@OSCAARRacing • (November 18, 2015)- After running a variety of open-wheel cars, A.J. Emms made the jump up to the Hoosier OSCAAR Modified division, driving for Allen Adams and ADAMS Motorsports. The move proved to be successful, as Emms would have a solid rookie campaign.
Emms would start off the year strong, finishing 10th in his debut at Sunset Speedway. He would then follow that up with an 11th place finish a couple weeks later.
As the series headed into the start of summer, Emms quickly proved that he’d be one of the drivers to watch this season. The tight quarter-mile known as Full Throttle Motor Speedway would treat him well as Emms had a solid day, posting a fifth place finish for his first top-five. He had hoped to continue the momentum at Delaware, but would post a DNF after being spun while running inside the top-five.
For Emms, the next four weeks produced a set of rocky results. He would post a eighth place finish at Sauble Speedway, but finished 14th at Peterborough Speedway due to a mechanical failure. He would finish ninth at Sunset Speedway in the summer, followed by a 13th at Flamboro Speedway.
The final four weeks were perhaps the most impressive for Emms, as he produced three top-five finishes.
The driver of the No. 99 Adams Home Comfort, Barrie Auto Flea Market, Dwinnels Family Movers, Wolseley Canada, TSS Top Shops, Duckworths Fish and Chips Orillia, Wix Filters, Klotz Canada, Heritage Heating Contractors Incorporated, Hastings Home Hardware, Whitechurch Towing, Accurate Industrial Liquid Waste Ltd, Kitchen Tire 2013, Morton Metals and Orillia Trim and Door kicked it off by finishing fourth in his return to FTMS, followed by a third at Delaware Speedway for his first career podium finish.
“It was pretty cool running with some top notch drivers up at the front including Cole Powell, who finished second,” Emms commented afterwards. “The last five-eight laps it felt like something broke in the car, almost like a tire going down, but we were able to bring it home to a solid third place finish, which the whole team is very proud of.”
Unfortunately, Emms would suffer a finish of 15th at Sunset’s Velocity 250 after a mid-race incident, but came back to finish the season strong with a fourth place finish at Peterborough.
Despite Emms and ADAMS Motorsprots headed in separate directions for 2016, it looks promising for both as success should come their way with what they have planned for their programs.
By: Ashley McCubbin