NASCAR has acknowledged that they are aware of the criticism (and they agree with it) regarding the length of their caution periods and are taking steps to rectify the issue. As a result, they are reviewing all their processes, including how long they keep pit road closed after a yellow flag, as well as how soon they deploy the pace car and even the location of the ‘choose’ markings. That’s good news.
Now they should share these ideas with their ‘roommates’ in the Ivory Tower on Volusia Ave. – IMSA. Their yellow periods put every other form of motorsport to shame!! It’s not unusual to see several 20-minute caution periods during an IMSA race even though the track is clear and everybody is properly lined up. As well, local tracks and smaller sanctioning bodies should take a hard look at their caution procedures. Some tracks extend caution periods to allow damaged cars to get fixed and return to racing. That is not fair to the fans who are paying for the show. Let’s hope that everybody ups their game!!
I found it interesting that the long relationship between Bradenton Motorsports Park and Drag Illustrated has ended, with DI no longer sponsoring the uber-popular winter series for Pro Mods at the Florida facility. Nevertheless, the track is pressing on with the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals slated for December 3 – 6, the U.S. Street Nationals on January 21 – 24 and the Pro Mod Finals on February 25 – 28.
A few years ago, Stratford’s Spencer Hyde took the $100,000 win down there. Will he try to repeat? Will Eric Latino show up? Nick Agostino? Canada does well down there.
As noted elsewhere, Bill Fletcher has purchased St. Thomas Dragway and he takes over at the end of this year’s racing season. Paul Spriet has stated that he is just about ready for retirement at the Grand Bend Motorplex, and his son Jarrett is the logical choice to move from Sparta up to the Bend. Fletcher indicates he will be returning to NHRA sanctioning and has big plans for the legendary facility. He is the nephew of former track owners John and Sharon Fletcher (1990 – 1998).
I felt so bad for Paul Spriet as the weatherman was not cooperating with their huge Canadian Nationals last weekend. As well, their sanctioning body, IHRA, has closed up shop, affecting not only the Bend but also St. Thomas and Chuck Fram’s Shannonville Drags. A real loss for the sport.
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CANADIAN TIRE MOTORSPORT PARK: CSBK SUPERBIKE DOUBLEHEADER WEEKEND: Canada’s Home of Superbike Racing comes alive August 7–9. Watch Canada’s top riders battle on CTMP’s legendary Grand Prix circuit as national championships are decided in the final two rounds of the CSBK season. One legendary circuit. Canada’s best motorcycle racers. National championships on the line. The action continues off the track with free demo rides, great food and an up-close look inside the race-team paddock and movie night! Click HERE for tickets and event info. NOTE: Early Bird/Advanced Super Tickets for the 2026 Superbike Doubleheader Weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP) are available until end of day today, Wednesday, August 5!
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Upcoming Events:
NASCAR Cup Series – Next Race – Iowa, Sunday at 3:30 P.M. on TSN 5.
NASCAR O’Reilly Series – Next Race – Iowa, Saturday at 5 P.M. on USA.
NASCAR Craftsman Trucks – Next Race – Richmond, Friday, August 14.
Formula One – Next Race – Zandvoort, Sunday, August 23.
IndyCar – Next Race – Portland, Sunday at 4 P.M. on Fox.
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LEAF RACEWEAR: As the fall racing season approaches, many teams are preparing for championship weekends, marquee events, and races like Super DIRT Week. If you’re thinking about updating your team’s look before the season wraps up, now is the perfect time to start planning. Whether you need a custom race suit, matching sublimated crew shirts, or a custom pit tent, our design team can help create a professional look that’s built specifically for your team. Trusted worldwide for over 40 years. Click HERE for product info and to connect with Leaf Racewear.
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IMSA – In qualifying for the race at the bad-fast Road America circuit, the van der Zande/Yelloly GTP Acura won the pole over the Blomqvist/Braun Acura and the Vanthoor/van der Linde BMW. In LMP2 it was the United Autosports USA car in the number one spot.
The Tandy/King Porsche topped PRO ahead of the Verhagen/De Phillippi BMW and the Garcia/Sims Corvette. GTD had the Ferrari of Mann/Wadoux/Ducellier out front ahead of the Aston Martin of Barrichello/Gamble/Robichon and the Aston Martin of Fossard/Hasse Clot/Estep. The Pfaff Lamborghini started eighth in PRO.
Twelve minutes in, the yellow came out for the Monk/Fraga/Altzman Mustang, which got punted off track by the TDS Racing P2 car. Racing resumed after a 15-minute caution period.
At the 35-minute mark the pole-sitting P2 car spun, while the Intersport P2 entry hit the tire wall hard, virtually destroying the car. Full-course caution. Racing resumed after a 22-minute caution period, but chaos resulted on the restart when two P2 cars got together – and they were teammates!! No yellow.
At the 2:18 mark the Conquest Racing Ferrari came to a stop just off track for a caution. After a 21-minute yellow flag period the green came back out. Just before the halfway mark the yellow came back out when the Paul Miller Racing BMW came to a stop, bringing out the laundry.
At the halfway mark it was one of the Penske Porsches out front in P, the CrowdStrike Racing car in P2, the AO Racing Porsche in PRO and the Heart of Racing Aston Martin in GTD.
The green came back out after 22 minutes. Just after the four-hour mark two P cars started getting overly friendly, with the result that the halftime-leading Penske Porsche got spun by the Whelen Cadillac. Yellow. Another 20-minute caution period ensued.
And, of course, yellows breed yellows and, just after the restart, one of the PRO Corvettes ended up beached in the gravel trap after “contact”!!
With 45 minutes to go the Wright Motorsports GTD Porsche got off track and into the tire wall hard, bringing out yet another caution period. The audio portion of the REV TV broadcast appeared to have problems in the last hour, almost like they were announcing from an echo chamber.
After a 19-minute yellow period the green came back out. With just over 15 minutes to go the second-place-starting Acura P car got off track after a “little” help (possibly from the Whelen Cadillac?). Yellow.
Oops, only 15 minutes? Will they get back to green???
Yes, they did, with 10 minutes to go.
And, of course, there was excitement on the restart. The points-leading Whelen Cadillac got taken out along with the No. 6 Penske Porsche. Accidental? I don’t think so.
As a result the race ended under yellow.
The Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac got the win in P over the JDC-Miller Motorsports Porsche and the second Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac. The Inter Europol Competition car took the win in P2.
And in PRO it was OH CANADA!!!!!!!
The Pfaff Racing Lamborghini got the huge win over the AO Racing Porsche and the Pratt Miller Motorsports Corvette. VERY well done!!
Following the race, it was revealed that after more than a decade in top-level sports car racing, Pfaff Motorsports is set to step away from IMSA competition at season’s end. The team will continue racing its Lamborghini Temerario GT3 through the remainder of 2026 before winding down operations, with owner Chris Pfaff turning his attention to Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and its long-term development under new ownership.
In GTD it was the Winward Racing Mercedes ahead of the Triarsi Competizione Ferrari and the Dragonspeed Corvette.
A good race on a legendary circuit, with some intrigue added for our viewing pleasure!!
Next Race – VIR, Sunday, August 23.
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TORONTO MOTORAMA SHOW: The next Motorama Custom Car & Motorsports Expo takes place March 12, 13 & 14, 2027 at Toronto’s International Centre. Vehicle applications are now being accepted at the show’s website. Motorama is Canada’s largest indoor auto-enthusiast and motorsports show and continues a tradition that goes back more than half a century at the same venue on the same weekend! Throughout the year, MotoramaShow.com is loaded with show coverage, galleries and industry news. We’ll see you next March at Motorama!___________________________________________________________________
NHRA – Next Race – Brainerd, Sunday, August 23.
IHRA – Next Race – Undetermined at this time.
NASCAR Canada Series – Next Race – Trois-Rivières, Sunday at 2 P.M. on REV TV.
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PETERBOROUGH SPEEDWAY: This Saturday (August 8) the Ontario Sportsman Series (OSS) pays a visit to the super-fast, high-banked 1/3-mile Peterborough Speedway. Bone Stocks, Late Models, Legends, Bandoleros and Kids Barrel Races are also on the night’s schedule. Fan gates open at 5:00 p.m. and racing starts at 6:00 p.m. Your source for the latest track news and schedule information is www.peterboroughspeedway.com, as well the track’s social media pages and platforms.
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APC Series – The series travelled up into cottage country for a great long-weekend race at Sauble Speedway. Jake Sheridan continued his great year, running a 14.241 to set fast time over Brandon Watson and Connor Pritiko.
Several delays caused the race to last 1:06:46, but Sheridan got the win over Pritiko and Kyle Steckly. Shae Gemmell set the fastest lap during the race with a 14.436.
With four wins in the first six races, Sheridan leads Watson by 14 points and Steckly by 33.
Next Race – Sauble, Saturday, August 22.
Ontario Sportsman Series – Next Race – Peterborough, Saturday.
Delaware Speedway – In the V8 Stocks, David Rockwood won Heat 1, Doug Stewart won Heat 2, while Barry Watson won the feature after Rockwood broke out on the last lap. Stewart finished second while Will Quarrie was third.
The Super Stocks saw Ethan Orr win Heat 1, Pete Vanderwyst win Heat 2, and Orr win the feature over Nic Ramsay and Vanderwyst.
The big draw for the night was the Mini Stock Invitational, with cars coming from all over the province. They ran group qualifying with Jacob Sutcliffe quickest in Q1, Paul Fothergill tops in Q2, Matt Young tops in Q3 and Doug Butler the best of Q4. Butler also set fast time.
After five caution periods Butler took the win, while also setting the fastest race lap, over Shawn Taylor and Sutcliffe. (Butler also took the win Saturday at Flamboro Speedway.)
And, of course, the King of the Hill was wildly enjoyed by the fans. After several rounds the final came down to two Audis. Brendan Dahl got the win with his TT over Derek Golda’s V8 sedan.
Next Race – Super Stocks and Bone Stocks, Friday.
BROCKVILLE ONTARIO SPEEDWAY: Saturday, August 8 at Brockville Ontario Speedway, ‘The Bullring’ plays host to Polite Sand & Gravel Night featuring the ESS Super Sprints, Sports, Rookie Sports, Street Stocks and a 30-lap, $700 to win Mini Stock main. Visit BrockvilleSpeedway.com for more information.
FLAMBORO SPEEDWAY: On Saturday, August 8, Flamboro Speedway welcomes the Flamboro Grisdale Showdown Series Pro Late Models for their fifth race of the season. In addition to that 50-lap feature, the Ontario Pro Challenge, Great Lakes Legend Series and Pure Stocks will also be in action. The Kids Power Wheel Drag Races are also part of the show. Fan gates open at 5:00 p.m. with racing commencing at 6:30 p.m. Visit FlamboroSpeedway.ca for more information.
Ohsweken Speedway – Next Race – Noelle Teal Memorial twin features, Friday.
EDMONTON INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY: This Saturday, August 8, is Transportation Appreciation Night at EIR! FREE ENTRY for all transportation workers AND their families! To receive your complimentary admission, please register online ahead of race day under “Schedule – Registration Forms.” Get ready for an exciting night of racing action featuring NASCAR Thunder Cars, NASCAR Pure Stocks, Stackers, BUCK’s Race a Wreck Enduro, and Cooper Equipment Hit to Pass. Visit EdmontonRaceway.com for info.
Buxton Speedway – Next Race – LM, Mods, TS, MM, MS, Saturday.
Full Throttle Motor Speedway – Next Race – Military Night, Saturday.
Grand Bend Speedway – Next Race – NASCAR Late Models, Saturday.
Grand Bend Dragway – Next Race – Windsor Weekend, this weekend.
St. Thomas Dragway – Next Race – ELTA, Friday.
Toronto Motorsports Park – Race Cayuga Series, this weekend.
Can Am Stock/Super Stock – Next Race – This weekend at Empire, NY.
John Scotti NHRA Canadian Championship Series – Next Race – Cape Breton, August 13 – 15.
Shannonville Drags – Next Race – August 15 – 17.
Any comments can be sent to Dave Mathers via email at motionman@rogers.com or by Facebook Messenger.
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