Two of the Best from the West.

When it comes to Late Model Sedan racers in the west, they don’t come much better than Marc Giancola and Brad Blake.

Giancola has been one of the form drivers this year and would go in as one of the favorites for the Late Model Nationals, while Blake has struggled, or has he?

Blake to me is a bit like Max Dumesny in Sprintcars, if he doesn’t win ten times in a season and only wins twice or three times, it is seen as a poor year. So far he has been in contention to win nearly every event he has competed in this year, and apart from a couple where he experience mechanical problems, he has generally been in the top three.

I asked Blake has he been happy with his season so far. “Of course I’m happy with the season except for the motor problems I’ve had. Now that I’m a one man band with my business I’ve found it hard to find the money to run all the shows so I will pick and choose what I will be doing from now on.” He said from his business Blake Auto Centre this week.

But was he confident going in to this weekend? “Yep for a top three not the win. Jeep and Doug are the ones to catch I believe, and don’t get me wrong I want to win, but I’ve seen what Jeep can do in a racecar and I reckon he will lap the entire field, but if there is an opportunity, I will be ready to take this one out.”

Giancola has been the ‘find’ this year since spending some more time in his Late Model rather than his Super Sedan. He has been exceptionally consistent wherever he runs, but especially at the Motorplex. This has seen him running around the top of the series points for both the Champion Canopies Pro Dirt Late Model Series, and the Perth Motorplex points standings as well.

He, like Blake, believes the two Americans are the ones to watch. “I think I’m being realistic when I say that I doubt I will take the win. These two, Drown and Van Wormer are good and I believe I’m a chance for the top three, along with Blakey, but I think the car speed these two yanks will have will be pretty darn hard to keep up with.”

But he did have a warning for Van Wormer. “I’ve lent Jeep a car to get around in from the yard (Giancola Auto Sales) and if on the Friday night he makes me look to stupid, he will be walking to the Motorplex on the second night let me tell you.” He said with a laugh.

Both these drivers are fierce competitors on the track, and personally I think they are selling themselves a little short. But who knows? The only way to find out is to be at the Late Model Nationals this weekend to see just what they can do about the ‘American Invasion’.