Three series titles decided at Autumn Colours Classic
Three-day stock car festival returns to Peterborough Speedway
There was a little bit of everything during the 26th running of the Autumn Colours Classic, presented by Lucas Oil Products, at Peterborough Speedway.
The three-day stock car festival featured finals in seven divisions, and three 2018 series titles, were decided on Sunday’s finale.
Glenn Watson and Brandon Watson brought the Hoosier Racing Tire Ontario Outlaw Super Late Model starting field to the line for 75 laps to kick-off the day’s schedule. Glenn Watson took the lead early but his nephew Brandon worked the inside line and claimed the top spot with four laps on the board. The turning point came with a lap 60 caution. Watson’s car had been sputtering and he took the #9 ride to the pits. Glenn Watson took the lead on the restart and held on for the $2,500 win. Gary McLean was second. Ryan Kimball, Brandon Watson and Gary Passer completed the top five.
2018 track champion Ryan Oosterholt and Kris Khan brought the 28 car Battlefield Equipment Rental Bone Stock starting field to the line for a 40 lap A main. Oosterholt took an early lead, with Khan glued to his back bumper. It stay that way all race, not even a pair of late caution flags – for incidents in the third turn – could deny Oosterholt his first Autumn Colours win. Khan, Chris Tubman, Corey Strawn and Kyle Neumeister followed across the line.
Brandon Watson and Kimball were on the front row for the inaugural Electric City 167. Watson set the early pace, with former NASCAR Pinty’s Series champion Cayden Lapcevich on his tail. The pair broke away from the field and had things well in control through the race’s first yellow flags on the 23rd and 64th laps. Lapcevich passed Watson on a lap 67 restart only to give it back four laps later. Lapcevich started to fade in the late stages, JR Fitzpatrick and Kimball mounted a charge to the front but couldn’t wrestle the race win from Watson. Lapcevich held on for fourth with Ron Sheridan fifth.
Justin Holmes and Brandon Passer brought the Super Stock field to the Great Canadian RV green flag for a 50-lapper. A red flag for a multi-car wreck in the first turn on lap 40 created a 10 lap shootout for all the marbles.
As the checkered flag flew, Holmes and Passer were first across the line followed by Jason Lawrence, Matt Bentley and Ken Grubb.
With the 2018 season point championship up for grabs, a pair of local favourites, John Baker Jr. and Kelly Balson, paced the OSCAAR Modified for the 50 lap main event. JBJ took the lead early but Balson passed him by the seventh circuit and rode the lead to victory. Cory Horner finished second to clinch the points title. Baker Jr., Shawn Chenoweth and AJ Emms were next across the line.
In the Jiffy Lube Mini Stock final, Andy Kamrath led wire-to-wire with Warren Paxton passing Oosterholt on lap 43 for second, Nolan Gould was fourth and Corey Young fifth.
Front row starters Andre Fiorini and Wes Cuthbertson paced the Trailers Plus Ontario Legends field to the line for their 40 lap feature. Fiorini had as much as a 10 car advantage as the pack but was caught with 24 laps left by Matt Haufe. A pair of yellow flags – for incidents in the second turn – on lap 27 and 37 tightened the field and allowed Kevin Foisy to take the win. Cuthbertson, Haufe, Adam Cuthbertson and Dave Riopelle completed the top five. Just by taking the green flag, Haufe clinched the 2018 Eastern, Western and All Ontario Legends Series championships.