In this week’s Motion Motorsport Report for InsideTrackNews.com, contributor Dave Mathers gives his take on a busy weekend of racing in Canada and around the world…
I had to smile when I heard that IndyCar was having a problem with its “hokey” hybrid systems, with the result that supplies are very low for the battery packs. F1 has been complaining about its hybrid systems, and now IndyCar is having problems too. Maybe – just maybe – the move to electric is premature? Asking for a friend!!
The fact that the Ford Motor Company is heading to the FIA World Endurance Series next year is no secret. BUT what is a secret is that Ford has every intention of entering that very same car in IMSA in 2028. The car? A Hypercar!! Neat.
Our young Canadians had good weekends racing in the U.S. Belle River’s Chase Pinsonneault took the win after starting seventh in the Turn One CRA Pro Series event at the little bullring – aka Flat Rock Speedway – on Saturday. Milverton ace Scott Steckly started 29th in the ARCA race Friday at MIS but ended up 11th in the rain-shortened event as he was moving through the field.
How cool is it to see two businesses join forces to provide a NASCAR Canada Series race car rental program? Velocity Race Cars and Glenn Styres Racing announced the program last week. Good deal.
More “discussions” on officiating have been raised in the last week. After IndyCar left Alex Rossi sitting on a live track at the Indy 500 and watched him actually exit his car and cross pit lane while the track was still green, they announced changes.
And those changes made them look like NASCAR – “oops, somebody got a bit sideways, let’s throw a caution” – at Detroit. Instead of the normal “local yellows,” officials were “putting it out” for almost everything and anything. I guess the old “let ’em race” mantra has been sacrificed forever?
And speaking of officiating, I think somebody should write a book about “Race Handicapping.” NASCAR has had some head-scratching initial lineups lately due to the weather cancelling qualifying.
In the old days – and yeah, I am of the old days – the starting lineups in the event of a qualifying cancellation were set right off the current points standings. And I continue to scratch my head at the Delaware Speedway handicapping, where the top points cars get to run in the first or second heat. Huh?
Back when my son raced, it was always high points cars to the back. We used to joke that the lineups always ended in “and 10”!! Could somebody please explain!!
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SPORTSMAN SPECTACULAR THIS WEEKEND AT ST. THOMAS DRAGWAY: What? Nooo waaay! The buzz is building for one of the most anticipated drag racing weekends of the year as the Sportsman Spectacular, hosted by the 660 Sportsman Nationals, roars into St. Thomas Dragway in Sparta, Ontario, June 12 – 14, 2026. This three-day celebration of horsepower, community, and pure adrenaline promises something for every kind of race fan – and just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, here’s the kicker.
Shaun (What? Nooo Waaay Guy) & Julie Umscheid will be there! That’s right – the internet-favourites will be on-site all weekend long for meet-and-greets, autographs, and competition judging, bringing an extra level of excitement and connection for racers and spectators alike.
Friday – Kick Things Off Wide Open
The weekend begins with an anything-goes, “Run What You Brung” racing, where creativity meets courage on the strip. The crowd-pleasing spectacle continues with a wheelie contest and a smoke-filled burnout contest, setting the tone for a wild weekend ahead.
Saturday – Full Throttle Entertainment
Saturday delivers a stacked lineup that blends competition with spectacle. Feel the ground shake as the Hellfire Jet Truck lights up the track, alongside the screaming pass of the OSM jet dragster. Nostalgia meets nitro with Nostalgia Fuel Coupe (F/C) action, while the car show offers a close-up look at some stunning rides. On the competitive side, the Ontario Nostalgia Drag Racers (ONDR) join the program, alongside bracket racing and the always exciting future stars in Jr. dragsters. It’s a full day that never lets up.
Sunday – Championship Drive
As the weekend rounds out, Sunday keeps the focus on the racers. ONDR, bracket racing, and Jr. dragsters return to decide who leaves with bragging rights, trophies, and momentum heading deeper into the season.
Click HERE for more info.
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NASCAR Cup – Denny Hamlin continued Toyota’s dominance this year by winning the pole for Sunday’s race at MIS over Carson Hocevar (Chev) and points leader Tyler Reddick (Toyota). (Unfortunately, Hamlin had to drop to the back after damaging his car in practice.) Thirty-seven cars qualified including 18 Chevs, 10 Fords and nine Toyotas.
Well, that didn’t take long. Connor Zilisch had a solo spin off Turn 2 on lap 3. Caution. Four laps later Zilisch did it again, spinning in almost the same spot, but this time he came down the track and spanked the inside wall. Another caution. Reddick won Stage 1. On lap 65 Brad Keselowski appeared to blow a tire and went up into the wall. Seven laps after the restart A.J. Allmendinger spun on the backstretch. Yellow. One lap after the subsequent restart Hocevar tagged John Hunter Nemechek and the two of them collected almost 10 cars. Right after the restart Keselowski had another issue and he hit the outside wall. Chase Elliott won Stage 2.
The caution came back out on lap 141 when Zane Smith backed it into the wall between Turns 1 and 2. The green came back out, then the yellow on the restart when Chase Elliott slid up and got into Christopher Bell, wrecking both of them – AND the wall!! Red flag for wall repair. Formula One had a similar red flag at Monaco this morning for wall repair after Canadian Lance Stroll stuffed his Alfa Romeo into it.
At the flag it was all Toyota – Hamlin, Erik Jones and Bubba Wallace! In the Motor City!! I’d love to be in a couple of Detroit-area boardrooms Monday morning!!
In the points Reddick leads Hamlin by 51 and Ryan Blaney by 157.
Next race – Pocono, Sunday at 3 p.m. on TSN 5.
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FLAMBORO SPEEDWAY returns to action on Saturday, June 13, 2026, with a full night of racing headlined by the Ontario Sportsman Series (OSS). The evening’s program features the province’s top Sportsman competitors continuing their championship battle, with valuable points on the line as the season gains momentum.
Joining the OSS on the card will be a full slate of local divisions, including the always-entertaining Mini Stocks and Pure Stocks. These classes consistently deliver tight, action-packed racing, showcasing a mix of veteran drivers and up-and-coming talent.
Adding a different dimension to the night are the Spectator Drag Races. This fan-favourite feature gives attendees a chance to take part in the action themselves, bringing their own vehicles onto the track for head-to-head drag-style competition, making for an engaging and interactive evening at the speedway.
Pit gates open at 4:00 pm, followed by grandstand access for fans at 5:00 pm. Racing is set to get underway at 6:30 pm. For more info, visit www.flamborospeedway.ca.
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NASCAR O’Reilly Series – Next race – Pocono, Saturday at 4 p.m.
NASCAR Craftsman Trucks – Qualifying for Saturday’s race saw Ty Majeski (Ford) take the pole over Christopher Bell (in Friesen’s other Toyota) and Chandler Smith (Ford). Canadians Cole Butcher (Ford) and Stewart Friesen (Toyota) qualified seventh and 12th. All 36 trucks qualified – 15 Chevs, nine Fords, seven Toyotas and five RAMs.
The first caution came out on lap 7 when Frankie Muniz tried a three-wide off Turn 4 and slid up into Spencer Davis, who then slid up and hit Kris Wright. All three spun. Bell won Stage 1. And he also won the caution-free Stage 2. The yellow came out on lap 68 when Cletus McFarlane got high in corner 2 exit and spun. Oops – lightning in the area!! Two laps after the restart Friesen spun in Turn 3 for another yellow. On lap 90 pole sitter Majeski got a little close to Tanner Gray and spun. One lap after the restart Butcher and Spencer Boyd get together after Butcher had a flat tire. Caution. At the flag it was Corey Heim over Kaden Honeycutt and Carson Hocevar. Friesen finished 22nd and Butcher ended up 33rd.
In the points Layne Riggs continues to lead now 26 over Honeycutt and by 90 over Smith.
Next race – San Diego, Friday, June 19.
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KEMP MOTORSPORTS: The Kemp Motorsports Spring Race Trailer Sale is on now with models in stock and ready to roll, including Haulmark, United, K Spec and InTech.
For info, visit www.KempMotorsports.ca or call (905) 396-5367.
Kemp is located in Cobourg, Ontario.
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Formula One – Ferrari took the top two spots in both Q1 and Q2 on Friday at Monaco. Charles Leclerc was fastest in Q1 while Lewis Hamilton topped Q2. Things changed on Saturday when Kimi Antonelli and his Mercedes topped the charts in both Q1 and qualifying for Sunday’s race. Max Verstappen qualified second in his Red Bull while Hamilton was third. Canadian Lance Stroll qualified 22nd.
Oh, the start did not go well. Max Verstappen appeared to stall his car on the initial start and pulled to the left of the track. At the halfway mark it was Antonelli over the two Ferraris of Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. The yellow came out on lap 60 when Stroll got into the tire wall at the last corner. Luckily Antonelli had an almost one-minute lead on Hamilton and was able to pit with no pressure.
After eight laps behind the safety car the red flag came out and all the cars pitted. After three laps behind the pace car the green came back out with seven laps to go. One wag opined that the race had been “Strolled”!! At the flag it was Antonelli over Hamilton and Isack Hadjar. Stroll ended up 16th.
In the Drivers’ Championship Antonelli leads Hamilton by 66 and teammate George Russell by 68. In the Constructors’ Championship Mercedes leads Ferrari by 79 and McLaren by 126.
Next race – Spain, Sunday at 9 a.m. on TSN 5.
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PETERBOROUGH SPEEDWAY returns to action on Saturday, June 13, 2026, with another exciting night of stock car racing set to thrill fans. Headlining the card is the 175-lap NTN Triple Crown event for the United Racing Series APC Late Models – a marquee feature that promises high-speed competition and intense on-track battles. Fans will also have a chance to get up close with their favourite drivers during an autograph session, adding to the overall race day experience.
A full slate of support divisions will round out the evening, showcasing talent from across multiple classes. Mini Stocks, Legends and Bandoleros will all take to the track, providing a mix of developing drivers and seasoned competitors. The United Racing Series Dayco Super Stocks will also be in action with a 50-lap feature, adding even more variety and excitement to an already packed program.
With something for every race fan, it’s shaping up to be another memorable night at the track. For additional event details, schedules and updates, visit PeterboroughSpeedway.com.
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IndyCar – Defending series champion Alex Palou picked up his fourth pole of the season at Gateway over David Malukas and Kyle Kirkwood.
Well, that was interesting. I clicked on Fox for the start of the race seeing as they are the “official” channel for IndyCar and, TILT, a football game. I quickly switched to TSN 5 and, TADA, there is the race with NO football!! The first yellow came out on lap 56 when Nolan Siegel came down on Palou and bounced up and into the wall. On lap 114 Graham Rahal wadded his car up big time in corner 4. Yellow. On lap 125 Kyffin Simpson ran out of gas on track bringing out the laundry. And the irony? Simpson is sponsored by Sunoco!!
At the halfway mark it was Marcus Ericsson over Caio Collet and Scott Dixon. AND there was rain in the area, so this made it a complete race as they had passed halfway. And my computer radar did not look good either. And there it is. Lap 137 – rain!! Racing resumed after the rain delay but the yellow came back out at lap 197 for rain once again. After another delay the green came out with 49 laps to go. The yellow came out again with 33 to go. The green came back out with 24 to go. They ran clean to the flag after that and Josef Newgarden got the win for Team Penske followed by Marcus Ericsson (Andretti Global) and Christian Rasmussen (ECR).
In the points Palou leads Kirkwood by 49 and Malukas by 68.
Next race – Road America, Sunday, June 21.
IMSA – Next race – Watkins Glen, Sunday, June 28.
24 Hours of Le Mans – Sat & Sun.
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NHRA – I remember dropping in at New England Dragway when we were racing an ACT race just down the street at Star Speedway about 35 years ago. And the circle track was much more impressive looking than the drag strip, at least back then. As well I thought it was really cool to have a stock car track and a drag strip so close together. Lucky town!!
Top Fuel – Doug Kalitta won the Top Fuel Challenge on Saturday running a 3.776 at 333.82 to take out Shawn Langdon. Langdon then topped the 15 entries with a 3.709 at 335.48. The final was postponed due to weather and will be held Friday at Bristol.
Funny Car – Jordan Vandergriff took out Ron Capps in Saturday’s Funny Car Challenge with a 3.913 at 323.58 which also made him top qualified of the 16 cars. Spencer Hyde qualified 13th. The final was postponed due to weather and will be held Friday at Bristol.
Pro Stock – Greg Anderson beat Troy Coughlin Jr. in the Pro Stock Challenge running a 6.545 at 209.17. Anderson then ran a 6.508 at 210.67 to top the 16-car field thus getting the first-round bye. Canadians Matt and Eric Latino qualified second and third. Dallas Glenn took out Matt Hartford with a 6.543 at 209.39. Four upsets and one smoker.
Next race – Bristol, Sunday on Fox Sports Racing at 3 p.m.
IHRA – The Pro Mod Mania at Milan Dragway on the weekend brought in some big guns.
Pro Mod – Jason Harris laid down a 3.5906 at 209.99 to top the 25 entries. Jerry Tucker took out Jeremy Huffman in the final with a 4.100 (no speed listed).
Mountain Motor Pro Stock – Jerry Tucker ran a 4.071 at 178.01 to lead the eight-car field which included Canadian Tony Pontieri in seventh. Travis Harvey won the final over Melanie Selami running a 3.605 (no speed listed).
Next race – National Trail, June 18 – 20.
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EDMONTON INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY: Canada’s national stock car series – the NASCAR Canada Series – is making its only Alberta stop at Edmonton International Raceway (EIR) in Wetaskiwin, AB on July 24-25, 2026.
Fans can expect two full days of racing action, including qualifying rounds, autograph sessions, and the main events NAPA 300 under the lights on Saturday night. That’s right, this year’s NASCAR Canada Series stop at EIR will feature two points races!
Visit EdmontonRaceway.com for tickets and event info, including news about the track’s weekly racing program and hands-on driving experiences.
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NASCAR Canada Series – Like so many races this year, Mother Nature hit the race at Chaudière hard on Saturday. As a result, the races were postponed until Sunday.
The first oval event and first doubleheader of the 2026 NASCAR Canada season delivered plenty of excitement. Marc-Antoine Camirand emerged as the dominant driver of the weekend, sweeping both races at the quarter-mile oval by winning the Bud Light 125 and the Michelob Ultra 125.
With qualifying washed out, the starting lineup for the Bud Light 125 was established in accordance with the NASCAR Canada rulebook, placing Camirand on the pole.
Camirand controlled the early stages of the race but faced relentless pressure from Donald Theetge throughout the 125-lap contest. Multiple cautions, along with a late red flag, kept the field tightly packed and set the stage for a dramatic finish. Theetge took the lead around the halfway mark and engaged in a lengthy battle with Camirand for the top spot.
Further back, Alex Labbé charged from 12th on the grid into contention, while William Larue methodically worked his way forward from 13th.
Following a late restart with just 12 laps remaining, Camirand regained the lead and held off Theetge during a thrilling four-car battle that also included Labbé and Larue to secure his first victory of the season. The podium was completed by Theetge in second and Larue in third.
The starting lineup for the second race was determined by each driver’s fastest lap in the opening race, once again placing Camirand at the front of the field.
The race quickly developed into another showdown between Camirand and Theetge. Theetge first moved to the front on Lap 20 before Camirand reclaimed the position nine laps later.
Behind them, Alex Guenette delivered a strong performance, rebounding from a flat tire in the opener to charge through the field. He spent much of the event battling DJ Kennington for third, while Labbé and Larue worked their way into the top five.
A late incident involving Guenette and Kennington shuffled the running order. Following the final restart on Lap 101, Camirand once again wrestled the lead away from Theetge and held him off over the closing laps to complete the sweep.
Theetge came home second, while Larue was third to duplicate the podium from the first race.
Next race – Riverside, Saturday, June 27.
APC Series – Next race – Peterborough, Saturday.
Ontario Sportsman Series – Next race – Flamboro, Saturday.
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Brockville Ontario Speedway – On Saturday, June 20, LA Knapp presents the incredible ESS Super Sprints! Also on that night’s card are the 358 Modifieds, the Dirt North Sportsman Series & Mini Stocks. Watch BrockvilleSpeedway.com for tickets and additional event information about this and other events at ‘The Bullring.’
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Delaware Speedway – Mother Nature was the big winner Friday night as only the Bone Stock feature got completed. In the Bone Stocks, Charlie Verhoeven won Heat 1, Colin Willems took Heat 2 while Paul Fothergill won Heat 3. Fothergill actually took the flag in the feature but didn’t make it through the Tech Shack. This gave the win to Willems over Verhoeven and Justin Collover. Steve McCaw won Heat 1 of the Open Wheel Modifieds and Marshall Schrenk too Heat 2. Heat 1 of the Late Models went to Brady Smith while Jesse Kennedy won Heat 2.
Next race – ISMA Super Modified and Canadian Vintage Modifieds, Friday.
Ohsweken Speedway – Next race – Southern Ontario Sprints, Friday.
Flamboro Speedway – Next race – Ontario Sportsman Series, Saturday.
Buxton Speedway – Next race – L/M, Mods, T/S, M/S & M/M, Saturday.
Full Throttle Motor Speedway – Next race – Bone Stock Triple 20s, Saturday.
Grand Bend Speedway – Next race – School’s Out Special and Late Models, Saturday.
Grand Bend Dragway – Next race – Great Canadian Truck Show, this weekend.
St. Thomas Dragway – Next race – 660 Sportsman Nationals, this weekend.
660 Sportsman Spectacular – Next race – this weekend, St. Thomas Dragway.
Toronto Motorsports Park – Next race – Race Cayuga Series, Saturday and Sunday.
Can Am Stock/Super Stock – Next race – August 1 & 2, St. Thomas.
John Scotti NHRA Canadian Championship Series – Next race – Luskville, June 19 – 21.
Shannonville Drags – Next race – July 18 – 20.
Any comments can be sent to Dave Mathers via email at motionman@rogers.com or by Facebook Messenger.
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CASC-OR: The 2026 CASC-OR Touring Races will take place June 27–28 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP), marking a new addition to the Ontario regional road racing calendar.
The weekend will feature multiple competitive grids, including Formula Prototype Sprints, Pirelli Grand Touring, and Pirelli Super Touring. These categories promise a diverse field of cars and racing styles, showcasing everything from lightweight, high-downforce machines to powerful touring cars built for endurance and performance.
In addition to the CASC-OR grids, the event will also welcome participation from the BMW Car Club of America (BMW CCA). Drivers competing under BMW CCA will register through their own organization, adding another layer of variety and cross-club participation to the weekend’s on-track action.
As this is a new event for 2026, further details – including supplemental regulations, schedules, and entry information – will be released closer to the race date. Watch their website for more.
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