SOSCAAR Outlaw Late Model series : Sun setting on Fletcher’s title hopes?

By Scott Fletcher

Milton, On. - Team JNE Consulting headed into Sunset Speedway Saturday night hoping to start to claw back some points they lost at Sauble Speedway two weeks ago. Unfortunately, the team is left trailing the lead by 137 after posting a third place finish.

How John got there though may be the real story of the night, after winning one qualifying race and placing second in the other the #61 JNE consulting car started forth on the grid behind the eventual second place finisher #70. At the drop of the green flag John settled into second running right on, the bumper of the leader until a lap eleven restart when Rob Clarke was able to get by both John and the leader. John would run in third for the next six laps when the next caution flew and this is where the excitement begins, “I’m coming in” came over the radio to the crew.

This was curious to the crew and fans as it appeared to everyone that the #61 car had no problems. After pitting for right side tires and heading back onto the track restarting at the back of the field in sixteenth position John carved his way back into the top ten in a mere few laps. The capacity crew at Sunset Speedway where witnessing a driving clinic from the JNE Consulting car and with seven laps to go was back to the rear bumper of the second place finisher but still did not have enough to get by.

Congratulations to Rob Clarke and his crew, on there second win of the year as they did have the best car this night. The jammed packed crowd saw a very entertaining event and a close finish. As John walked around his mark free racer during podium presentations, he had this to say, “We did not come hear to drive around in third, we pitted to adjust the car and came back to race our way to third with a car that could win”.

The team’s next action off the track comes Wednesday August 10 at Simcoe Shores Golf and Country Club in support of the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – London Chapter. Then they of to the second race of the year at Mosport Speedway August 20th, get there early as witnessed at most events this year for the OSCAAR, fans are coming in record numbers.