Mosport Speedway Race Recap - September 5, 2009

Mosport Speedway Race Recap - September 5, 2009

It seems appropriate that on a night featuring dual, Late Model feature races, Mosport Speedway would also enjoy the company of a pair of corporate sponsors. And courtesy of THORSONS Enclosed Vehicle Transportation, and ROKA Tim-Br Mart, the huge Saturday crowd was blessed with more than double the usual action as the Late Models, the R.P. Oil Modifieds and the Thorsons EVT Six Or Less cars put on an exciting show in advance of this week's finale.

The Late Models   

Courtice, Ontario’s Dan Kimmerly is on the verge of capturing his first Mosport Late Model championship, and the driver of the #01 Dom’s Auto Parts/ Hoskin Welding Pontiac is not using a cautious approach as the end of the 2009 campaign nears.
  
Watching as his primary points rival John Baker Jr. (#23 Freeman Motorsports/ Fotheringham Bookkeeping Ford) cut into his lead in the standings with a victory in the sole heat race, Kimmerly rebounded, scoring back-to-back wins in the evening’s twin, 25-lap feature races.
  
Race one found Scott Harrison (#68) leading a three-car breakaway, with Kimmerly and Dwight Brown firmly affixed to his back bumper. With the race-leading trio going three-wide into Turn One on the ninth lap, the scramble was sorted out with Kimmerly in the lead and Brown slotted into second ahead of Harrison. Kimmerly and Brown sailed on to the checkered flag, leaving Harrison engaged in a frantic battle with Baker and the #2 Priggen Automotive Chevrolet of Danny Robinson. Drawing on the nerve and concentration developed over his years as a firefighter, Harrison withstood the challenge and took the checkered flag a car length in front of Baker. Robinson rounded out the top five finishers.
  
Following a short break to allow for refueling and technical adjustments, the 11-car field lined up for Round Two, with Danny Robinson drawing the pole position and leading the pack to the green.
  
Doing his best to open the gap on the field, by lap four Robinson was in the mirrors of the green and white #01 of ‘Spiderman Dan’ Kimmerly, and despite Kimmerly’s best efforts, he could not keep the hard charging Pontiac behind him.
  
On lap six, Kimmerly swung to the outside of Robinson as the pair entered Turn Three and as they ran side-by-side onto the 800 foot long front straight, Kimmerly was able to put down the power and emerge with the race lead.

Refusing to give up the fight, Robinson remained close to the leader, but was forced to settle for the runner-up position, five car lengths behind Kimmery at the stripe.
  
“The car felt good tonight,” said Kimmerly. “We didn’t do anything different, all we did was put a coat of wax on it!”
  
With the championship in sight, Kimmerly also states that he is not about to change his racing philosophy.
  
“I need to finish strong, and stay out of trouble. I think it’s pretty safe running at the front. I’m not going to slow down, I’m here to race.”
  
In the battle for the final podium position, Dwight Brown in his #20 Bourque Transmission Monte Carlo made a show of it, trailing John Baker Jr. for nine solid laps, his last lap, last gasp charge falling a fender’s length shy as ‘Big John’ held on for third place.

The R.P.Oil Modifieds

Jim ‘the Professor’ Rossiter continues to be at the Head of the Class, as once again last week the pilot of the #66 DANCO/ Pete Larkin Scrap Modified swept aside his rivals and cleaned house, taking home a pair of heat race victories as well as the win in the 15-lap feature contest.
  
“My crew has put tons of hours into this car to get us to this point,” emphasized Rossiter. “We’ve been successful this year, but we still have to focus on doing our best every night.”    

Rossiter then stated that he plans to move on to the Late Model division in 2010, and there are a number of drivers in the Modified field who will bear watching as the class searches for a new champion.

Rob Warnes (#95) is a third-generation Modified driver, and will be one of those to keep an eye on, as his second place, and closing, in Saturday’s feature race proves. Starting shotgun on the field, Warnes moved past Chris Burrows (#64B Triton Automotive) on lap six to claim second place, and then proceeded to gap the pack on his way to the well-deserved runner-up result. Burrows was left to fend off the challenges of Mosport regular Randy Hollingsworth (#62 Stewart Electric), the two drivers swapping positions with two to go, Hollingsworth taking the checkers less than a car’s length in front of his young rival.

The THORSONS EVT Six or Less

Kevin Pickford has been a constant challenger to race winners over the past three seasons, but last Saturday the driver of the #19 Canadian Chrome/ Carburetor Rebuilders Buick Skyhawk finally became a feature race winner himself, leading the strong 15-car field to the checkered flag in the Six Or Less class final.

Starting from the outside of the second row, Pickford stalked race leader Duane Jeffery (#26) for two full laps before tucking low as the pair swung onto the backstraight, and powering into the lead.
  
Kevin Hinds, making his usual superb start, brought his #57 Exceltec Pontiac from the back of the field in to second place by lap three, and working around Jeffery, began a high speed game of cat and mouse with Pickford that would last throughout the 20-lap contest.

Soon joined at the front by the #86 Pingle’s Farm Market Cavalier of Tyler Betts, the race leading trio began to separate themselves from the field. The running order remained set until contact between Hinds and Betts with two laps remaining disrupted the flow. Betts was forced to retire to the pits, while Hinds was relegated in the scoring to the final spot on the lead lap.
  
Now safe at the head of the pack, Pickford accepted the checkered flag ahead of Chris Mulders (#99 Cavalier), Tony DiBello (#27) and Tiffany Taylor (#88 Atlantis Transport Sunfire).
  
“The credit for all of this has to go to Uncle Bill (Pickford, driver of the #61 Modified),” stated the proud race winner. “We’ve worked on this car for a couple of years, doing a little bit at a time, and now we’ve got it right.”
  
Points leader Jeff Scott, forced to park his engine damaged #96 Sunbird, borrowed a ride from championship rival Ryan Oosterholt and earned a top five finish, while Oosterholt, still struggling to diagnose a lack of power in his #79 Mosport International Karting Chevy, finished well down the order in 11th place.     

Coming up this week: This week marks the end of the season at the Speedway and is your last chance to see Mosport’s weekly stock car classes in action; the THORSONS EVT 6 or Less Cars, the Bob’s Towing Sportsman, the R.P. Oil Modifieds and the Late Models. In addition to great racing, this week is also Fan Appreciation Night. Fans will be able to meet the drivers, see the cars up close during the intermission, get autographs, take pictures and get some free prizes. Mosport is also pleased to welcome Ontario Truck Training for their night at the Speedway. It all gets underway at 6 p.m. sharp. Tickets are available at the gate. Adults $13, Students $8 and kids 12 and under are free with a paid adult admission. For more information call (905) 983-9141, email info@mosport.com or visit www.mosport.com. 

Photos by www.PeterBrand.ca