Rainout Tightens Peterborough Speedway’s Championship Point Battles
What was originally scheduled as the year’s 3rd and final Toonie Spectator Grandstand Admission/Fan Appreciation Night fell victim to an all-out assault by Mother Nature Saturday, August 16th. Now, there are just a pair of regular season events remaining on Peterborough Speedway’s 2014 schedule before the track titles are decided at the championship clash Saturday, August 30th on Canada’s Toughest 3rd of a Mile Paved Oval.
“It’s a shame to lose Fan Appreciation Night because we know how much everyone – including the drivers and teams – looks forward to meeting the drivers. It does create some interesting possibilities for the next couple of weeks of racing,” said track owner/promoter J.P. Josiasse. “Each of our 5 regular divisions – with the exception of the Mini Stocks – will get 2 nights of action to improve their point standing position.”
A strong start and consistency throughout the year has Ryan Kimball and Jack Dallin in position to clinch the Earl Ireland Auto Sales Late Model and Parry Spring Service Renegade Truck track championships. Kimball enjoys a 66 point cushion over Adam Cuthbertson, while Dallin is less than 20 markers ahead of last year’s pick-up titlist, Bill O’Hara. Willow Barberstock leads the Battlefield Equipment Rental 4Fun standings by 14 points over Ray Schroer, while Matthew Vanderbelt sits 3rd, 41 notches behind the leader. A late season car change – from ‘The Bus’ to ‘Black Magic’ has Howie Crowe at the top of the Paul Davis Systems Thunder Car charge, but by only 5 points over Anthony DiBello. The #40 car and new driver Stu Robinson Jr. is 3rd, with 661 points.
The Peterborough Hyundai Mini Stocks will get one shot – Saturday, August 30th – to settle the score and right now, it’s a dead heat in the champion chase, as Tyler Junkin and Ryan Babin are tied, each with 691 points. James Townsend sits 3rd, 31 points out of the top spot.
Next action on the agenda for Canada’s Toughest 3rd of a Mile Paved Oval takes place Saturday, August 23rd with the Battlefield Equipment Rental 4Fun, Parry Spring Service Renegade Truck, Paul Davis Systems Thunder Car, Earl Ireland Auto Sales Late Model and Inex Ontario Legend divisions, with kid’s barrel races at intermission. Pit gates open at 3:00, with the spectator grandstands unlocked at 5:00 and racing starting at 6:00.
Looking ahead on the schedule to Saturday, August 30th, the Championship Clash will feature Battlefield Equipment Rental 4Fun, Peterborough Hyundai Mini Stock, Parry Spring Service Renegade Truck, Paul Davis Systems Thunder Car, Earl Ireland Auto Sales Late Model and the always popular OSCAAR Outlaw Super Late Model racing. Please check posted and printed schedules for revised start times.
Fans can always find the latest news at www.peterboroughspeedway.com or by liking the track on Facebook or following it on Twitter. You can also download the free Peterborough Speedway app on your Smartphone.