Sim was able to make the pass just before the halfway mark for the lead. He then led the rest of the way en route to winning ahead of his brother Carson Sim, while Mason Collver rounded out the podium.
Quinn Goertz got around his sibling Caleb Goertz for fourth, with James Relou sixth ahead of Blake Near, Dylan Granham, Taylor Weber, and Rick Basket. Kaisha Zimoch placed 11th in her second appearance at Flamboro in front of Bailey Batty and Terry Weber.
The second feature saw a four-way battle for the lead throughout, with drafting becoming a factor as the drivers made their way around the speedway. This time, though, Mason Collver took the lead on Lap 13 and did not look back en route to winning, followed by Hayden Sim, James Relou, Quinn Coertz, and Caleb Goretz,
Carson Sim dropped out of the top-five on the final lap for sixth ahead of Dylan Granham, Blake Near, Kaisha Zimoch, and Rick Basket. Taylor Weber, Bailey Batty, and Terry Weber completed the field.
Kent Robson failed to take the green flag in both features.
Jr Late Models
The drop of the green flag saw the battle begin immediately between Cole Kamrath and Judah Buesink, with the pair separating themselves from the field. Although Judah Buesink held the early advantage, Cole Kamrath found his way to the lead. From there, he held the advantage the rest of the way en route to the checkered.
Wyatt Sprung made the pass on Judah Buesink to score the runner-up finish, with Caleb McConnell and Alyssa Burnett rounding out the top-five. Malaschi Buesink ran up inside the top-five, but faded back the second half for sixth ahead of Oliver Gibbons and Amber Wallis.
Josh Davenport failed to finish after an incident on-track in turn two, with Cohen Newman failing to finish as well due to getting up on two wheels in turn four.