Josh Stade Captures First APC United Late Model Series Championship

After years of dedication and perseverance, Josh Stade and the No. 17 Stade Motorsports team can finally call themselves champions. Stade clinched the 2025 APC United Late Model Series Championship, a goal he has chased since the tour’s inception.

For Stade, who has competed in the APC Series since its very first season, the championship represents the culmination of years of growth, development, and relentless effort from his family-owned team.

READ MORE: Shae Gemmell Wins Wild Castrol Great Canadian 300, Stade Crowned as APC Champion

“This is what we’ve been working for since day one,” said Stade. “It’s been a lot of late nights in the shop, a lot of hard work by everyone involved. We’ve really dialed in our program, and to see it all come together this year is just incredible.”

Stade’s season was defined by remarkable consistency and smart, “big-picture” racing. He became the only driver to finish inside the top five in all nine APC races this year, a feat unmatched by any competitor. Along the way, he also secured two pole awards, proving both his outright speed and his ability to execute on race day.

Momentum started early when Stade picked up a season-opening victory at Sunset Speedway, a win that set the tone for the year and gave the No. 17 team the drive they needed to push through the long summer stretch. From there, Stade and his crew focused on steady results, carefully managing races to stay in the title hunt.

“We’ve talked all year about racing with the big picture in mind,” Stade explained. “Every time we unloaded, the goal was to put ourselves in a position for a strong finish. Some nights we had a car to win, other nights we had to battle for every spot we could get. But we never gave up, and we never lost sight of the championship.”

The championship is not only a personal milestone for Stade but also a testament to the resilience and commitment of the entire Stade Motorsports organization and its partners.

“To finally bring home this championship means everything,” he said. “It’s a credit to my family, my crew, and our sponsors who have believed in us and stuck with us. This one is for all of them.”

With the APC title now secured, Stade’s name is etched into the history books of one of Canada’s most competitive racing series — a well-earned reward for a season defined by speed, grit, and consistency.

Stade’s 2025 Pro Late Model campaign is proudly backed by the steadfast support of the team’s long-time partners, including Canada Clean Fuels, Dayco, Canadian Flat Roof Systems, Vinny’s Masonry, Ferrier Contracting, Clear Water Shores Civil Engineering, Nicol Insurance, MEI Paving, Tiremaster, N.Piccolli Construction, Ryan Enright Co-operators, J Bumstead, JBM Electric, Langland Farms, APC, and Teeswater Concrete.

-Story by: Tracy Hoskins
-Photo credit: Canadian Motorsports Photography