Lawrence Muscles Past Stade for APC Series Win at Sunset Speedway

For much of the Stewart’s Equipment and Kubuo 100 at Sunset Speedway it looked as if Josh Stade would score his first win of the 2023 APC United Late Model Series season, however a late-race caution brought a hungry Jo Lawrence to his inside for the final restart of the night.

A caution for a spin by Chase Pinsonneault with six laps to go regrouped the field for a final dash to the checkered flag. That was exactly what Lawrence needed as he was able to muscle his way past Stade for the lead off the corner with four laps to go.

Stade was unable to get back to the top spot as Lawrence scored his first win of the season, one week after finishing last at Sauble Speedway.

“It was long,” Lawrence said of the week leading up to his win at Sunset. “These guys worked hard this week just to get this put together.”

While it appeared last week’s engine issue was going to hurt his chances at the championship, Saturday night’s win brought him within four points of leader Kyle Steckly, who is trailed by second-place Jake Sheridan by only one point.

“As a team we said, ‘Let’s go out and try to win the last three (races),’ so one down two to go,” Lawrence said. “That’s our mission here and we’re not going to quit working.”

Stade started on the pole, led the most laps but was not able to hold off Lawrence for the win. Despite the disappointment, the driver of the No. 17 was proud of his fellow competitor for bouncing back from adversity.

“It sucks,” Stade admitted. “Jo used to help me last year and found a pile of speed. Jo is one hell of a competitor and congrats to their team, especially after last week blowing up and whatnot. Really proud of our efforts with our guys. We work hard. I said it before, we’re just a bunch of pavers from Chesley that try to do this on the weekends. Pretty good run for us, really happy, had the car to win, just one caution too many.”

Steckly was able to hold on to his narrow points lead over Sheridan thanks to a third-place finish, but Sheridan was not far behind finishing in fourth. Blair Wickett showed speed early in the night, but faded to fifth at the time of the checkered flag.

Former NASCAR Cup Series driver and racing legend Ken Schrader made his first APC Series start of the year, qualifying in the 13th position. Schrader suffered slight damage in an early incident on the first lap but it did not slow the veteran driver. At the halfway mark of the race, Schrader had worked his way into the top 10 and restarted eighth when the race went back to green on Lap 51.

Only two races remain in the 2023 APC Series Late Model season, with the final events taking place on August 26 at Sauble Speedway and September 23 at Delaware Speedway.

Race Results: APC Series Late Model Stewart’s Equipment and Kubuo 100

Image courtesy United Late Model Series