Full race report can be found here: OSCAAR Kawartha Speedway, August 6, 2010

Well Brandon has had his first taste of American Racing, in Toledo, Ohio.  It was kind of disappointing that there were only 20 cars in attendance but the half mile track was challenge enough as well as the weather being very cold (just like Florida).  After being one of the top three fastest cars during practice,  Brandon ended up qualifying in 7th position during time trials.  As the top ten were inverted, he started the race in 3rd position.  It only took about 22 laps for Brandon to gain the lead,  but to due some impatient driving  by  Griffen McGrath he was spun during lap 28 of a 125 lap race.   As  Brandon was able to keep it off the wall, he just had to pit for a quick tire check and went back out at the back of the pack, and was able to get back up to 5th place by the end of the race.  As for his first attempt at ASA racing, chalk it up to more great experience, next trip CRA in Berlin, Michigan.

With your first taste of success, you can’t help but crave more.  Brandon Watson’s performance during the 2009 season made headlines wherever he turned a wheel.  Solid showings at tracks like Delaware, Barrie and Kawartha Speedway’s – as well as selected stops on the ACT Castrol Series – earned the 16 year-old rising star his time in the spotlight.  A dominating effort – winning 2 of 3 features – at Peterborough Speedway’s Autumn Colours Classic and a third place showing in the inaugural American-Canadian Tour Invitational event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway made the motorsports world take notice of the young hot-shoe from Stayner, Ontario.  With the 2010 season just around the corner, Watson is set to embark on an entirely new racing adventure.

Tony Blanchard’s Race 101 – a driver development program based in Denver, North Carolina – recently announced that Brandon Watson is 1 of 5 Canadian drivers selected to receive a prestigious scholarship worth $7,500.00 for the upcoming semester.  Students in the program attend a variety of workshops on everything from chassis set-up, shock and suspension training to marketing, PR, media, interview and image coaching.  The program’s top 2010 graduate receives a full super late model ride as the 2011 Premier Race 101 Program driver.  For more details, see www.race101.net.  Brandon and his father Tim will attend the Race 101 opening ceremonies and press conference in Charlotte, North Carolina Friday, January 29^th followed by 2 days of classroom and on-track sessions. From there, they’ll test their 2010 Shear Metal Products/Logel’s Auto Parts/Spira Fire Protection/McColl Racing Enterprises/Ken MacKinnon Construction Impala at the legendary Hickory Motor Speedway.

The final stop of Brandon Watson’s mid-winter racing odyssey will take place at New Smyrna Speedway for the 44^th Annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing.  An open practice session is on the calendar for Thursday, February 4^th.  The Stayner Collegiate student will wheel his #9 machine in the crate late model division, running 7 of 9 nights against some of the biggest names and brightest stars in North American short track racing.

“We had a great year in 2009 and I hope we can carry that momentum through 2010,” said the quiet teen.  “It’s a very ambitious schedule, but we’ll be exposed to so many different scenarios it will be a real benefit to our program.  The things we did last year went a long way to getting us noticed and now we just have to keep the ball rolling.”

Follow Brandon’s efforts at New Smyrna Speedway on-line at www.newsmyrnaspeedway.org or at www.brandonwatsonracing.com.

Photo attachment:  team supplied

Brandon Watson’s 2010 McColl Racing Enterprises Chevrolet Impala

Prepared by:  Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications

clarkemotorsports@hotmail.com

613.968.6410  /  613.922.0654