From John Houghton / Delaware Speedway PR
DELAWARE, ON - With the Total APC 300 this Sunday approaching as part of the Great Canadian Race Weekend, many drivers in the APC Late Model division spent Wednesday afternoon gearing up and practicing for the big event. The defending winner of the event, Ron Sheridan (#52) of Mt. Brydges on the other hand, left his vehicle at home and spent part of the afternoon in the grandstands with a stop watch keeping an eye on the competition.
“My strategy to go in, worry about the first two races then do the 200,” said Sheridan. “What I’m doing to do is the same thing I’ve done all year - - I have to try to finish in the top 3 and win as many races as I can.”
Sheridan is also keenly aware of the narrow three-point lead he holds over veteran driver Steve Robblee (#28) of Dorchester.
“We’re very close points, but I’d rather be three points ahead then three points behind, especially when going up against a guy like Steve Robblee. We’ll run as hard and smart as we can, then we’ll worry about the 200 after that. Ultimately, we’re trying to win both of those features, let the points fall where they may. When the 200 comes down it’s just a good ol’ stock car race. You have to have a good team, be fast and lucky.”
“Pistol” Pete Vanderwyst (#7) of St. Thomas will be making his return to competition this weekend. Vanderwyst spent the early part of his Wednesday afternoon at the London Children’s Hospital before arriving at the speedway in the late afternoon for his test session.
“We went to visit the kids to bring a little light and a little smile,” said Vanderwyst. “We took a lot of photos with kids in the cars, and pictures with the families. We also visited the kids who couldn’t make it down to where we had the car. We’re raising awareness for the Children’s health foundation. It’s all awareness, like any foundation they’re looking for help to bring in special equipment and opportunities to create better health programs for the kids.”
As for his strategy for the weekend, Vanderwyst likes to have everything ready to roll before he arrives at the track on race day.
“My motto is never change when I show to the track,” said Vanderwyst. “We want to finish all 200 laps, be as completive as we can and take our share of the purse on Sunday. Hopefully we can get the $10,000 and share some of that with the hospital.”
Vanderwyst struggled in the early part of the session. The vehicle he will be piloting is a brand new APC Late Model, and had some shakedown problems before his session.
“We’ve got a trailing arm bolt that’s a bit messed up, it’s a brand new car, first time we’ve had the chance to shake it down and get dialed in,” he added. “Delaware is a track where the car needs rotation in the middle of the turn and bite coming off. It’s second to none of any track I’ve visited and you have to be on your game here.”
The Total Oil Products / APC team of Jamie Ramsay (#22) of St. Thomas was also in attendance. The crew was testing out both the #22 and #22x. Matt Pritico will be the driver of the 22x. Ramsay practiced simulated pit stops in the early evening hours.
Dion Verhoeven driver of the #77 car from Kerwood was also in attendance.
“Our plan is to stay out of trouble be there at the end,” said Verhoeven. “We just put new brakes in the whole car, we were having some brake trouble before. The 200-lap race is a more challenging race then a regular Friday night. We’re looking forward to going out and winning it! There will be lots of cars, as long as it’s a clean race it’ll be a lot of fun.”
A driver with plenty of history at Delaware Speedway and a current NASCAR Canadian Tire Series regular, Jason Hathaway is excited to make his debut in a brand new car at the APC 300.
“We’ll need to win the $10,000 to pay for the car. It is a brand new car, Bryan Watts my boss and sponsor at Vortex brake pads wants to get in and drive it in a few weeks,” said Hathaway. “We’re developing a race pad and we’re using this car for R&D. It’s my first trip to Delaware in Late Model since the end of 2006, it’ll be hard but there’s great competition here. I came a few weeks back to watch, the same regular faces up front. Some new guys area fast, Watson’s fast, Matthews is fast. Lots of good guys - - over ten of them could win on a given night. This weekend with a bunch of invaders the competition level just gets that much higher.”
Mark Watson (#02) of St. Thomas was also out getting ready for the big race. Watson only turned nine laps before calling it a day.
“The car worked good, we’re very happy with it. There’s going to be real good car count and real good dozen or so guys who have a good shot at winning this,” said Watson. “We feel we have a real good shot at it after today.”
Watson has faced his share of challenges in the division, a broken rear end and engine difficulties in recent weeks have added to those challenges.
“I’m the new guy on the block and you take as the new guy you take it as it is. It’s not easy going anywhere as the new guy.”
The Great Canadian Race Weekend (September 4-6, 2009) features all of Delaware Speedway’s racing classes throughout the weekend including a King of the Hill Spectator's race with $2000 in prizing on Friday and the Lucas Oil Sportsman Cup on Saturday evening.
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