Putting it All on the Line for Peterborough Speedway Championship Clash
Central Ontario’s weekly racing divisions wrapped up the 2026 home track schedule with the Championship Clash, presented by APC Auto Parts Centres – Saturday, September 5th – at Peterborough Speedway.
Shannon Cappuccitti and Eldon Hughes brought the 19-car Battlefield Equipment Rental Bone Stock starting field to the green flag for the night’s opening 20-lap feature run. Hughes took the early lead, with title contender Jacob Stavropoulos taking the runner-up spot with 3 laps on the scoreboard. Reigning track champion and the current point leader Alex Dallaire used the outside line to take 3rd place just short of the halfway mark, as the leaders started to put slower traffic a lap down with a dozen laps complete. A late race yellow flag had the title contenders on the front row for a 3-lap shootout. Stavropoulos took the race win and clinched the 2026 championship to go with last year’s rookie of the year honours. Former track champion Shawn Solomon was 2nd, followed by Dallaire, Hughes and Steven Oakes.
Nadeau’s Collision Service Junior Late Model teams were next to tackle the popular Central Ontario oval, with Dylan Ephgrave and Avery Kirkpatrick on the front
row. A yellow flag with 4 laps complete slowed the pace and saw Owen Ephgrave take the race lead on the restart. Lapped traffic became an issue for the front runners with about a handful of circuits remaining but didn’t slow Owen Ephgrave who came into the race with the championship point lead and locked up the 2026 title with the feature event win. Dylan Ephgrave, Lyla Sikma, Kaiden Beatty and Avery Kirkpatrick completed the top 5.
Point leader John Lavalle and Cameron McGlashan paced the SwitchTire Mini Stock starting line-up to the green flag for the division’s season clinching 20-lap headliner. Lavalle took the early race lead, with McGlashan hanging onto 2nd for a handful of early laps before Coleridge Phinnemore took over the runner-up with 6 circuits complete. Slower traffic became an issue just before the halfway mark, with Phinnemore taking the lead as the crossed flags were displayed at the starter’s stand. The No. 80 machine led the 2nd half of the race and scored the win. Dave Bragg, John Lavalle, McGlashan and Matt McGrath rounded out the top 5. John Lavalle’s 3rd place finish clinched the 2026 track championship.
Kyle Abbott, originally credited with a 6th place finish was disqualified in post-race tech for use of an unapproved control arm.
With 30 laps to settle the score, Jacob Mercer and Doug Wills led the home track Late Model field from the staging area for a feature event. Mercer had the early lead,
with title contender moving into the runner up spot. A handful of laps were on the scoreboard when a yellow flag for a front stretch issue slowed the pace. Kimball took the race lead with 8 laps complete as point leader Dan McHattie took over 5th spot. A yellow flag for an incident in the 4th turn saw Ryan Kimball maintain his race lead with Kelly Balson moving into 2nd on the restart. McHattie was 3rd and moved into 2nd near the halfway mark. The final yellow flew with 21 laps complete, when McHattie got loose in the 2nd turn. The driver of the No. 71 car restarted under his own power, but hopes of a race win were gone. Kimball, Balson, Gerrit Tiemersma, Mercer and McHattie completed the top 5. On the way to victory lane, race winner Ryan Kimball and 2026 track champion Dan McHattie ran a side-by-side lap saluting the fans.
Shawn Murray and Scott Jacobs led the way as the Trent Lakes Complete Plumbing Renegade Truck field rolled out for a 20-lap feature. Jacobs led the early stages before Howie Crowe took over the spot with 6 laps on the scoreboard. Jack Dallin and Stacy Switzer cracked the top 5 near the halfway mark, with plenty of racing going on through the field. The top runners locked up their positions over the closing stages, with Crowe scoring the win. Jacobs, Dallin, Kyle Gordon and Stacy Switzer followed Howie Crowe to the checkered flag with Gordon clinching the track championship.
Herb Walters and Coltin Everingham were on the row for the 25-lap Super Stock feature. Walters took the early race lead, with Everingham on his tail. Bailey Jacobs
– who clinched the track championship earlier in the night – was running 7th at lap 10 and had advance to 6th just before the yellow flag flew with a baker’s dozen of laps complete. The No. 60 car moved into 3rd on the restart and was 2nd with 16 laps on the scoreboard. A final yellow flag brought the pack back together but didn’t change the race outcome. Walters picked up the win, with Jacobs, Everingham, Miles Tyson and Dylan Wills rounding out the top 5.
Bone Stock preliminary rounds went to reigning track champion Alex Dallaire and Shawn Dearmer. Avery Kirkpatrick and Lyla Sikma picked up the Junior Late Model qualifiers. Matt McGrath and Dave Bragg shared Mini Stock heat race checkered flags. Late Model heat races went to Dan McHattie and Kelly Balson. Scott Jacobs and Kyle Gordon had the Renegade Truck opening round victories. Bailey Jacobs clinched the 2026 track championship with the opening Super Stock qualifier win. Herb Walters had the 2nd Super Stock victory.
All finishing positions are unofficial, pending scoring review and post race inspection.
Bullring bullet points: With 6 divisions of racing on the agenda and track championships on the line, track officials elected to move the starting time to 4:00. The complete program – including a customary Supernova Fireworks display – was wrapped up before 8:30…There was another substantial payoff in the Kinsmen Club 50/50 draw, as Kim Jovanov of Cavan collected $ 1025.00…Peterborough Speedway management, staff and officials thank racers, fans and team members for their continued support during the 2026 regular season.
Plans are already being made for the 33rd edition of the Autumn Colours Classic, presented by B&G Towing and Recovery. Action for the 3-day Super Bowl of Stock Car Racing takes the green flag Friday, October 9th and continues through the Thanksgiving Weekend.
Head to www.peterboroughspeedway.com or the track’s social media pages and platforms for the latest news and schedule information.