By Don McLeod
Delaware Speedway hosted 39 Late Models for the APC 300 on Sunday September 6th. Among them was the McColl Racing/Shear Metal Products #9 of Brandon Watson. When time trials were complete, Brandon was 9th quickest at 18.863 seconds. The race format called for Delaware regulars and Invaders in separate races, with the 9 Team among the Invaders.
The 25 lap Invader race had 5X Jesse Kennedy on the pole, followed by #3 DJ Kennington in 2nd and Brandon Watson in 3rd. It was a fairly uneventful race with everyone running conservatively and saving it for the main event. The top three finished their first race in the same order as they qualified. Brandon’s 3rd place finish translated into 6th place on the grid for the 200 lap APC main event.
Starting near the front proved to be good strategy as the carnage mounted through the field. In the end close to half the cars were parked. Fortunately Brandon avoided it all and raced among the top 6 for the entire race. At the checkers it was a podium finish for the 9 Team with 2nd place and a cheque for $2500. Brandon crossed the finish line a car length back of leader #5X Jesse Kennedy and just ahead of 3rd place finisher #49 Rob Clarke.
No doubt the grand prize of $10,000 would have been sweet, but as dad and crew chief Tim Watson put it, “With the way Brandon raced we’ll take 2nd place and feel really good about it. He raced hard yet clean the whole race, didn’t make any enemies, and was raced clean in return. He has a natural style and feel for it.”
Brandon was in esteemed company at the front, racing with the likes of Jesse Kennedy, DJ Kenington, Steve Roblee, Rob Clarke and Ron Sheridan. Accolades from the veteran racers keep coming including this from Rob Clarke “Brandon was the only guy I could race with side-by-side while I was on the outside.”
Leaving Delaware with the podium finish, cheque and intact car will be great confidence builders heading into the final races of the 2009 season. The Kawartha Championship battle will be settled this Friday September 11th and of course the biggest race of Brandon’s racing career is all set for September 19th at the ACT Invitational, New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Race Results From Delaware Speedway Website
APC 300 Race Story In The London Free Press
Photos of Brandon and Team 9 at Delaware Speedway (Dave Franks Photos)