Drivers bringing the Thunder over the border
New Humberstone, Ransomville speedways see a mutual benefit in mini racing series
Drivers in the Thunder Stock division at New Humberstone Speedway in Port Colborne will have four more opportunities to be firing on all eight cylinders.
A four-race mini-series between the Port Colborne track and Ransomville Speedway in western New York will pay $500 to the winner, $200 to the runnerup and $200 for a third-place finish.
Payouts in the Can-Am Thunder Stock Challenge will be in Canadian currency at Humberstone and in U.S. dollars at Ransomville.
New Humberstone Speedway president Dave Bitner Jr. can’t wait for the full-fendered battle for border bragging rights to get underway Friday, May 3, at Ransomville.
“We are looking forward to seeing the best drivers from Ransomville come over, and seeing our best go over there and do well,” he said.
“Being able to work with Ransomville allows our competitors to race there and to have their competitors race with us.”
Bitner, a former racer, added the new series gives drivers “more options and another place to race.”
Ransomville general manager Jennifer Martin likewise is happy to give drivers in the 8-cylinder divisions more opportunities to compete.
“I’m very happy Dave and I were able to make the Can-Am Thunder Stock Challenge mini-series work between the two tracks,” she said in a news release.
“Racers want to race and we want to be able to help them do that by working together and giving them opportunities to race at other facilities.”
Two races at each track are planned for the inaugural season of the series. After the opener at The Big R, action shifts to Humberstone Sunday, May 26.
Round 3 is Friday, July 26, at Ransomville.
Bonus lap money will be available for the John Susice Memorial.
The series wraps up Sunday, Sept. 8, in Port Colborne with the final race and championship trophy presentation.
Jason Fontaine of Port Colborne and Pete Stefanski of Wheatfield, N.Y., are the reigning 8-cylinder division points champions at Humberstone and Ransomville, respectively.
Humberstone’s 60th season officially gets underway Sunday, May 19, with a Victoria Day weekend show.
However, before the first green flag falls this year, there will be two displays promoting the upcoming schedule: March 9-16, Seaway Mall, Welland; March 30-April 6, Pen Centre,
St. Catharines.