PETERBOROUGH, Ont. – May 30, 2017 – Kawartha Speedway will see short track racing action this summer for the first time since 2014 when OSCAAR Racing takes over the track for two huge Friday nights of racing on June 2 and July 21.
On June 2, the OSCAAR Outlaw Super Late Models, OSCAAR Open-Wheel Modifieds, the brand new OSCAAR Hot Rod Series and Eastern Ontario Legends Series will be in action when the green flag drops at 7:00pm.
Kawartha Speedway last saw OSCAAR racing on the high-banked 3/8-mile oval for a pair of events in 2014. This year’s revival of the speedway and the return of Ontario’s fastest stock cars, the OSCAAR Super Late Models, is sure to be a can’t miss event at the Fraserville, Ont. oval.
“OSCAAR and all the teams are very excited to be back at Kawartha Speedway in 2017,” said Dave Gainforth, President of OSCAAR. “This track is the perfect size for great high-speed Outlaw Super Late Model and Modified racing. The drivers really get to use all of the horsepower under the hood.”
General admission for the event is just $20 for adults, $10 for youth (13-17) and free for kids 12 and under. Pit pass admission is $35 for adults, $15 for youth (13-17) and $10 for kids 12 and under. However, fans can get $5 off general admission by printing off the coupon at www.oscaar.ca.
Both races feature Classic Car and Motorcycle shows as well. Fans who ride to the track or cruise in their pre-1985 classic car receive adult admission for just $10.
What’s On Tap
Four different divisions are in action at the June 2 event. The OSCAAR Outlaw Super Late Models bring a cast of talent-laden veterans excited to visit the fastest track on the tour for the first time in four season. The 50-lap race also marks the 4th Annual Bruce Gowland Memorial, in honour of the late OSCAAR driver who passed away in 2013.
Confirmed entrants for the event include series regulars Glenn Watson, Roy Passer, Charlie Gallant, Shane Maginnis, and Kelly Balson to name a few. Also scheduled to be in attendance is reinging series champion JR Fitzpatrick, along with five-time OSCAAR champion Rob Clarke, Dwayne Baker and Ian Bourque. Former Kawartha Speedway regular Ryan Kimball also intends to race.
“I was really happy to hear we were going back. It’s such a great facility to race at and it was a shame to see it sit dormant,” said four-time OSCAAR Outlaw Super Late Model champion Glenn Watson. “I don’t know if there’s one thing that you can pin down that makes the car good [at Kawartha]. You have to make the car turn well in the centre [of the corner] and drive off. Hopefully it’s enough to get around everybody else.”
The event marks the second race of the season for the OSCAAR Modifieds, a series that features an exciting mix of veterans along with a class of seven rookie drivers. Kawartha is a thrilling track for Modified drivers, who will reach some of their fastest speeds of the season and have plenty of room to race on the smooth, wide-open track.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” said Gary Elliott, a regular with the OSCAAR Modified series. “It’s big, it’s fast, it’s smooth and it’s got a really nice atmosphere. There’s a lot of room for guys to race and race hard. It makes for pretty good racing.”
The OSCAAR Hot Rods are also on the card for their first ever visit to Kawartha in their inaugural season. The upstart series features stock cars with pre-1974 model bodies to create one of the most unique divisions in oval track racing. The division has already been nostalgic for Tyler Hawn, an Outlaw Super Late Model driver, who has built a 1966 Chevrolet Belmont with his father Don for the Hot Rod Series. Hawn plans to pull double duty and race both his Super Late Model and Hot Rod at Kawartha.
“The most exciting thing I see about the Hot Rod Series is that it’s bringing back the roots of racing,” said Tyler Hawn. “There are cars are how the Super Lates were back in the early days of stock car racing. Building this car really brought out all of the old ways from my dad. He’s been so excited with the process.”
The Eastern Ontario Legends Series will finally fulfill its craving with a return to Kawartha Speedway. The 5/8-scale Legends cars are purpose-built racecars featuring primarily 1930s Chevrolet and Ford style bodies. The Series expects nearly 30 cars for its Kawartha return.
OSCAAR Racing has the only dates at Kawartha this season outside of September’s NASCAR Pinty’s Series race, making both OSCAAR events can’t-miss shows. Gainforth believes with enough fan support, the track could soon see a rejuvenation for racing on a regular basis.
“I have had some preliminary talks with the management group at Kawartha about 2018 and what we would like to see at the track,” Gainforth said. “Hopefully we can put something together to get some of the Outlaws from the United States here to compete with our local talent. But it all depends on this year – we need the fan support for these two events. If we succeed in 2017, we will definitely be back in 2018.”
For additional event information and for a full schedule of events, visit www.oscaar.ca. Keep up with OSCAAR Racing on social media as well by following their official Facebook page at facebook.com/OSCAARracing and on Twitter @OSCAARracing.
OSCAAR Racing’s 2017 Racing Season is supported by several dedicated marketing partners including, American Racer, B&B Fireworks, Grisdale Racing Products, Inside Track Motorsport News, Jenco Equipment, Knightworks Design, Race Time Radio, Race2way.ca Communications, South Shore Services, and Sunoco Race Fuel.
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