2023 marks the ninth season of the very successful United Racing Series.

The 2023 APC United Late Model championship kicks off on the Victoria Day weekend at Sunset Speedway with a race called the Dayco Spring Fling 150. In early June, the teams make the first of two stops at Flamboro Speedway for the Flamboro 100. In the middle of June, the Peterborough 100 is held at Peterborough Speedway. On the Canada Day weekend, drivers compete at Delaware Speedway during the Canada Day 100. The next race sees the championship make its final appearance at Flamboro Speedway for the London Recreational Racing 100. The Mid-Summer Classic 150 is conducted in early August at Sauble Speedway. Round seven called the Sunset 100, will take place at Sunset Speedway. The penultimate event of 2023 is at Sauble Speedway. Titles are determined on September 23rd at Delaware Speedway.

The series rules remain unchanged from last season, with the cars constructed to specifications and controls common to most stock car series. The chassis is a tube frame covered with fiberglass bodies. A car can weigh as much as 2800-lbs depending on the engine choice. Crate motors from General Motors (GM 604 & GM 602) and Ford (347) are used in the series. Competitors use a spec tire from American Racer and Bilstein A2 shock absorbers to regulate expenses. There are also rules restricting the options for transmissions, ignition components, body material, brakes, etc.

To determine the starting order of the race, drivers participate in a qualifying session. The five fastest qualifiers selected starting positions one through five during a random draw. Before each race, the cars receive a technical inspection and are impounded until the start of the event.

A new restart procedure was introduced this year by series officials for the APC United Late Model and Qwick Wick Super Stock divisions called the 'choose rule.' On restarts, competitors are allowed to choose their lane. Their selection may be determined by the condition of the track, how many cars are ahead of them or the handling of their vehicle. If a driver changes their choice after the designated 'choose spot,' they must start from the rear of the field.

Also new for this season is the NTN BCA Bearings Triple Crown. Three marquee events, held at Sunset Speedway, Sauble Speedway and Delaware Speedway, will be 150-lap contests in contrast to the standard event, which is 100-laps. The three-race mini-series has a prize fund of $15,000. First place pays $3,500, second $2,500, third $2,000 and fourth thru tenth $1,000.

The 2023 APC United Late Model series made their second stop at Sunset Speedway for round seven of the championship in an event titled the Stewart's and Kubota 100. Drivers would compete in a one-hundred-lap contest around the 1/3-mile banked asphalt oval.

Eighteen APC United Late Model competitors line up on Sunset Speedway's back straight for the Stewart's and Kubota 100. The No. 74 SDR Seating Eibach-sponsored Chevrolet SS of the fifth fastest qualifier, Erik Dalla Riva, is on the pole. Blair Wickett is next to Dalla Riva, driving the No. 97 Ry-Matt Mini Storage Chevrolet Camaro. Row two is occupied by Tom Gibbons and the fastest qualifier, Josh Stade.
It has been an interesting season for the round seven winner, Jo Lawrence. The series 2020 champion moved into the points lead without scoring a victory, proving that consistency paid off. However, his title hopes took a big hit when he lost an engine in the previous round. Fellow competitor Tom Gibbons shared a spare motor with the team. After starting fifth, Lawrence moved up the order and grabbed the lead on lap-95.
Sunset Speedway owed Josh Stade a win. In 2021, Stade was in control of the race when the suspension failed. At this year's event, he was the fastest qualifier in the No. 17 Canadian Flat Roof Systems Toyota Camry and started fourth. Stade grabbed the lead on lap-9 and it appeared he would collect the victory. He was in first place for most of the race before being passed by Jo Lawrence and finishing second.
The only driver with two victories this season is the points leader, Kyle Steckly. Steckly earned wins at Flamboro and Sauble Speedway. During the qualifying session at Sunset Speedway, he recorded the third fastest time and was gridded in the eighth position for the one-hundred-lap contest. Steckly moved up the race order and after a relatively drama-free event, he finished in third place and retained the championship lead.
It's been a challenging month for the Sheridan team. They decided to test the No. 52 Cameron Crane & Riggers Ford Mustang at Sauble Speedway a week before round six. Unfortunately, Jake Sheridan was in a wreck that saw the car land upside down. The crew repaired the car in a week and finished tenth at Sauble. A mix-up with fuel at Sunset meant he didn't get a qualifying time. Starting last, Sheridan finished fourth.
The two-time APC United Late Model champion J.R. Fitzpatrick entered round seven at Sunset Speedway third in points. Fitzpatrick started seventh in the No. 84 Cambridge Rigging / ATV Depot Chevrolet SS. Early in the contest, he moved to third place. However, on lap-43, Fitzpatrick had to pit while the crew diagnosed a faulty battery. He finished seven laps behind the winner in sixteenth place and fell to fifth in the title chase.
Ken Schrader drove the No. 52 APC Chevrolet SS prepared by 22 Racing. Schrader's primary sponsor is Federated Auto Parts which has a business partnership with Auto Parts Centres. The stock car veteran has almost thirty years of NASCAR Cup experience, including four victories at the sport's highest level. Schrader started in the thirteenth position and crossed the finish line in seventh place.
The top three finishers for the Stewart's and Kubota 100 at Sunset Speedway. This was round seven of the 2023 APC United Late Model Series. Standing in the center is the 2020 champion and race winner, Jo Lawrence. Lawrence bounced back after losing an engine in the previous race. On the left is the runner-up, Josh Stade, who led most of the race. The final position is occupied by the points leader, Kyle Steckly.

FINISHSTARTDRIVERSPONSOR / CARLAPS
15Jo LawrenceBT Racing/MOM/APC / Chevrolet Camaro100
24Josh StadeCanadian Flat Roof Systems / Toyota Camry100
38Kyle StecklyAPC Auto Parts Centres / Chevrolet SS100
418Jake SheridanCameron Crane & Riggers / Ford Mustang100
52Blair WickettRy-Matt Mini Storage / Chevrolet Camaro100
614Jr FarrellyBerne Workwear / Chevrolet SS100
713Ken SchraderAPC Auto Parts Centres / Chevrolet SS100
83Tom GibbonsTom Gibbons Concrete Finishing / Chevrolet Camaro100
916Shae GemmellAPC Auto Parts Centres / Chevrolet Camaro100
1012Shawn ChenowethLondon Recreation Racing / Chevrolet Camaro100
111Erik Dalla RivaSDR Seating/Eibach / Chevrolet SS100
1215Cory LucianoReal Landscaping Plus / Ford Mustang100
1310Chase PinsonneaultFCF Custom Fab / Chevrolet Camaro100
149Rick Spencer-WaltStruyk Energy Systems / Chevrolet SS99
1517Glenn StyresGlenn Styres Racing / Chevrolet Camaro98
167JR FitzpatrickCambridge Rigging/ATV Depot / Chevrolet SS93
1711Taylor HoldawayAcademy Construction / Chevrolet Camaro90
186Danny BenedictNorth Country / Chevrolet SS35

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