Running up front and consistently through the year paid off for Jeremy McLean in the form of a fifth-place in the year-end Knightworks Design OSCAAR Hot Rod standings for the second straight campaign.

McLean faced adversity right from the first event of the season at Sunset Speedway, having to start tail end of the field after mechanical issues kept him from the first heat. He was able to make his way forward throughout the 35-lap feature, crossing the finish line in 10th for the Hard Charger Award. Returning to the Innisfil facility two weeks later, he was forced to start at the back once again, but did not let the faze him. In fact, he embraced the challenge in driving to the front, scoring a ninth this time around.

The series’ annual trip to Brighton Speedway would see a driver change behind the wheel, with McLean electing to put Brandon Crumbie in the driver’s seat. Utilizing his dirt experience, he scored a runner-up in qualifying before leading the first five laps of the feature en route to a runner-up performance.

With McLean back behind the wheel at Sauble Speedway, qualifying being rained out enabled him to start up front, where he ran inside the top-five prior to contact at the first caution which caused his No. 88 Camaro to climb the backstretch wall. Following a brief trip to the pits, he rebounded to place 12th.

He put himself up front at Peterborough Speedway a week later in heats, though contact while battling for the lead saw him climb the wall in turn four. He would make it out the feature, minus a driver’s side door to score an eighth-place finish.

Returning back to Sunset in September, he battled for the top spot in the early stages of the feature before ultimately scoring a fifth. Unfortunately, the momentum did not follow him to Delaware Speedway, as he was forced to pit side early with mechanical issues.

The hard work paid off in the season finale, as he was able to score a victory in qualifying on Friday night, while driving his way from the back to finish sixth in the Autumn Colours Classic feature.

His efforts to pass the most cars on a weekly basis were ultimately rewarded at year-end, as he took home the John Harper Hard Charger Award.

The 2021 OSCAAR Hot Rod season is sponsored by Knightworks Design and The Sauble Falls Tent and Trailer Park Campground.

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.

By: Ashley McCubbin