The 2010 Ontario Pro Challenge (OPC) season got underway on Saturday evening at the spectacularly renovated Sunset Speedway in Innisfil, ON and the travelling series did not disappoint as a record 21 drivers hit the asphalt to kick off the new campaign. The battles were impressive on the fast 1/3-mile high-banked track, as two-wide racing was a given throughout the night. A highlight of the opener was the debut of the 2K10 rookie class, which put seven drivers in a freshman-only heat race that went green to checker without issue. The new competitors had a little more trouble in the 30-lap main event, but the overall impression was solid.
When the OPC has more than 21 cars in the pits, they run a total of three heats, setting the grid for the first two heats using an average points per race equation. Rookie drivers – those running less than the minimum three races – are placed in third heat. Using the average points from the 2009 season for the series opener, Dario Valente (#71 Apartments International Monte Carlo) was placed on the outside pole for the first heat and was able to hold off a hard-charging Danielle Wilson (#21 Huber Window Cleaning Monte Carlo) to score the first checkered flag of the year. Scott Fletcher crossed the line in third in his #60 Hype Energy Drink Monte Carlo.
The second heat featured all of the big hitters, including reigning champion Dennis Thomson, Tim Norris, Tim Forbes, Josh Nicholson and Ken Nicholson. After an exciting dice, Norris would score the win in his #88 ApprencticeSearch.com / Lucas Oil Dodge Intrepid, holding off both Thomson (#02 Thompson Signs Ford Mustang) and Forbes (#04 Midhurst Roofing Ford Mustang) to further set the grid for the 30-lap main. Josh Nicholson (#66 Firkin Pubs Dodge Charger) and Ken Nicholson (#99 International Truck and Engine Chev Monte Carlo) capped the top-five, while Bob Hopton was sixth in his #10 Tradewind Monte Carlo.
In the third heat, the rookies did extremely well, with Jonathan Sloot (#22 Monte Carlo) staying out in front of the pack to win in his series debut. Jason Davidson powered his #48 entry to second ahead of Patrick Freel in the #77 Dodge Intrepid. Rick Seeley (#19 Pontiac Grand Prix) and Jason Podewis (#7 Chev Monte Carlo) rounded out the top-five.
The main event was set as the feature race of the evening, and with 21 cars roaring off turn four to take the green, Valente held the point for the initial laps after starting on pole. Fletcher had the rocket over the opening laps as he went to the front by controlling the low exit line out of the corners. Fletcher would eventually take the lead and he was able to hold onto the point through multiple cautions, however, these frequent stoppages allowed Norris, Thomson and Forbes to close in. Fletcher was able to hold off their advances for many laps, but Thomson would eventually slip through, pinning Fletcher to the high groove whereby the floodgates opened. Fletcher would eventually finish a strong fifth, after losing three additional positions.
It would come down to a green-white-checker finish after a late-race yellow, but the veteran Thomson would not be fazed as he held off Norris to defend his ’09 championship in fine style. Norris would finish second ahead of Forbes, while Josh Nicholson steered his ride to an impressive fourth after starting 10th. Danielle Wilson fought through a couple of incidents to take sixth behind Fletcher, while Malcolm McMaster turned in an impressive effort to take eighth. The highest finishing rookie driver was Jason Davidson, who ran a great race after starting in 15th, advancing to eighth in the final tally. Robert Coverdale and Matt Marshall completed the top-10.
The next race is set for this coming weekend back on the high banks of Sunset, with the cars again part of their Saturday night program.
Round #1 – May 28, 2010
Sunset Speedway – Innisfil, Ontario
Heat #1:
1. Dario Valente 2. Danielle Wilson 3. Scott Fletcher 4. Robert Coverdale 5. Matt Marshall 6. Malcolm McMaster
Heat #2:
1. Tim Norris 2. Dennis Thomson 3. Tim Forbes 4. Josh Nicholson 5. Ken Nicholson 6. Bob Hopton
Heat #3:
1. Jonathan Sloot 2. Jason Davidson 3. Patrick Freel 4. Rick Seeley 5. Jason Podewis 6. Owen Smith 7. Dale Wilson 8. Ken Lillycrop
Feature:
1. Dennis Thomson 2. Tim Norris 3. Tim Forbes 4. Josh Nicholson 5. Scott Fletcher 6. Danielle Wilson 7. Malcolm McMaster 8. Jason Davidson 9. Robert Coverdale 10. Matt Marshall 11. Ken Nicholson 12. Ken Lillycrop 13. Rick Seeley 14. Jason Podewis 15. Bob Hopton 16. Jonathan Sloot 17. Patrick Freel 18. Dale Wilson 19. Kyle Batty 20. Dario Valente 21. Owen Smith
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