The OSCAAR Super Late Models are set for round nine of their 2012 campaign and their most prestigious annual event, the 14th running of the Don Biederman Memorial. A record field of Super Late Models is expected for the season’s biggest race and the excitement in the pits will more than likely translate to the race track as a number of drivers seek the title. The running of the 14th annual Don Biederman Memorial is presented this season by VP Fuels, Stefko Racing Engines, South Shore Services, and Millennium Crane Service Ltd.
Friday evening will see a winner crowned with the possibility of an eighth different winner of the event. Jeff Hanley leads the charge in all-time Don Biederman Memorial wins with four (2007-2011), while John Fletcher won in three consecutive years (2002-2004) to put him second on the list. Rob Clarke (1999,2005), Dave Taylor (2000), Stu Robinson Jr. (2001), TJ Woolsley (2006), and Derrick Tiemersma (2007) have also had the honour of hoisting the Biederman trophy.
Despite having won the previous four years, Georgetown, ON native Hanley is worried he may be underpowered with a crate motor under the hood of the #70 Camry. Hanley, however, has displayed his prowess at Kawartha in recent years, and should he perfect the setup, a five-peat may be within the cards despite what the pilot says of his racecar.
George Wilson will search for his first Biederman Memorial win at Kawartha and also seeks to become the first OSCAAR driver to complete a hat-trick of feature wins. After Wilson had the car to win last week at Peterborough, but wound up third, he is hungry for a taste of Knightworks Design victory lane once again. Wilson also stated that should he win tonight, the win would rank at the top of his extended list of racing accomplishments.
“It would have to be my biggest race. I start to see how prestigious that race is to all the guys I’m racing with. It would be real nice to win that one,” explained Wilson. “We’ve had a couple kicks at the can, we’ve had mechanical issues a couple times and we’ve been pretty stout there a couple of times.”
After an exceptional performance at Peterborough where he earned his first ever OSCAAR feature win, Charlie Gallant will look to build on the momentum he has amassed over eight races so far. Tying his career best and rookie season, Gallant currently sits fifth in the overall standings. Just one point back of fourth, the driver nicknamed ‘Gazoo’ by his crew could take a major step towards furthering his overall goal of a top-five championship finish.
Points leader Brandon Watson suffered his first hiccup to the 2012 season last weekend where a broken rear axle forced him to borrow Jim Bowman’s outlaw for the night. The Stayner, ON teen still managed an eighth place finish, but saw his points lead shrink to 22 markers from 38.
Said Watson, “Unfortunately we did lose some points, but we’ll just have to try and make them up next week at the Biederman.”
The Biederman remains unchecked from Watson’s list of accomplishments, but the #9 is also looking to complete the feature hat-trick this evening. With that pair of tasks still looking to get the checkmark, Watson is sure to be near the front all night long.
One of the most notable drivers not to have graced Victory Lane in the Don Biederman Memorial is four-time reigning and defending OSCAAR Super Late Model champion Glenn Watson. ‘The Red Rocket’ finished fourth at Peterborough last weekend, a momentum boost that was certainly needed after a finish outside the top-ten at Delaware two weeks ago. Watson desperately wants to have his name engraved on the Biederman trophy, and even more so after a mid-race pitstop in 2011 all but denied him what appeared to be a guaranteed win. The #22 machine is sure to be as aggressive as ever at the drop of the first green flag on Friday.
The OSCAAR Super Late Models will be limited to one set of Klotz Synthetics Qualifying heats on the night at Kawartha, as five other divisions are also in action to support the headline 75-lap feature. The Super Late Models are joined by the OSCAAR Modifieds, who make their only 2012 stop at Kawartha in round nine of their tour, the Ontario Legends, and Kawartha Speedway’s regular ACT Late Models, Thunder Cars, and Mini Stocks. Racing gets underway one hour earlier than the normal start time at 6:00pm. Pit gates will open for competitors at 3:00pm. Spectator gates open at 5:00pm.
By Clayton Johns (@cjohnsmedia)
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