As the mercury continued to climb, so did the level of racing excitement as the APC Pro Late Model Series joined the Battlefield Equipment Rental 4Fun, Paul Davis Systems Thunder Car and OSCAAR Midget divisions – Saturday, July 18^th – at Peterborough Speedway.

Feature race action got underway with a 20 lap tilt for the Battlefield Equipment Rental 4Fun teams, with Keith Parkes and Matthew Vanderbelt on the front row. Vanderbelt – who has endured some tough luck after a win earlier in the year – took control, but had Ryan Oosterholt on his back bumper. Just short of halfway, the leaders started to work through lapped traffic but the Farm Bro teammates showed their strength. With a dozen circuits complete, several cars came together in the first and second turns and the yellow flag flew for debris. Vanderbelt watched the fight for position take place in his rear-view mirror on his way to visiting Dart Heating and Air Conditioning Victory Lane. Ray Schroer, Sean Kennedy, Jeremy Kelly and Oosterholt completing the top 5.

OSCAAR Midget division pilots took the Great Canadian RV green flag with Brian Woodland and Mike McLaughlin leading the way. The 25 lapper had barely taken the green flag when the red was displayed for a multi-car wreck on the backstretch. Even though 2 cars flipped, all drivers were unhurt. Jody Bound took the top spot on the restart, with Jessica James in the runner-up position. The leaders caught the tail-end of the field with 7 laps on the scoreboard. James started to fight for the lead at halfway, as the yellow flag flew for debris. She took the lead when the green flag flew again, but a late race caution may have been her undoing as the #2 machine headed pit-side before the field came back up to speed. Jamie Bound claimed the main event over Paul Draganac, Rob McColl, Jody Bound and Cory Whittam.

Defending track champion Anthony DiBello and Steve Mayhew paced the pack to the stripe for the 20 lap Paul Davis Systems Thunder Car feature. The pair ran nose to tail for nearly the entire race distance, with Howie Crowe on their back bumpers. A late race yellow bunched the field and created the need for a green, white checkered finish but it didn’t stop DiBello from taking another feature event win. Crowe, Dave Doucette, Bailey Jacobs and Rob Richards completed the fast 5.

The night’s final feature event was the much anticipated 100 lap Peterborough Speedway debut for the APC Pro Late Model Series, with Josh Stade and Shawn Chenoweth on the front row. Unofficially, the top 5 finishers were Chenoweth, Dale Shaw, Dan McHattie, Linc Brown and J.R. Fitzpatrick. See www.apcracingseries.com for the full event report.

Qualifying heats earlier in the evening went to Battlefield Equipment Rental 4Fun drivers Ray Schroer, last week’s feature winner Sean Kennedy, Tiffany Vandebelt and Cody Fenton. Defending track champion Anthony DiBello, Rob Richards, rookie of the year hopeful Bailey Jacobs and Steve Mayhew took the Paul Davis Systems Thunder Car preliminary rounds. Jamie Bound and Jessica James each scored a pair of OSCAAR Midget heat races. Rob Ross took the division’s ‘B’ main last chance qualifier.

Bullring bullet points: Drew Styler of Bracebridge, Ontario took home nearly $1100.00 in the night’s 50/50 draw…Dave Doucette made his first Peterborough Speedway start of the season. Adam Misener, who ran the 2014 Autumn Colours Classic made the tow from North Bay, Ontario but his effort was sidelined by mechanical issues without taking a green flag.

Action returns to Canada’s Toughest 3^rd of a Mile Paved Oval Saturday, July 25^th when Country 105 presents the Mid-Summer Bash with the Renegade Truck, Paul Davis Systems Thunder Car, Earl Ireland Auto Sales Late Model and Ontario Modifieds Racing Series divisions and a 100 lap endurance event. Pit gates open at 3:00, with the spectator grandstand unlocked at 5:00 and the first green flag at 6:00.