2022 Sunset Speedway

Due to COVID 19, the last couple of years have resulted in a reduced number of races and limits on spectator attendance. In 2022, the federal and provincial governments have lifted many of the restrictions, which means that APC United Late Model championship for Pro Late Models has a full race calendar and will see the return of fans.

The 2022 APC United Late Model championship for Pro Late Models kicks off on the Victoria Day weekend at Sunset Speedway with the race called the Dayco 100. In early June, the teams make the first of two stops at Flamboro Speedway for the London Recreational 100. In the middle of June the AP 100 is held at Peterborough Speedway. On the Canada Day weekend drivers compete at Delaware Speedway during the Spectra Premium 100. The next race sees the championship make its final appearance at Flamboro Speedway. The Stewarts 100 is conducted at the end of July at Sauble Speedway. Round seven, also called the Stewarts 100, will take place at Sunset Speedway. The penultimate event of 2022 is at Sauble Speedway. Titles are determined on September 24th 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. 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. To regulate expenses, competitors use a spec tire from American Racer and Bilstein A2 shock absorbers. There are also rules which restrict the options available for transmissions, ignition components, body material, brakes, etc.

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

Race seven of nine for the 2022 APC United Late Model championship for Pro Late Models was held at Sunset Speedway. Drivers would compete in a one-hundred-lap contest, titled the Stewart's & Kubota 100, around the 1/3-mile banked asphalt oval.

The pace lap at Sunset Speedway for round seven of the 2022 APC United Late Model championship for Pro Late Models. At the front of the twenty-four car field is the No. 29 SMG Motorsports Toyota Camry of Ryan Kimball, who qualified sixth fastest. Next to Kimball is the ninth fastest qualifier, Tom Gibbons, driving the No. 10 Tom Gibbons Concrete Finishing Chevrolet Camaro. Dale Shaw and Rick Spencer-Walt are in row two.

The current points, JR Fitzpatrick, won his fourth race of the season in round seven at Sunset Speedway. Fitzpatrick's title aspirations took a hit in the previous race at Sauble when he finished tenth after contact with the race leader. The driver of the No. 84 Cambridge Rigging / ATV Depot Chevrolet SS was fifth fastest in qualifying and started in the tenth position. An excellent performance was rewarded with a victory.

Rick Spencer-Walt decided to take a run at this year's APC United Late Model championship. Spencer-Walt began his assault on the title with a victory at his home track of Sunset Speedway. Unfortunately, he entered the series' second event at Sunset with a severe knee entry; however, that didn't prevent him from being the fastest qualifier. Spencer-Walt would lead fifty laps but surrender first place to JR Fitzpatrick.

The 2016 APC United Late Model champion, Andrew Gresel, drove the No. 81 Ford Mustang with backing from Gallinger Capital and Image Wraps. Gresel had second, third and fourth place finishes in the first six events. In the series' second visit to Sunset Speedway, he qualified third fastest and was gridded in the seventh position. After 100 laps of racing, Gresel crossed the finish line in third place.

A driver that has come so close to winning over the last three years and is perhaps most deserving of a victory is Dale Shaw. The 2015 APC United Late Model champion drives the No. 83 NTN Bearings-sponsored Chevrolet SS. While usually one of the fastest qualifiers, his best result this season was sixth place at Sunset Speedway and Flamboro. Shaw started and finished fourth in round seven.

Last season, in his first APC United Late Model start, Kyle Steckly was victorious and continued to impress series' regulars. In this year's first visit to Sunset Speedway, Steckly was in contention for the win but used up the tires and finished tenth. Returning to Sunset, he was seventh fast during qualifying and started in the eighth position. In the race, Steckly ran a more conservative pace and finished sixth.

Last year, Jordan Howse won his first APC United Late Model race when the series made their Spring stop at Sunset Speedway. However, he wasn't enjoying the same success this season. Howse was the first to retire at Flamboro and Peterborough Speedways. In this year's second visit to Sunset, the driver of the No. 8 McMaster GMC Orangeville Chevrolet SS started nineteenth and advanced ten positions to finish ninth.

With two events remaining on the 2022 APC United Late Model series calendar JR Fitzpatrick appears to be the favourite to capture his second title. Fitzpatrick has six top-five results, of which four are victories. His worst finish was a ten-place at Sauble Speedway. During his 2018 championship season, Fitzpatrick had seven top-five finishes and two wins in nine of nine races.

FINISH	START	DRIVER	SPONSOR / CAR	LAPS
1	9	JR Fitzpatrick	Cambridge Rigging/ATV Depot / Chevrolet SS	100
2	4	Rick Spencer-Walt	Struyk Energy Systems / Chevrolet SS	100
3	6	Andrew Gresel	Gallinger Capital/Image Wraps / Ford Mustang	100
4	3	Dale Shaw	NTN Bearings / Chevrolet SS	100
5	14	Treyten Lapcevich	Ace Services / Toyota Camry	100
6	8	Kyle Steckly	APC Auto Parts Centres / Chevrolet SS	100
7	7	Josh Stade	Canadian Flat Roof Systems / Toyota Camry	100
8	10	Jake Sheridan	Cameron Crane & Riggers / Ford Mustang	100
9	19	Jordan Howse	McMaster GMC Orangeville / Chevrolet SS	100
10	12	Danny Benedict	Mobil 1/GTA Racing Design / Chevrolet Camaro	100
11	5	Shae Gemmell	APC Auto Parts Centres / Chevrolet Camaro	100
12	16	Connor James	SSG Gloves / Toyota Camry	99
13	17	Billy Schwartzenburg	Spira Fire Protection / Ford Fusion	99
14	2	Tom Gibbons	Tom Gibbons Concrete Finishing / Chevrolet Camaro	99
15	11	Travis Hallyburton	Hillsdale Service Centre / Ford Mustang	99
16	20	Shawn Chenoweth	London Recreation Racing / Chevrolet Camaro	99
17	18	Gord Shepherd	WeMoveIt.ca / Chevrolet SS	99
18	15	Jordan Sims	Sims Countertops / Ford Fusion	99
19	23	Shawn McGlynn	Blast Floor Coating Epoxy / Chevrolet Camaro	99
20	13	Erik Dalla Riva	SDR Seating / Chevrolet SS	99
21	1	Ryan Kimball	SMG Motorsports / Toyota Camry	65
22	22	Dwayne Baker	NISCO National Leasing / Ford Mustang	35
23	21	Jade Franklin	Calldecott Millwright Services / Chevrolet Camaro	18
24	24	Blair Wickett	JP Powder Coating / Chevrolet Camaro	0

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