By Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media

With weather conditions that were more reminiscent of mid spring than the second weekend of October, the 24th Annual edition of the Autumn Colours Classic – presented by Lucas Oil Products – rolled from Peterborough Speedway’s pit road staging area filled with hope and enthusiasm.

For the second season in a row, the APC Auto Parts Young Guns Showdown races put tomorrow’s stars in the spotlight. Close to 10 teams – comprised of drivers 21 and under – took to Canada’s Toughest 3rd of a Mile Paved Oval in Mini Stock machines for a 20 lap shootout. Cayden Lapcevich took the win over Miles Tyson, Brandon McFarren, Nick Clarke and Brandt Graham. 15 drivers, 25 and younger hit the track in the Thunder Car portion of the event, with Lane Zardo rolling into Dart Heating & Air Conditioning Victory Lane, over Miles Tyson, Treyton Lapcevich, Jordan Howse and Jade Franklin.

The first round of qualifying helped set the starting field for the Sunday afternoon main events, with Mat Box and Dwayne Baker taking the Pro Late Model checkered flags. Chris Allard, Warren Paxton and Kevin Strutt took the same honours in the Jiffy Lube Mini Stocks. Luke Gignac, A.J. Emms and Cory Horner took the OSCAAR Modified preliminary rounds. Jason Praysner, Brandon Passer, Joe Adams and Nick Roth captured the Paul Davis Systems Thunder Car heats. 2016 NASCAR Pinty’s Series champion Cayden Lapcevich, former Peterborough Speedway track champion Craig Graham and Autumn Colours Classic winner Ryan Kimball scored Earl Ireland Auto Sales Late Model wins, with Nathan Mitchell, Ryan Oosterholt and Malcolm ‘Pops’ MacDonald claimed the Battlefield Equipment Rental 4Fun victories.

Bullring Bullet Points: On opening night of the weekend, the 50/50 draw paid more than $560 to a lucky fan…A trio of red flags was required to allow track official the opportunity to clean-up on track incidents. No drivers were injured…Fans got to see close to 180 different machines to kick-off the first night of action, with more to come throughout the weekend.

Action at the Super Bowl of Stock Car Racing continues Saturday, October 8th with the qualifying for the OSCAAR Outlaw Super Late Models, Midgets and Pro Midgets; as well as the Trailers Plus INEX Ontario Legends. Second round heats for the Pro Late Model, Paul Davis Systems Thunder Car, OSCAAR Mod, Earl Ireland Auto Sales Late Model, Jiffy Lube Mini Stock and Battlefield Equipment Rental 4Fun divisions. The show will conclude with the Midget and Pro Midget features, Mini Stock, Late Model and 4Fun ‘B’ main events. Pit gates open at 10:00, with the spectator grandstands unlocked at 1:00 and the day’s first green flag at 3:30.

Full schedule details for the annual Super Bowl of Stock Car Racing – along with up to the minute news and results – are always available at www.peterboroughspeedway.com and selecting ‘Autumn Colours’ from the drop-down choices. You can also like the track on Facebook or follow it on Twitter. Fans can download the free Peterborough Speedway app for their Smartphone.