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.

Round two of the 2024 APC United Late Model championship was held at Flamboro Speedway. Drivers would compete in the Spectra Premium 100, a one-hundred-lap contest around the 0.333-mile semi-banked asphalt oval.

Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate. The first qualifying group was on the track when it started raining. The wet conditions did not let up and the event was rescheduled for the following day.

The rescheduled Spectra Premium 100 was held Sunday afternoon. Twenty drivers line up on Flamboro Speedway's front straight for the one-hundred-lap contest. The fastest qualifier, Jake Sheridan, is on the pole in the No. 52 Pride Seeds / Vibrent Farms Ford Mustang. Beside Sheridan is Connor Pritiko, who was fifth quickest during time trials driving the No. 19 Domus Developments Chevrolet Camaro.
The defending APC United Late Model Champion, Kyle Steckly, opened his 2024 campaign with a sixth-place result at Sunset Speedway. At Flamboro Speedway, Steckly qualified second fastest and started in the fourth position.  By the race's mid-point, he was challenging the leader, Jake Sheridan, for first place. With twenty-five laps to go, Steckly moved into the lead, and despite pressure from J.R. Fitzpatrick, he held on for the victory.
Finishing 1.336 seconds behind the winner, Kyle Steckly was the runner-up J.R. Fitzpatrick. The series two-time champion is running a limited schedule and did not participate in the season opener. Fitzpatrick, a Flamboro regular, was third fastest in qualifying driving the No. 84 Cambridge Rigging  ATV Depot Chevrolet SS and started in the sixth position. He latched onto Steckly's bumper but couldn't make the pass and finished second.
Shae Gemmell opened the season by qualifying eighteenth fastest at Sunset Speedway. However, in the race, he advanced ten positions to finish eighth. Like J.R. Fitzpatrick, Gemmell has had some success at Flamboro Speedway. He won the 2021 Grisdale Late Model championship. He was gridded third for the Spectra Premium 100 after qualifying sixth. Gemmell ran as high as second in the race but could not hold off Fitzpatrick and finished third.
Jo Lawrence, the 2020 APC United Late Model champion, joined the Elite Racing Team this season, driving the No. 78 Ford Fusion. In round one at Sunset Speedway, Lawrence struggled in qualifying and was only eleventh fastest; however, he moved up the order and finished fifth. The team was off the pace at Flamboro, and Lawrence was the thirteenth fastest after the time trials were completed. Once again, he stormed through the field and finished fourth.
The Shaw Motorsports entries grabbed the top three places at Sunset Speedway with Jr Farrelly collecting the win. Driving the No. 97 Ry-Matt Mini Storage Ford Mustang, Blair Wickett finished in the third position. Wickett was fast a Flamboro setting the fourth fastest time and gridded fifth for the Spectra Premium 100. During the race, he was in contact with the leaders but could not hold off a hard-changing Jo Lawrence and finished fifth.
Jake Sheridan's season has gotten off to an inauspicious start. In preparation for the APC series, he entered the Steve Slaughter Classic at Sunset and was the race's first retirement. Sheridan returned to Sunset for the APC opener, but contact with another competitor forced him to park the No. 52 Ford Mustang. Sheridan may have turned a corner when he started on the pole and led the most laps at Flamboro. Unfortunately, contact during the race ended his day.
The top three finishers of the Spectra Premium 100 at Flamboro Speedway for round two of the APC United Late Model series. In the center is the race winner and defending champion, Kyle Steckly. Steckly's victory and sixth-place result at Sunset Speedway give him the lead in the points chase. Standing on the left is the 2018 and 2022 title holder and runner-up, J.R. Fitzpatrick. Completing the trio is third-place finisher Shae Gemmell.

FINISHSTARTDRIVERSPONSOR / CARLAPS
14Kyle StecklyAPC Auto Parts Centres / Chevrolet SS100
26J.R. FitzpatrickCambridge Rigging/ATV Depot / Chevrolet SS100
33Shae GemmellAPC Auto Parts Centres / Chevrolet SS100
413Jo LawrenceElite Racing Team / Ford Fusion100
55Blair WickettRy-Matt Mini Storage / Ford Mustang100
615Josh StadeCanadian Flat Roof Systems / Toyota Camry100
710Taylor HoldawayAuto Serve 1 / Chevrolet SS100
88Ray MorneauLiuna! / Ford Mustang100
914Cole QuintonJust Foam It / Chevrolet SS100
107Erik Dalla RivaSDR Seating/Mike's Towing / Chevrolet SS100
119Tyler Di VenanzoBremner Construction / Chevrolet Camaro100
1216Jr FarrellyBerne Workwear / Chevrolet SS100
1312Glenn StyresGlenn Styres Racing / Chevrolet Camaro100
1418Brandon McFerranAC Academy / Chevrolet SS100
1517Shawn ChenowethLondon Recreation Racing / Chevrolet Camaro100
1620Kody FerriTeam 10 Garage / Chevrolet Camaro99
1719Mike GoudieMuskoka Aircraft / Ford Fusion98
1811Rick BurbridgeFleming Automotive / Chevrolet SS86
191Jake SheridanPride Seeds/Vibrent Farms / Ford Mustang75
202Connor PritikoDomus Developments / Chevrolet Camaro22

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, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024


Return to home page.