It was the action on-track – not the party candles – generating the heat during the Mid-Season Bash, presented by KX 105.1 New Country, on Saturday, July 12th at Peterborough Speedway.
SwitchTire Mini Stocks kicked-off the night’s feature races with Mike Nelson and Rob Crick on the front row for the 20-lap headliner. A yellow flag was displayed before the completion of the opening lap, leading to the field being re-racked for a fresh start. Nelson took the initial lead, with John Lavalle and Crick joining him in a three-car breakaway. James Townsend started picking off positions, taking 5th with three circuits complete and 4th another lap later. The No. 70 of Nelson saw his eight-car-length advantage vanish when a caution slowed the pace with just over a handful of laps on the scoreboard. Nelson, Townsend and Lavalle battled for the lead on the restart, with the trio navigating slower traffic just past halfway. Townsend was the new race leader with 13 laps complete and held on for another win; Nelson, Lavalle, Crick and Ember Junkin rounded out the top-five.
Twenty Junior Late Model teams came to the line for the group’s main event, with Oliver Gibbons and Owen Ephgrave on the front row. Gibbons was the early race leader, with Hudson Sellers, Lyla Sikma, Jacob Vandebelt and Ephgrave hot on the leader’s tail. Brody Coates was on the move, as the driver of the No. 99 made moves that saw him enter the top-four. Hudson Sellers took the lead with six circuits on the scoreboard, with Coates taking third a lap later. The leaders encountered traffic running in multiple lanes as the laps rolled on. Sellers scored his second straight checkered flag, with Gibbons, Lucas Finnegan, Coates and Sikma completing the top-five.
It was a 25-lap feature that brought the KOD Disposal Late Models from the staging area to the green flag, with Steve Powell and Kelly Balson on the front row. Balson took the race lead from the outside line, with Ryan Kimball, Jacob Mercer and Powell falling in behind. A yellow flag, requiring a lengthy clean-up, slowed the pace, with Dan McHattie using the inside line to take fourth on the restart. That pause in the action set the stage for things to come, as Kimball, Mercer and McHattie all took a turn at the front of the field, with McHattie taking another main event win. Balson, Kimball, Mercer and Gary Hannah completed the top-five.
Adam Chatten and Shawn Murray held the front row spots as the Trent Lakes Complete Plumbing Renegade Trucks took their turn with a 20-lap main event. Murray, the early race leader, had the No. 62 of Howie Crowe on his back bumper and it wasn’t long before the former Super Stock track champion took the race lead. As Crowe built-up a six-truck-length advantage, Murray and Kyle Fetterly were fighting over a position behind him. Fetterly wheeled his No. 87 pick-up into the runner-up spot, as Mark Gordon took over third. Almost as exciting as watching them on the track is the way Crowe and Gordon poke fun at each other behind the scenes. At the checkered flag, Crowe celebrated the caution-free feature win over Gordon, with Fetterly, Murray and Chatten wrapping-up the top-five.
Brandon Passer and Dwayne Baker brought the Ontario Outlaw Super Late Model teams to the Great Canadian RV green flag for the group’s annual 50-lap headliner. The initial start was short-lived after Roy Passer slapped the turn three wall on the opening lap. The driver was uninjured, but his No. 27 car retired a few laps later. Defending race winner and reigning series champion J.R. Fitzpatrick, who started fourth, took the race lead on the restart and treated the fans to another dominating performance. The driver of the No. 84 lapped all but the second- and third-place finishers on his way to the checkered flag. Brandon Passer, Baker, Brad Pearsall and TJ Edwards completed the top-five.
Mike Nelson and James Townsend shared the wins in SwitchTire Mini Stock qualifying, with Lucas Finnegan, Hudson Sellers, Avery Kirkpatrick, and Brayden Cappuccitti taking Junior Late Model victories. Brody Coates had a pair of Junior Late Model checkered flags. Dan McHattie scored a pair of KOD Disposal Late Model wins, with the others going to Jacob Mercer and reigning track champion Ryan Kimball. For the second straight week, teammates Mark Gordon and Howie Crowe swept the Trent Lakes Complete Plumbing Renegade Truck preliminary rounds. Hoosier Race Tire Outlaw Super Late Model heat wins went to Roy Passer, Brandon Passer and 2024 race winner J.R. Fitzpatrick, who captured a pair.
All finishing positions are unofficial and subject to scoring review and post-race inspection.
Bullring Bullet Points:
- The hot, sticky summer weather of 2025 continued Saturday night, with temperatures climbing to the 30-degree range at race time. Track staff provided regular reminders to race fans, teams and officials to keep hydrated and refreshed to combat the heat and humidity.
- Things didn’t go exactly as planned for the second Late Model start by former OMRS champion Alex Cuzzilla. His No. 50 machine was cradled back to the pits between a pair of wreckers after contact with the turn three wall.
- Mini Stock racer Dave Bragg marked his 36th birthday with an 8th-place finish in the group’s 20-lap feature.
- King of the Hill timed spectator laps were run at intermission, with Larry Crowe Jr. setting the standard with a lap of 17.39 in a Lamborghini.
Action returns to the popular Central Ontario oval on Saturday, July 19th with the home track Mini Stock and Super Stock divisions, joining the Trailers Plus Ontario Legend Car Series, Ontario Bandolero Series presented by Pigeon River Promotions and GEN-3 Electric OMRS SportsMods. Kid’s Bike Races will be the intermission feature. Grandstand gates open at 5:00 p.m., with racing at 6:00.
The latest track news and complete 2025 schedule information can be found anytime by visiting www.peterboroughspeedway.com or checking the venue’s various social media platforms and pages throughout the year.
