Sheridan settles for $10,000 cheque
Tue, September 2, 2008

By JIM CRESSMAN

It's the half-mile just about everyone wants to drive, at least once.

Glenn Gault Jr. of Hubbard, Ohio (midway between Cleveland and Pittsburgh) had heard so many good things about Delaware Speedway, he just had to make the long haul for Sunday's APC 300 Great Canadian Race.

Even with the price of gas, the $10,000 to win (from a purse of $32,500) also was enticing, given the healthy Canadian dollar.

"I've never raced in Canada and I got to hearing a lot of great things about the speedway and this race from some of the Canada cars that come to the States occasionally, so I wanted to come up and race with these guys," said Gault, one of 20 Invader cars to join Delaware's regular late models to comprise a 33-car field in the 200-lap feature.

That's 11 more cars than the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series drew Saturday night at Cayuga, with $8,200 to win.

An accident on the second lap ended Gault's day (he took home only $300), but it didn't dampen his experience.

"I'm really impressed with the facility. I heard it was real rough, and they weren't lying, but I like the hillside for the fans. It's great to look up and see the people," said Gault, whose home track is Lake Erie Speedway in Erie, Pa.

Gault said Pete Vanderwyst of St. Thomas carries the Delaware flag south of the border. Vanderwyst, ninth on Sunday and 2005 track champion, said he enjoys spreading the gospel.

"We talk quite a bit about this place when we run down there. Delaware has a lot of prestige and if you can get around Delaware, you can get around anywhere."

Ron Sheridan of Mt. Brydges won the big prize, leading the final 50 laps after overtaking Duke Sawchuk of Emeryville, who'd led for 105.

Sheridan ran third in one of the two 50-lap qualifiers, that crowned Steve Robblee of Dorchester as the track's late model champion, six points ahead of Sheridan.

Sheridan's lone regret was he flew to Utah yesterday on business and with the banks closed, he wasn't the one getting to cash the $10,000 cheque.

"I'm sure my wife Georgia will deposit it (today). And there's no worry about us spending it -- it'll go right back into the car."

Sheridan said it took the sting out of being denied his first track title after Robblee chose to return following a two-year absence to win an unprecedented eighth crown.

"The $10,000 cheque is better," Sheridan said. "Championships -- I guess they're cool, I don't have one -- but they don't keep you racing next year. I'd like to have both, but if you have to pick one, this is a good one to have.

"I've been retiring the last five years and we'd decided we weren't going to run for points this year, but I'm real proud to run at Delaware and this was an awesome year, so we're definitely rejuvenated."

The same for Robblee, who finished third in the 200 ($2,000). He'd also never planned to chase a points title.

"I'm very proud," said the 46-year-old. "I think as you get older it gets tougher. It's time to change the guard. This guy's getting tired. But I guess we'll be back next year in something."

David Elliott of Acton was second ($2,500). Jonathan Urlin of London came from four laps down to finish fourth ($1,500), driving his American-Canadian Tour car for the local fans. The pole-sitter was running away from the rest after 45 laps, then trouble.

"Obviously we had the car, but there's not much you can do when the wheel comes off, then all sorts of other things went wrong. And if you look, there's a bungee cord holding the rear end in," Urlin said.