The nights are still cold, but that hasn’t stopped officials at Canada’s toughest 1/3^rd mile asphalt oval from releasing an action-packed schedule of events for a hot spring, summer and fall season of racing. Peterborough Speedway owner/promoter J.P. Josiasse says it was important to get the word to race teams and fans as early as possible.

“Knowing when and where you’re going to run for the year can often be the final puzzle piece that needs to fit when it comes to signing a sponsor,” said Josiasse.  “Financial and product backing is an important part of short track racing and we’ve always been committed to giving our teams every possible advantage in that department.”

The year’s first green flag, presented by Country 105 – with free spectator grandstand admission – has been scheduled for Saturday, May 18^th but teams will have 3 chances to hit the track to fine-tune their equipment before the opening night.  A practice session has been booked for a 12:00 start Saturday, May 11^th with additional warm-up rounds planned to begin at 4:00 Tuesday and Thursday, May 14^th and 16^th.

With the Thunder Car division returning to the bullring on Mount Pleasant Road west of Peterborough for the first time since 2006 and new teams joining the ranks in the speedway’s other divisions, fans have already filled the internet forums with pre-season chatter that has track management excited about what’s in store for the next round of weekly wars.

“I’ve been responding to voicemail and e-mail messages since we waived the final checkered flag at Autumn Colours,” said Josiasse.  “Drivers are looking for changes to the rule book and asking to have registration forms sent.  It’s an exciting time of year, but we won’t actually know who’s coming until the opening night.”

For 2013, weekly racing at Peterborough Speedway will include Thunder Cars, Battlefield Four Fun, Peterborough Hyundai Mini Stocks, Moi Parry Spring Service Renegade Trucks and Vanguard Self Storage Late Models.  OSCAAR Super Late Model fans will have 2 regular season chances to see their favourites – on August 3^rd and August 24^th – with the upstart OSCAAR Modifieds on the bill for the first of the 2 events.

The Lucas Oil Sportsman Cup tour will run a 100 lapper Saturday, August 10^th.  Other special divisions on the calendar will include the Ontario Legends, Hurricane Midgets and TQ Midgets.  Peterborough Speedway’s highlight event of the year is the 21^st annual Autumn Colours Classic, October 11^th, 12^th and 13^th with battles in nearly every asphalt racing division in the province, including OSCAAR Super Late Models, Open Wheeled Modifieds, Pro Late Models, Hurricane Midgets and the track’s 5 regular classes.

Fans can get details of the full 2013 schedule, including the Fan Appreciation Nights with toonie grandstand admission – June 1^st, July 20^th and August 17^th – during the Durham Fast and Furious Motorsports Expo – Saturday and Sunday, April 6^th and 7^th – at the Grant B. Rickard Recreation Centre, 2440 Highway 2 in Bowmanville.

Follow Peterborough Speedway on Facebook or Twitter and be sure to bookmark www.peterboroughspeedway.com to keep up with the latest news throughout the year.