This week’s Motion Motorsport Report for InsideTrackNews.com sees Dave Mathers take a tour around southwestern Ontario, before covering all the weekend action in Canada and on the major international circuits.
Looking for a cool weekend trip? Friday, August 7, the East London Timing Association (ELTA) puts on its annual Big Go East at St. Thomas Dragway from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Along with the drag racing (some of the cars only come out once a year for this event), there is a cool car show.
Saturday, the ELTA puts on its annual car show from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nightingale Avenue at Dundas Street, just west of Highbury Avenue in London. Sunday is another great show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the old Nilestown Speedway, now the Polish Canadian Recreation Centre, at 2776 Hamilton Road, just east of Nilestown. And the track is still there! Old stock cars will be in attendance along with a bunch of hot rods. Time well wasted.
Some good news from IndyCar. Its March 7, 2027 race weekend at St. Petersburg will once again include the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The trucks had a great race there this year and I look forward to a similar race next year. I would like to see more NASCAR / IndyCar joint events. They would be good for the sport.
Condolences to the friends and family of CMHF Media Inductee John ‘Wally’ Nesbitt. A lifelong racing fan who transitioned to writing (including for Inside Track), his contribution to Canadian racing was immense. RIP Wally. You can see his obit HERE.
Delaware Speedway has announced a schedule change. The Winged Sprint Cars originally scheduled for Friday, August 7 have been rescheduled for Friday, September 4.
A couple of weeks ago Linda, Jaxon (our dog) and I took a road trip up Chatham way. After lunch at the Bayside Brewery Restaurant in Erieau, we stopped at Buxton Speedway, which is up for sale if anybody has any money hidden away.
We then stopped at veteran Steve Shaw’s shop in Merlin (see below for four images). Steve tells me he is racing for his 10th track championship this year. We then headed to the Glasshouse Nursery in Chatham, a great destination that is really worth a visit.
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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 Wednesday, August 5!
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NASCAR Cup Series – In qualifying for Sunday’s Cup race on the big track at Indianapolis, the fast-rising Carson Hocevar got the pole over his Spire teammate Daniel Suarez (both in Chevs) and Tyler Reddick (Toyota). Thirty-nine cars qualified, including 19 Chevs, 10 Fords and 10 Toyotas.
The green flag dropped under overcast skies for the Brickyard 400. Things ran smoothly until Lap 45 when Kyle Larson spun in Turn 3 and backed into the outside wall. He thought it was from a flat left-rear tire. Ty Gibbs got the Stage 1 victory. On Lap 96, the yellow came back out when Daniel Dye had a similar incident to Larson as he spun and backed into the outside wall. He also stated it was a flat left-rear tire.
The caution flew on Lap 115 for debris just before the choose markings. On Lap 120 it was the ‘Big One’! John Hunter Nemechek appeared to make contact with Ryan Blaney and they slid up to the wall, collecting at least seven other cars. Yellow. They ran caution-free to the flag where Corey Heim got the win over Christopher Bell and Joey Logano.
In the points, Hamlin leads Reddick by 84 and Blaney by 120.
Next Race – Iowa, Sunday, August 9.
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LEAF RACEWEAR: Leaf Racewear supplies SFI-certified racing suits—custom and off-the-rack—along with pit crew shirts and motorsport safety gear. Trusted worldwide for over 40 years. Click HERE for additional product info and to connect with Leaf Racewear.
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NASCAR O’Reilly Series – Third-place points driver Sheldon Creed won the pole at a very overcast Indianapolis Motor Speedway over Carson Kvapil and Sam Mayer (all in Chevs). Points leader Justin Allgaier started 13th. Thirty-eight cars qualified, including 31 Chevs, six Toyotas and one lonely Ford.
Jeremy Clements got the Stage 1 win in a caution-free opening stage. On Lap 54, the first race caution came out when Garrett Smithley got loose entering Corner 1, spun, but kept going. Rajah Caruth won Stage 2. The final stage went caution-free and Carson Kvapil got the win over Allgaier and Ross Chastain.
In the points, Allgaier leads Kvapil by 265 and Jesse Love by 269.
Next Race – Iowa, Saturday, August 8.
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FLAMBORO SPEEDWAY: Saturday August 1st, Flamboro Speedway welcomes the National Compact Touring Series for its Canadian debut. The Canadian Vintage Modifieds, SOMA Pro 4 Modifieds, Pure Stocks, Gen 3 SportsMods and Spectator Drags will also be on-track this Saturday. And don’t go anywhere after the final checkered flag as there will be a concert after the races! Fan gates open at 5:00 with racing at 6:30 p.m. Click HERE for event info.
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NASCAR Craftsman Trucks – In qualifying for Friday night’s race at IRP, points leader Layne Riggs took the pole over Chandler Smith (both in Fords) and Nick Sanchez (Chev). Canadians Stewart Friesen (Toyota) and Cole Butcher (Ford) qualified fifth and 25th. Thirty-eight trucks were entered for 36 spots: 14 Chevs, nine Fords, eight Toyotas and five Rams.
Stage 1 went clean and green with no problems and Riggs picked up the stage win. Stage 2 also went cleanly and Riggs won that as well. The first (and only) race caution came out on Lap 139 when Daniel Hemric and Butcher got together, with Hemric spinning. Landen Lewis got collected as well and the red came out for track cleanup. At the flag it was Riggs making a clean sweep and leading 198 of the 200 laps over Connor Mosack and Ty Majeski. Friesen finished sixth while Butcher nursed his injured truck to 23rd. Riggs now leads Kaden Honeycutt by an even 100 points and Smith by 153.
Next Race – Richmond, Friday, August 14.
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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!___________________________________________________________________
Formula One – Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) topped the charts Friday in FP1 for the race at the Hungaroring while his teammate Lewis Hamilton was quickest in FP2. Lando Norris (McLaren) was best in FP3 and won the pole ahead of Hamilton and Leclerc.
And, of course, it wouldn’t be F1 if there wasn’t some controversy. Hamilton lost his front-row slot and was penalized three spots because he had, apparently, blocked Oscar Piastri (McLaren), who was just coming out on track. But wait, there’s more. Points leader Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) was dropped from fourth to seventh for “not slowing sufficiently under yellow flags.” He was, once again apparently, three kilometres per hour too fast as he passed the incident site. You just can’t make this stuff up.
Canadian Lance Stroll qualified 20th in his “updated” Aston Martin.
Wow, what a start. Piastri came from fifth up to second at the first corner and then got around Norris to take the lead in less than half a lap. Meanwhile George Russell dropped from seventh to 18th by Lap 2. And Verstappen moved up from sixth to third. GREAT stuff!
The first half ran caution-free and at the halfway point it was Norris over Piastri and Leclerc. Piastri’s good luck came to an end on Lap 56 when he rolled to a stop on track after his transmission failed. Virtual Safety Car. At the flag it was Norris over Verstappen and Antonelli. Is it just me, or were there fewer pop-ups with messages about the stewards investigating whatever perceived transgression they saw?
Stroll finished a very stout 13th, just ahead of his teammate Fernando Alonso. Good job with the “new and improved” chassis.
In the Drivers’ Championship, Antonelli leads Hamilton by 50 and Russell by 59.
In the Constructors’ Championship, Mercedes leads Ferrari by 72 and McLaren by 159. Red Bull sits fourth, 202 back.
Next Race – Zandvoort, Sunday, August 23.
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Peterborough Speedway – Next Race – Saturday, August 1st, Peterborough Speedway hosts the annual Cottage Country Bash with a free pre-race corn roast and on-track action highlighted by a 50-lap Mini Stock Shootout, along with Bone Stock, Renegade Truck, Super Stock and Junior Late Model divisions. Kids’ rides will be the intermission feature. Spectator gates open at 4:00, with racing at 6:00. Your source for the latest track news and schedule information is available anytime at www.peterboroughspeedway.com or from the venue’s social media pages and platforms. Click HERE for a full report from last Saturday night at Peterborough Speedway.
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IndyCar – Next Race – Portland, Sunday, August 9.
IMSA – Next Race – Road America, Sunday.
NHRA – Pacific Raceways
Top Fuel – Antron Brown won the Top Fuel Challenge over Jasmine Salinas with a 3.730 at 332.59. Josh Hart topped the 15 entries with a 3.685 at 335.40. Doug Kalitta beat Leah Pruett in the final with a 3.677 at 338.43. Five upsets and seven smokers. Shawn Langdon leads the points by five over Kalitta and by 207 over Pruett.
Funny Car – Daniel Wilkerson took out Austin Prock in the Funny Car Challenge, putting down a 3.924 at 327.98. J.R. Todd topped the 16 entries with a 3.885 at 336.74. Canadian Spencer Hyde qualified eighth. Todd was quickest of the full field with a 3.885 at 335.73. Todd took out Austin Prock in the final, running 3.941 at 334.90. Five upsets and seven smokers. Ron Capps continues to lead the points over Jack Beckman by 37 and Todd by 42.
Pro Stock – Greg Stanfield laid down a 6.497 at 211.89 to beat Erica Enders. Dallas Glenn was quickest of the 17 entries with a 6.470 at 211.89. Canadians Eric and Matt Latino qualified seventh and eighth. It was the battle of the Gregs in the final, with Greg Anderson taking out red-lighting Greg Stanfield with a 6.508 at 211.00. Four upsets and four smokers. Anderson now leads the points by eight over Glenn.
Next Race – Brainerd, Sunday, August 23.
IHRA – Next Race – Undetermined at this time.
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CASC-OR: The Canadian Automobile Sport Clubs – Ontario Region sanctions the RaceOntario Championships, a series of race events run from April through October at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Shannonville Motorsports Park, and Calabogie Motorsport Park. CASC-OR is a group of nearly thirty motorsport enthusiast clubs with two thousand members within Ontario. The organization sets rules and regulations for four divisions, Road Racing, Time Attack, Autoslalom and Ice Racing, and administers & promotes provincial championships in each. For more info, visit the CASC-OR website HERE.
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NASCAR Canada Series – In the first 150-lapper at Edmonton International Speedway, local hot shoe Will Larue grabbed the pole over another local, Jamie Krzysik, and series regular Kevin Lacroix. At the halfway point it was Larue over Lacroix and points leader Marc-Antoine Camirand. The race went green all the way to the checker, with Lacroix nabbing the win over Larue and Camirand.
Larue started from the pole for the second 150 ahead of Lacroix and D.J. Kennington.
At the halfway mark it was Camirand over Donald Theetge and Larue. The first yellow came out at the little quarter-mile bullring on Lap 83 when Dominic Scrivo looped it in Turn 4, stopping on the inside of the corner. And the skies were very black under the caution. The red came out for the rain shower and the race was declared official. Camirand took the win over Theetge and Lacroix.
In the points, Camirand leads Lacroix by 54 and L.P. Dumoulin by 63.
Next Race – Trois-Rivières, Sunday, August 9.
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BROCKVILLE ONTARIO SPEEDWAY: On Saturday, August, 1, Mobil 1 presents 358 Mod, Sports, Rookie Sports, Mini Stocks, Suprenant Truck Shop Crate Sprints. August is full of great racing at Brockville Ontario Speedway, make sure you come out this Saturday for the Mobil 1 event! Kids 16 and under FREE* with a paid GA ticket. Free Camping for these events. Visit www.BrockvilleSpeedway.com for info on all the action at The Bullring.
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APC Series – Next Race – Sauble, Saturday.
Ontario Sportsman Series – The series dropped into Canada’s Bristol, Full Throttle Speedway. Local veteran Tim Tolton won the pole over Brad Robinson and Chad McGlynn. At the halfway mark it was Robinson over Cooper Aubertin and Tolton. Tolton took the race win ahead of Robinson and Donavin Clark.
Next Race – Peterborough, Saturday, August 8.
Delaware Speedway – It was perfect weather for racing Friday night and the stands were full for the Dave Lawrence Memorial Race. Lawrence, gone way too soon, had been a very popular and well-respected Super Stock driver back in the day and his two sons carry on his legacy. Son Jo drove a McColl Racing tribute car that led the field for the parade laps before the 50-lapper.
In the V/8 Stocks, Jordan Morris won Heat 1 while Nic Ramsay won Heat 2. Ramsay won the feature over Cody Coburn and Will Quarrie in what can only be described as a breakout fest! With the index set at 21.10 seconds, there was a steady string of cars all night stopping in the penalty box on the backstretch for breaking out.
The Late Models saw Carson Nagy win Heat 1, Marshall Schrenk win Heat 2 and Nagy win the feature over Brady Smith and Jesse Kennedy. It took 11.29 minutes to run 35 laps.
Pete Vanderwyst Jr. won Heat 1 of the Super Stocks while Nic Ramsay (who was having a good night) won Heat 2. In the feature, the cars of Ethan Orr and Jay Cox got together, collecting both Ryan Dyson and Ramsay. At the flag it was Trevor Collver (who actually went full Helio Castroneves and climbed the fence) over Dave McCullough and Jo Lawrence. It took 26.39 minutes to run 50 laps.
Next Race – Mini Stock Invitational, Super Stocks, V/8 Stocks & King of the Hill, Friday.
Ohsweken Speedway – Next Race – Gale’s Cash Blast, Friday.
Flamboro Speedway – Next Race – National Compacts, CVMs, Pure Stocks, etc., Saturday.
Buxton Speedway – Next Race – King of the Cushion, UMP Mods, TS, MS, Saturday.
Full Throttle Motor Speedway – Next Race – Hurricanes, Jr. L/Ms, Mini Trucks, Bone Stocks, Thunder Trucks, Hot Rods, Saturday. Enduro – Sunday.
Grand Bend Speedway – Next Race – Civic Holiday Spectacular, Sprints, Saturday.
Grand Bend Dragway – Next Race – Canadian Nationals, this weekend.
St. Thomas Dragway – Next Race – Can-Am Stock/Super Stocks + ONDR, this weekend.
Toronto Motorsports Park – Next Race – Test & Tune, Sunday.
Can-Am Stock/Super Stock – Next Race – this weekend at St. Thomas.
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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