The winter that wouldn’t end is dead, buried and gone.  Spring has arrived and another season of action on Canada’s Toughest 3rd of a Mile Paved Oval is just over a month away.  Excited race fans throughout Central Ontario are counting the days until Peterborough Speedway’s 2014 opening night.

The place will be packed to the rafters when things kick-off for the new campaign with the Country 105 season opener – featuring free spectator grandstand admission – Saturday, May 17th.  Pit gates open at 2:00, with grandstands unlocked at 4:00 and the year’s first green flag at 6:00.  Track owner/promoter J.P. Josiasse says the first show of the season is always the culmination of a lot of hard work through the winter months.

“We’re running wide open starting a couple of days after the final checkered flag of Autumn Colours,” said Josiasse.  “There has always been the misconception that we lock the gates in October and open them up again in May, but that’s far from the case.  We might not always be at the track, but that doesn’t mean we’re not working on scheduling, putting together sponsorship packages and taking care of registration for some new drivers and teams.  Getting things ready for the next season is a full time job all its own.”

When the first green flag flies, fans will see some familiar faces in different places.  2013 Thunder Car point runner-up Matt Spence will be part of the Late Model field.  The Bailieboro, Ontario speedster acquired a car from former track champion Bryan Sudsbury and will revert to #92, the same number he campaigned earlier in his career at the track.  Amanda Connolly – a former race winner on the Lucas Oil Sportsman Cup Series and 2009 Peterborough Late Model champion – will slide into the Late Model ride vacated by her fiancé Kelly Balson’s move to the OSCAAR Outlaw Super Late Model, taking her #16 to the potent DMR Chevrolet.  Balson will return to his familiar stomping grounds when the popular series visits Saturday, August 2nd, Saturday, August 30th with the Touring Chase for the Colours pole qualifying and October 11th and 12th during the 22nd Annual Autumn Colours Classic.

Fans can see some of the cars from Peterborough Speedway and pick-up a 2014 track schedule during this year’s racing preview event – Monday, April 28th to Sunday, May 4th – at Lindsay Square.  Depending on personal schedules, some of the track’s drivers could also be on hand to talk about their machines and sign autographs.  Track officials will also have some exciting news to release about this year’s season in the weeks to come.

Peterborough Speedway’s 2014 campaign takes the green flag with the Country 105 Season Opener – with free spectator grandstand admission – Saturday, May 17th.  Fans will enjoy a full night of racing, plus an on-track autograph session.  Gates open at 4:00, with racing at 6:00.  There will also be Toonie Admission nights – presented by Pepsi – Saturday, May 31st, July 19th and August 16th.  Grandstand gates open at 5:00, with the first heat race rolling from the staging area at 6:00.  

The highlight of every agenda at Canada’s Toughest 3rd of a Mile Oval is the annual running of the Autumn Colours Classic, presented by Lucas Oil Products.  This year’s edition hits the track October 10th, 11th and 12th.

Fans can always find the latest news at www.peterboroughspeedway.com or following the track on Facebook or Twitter.  You can also download the free Peterborough Speedway app on your Smartphone.

Photo attachment:  Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media

After finishing 3rd in the final 2013 Mini Stock point standings, Ryan Babin (#89) is looking forward to the new campaign at Peterborough Speedway.  Canada’s Toughest 3d of a Mile Paved Oval opens for 2014 Saturday, May 17th.