The edge of your seat motorsports brand that is the Ontario Modifieds Racing Series – powered by Torque Builders Inc. – is getting ready to take the year’s first green flag and all indications point to this being the best season in the group’s brief history. With just short of a dozen events – split between Peterborough and Flamboro Speedways – OMRS officials are looking to continue the strong showings and impressive action from the 2014 calendar.

With the year’s first show – the second annual Modified Spring Shakedown Invitational – Saturday, May 2^nd at Flamboro Speedway just a few weeks away, drivers and teams are going through their final pre-season checklists to make sure they’re ready to take the first step toward the 2015 series championship. Spokesperson Randy Hollingsworth – who along with Bill Pickford and Richard Warnes make-up the OMRS tour officials – says that getting a strong start can help pave the way to a great season.

“We have a strong line-up of returnees and some very talented newcomers scheduled to run with us this year,” said Hollingsworth. “Many of the drivers who’ll be taking their first green flag with OMRS this year have a strong Peterborough Speedway connection and while an open-wheeled modified won’t perform like the machines they’re used to, we expect first year pilots like Willow Barberstock, Donny Beatty and a team effort shared by Ryan Babin and Christopher Mulders to charge to the front of the pack. Three of the 4 of them already have track championships on their resume, so they clearly know something about the quick way of getting around that place.”

In the last week or so, series officials have also learned that a 2 car team that has a connection to Canada’s Toughest 3^rd of a Mile Paved Oval will join the tour’s ranks. Josh Gruntz – who ran selected OMRS events and has helped Ryan Dick in the past – has joined forces with former Kawartha and Peterborough Speedway Thunder Car runner Jamie Wagar for all the shows on this year’s agenda. Backed by Ultimate Car Care, Oktane Productions, Triben Entertainment, Dent Dynamics and Top-Side Chassis, the #32 ride will contend for the 2015 Rookie of the Year award.

“We’ve had the same mission statement – providing a competitive, affordable series for racers, by racers – since this program began with a handful of annual events at the former Mosport/Canadian Tire Motorsport Park Speedway oval,” said Hollingsworth. “It’s great to see so many quality drivers and teams buying into the brand and giving the fans a great show whenever and wherever we race.”