Isherwood Breaks Streak; Watson Notches Win Number Three
Spencer Lewis
With summer heating up and mid-season approaching, drivers in all three of Sunset’s home-track divisions are beginning to put together the necessary hot streaks to take a run at the coveted 2010 championship.
By the time the lights went out on July 10th, the Sunset faithful welcomed a points leader back to victory lane, witnessed an underdog’s defeat of a giant and discovered the next generation of one of the track’s most competitive divisions.
The Owens Corning Mini Stocks kicked off the action on Canadian Tire night, bringing a field of 23 cars to the 3/8ths mile for their 25-lap A Main.
Defending race winner Ken Donaldson Jr. (No. 03 Custom Steering Nissan) found himself starting mid-pack, allowing for a pair of fresh faces to share time in the limelight whilst pacing the talent-laden field.
Former Super Stock competitor Dean Curry (No. 09 Dinsmore Auto Wreckers/Two Chicks with Eggs Dodge) would spend time at the front through the first 7 laps, though a train of Nissan 240sxs including defending track champion Doug Butler, Ben Melenhorst and the aforementioned Ken Donaldson Jr., was quickly cutting its way through the pack en route to Curry’s back bumper.
Melenhorst (No. 26 The Tire Guys Nissan) would become the first of the trio to storm the gate, and would carry the lead for a single lap, before Donaldson slipped by, immediately working towards a 3-car length lead.
As Donaldson stretched his lead, a phenomenal battle began to heat up in his rearview, pitting Butler (No. 10 RSA Auto Parts/Jeff’s Towing Nissan) and familiar foe Warren Paxton (No. 33 CB Services of Newmarket/Blue Mountain Honda of Collingwood Honda).
Paxton would gain the upper hand, and as the curtain fell for the Mini Stocks, Donaldson collected his second win in as many starts, followed by Paxton, Butler, Terry Clodd (No. 34 ShipCanada.ca/Rosstech Automotive Honda) and Ben Melenhorst.
When questioned about his winning ride’s setup for the evening, Donaldson explained, “The track conditions were almost identical between last Saturday and tonight. We went with pretty much the exact same setup, and it just worked really well”
The second-generation wheelman continued, “We went back to the shop and watched the tape from my win last week, because I still felt as though I had alot to learn. I sat down with [younger brother and Super Stock points leader] Kyle and he explained that I’m still not showing enough patience. So I definitely tried to implement that into my gameplan tonight”
As the oldest of the Donaldson brothers set the first winning streak of his career in motion, his younger brother looked to extend the longest in his decade of competition.
Kyle Donaldson (No. 53 Custom Steering/Planet Recovery Co. Monte Carlo) entered the evening on a 7-race Sunset Speedway winning streak, looking for his incredible 8th straight home-track victory.
By virtue of being the division’s points leader, Donaldson would depart from the 18th starting position, behind one of the most talented assemblies of talent the speedway has seen all season.
With the majority of the Tim-BR Mart Super Stock division’s perennial contenders being faced with the daunting task of manoeuvring their way through the pack, the early stages of the event were wide open for a number of talented prospects.
Enter Chance Isherwood. The Utopia, ON upstart made his Sunset debut several weeks into the 2010 season, coming off of a 2009 campaign that saw the former Kawartha Speedway Mini Stock champion sit on the sidelines as a result of a lack of sponsorship dollars.
At the drop of the green, Isherwood wasted little time capitalizing on his front pack starting position, as he relieved early leader Ryan Semple (No. 64 Lucas Oil/Anderson Sheet Metal Camaro) of his post only 3 laps into the 30-lap A Main.
In weeks past, Donaldson has been able to utilize a slick gameplan of bobbing and weaving around his adversaries, utilizing caution periods to ensure the field is unable to pull too far away from the #53’s front bumper.
However, this evening was much different, as early contact with Ethan Courneyea (No. 71 Sergio’s Pizza/Simcoe Barge & Break Wall Nova) left Donaldson looking as though he was missing a step or two in comparison to the weeks gone by.
As ‘Wheely’ struggled, Isherwood excelled. The sophomore Super Stock driver had worked to a half-straightaway lead by the halfway mark, almost doubling the feat as the field received the ‘2 laps to go’ signal.
Just as Donaldson had made his way to the 6th position – mere inches outside of the top-5 – Isherwood crossed the start line, unopposed, for the biggest win of his young career; Edward Cole, Flyin’ Frank Davey, Matt Bentley and ‘The Loon Ranger’ Donny Brandon completed the fast five.
In victory lane, almost overcome with emotion, Isherwood made one thing clear, “This is absolutely incredible to win like this. This is for my crew, my sponsors, my friends, everyone that’s supported me and all of the fans. Thank you!”
When asked his thoughts heading into the night’s event, Isherwood admitted, “We weren’t too sure the car was even going to be competitive tonight. We were just out to make some laps and pick up points, to be honest. But then I got to the lead, then all of a sudden I’m in lapped traffic, passing cars”
“Kyle Donaldson is the fastest car in the province. And this is the toughest division in the province. So to be here right now is pretty amazing. You know, everyone underestimates us boys from Utopia, but we’re here now. Hopefully everyone is taking notice, because we’re going right back to the front”
Still reeling from Isherwood’s surprising breakthrough win, the jam-packed stands still had enough energy left to welcome the CGC Sheetrock Ltd. Late Models to cap the evening off with a 30-lap A Main.
Already in 2010, the entire province has had an eye on Sunset’s marquee division, as it has proven itself to be undoubtedly one of the deepest talent pools in Late Model racing.
Entering the evening on a bit of a losing streak, Stayner, ON teenager Brandon Watson was in need of a healthy performance. Although the third generation star is currently leading the Sunset points battle, his performances away from his home-track have been wrought with mechanical breakdowns and on-track altercations.
A stark contrast to the Super Stock’s caution-free affair only minutes earlier, the early goings of the Ltd. Late Model A-Main were plagued by a rash of caution periods.
After a trio of cautions, Rookie of the Year contender and Super Stock graduate Brad Holden (No. 97 Holden Electric/Midland Super Lube Dodge) would make his way past fellow first year pilot Sean Grosman (No. 29 Carlisle Customz/Landing Strip Gentleman’s Club Chevrolet) to pace the field up until the half-way mark.
One lap removed from the mid-race point, Holden would see his lead snuffed out by 3-time Super Stock champion ‘The Professional’ Rob Poole (No. 45 Alliston Auto Sales/AG-NAV GPS Precision Navigation Chevrolet).
With Poole beginning to pull away from the rest of the field, yet another caution would rear its ugly head, bringing runner-up Brandon Watson (No. 9 Smart Exchange Propane/Ken MacKinnon Construction Chevrolet) to Poole’s outside, and handing the teenager an ideal opportunity to notch his third victory of the 2010 season.
One picture-perfect restart later, Watson found himself clear of Poole, beginning to open up his lead with 1/3rd of the race remaining.
As the laps ticked by, Watson would find defending track champion Stompin’ Tom Walters (No. 47 McColl Racing Enterprises Chevrolet) beginning to loom in his rearview mirrow. Unfortunately for Walters, time would run out before a proper challenge could be mounted.
With the checkered flag waving, Watson lead Walters, Poole, Jason ‘Bam Bam’ Witty and Keith McLeod across the stripe.
After climbing from his winning ride, surrounded by crew and family, Watson emphasized, “It’s really, really nice to be back in victory lane. After the bad luck we’ve been having, this is especially satisfying”
“I just want to thank my Dad [Tim Watson] for all the help with our clutch problems last Sunday at Peterborough Speedway. My whole crew has just been so great this season.”
When asked about the season-high 26 cars that started the event, Watson shrugged, “It was a little tougher tonight. Considering the size of the field, there was a little more traffic than what we’re used to dealing with here”
QUICK RESULTS
MINI STOCK
HEAT 1: Warren Paxton Holland Landing, ON
HEAT 2: Ken Donaldson Jr. Queensville, ON
HEAT 3: Doug Butler New Lowell, ON
HEAT 4: Warren Paxton Holland Landing, ON
HEAT 5: Ken Donaldson Jr. Queensville, ON
HEAT 6: Terry Clodd Holland Landing, ON
B MAIN: ‘The King of Hearts’ Brian Love Barrie, ON
A MAIN:
1) Ken Donaldson Jr. Queensville, ON
2) Warren Paxton Holland Landing, ON
3) Doug Butler New Lowell, ON
4) Terry Clodd Holland Landing, ON
5) Ben Melenhorst Stayner, ON
SUPER STOCKS
HEAT 1: Paul Maltese Innisfil, ON
HEAT 2: Matt Bentley Acton, ON
HEAT 3: Chance Isherwood Utopia, ON
HEAT 4: Kyle ‘Wheely’ Donaldson Queensville, ON
A MAIN:
1) Chance Isherwood Utopia, ON
2) Edward Cole Sutton, ON
3) Flyin’ Frank Davey River Drive Park, ON
4) Matt Bentley Acton, ON
5) ‘The Loon Ranger’ Donny Brandon Barrie, ON
LTD. LATE MODELS
HEAT 1: Brad Holden Midland, ON
HEAT 2: ‘Mr. Excitement’ Chris Morrow Anten Mills, ON
HEAT 3: Brandon Watson Stayner, ON
HEAT 4: Keith McLeod Barrie, ON
HEAT 5: Kevin Cornelius Orangeville, ON
HEAT 6: ‘The Bully’ Dwayne Baker Stayner, ON
B MAIN: Stompin’ Tom Walters Bradford, ON
A MAIN:
1) Brandon Watson Stayner, ON
2) Stompin’ Tom Walters Bradford, ON
3) ‘The Professional’ Rob Poole Cookstown, ON
4) Jason ‘Bam Bam’ Witty Queensville, ON
5) Keith McLeod Barrie, ON
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