Keith McLeod drove The Look Company - Lewis Motor Sales #19 to 5th place in the final feature of the season on Saturday night and wrapped up the 2008 Championship in NASCAR Whelen All American Series Late Model racing at Barrie Speedway. It was Keith’s first track title in his 7th full season of racing at Barrie. His rookie season was 25 years ago at Barrie racing against guys like Garry Reynolds and Alan Inglis and both of those veterans were also on the track in the Late Models this year.
Keith had taken most of the championship drama out of the final feature with a win and a second in the heat action extending his lead to 31 points. He needed to take the green in the feature and stay out of trouble to cement the title. At the start he was boxed in and got caught in the wrong lane but fought back to get to 5th place behind a tight train of the track’s top runners. This was not a night to take any chances though and he settled in for his 14th top five finish of the year in 17 starts, the most of any of the competitors at the track.
Ironically the race was won by Robin Jongen who put a fender ahead at the line to take his first win of the year. Jongen’s crewchief is Darrell Eacott and his dad John won the 1974 Barrie title driving a car co-owned by Keith’s dad Ron McLeod.
As has been the case all season long, the night’s successes were a direct result of a hard working championship pit crew. After finishing the second heat, the crew discovered that the alternator bracket had failed and they quickly went about fixing that for the feature run. This season has been like that, with the crew often solving problems and making adjustments along the way and usually delivering the fastest car by feature time.
In victory lane Keith was presented with the track championship trophy by two of the Speedway’s ownership group, Dave Simpson and Jim Payetta. He took a moment to read over the names engraved on it, many of whom were childhood heros. Keith first attended races at the Oro oval as a babe in arms in 1967 and spent every summer Saturday night at the track until he was old enough to get behind the wheel himself.
This past Saturday he was able to celebrate with the whole family. His wife Jeanne is a constant supporter who plays an integral part on the team with responsibilities for keeping the car looking like new, tracking tires, results and lap times. His daughters Cassandra and Emily lead a growing contingent of young fans under the watchful eyes of his mother June (a former employee of Lewis Motors in Barrie) and her husband Gorman. His dad Ron drives up every weekend from London to work on the car and brother Rod helps out when he can as well.
There are a few McLeods on the team but the family is really extended to the whole crew. In the late 1980s when Keith couldn’t afford to race, he helped out with John Mombourquette on his car and after John’s back problems took him from an active role in racing he’s joined the team as a consultant. He brought with him his father-in-law Gary Tjepkema who worked for many years on John’s crew.
Wade Ellis joined the team in the latter part of the 2002 season and saw the team come close for the first time as they were in contention up to the last night of racing. He’s been a solid member of crew since then and was itching for the comeback in 2007 after a two year layoff.
This season saw the welcome addition of the Cook family to the crew. Glenn happened to be there as a spectator the first night when all hands were needed to solve some major engine problems and has been back every night since. His wife Ruthann and daughter Sara have also been pitching in all season.
This is also the first championship in the top class at Barrie for a Dodge motor. Billy Howard has provided Keith with Dodge power for many years and his own history at the Speedway goes all the way back to opening night in 1965 when his uncle Lloyd won the very first feature.
In the championship interview Keith thanked the whole crew and of course paid tribute to the excellent relationships he’s enjoyed with his sponsors The Look Company and Lewis Motor Sales.
“The Look Company returned to the team this season after our great run last year. Lewis Motor Sales also came back this year for their 5th season. I’m very happy to bring home a NASCAR championship to Ed and Debbie and everyone at The Look Company as well as Brad and the team at Lewis Motor Sales.” Keith said.
Keith will be representing The Look Company, Lewis Motor Sales and Barrie Speedway as the 2008 Champion at the NASCAR Whelen All American Series banquet on November 7 in Las Vegas.
x.jpg)
