MODIFIED AND SLM CHAMPS

Alex Cuzzilla And Glenn Watson Triumph In 2022

Stories by Bryce Turner ALEX CUZZILLA – ONTARIO MODIFIEDS RACING SERIES

Itwas a meaningful season for Alex Cuzzilla in the Ontario Modifieds Racing Series (OMRS). The Nestleton, ON. driver recorded a feature win and five runner-up finishes in 11 races to secure his first OMRS championship, in his second full season. He also completed every lap.

His win came in the inaugural Bill Pickford Memorial, a twin-feature event at Peterborough Speedway that honoured the long-time competitor and former official, who passed away in 2019. Cuzzilla led all 30 laps of the first feature and was tied for the overall event win with John Baker Jr. and Chad Strawn.

In addition to it being a notable event, it was also a turning point for Cuzzilla.

“It was near the end of the season and I was slowly starting to lose confidence, that I wasn’t going to be able to bring home a checkered flag during the season,” said Cuzzilla. “That definitely boosted my confidence and gave me a better pathway to follow to be able to win the championship.”

Cuzzilla says that handling issues faced by the team throughout the season were a challenge, but that their communication and time in the shop were keys to their success.

The championship was also meaningful for the family as it came on the anniversary of Alex’s grandfather, the late Tom Cuzzilla Sr., winning a title at Pinecrest Speedway.

“It was a great year to win it…it’s the 50th anniversary of my grandfather winning his first championship,” said Alex. “There were a lot of number 50s this year and it was very coincidental how it all worked out, but it meant a lot more just because it was the 50th anniversary for the No. 50 (car).”

Cuzzilla plans to defend his title next season, with the goal of winning more feature races.

GLENN WATSON –ONTARIO OUTLAW SUPER LATE MODEL SERIES

It was a dominant season for Glenn Watson in the Ontario Outlaw Super Late Model Series (OOSLMS). The veteran racer had a fast car everywhere he went, but faced some adversity before race two, at Delaware Speedway. A mechanical issue required work at the track, where he used parts from fellow driver Sean Grosman to get ready for the race.

The repairs did the job and Watson found himself contending, but a tight car on a late restart resulted in a runner-up finish, behind Grosman.

Watson then won three straight races, with a checkered flag at Peterborough Speedway sandwiched between a pair of victories at Sauble Speedway. The hot streak put him in a good points position entering the penultimate race of the season, but that assurance was short lived.

“We crashed around the 30 or 35 lap mark,” said Watson. “Going into that race we had a comfortable lead but after that race we were only four points in the lead, so going into the final race at Sunset (Speedway), it was going to be pretty tense.”

While the OOSLMS had a championship battle set for the 1/3mile oval, Mother Nature had other plans. Watson was declared the champion after the finale was rained out.

“It’s disappointing that we didn’t get to race it out,” he said.

“Brandon Passer was only four points behind and he’s a good racer and we thought we were going to really must battle it out for the championship in that last race. I’m glad that we won another one, but I would’ve really liked to have raced it out on the track.”

The title adds to Watson’s storied career, with this being his ninth championship since joining the series in 2006. He plans to make a run for title number ten next season. IT