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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 five for the 2024 APC United Late Model Championship for Pro Late Models was held at Flamboro Speedway. Drivers competed in the London Recreational Racing 100, a one-hundred-lap contest around Flamboro's 0.333-mile semi-banked asphalt oval.
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Sixteen APC United Late Model competitors line up on Flamboro Speedway's back straight for the London Recreational Racing 100. The second-fastest qualifier, Connor Pritiko, is on the pole in the No. 19 Domus Developments Chevrolet Camaro. In five races this season, Pritiko has started on the front row four times. Next to Pritiko is the third fastest qualifier, Shae Gemmell, driving the No. 3 APC Auto Parts Centres Chevrolet SS. |
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The last round was at Delaware Speedway, where an on-track incident damaged the front of the No. 3 APC Auto Parts Centres Chevrolet SS and caused Shae Gemmell to become the first retirement of the event. Gemmell had reason to be optimistic heading to round five, as he finished third in his last visit to Flamboro Speedway. Starting from the front row, Gemmell jumped into the lead, and despite pressure throughout the race, he claimed the victory. |
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Finishing just 0.140 seconds behind the race winner, Shae Gemmell, was the points leader and runner-up, Kyle Steckly. Steckly, driving the No. 22 APC Auto Parts Centres Chevrolet SS, was the fastest qualifier and started the London Recreational Racing 100 in the sixth position. Moving to the front would provide a challenge for the second-generation racer. He was in second at just over the halfway point and held the spot to the checker. |
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Jake Sheridan retired early in the first two rounds of 2024, but his luck changed at Peterborough Speedway. Before heading to Flamboro Speedway for the second time this season, Sheridan's record included a pair of third-place results. He had a disappointing qualifying session and was eighth fastest during time trials. Sheridan began his march to the front early, and by lap 88, he was in third place for another podium finish. |
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After starting on the pole in the season opener at Sunset Speedway, Josh Stade's race ended early. Heading into round five at Flamboro Speedway, his best result of 2024 was a sixth the last time the series visited the track for race two. The No. 17 Canadian Flat Roof Systems Toyota Camry started the London Recreational Racing 100 in seventh place. Passes on Connor Pritiko, Ray Morneau, and Blair Wickett were rewarded with a fourth-place result. |
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Jo Lawrence, the 2020 APC series champion, didn't collect his first top-three finish until Delaware Speedway. In the series' second visit to Flamboro, he was scheduled to start fifth. However, when gridding the No. 78 Elite Property Group Ford Fusion, Lawrence discovered something wrong with the car. He returned to the pits for repairs. The team made the necessary fixes, and Lawrence started last but finished in eighth position. |
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The race's final caution period came on lap 86 when Rick Burbridge hit the corner three wall. The Flamboro regular drives the No. 2 Fleming Automotive Chevrolet SS and coincidently retired on lap 86 when the series visited for round two. During the qualifying session for the LRR 100, Burbridge was the thirteenth fastest. Before his accident, there was contact with Cole Quinton, sending him to the rear of the field. He was classified with a fifteenth place finish. |
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The top three finishers for round five of the 2024 APC United Late Model Championship for Pro Late Models at Flamboro Speedway. In the center is the winner of the London Recreational Racing 100, Shae Gemmell. With the victory, Gemmell moves to fourth place in the standings. On the left is the runner-up and current points leader, Kyle Steckly. Jake Sheridan is on a roll, collecting his third consecutive top-three finish of the year. |
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| FINISH | START | DRIVER | SPONSOR / CAR | LAPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | Shae Gemmell | APC Auto Parts Centres / Chevrolet SS | 100 |
| 2 | 6 | Kyle Steckly | APC Auto Parts Centres / Chevrolet SS | 100 |
| 3 | 8 | Jake Sheridan | Pride Seeds/Vibrent Farms / Ford Mustang | 100 |
| 4 | 7 | Josh Stade | Canadian Flat Roof Systems / Toyota Camry | 100 |
| 5 | 3 | Ray Morneau | Liuna! / Ford Mustang | 100 |
| 6 | 4 | Blair Wickett | Ry-Matt Mini Storage / Ford Mustang | 100 |
| 7 | 1 | Connor Pritiko | Domus Developments / Chevrolet Camaro | 100 |
| 8 | 5 | Jo Lawrence | Elite Racing Team / Ford Fusion | 100 |
| 9 | 11 | Cole Quinton | Just Foam It / Chevrolet SS | 100 |
| 10 | 9 | Jr Farrelly | Berne Workwear / Chevrolet SS | 100 |
| 11 | 10 | Tyler Di Venanzo | Bremner Construction / Chevrolet Camaro | 100 |
| 12 | 14 | Taylor Holdaway | Auto Serve 1 / Chevrolet SS | 100 |
| 13 | 12 | Shawn Chenoweth | London Recreation Racing / Chevrolet Camaro | 100 |
| 14 | 15 | Glenn Styres | Glenn Styres Racing / Chevrolet Camaro | 98 |
| 15 | 13 | Rick Burbridge | Fleming Automotive / Chevrolet SS | 86 |
| 16 | 16 | Kody Ferri | Team 10 Garage / Chevrolet Camaro | 31 |
| - | - | Erik Dalla Riva | SDR Seating/Mike's Towing / Chevrolet SS | 0 |
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