INNISFIL, Ontario — In fitting fashion, it was the car adorning the famous No. 72 made famous by Junior Hanley that won the Junior Hanley Classic on Sunday afternoon at Sunset Speedway. Behind the wheel and making that happen was Dale Shaw.

The inaugural APC Auto Parts United Late Model Series Champion was fast throughout the full 144 lap feature, taking the green flag in third after posting a 14.540 second lap in time trials behind Jo Lawrence (14.536) and Josh Stade (14.539). Dale Shaw methodically moved his way forward, moving into second around Blair Wickett with 36 laps on the board. He then tracked down Danny Benedict and made his way underneath the No. 54 with 61 laps on the board.

Capturing the $2,800 bonus for leading the halfway mark (Lap 72) and staying on-track while others pitted, Dale Shaw did not look back once the race went back green as he kept a reasonable distance between him and Benedict as he began to weave his way through traffic. There’d be a late-race caution with just three laps to go for Glenn Styres getting loose and going around in turns one and two. The restart did not faze Dale Shaw, though, as he was able to keep Danny Benedict behind him en route to capturing the checkered flag.

Samantha Shaw, who took the green flag from the 23rd position, proved she had a long-run car in making her way up through the running order in the second half of the event for a career-best third-place finish. Billy Zardo and Dwayne Baker rounded out the top-five.

Blair Wickett, who led the opening laps of the event, scored a sixth ahead of Jo Lawrence, while Gord Shepherd crossed the finish line in eighth to be crowned the 2023 Sunset Speedway Late Model Champion. Flamboro Speedway Track Champion J.R. Fitzpatrick and Peterborough Speedway Track Champion Ryan Kimball completed the top-10.

Treyten Lapcevich was 11th, followed by Andrew Gresel, Kendra Adams, Glenn Styres, Paul Maltese, Cory Luciano, Jake Gilbert, Norm Stoddard, Coltin Everingham, and Josh Stade. Dustyn Mombourquette was credited with 21st after being involved in an incident with Zardo as they battled through lap traffic on Lap 108, in front of Al Inglis and Jordan Howse. Rick Spencer-Walt suffered mechanical issues en route to 24th, while Jeff Hanley saw his race end at Lap 35 following an incident with Howse.