The first appearances of the Ontario Traditional Sprints (OTS) and Southern Ontario Modlites at Brighton Speedway made for a wild Saturday night.
The OTS headlined the event with the annual Simon Pettit Memorial. The night saw 82 cars on track across multiple divisions, including the OTS Sprints, Southern Ontario Modlites, Canadian Modifieds, Thunder Stocks, and 4-Cylinders.
Warren Mahoney (No. 25) and Dale Hunter (No. 26) led the field of seven OTS Sprints to the green in the 20-lap Simon Pettit Memorial. Hunter jumped out front on the opening lap as Mahoney worked to regain control. Hunter’s lead held for five laps before Mahoney powered past him in Turn 2, on Lap 6. Mahoney was dominant on the cushion for 11 laps.
Coming off a second-place finish the night before at Ohsweken Speedway, Jacob Dykstra (No. 6) was hungry for a win. Driving a wingless sprint for the first time, the Port Colborne, ON driver used a high line into Turn 1 and cut low to pass Mahoney and take the lead with just three laps to go. Dykstra cruised to victory, with Mahoney finishing second. Chris VanDeWiele (No. 0c) placed third, Adam Turner (No. 92) took fourth, and Ian Hunter (No. 13) rounded out the top-five.
Lafleur Flies to Victory Lane
Antonin Lafleur (No. 66L) proved that determination can overcome any starting position. Beginning at the rear of the 17-car Modlite field for the 25-lap feature, the Quebec driver was undeterred. A dramatic flip and roll by Rob Misener (No. 6) out of Turn 1, on Lap 3, brought out an early caution. Misener was uninjured. Once racing resumed, Lafleur needed only 19 laps to take the lead from Shawn Sliter (No. 88), who had been strong on the bottom. Lafleur surged to the win, with Sliter second. Sean Iftody (No. 27) claimed third, Pierre-Olivier Trudel (No. 3) was fourth, and Ryan Anderson (No. 44) finished fifth.
Boyle Brings Home First Win
Second-place starter Doug O’Blenis (No. 32) got the jump on polesitter Caleb Severin (No. 12) at the green in the 25-lap Canadian Modified feature. Severin fought back hard, working the high side and re-taking the lead on Lap 7. The rookie held off challenges from O’Blenis, Ron Wadforth (No. 40), and Dylan Boyle (No. 50) for 17 laps with a veteran’s composure. In a battle between two drivers seeking their first career Modified wins, Severin and Boyle delivered a thrilling side-by-side fight. Boyle took the top spot with two laps remaining and captured his first victory, with Severin just behind in second. O’Blenis finished third, Dan Price (No. 09) was fourth, and Shawn Gregory (No. 1) charged from the back to finish fifth after recovering from a crash in Turn 4.
Checkers Fly for French
Polesitter Ethan Humphry (No. 17) set the early pace in the 20-lap Thunder Stock main event. Humphry led a 22-car field for more than half the race until Kyle Anderson (No. 18) surged from the top groove to take the lead. However, Anderson’s time out front was short-lived as Tyler French (No. 0) worked the bottom groove and took command on Lap 14. Eager for his first win of the season, French held on to the end to take the victory. Carter Rhodes (No. 10) finished second, Doug Anderson (No. 72) was third, Tommy Bailey (No. 44) placed fourth, and Brock Gregory (No. 26) rounded out the top-five.
Gregory Victorious Again
Aidan Fletcher (No. 42JR) grabbed the lead at the drop of the green in the 15-lap 4-Cylinder feature. On Lap 7, Tyson Gregory (No. 22) powered around the outside of Fletcher in Turn 1 and led the remaining laps. Fletcher stayed close but couldn’t re-take the lead. Gregory, the 2024 Mini Stock champion, earned his second win of the season. Fletcher finished second, Devon Kippen (No. 24x) charged from 14th to third, Brandon Gregory (No. 10x) came from 16th to fourth, and Cody Sager (No. 20) took fifth.
