OSCAAR SLM Preview: Summer Rush presented by Knightworks Design Race No. 2

After some thrilling racing over the past couple of months, the OSCAAR Super Late Models continue their tour around the province, set to hit up Kawartha Speedway for the second time this year. With high speeds and thrills expected, all fans that attend are certain to be in for a rush.

In both of his attempts at Kawartha, Andrew Gresel has dominated, leading all 50 laps in 2013 and leading 33 laps in the spring event this year en route to victory lane. Gresel heads into this weekend looking for another dominating performance after posting a pair of victories at Sauble Speedway and Peterborough Speedway as he leads the point standings.

Dwayne Baker should be strong this weekend as he finished fifth in the spring event to go with a pair of top-four finishes and a sixth in his last four starts at Kawartha. Baker also comes into this weekend riding a lot of momentum, after finishing on the podium both days at the Don Biederman Memorial to finish second overall.

When you think of Kawartha, one of the names that comes to mind is Glenn Watson. Watson is a four-time race winner at the Speedway and a four-time series champion. However, the spring race didn’t work out well for Watson as he ended up finding the wall as a result of contact from Jeff Hanley. Coming into Kawartha, Watson comes off a pair of podium finishes so it may be the right time for him to get his first win of the year.

If you’re not thinking about Watson and Kawartha, then you’re thinking about Jeff Hanley and Kawartha. Jeff Hanley has won a pair of races at Kawartha along with a second and a third, and coming off a third in the spring event, he will be looking to keep that tradition going.

After running a partial schedule last year, Jesse Kennedy has committed to the full OSCAAR schedule in 2014. Kennedy has always run well at Kawartha, posting a fifth last year and a second in the spring. Coming off a second at Peterborough, he will be looking for another podium run.

Rob Poole got his first Kawartha experience in the spring and had a great run in finishing fourth. Currently sitting fourth in points, Poole has been solidly consistent this year, so is this the weekend that he puts himself into winning contention?

Kevin Cornelius comes into this weekend looking for a solid run after power steering issues forced him to pull pit side on lap 36 while leading at Peterborough. It also isn’t the first time that the KDR Motorsports driver has been plagued by power steering issues, as he was running third in the spring when the line let go with seven laps to go. With the Don Biederman Memorial Championship and a victory at Barrie, he has proven that he can get it done and if issues stay out of way, he could do it this weekend.

Rookie Kelly Balson posted a seventh place finish earlier this year at Kawartha, though could run even stronger this weekend. Balson continues to get used to his ride and as he does, the finishes keep improving. Balson is riding a wave of momentum as since Kawartha, Balson has posted a third, a seventh, a fifth, a sixth and a seventh.

Todd Campbell didn’t have the best of luck at Sunset Speedway as he was posted a DNF. However, Kawartha could help turn that around as he posted a solid sixth place finish in 2011.

The last event at Kawartha Speedway didn’t pan out well for Shane Gowan, Corey Jones and Dave Doucette as Doucette and Gowan got involved in a wreck early, while Jones experienced motor problems. Gowan has since re-clipped the rear of the car and struggled with it at Sunset, though posted an eighth at Peterborough last weekend. Doucette continues to get used to his ride and could score a top-10 this weekend. Lastly, Jones seems to have his mechanical issues behind him after a pair of solid weeks so he could be one to watch this weekend.

Tyler Hawn made his 2014 season debut earlier this year at Barrie and simply struggled to find the speed that he needed. Though, each week, the Hawn Motorsports pilot has gotten stronger, posting a solid sixth place finish at Peterborough Speedway.

John Owen and Mike Beyore both know their way around Kawartha, having posted solid finishes in the past. Each has also posted top finishes recently, with Owen scoring a fourth at Peterborough and Beyore posting a fifth at Sauble.

Anytime the OSCAAR Super Late Models come to Kawartha, it’s a show to experience simply by the pure speed. The only question is – will anyone have anything for Gresel? Beyond the super lates, fans will also be treated to the OSCAAR Modifieds, Mini Stock Nationals, a four-fun feature and the Vanderlaan Building Products Pro Late Models that run on dirt at Brighton Speedway.