Cornelius and McLean Visit Oscaar Victory Lane at Barrie --------- by Dave Vokey
In bucking a recent trend of warmer temperatures, a very cool evening would greet fans and drivers alike for the one and only stop at Barrie Speedway for both the Oscaar Super Late Model and Modified tours on June 14. The evening's big winners would turn out to be #17 Kevin Cornelius of Shelburne who captured his first career series win at the tight and tricky one third mile tri oval, while Modified series veteran #8 Gary McLean of Conn went to victory lane in the 30 lap Modified main, marking the drivers 2nd series win at Barrie in just 3 appearances at the track for the open wheeled ground pounders.
In the Super Late 50 lap main event it was #10 Jesse Kennedy of Southwold who broke out into the early lead from the pole position, with former Barrie Thunder champ #44 Dave "The Deuce" Doucette of Angus having to fight off a stern challenge from #45 Rob Poole on the opening lap. It wouldn't take long for the 45 of Poole to find the inside of Doucette to wrestle away 2nd, quickly leading the way for the duo of #22 Glenn Watson of Barrie and #81 Andrew Gresel of Hepworth to follow through to claim 3rd and 4th respectively, with the game Doucette now trapped to the high side on lap 4. The first of the contenders to suffer misfortune was the 22 of Watson, as the former 4 time series champ would slow along the backstretch and retire pitside for the evening with mechanical issues on lap 7. Just beyond the 10 lap mark the 81 of Gresel would take off like a bullet on the high line of the racetrack, passing Poole for 2nd, and then working his way past leader Kennedy with an impressive move on the outside of turn one. Gresel, would continue to set a brisk pace, completing laps of the one third mile track in the 13.6 second range, with the 17 of Cornelius also now in the mix after disposing of Poole to claim third in the running order.
On lap 22, Cornelius would continue his charge to the front, working his way past Kennedy with a clean low pass on the exit of turn four to claim the runner up post, with leader Gresel free and clear of his counterpart by a half straightaway nearing the midway point. Nearing lap 30, the best battle on track was the race for third as Kennedy and Poole waged an impressive dice for that position, with Poole having a look to Kennedy's inside while racing out of turn two as that pair was trying to work around the #42 of former Barrie Late Model competitor Tyler Hawn of Oro Station. The race's first caution would fly on lap 31, when Kennedy would spin out of turn four after contact from Poole, with both drivers summoned arrears for the restart. It was at this point the race would hit a fevered pitch, as Gresel and Cornelius went to war for the race lead, with Cornelius just about clearing Gresel from the outside line, as Gresel would give his counterpart a slight nudge between 1&2 with Cornelius sliding ever so slightly up the track, with Gresel quickly claimed the point. Another quick caution would appear on lap 33 when Poole was forced pitside to change a right front tire. This set the stage for another Gresel/Cornelius dice from the front row as the fans sat on the edge of their seats in anticipation of the thrilling battle to come.
On the restart, both division sophomore's seemed determined to win, racing tough and clean door handle to door handle for several circuits, with each taking a turn leading at the stripe as the laps clicked off. In behind the fierce battle for the lead the action was just as intense in the race for third, as series rookies Doucette and #B10 Kelly Balson of Hampton were locked in an tightly contested duel for that position, with Balson eventually prevailing with a strong outside pass on the exit of turn 4. At the front of the pack, Gresel and Cornelius were still fighting tooth and nail for the race lead, with Cornelius eventually powering out front on lap 46, after Gresel would overcook turn two allowing Cornelius to pull out to a three car length lead before Gresel could correct his sleek looking ride. Over the duration, the positions would remain unchanged as Cornelius would claim his first win in a Super Late, taking the victory by those same three car lengths over Gresel at the checkered. Impressive series rookie Balson would notch a career best 3rd in a Super Late, while fellow rookie Doucette would finish 4th, with #54 Mike Beyore rounding out the fast five.
Qualifying heat wins went to Cornelius with a pair to notch the hat trick on the evening, Poole, and rookie #82 Corey Jones. The win was also the first in a Super Late for Jones, completing an impressive night for the 2014 freshman crop.
In the 30 lap Modified feature, it was 46 year short track veteran #36 Gary "Iron Man" Elliott of Waterdown who moved out to the early lead after working past pole sitter #2 Matt Barton of New Hamburg on the outside line on the exit of turn two just a couple laps in. Also on the move in the early stages was #47 Brian McLean of Conn, as the longtime division veteran would pass Barton for 2nd, leading the way for the duo of #88r Tommy Robb of Varney and #8 Gary McLean to quickly follow to move to third and fourth respectively, after completing a inside pass of Barton midway down the backstretch on lap 6. The first caution would fly one lap later, as Barton would spin in turn 2, with defending Barrie race winner #7 Brent McLean also hitting pit road for adjustments at this point in the race. On the restart, leader Elliott would have to fight off a strong challenge from the 47 of McLean, as the trio of Robb, #26 Terry Baker, and Gary McLean raced covered by a blanket for third in behind. After a lap 13 caution for a single car spin, Elliott would again set the pace on the restart, breaking out to a three car length lead over Brian McLean all the while completing laps just a shade over the 14 second barrier, with McLean now coming under heavy fire from nephew Gary in the race for 2nd in what was a very tightly contested duel.
Just past the 20 lap mark the action was heating up all over the track, as Robb and Baker waged an impressive dice for 4th, with Barrie Late Model competitor #34 Andre Pepin sitting comfortably in the pocket in 6th and looking for any type of a slip up from the duo racing in front of him. Pepin, making his first ever start an Open Wheel Modified was having a clean and impressive race, after startingt he race in the tenth place spot, and soon challenging for a top five position at his hometrack. Near the front of the pack, the 8 of Gary McLean was beginning to make his customary late race charge towards the point, working past Brian McLean with 5 laps remaining with an inside move in turn 3. A strong race would soon take a sour turn for the 47 of Brian McLean, after the talented pilot went for a spin in turn three of the nose of the 88 of Robb with a gaggle of cars stacking up in behind the prone McLean ride as all drivers involved were able to continue. This set the stage for the "Battle of the Gary's" from the front row, as two time and defending series champ Gary McLean would quickly find the front from the outside row, relegating Elliott to 2nd in what was easily his most competitive Modified start to date. Once out front it was clear it was McLean's race to lose and the silky smooth driver would not disappoint, hitting all his marks along the way to record the win by two slender car lengths over Elliott at the checkered. Series rookie #91n Max Beyore would turn in a stout third place showing in his first time ever competing at the track, while fellow rookie #26 Terry Baker, and #91 Andre Pepin would complete the top 5.
Qualifying heat wins went to Beyore with a pair, Gary McLean, Elliott, Baker, and #88r Tommy Robb...
Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=19462.msg111329#msg111329
