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.

Round two of the 2023 APC United Late Model Championship for Pro Late Models was held at Flamboro Speedway. Drivers would compete in the Grisdale Racing Products 100, a one-hundred-lap contest around the 0.333-mile asphalt oval.

The start of the Grisdale Racing Products 100 for round two of the 2023 APC United Late Model Championship. On the front row are two drivers with great success at Flamboro. The No. 22 Chevrolet SS of Kyle Steckly occupies the pole position. Steckly won his first series race at this track. On the outside is the two-time champion and winner of the last APC event at Flamboro, J.R. Fitzpatrick, in the No. 84 Chevrolet SS.
It was a safe bet that one of the two cars on the front row would capture the Grisdale 100. J.R. Fitzpatrick was looking to redeem himself after a disappointing ninth-place finish in the season opener. Fitzpatrick topped the time sheets in the first session driving the No. 84 Cambridge Rigging Chevrolet SS. He qualified third fastest and started second. Fitzpatrick moved into the lead on the fourteenth circuit and lapped all but four cars.
Kyle Steckly was a regular in the Mini Stock division at Flamboro Speedway and quickly transitioned to the Late Models. Steckly made his series debut at Flamboro in 2021 and captured the victory. Like Fitzpatrick, he was not a factor in race one. Steckly qualified ninth for round two in the No. 22 Auto Parts Centers Chevrolet SS. He started on the pole but lost the lead on lap-14 and finished second by a margin of 6.247-seconds.
After a couple years of bad luck, it appears that Danny Benedict’s racing program has ‘turned around.’ Benedict scored his first series victory in the opening round of 2023 at Sunset Speedway. He backed up his win by putting the No. 54 North County Chevrolet SS on the pole for the Grisdale Racing Products 100. After the redraw, the points leader started in the eighth position and moved up the race order and finished in the third spot.
Jo Lawrence, the 2020 APC United Late Model champion, returned to the series after a two-year absence. In a family-backed effort, Lawrence finished third in the series opener at Sunset Speedway, driving the No. 78 BT Racing / MOM Chevrolet Camaro. He was fourth fastest in the qualifying session at Flamboro and was gridded sixth after the invert. Lawrence finished in fourth place - the last driver on the lead lap.
Sunset Speedway regular Rick Spencer-Walt ran a full slate of APC United Late Model events last season and collected two victories, one of which was at Sunset. At this year’s season opener, Spencer-Walt started on the pole but finished eighth. He was another driver looking for some redemption at Flamboro. Spencer-Walt started third in the No. 31W Struyk Energy Systems Chevrolet SS and finished fifth.
Advancing eight positions during round two at Flamboro Speedway was series veteran Tom Gibbons. Gibbons opened his 2023 campaign with a fifth-place finish at Sunset Speedway. The driver of the No. 10 Tom Gibbons Concrete Finishing sponsored Chevrolet Camaro recorded the fifteenth fastest time during time trials. He moved up the race order and battled with Jake Sheridan before finishing seventh.
The top three finishers for round two of the 2023 APC United Late Model Championship at Flamboro Speedway. In the center is the series 2018 and 2022 champion and the winner of the Grisdale Racing Products 100, J.R. Fitzpatrick. Standing on the right is the runner-up, Kyle Steckly. Completing the top three is Danny Benedict, who finished third and retained his points lead.

FINISHSTARTDRIVERSPONSOR / CARLAPS
12J.R. FitzpatrickCambridge Rigging/ATV Depot / Chevrolet SS100
21Kyle StecklyAPC Auto Parts Centres / Chevrolet SS100
38Danny BenedictNorth Country / Chevrolet SS100
46Jo LawrenceBT Racing/MOM/APC / Chevrolet Camaro100
53Rick Spencer-WaltStruyk Energy Systems / Chevrolet SS99
613Shae GemmellAPC Auto Parts Centres / Chevrolet Camaro99
715Tom GibbonsTom Gibbons Concrete Finishing / Chevrolet Camaro99
85Jake SheridanCameron Crane & Riggers / Ford Mustang99
97Erik Dalla RivaSDR Seating/Eibach / Chevrolet SS99
1011Josh StadeCanadian Flat Roof Systems / Ford Fusion99
1112Cory LucianoReal Landscaping Plus / Ford Mustang99
1210Rick BurbridgeFleming Automotive / Chevrolet SS99
1314Blair WickettRy-Matt Mini Storage / Chevrolet Camaro99
1416Mark BurbridgeFleming Automotive / Chevrolet SS99
154Shawn ChenowethLondon Recreation Racing / Chevrolet Camaro98
1620Jr FarrellyBerne Workwear / Chevrolet SS98
1718Tyler Di VenanzoBremner Construction / Ford Mustang98
189Cole QuintonStage it with Style / Ford Fusion98
1919Matt BoxTransport Trailer Sales / Chevrolet Camaro97
2021Dwayne BakerZancor/NISCO National Leasing / Ford Mustang56
2117Mike BentleyBennet Construction Group / Chevrolet Camaro38

Copyright Notice:
All content (photographs and text) appearing on this website are the exclusive property of © www.zoompics.com and are protected under International copyright laws. The subject matter on this website may not be reproduced, copied, stored or manipulated.

© Copyright 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021


Return to home page.