After the support classes finished their events, the APC United Late Model Series presented by Grisdale, took to Sauble Speedway for the Stewart’s Equipment 75 lapper, the nightcap of a twin bill.
Hometown driver Stade was on the pole with Kimball joining him on the front row following the inversion, while Sims and Shaw were in row two. Gresel and Sheridan, the winner of the first feature, took up spots in row three, while Lapcevich and Ellis occupied row four. Rounding out the top-ten were Farley and Fitzpatrick.
Kimball was able to take the lead in the early stages, as Sims tucked into line in second, and Sheridan to third, with Stade holding fourth, and Gresel in fifth. On lap 10, Sheridan dispatched Sims, moving to second, while Stade and Gresel also filed under Sims.
The first yellow of the event flew on lap 14 when Tom Gibbons, of Southampton, spun into the infield in turn two, and on the restart, Kimball chose the outside, giving the bottom grove to Sheridan who made short work of ‘Flying Ryan’. Jake jetted into the lead on lap 15, and set sail in search of his second win of the night.
On lap 19 the race would be slowed again as Box spun out in turn four, and on the restart, Sheridan picked up right where he left off, taking control, but on lap 20 the championship chase was turned upside down and Lapcevich was turned by Shepherd off turn four. Entering the second event, Shepherd chased Watson, the point leader, by just one marker with Lapcevich four points behind. This duo would have to fight from the back of the field to salvage what they could in the last 55 laps.
Kimball got a great start on the high side and powered back into the lead on the restart, but he couldn’t shake Sheridan and Gresel who followed in lock step with the leader. Another big winner on the restart was Fitzpatrick who found his way through to fourth after rolling from 10th on the grid, and paced a trio that included himself, Stade and Sims.
Stade was able to wrestle fourth away from Fitzpatrick, while Sims moved into fifth. Shaw, Fitzpatrick, Pritiko, Watson, and Shepherd rounded out the top-ten as the field reached the halfway point.
Another yellow flew on lap 46 as Danny Benedict, or Orono, and Conner James, of Hamilton, got mixed up in turn four, the third yellow of the feature event.
This time Sheridan was able to take control form the outside lane, snatching the lead again, and as Gresel was also trying to get past Kimball, the hood on his car flapped up in front of his windshield. Gresel tried to continue, but finally a yellow was called, the fourth of the race on lap 49, as Sheridan was leading Kimball, with Stade, Shaw and Sims joining them in the top-five. Pritiko, Lawrence, Watson, Shepherd, and Lapcevich rounded out the top-ten, Lapcevich pulling off the spot after restarting at the back just 23 laps prior.
The next yellow flew on lap 53 for a turn one incident involving Goetz, and Tyler Di Venanzo, of Guelph, giving the fans another episode of Sheridan versus Kimball.
Jake took the inside lane, and took the lead, but after one lap, Zach Sprung spun in turn one to force race officials to get the yellow out for the fifth time, and after another successful restart by Sheridan Kimball got mixed up with Sims off turn four, putting both of them into the grass and to the back of the field after they got rolling.
This set the order as Sheridan, Stade, Shaw, Lawrence and Shepherd in the top-five, and Pritiko, Watson, Gemmell, Lapcevich, and Ellis rounding out the top-ten.
Sheridan took control again, but with less than one lap run under green Shaw and Stade tangled off turn four, spinning Stade into the infield with them both going to the back of the pack for the next green flag.
This time Sheridan would have to go toe-to-toe with Lawrence, the defending series champion, and the pair raced door to door for over a lap before Lawrence squirted out front to take the lead, but the green flag run was short lived as another yellow flew on lap 54 when Jackson ended up stopped in turn three.
Lawrence took control on the break, leaving Sheridan to battle with Pritiko who moved to second, and then took the lead from Lawrence, but shortly after they completed lap 56 Sheridan and Gemmell tangled in turn four, bringing the yellow out one more time. Sheridan would be pushed from the track with no power, while Gemmell was sent to the rear of the pack. This would leave Pritiko, Lawrence, Watson, Lapcevich, and Benedict as the top-five.
Pritiko had a perfect restart, taking control, while Watson bypassed Lawrence as well. Lawrence struggled as he was pinned in the high groove, and watched Lapcevich and Benedict to get past as well, shuffling him back to fifth.
With less than 10 to go, Watson arrived on Pritiko’s bumper and started putting the heat on Matt before swinging to the inside in turn one on lap 71 to take the top spot.
The point leader, and 2017 champion, was able to hold on for the final few laps to capture his third win of the season, and grow his championship lead heading to the final month of racing.
Pritiko finished second, with Lapcevich rallying to wind up third. Benedict finished fourth, with Lawrence clinging onto fifth. James finished sixth, with Ellis in seventh. Fitzpatrick would up eighth, as Box and Gresel rounded out the top-ten.
The series will be back in action on Saturday, September 4th, at Flamboro Speedway for round six of the APC United Late Model Series presented by Grisdale Racing Enterprises, The London Recreational Racing 100. The Quick Wick Super Stocks will join them on the card for their third of five races on the season.
