Todd Delisle Takes Checker Flag In R.P. Oil Ltd. Late Model Feature
For race fans that enjoy the roughhouse version of stock car competition, last Saturday proved to be the perfect fit for them. Brought to the Mosport faithful courtesy of Roka Tim-Br Mart and Evergreen Lawn and Tractor, the homegrown Six Or Less and Late Model divisions were joined by the Canadian Vintage Modifieds and a twin bill of Lucas Oil Sportsman Cup contests.
The R.P. Oil Ltd. Late Models
Scott Harrison has made tremendous gains in the development of his #68 Monte Carlo, and that extra effort was evident on Saturday night as the Scarborough resident sailed through the first 13 laps of the feature at the front of the Late Model field. With his mirrors filled with the ever-charging #66 Roy Nichols Motors Impala of Jim Rossiter and the #12 Bourque Transmission Chevy of Dwight Brown, Harrison steadfastly held the point until a lap seven incident sent his two pursuers to the tail end of the pack.
Reassuming his position on the ensuing caution period restart, Harrison found himself at the head of a three car train with Todd Delisle and John Baker's #63 Freeman Motorsports Fusion ready to pounce on any mistake. For six full tours of the Mosport half-mile, Harrison fended off his challengers, but on lap 14 Delisle was able to poke the nose of his Drake's Auto Glass Cadillac to the low side as the pair entered Turn Three, taking the lead as the two cars powered down the front straight. A half lap later, Baker mirrored the move in the second corner to grab the runner-up position, the leading duo leaving Harrison to face the recovered, and agitated, Brown and Rossiter.
Making a last lap charge, Baker moved alongside of Delisle as the pair streaked to the checkered flag, but his attempt fell mere inches shy, the Port Perry driver scoring the hard fought feature win.
"I was really uncomfortable with the handling, we were in the shop until 3:30 this morning," admitted Delisle. "The back end is still trying to come around on me, I nearly lost it right there on the last lap."
With three laps remaining, Brown and Rossiter went side by side with Harrison's #68, Brown emerging from the scrum with a slim advantage over his longtime rival. Running nose to tail, the trio ran out the laps with Brown claiming the final podium position.
The THORSONS EVT Six Or Less
Easily scoring a pair of victories in the heat race preliminaries, Duane Jeffery was looking for an evening sweep as 13 cars lined up for the 20 lap Six Or Less division feature. However, it was the #89 Link Greenhouses Cavalier of Nick Mulders who assumed the early lead with teammate Hank Mulders (#99X) and Fedele DiBello hot on his back bumper. Sitting comfortably in fourth place, Jeffery was waiting for his opportunity, but a solo spin on lap seven sent the driver of the #26 Car-Du Camaro to the back of the field, somewhat relieving the pressure on the race leading trio.
Coming to the crossed flags, DiBello made his move in Turn Three, diving his #12 Maxwell Motors Monte Carlo deep into the corner and coming away with the race lead. Carefully watching his mirrors, DiBello pulled away for the victory, his first feature win of the year.
"We finally got the setup right, the car was on rails tonight," proclaimed DiBello.
Drama was unfolding behind the leader as the #57 PS Auto Wreckers Grand Am of Kevin Hinds and points leader Kevin Pickford (#19 Priestly Demolition Skyhawk) found each other and began a heated battle for the runner-up position. Joined in their fight by the recovered Duane Jeffery, the three drivers circulated the track in order, and despite the best attempts of his rivals, Hinds held on for second place.
Nick Mulders, who had enjoyed such a strong early race, was freight-trained; his #89 Chevy dropping back to fifth spot, finishing just ahead of teammate Ryan Oosterholt.
The Canadian Vintage Modifieds
Following an early season rainout at Mosport, the Canadian Vintage Modifieds made their season debut at the half-mile oval, with 17 of the high-powered Jalopies lining up for their 25 lap feature.
Starting on the pole, Adrian Donkers in his #6 1933 Chevy jumped into the early lead, with the #57 Ford of Steve Trendell, Mike Podd's #5 1934 Ford and the #0 1928 Pontiac of two-time series champion Phil Shaw in close pursuit. Able to maintain his lead until lap 11, Donkers could only watch as Phil Shaw, running his favoured highline, swept past himin Turn Four, taking the lead that he would never relinquish. A three-car incident on the last lap involving Podd, Donkers and Ron Easton set up a Green/ White/ Checkered finish, but Shaw would not be denied.
"I fell in love with this place years ago, I love racing here," declared Shaw. "I didn't want to see that last yellow, but I knew if I kept it straight, they weren't going to get me."
Jason Keen, in his Day-Glo Green #18 1931 Chevy, edged Trendell by inches for the runner-up spot, while Jason Dinsmore held off points leader Steve Lyons (#9 1932 Frontenac) for fourth place.
The Lucas Oil Sportsman Cup
Having been rained out twice this year, the Lucas Oil Sportsman Cup series ran twin 75-lap features in an attempt to make up for the postponement.
Josh Wood was in complete control in the first race, leading through the first 60 laps. On the receiving end of a punt from Shawn McGlynn, Wood was forced into the pits for some extreme bodywork repairs, handing the lead to the black #24 of Brennan Didero. But Didero was also turned into the wall on the penultimate lap, the caution period bringing out the checkered flag due to time limitations. The fortunate, first time winner was past Mosport champion Kelly Balson, who had earlier been a victim of the Turn Two wall.
"Wow, that was unexpected," declared Balson. "And to do it here, five minutes from home, is great!"
Former NASCAR Canadian Tire Series driver Doug Brown was second to the line, followed by the #81 of Shawn McGlynn.
The second race was equally as rough with no fewer than six caution periods slowing the procession, and only 10 of the 15 original starters making it to the checkered flag.
In the end, it was series rookie Jay Doerr (#40) going flag to flag for the victory, his second of the season, crossing the stripe 15 car lengths ahead of his nearest rival. Shawn McGlynn recorded his second podium position of the night, holding off Dan Prudhomme by inches to claim second place. Balson and Josh Wood, both driving damaged machinery, rounded out the top five.
Photo 1 - Todd Delisle, winner of the R.P. Oil Ltd. Late Model feature race
Photo 2 - THORSONS EVT 6 or Less feature race winner Fedele DiBello
Photo 3 - Canadian Vintage Modifieds race winner Phil Shaw
Photo 4 -Lucas Oil Sportsman Cup race one winner Kelly Balson
Photo 5 - Lucas Oil Sportsman Cup race two winner Jay Doerr (#40)
For further information:
Ryan Chalmers, Mosport
ryan@mosport.com
800-866-1072 (office)
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