Applefest shootout 2025

schedule of events

2025 Applefest Shootout Weekend is presented by Coca-Cola, Cool 100, Hoosier Racing Tires & ImageFactor

APPLES EVE
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2025

Pit Gates: 1:00 pm
Draw Begins: 3:00 pm
Draw Ends: 5:15 pm
Drivers Meeting: 5:15 pm

Timed Hot Laps at: 6:00 pm

  • Sportsman
  • NLMA
  • Canadian Modified

Heats start at: 7:00 pm

  • Mini Stock ODCC Duel on the Dirt $500 To Win; $50 To Start 20 Laps
  • Thunder Stocks Open Event $400 To Win; $60 To Start 20 Laps
  • Canadian Mod HEATS and 10-Lap Dash Event $200 To Win (Top 3 from each Heat qualify for Dash)
  • Northeast Late Model Alliance HEATS and 10-Lap Dash Event $300 To Win (Top 3 from each Heat qualify for Dash)
  • DIRTcar Sportsman Series $1,500 To Win; $150 To Start – 35 Laps
  • DIRTcar 358 Hot Laps and 10-Lap Dash Event $500.00 To Win (Top 10 in Timed Hot Laps Qualify)
 * Transponders are MANDATORY
** Show Up Points for all Brighton divisions
 

Friday Admission

PIT ADMISSION: $42.00

GRANDSTAND ADMISSION:

  • $30.00 Adults
  • $25.00 Youths & Seniors
  • $15.00 Children 7-12
  • $6.00 Children 6 & Under

APPLEfest shootout
saturDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2025

Pit Gates: 11:00 am
Draw Begins: 12:30 pm
Draw Ends: 2:30 pm
Drivers Meeting: 2:45 pm

Timed Hot Laps at: 3:00 pm

  • Sportsman
  • 358 Modified

Heats to follow

Intermission will be Track Prep & Re-Draws in the Main Courtyard

Features at 7:00 pm

  • Comp 4 / Mini Stock Open – $300 To Win, $30 To Start – 20 Laps
  • ODCC Thunder Stock Duel on the Dirt – $1,000 To Win; $60 To Start – 40 Laps
  • Canadian Mod 30 Laps, $1,500 To Win, $150 To start
  • Northeast Late Model Alliance Great Crate Race,  $4,000 to Win, $350 to start  – 50 Laps
  • DIRTcar Sportsman Series – $1,500 To Win; $150 To Start- 30 Laps
  • DIRTcar 358 Shootout – $5,000 To Win, $400 To start -75 Laps

SATURDAY Admission

PIT ADMISSION: $48.00

GRANDSTAND ADMISSION:

  • $35.00 Adults
  • $30.00 Youths & Seniors
  • $20.00 Children 7-12
  • $8.00 Children 6 & Under,

Applefest 2024 race report

Williamson, McPherson and Sandercock dominate the 20th Applefest Shootout

By: Tim Baltz & Nicole Kleinstuber

 The 20th annual Applefest Shootout was an adrenaline-fueled weekend of non-stop action at Brighton Speedway.

Hosted by Coca-Cola, Cool 100, and McDougall Insurance, the event brought together nearly 300 cars and racers from Ontario, Quebec, and Upper New York State for two days of heart-pounding dirt track racing.

The track’s biggest racing event of the year featured DIRTcar 358 Modifieds, DIRTcar Sportsman, Late Models, Canadian Modifieds, Thunder Stocks, Mini Stocks, and Comp 4s.

Drivers purse

Purse for Friday, September 26th

Purse for saturday, September 27th

HISTORY OF APPLEFEST

During the middle of the 2004 racing season several drivers in the northeast expressed the interest in having a series of ‘big’ events in the fall as an alternative to making the long haul south of the border. The topic was brought up by 358 modified driver Jeff Ciglich on an internet web forum at DirtTrackDigest.com. After many replies from interested competitors and fans the news travelled to Brighton Speedway promoter Mark Rinaldi through long-time dirt racing fan Dale Calnan. Dale and son Greg, of ImageFactor.ca, passed the idea along to Mark and he was instantly intrigued by the idea and considered making a late season addition to the 2004 schedule. However, not having enough time to properly promote an event of this magnitude it was decided that a meeting would take place during the off-season to further discuss the possibility for a race in 2005. 

On a cold winter day in February race teams, drivers and fans met in Kingston, Ontario to exchange ideas and work out the details for a possible event in late September at Brighton. Long time driver Mark Hitchcock graciously hosted the gathering at his shop. The meeting was a positive one and when the 2005 Brighton Speedway schedule was released a 358 Dirt Modified race had been slotted in for Saturday September 24th. The event was scheduled for 40 laps in distance with a solid $10,000 CDN purse up for grabs. Although this was a stand-alone event the race was run under 2005 358 DIRT Modified rules.

With the world of northeastern Dirt Modified racing up in the air it was apparent that teams and drivers were searching for alternatives. The ImageFactor.ca Applefest 358 Dirt Modified Shootout was just that, a chance for local teams to compete for a solid purse without having to travel three or four hours to a nationally sanctioned event just to be upstaged by high dollar tour regulars. Instead of packing up their cars and equipment by the second weekend of September the 358 Dirt Modified drivers in the area had a new date on their calendar at a track most have never competed on. 
The first ever running of the event in 2005 was a success with 18 small block modifieds taking part in the inaugural running of the Applefest Shootout. Kyle Dingwall of Brockville, Ontario claimed the 40 lap feature win over Chris Jones and Lee Ladeceur. The teams enjoyed their first visit to the Brighton Speedway in 22 years and gave rave reviews of the event. 

The race that was born on an internet forum in 2004 became a reality on Saturday September 24th, 2005. With added fan, team and sponsor support the Applefest Shootout has become a fall classic at the Brighton Speedway!

Applefest Shootout Winners 

2024 – Mat Williamson

2023 – Chris Raabe 

2022 – Chris Raabe 

2021 – Danny O’Brien 

2020 – No Race Held (Covid-19) 

2019 – Chris Raabe 

2018 – Gary Lindberg 

2017 – Mat Williamson 

2016 – Erick Rudolph 

2015 – Erick Rudolph 

2014 – Erick Rudolph 

2013 – Rained Out 

2012 – Mario Clair 

2011 – Tim O’Brien 

2010 – Pete Bicknell 

2009 – Rained Out 

2008 – Pete Bicknell 

2007 – Mario Clair 

2006 – Rained Out 

2005 – Kyle Dingwall 

 

Sportsman Winners 

2023 – Cody McPherson 

2023 – Cody McPherson

2023 – Cody McPherson 

2023 – Cody McPherson 

2022 – Bobby Herrington 

2022 – Bobby Herrington 

2021 – Ryan Scott 

2021 – Bobby Herrington 

2020 – Brad Rouse 

2019 – Cody McPherson (Night 2) 

2019 – Cody McPherson (Night 1) 

2018 – Brad Rouse (Night 2) 

2018 – James Michael Friesen (Night 1) 

2017 – Johnathon Ferguson (Night 2) 

2017 – Brent Begolo (Night 1) 

2016 – Martin Pelletier (Night 2) 

2016 – Cody McPherson (Night 1) 

2015 – Gary Lindberg 

2014 – Gary Lindberg 

2013 – Shane Pecore 

2012 – Cody McPherson 

2011 – Rained Out 

2010 – Chris Herbison 

2009 – Nic Cupolo 

2008 – James Michael Friesen 

2007 – Mark D’Ilario 

Lucas Oil Clash for Cash Winners
2010 – Pete Bicknell
2009 – Rained Out
2008 – Pete Bicknell
2007 – Chris Steel
2006 – Pete Bicknell

OUR SPONSORS

KART RESULTS

"Thursday June 15th"
Kart # Name
Box Stock 1
1 797 Luke Cuthbertson
2 29 Deegan Sudsbury
3 37 Ella Wannamaker
4 11 Bentley Fulton
5 03 Luke Ramsay
6 68 Gunner Ellis
7 39 Lucas Wannamaker
8 5 Liam Baldwin
Box Stock 2
1 29 Lily Walters
2 92 Race Turner
3 77 Max Van Dyk
Rookie 1
1 87 Weston Mitts
2 15 Charlotte de Wal
3 48 Knoxin Wells
4 07 Conor Vancott
Rookie 2
1 88 Reagan Grimmon
2 14 Chase White
3 08 Lilly Ray
4 2 Liam McPeak
5 54 Rae-lynn Branscombe
6 10 Hanna Merry
JR Sportsman 1
1 01 Blake Gregory
2 7 Tate Black
3 19 Bentley Davidson
4 15 Liam Pakenham
5 23 Alby Hodkinson
JR Sportsman 2
1 629 Thomas Mcgale
2 20 Aj Peeters
3 91 Jackson Veenstra
4 31 Brody Davidson
5 99 Bryce Massey
JR Restricted/Stock Lite
1 1 Coleson Gregory
2 89 Kolby Ellis
3 22 Nolan  Chatten
4 99 Jonelle Burke
5 14 Holden Paul
6 9 Cooper McKeown
7 70 Finley Mahoney
8 18 Elliot Stacey
Thursday, June 1st
Kart # Name
Box Stock 1
1 797 Luke Cuthbertson
2 29 Deegan Sudsbury
3 37 Ella Wannamaker
4 11 Bentley Fulton
5 3 Luke Ramsay
6 68 Gunner Ellis
7 39 Lucas Wannamaker
8 5 Liam Baldwin
Box Stock 2
1 29 Lily Walters
2 92 Race Turner
3 77 Max Van Dyk
Rookie 1
1 87 Weston Mitts
2 15 Charlotte de Wal
3 48 Knoxin Wells
4 7 Conor Vancott
Rookie 2
1 88 Reagan Grimmon
2 14 Chase White
3 8 Lilly Ray
4 2 Liam McPeak
5 54 Rae-lynn Branscombe
6 10 Hanna Merry
JR Sportsman 1
1 1 Blake Gregory
2 7 Tate Black
3 19 Bentley Davidson
4 15 Liam Pakenham
5 23 Alby Hodkinson
JR Sportsman 2
1 629 Thomas Mcgale
2 20 Aj Peeters
3 91 Jackson Veenstra
4 31 Brody Davidson
5 99 Bryce Massey
JR Restricted/Stock Lite
1 1 Coleson Gregory
2 89 Kolby Ellis
3 22 Nolan  Chatten
4 99 Jonelle Burke
5 14 Holden Paul
6 9 Cooper McKeown
7 70 Finley Mahoney
8 18 Elliot Stacey

KART POINTS