All week long people were talking about the heat and humidity but chatter switched to the hot racing action as the Ontario Outlaw Super Late Model Series joined the show on Saturday, July 23rd at Peterborough Speedway.

Reigning track champion Jeremy Kelly and John Lavalle showed the way as the Jiffy Lube Mini Stock field rolled to the line for the night’s opening round of feature race action. Kelly shot out to an early lead, with Lavalle and Shawn Solomon joining him in a 3-car breakaway. Brock Baker and Ember Junkin took spots inside the top 5 as the leaders caught the tail-end of the field. Kelly and Solomon had a lead of about a straightaway as the laps wore on and the checkered flag fell. Baker was 3rd, with Junkin and Lavalle rounding-out the top 5 in the caution-free feature.

Front row starters Mark Gordon and Paul Boundy brought the KOD Disposal Super Stock field from the staging area for the night’s next 20 lap feature tilt. Gordon and Marlie Owen took control of the running order on the opening lap, with Gord Shepherd rolling into the 4th spot. Brandon Feeney has been wheeling one of the fastest Super Stock machines in recent weeks and he took over the runner-up spot with only a handful of laps on the scoreboard. A yellow flag just before the halfway mark brought the field back together and gave the No. 38 another shot at taking the lead from Gordon. Shepherd took 2nd on lap 11 and held the spot until the end of the race, finishing just behind Gordon. Owen was 3rd, with Feeney and Bailey Jacobs rounding out the top 5.

Lucas Finnegan took an early lead in the Kingsway Auto Centre Junior Late Model feature and survived several challenges for the spot and close to a handful of caution flags to claim the win. Jakeb Spencer-Walt took the runner-up spot, with Keegan Moat, Chase Cousineau and Carson Cousineau completing the top 5.

With 20 laps to settle the score, the GEN-3 Electrical Ontario Modifieds Racing Series teams hit the track close to 15 teams strong with Rick Warnes and John Baker Jr. on the front row. Baker Jr. – who had been missing from series events since a hard crash earlier in the year – took the lead and never looked back. He was sometimes as many as 10 car lengths ahead of his closest competition as the pack started working through backmarkers near the halfway mark. With about 5 laps remaining, Rob Richards got close to the No. 63 machine, but close was as close as he’d get. John Baker Jr. took the win in the caution-free feature. Alex Cuzzilla, Nick Lees and Chad Strawn completed the top 5.

Jordan Desroches and Paul Boundy were on the front row to kick-off the Trent Lakes Complete Plumbing Renegade Truck feature event. Boundy took the lead early, with Bill O’Hara moving into 2nd, before taking the top spot with 7 laps on the board. Several caution flags slowed the pace, but at the checkered flag it was Shawn Murray taking the win over Stacy Switzer, O’Hara, Boundy and Desroches.

The night’s action wrapped-up with a 50 lap feature for the Ontario Outlaw Super Late Model Series that saw John Owen and Glenn Watson lead the field to the green. The pair of series of veterans ran what could best be called high speed pace laps before an early caution brought the field together. Watson faced a new challenge, this time from Ryan Kimball but he managed to hold off the pilot of the No. 29 over the balance of the main event. The current series point leader led from start to finish for the victory. Kimball, Ethan Courneyea, Owen and 2021 event winner Brandon Passer rounded-out the top 5.

Mini Stock preliminary rounds went to Chris Tubman, Jeremy Kelly, Brock Baker and John Lavalle, with Paul Boundy, Bailey Jacobs, Marlie Owen and Brandon Feeney taking the Super Stock heat wins. Keegan Moat had a pair of Junior Late Model qualifier wins, with the others going to Lucas Finnegan and Jakeb Spencer-Walt. Kyle Gordon and Shawn Murray had opening round Renegade Truck wins, while Tyler Bouillon, Alex Cuzzilla, Robert Warnes and Chad Strawn took OMRS checkered flags. Glenn Watson, Ryan Kimball, Dario Caprichio and Brandon Passer collected Super Late Model heat wins.

All finishing positions are unofficial, pending scoring review and post-race technical and safety inspection.

Bullring Bullet Points: Jillian Rose from Omemee, Ontario took home close to $800 in the winner’s share of the 50/50 draw…The Kingsway Auto Centre Junior Late Model division was bolstered by the arrival of several new teams who regularly race at Sunset Speedway…Provincial racing veteran Gord Shepherd joined the KOD Disposal Super Stock ranks, taking a turn in the No. 30 Mustang, in place of Todd Davenport…Former Super Stock and OMRS Mod racer Craig Scott filled-in for Donny Beatty at the controls of the No. 40 Super Stock…Special thanks to the family of the No. 31 team for contributing some extra cash for the top 3 finishers in the Kingsway Auto Centre Junior Late Model feature…Even with temperatures climbing to the high 20’s, teams in several different classes participated in the Kid’s Race Car Rides at intermission.

As always, fans are reminded that there is no smoking permitted in the family grandstand sections. The use of cannabis anywhere on speedway property is strictly forbidden.

Action returns to Canada’s Toughest 3rd Mile Oval Saturday, July 30th when the OSCAAR Modified and Hot Rod divisions, plus the Outlaw Midgets join the home track Bone Stock and Mini Stock teams, with free Pre Race Corn Roast. Pit gates will open at 2:00, with the spectator grandstands unlocked at 4:00 and racing at 6:00. Passes can be purchased in advance using the ‘buy tickets’ option on the track website or via cash only transactions from the trackside walk-up ticket booth on raceday.

Keep checking www.peterboroughspeedway.com or the track’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram social media platforms for the latest track news and information as the 2022 season rolls on.

Photo: Melissa Smits – OneNine Marketing, www.facebook.com/oneninemarketing

Reigning track champion Jeremy Kelly (No. 80) scored the Jiffy Lube Mini Stock feature win – Saturday, July 23rd – at Peterborough Speedway.

Mark Gordon (No, 52) was the best of the KOD Disposal Super Stock field – Saturday, July 23rd – at Peterborough Speedway.

In the crowd-pleasing Kingsway Auto Centre Junior Late Model field it was Lucas Finnegan (No. 26) taking the checkered flag – Saturday, July 23rd – at Peterborough Speedway.

After a hard crash earlier in the year, John Baker Jr. (No. 63) returned to the GEN-3 Electrical Ontario Modifieds Racing Series winner’s circle – Saturday, July 23rd – at Peterborough Speedway.

Shawn Murray (No. 55) claimed the Trent Lakes Complete Plumbing Renegade Truck main event win – Saturday, July 23rd – at Peterborough Speedway.

Current point leader Glenn Watson (No. 22) took home the Ontario Outlaw Super Late Model checkered flag – Saturday, July 23rd – at Peterborough Speedway.

Source: Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media