Growing up, most people were taught that it didn’t matter if they won or lost, as long as they tried their best. It’s a great idea in theory, but almost impossible to put into practice.

Adam Cuthbertson is used to winning races. With the 2009 and 2010 Ontario Legends Series point championships on his resume, the 27 year old is no stranger to posing for photos in victory lane. Even though he has yet to claim a main event checkered flag in Peterborough Speedway’s Late Model division, the native of Uxbridge – who now makes his home in Omemee, Ontario with wife, Sarah – says he knows it’s only a matter of time before he makes an appearance in the winner’s circle at the tight, tricky circuit known as Canada’s Toughest 3^rd of a Mile Paved Oval.

“We’ve just finished our second season in the Late Model and the races we ran in 2013 – even though we finished 7^th in points – were more about getting used to the bigger, heavier and faster car than they were about charging to the front,” said Cuthbertson. “Being able to earn a runner-up finish in the points a couple of years after our first green flag speaks volumes for the equipment the team was able to give me week after week; especially with such a deep talent pool in the division.”

Away from the track, Adam Cuthbertson enjoys adrenaline-building hobbies like water skiing, downhill skiing and hunting. He describes the rush he gets there in the same vein as the challenge that comes with strapping-in behind the wheel of his racecar. The driver who has scored at least one main event checkered flag on every track on the Legends Series says his main goal is to improve week after week, race after race.

“My career is where it is today because of what I did in the other division,” said Cuthbertson, who works as an aircraft mechanical engineer at Flying Colours Corporation. “I had some excellent runs with my brother Wes and the others over the years. I think it’s only a matter of time before we’re able to transition the level of success we had in the Legends Series to our Late Model program.”

Like most competitors in the world of short track motorsports, Adam Cuthbertson’s program has a strong contingent of family, friends and fans who regularly step-up to the plate to offer their support. Behind the scenes and at the racetrack, his equipment is prepared and maintained by his father and crew chief, Andrew Cuthbertson, brother in-law Jeff McKibbon, Andrew Laba, Wes Cuthbertson and raceday spotter Rick Cook. The car’s number is derived from 179, used by his uncle as a snowmobile racer and then shortened to 79 on the Legend car and revised again to the #17 he uses today.

Adam Cuthbertson would like to thank sponsors Flying Colours Corporation, Can Rack Metal Centre Systems and NAPA Auto Parts for their backing during the 2014 season. Fans can follow the #17 Late Model team at www.facebook.com/Cuthbertsonracing.