Queensville Veteran Makes First Trip To Victory Lane After String of Bad Luck
Spencer Lewis
Jason ‘Bam Bam’ Witty has long been regarded as one of Sunset’s brightest young stars. The 11-year veteran began in the track’s Super Stock (then Thunder Car) division, and climbed the racing ladder all the way to the premiere Ltd. Late Model class. The first 3 weeks of the season saw Witty succumb to everything from on-track contact to a broken driveshaft. However, on June 5th, the Queensville, ON pilot seemed determined to make up for lady luck’s abandonment.
The Tim-BR Mart Super Stocks kicked the night’s feature action off. Their 30-lap A Main promised competitive racing, as 4 different drivers went to victory lane during qualifying.
Points leader, and 4x 2010 A-Main winner, Kyle ‘Wheely’ Donaldson (No. 53 Planet Recovery Co./Custom Steering Chevrolet) would start from the tail of the field. With a stacked pack in front of his Monte Carlo, the Queensville, ON veteran would have a long way to go, before reaching the lead.
At the drop of the green, ‘The Upgrade’ Rick Walt (No. 99 Classic Pro Tube/The Frame Shop Chevrolet) would spend a handful of laps in the lead, before being usurped by defending track champion Flyin’ Frank Davey (No. 49 Grass Pro Plus/Bradford Print Shoppe Chevrolet), who utilized a phenomenal run off of turn-2 to take control at the front of the field.
Davey would battle polesitter Edward Cole (No. 27 Brian Rogers Trucking/TTK Tool Chevrolet) for much of the event’s first half, with both drivers looking to multiple lines in an effort to gain the upper end.
Cole would eventually take the top spot, with Davey settling into the runner up position. Though, as the leads battled, Donaldson and Sunset return-ee Matt Bentley (No. 21 Thring Race Car Fabrication/Gary Bentley Motorsports Chevrolet) were strong-arming their way to the front from their starting positions at the field’s rear.
Donaldson would reach Cole first, running side by side with the veteran for a number of laps. Meanwhile, a trio of cars made up of Davey, Ethan Courneyea (No. 71 Sergio’s Pizza/Innisfil Garden Supply Chevrolet) and Bentley battled for the top-5’s remaining three spots.
As the laps ticked away, ‘Wheely’ slowly gained sole control of the lead, eventually putting nearly an entire straightaway between himself and his nearest challenger.
At the checkered, it was Kyle Donaldson notching win number 5, followed by Edward Cole, Davey, Bentley and Courneyea.
In victory lane, a visibly exhausted Donaldson lamented, “This one was definitely tougher than the last few, but you’ve got to catch your breaks when you can”
When asked of his trademark composure, ‘Wheely’ explained, “You’ve certainly got to have patience when dealing with a field of this calibre. If you don’t have patience when racing against a talented group, things can go bad in a hurry”
Donaldson continued, “Howie [Eden] and the boys certainly have that number 27 running nicely. Edward [Cole] gave me a great run. The 21 [of Matt Bentley] also had a great run tonight. It wasn’t easy getting past either of those guys”
As Donaldson returned to his winning ride, points lead intact, and headed to post-race technical inspection, it was time for the 30-lap CGC Sheetrock Ltd. Late Model A-Main.
While Sunset’s top division has been wide open in terms of competition so far in 2010, June 5th was very much all about Jason Witty.
‘Bam Bam’ would enjoy time at the top of the speed charts in practice, and while he struggled with a pair of qualifying heat runs, it was clear the young veteran would be tough to topple on this night.
With Witty’s recent string of bad luck resulting in a spate of less than desirable finishes, the Queensville, ON pilot’s percentage allotted for an inside Row 2 starting position.
Witty (No. 19 Matco Tools/Larue’s Haulage Chevrolet) would take full advantage of the front pack starting spot, leapfrogging into the lead before the completion of the first lap.
From there, the perennial contender would flex his muscle, at times expanding his lead to a near full straightaway.
Much of the event’s excitement would come from watching points leader ‘Mr. Excitement’ Chris Morrow (No. 11 Morrow Electric/Douglas Ford Collision Centre Chevrolet) and 2x winner Brandon Watson (No. 9 Smart Exchange Propane/Huronia Landscaping Chevrolet) work, seemingly in tandem, their way from the tail end of the 17 car field.
The twosome would infiltrate the top-5 at the lap 11 mark, after the race’s first caution for a Jamie Horner spin (No. 14 Horner Chassis & Automotive Chevrolet).
Witty would, again, pull away on the restart, leaving the surging Morrow and Watson to sort out top-5 positioning with defending champion Stompin’ Tom Walters (No. 47 McColl Racing Enterprises Chevrolet) and a very impressive Keith McLeod (No. 79 The LOOK Company/Paul’s Auto Body Dodge).
At the stripe, Witty would cross ¾ of a straightaway in front of Morrow, Watson, McLeod and Walters.
After climbing from his Matco Tools Chevrolet, an exuberant Witty was quick to praise his crew for their efforts in working through his weeks of bad luck.
“What happened was, we’ve had some real bad luck early on in this season, and these guys behind me absolutely killed themselves getting our car back together, and getting us back to where we need to be. I absolutely cannot thank these guys enough”
Witty would finish his time in victory lane with, “This is going to be a tough year. We’re a little low on sponsorship. But I want to thank those that support me. Matco Tools is here tonight. Larue’s Haulage, Toronto Bearings and Carrot Express, thanks for everything. And especially the fans, thanks guys!”
With 4 races complete on the 2010 schedule, the Owens Corning Mini Stock division has seen a trio of drivers welcomed to victory lane. Defending champion Doug Butler leads the charge with a pair of victories, while 2009 Rookie of the Year Warren Paxton and 2010 rookie contender Kevin Vande Beek have both collected a win.
Entering the nights 25-lap A-Main, both Butler and Paxton appeared poised to add another ‘W’ to their respective columns. Both drivers went 2 for 2 in their qualifying heat races, and both appeared to have exactly the right setup to conquer the track’s greasy conditions.
With points handicapping in full effect, Paxton, the points leader and Butler, 2nd in the standings, would start from the 18th and 17th position, respectively.
Andre Pepin (No. 91 SPM Racing Engines/Holden’s Electric Dodge) and ‘California’ Dave Crumbie (No. 63 California Dave’s Complete Auto Body/Carline of Alliston Honda) would each see time at the head of the pack through the race’s early going. As the field shuffled positions, a light mist began to sprinkle the track, complicating tire grip.
Shortly before the halfway mark, former winner Vande Beek (No. 51 Highland Collision Centre/Custom Steering Nissan) would assume control of the lead. However, his time at the front would be short-lived; As his Nissan 240sx would begin huffing plumes of smoke only laps after taking the lead. Eventually, the Aurora, ON rookie would be dealt the mechanical black flag – ending his tenure as leader.
As Vande Beek retired to the pits, Butler (No. 10 Lori Lafontaine Mortgages/RSA Autoparts Nissan) would slide into the top spot, with current points leader Paxton (No. 33 Blue Mountain Honda of Collingwood/CB Services of Newmarket Honda) in tow.
Butler would begin to feel pressure from Paxton as the field received the 5-laps remaining signal. The 2009 Rookie of the Year would search high and low for a way past the leader, as the pair zig-zagged through heavy lapped traffic. Though, with only 2 laps remaining, Paxton’s Honda would suddenly veer to the right exiting turn-3. As Paxton spun wildly up the track, narrowly missing the turn-4 wall, the field once again fell under caution.
With only 2 laps remaining, and the rains intensifying, the call was made to end the A-Main at 23 laps. Handing the victory, his third of the 2010 season, to defending track champion Doug Butler.
Upon exiting his winning Nissan, Butler was quick to downplay the trickiness of the track’s condition after the light rain, “It really wasn’t too bad. I mean, it got a little wild up in the 3rd groove where nobody was running, but down in the bottom lanes I had no problem finding grip”
On the topic of lapped cars, Butler shrugged, “Even when the lapped traffic is running 2-wide in front of me, I don’t really mind. I mean, as long as they stay in their lane and don’t get into me, I’m alright with it. I have no problem going to the top to get around them.”
“I hope this division keeps getting better. Because, while everyone else is getting better, it pushes me to get better. It makes me want to be faster. It drives me to do my homework. So, please guys, keep pushing me, and keep racing clean”
Butler would close his interview by thanking his sponsors and family, including his father, Sunset Super Stock driver Rick Butler.
QUICK RESULTS
MINI STOCK
HEAT 1: Rob Krystal Holland Landing, ON
HEAT 2: Doug Butler New Lowell, ON
HEAT 3: Warren Paxton Holland Landing, ON
HEAT 4: Rob Krystal Holland Landing, ON
HEAT 5: Doug Butler New Lowell, ON
HEAT 6: Warren Paxton Holland Landing, ON
B MAIN: “The King of Hearts” Brian Love Barrie, ON
A MAIN:
1) Doug Butler New Lowell, ON
2) Ken Donaldson Jr Queensville, ON
3) Rob Krystal Holland Landing, ON
4) Terry Clodd Holland Landing, ON
5) Dan ‘The Bandit’ Britt Midhurst, ON
SUPER STOCK
HEAT 1: Ethan Courneyea Lefroy, ON
HEAT 2: ‘The Munster’ Donny Munce Barrie, ON
HEAT 3: Matt Bentley Acton, ON
HEAT 4: Kyle ‘Wheely’ Donaldson Queensville, ON
A MAIN
1) Kyle ‘Wheely’ Donaldson Queensville, ON
2) Edward Cole Sutton, ON
3) Flyin’ Frank Davey River Drive Park, ON
4) Matt Bentley Acton, ON
5) Ethan Courneyea Lefroy, ON
LTD. LATE MODEL
HEAT 1: Brad Holden Midland, ON
HEAT 2: Stompin’ Tom Walters Bradford, ON
HEAT 3: Sean Cronan Barrie, ON
HEAT 4: Brandon Watson Stayner, ON
A MAIN:
1) Jason ‘Bam Bam’ Witty Queensville, ON
2) ‘Mr. Excitement’ Chris Morrow Anten Mills, ON
3) Brandon Watson Stayner, ON
4) Keith McLeod Barrie, ON
5) Stompin’ Tom Walters Bradford, ON
Posts
