When Connor James announced his return to the Ontario Sportsman Series, you knew it would not be long before the former champion would wind up back in victory lane. Connor’s #4 Airedale Carriers/Islip Flow Controls Camaro was fast during time trials, taking home his first WMI Pole Award of the season. Sunset provided the return for some names to the series as the #17 of Chris Sherrah made his season debut, while Billy Zardo would be in his series debut in the #3 for Tim Tolton’s Black Magic Racing. Following the two practices however, the #3 would be sidelined with a mechanical failure, ultimately resulting in not being able to start the Sunset 100, a devastating blow for the weekly Sunset competitor. Connor James also had a mechanical issue following time trials resulting in a loss of four positions to start the race, meaning, Cory McAllister and Brendan Patrick would start on the front row. Cory McAllister jumped into the early lead over Patrick, while Brendan Patrick settled in second, and Brad Robinson in third. Twenty Three laps is all Chris Sherrah’s car was able to muster, as he pulled off and called it a night, with a mechanical failure. Sean Mangin was the next to have trouble as contact with the wall resulted in broken parts and an early exit for the Brimstone Games #47 Dodge. McAllister’s lead shrank by lap 45, and then on lap 48 he was passed by Connor James for the lead. Disaster struck the Two Speed Motorsports #71 Camaro on lap 49 as he spun in turn three, a result of another mechanical gremlin, ending his promising night. It wasn’t all bad for McAllister, as the early leader grabbed a beverage from a fan in Sunset’s beer garden, and rode his #71 back to the pits. From lap 50 onwards, it was the Connor James show, but Brendan Patrick didn’t let him stray too far away. Veteran Chad McGlynn fought by Brad Robinson into third, and the #44 Muskoka Jet Ski Rentals Chevy fell back as mechanical difficulties lead to an ill handling car, and he was passed by Mike Hryniuk Jr., Doug Cathcart, and young rookie Ollie Ferguson. The #55 Tile Plus/MBRP Chevrolet was one of the highlights, as thirteen year old Ollie, in his second OSS start, rallied from eleventh on the grid to race cleanly by his competitors up to the seventh spot, which quickly became sixth, as Doug Cathcart & Kevin Trevellin made contact, resulting in a wicked save for the 2022 Champion in a trip through the grass. Connor James held contently onto the lead, but Brendan Patrick kept him honest, and in the end, the laps ran out, with Connor James taking the Sunset 100 over Patrick, Chad McGlynn, Michael Hryniuk Jr., and Doug Cathcart. Ollie Ferguson finished sixth, Brad Robinson in seventh, followed by Kevin Trevellin, Mark Patrick, and Cory McAllister. Connor’s emotion in victory lane could not be beat, as it was evident the desire to win has never left the 24 year old pilot of the #4. The Ontario Sportsman Series will have a new point leader following the Sunset 100, by one, and it is the Airedale Carriers Inc. #4 of Connor James, over the #8 Kilton Inc./Marken Performance Ford of Chad McGlynn. The Sunset 100 Presented by SWC Somal Watches & Clocks, Wise Water Solutions, RBC Mapleview & Vaughan Chrysler. The series heads back to Sauble Speedway for the first time since 2021 on July 1!