Three days of racing for Autumn Colours Classic

Though short track stock car racing has traditionally been a male-dominated vocation, local female racers gear up for Peterborough Speedway’s spotlight event next month, the 23rd annual Autumn Colours Classic.

The Classic, presented by Lucas Oil, takes the green flag on Oct. 9 with practice and first round qualifying for the Battlefield Equipment Rental 4Fun, Mini Stock, Paul Davis Systems Thunder Car, Earl Ireland Auto Sales Late Model, Pro Late Model and OSCAAR Modified divisions.

A quick check of the Battlefield Equipment Rental 4Fun point standings, where 15-yearold Willow Barberstock captured the championship in 2014, shows drivers named Ryan, Sean and Jeremy occupying the top three positions.

Runners Tiffany Vandebelt, Marilyn Junkin and Erin Kearns are also within the top 20 positions of the finishing order.

At last year’s Super Bowl of Stock Car Racing, half a dozen female racers were part of the overall starting fields. With the 2015 edition of the event coming up quickly, that statistic looks as though it could be repeated.

Vandebelt, Kearns and Marilyn Junkin are slated to represent the 4Fun division, while Ember Junkin is expected to fly the Mini Stock colours.

In the Earl Ireland Auto Sales Late Model field, Brittany Gressel and fan favourite Amanda Connolly will take the green flag.

For Connolly, the 2009 Peterborough Speedway Late Model track champion, Autumn Colours will be her final race with the last name Connolly over the driver’s door of the #16 machine. On Nov. 14 she’ll become Amanda Balson after exchanging vows with OSCAAR Super Late Model driver Kelly Balson.

Pit gates open at 10 p.m., with the spectator grandstands open at 5 p.m. and racing at 6 p.m.

Action will continue throughout the weekend with plenty of excitement scheduled for Oct. 10 and feature events on the agenda Oct. 11.

NOTE: Peterborough Speedway’s website is www.peterboroughspeedway.com.