DELAWARE, Ontario — After being sent to the tail of the field for a restart violation, Jake Sheridan drove his way back to the front en route to winning the APC Auto Parts United Late Model Series of Ontario Spectra Premium 100 at Delaware Speedway on Saturday, July 1.

Battling regularly on the half-mile, the multi-generational racer has proven to be fast with a trip to victory lane already this year in weekly competition. The speed shined through in qualifying as he started seventh for the event, and began to move his way forward in the first quarter of the race.

However, under a caution at Lap 24, he was one of two drivers to not pick his lane accordingly per the “choose procedures,” which were added to the series in 2023 in following suit with the NASCAR premiere divisions. As a result, he was sent to the tail of the field from third for the restart.

Sheridan then began his methodical climb back through the field, getting back into the top-10 just before the halfway mark, running fifth with 56 laps on the board. The steady climb continued as the No. 52 Late Model took over second just nine circuits later, and began closing the gap to the leader. He was able to reel in Kyle Steckly, passing him on Lap 81 to take over the top spot. Although he felt pressure from behind in the final 10 laps over the long run, a late-caution with eight laps to go saw him hold off Jo Lawrence for the victory.

J.R. Fitzpatrick, the other driver who was put to the rear at the quarter-mark, also rebounded as he completed the podium in third. Kyle Steckly dominated the middle portion of the event, stretching out his lead to a full straightaway at one point, though saw the car fall off in the final 20 laps, fading back to seventh. The aforementioned late-race caution worked out in his benefit, as he made a couple moves to place fourth.

Shae Gemmell rebounded from a spin just past halfway to finish fifth, ahead of Josh Stade, Danny Benedict, Tyler Di Venanzo, Shawn Chenoweth, and Tom Gibbons. Notably, Di Venanzo started on the pole and ran inside the top-five for the first half of the event, fading back before a spin in turn three put him at one-point 14^th on the leaderboard.

Patrick Freel’s lone appearance with the tour thus far in 2023 landed him 11^th, followed by Cory Luciano, Darrell Lake and Glenn Styres. Ray Morneau ran inside the top-five, but a flat tire in the final 10 laps seeded him 15^th on the board ahead of Jesse Kennedy. Erik Dalla Riva had something break in the front end of the car, causing him to hit the backstretch wall en route to 17^th, in front of Jr Farrelly and Connor Pritiko. Pete Vanderwyst made significant contact with turn one wall just 23 laps in to finish 20^th, while Barry Watson rounded out the field. Blair Wickett, unfortunately, suffered a mechanical failure to cause him to not take the green flag.