BRIGHTON, ON – The annual Applefest Shootout was an adrenaline-fuelled weekend of non-stop action at Brighton Speedway. The event brought together more than 300 cars and racers from Ontario and Upper New York State for two days of heart-pounding dirt track racing. The track’s biggest event of the year featured DIRTcar 358 Modifieds, ROC Sportsman, Northeast Late Model Alliance, Canadian Modifieds, Thunder Stocks, Mini Stocks, and 4-Cylinders.
Williamson Wins 3rd Applefest Shootout
Brad Rouse and Lucas Fuller brought the field of 22 DIRTcar 358 Modifieds to green for the 75-lap Applefest Shootout. Fuller and Rouse battled side by side in the opening eight laps before Rouse took over, leaving Fuller to fight with former champions Gary Lindberg and Mat Williamson.
Rouse stretched the lead, but Williamson was charging. The defending race winner moved into second and quickly pressured Rouse. On lap 16, Williamson took control with Lindberg sliding into second, sparking a spirited battle for the top spot.
Mid-race restarts allowed Lindberg to pull even with Williamson, while Fuller stayed in the mix. Late cautions tightened the field again, with Kyle Dingwall and Tristan Draper climbing into contention.
In traffic, Lindberg closed within three car lengths, but Williamson held steady for his third Applefest Shootout victory and second straight. Lindberg settled for second, with Fuller third, Dingwall fourth and Draper fifth.
In Friday’s 15-lap dash-for-cash, Lindberg scored the win over Brian McDonald, Kalen Draper, Johnathan Ferguson and Dingwall.
Kirkland Captures 1st Applefest Victory
The 35-lap ROC DIRT Sportsman Series feature also had a championship on the line. Points leader and Friday night winner Cody McPherson started ninth, while Akwesasne’s Fire Swamp set the early pace with Justin Desrosiers and Dylan Kirkland in tow.
Swamp held the point through 20 laps as McPherson advanced into fourth. By lap 24, Kirkland powered past Swamp for the lead with McPherson soon to third.
Multiple late restarts saw McPherson briefly grab the top spot, but each time a caution negated the pass. Kirkland stayed composed and, on the final restart, drove away to earn his first Applefest Shootout win.
McPherson’s runner-up finish secured his 2025 ROC Sportsman title. Herrington placed third, followed by Swamp and Brennan Moore.
Sandercock Scores 4th Straight Crate Race, 4th NLMA Title
Polesitter Nathan Rinaldi and Adam Turner led the 19-car Northeast Late Model Alliance field to green in the 40-lap Great Crate race. Both looked strong early, but Charlie Sandercock was relentless in his march to another championship.
Sandercock stormed into the lead on lap 15 and traded the top spot back and forth with Rinaldi. On lap 24, Sandercock retook command for good, powering to his eighth overall Applefest win and a fourth consecutive NLMA title.
Kyle Sopaz crossed second, Brian McDonald third, with “13TWO” surging from 18th to fourth and Ryan Lambert fifth.
Photo by Rod Henderson, CanadianRacer.com
Shawn Gregory Grabs 4 Straight
In the Canadian Modified/UMP Challenge, Shawn Gregory wasted no time taking the lead from Ron Wadforth. Riding the high side, Gregory opened a commanding margin before a caution with seven laps remaining bunched the field.
On the restart, Doug O’Blenis chased Gregory hard, but the leader was untouchable, sealing his fourth straight Applefest triumph. Wadforth was third, Adam Whaley fourth, and Corey Halbert fifth.
Brock Gregory Sweeps Applefest Weekend
In the 40-lap Thunder Stock Duel on the Dirt, Carter Rhodes paced the opening 22 laps before Brock Gregory surged past on the outside. Gregory, fresh off a Friday win, swept the Applefest weekend for the first time in his career.
Gregory’s win tightened the Duel on the Dirt championship battle with Dave Bailey, who holds the lead heading into Merrittville. Tyler French took second, Rhodes third, Doug Anderson fourth and Justin Ramsay fifth.
On Friday, Gregory topped the 20-lap race over Zach Bleich, Mike Lucas, Kyle Pelrine and Rhodes.
Brandon Gregory Wins Comp 4/Mini Stock Open
The 20-lap Mini Stock main saw champion Aidan Fletcher hold the point through 17 laps before Brandon Gregory muscled past with three to go. Gregory held off Fletcher in the closing laps to secure the win.
Maxx Steele finished third, Travis McLean fourth, and Hayden Brown fifth.
In Friday’s Duel on the Dirt feature, Wade Thorne inherited the victory following Peter Moore’s disqualification. Grayden Lyons, Hana Rothwell, Mason Anderson and Ken Hair completed the top five.
Applefest Shootout – Brighton Speedway Results
Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025
DIRTcar 358 Modified – 75 laps
- Mat Williamson; 2. Gary Lindberg; 3. Lucas Fuller; 4. Kyle Dingwall; 5. Tristan Draper; 6. Brad Rouse; 7. Brian McDonald; 8. Kalen Draper; 9. David Flannigan; 10. Darrell Farraway; 11. Justin Cyr; 12. Dylan Davidson; 13. Melcolm Banks; 14. Derek VanMil; 15. Johnathon Ferguson; 16. Bill Gill; 17. Shane Stearns; 18. Brianna Ladouceur; 19. Ken Winfield; 20. Tommy Flannigan; 21. Cedric Gauvreau; 22. Chris Ferguson.
DIRTcar Sportsman – 35 laps
- Dylan Kirkland; 2. Cody McPherson; 3. Bobby Herrington; 4. Fire Swamp; 5. Brennan Moore; 6. Kraig Handley; 7. Matt Barbour; 8. Justin Desrosiers; 9. Nigel Pendykoski; 10. Dan Ferguson; 11. Tyler Puchalski; 12. Dylan Moore; 13. Jeff Panunte; 14. Brad Overbeeke; 15. Matteo Panunte; 16. David Andre; 17. Michael Dillon; 18. Marc Olivier McCarthy; 19. Brad Rouse; 20. Chris Hale; 21. Domonick Merkley; 22. Sylvain Dupuis; 23. Greg Brinklow; 24. Noah Mamo; 25. Curtis Friesen; 26. Madie Wallace.
Northeast Late Model Alliance – 40 laps
- Charlie Sandercock; 2. Kyle Sopaz; 3. Brian McDonald; 4. 13TWO; 5. Ryan Lambert; 6. Adam Turner; 7. Nathan Rinaldi; 8. Brandon Mowat; 9. Mike Cody; 10. Tim Kerr; 11. Sam Pennacchio; 12. Devin Francis; 13. Tim O’Brien; 14. Phil Potts; 15. Rob Pietz; 16. Greg Belyea; 17. Steve Baldwin; 18. Justin Ramsay; 19. Mark Raynor.
Canadian Modified/UMP Challenge – 25 laps
- Shawn Gregory; 2. Doug O’Blenis; 3. Ron Wadforth; 4. Adam Whaley; 5. Corey Halbert; 6. Austin Reid; 7. Derek Bowers; 8. Andrew Hennessy; 9. Tom Collins; 10. Luke Stewart; 11. Rob Richards; 12. Steve Billings; 13. Matt Moore; 14. Jamie Marshall; 15. Tyler French; 16. Josh Cook.
Thunder Stocks – 40 laps
- Brock Gregory; 2. Tyler French; 3. Carter Rhodes; 4. Doug Anderson; 5. Justin Ramsay; 6. Dave Bailey; 7. Jeff Humphrey; 8. Steve Shaw Sr.; 9. Jordan Fidler; 10. Josh Black; 11. Jim Lampman; 12. Chris Hale; 13. Derek Lascelle; 14. Brandon McFerran; 15. Adam Whaley; 16. Luke Carleton; 17. Bob Green; 18. Tim Zack; 19. Pete Reid; 20. Mike Freeman; 21. James Townsend; 22. Ryan Beagle; 23. Dustin McLean; 24. Mark Fawcett; 25. Jesse McDonald; 26. Ken Sargent.
Mini Stocks – 20 laps
- Brandon Gregory; 2. Aidan Fletcher; 3. Maxx Steele; 4. Travis McLean; 5. Hayden Brown; 6. Alex Riley; 7. Owen Stoner; 8. Eric Dawson; 9. Austin Fraser; 10. Scott Steele; 11. Hunter Morgan; 12. Dylan Moore; 13. Michael Crozier; 14. Trevor Rosborough; 15. Kevin Scott; 16. Ashley Nelson; 17. Josh French; 18. Justin Holmes; 19. Tyler Taylor; 20. Joey Patrick; 21. Greg Anderson; 22. Ben Austin; 23. Kurtis Hale; 24. Robert Morton.
