Weather may have made the early season headlines, but Saturday, May 31st was Peterborough Speedway’s time to shine as the popular Central Ontario oval kicked off its 2025 schedule with three touring series and a pair of weekly divisions in action.
The first main event of the 58th anniversary season was a 20-lapper for the SwitchTire Mini Stocks that had Tyler McMurter and Peterborough’s Mike Nelson on the front row. From the drop of the green flag, Nelson’s No. 70 ride was the class of the field. He held the early race lead and was working through backmarkers before the scoreboard showed three laps complete. At the halfway mark, Nelson was tailed by Jacob Sutcliffe, John Lavalle, Kent Missons and Coleridge Phinnemore. The top-five runners remained intact through the second half of the event, as Nelson scored the checkered flag.
Jacob Mercer and multi-time Peterborough Speedway champion Dan McHattie led the way as the KOD Disposal Late Model field rolled from the staging area for a 25-lap ‘A’ main. McHattie took the early lead from his outside front row starting spot, with Mercer holding Ryan Kimball at bay in the runner-up position. Kimball slipped into second just before an issue in turn three brought out the race’s only caution flag. The driver of the No. 16 machine set off in pursuit of McHattie and took the lead with a pass in turn two, with around a handful of laps remaining. He held the top spot until the checkered flag, with McHattie, Mercer, Kelly Balson and Gary Hannah rounding-out the top-five.
Visiting Series
Front row starters Keaton Pipe and Cole McFadden led a pack of 24 teams to the stripe as the Trailers Plus Ontario Legend Car Series took the Great Canadian RV green flag. Before there were even four laps on the scoreboard, the feature race had three different drivers – Pipe, Wes Cuthbertson and Dawson Drimmie – in control of the field. Reigning tour champion Mitch Wright was the final leader of the day; the driver of the No. 21 car took over the top spot while working through traffic, with 18 laps complete, and never gave up the position. Cuthbertson, Drimmie, Pipe and McFadden followed him to the checkered flag.
With backing from Grassroots Racing, the Ontario Bandolero teams took to the popular venue for a pair of 15-lap feature events. Ava Boundy started on the pole for the opening round, with Austin Seburn taking the checkered flag over Keegan Moat and Boundy. In the second tilt, Moat was polesitter, with Seburn once again taking the checkered flag. Landon Sellers and Lyla Sikma chased the race winner across the line.
The Outlaw Midgets – supported by Glenn Styres Racing – had a 20-lap main event that saw Dave Inglis and Rob McCall fire from the front row. A yellow flag, for an incident on the backstretch, saw the pace slowed with only six laps on the scoreboard. Through the closing stages of the headliner, Mike Bradley and Mikey Homewood swapped the lead back-and-forth, with Bradley taking the win. Homewood, Robin McLean, McCall and Fred Homewood wrapped up the top-five.
Preliminary round wins went to Mini Stock invader Jacob Sutcliffe, with a pair, while Kent Missons and Curtis Burnett took the others. Dan McHattie and two-time defending track champion Ryan Kimball split the Late Model qualifying event wins. Jake Spencer-Walt, Mark Griffin, Mitch Wright and Dawson Drimmie each had an Ontario Legend Car heat race win. All finishing positions are unofficial and subject to scoring review and post-race inspection.
Bullring Bullet Points
- Peterborough Speedway’s racing community was saddened to learn of the passing of Cameron, ON’s Robert Clark. A long-time supporter of provincial vintage modified racing, Clark began his racing career at Kingston Speedway and, in later years, developed a solid following while selling automotive literature at regional trade shows.
- Off weekends at other tracks saw the Peterborough Speedway SwitchTire Mini Stock line-up bolstered with some guest drivers, including Mike Robinson Jr., Coleridge Phinnemore and Jacob Sutcliffe.
- Paul Toms joined the KOD Disposal Late Model ranks, but ran only a few laps before dropping out of the feature race.
- James Horner made hard contact with the turn three retaining wall in the final Late Model heat race and, while he drove away from the crash, he didn’t answer the call for the main event.
- Even with a chill in the air, Peterborough Speedway’s newest attraction, Whips n’ Licks Ice Cream Shop – selling Kawartha Dairy products, proved to be popular with the fans.
Racing Continues On Saturday
Next on the agenda at the venue known for ‘Making Memories for Life’ will be the year’s first Double Toonie/Fan Appreciation Night – presented by Pepsi – on Saturday, June 7th. On track action will include the home track Bone Stock, Mini Stock, Renegade Truck, Super Stock and Junior Late Model divisions, with a fan appreciation autograph session at intermission. Spectator grandstand admission is just $4.00. Pit gates open at 1:30 p.m., grandstands at 4:00 and racing starts at 5:00.
“From the far reaches of the pit area to the top row of the grandstands, the Double Toonie/Fan Appreciation Nights – presented by Pepsi – are some of the most popular shows on our annual calendar from either side of the fence,” said Peterborough Speedway owner and promoter J.P. Josiasse. “Racers enjoy the opportunity to meet the fans as much as the fans look forward to the chance to see the cars and talk to the drivers.”
Also of note, advance tickets are now on sale for the 100-lap APC Late Model and 50-lap Dayco Super Stock events – presented by KOD Disposal – on Saturday, June 14th. In addition to the visiting series, the docket includes a 50-lap Bone Stock Shootout, paying $100 to start and $250 to win.
For complete 2025 schedule news and event information, be sure to check www.peterboroughspeedway.com or the track’s social media platforms and pages.
