The preliminary entry list for Saturday’s event has already reached 21 cars, and plenty of action is expected at the racy one-third mile track in Northumberland County.
Only three drivers on the pre-entry list have 360 Sprint Car feature wins at Brighton on their resumes, which leaves the door open for a fresh face in victory lane. Local favourite Chris Jones has six wins at Brighton, while Cory Turner has four, and Ryan Turner has one.
Those three will be trying to keep the likes of Jordan Poirier and Aaron Turkey from adding their names to the Brighton win list, along with a host of others; Poirier and Turkey both claimed wins in Ontario during the abbreviated 2020 season, while Jim Huppunen, Travis Cunningham, Mikey Kruchka, Mack DeMan, and Jamie Turner have also won 360 Sprint Car features in the past.
FANS IN THE STANDS!: Step 2 of the province’s Roadmap to Reopen plan allows 25% spectator capacity at auto racing facilities; general admission grandstand tickets and reserved seats in Brighton’s licenced bar area are available for Saturday’s event. Grandstand tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for youth and seniors, $10 for children age 7-12, and $5 for children age 6 and under. Tables in the licenced bar are $240 and include two pizzas and six tickets. Visit www.brightonspeedway.ca to reserve your spot while they’re still available!
SERIES INFO: More than 30 drivers have indicated their intention to compete in at least a portion of the 2021 Knights of Thunder season. Each full-points KoT event purse will pay at least $2,000-to-win and $250 to start the A-Main, with selected races broadcast live on GForceTV. The championship winner will be rewarded with $5,000 and a Pinty’s VIP package for the 2022 Bristol Dirt Race, while 10th place in the championship standings will pay $1,000. Make sure to visit the official website and social media pages of the Knights of Thunder for news and updates on Eastern Canada’s newest racing series. Website: www.knightsofthunder.com
About the Knights of Thunder Sprint Car Series: Founded in 2021, Knights of Thunder is a traveling winged 360 Sprint Car tour based in Ontario, Canada. Each points-paying event on the 2021 schedule will pay a minimum of $2,000-to-win and $250-to-start, and selected events will be broadcast live on GForceTV. The 2021 Knights of Thunder Sprint Car Series is made possible with the support of Pinty’s Delicious Foods, Corr/Pak Merchandising, Stoneridge Specialty Insurance, Hoosier Tire Canada, Burger Barn, Nitro 54 Variety, Strickland’s Brantford Chevrolet, and EPIC Racewear. Visit www.knightsofthunder.com for more information.
JULY 3 EVENT INFO
WHAT: Knights of Thunder 360 Sprint Car Series – 2021 Season Round #1
WHEN: Saturday, July 3, 2021 – Racing begins at 7:00 pm
WHERE: Brighton Speedway // 775 County Rd 64 // Brighton ON K0K 1H0 // www.brightonspeedway.ca
TICKETS: 25% spectator capacity is permitted at this event under Step Two of Ontario’s Roadmap to Reopen. Visit www.brightonspeedway.ca to reserve your tickets.
PRE-ENTRIES:
01 Mikey Kruchka – Hamilton, Ontario
1 Holly Porter – Dorchester, Ontario
5D Jacob Dykstra – Port Colborne, Ontario
9 Liam Martin – Binbrook Ontario
9B Scott Burk – Charing Cross, Ontario
11 Jamie Turner – Caistor Centre, Ontario
11J Chris Jones – Picton, Ontario
13 Cory Turner – Tillsonburg, Ontario
14H Jim Huppunen – Fenwick, Ontario
15 Dan Nanticoke – Ohsweken, Ontario
17X Mack DeMan – Mississauga, Ontario
28 Jordan Poirier – Saint-Mathieu-de-Beloeil, Quebec
46 Kevin Pauls – St. Catharines, Ontario
68 Aaron Turkey – Ohsweken, Ontario
70 Baily Heard – Niagara Falls, Ontario
84 Tyler Rand – Picton, Ontario
87X Shone Evans – Scotland, Ontario
88H Josh Hansen – Beamsville, Ontario
90 Travis Cunningham – Grimsby, Ontario
91 Ryan Turner – Dunnville, Ontario
98 Paul Pekkonen – Brockville, Ontario
TEAM REGISTRATION: https://knightsofthunder.com/registration/
By Tommy Goudge
