Peterborough Speedway’s Championship Celebration Closes a Great Season
As it has in seasons past, The Ranch Resort in Bethany, Ontario was the setting – Saturday, November 26th – for Peterborough Speedway’s annual banquet and award presentation.
Track owner and promoter J.P. Josiasse welcomed the crowd of racers, team owners and guests with his annual ‘State of the Speedway’ address that thanked the venue’s sponsors, including Dart Heating & Air Conditioning, Great Canadian RV, Pepsi, Lucas Oil, Battlefield Equipment Rentals, Earl Ireland Auto Sales, Paul Davis Systems, Hoosier Tire and Reinhart Trailers for their ongoing support over the years. First year backers Jiffy Lube, Kawartha Outdoor Décor and Trent Lakes Complete Plumbing were welcomed to the family.
Point fund awards were presented, with Jeremy Kelly acknowledged as the 2016 champion in the Battlefield Equipment Rental 4Fun division. Kelly was named the field’s most sportsmanlike driver, with Ryan Oosterholt’s #79 taking best appearing car, Shawn Solomon rookie of the year and Tara Lintner the most improved driver.
In the Jiffy Lube Mini Stock field, James Townsend took the honours for his first-place finish. The most sportsmanlike driver award went to Gil Brooks and the #34 machine of Kevin Strutt voted best appearing car. Tiffany Vandebelt and Erin Kearns were named rookie of the year and most improved driver respectively.
Chris Burrage accepted the hardware for his championship in the Trent Lakes Complete Plumbing Renegade Truck field. Last year’s champ Jack Dallin was named the most sportsmanlike driver, while Burrage also took the class best appearing truck award. Rookie of the year honours went to Doug Dallin, with Brandon Vennor voted the most improved driver.
After a pair of second place finishes, Howie Crowe’s performance during the year paid-off with the Paul Davis Systems Thunder Car title and the most sportsmanlike driver honour. The year’s best appearing car was the #15 of Rob Richards, with Nick Oram taking rookie of the year and Kyle Gordon named most improved driver.
A solid season behind the wheel of his #31W machine saw Rick Spencer take the crown in the Earl Ireland Auto Sales Late Model field. In memory of Terry Calvert, Tyler Betts – who waged one of year’s most intense feature race battles with Spencer-Walt – was named most sportsmanlike driver. Spencer-Walt had his equipment named best appearing car, while James Horner took the rookie of the year prize and Drew Stieler was voted as the most improved driver.
Battlefield Equipment Rental 4Fun: 1). Jeremy Kelly, 834. 2). Sean Kennedy, 808. 3). Ryan Oosterholt, 743. 4). Jake Kelly, 734. 5). Dave Feeney, 725.
Jiffy Lube Mini Stock: 1). James Townsend, 892. 2). Tyler Junkin, 862. 3). Kevin Strutt, 818. 4). Donovan Price, 777. 5). Tiffany Vandebelt, 750.
Trent Lakes Complete Plumbing Renegade Truck: 1). Chris Burrage, 559. 2). Jack Dallin, 522. 3). Doug Dallin, 496. 4). Stacy Bierworth, 492. 5). Stephen Bierworth, 482.
Paul Davis Systems Thunder Car: 1). Howie Crowe, 884. 2). Bailey Jacobs, 837. 3). Rob Richards, 801. 4). Nick Oram, 758. 5). Jessica Pasinetti, 757.
Earl Ireland Auto Sales Late Model: 1). Rick Spencer-Walt, 782. 2). Chris Mitchell, 769. 3). Tyler Betts, 757. 4). Mark Gordon, 731. 5). Jack Horner, 708.
Bullring bullet points: Peterborough Speedway will hold a driver’s meeting Sunday, December 4th in the Rogers Room at the Best Western Otonabee Inn, 84 Landsdowne Street East, in Peterborough. Registration will start at 12:30, with the meeting getting underway at 1:00.
The latest off-season news from Canada’s Toughest 3rd of a Mile Paved Oval is always available at www.peterboroughspeedway.com. Fans can also like the track on Facebook, follow it on Twitter and download the free Peterborough Speedway app for their Smartphone.
