MILLGROVE, Ontario --- One point. That’s all that separates Shae Gemmell and J.R. Fitzpatrick at the top of the points standing entering the final 100-lapper on Sunday, October 6 at Flamboro Speedway for the Grisdale Triple Crown.
After seeing the crown jewel championship decided solely based on triple 50-lap features on one night, the original format returned for the 2019 with three 100-lap features spread out throughout the season.
In May, Gemmell proved to be perfect throughout the first round as he dominated en route to winning the event. Matt Pritiko was able to snag the second spot, with J.R. Fitzpatrick completing the podium.
The second round, though, was anything but calm en route to the checkered flag.
Gemmell and Fitzpatrick would battle for the lead in the late stages, with the pair making contact off of turn two with six laps to go. Fitzpatrick’s No. 84 Late Model would do a complete 360 spin, with him regaining control and keeping the lead in the process. Fitzpatrick then led the final six laps en route to winning, with Gemmell placing second ahead of Billy Schwartzenburg.
Gemmell and Fitzpatrick are no strangers to battling each other on-track, having done so throughout the entire APC Auto Parts United Late Model tour. Gemmell placed second in the standings with one and six top-five’s, with Fitzpatrick would wound up fifth with a win and three top-five finishes.
If you have to give anyone the nod over the other, then Fitzpatrick would get the first glance despite being behind by a single point. He has been racing for a number of years with experience in NASCAR, and won the APC Series title in 2018. He also won this year’s Flamboro Speedway Track Championship with 10 victories and 17 top-five’s.
However, Gemmell should not be someone to easily be looked over despite having less experience than his championship foe. Gemmell began racing in 2013 in Super Stock, before joining the APC Series Pro Late Model tour in 2016. He has finished in the top-six in the year-end standings, and was able to win one of the Frostoberfest features in 2017.
While the main focus is on these two, the points are close throughout the entire standings. Billy Schwartzenburg and Jake Sheridan easily stand a chance of mixing it up with the top-two as they enter the 100-lap feature on Sunday sitting just six points behind Gemmell. Schwartzenburg scored his first career APC Series victory earlier this season at Flamboro, while Sheridan enters this event with momentum after winning the 100-lapper at Delaware Speedway last weekend.
Of course, the Grisdale Triple Crown is just one single piece of this weekend at Flamboro Speedway, which features nine different classes in action.
Saturday, October 5 will feature twin 50-lap Ray’s Towing & Recovery Super Stock features, twin-50 lap Klotz Auto Repair & Machine Shop Mini Stock features, twin 20-lap McClurkin Properties Cambridge Pure Stock features, twin 20-lap Pro 4 Modified features, and a 20-lap feature for the Outlaw Midgets. The pit gate opens at 10am, with the spectator gate opening at noon, and racing starting at 3pm.
Sunday, October 6 will feature the third and final round for the Grisdale Triple Crown, with a 100-lap feature on deck for the Pro Late Models. It will also include a 50-lap Queenston Chevrolet Buick GMC OSCAAR Modified feature, 30-lap Knightworks Design OSCAAR Hot Rod feature, and 25-lap Living Lighting OSCAAR Pro Sprint feature.
The pit gate opens at 10am, with the spectator gate opening at noon, and racing starting at 3pm.
Admission prices, along with the full schedule for Flamboro Speedway this season can be found on the track’s website at http://www.flamborospeedway.ca. Be sure to keep up with the latest by following the speedway on Twitter at https://twitter.com/FlamboroSpdwy and Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/flamborospeedway.
By: Ashley McCubbin
