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In late August, Jukasa Motor Speedway hosted the Late Model Summer Shootout which featured the APC Series as the headliner.
With APC United Series in the books for 2017, the Late Models were invited back to Jukasa as a support event for the NASCAR Pinty’s Series finale.
Using the APC regulations, these Late Models are constructed to specifications and rules typical to most stock car series. The chassis is a tube frame covered with fiberglass bodies. Depending on the engine choice a car can weigh as much as 2800-lbs. Crate motors from General Motors (GM 604 & GM 602) and Ford (347) are used in the series. The event, titled the Pro Late Model Fall Brawl saw twenty-one drivers compete on the 5/8-mile oval for fifty-laps.
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Twenty-one drivers line-up on the Jukasa Motor Speedway back straight in anticipation of the Starter’s green flag. On the pole is the No. 84 Chevrolet of former NASCAR Pinty’s Series competitor, J.R. Fitzpatrick. Sharing the front row with Fitzpatrick is Cole Powell in another Chevrolet. The second row is occupied by Pete Shepherd III and the Ford Fusion of 2017 APC Series Late Model Champion, Brandon Watson. |
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Brandon Watson dominated the 2017 APC Late Model season winning six of ten events to take the title. Watson’s winning streaking ended when the series visited Jukasa in August for the Rankin Construction doubleheader. That weekend that best the champ could manage was second and fifth place finishes. The Fall Brawl provided him with an opportunity to redeem himself and that he did, scoring a convincing victory. |
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Early in the contest, Andrew Gresel attempts to steer his Ford Fusion around the outside of the pole-sitter, J.R. Fitzpatrick. One of the top competitors in the APC United series, Gresel scored a win in 2017 and finished second in the final standings. But this would not be his day, Gresel retired after completing thirty-four of the fifty-lap race. Fitzpatrick fared much better - finishing on the lead lap in eighth place. |
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In the first race weekend at Jukasa Motor Speedway, Pete Shepherd III competed in all three events (the Rankin Construction Late Model Shootout Twin 75's and the Outlaw Super Late Model contest). Shepherd showed great speed capturing a second and third in the Late Model races and a third in the Outlaw Super Late Model event. Starting third in September’s Fall Brawl, he captured the runner-up position. |
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Shepherd’s cousin, Lane Zardo was making his first appearance at Jukasa Motor Speedway. The young Zardo is a veteran of the short track scene in Ontario. The weekend started out promising for the driver of the Shelby Roofing and Sheet Metal sponsored Ford Fusion. Zardo was one of the quickest competitors on the track but prior to the start of the race, the car would not run. He was unable to take the Starter’s flag. |
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Matt Pritiko proved to very quick when the APC United series made their first visit to Jukasa. Pritiko qualified third in the first twin 75 and started sixth in the second contest. Unfortunately, this success did not carry over to the races – he finished twenty-first and ninth. However, the Fall Brawl went much better for Pritiko – he started fifth in the No. 21 Toyota Camry and captured the final spot on the rostrum. |
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Donald Chisholm made the trek from Nova Scotia to compete in the Late Model Fall Brawl and the NASCAR Pinty’s finale. Chisholm’s racing resume includes a NASCAR victory in 2014 at his hometown track, Riverside Speedway. In the late model race at Jukasa, he was able to keep the Nova Construction Ford Fusion on the lead lap and finished seventh. Chisholm was eighth after starting sixth in the NASCAR event. |
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The top-three finishers in the 50 Lap Pro Late Model Fall Brawl at Jukasa Motor Speedway. On the left is the third-place finisher and driver Napa Certified Bodyshops Toyota Camry, Matt Pritiko. Next to Pritiko is the runner-up, Pete Shepherd III. In the center is the winner and 2017 APC United Series Late Model champion, Brandon Watson. The trio is joined by chassis manufacturer, Mike McColl. |
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| FINISH | DRIVER | SPONSOR / CAR | LAPS | RETIREMENTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brandon Watson | McColl Racing Enterprises / Ford Fusion | 50 | - |
| 2 | Pete Shepherd III | National Exhaust / Chevrolet SS | 50 | - |
| 3 | Matt Pritiko | Napa Certified Bodyshops / Toyota Camry | 50 | - |
| 4 | Steve Laking | Laking Motorsports / Chevrolet SS | 50 | - |
| 5 | Cole Powell | BVD Petroleum / Chevrolet Impala SS | 50 | - |
| 6 | Josh Stade | Tiremaster/MEI Paving / Ford Fusion | 50 | - |
| 7 | Donald Crisholm | Keltic Ford / Ford Fusion | 50 | - |
| 8 | JR Fitzpatrick | Cambridge Rigging / Chevrolet SS | 50 | - |
| 9 | Hudson Nagy | JUKASA Motor Speedway / Chevrolet SS | 50 | - |
| 10 | Shawn McGlynn | Davidson Custom Broker / Chevrolet Impala SS | 50 | - |
| 11 | Tim Ellis | Academy Construction / Chevrolet SS | 50 | - |
| 12 | Kenny Forth | Midnight Sun / Chevrolet Impala SS | 50 | - |
| 13 | Junior Farrelly | Tired Iron Equipment Services / Chevrolet | 50 | - |
| 14 | Derek Lynch | Hasiuk / Dodge | 50 | - |
| 15 | Gary Adriaensen | Dowler Karn / Chevrolet SS | 50 | - |
| 16 | Mike Hryniuk | Time Line Painting / Chevrolet SS | 50 | - |
| 17 | Treyten Lapcevich | London Recreational Racing / Chevrolet | 46 | - |
| 18 | Andrew Gresel | Gallinger Ford Lincoln / Ford Fusion | 34 | Did Not Finish |
| 19 | Matt Lockwood | APC / Chevrolet Impala SS | 29 | Did Not Finish |
| 20 | Jeff Hanley | Neely Auto / Chevrolet | 27 | Did Not Finish |
| 21 | Steven Matthews | Bill Matthews Motors / Ford Fusion | 5 | Did Not Finish |
| 22 | Lane Zardo | Shelby Roofing and Sheet Metal / Ford Fusion | 0 | Did Not Start |
| 23 | Jay Doerr | Fast Signs/Lawn Man / Toyota Camry | 0 | Did Not Start |
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