OSCAAR Racing will make history this weekend with back-to-back 50-lap feature events at Sunset Speedway on June 29 & June 30 to mark the 15th annual Don Biederman Memorial. OSCAAR has never raced complete shows on consecutive days, but will do so this weekend for the first time as part of its biggest event of the season.
The purse for the series’ biggest event has increased by $9300 in cash and prizes courtesy of a number of sponsors. Stefko Racing Engines, McColl Racing Enterprises, South Shore Services, McGunegill Engine Performance, and Sunset Speedway have combined to add an additional $7000 to the purse, which will award the overall Don Biederman Memorial winner an additional $1000.
VP Racing Fuels will also present a 55 gallon barrel of 110 octane racing fuel to the hard charger in each of this weekend’s features, a sponsorship valued at $1500.
The Don Biederman Memorial, since its creation, has been the most coveted trophy in Super Late Model racing in Ontario. Eight different drivers have taken home the Biederman trophy of which four will be in action this weekend. Jeff Hanley has won the event four times (2007-2011) and Rob Clarke (1999, 2005) twice. Â Derrick Tiemersma (2007) and Brandon Watson (2012) have also had the honour of hoisting the Biederman hardware. John Fletcher (2002-2004) Dave Taylor (2000), Stu Robinson Jr. (2001), and TJ Woolsley (2006) have also won the coveted trophy.
Saturday’s event will feature time trials for the Super Late Models, the first time OSCAAR has used the format since the series’ 2011 event at Sauble Speedway. Time trials will be crucial in qualifying for the 50-lap finale as it will determine the starting order for the only round of Klotz qualifying heats.
Knightworks Design is the official sponsor of time trials, and is offering an additional $500 for the Fastest Outlaw. The second fastest car will earn an extra $250 and the Hard Luck qualifier will receive $100. Only the top four finishers from each of the three heats will be guaranteed to start the main event. The remaining drivers will qualify through the B-Main.
J.R. Fitzpatrick (No. 27 Passer Racing Chevrolet) may hold the biggest advantage heading in to time trials, having considerable experience from multiple years of competition with the CASCAR Super Series and NASCAR Canadian Tire Series. Fitzpatrick will make his first OSCAAR start of the season after two starts last season, including a fourth-place finish at Sunset’s Velocity event.
Andrew Gresel (No. 81 Sauble Falls Ford) also gained some qualifying experience during the offseason in a trip to Daytona International Speedway with ARCA. While Gresel was not able to make the field, the Hepworth, Ont. driver says he took away valuable skills from the experience.
Brandon Watson (No. 9 Shear Metal Products Chevrolet) enters the event with the hot hand, having won the first two events of the season. What may prove especially interesting this weekend is the return of George Wilson (No. 77 Port City Racecars), who Watson battled with for much of the 2012 season en route to his first OSCAAR championship. The two drivers will renew their rivalry on OSCAAR’s biggest stage.
Derrick Tiemersma (No. 7 Wayfreight Chevrolet) is also among the drivers holding the hot hand, as the Newmarket, Ont. driver has finished on the podium in both starts this season.
Kevin Cornelius (No. 17 Halton Crushed Stone Pontiac) and Gresel made it clear two week ago at Barrie Speedway they would battle until the very end for the 2013 OSCAAR rookie title. Cornelius has yet to finish outside the top-ten and Gresel earned an impressive third-place finish of his own at Barrie. The pair will have to deal with Fitzpatrick and Sean Cronan (No. 8 Lockeroom Sports Bar Chevrolet) for rookie points this weekend as one driver will look to gain the rookie lead.
With over 30 drivers expected to be in attendance, the OSCAAR Super Late Model tour is looking to set a new car count record. The previous record of 28 was set at Sunset’s Velocity event on September 25, 2011. Racing gets underway both nights at 6:30pm, with spectator gates opening at 5:00pm. Fans will be able to purchase individual day tickets for $25 or a two-day ticket for $45. For more information on tickets, visit www.sunsetspeedway.ca. For a full schedule of events, visit www.oscaar.ca.
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Directions: For directions to Sunset Speedway, enter the following address in to your GPS or preferred travel website: 6918 Yonge St., Innisfil, ON.
About Don Biederman: Living in Oakville, ON, Don Biederman established himself as one of the premier short-track racers in all of Canada. The first Canadian to compete full-time on the NASCAR Grand National tour (now the Sprint Cup Series), Biederman would also pioneer Super Late Model racing in Ontardio and help pave the way for what would be established as OSCAAR in 1990.
Biederman would go head-to-head on a number of occasions with arch-rival Junior Hanley for Super Late Model supremacy in the province and in the Northeast. Biederman was a hard-nosed racer that never turned away from a challenge and refused to shy away from an opportunity to have his voice heard.
Biederman’s greatest racing accomplishment was a win at the 1977 Oxford 250 in Oxford, ME where he defeated a number of NASCAR’s national stars. Biederman often raced across the border in New York and Michigan during the week before running races throughout on Ontario on the weekend. Biederman was among the last of his kind – a short-track driver to race for a living.
Biederman passed away in 1999 with an outpouring of grief from the Ontario racing community. He was inducted to the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2001. The first OSCAAR Don Biederman Memorial was run in 1999, with Rob Clarke the victor. Each year since, the race has been the premier event on the OSCAAR schedule.
With files from the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame
OSCAAR is mourning the passing of Jimmy Granger (1953-2013). Granger passed away earlier this month and was heavily involved with the Don Biederman Memorial. Granger, in association with Dave Franks, ‘Jingles’ Menar, Rob Perkins, and Ted O’Connor, helped ensure the Biederman Memorial race car was able to make it to the track for each of the 14 memorial races during his lifetime. OSCAAR offers its deepest sympathies to the friends and family of Mr. Granger.
The OSCAAR Super Late Model tour is presented by a number of dedicated sponsors throughout Ontario, including: Knightworks Design, Hoosier Racing Tire, Klotz Synthetics Canada, Race2way.ca, Dave Franks Photos, Dickson Printing, Finishline Fabrication, McColl Racing Enterprises, McGunegill Engine Performance, Stefko Racing Engines, VP Racing Fuels, OntarioOval.com, RaceTime Radio, Inside Track Motorsport News, Jenco Equipment, Midas of Orangeville, Reinhart Trailer Sales, North Toronto Auctions, and South Shore Services.
By Clayton Johns (@cjohnsmedia)
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