OSS: Mosport Race Summary

By J. Wally Nesbitt

MOSPORT, ON - Born out of the ashes of the CASCAR Sportsman Series, the newly founded Ontario Sportsman cars kicked off their inaugural season with a double header at Mosport Speedway on the 16th of June.

In pre-race qualifying, Kitchener’s Shawn McGlynn set fast time allowing the driver of the #81 Ford to start the first contest (a fifty lapper) from pole position. Taking advantage of his grid placing, McGlynn assumed the race lead at the drop of the green, outside front row starter Steve Robblee slotting in behind in second place. These front two racers swapped the lead three times before lap nine when Robblee finally made his passing move stick, securing the lead which he held to the checkered flag.

Josh Wood (#66 Chevy) managed to work his way around McGlynn and up into the runner-up spot on lap 12, these top three, Robblee, Wood, and McGlynn running out the caution-free contest in order with Kenny Forth and Dave Connelly rounding out the top five finishers.

A dozen sleek Sportsman cars answered the bell for Saturday night’s Round Two, this dash slated for thirty laps.

As in the previous contest, the pole sitter claimed the early race lead with Matt Robblee (son of Steve) jumping into top spot when the green flag flew. Immediately harassed by first Mike Hryniuk and then by McGlynn, the younger Robblee held the point for nine circuits of the Mosport half-mile, but found himself relegated to second place when McGlynn swept low entering Turn Three, moving by the #27 Ford and into top spot.

By the race’s halfway mark, the elder Robblee had wrestled his #28 Ford into third place and then with ten to go, outbraked his son entering the first corner to move into second place. Continuing his charge towards the front, Robblee in the end had nothing left for McGlynn, coming up several car lengths shy of the race winner.

On lap 25, Matt Robblee came under fire from a host of challengers and bobbled under braking for Turn Three, sliding wide and opening the door for Kenny Forth (#86), Hryniuk (#80) and Connelly (#82). Taking advantage of the gap, all three squirted past Robblee, this freight train running in order to the stripe, completing finishing positions three through five.

In the combined standings, Steve Robblee was declared the evening’s overall champion, his first and second place finishes outscoring McGlynn’s win and third place result.