Story By: JIM CLARKE / PETERBOROUGH SPEEDWAY – PETERBOROUGH, ONT – Another month of action on the 2024 schedule wrapped-up as Tirecraft presented a full night of racing, including the Ontario Sportsman Series – Saturday, July 27th – at Peterborough Speedway.
The evening’s program got underway with a holdover Kingsway Auto Centre Pro Junior Late Model feature from an earlier rainout that saw Lyla Sikma and Lucas Cousineau on the front row. Sikma took the early lead, with Carson and Lucas Cousineau battling behind her. Lucas Finnegan would take the lead a couple of laps after the race’s first caution flag and hold in through a battle with slower cars as the driver of the No. 26 picked up another main event win. Landon Sellers, Brayen Cappuccitti, Carson and Lucas Cousineau completed the top 5.
Kyle Gordon and Marlie Owen brought the Jiffy Lube Super Stock field to the Great Canadian RV green flag for the 2nd of the night’s holdover main events. Kyle Gordon grabbed the early lead, with his father Mark and Owen battling for the runner-up position. The trio took off in a 3-car breakaway as the 20-lap headliner ran from green flag to checkered without a yellow. Kyle Gordon picked-up the win over his father, with Owen, Donovan Price and Nick Oram rounding-out the top 5.
Johnnie McIntyre and Tegan Stanley showed the way as the Battlefield Equipment Rental Bone Stockers left the staging area for their 20-lap feature tilt. McIntyre was the early race leader before surrendering the top spot to Stanley with less than a handful of laps on the scoreboard. Stanley, Victoria McLenon, Sean Kennedy, Angelo Novis and John Bates were the top-5 at halfway. A reg flag flew after Sam Arnott lost a front tire and did a slow roll in the 3rd turn. The driver was unhurt, but the No. 04 car was unable to continue. Stanley held-off a late race challenge from Kennedy to take the win. Alex Dallaire, Novis and Bates were next across the line.
Kingsway Junior Late Model teams were next to the line, with Gracelynn MacInnes and Wyatt Beatty on the front row. Wheeling her No. 8 machine, MacInnes was the leader from the original start and was working through the backmarkers with about a handful of laps complete. A yellow flag for an issue in the 2nd turn might have slowed the pace but couldn’t keep MacInnes from victory lane. Beatty, Lakelyn Junkin, Carter Cappuccitti and Praxton Sellers completed the top 5.
Mike Homewood and Jason Metcalfe were on the front row when the Outlaw Midget Series teams took the green flag. Metcalfe – who scored the checkered flag during the first Peterborough start for the tour this year – was the early race leader but lost the spot to Homewood with only a single circuit remaining in the 20-lap headliner. Metcalfe held on for 2nd, with Derek Millman, Glenn Raymond and Kevin Spiesz chasing the lead duo across the stripe.
Hudson Sellers and Brayden Cappuccitti brought the Pro Junior Late Models to the line for their nightcap. Hudson Sellers led the way early, with Landon Sellers moving into 2nd place. The pack started to encounter lapped traffic with around 10 laps on the board and saw the race pace slowed with a dozen circuits complete. Lucas Finnegan – who had picked-up a checkered flag earlier in the night – added another win to his resume. Landon Sellers, Lucas Cousineau, Hudson Sellers and Cappuccitti were next across the line.
Making his first Ontario Sportsman Series start since taking over the No. 71 ride for Cory McAllister, former tour champion Connor James set fast time and then led every second of the 100 lap main event. With less than a dozen laps complete, James had about a 10-car length advantage over the 2nd place car. A pair of yellow flags – with 41 and then 66 laps complete – may have slowed the pace but couldn’t keep James from the victory. With 10 laps remaining, he’d built-up a straightaway’s advantage over his closest competition. Lindsay’s Ollie Ferguson picked-up the 2nd place finish, with Brendan Patrick, Shawn McGlynn and Derek McCullough completed the top 5.
All finishing positions are unofficial and subject to scoring review and post-race inspection. From tech lane this week, the No. 04 Bone Stock of Samuel Arnott – who had crashed during the division’s main event – was disqualified due to unsecured weight that was found as the car was being towed from the crash site.
Bullring bullet points: With the scheduled 6:00 start time adjusted to 5:30 to accommodate the added holdover feature events and the 100-lap Ontario Sportsman Series race, the Pro Junior Late Model teams were lined-up on the front stretch when staff and officials were alerted to an emergency situation near the main entrance. A fan had suffered what was believed to be a heart attack. Racing was delayed by more than an hour for provincial rescue crews to arrive, handle and clear the scene. At last report, the individual had been taken to hospital and was being held overnight for examination…Because of the unforeseen delay, local Super Stock and Late Model feature events were affected by the track’s 11:00 curfew and will be made-up at a later date.
Action continues Saturday, August 3rd as Peterborough Speedway welcomes the OSCAAR Hot Rod and Modified divisions to join the home track Bone Stock, Mini Stock and Renegade Truck divisions. Kid’s Rides will be the weekly intermission feature. Grandstand gates will open at 4:00 for a free trackside corn roast, with racing at 6:00.
