Story By: JIM CLARKE / PETERBOROUGH SPEEDWAY – PETERBOROUGH, ONT – Whether you prefer the tag line ‘Canada’s Toughest 3rd Mile Oval’ or the ‘Tight, Tricky Bullring on Mount Pleasant Road’, Peterborough Speedway’s 2021 calendar has something for everyone.
Subject to provincial government COVID-19 guidelines, the year is planned to get underway Saturday, May 22nd with the Country 105 Season Opener, featuring free spectator grandstand admission. The lid-lifter will play host to the Battlefield Equipment Rental Bone Stock, Jiffy Lube Mini Stock, Trent Lakes Complete Plumbing Renegade Truck, Late Model and Trailers Plus Ontario Legend divisions – with a fan appreciation autograph session at intermission. Racing starts at 5:00.
“Everyone is excited to be talking about the new season of action,” said track owner and promoter J.P. Josiasse. “Like everyone else, we’re waiting on approval from the province, but our promotional team wanted to get the ball rolling now and make sure everything is ready to go when the green flag flies.”
While local and regional racers have fueled the success of the popular Central Ontario oval for more than half a century, fans at Peterborough Speedway are annually treated to some of the country’s top touring series. Pending government approval required to run the full schedule, the OSCAAR Hot Rod and Modified, Ontario Sportsman Series, APC Super Stocks, Can Am TQ Midgets, Ontario Modifieds Racing Series and Outlaw Super Late Model teams will be part of this year’s line-up.
“We’re thrilled to have this year’s edition of the Canadian Legend Asphalt Nationals on the schedule,” said Josiasse. “The 2-day event – August 28th and 29th – will also include many of our weekly divisions, plus the Outlaw Midgets and OSCAAR Hot Rods. Of course, the season will wrap-up with a Peterborough Speedway tradition – the 28th Annual Autumn Colours Classic – October 8th, 9th and 10th.”
Ideally, Peterborough Speedway would like to run the originally proposed 16 event regular season, plus Autumn Colours in 2021 but understand that might not be possible because of COVID 19 restrictions. Track management and promotional personnel are also looking at another option they’re calling ‘Plan B’, that would see the regular schedule start in early June and run every other week until Labour Day. Keeping the safety of fans, staff, drivers and race teams in mind, there will some form of racing this year. Realistically, it could even be following a yet to be developed ‘Plan C’ proposition.
Peterborough Speedway’s complete 2021 schedule will have its official release in the weeks to come.
