Lees among winners at Peterborough Speedway
Everyone craves a good time in the middle of summer and Peterborough Speedway showed race fans they know how to throw a party.
The home track Jiffy Lube Mini Stock, Trent Lakes Complete Plumbing Renegade Truck, Paul Davis Systems Thunder Car and Earl Ireland Auto Sales Late Model divisions were joined by the Ontario Modifieds Racing Series on Saturday night for the Mid-Summer Bash, presented by Country 105.
Feature race action took the first Great Canadian RV Sales green flag of the night with a 15 lap affair for the Trent Lakes Complete Plumbing Renegade Trucks. Following an early yellow flag, Chris Burrage took the lead on the restart and the current point leader waged a patented torrid battle with defending track champion Jack Dallin over the entire race distance. Dallin was quick through the turns, but Burrage would regain the advantage on the straightaways on the way to another checkered flag. Stacy Bierworth, Doug Dallin and Brandon Vennor completed the Top 5.
With 20 laps on the table, Bailey Jacobs and Nick Oram brought the Paul Davis Systems Thunder Car field from the staging area for their headline tilt. Jacobs jumped to an early lead and had nearly a 3 car length advantage before Oram found his rhythm and began closing ranks. As the pair came off the fourth turn, the rear of Bailey’s machine broke loose for just a second, opening the door to Oram who looked to have taken the leader’s line, just as the caution flag waved. The youngster held off his challenger over the closing stages for his first career feature win. Howie Crowe was third, followed by Rob Richards and Jessica Pasinetti to round-out the Top 5.
Rick Spencer-Walt and Amanda
Peterborough native Owen Tippett is being touted as a potential first-round draft pick in the 2017 National Hockey League draft set for June 23 and 24 at the United Center in Chicago.
Tippett, who plays with the Ontario Hockey League’s Mississauga Steelheads, and Peterborough Petes centre Zach Gallant were named Saturday to NHL Central Scouting ’s Futures List of North American and Balson led the Earl Ireland Auto Sales Late Model pack to the stripe for their 30 lap A main. With Spencer-Walt showing the fast way around, the top 3 broke out to an early advantage before a caution flag slowed the pace with just a pair of circuits on the scoreboard.
While the No. 31W machine would maintain the lead on the restart, Balson lost a number of spots when she couldn’t get out of the high line. With lapped traffic between the leader and the rest of the field, the yellow flew again with just five laps remaining but that wouldn’t be enough to keep Rick Spencer-Walt from his latest trip to the winner’s circle. Tyler Betts, Chris Mitchell, Balson and Bryan Sudsbury were the next four to follow Spencer-Walt across the line.
With a girl power duo of Erin Kearns and Ember Junkin on the front row, the Jiffy Lube Mini Stock feature event was slowed by a caution flag as quickly as it had taken the initial green. James Townsend took the top spot on the restart and had caught-up with the rear of the field by the ninth lap. The race’s second yellow – with just over half the international prospects for the 2017 NHL Draft.
The Futures List consists of 148 North American players and 142 international players who NHL scouts will be keeping a close eye on heading into the 2016-17 season. There are 34 OHL players on the list.
Tippett, who is six-feet and 177 pounds, had 15 goals and five assists in 48 games in his OHL rookie season last season.
“(Tippett) is a skilled offensive winger with exceptional high-end distance complete – would temporarily slow Townsend’s roll, but the No. 42 machine still made it to Dart Heating & Air Conditioning victory lane. Tyler Junkin, Tiffany Vanderbelt, Daryl Anthony and Ember Junkin rounded-out the fast five.
There would be 25 laps to settle the score, as Alex Lees and Richard Warnes brought the Ontario Modifieds Racing Series starting field to the green flag. Lees would take the lead early, with Duane Cinnamon following along and the tour’s most recent winner Rob Warnes working the outside line. As Lees built-up a substantial advantage, slower traffic – also racing for position – came into play. Chris Burrows would take away the runner-up spot from Cinnamon, but when a late race yellow created a green, white, checkered finish all bets were off. Lees held on for the win, with Cinnamon and Burrows swapping spots again. Stu Robinson Jr. and John Baker Jr. completed the fast five.
Solidifying their main event starting spots with qualifying heat wins were Chris Burrage and Jack Dallin in the Trent Lakes Complete Plumbing speed and quickness,” NHL director of central scouting Dan Marr stated in a release.
Gallant, a native of Oakville who is six foot one and 183 pounds, is expected to have a breakout season with the Petes in 2016-17 as a defensive forward.
Also on the list is Jussi Tammela, of Finland, the younger brother of Petes 2015 import draft pick Jonne Tammela. They are sons of former Finnish minor league Pasi Tammela. Renegade Trucks. Nick Oram, Bailey Jacobs, Howie Crowe and Rob Richards in the Paul Davis Systems Thunder Cars. Amanda Balson, Bryan Sudsbury, Chris Mitchell and Rick Spencer-Walt in the Earl Ireland Auto Sales Late Models. Tyler Junkin, Ryan Oosterholt, Donovan Price and James Townsend in the Jiffy Lube Mini Stocks. Brad Stevenson with a pair, Stu Robinson Jr. and John Baker Jr. with the Ontario Modifieds Racing Series.
Peeterborough Speedway action continues this Saturday with the Touring Division Chase for the Autumn Colours Classic pole qualifying event. Peterborough Speedway’s Battlefield Equipment Rental 4Fun and Jiffy Lube Mini Stock divisions will be joined by the OSCAAR Super Late Models, Modifieds, Midgets and Pro Midgets. Pit gates will open at 2 p.m., with the spectator grandstands unlocked at 4 p.m. and the first qualifying heat at 6 p.m.
p.m., Softball, Peterborough Men's Softball Association City League, Ricarts vs. Terry's Gas & Variety Slayers, George (Red) Sullivan East City Bowl
International Champions Cup: Real Madrid CF vs. Paris Saint-Germain FC. TSN. p.m.
International Champions Cup: FC Bayern Munich vs. AC Milan, TSN.