TRACK AND SERIES NEWS

JUST WEEKS PRIOR TO THE RACING SEASON, MANY TRACKS AND SERIES MADE NEWS AT MOTORAMA

By Bryce Turner

The Inside Track Racing Zone presented by Stoneridge Specialty Insurance was a hub of activity all weekend long, with several tracks and series showing off cars, promoting their schedules and talking with fans at the Motorama Custom Car & Motorsports Expo presented by eBay Motors.

Delaware Speedway

The ½-mile Delaware Speedway will feature Friday night racing again this season, with the late models, super stocks and bone stocks in action, starting May 12. The V8 stocks division will get underway the following week, where the Ontario Sportsman Series (OSS) will be the first touring series to visit in 2023.

“I’m looking forward to a great year of racing,” said general manager Dave Graham. “We’re going to do some new things and some new expansions, try to make better fan zones and keep the momentum going.”

The Canada Day weekend will once again feature some major events at the speedway, with the OSCAAR Modifieds and Hot Rods holding races on back-to-back days and the APC Series and Qwick Wick Super Stock Series (QWSS) in action for a single event each. Other notable events include Monster Trucks and Freestyle Motocross on July 2829, the Ontario Outlaw Super Late Models (OSLM) on August 11 and the QWSS, APC Series and NASCAR Pinty’s Series all crowning champions from September 22-24.

Casual racers will be able to do battle in their passenger cars, with King of the Hill races being held on five dates, including on

NASCAR championship Sunday. The regular divisions will conclude in mid-to-late September, with the Annual Pumpkin Smasher closing the track on September 30.

Flamboro Speedway

Flamboro Speedway will have a busy 2023 season, starting April 29 with mini stock and pure stock invitationals. The pro late models, super stocks and Canadian Vintage Modifieds will also run at Flamboro this season, while the Southern Ontario Modified Association will run most events at the track.

There will be a pair of races with big paydays at the 1/3-mile oval, with a $10,000-to-win pro late model race in July, ahead of a $50,000-to-win enduro race in early September.

“We brought back the Gold Rush, that’ll happen July 29, that should be a good one,” said co-owner John Casale. “It’s a good money payday for (the drivers), so hopefully we’ll get lots of cars for that one. Then, on Labour Day weekend, we’re bringing back the Pot of Gold 300 and hopefully we’ll get 150 cars so somebody will go home with $50,000.”

Flamboro will honour notable racing legends during three events. The Bill Zardo Sr. Memorial will take place May 27, headlined by the OSCAAR Hot Rods, which Zardo competed in last year before his passing in December. The Don Biederman Memorial will be held June 17, with the OSLM visiting the track, and the Bill Pickford Memorial will take place August 26, with the Ontario Modifieds Racing Series (OMRS) in action.

The APC Series, OSCAAR Modifieds, Ontario Pro Challenge (OPC), Can-Am TQ Midgets and Outlaw Midgets will also visit Flamboro this season, with the prestigious Frostoberfest, featuring the Grisdale Triple Crown, concluding the regular portion of the season on September 30-October

1. The Halloween Enduro and demolition derby will close the track on October 21.

Full Throttle Motor Speedway

Full Throttle Motor Speedway took a different approach to Motorama, with the ¼-mile oval bringing its souvenir stand, so showgoers could purchase track merchandise while learning about the schedule.

There will be several divisions competing at the Durham, ON track this season, with pro sprints, fun stocks, mini stocks, street stocks, hot rods, junior late models, mini trucks, thunder trucks, late models and crazy trains all in action.

“I think it will be a really good year; we have more registered cars than last year, we have OSCAAR coming July 15…it’s going to be an interesting year,” said owner Paul Trepanier, who circled the Victoria Day weekend for a highlight event. “May 24 weekend, I would say, would be the best (to attend) for a double-header; Great Lakes Legends on board both days, trains, late models, hot rods.”

Other touring series slated to visit include OSS, OPC and Outlaw Midgets, which will each headline a consecutive weekend between June 3 and June 17 before return visits later in the year. There will be no off-weekends, with racing taking place nonstop from May 13 to September 23. All ten divisions will wrap up their seasons on either September 16 or September 23.

Ohsweken Speedway

The 3/8-mile Ohsweken Speedway has added to its schedule this year, after returning from a hiatus last season. The calendar will now feature a pair of NASCAR Pinty’s Series races, on back-to-back nights, following the series’ successful dirt debut that saw Treyten Lapcevich visit victory lane last August.

“We plan to have a great year; we’re in our 26th season, action-packed starting in May and going right through to September,” said race director Doug Leonard. “Two Pinty’s Series races, the Sprint Car Nationals are back on, now re-named the Northern Sprint Car Nationals, so it’s going to be an exciting season for us.”

Action at “The Big O” gets underway May 19, with the UMP Modifieds joining the regular track divisions. The RoC Dirt Sportsman, Southern Ontario

Flat Track Motor

Continued on Page 10

Motorcycles, Action Sprint Tour and NLMA Crate Late Models will also visit the track in 2023.

The track has four weekly divisions, with the 360 sprint cars, 602 crate sprints, thunder stocks and mini stocks starting opening night and concluding regular action on September 8. The vintage cars and late models will each appear twice.

The NASCAR Pinty’s Series races will take place August 14-15, with the Northern Crate Nationals and Northern Sprint Car Nationals concluding the season on Sept.15-16.

Peterborough Speedway

Peterborough Speedway will get their season underway on May 20, starting the countdown to the prestigious end-of-season with a dyno and kids zone. Also enhancing the off-track experience for fans will be a new element for 2023.

“One of the big things on the fan aspect is that we’re in the final stages of getting a liquor license – there’s going to be a beer patio,” said Josiasse. “We’re always upgrading and it’s going to be a great season.”

Sunset Speedway

The 1/3-mile Sunset Speedway will have a busy start to the year, with a notable schedule in the month of May. The pro late models, modifieds, super stocks, mini stocks, junior late models and legends will all begin their season on May 6, before the hot rods are in action the following weekend, with the Big Z Memorial.

The NASCAR Pinty’s Series will start their 2023 campaign at Sunset on May 13, before the APC Series gets underway during Spring Velocity weekend on May 20-21. The bone stocks will make their season debut, alongside other local divisions, while the Can-Am TQ Midgets and Outlaw Midgets will also visit the track for the Victoria Day event.

One race that gauged significant interest at Motorama is the Junior Hanley Classic on July 8, featuring 72 laps for pro late models.

Sauble Speedway

Located near the coastal Lake Huron town of Sauble Beach, Sauble Speedway will have a later start to their 2023 season, with the OSCAAR Modifieds and Hot Rods opening the track on June 17. The United 8’s, Combined 4’s and junior late models will also be in action that weekend, with the pro late models and legends getting underway on June 24.

“We’ve got some really good things coming up, set up a really good program for the season,” said Combined 4’s driver Mike Campbell. “(We have) improvements like crazy at the track, for racers and fans. There’s paving going on…the stands are being painted, new Hall of Fame going up. Jeff (Cassidy) and Paul (Gresel) are really putting their time and effort into the track.”

The OSS, Can-Am TQ Midgets, Outlaw Midgets and Great Lakes Legends Series (GLL) will all visit the track on Canada Day weekend, with the OSLM and Monster Trucks visiting across the following two weekends.

The ¼-mile oval will once again hold a marquee part of their schedule surrounding the August long weekend, with the Dash For Cash on August 2 before a busy slate on August 5-6, including the APC Series, GLL and Can-Am TQ Midgets in town. As part of the track’s association with INEX, there will be a Canadian Legend Car National Qualifier on the Sunday.

Autumn Colours Classic. The bone stocks, mini stocks, renegade trucks, super stocks, late models, legends and junior late models will all compete on a regular basis at the 1/3-mile oval this year.

“We’re going to kick-off again on the May long weekend, run right through to Labour Day,” said owner/promoter J.P. Josiasse. “This year’s going to be the 30th running of the Autumn Colours Classic, so we’re stepping that event up a little bit; we’ve added the OMRS modifieds, running a full show on the Friday night with us.”

The APC Series, QWSS, OSCAAR Modifieds and Hot Rods, OSLM, OSS, Can-Am TQ Midgets and Outlaw Midgets will also visit the track this season. Meanwhile, there will be events geared towards casual racers, with a pair of King of the Hill events, along with kids bike races and kids barrel races.

The Autumn Colours Classic will conclude the regular on-track action October 6-8, with radar runs and grass drags on October 28. Off the track, Foxfest will take place June 11, with an all-Ford car and truck show, along

“The one I’m probably most looking forward to is the Junior Hanley Classic,” said track announcer Brendan Doherty. “We look forward to honouring the man and doing something like that, honouring people who are still with us with classic races…that Junior Hanley Classic, the pro late model guys, they’ve been all over here, all weekend, talking about it. If they’re not coming full-time to run at Sunset, that’s the one they’re coming to run.”

The OSS, Monster Trucks and QWSS will also visit Sunset this season, with the APC Series making a second stop on August 12. There will be several King of the Hill races throughout the year, starting May 27, and there will be kid’s bike races on three dates.

Fall Velocity weekend will close the track on September 15-17, which will include the last of three super late model races at the track this season.

There will also be invitationals for mini stock, pure stock and super stock on separate weekends this season. The APC Series will make a return visit on August 26, before the Sauble Speedway schedule concludes with a mix of touring and local divisions, plus a demolition derby, on September 2-3.

Touring Series

Touring series were also well-represented in the Racing Zone. The Can-Am TQ Midgets had a booth, featuring the car and championship trophy belonging to 2022 title winner Cory Whittam. The driver himself was also on hand.

“They’re fast cars, very affordable to race, very fun,” said Whittam. “(It’s a) great division. We all take care of each other, we all help each other out.”

The series has 15 races scheduled between five tracks. There will be two double-header weekends, with races on backto-back days at Sauble Speedway on July 1-2 and August 5-6.

Canada Heads Up had a large presence at Motorama, with several drag racing cars and bikes on display. The series also hosted a driver’s meeting on Saturday afternoon at the Racing Zone stage.

Canada Heads Up has five race weekends on the schedule, starting June 2-4, all taking place at Toronto Motorsports Park.

Canadian Vintage Modifieds vice president Jae Pepin had his No. 43 car on display at the series booth.

“They’re all race chassis, they’re all tubular chassis vehicles, but the actual roots of these things are real steel bodies from the ‘30s, so they kind of have a little bit of nostalgia to them,” said Pepin.

The mods have 12 races on their schedule, with two weeks in between most events. All races will be run at Flamboro Speedway between May 6 and September 23.

The Great Lakes Legends Series appeared ahead of their second season of existence, with multiple cars on display in the Racing Zone. Their schedule features 10 race weekends at five tracks, beginning May 20-21 at Full Throttle Motor Speedway.

The Ontario Sportsman Series (OSS) and United Racing Series (URS) were also on hand at Motorama. Club racing was represented at the show by the British Auto Racing Club (BARC), Canadian Automobile Sport Clubs – Ontario Region (CASC-OR) and Southern Ontario Modified Association (SOMA).

See elsewhere in issue 27.01 for longer features on the OSS, URS and CASC-OR. IT

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Norm Stoddard Pro Late Model

Gravenhurst, ON racer Norm Stoddard had his 2023 Chevy Pro Late Model on display in the Inside Track Racing Zone.

Justin Ramsay Brighton

SPEEDWAY

- THUNDER STOCK

Justin Ramsay’s immaculate ‘79 Chevy Camaro Thunder Stock is all set to take to the track at Brighton Speedway.

Kevin Trevellin Ontario Sportsman Series

Reigning OSS champ Kevin Trevellin’s Dodge was one of several impressive vehicles in the growing series’ display at Motorama.

Kenny Mcnicol Great Lakes Legends Series

The GLLS series’ booth at Motorama featured several vehicles, including the #1 of 2022 series champ Kenny McNicol.

Jim Bray Nascar Grand National

The Freshstone Brands booth featured a tribute to veteran racer and team owner Jim Bray, who recently turned 90.

Scott Wood Merrittville Speedway

Dirt racer Scott Wood had his Modified on display in the Freshstone Brands booth, in the Racing Zone at Motorama.

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Driver Canada Heads Up

Ricky Carlos’ white ‘69 Camaro and Jeremy Brown’s blue ‘15 Chevy Corvette Z06 were two of many drag cars in the large CHU booth.

Drag Bikes Canada Heads Up

Several impressive Canada Heads Up drag bikes were also on display along the north wall of the Racing Zone.

Jake Hooker

SOUTHERN ONTARIO MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Second generation dirt racer Jake Hooker, the reigning Super Dirt Late Model champ at SOMS, brought his beautiful car to Motorama.

DRIVER CASC-OR

The Canadian Auto Sport Clubs - Ontario Region had a booth at Motorama, displaying vehicles and answering questions.

Shannon Morris

SOUTHERN ONTARIO MODIFIED ASSOC.

Shannon Morris’ #0 SOMA Modified was one of two vehicles in the growing tour’s display in the Racing Zone.

CORY WHITTAM CAN-AM MIDGET CLUB

Reigning Can-Am Midget Club champion Cory Whittam proudly displayed his car and hardware at Motorama.

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Jennifer Hatch Sauble Speedway

Busy racer Jennifer Hatch had her Bone Stock car in the Sauble Speedway booth at the Toronto Motorama show.

Bill Profotas

Dirt Modified Nostalgia Tour

Bill Profotas’ beautiful orange Vintage Modified was in the Yesterday’s Speedway’s display in the Racing Zone.

MIKE RICHARD PLAYER’S / GM SERIES

Mike Richard brought this replica tribute car, a ‘91 Camaro, which was originally driven in the series by the late Joe Lapcevich Jr.

Kyle Woods Oscaar Hot Rod

Kyle Woods’ stunning ‘53 Packard Clipper was an attention grabber in the OSCAAR / United Racing Series display at the show.

Junior Farrelly Apc Late Model Series

Junior Farrelly’s beautiful new #72 Chevy was one of many United Racing Series APC Late Models on display in the Racing Zone.

L.P. DUMOULIN NASCAR PINTY’S SERIES

The WeatherTech Dodge of multi-time NPS series champion L.P. Dumoulin was featured in the WeatherTech booth, in Hall 1.

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