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 AP Emissions Technology 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 three of the 2023 APC United Late Model Championship for Pro Late Models was held at ‘Canada’s Toughest 1/3 Mile’, Peterborough Speedway, in the AP Emissions Technologies 100 event. Drivers would compete in a one-hundred-lap contest around the 0.333-mile asphalt oval.

The pace lap for round three of the 2023 APC United Late Model Championship for Pro Late Models was at Peterborough Speedway. On the pole is the No. 97 Ry-Matt Mini Storage Chevrolet Camaro of Blair Wickett. Lining up beside Wickett is Shawn Chenoweth driving the No. 89C London Recreational Racing Chevrolet Camaro. Row two is occupied by a pair of Chevrolet SS piloted by Rick Spencer-Walt and Kyle Steckly.
After opening his 2023 campaign with a disappointing twelfth-place result at Sunset Speedway, Kyle Steckly and the 22 Racing bounced back with a runner-up result at Flamboro Speedway. Steckly, driving the No. 22 APC Auto Parts Centres Chevrolet SS, started fourth at Peterborough Speedway. He moved into the lead early. Late in the race, Steckly had to defend against a hard-charging Jo Lawrence but held on for the win.
The 2020 series champion, Jo Lawrence, entered round three at Peterborough just five markers out of the championship lead. His record included a third and fourth after two rounds. Lawrence put the No. 78 BT Racing / MOM/APC Chevrolet Camaro seventh on the starting grid. He moved the front early and finished 0.260-seconds behind the winner, Kyle Steckly, and moved to within four points of the points leader, Danny Benedict.
After a couple years of back luck, it appears that Danny Benedict and his team have had a change of fortunes. The points leader has a victory and third-place finish to date. Benedict started round three eighth in the No. 54 North Country Chevrolet Camaro SS. He was able to stay out of trouble and used the ‘choose rule’ to his advantage. This strategy allowed Benedict to finish third and maintain the points lead.
The fastest qualifier for round three at Peterborough Speedway was the No. 52 Cameron Crane & Riggers Ford Mustang driver, Jake Sheridan. After the redrawn, Sheridan was gridded sixth for the AP Emissions Technologies 100. Sheridan stayed in the top five for most of the contest. In the waning laps, he had worked his way into third, but a late race pass by Danny Benedict left him with a fourth-place result.
It appeared that series veteran Shawn Chenoweth would collect a well-deserved third-place finish at Flamboro until he was robbed late in the event by a flat tire. Chenoweth started second at Peterborough in the No. 89C Chevrolet Camaro. After the first restart, he went high and was hit by Jake Sheridan, which dropped to the rear of the field. Chenoweth started his march to the front and finished fifth.
Like the race winner, Kyle Steckly, J.R. Fitzpatrick had a miserable start to the 2023 season. However, the two-time series champion rebounded with a victory at Flamboro Speedway. Fitzpatrick was gridded eleventh at Peterborough in the No. 84 Cambridge Rigging / ATV Depot sponsored Chevrolet SS. Despite a poor handling car, he made the best of the situation and crossed the finish line in the sixth position.
Three races and three different winners - the 2023 APC United Late Model Championship is proving to be a competitive series. The top three finishers for the AP Emissions Technologies 100 stand in Peterborough Speedway’s victory lane. In the center from 22 Racing is the winner, Kyle Steckly. On the left is the runner-up, Jo Lawrence and completing the top three is the points leader, Danny Benedict.

FINISHSTARTDRIVERSPONSOR / CARLAPS
14Kyle StecklyAPC Auto Parts Centres / Chevrolet SS100
27Jo LawrenceBT Racing/MOM/APC / Chevrolet Camaro100
38Danny BenedictNorth Country / Chevrolet SS100
46Jake SheridanCameron Crane & Riggers / Ford Mustang100
52Shawn ChenowethLondon Recreation Racing / Chevrolet Camaro100
611J.R. FitzpatrickCambridge Rigging/ATV Depot / Chevrolet SS100
710Treyten LapcevichHumberview Parts / Chevrolet Camaro100
81Blair WickettRy-Matt Mini Storage / Chevrolet Camaro100
95Ryan KimballCrowe's Gas / Toyota Camry100
1012Josh StadeCanadian Flat Roof Systems / Toyota Camry100
1113Tyler Di VenanzoBremner Construction / Ford Mustang100
1215Cory LucianoReal Landscaping Plus / Ford Mustang100
1319Glenn StyresGlenn Styres Racing / Chevrolet Camaro100
1414Jr FarrellyBerne Workwear / Chevrolet SS100
159James HornerChevrolet Camaro / Custom Framing99
1616Shae GemmellAPC Auto Parts Centres / Chevrolet Camaro80
173Rick Spencer-WaltStruyk Energy Systems / Chevrolet SS64
1817Erik Dalla RivaSDR Seating/Eibach / Toyota Camry26
1918Jacob MercerCourtice Septic / Chevrolet SS26

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