To Play Nice, or Not to Play Nice; That is the Question
Short track stock car racing can be an emotional stage and emotions help fuel its intensity and create rivalries. A driver who will be your best friend and do anything to help you in the pit area or your garage will be just as committed to grabbing a win once the belts are fastened and the green flag flies.
Whether you know it as “Canada’s Toughest 3rd of a Mile Paved Oval”, the “tight, tricky bullring on Mount Pleasant Road, west of the Liftlock City” or the name fans see on the roadside sign as they enter the property every Saturday night, Peterborough Speedway is famous for action. Things happen in a hurry and when they do, it’s very seldom that just one car is involved. Since the invention of social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and even YouTube, the chatter, finger pointing and name calli will often last well after the checkered flag has been thrown. Track owner/promoter J.P. Josiasse says it’s that level of excitement has kept fans coming back for over 40 years.
“Some nights there will be more yellow flags than others and there really isn’t anything we can do about it,” said Josiasse. “Most of the fans come to see good, clean, close racing but there will always be some who love watching the crashes most of all. It’s the nature of the sport, especially on a track this size.”
The Late Model division has been the class to watch so far this season, with 3 different winners in as many races. Norwood, Ontario’s Ryan Kimball started things off with a trip to Dart Heating and Air Conditioning Victory Lane and hasn’t finished any worse than 3rd ever since. In his first full season wheeling the Janzen Racing/The Landing Strip/Mayhew Graphics #73 machine, Kimball – who won last year’s Chase for the Colours pole qualifying event – has to be considered as an early favourite for the track championship.
Next up on Peterborough Speedway’s 2014 schedule is the Saturday, June 7th event featuring the Battlefield Equipment Rental 4Fun, Peterborough Hyundai Mini Stock, Parry Spring Service Renegade Truck and Earl Ireland Auto Sales Late Model teams. The Ontario Modifieds Racing Series will also be on hand for the second leg of their back-to-back shows and the first running of King of the Hill for the new season.
Pit gates will open at 3:00, with the spectator grandstands unlocked at 5:00 and the night’s first green flag at 6:00. Fans can always find the latest news at www.peterboroughspeedway.com or follow the track on Facebook or Twitter. You can also download the free Peterborough Speedway app on your Smartphone.