After gaining experience the past couple seasons in Knightworks Design OSCAAR Hot Rods presented by Sauble Falls Tent and Trailer Park competition, Ryan Cowan is ready to step his program up entering 2021.

“We are looking forward to the 2021 season as we have a completely new chassis that due to the unforeseen corona we could not get completed for last season,” he said. “We plan on pushing a lot harder and getting up front with this car.”

The new car will have a 1959 Pontiac Bonneville body on it, as Cowan throwbacks to a time when “NASCAR was just beginning the super speedway era and Smokey Yunick and fireball Roberts were names you didn’t take lightly.”

With a modern chassis updated by ThinkPath Designs, Cowan is hoping to finish top-five in points, with expectations of running up front, avoiding the incidents, and doing well each week.

“We are entering our third season on the track and we have put together some simple ways to improve our on track performance,” he added. “We have some chassis support with this car we did not have before. I have knowledgeable crew with me each event to make improvements less of a shot in the dark.

“We also have some help from sponsors Such as KCM metals (for all your steel roofing needs), Micheal Kelly’s restaurant (best eats around), Scugog Transmission for keeping everything behind the flywheel working mint. We are still looking for further sponsorship to help offset the cost of operation, regardless of that we will still be out there each and every weekend.”

With a new car underneath him, Cowan is most looking forward to visiting two tracks on the schedule he has yet to race at – Brighton Speedway and Kawartha Speedway, saying there’s “nothing more special than the first time out on a new too me track.”

For Cowan, he had never gotten stock car experience before the Hot Rods, only racing in go-karts and Formula Ford, “but nothing truly formal and zero oval time.” He became involved with the Hot Rods, though, due to loving the look of the classic cars, and being able to go racing at a reasonable price.

“I didn’t have to go and find the latest and greatest car to gain experience and the competitors are true sportsman willing to help out and keep things positive,” he added. “Hopefully that spirit continues into the future.”

He has carried the No. 12 since his first event, which he says is a tribute to a lost family number. However, he will be switching to No. 13 as part of his Smokey Yunick theme for 2021.

For their support, Cowan would like thank his sponsors Chassis by Thinkpath Design, KCM Metals Steel Roofing Specialists, Micheal Kelly’s Restaurant, and Scugog Transmission. He also added his team is “also open to further sponsorship with lots of real estate on this car,” stating they “could really use the help to make it a full maximum effort season.”

Be sure to keep up with OSCAAR by staying tuned to the series website at http://www.oscaar.ca. Also, make sure to “like” the official OSCAAR Racing Facebook page, while following both the Twitter and Instagram accounts (@OSCAARRacing) to keep up to date on everything you need to know.

OSCAAR’s 2020 racing season was supported by several dedicated partners including Queenston Chevrolet Buick GMC, Knightworks Design, Living Lighting Canada, Scott Reinhart Trailer Sales Ltd., Touchwood Cabinets, Sauble Falls Campground, The Fyre Place & Patio Shop, Ohsweken Speedway, American Racer, and Grisdale Race Products.

By: Ashley McCubbin