BRIGHTON, ON (September 3, 2021) – The Pinty’s Knights of Thunder 360 Sprint Car series and Pinty’s Action Sprint Tour Crate Sprint Car series are heading to Brighton Speedway for a big weekend of racing.
A total of 60 drivers from four provinces are entered in the event, which Brighton officials have dubbed a Sprint Car Extravaganza. Both series will run complete events with 25 lap A-Mains on Saturday, September 4 and Sunday, September 5.
The Saturday/Sunday Sprint Car tradition on Labour Day weekend at Brighton dates back to 2003. The events mark the last chance for fans to see the Knights of Thunder series east of Toronto this season, while they are the only Brighton events on the Action Sprint Tour schedule in 2021. Jim Huppunen was the Knights of Thunder winner last month in the first Sprint Car race at Brighton in nearly two years. The Action Sprint Tour also hasn’t competed at Brighton since 2019. Neither of the former Brighton winners – Mack DeMan and Josh Hansen – will be competing in the AST race this weekend, leaving the weekend wide open for drivers to add their names to the Brighton win list.
VETERAN PRESENCE
The Knights of Thunder roster will be bolstered by the presence of three well-known veteran drivers this weekend; Steve Poirier, Glenn Styres, and Alain Bergeron are three of the most decorated Canadian Sprint Car drivers of their generation, and all three will be making their first Knights of Thunder series appearances at Brighton. Poirier will be driving a car entered by Glenn Styres Racing this weekend, and will be making his Brighton debut, as will his fellow Quebecer Bergeron. Styres is second on the all-time Sprint Car win list at Brighton with a total of 15 victories, four of which he has claimed on Labour Day weekend.
CHAMPIONSHIP CHASES
The Labour Day Classic events could be pivotal in both the Knights of Thunder and Action Sprint Tour points chases, as both tours will pass the halfway mark of their seasons this weekend.
Jordan Poirier’s lead in the Knights of Thunder championship standings shrank to 38 points over Jim Huppunen after the latter won in his first Brighton appearance two weeks ago. Ryan Turner’s consistent season has him four points behind Huppunen, while Aaron Turkey and Josh Hansen round out the top five. Travis Cunningham, Holly Porter, Liam Martin, DJ Christie, and Jamie Turner hold spots in the top ten.
Jacob Dykstra extended his lead to 57 points in the Action Sprint Tour standings following his fifth AST win of the season at Cornwall two weeks ago, followed by Allan Downey, Nick Sheridan, Lucas Smith, and Eric Gledhill. The remainder of the top ten includes Brett Stratford, Jesse Costa, Rob Neely, Darren Dryden, and Curtis Gartly.
EVENT INFORMATION
WHAT:
Labour Day Classic Sprint Car Extravaganza featuring the Pinty’s Knights of Thunder 360 Sprint Car series and Action Sprint Tour Crate Sprint Car series fueled by Pinty’s
WHEN:
Saturday, September 4, 2021 – Pit Gates open at 2:00pm; Racing begins at 7:00pm
Sunday, September 5, 2021 – Pit Gates open at 12:00pm; Racing begins at 6:00pm
WHERE:
Brighton Speedway
775 County Rd 64
Brighton ON K0K 1H0
www.brightonspeedway.ca
Advance Report from Tommy Goudge
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