A new month of action took the green flag with a Double Toonie Fan Appreciation Night, presented by Pepsi – Saturday, July 1^st – at Peterborough Speedway.

Nolan Gould and Ember Junkin brought the SwitchTire Mini Stock to the Great Canadian RV green flag to kick-off the night’s feature race action. One of the strongest runners in any of the track’s weekly divisions, Gould took an early lead with John Lavalle moving into the runner-up spot, while Junkin dropped back to 3^rd. Rob Crick and the most recent Mini Stock winner Chris Tubman had rounded-out the top 5 when the yellow flag, for an issue in the 2^nd turn slowed the pace with 8 laps on the scoreboard. Just a few laps after the restart, Tubman moved into 3^rd and then 2^nd, but the field was chasing Nolan Gould who had moved out to an advantage of half a straightaway. The No. 28G machine scored the win over Tubman, Lavalle, Junkin and Crick.

Trent Lakes Complete Plumbing Renegade Truck teams rolled from the staging area with Chad Strawn and Shawn Murray on the front row for a 20-lap feature tilt. Strawn took the lead at the drop of the green flag, with Murray tucked-in behind. Stacy Switzer was enjoying a strong run, while the most recent Renegade Truck winner Kyle Gordon took a spot inside the top 5 with 7 circuits complete. The lead group caught the tail of the field just short of the halfway mark, but there was no catching Strawn who earned another trip to Dart Heating & Air Conditioning victory lane. Gordon, Jordan DesRoches, Paul Boundy and Switzer competed the top 5.

Another solid pack of KOD Disposal Late Model teams came to the green flag with Doug Wills and Rino Montanari leading the 30-lap ‘A’ main. Once again, the Late Model field had close to 20 entries, as James Horner claimed the top spot early. As the pack started to work through some of the backmarkers, Jacob Mercer gained ground on Horner. As the pair was battling for the lead, the race’s first caution flag waved for an issue on the backstretch, with 17 laps complete. Derek Lynch moved into 2^nd on the restart with Brandt Graham 3^rd and Mercer falling back to 4^th. Following a lap 24 caution, Graham held-down the runner-up spot, with Ryan Kimball on his rear bumper. The top cars were bunched tightly together when the final caution flag changed everything and created a green, white checkered shootout. Kimball claimed the lead, leading to the win. Mercer, Lynch, Tim Batty and Dan McHattie rounded-out the top 5.

With Mark Gordon and Marlie Owen on the front row, Jiffy Lube Super Stock teams came to the line for a 20-lap feature. Gordon held the advantage from his inside front row starting spot, with Brandon Feeney chasing the No. 52 machine around Canada’s Toughest 3^rd Mile. Paul Boundy moved into the 3^rd spot, with Miles Tyson taking 4^th before claiming 3^rd from Boundy with just over a handful of laps complete. At the halfway mark, the lead trio had broken away from the field, with Tyson moving into the runner-up spot before wrestling the lead away from Gordon at the white flag. Gordon, Feeney, Owen and Boundy followed Tyson across the stripe.

Canada Day racing wrapped-up with a Battlefield Equipment Rental Bone Stock feature that Victoria McLenon and Tegan Stanley leading the pack. McLenon had a few strong laps at the front before Sean Kennedy took control. Stanley was giving Kennedy all he could handle as the pair swapped the top 2 spots lap after lap. Slower traffic became an issue with a baker’s dozen of laps complete. Stanley was strong in the outside lane, but not strong enough to get around Kennedy as the No. 9 machine claimed another 2023 feature win. Stanley, Mark Griffin, McLenon and Christen Lavalle chased Sean Kennedy to the checkered flag.

Nolan Gould had a pair of Mini Stock heat wins, with John Lavalle and Erin Kearns taking the others. Shawn Murray, Kyle Gordon, Stacy Switzer and Chad Strawn shared the Renegade Truck preliminary round checkered flags, while former track champions Dan McHattie and Ryan Kimball each had a pair of Late Model qualifying wins. Miles Tyson and Mark Gordon took wins in Super Stock opening rounds, with Jacob Kelly, Sean Kennedy, Tegan Stanley and Zachary Cheng earning Bone Stock heat race victories.

All finishing positions are unofficial, pending scoring review as well as post race safety and technical inspection.

Bullring bullet points: Perhaps it was due to the Canada Day holiday, but a number of track regulars had relief drivers behind the wheel. Rino Montanari took over the No. 9 Late Model, while Dave Bragg filled-in for Victor Vowles in the No. 53 Mini Stock. Johnnie McIntyre drove the No. 09 Bone Stock, in place of Cory Horne…Scott Jacobs had some fresh graphics on his No. 15 Renegade Truck and Derrick Wood made his 2^nd start of the year in the No. 86 Late Model…Home towner Brad Lavalle made his first start of the season in the No. 6 Super Stock…With a forecast that had been calling for strong thunderstorms failing to produce anything but a few drops of rain, Peterborough Speedway racers and officials completed a 5-division show that also included a 45 minute fan appreciation autograph session in just under 4 and a half hours.

Next action on the 2023 Peterborough Speedway schedule will see Attersley Tirecraft present a 50-lap Bone Stock feature, with Renegade Trucks, Super Stocks, Canadian Legend Car Series and Junior Late Models. King of the Hill will be the intermission feature. Pit gates will open at 2:30, with grandstands at 5:00. The first green flag will fly at 6:00.

The Autism Awareness Night, in support of the Canadian National Autism Foundation that was postponed Saturday, June 24^th has been rescheduled for July 15^th.

Learn more about the 2023 line-up at Canada’s Toughest 3^rd Mile Oval by checking www.peterboroughspeedway.com or find regular updates on the track’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram social media homes.