The Peterborough Examiner

4Fun division renamed Bone Stock

Peterborou­gh Speedway continues preparing for 2018 racing season

- JIM CLARKE SPECIAL TO THE EXAMINER

The first half century of action at the Peterborou­gh Speedway entered the history books with the final checkered flag of last year’s Autumn Colours Classic.

At the same moment, staff and officials at Peterborou­gh Speedway began making plans for the 2018 schedule. Track owner and promoter J.P. Josiasse says that the off-season is almost busier than when the next Saturday night racing program gets underway.

“At this time of year, we’re always looking forward and thinking about the new season,” Josiasse said.

“There are sponsorshi­p packages to put together and updates to the rule book that need to be finalized. Working toward opening the gates on the Victoria Day weekend takes a lot of effort behind the scenes and we’re in the office to get things ready.”

Josiasse says he’s hoping the hometown speed plant can carry the attitude of the track’s 50th annual season into 2018. The golden anniversar­y campaign ran rain-free during the regular schedule, with a brief weather delay during the Autumn Colours Classic the only blemish on the year.

At the track’s awards banquet, Tyler Betts, Noel Snow and Tim Burke accepted the accolades as first-time champions in the Organics & Glass Late Model, Jiffy Lube Mini Stock and Trent Lakes Complete Plumbing Renegade Truck divisions respective­ly. Jeremy Kelly claimed his second straight Battlefiel­d Equipment Rental 4Fun title, with Anthony DiBello earning his third Thunder Car Crown in for seasons.

Starting in 2018, the division that had been known as 4Fun will undergo a name change to Bone Stock, while the former Thunder Car class will now go by the Super Stock title. Josiasse and the Peterborou­gh Speedway team will also be part of a multi-track group that will promote events in the rebranded Ontario Super Late Model Series. The 75 lap shows will include time trials to determine qualifying spots and the winner’s payout proposed for $2500, with a strong payout through the running order.

The tour’s first of eight dates is scheduled for May 26 at Flamboro, with stops at Sunset, Sauble, Jukasa Motor Speedway and Peterborou­gh Speedway leading up to the series’ finale – Oct. 6 and 7 – at the Autumn Colours Classic.

“Our commitment to quality, family motorsport­s entertainm­ent remains the same as we head into the track’s 51st season of continuous operation,” Josiasse said. “It’s a very competitiv­e marketplac­e and we need to give the fans the best value for their dollar, week-after-week.”

NOTE: Peterborou­gh Speedway’s 2018 schedule will be officially released at the fourth annual Motorama Custom Car and Motorsport­s Expo – March 9, 10 and 11 – at the Internatio­nal Centre in Toronto.

Jim Clarke operates Clarke Motorsport­s Communicat­ions/

First Draft Media and covers stock car racing in Central and Eastern Ontario.

 ?? JIM CLARKE/CLARKE MOTORSPORT­S COMMUNICAT­IONS/FIRST DRAFT MEDIA ?? Enniskille­n's Tyler Betts captured the 2017 Late Model championsh­ip at Peterborou­gh Speedway, which is already making plans for its 51st season of continuous operation.
JIM CLARKE/CLARKE MOTORSPORT­S COMMUNICAT­IONS/FIRST DRAFT MEDIA Enniskille­n's Tyler Betts captured the 2017 Late Model championsh­ip at Peterborou­gh Speedway, which is already making plans for its 51st season of continuous operation.

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