2023 marks the ninth season of the very successful United Racing Series.

The 2023 APC United Late Model championship kicks off on the Victoria Day weekend at Sunset Speedway with a race called the Dayco Spring Fling 150. In early June, the teams make the first of two stops at Flamboro Speedway for the Flamboro 100. In the middle of June, the AP Emissions Technology 100 is held at Peterborough Speedway. On the Canada Day weekend, drivers compete at Delaware Speedway during the Canada Day 100. The next race sees the championship make its final appearance at Flamboro Speedway for the London Recreational Racing 100. The Mid-Summer Classic 150 is conducted in early August at Sauble Speedway. Round seven called the Sunset 100, will take place at Sunset Speedway. The penultimate event of 2023 is at Sauble Speedway. Titles are determined on September 23rd at Delaware Speedway.

The series rules remain unchanged from last season, with the cars constructed to specifications and controls common to most stock car series. The chassis is a tube frame covered with fiberglass bodies. A car can weigh as much as 2800-lbs depending on the engine choice. Crate motors from General Motors (GM 604 & GM 602) and Ford (347) are used in the series. Competitors use a spec tire from American Racer and Bilstein A2 shock absorbers to regulate expenses. There are also rules restricting the options for transmissions, ignition components, body material, brakes, etc.

To determine the starting order of the race, drivers participate in a qualifying session. The five fastest qualifiers selected starting positions one through five during a random draw. Before each race, the cars receive a technical inspection and are impounded until the start of the event.

A new restart procedure was introduced this year by series officials for the APC United Late Model and Qwick Wick Super Stock divisions called the 'choose rule.' On restarts, competitors are allowed to choose their lane. Their selection may be determined by the condition of the track, how many cars are ahead of them or the handling of their vehicle. If a driver changes their choice after the designated 'choose spot,' they must start from the rear of the field.

Also new for this season is the NTN BCA Bearings Triple Crown. Three marquee events, held at Sunset Speedway, Sauble Speedway and Delaware Speedway, will be 150-lap contests in contrast to the standard event, which is 100-laps. The three-race mini-series has a prize fund of $15,000. First place pays $3,500, second $2,500, third $2,000 and fourth thru tenth $1,000.

The final round of the nine-race 2023 APC United Late Model championship was held at Delaware Speedway. Drivers would compete in the Castrol Great Canadian 200, a 200-lap contest around the 1/2-mile semi-banked asphalt oval.

Four competitors were in contention for this year's APC title. However, five drivers were in the hunt for the NTN BCA Bearings Triple Crown.

Thirty-one competitors line up on Delaware's back straight for the final round. The No. 3 APC Auto Parts Centres Chevrolet Camaro of Shae Gemmell is on the pole. Next to Gemmell is Josh Stade driving the No. 17 Canadian Flat Roof Systems Toyota Camry. Row two is occupied by the No. 84 Cambridge Rigging / ATV Depot Chevrolet SS of J.R. Fitzpatrick and Jake Sheridan driving the No. 52 Cameron Crane & Riggers Ford Mustang.
J.R. Fitzpatrick entered the final weekend of the championship with two victories and a mathematical chance of winning the title. The No. 84 Cambridge Rigging Chevrolet SS driver started the Castrol Great Canadian 200 in the third position. Fitzpatrick grabbed the lead on lap-6 and remained in the top spot for much of the race to claim the victory. He also earned enough points to take the NTN BCA Bearings Triple Crown.
Last year's Delaware track champion, Ray Morneau, finished in the runner-up position at the Castrol Great Canadian 200. He drove the No. 98 John Aarts Group / Express Trucks Chevrolet SS. Competitors were concerned as Morneau blistered a right rear tire after just thirty-five laps of racing the previous weekend. He started the contest in the fifteenth position and moved up and down the race order before finishing second.
The 2020 APC United Late Model champion, Jo Lawrence, entered the finale second in the standings – five points behind the championship leader, Kyle Steckly. Lawrence has had an eventful season. His first engine, compliments of his mother, failed at Sauble Speedway. Fellow competitor Tom Gibbons loaned him a replacement. Lawrence finished ahead of Steckly in the race but came up four markers short of the title.
Kyle Steckly, the son of four-time Canadian NASCAR series champion Scott Steckly, entered his first APC United Late Model race in 2021. Steckly did the unthinkable and won. Last season, he finished second in the standings and claimed the rookie crown. In round nine, Steckly started sixth in the No. 22 APC Auto Parts Centres Chevrolet SS. He drove a calculated race, collecting a point for leading a lap and finished fifth to secure the championship.
There were a number of exciting entries in the year's final event. One of them was Cayden Lapcevich, the 2016 NASCAR Pintys champion, who took the checkered flag in the seventh position. Two-time NASCAR Pintys title holder DJ Kennington also participated, but his race ended on lap-150 with an accident. Also on hand was recently reinstated NASCAR Cup driver Noah Gragson, who finished in the eighth position.
The first competition caution of the race came on lap-53. Drivers that pitted returned to the track in the order they came off. At the mid-point of the contest, there was a mandatory stop for teams to refuel the cars. Many teams, including championship contender Jo Lawrence, used the yellow flag period to make adjustments. Glenn Styres' crew fills the No. 0 Chevrolet Camaro. Styers finished in the twenty-fourth spot.
The top three finishers for the Castrol Great Canadian 200 at Delaware Speedway, which was the final round of the 2023 APC United Late Model championship. In the center is the winner, J.R. Fitzpatrick, who collected his third victory of the season and finished third in the title chase. Standing on the left is the runner-up, Ray Morneau. Jo Lawrence, the 2020 champion, finished third and was second in the final standings.

FINISHSTARTDRIVERSPONSOR / CARLAPS
13J.R. FitzpatrickCambridge Rigging/ATV Depot / Chevrolet SS200
215Ray MorneauJohn Aarts Group / Chevrolet SS200
35Jo LawrenceBT Racing/MOM/APC / Chevrolet Camaro200
44Jake SheridanCameron Crane & Riggers / Ford Mustang200
56Kyle StecklyAPC Auto Parts Centres / Chevrolet SS200
68Connor PritikoH&N Roofing & Sheet Metal / Ford Mustang200
710Cayden LapcevichAce Services / Chevrolet SS200
823Noah GragsonRender Construction / Chevrolet Camaro200
911Andrew GreselSauble Falls Tent & Trailer Park / Ford Mustang200
102Josh StadeCanadian Flat Roof Systems / Toyota Camry200
1121Erik Dalla RivaSDR Seating/Eibach / Toyota Camry200
121Shae GemmellAPC Auto Parts Centres / Chevrolet Camaro200
1319Marshal SchrenkSloan Stone Design / Dodge Charger SRT200
1427James HornerCustom Forming / Chevrolet Camaro200
1517Patrick FreelKrown Rust Control/Pennzoil / Chevrolet SS200
1614Blair WickettRy-Matt Mini Storage / Chevrolet Camaro200
179Jesse KennedyWampum Fuels / Chevrolet Camaro199
1828Derek LynchApsley Peterborough Transport / Dodge Charger198
1913Tyler Di VenanzoBremner Construction / Ford Mustang197
2022Brandon WatsonWampum Fuels / Chevrolet Camaro196
217Chase PinsonneaultFCF Custom Fab / Chevrolet Camaro196
2230Marc Jacobsblackpurl / Chevrolet SS195
2316Jr FarrellyBerne Workwear / Chevrolet SS194
2429Glenn StyresGlenn Styres Racing / Chevrolet Camaro193
2524Cory LucianoReal Landscaping Plus / Chevrolet Camaro156
2626Rick Spencer-WaltZancor Homes / Ford Mustang151
2712Danny BenedictNorth Country / Chevrolet SS150
2818DJ KenningtonCastrol Edge / Chevrolet Camaro150
2920Tom GibbonsTom Gibbons Concrete Finishing / Chevrolet Camaro150
3025Pete VanderwystHD Custom Concrete Finishes / Ford Mustang79
3131Shawn ChenowethLondon Recreation Racing / Chevrolet Camaro37

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