2024 Delaware Speedway - APC United Late Model

2024 marks the tenth season of the very successful United Racing Series.

The 2024 APC United Late Model championship kicks off on the Victoria Day weekend at Sunset Speedway with a race called the Dayco 100. In early June, the teams make the first of two stops at Flamboro Speedway for the Spectra Premium 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 NTN BCA 100. The next race sees the championship make its final appearance at Flamboro Speedway for the London Recreational Racing 100. Then in early August teams compete at Sauble Speedway. Round seven, called the Stewart's / Kubota 200, will take place at Sunset Speedway. The penultimate event of 2024 is at Sauble Speedway and is titled the Stewart's / Kubota 100. Titles are determined on September 7th at Delaware Speedway in Castrol's Great Canadian 300.

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 in 2023 by series officials for the APC United Late Model and Dayco 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.

A special announcement for this season is the NTN BCA Bearings Triple Crown. Three marquee events, held at August 3rd at Sauble Speedway (150 laps), August 10th at Sunset Speedway (200 laps) and September 7th at Delaware Speedway (300 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.

Race four of nine for the 2024 APC United Late Model Championship for Pro Late Models was held at Delaware Speedway during the track's Canada Day Race Weekend event. Drivers would compete in the NTN BCA 100, a one-hundred-lap contest around the ½-mile semi-banked asphalt oval.

Seventeen APC United Late Model competitors line up on Delaware Speedway's front straight for the NTN BCA 100. Starting from the pole is the No. 19 Domus Developments Chevrolet Camaro of Connor Pritiko. Next to Pritiko and starting on the outside of the front row is the No. 17 Canadian Flat Roof Systems Toyota Camry driven by Josh Stade. Behind the top two are Jake Sheridan and Jo Lawrence.

In the previous round at Peterborough Speedway, the defending series champion, Kyle Steckly, was involved in an incident and finished seventh. Round four would provide Steckly with an opportunity to redeem himself. Steckly traded fast times during qualifying with Jo Lawrence but came out on top. He started the NTN BCA 100 in fifth. With thirty laps to go, Steckly moved into the lead and held off Jo Lawrence for the victory.

The 2020 series champion, Jo Lawrence, matched fast times with Kyle Steckly in qualifying and missed being quickest by 0.033 seconds. The driver of the No. 78 Elite Property Group Ford Fusion started the feature in the fourth position. With twenty laps of the race complete, Lawrence was passed by Steckly. However, he was on Steckly's rear bumper with ten laps to go. Lawrence could match Steckly's pace but was unable to pass and finished second.

After retirements in rounds one and two, Jake Sherican's program is coming together. In the season's third race at Peterborough, Sheridan started on the pole and finished third. During qualifying at Delaware Speedway, he recorded the fifth fastest time in the No. 52 Vibrent Farms Ford Mustang and was gridded third for the feature. With less than twenty-five laps completed, Sheridan was in the lead but could not hold Kyle Steckly and Jo Lawrence off.

The points leader heading into NTN BCA 100 was Blair Wickett. Wickett opened his 2024 campaign with a third at Sunset, fifth at Flamboro and a runner-up result at Peterborough Speedway. He missed putting the No. 97 Ry-Matt Mini Storage Ford Mustang in the top five during qualifying. Wickett passed Connor Pritiko and Josh Stade from the sixth starting position to finish fourth. He is now second in the title chase.

Delaware Speedway's 2023 Late Model track champion is Connor Pritiko. Since joining this year's APC United Late Model series, the rookie has had some difficulties. He was eleventh at Sunset and was the first retirement at Flamboro with a suspension failure, but he fared better at Peterborough with a fifth-place result. On his home track, he started on the pole in the No. 19 Domus Developments Chevrolet Camaro and led early before finishing fifth.

Another Delaware Speedway regular and fan favourite is Ray Morneau. Morneau drives the No.30 LiUNA! sponsored Ford Mustang and was ninth fastest in the qualifying session. However, the crew was not satisfied with the panhard bar's clearance and made adjustments. Series rules require a driver to start from the rear of the field if any changes are made after qualifying. Morneau was gridded seventeenth but finished in the sixth spot.

The top three finishers for the NTN BCA 100 at Delaware Speedway. In the center is the series reigning champion and race winner, Kyle Steckly. The victory gives Steckly a three-point lead over Blair Wickett after four rounds. On the left is the runner-up, Jo Lawrence. The 2020 title holder is third in the standings – ten markers behind the leader, Steckly. The final position is occupied by the third-place finisher, Jake Sheridan.

FINISH	START	DRIVER	SPONSOR / CAR	LAPS
1	5	Kyle Steckly	APC Auto Parts Centres / Chevrolet SS	100
2	4	Jo Lawrence	Elite Property Group / Ford Fusion	100
3	3	Jake Sheridan	Pride Seeds/Vibrent Farms / Ford Mustang	100
4	6	Blair Wickett	Ry-Matt Mini Storage / Ford Mustang	100
5	1	Connor Pritiko	Domus Developments / Chevrolet Camaro	100
6	17	Ray Morneau	LiUNA! / Ford Mustang	100
7	2	Josh Stade	Canadian Flat Roof Systems / Toyota Camry	100
8	9	Marshal Schrenk	Melchers Construction Limited / Chevrolet Camaro	100
9	11	Tyler Di Venanzo	Bremner Construction / Chevrolet Camaro	100
10	13	Shawn Chenoweth	London Recreational Racing / Chevrolet Camaro	100
11	12	Jr Farrelly	Berne Workwear / Chevrolet SS	100
12	14	Erik Dalla Riva	SDR Seating/Eibach / Chevrolet SS	100
13	10	Taylor Holdaway	Humberview Parts.ca / Chevrolet SS	100
14	8	Cole Quinton	SPIRA / Chevrolet SS	100
15	15	James Horner	Custom Framing / Chevrolet Camaro	98
16	7	Shae Gemmell	APC Auto Parts Centres / Chevrolet SS	18
17	16	Kodi Ferri	Team Garage 10 / Chevrolet Camaro	18

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