The dirt track at Brighton Speedway saw some action on the last chilly day in May! The first ever visit to the 1/3^rd mile clay oval by the Empire Super Sprints was a race you did not want to miss. With 28 winged warriors on the track the action was riveting.

The Empire Super Sprints is a 360-winged sprint car travelling series that operates in the northeastern United States and Canada. Brighton has regularly hosted sprint cars and runs the limited Lawns We Do 360 Sprint series. Fans were eager to see the ESS on the short track with new drivers showcasing their skills. Fast time was set by No 21F Davie Franek with a lap time of 12.003 seconds, putting him on the poll in the first qualifier along side series champion, No 28 Jordan Poirer. With three heats to run and a B Main, the ESS set the field for the main event with 26 starters. No 53 Shawn Donath jumped out to the early lead around the high side and looked like he was going to dominate the field from his forth starting position, however it was the 2024 ESS Champion who made it from 6^th starting position that to take the lead and hold of the challenge from No 36 Logan Crisafulli to take the final checkers and the victory.  Behind him, No 36 Logan Crisafulli, No 21 Alex Therrien, No53 Shawn Donath and No 3 Paulie Colagiovanni.

Rinaldi with the Win

Sharing the race card with the Vanderlaan Building Products Late Model division, the 14 cars that took the green showcased an amazing battle for the top position.  No 05 James Seymour started on the poll with No 41 Ryan Lambert to the outside, No 33 David Vandertoorn and No 57 Charlie Sandercock behind them.  The race up front saw Sandercock determined to find a slot between Seymour and Lambert as they used ever inch of the racetrack.  A yellow on lap 16 restacked the field and tightened up an already fierce clash on the track as the three cars battled for the top position for the first 20 laps.  A second caution flew on lap 20 for debris that ended with No 77 Caley Weese off the back stretch set up a restart that changed the outcome.  On the restart, No 3 Nathan Rinaldi rolled along the bottom to pass Lambert and found him out front with No 46 Brandon Mowat appearing in his rear view.   At lap 30 across the line were Rinaldi, Mowat, No 151 Brian McDonald, No 11 Kyle Sopaz and No 5 Steve Baldwin.

Gregory leads from the first lap to the last

The Bainer’s OilGARD Anti Rust Canadian Modified Division 25 lap feature event had poll sitter No 1 Shawn Gregory lead the race from start to finish.  Gregory who is usually the high side hustler around Brighton Speedway used an uncharacteristic low line around the tires to maintain his lead.  A couple of late race cautions put the heat on Gregory from past Champion No 40 Ron Wadforth and in the end, Gregory would hold on for his first win of 2025 followed to the checkers by Wadforth, No 2 Leslie Mowat, No 32 Doug O’Blenis and No 9 Dan Price.

Another Gregory takes the checkers

The Bill’s Johns 4 Cylinder Division, with 23 competitors ran 15 laps with one caution and one red flag.  It was a night for the Gregory’s as Shawn’s nephew and defending Mini-Stock Champion No 22 Tyson Gregory also starting from the first slot was able to hold off the field leading every lap from green to checker.  No 44 Tommy Bailey made his way from 6^th to challenge the champion on the last 3 laps but followed him across the line.  No 42 Aidan Fletcher, No 24x Devon Kippen and No 10 Travis McLean rounded out the top 5.

Don’t Miss Fan Appreciation

As June arrives, the schedule heats up more than the weather!  This weekend McDougall Insurance & Financial presents Fan Appreciation, the event that brings all our race fans face to face with their heroes.  This complete race program also includes the Vanderlaan Building Products Late Models, Bainer’s OilGARD Anti Rust Canadian Modifieds, Brighton Automotive Thunder Stocks, the Bill’s Johns 4 Cylinders and the Quinte Septic Stingers. Front Gates will open at 5:00 PM, Hot Laps at 6:00 pm and Racing begins at 7:00 PM.

Racing at Brighton Speedway continues every Saturday until October. Race fans can find a complete schedule and more information by visiting our website at brightonspeedway.ca or by following us on our socials. A 1/3^rd mile clay oval, Brighton Speedway is in the municipality of Brighton on the shores of Lake Ontario. Opened in 1967, the Speedway hosts five divisions on a weekly basis, beginning on the first weekend in May and ending on the first weekend in October. With two travelling series, the Lawns We 360 Sprint Cars and the Vanderlaan Building Products Northeast Late Model Division calling Brighton home, other series visit the track each season to impress the fans and challenge the tight turns on the dirt track.

Photos by Rod Henderson, CanadianRacer.com

1. The Empire Super Sprints, first ever visit to Brighton Speedway, puts reigning Champion No 28 Jordan Poirer in Victory Lane.
2. The Vanderlaan Building Products Late Model Division battle saw No 3 Nate Rinaldi snag the checkers in a hard-fought battle to the front.

Media Results for 5/31/2025 at Brighton Speedway – Brighton, ON

Vanderlaan Building Products Late Models 14 Entries

A Feature 1 30 Laps | 00:17:46.230

1. 3-Nathan Rinaldi[6]; 2. 46-Brandon Mowat[7]; 3. 151-Brian McDonald[11]; 4. 11-Kyle Sopaz[13]; 5. 5-Steve Baldwin[8]; 6. 57-Charlie Sandercock[4]; 7. 05-James Seymour[1]; 8. 21-Rich Sanders[12]; 9. 9-Joshua Black[9]; 10. 41-Ryan Lambert[2]; 11. 4J-Josh Overdulve[14]; 12. 33-David Vandertoorn[3]; 13. 77-Caley Weese[5]; 14. 7-Anthony Rinaldi[10]

Heat 1 8 Laps | 00:02:04.104

1. 77-Caley Weese[1]; 2. 5-Steve Baldwin[3]; 3. 05-James Seymour[2]; 4. 3-Nathan Rinaldi[7]; 5. 9-Joshua Black[5]; 6. 151-Brian McDonald[6]; 7. 21-Rich Sanders[4]

Heat 2 8 Laps | 00:02:05.631

1. 46-Brandon Mowat[1]; 2. 57-Charlie Sandercock[2]; 3. 33-David Vandertoorn[5]; 4. 41-Ryan Lambert[6]; 5. 7-Anthony Rinaldi[4]; 6. 4J-Josh Overdulve[7]; 7. (DQ) 11-Kyle Sopaz[3]

Bainer’s OilGARD Anti Rust Canadian Modified 17 Entries

A Feature 1 25 Laps | 00:16:40.927

1. 1-Shawn Gregory[1]; 2. 40-Ron Wadforth[9]; 3. 2-Leslie Mowat[6]; 4. 32-Doug O’Blenis[2]; 5. 09-Dan Price[3]; 6. 29-Phil Potts[8]; 7. 41-Corey Halbert[12]; 8. 12-Caleb Severin[5]; 9. 51-Mike Freeman[14]; 10. 7-Rick Phillips[13]; 11. 14-Matthew Moore[15]; 12. 50-Dylan Boyle[11]; 13. 26-Bob Green[10]; 14. 91-Jaiden Miller[17]; 15. 25-Greg Belyea[7]; 16. 85-Brittany Golden[4]; 17. 08-Angie Kirby[16]

Heat 1 8 Laps | 00:04:04.672

1. 40-Ron Wadforth[1]; 2. 25-Greg Belyea[3]; 3. 12-Caleb Severin[6]; 4. 26-Bob Green[4]; 5. 7-Rick Phillips[5]; 6. (DNF) 08-Angie Kirby[2]

Heat 2 8 Laps | 00:03:41.154

1. 2-Leslie Mowat[1]; 2. 1-Shawn Gregory[4]; 3. 29-Phil Potts[2]; 4. 50-Dylan Boyle[5]; 5. 51-Mike Freeman[3]; 6. 91-Jaiden Miller[6]

Heat 3 8 Laps | 00:05:58.469

1. 32-Doug O’Blenis[4]; 2. 85-Brittany Golden[3]; 3. 09-Dan Price[1]; 4. 41-Corey Halbert[5]; 5. 14-Matthew Moore[2]

Bill’s Johns 4 Cylinder 23 Entries

A Feature 1 15 Laps | 00:09:21.244

1. 22-Tyson Gregory[1]; 2. 44-Tommy Bailey[6]; 3. 42-Aidan Fletcher[5]; 4. 24X-Devon Kippen[16]; 5. 10-Travis Mclean[11]; 6. 20-Cody Sager[8]; 7. 54A-Tim Moore[13]; 8. 2-Trevyn McCrillis[4]; 9. 37-AJ Peters[22]; 10. 18K-Matt Knowlton[20]; 11. 5-Eric Conlin[10]; 12. 83-Carlee Gilkes[21]; 13. 25-Lawrence Evenden[7]; 14. 75-Owen Chilvers[2]; 15. 1-Coleson Gregory[12]; 16. 77-Matthew Welch[18]; 17. 3-Shawn Knowlton[3]; 18. 21-Keith Dunk[14]; 19. 27-Mike Fletcher[19]; 20. 04-Owen Chamberlain[17]; 21. (DNS) 71-Alesha Gerrard; 22. (DNS) 8-Devon O’Brien

Heat 1 8 Laps | 00:04:19.428 | Bill’s John Portable Toilets

1. 20-Cody Sager[6]; 2. 2-Trevyn McCrillis[4]; 3. 3-Shawn Knowlton[3]; 4. 5-Eric Conlin[5]; 5. 1-Coleson Gregory[1]; 6. 27-Mike Fletcher[7]; 7. 83-Carlee Gilkes[8]; 8. 04-Owen Chamberlain[2]

Heat 2 8 Laps | 00:02:22.949 | Bill’s John Portable Toilets

1. 44-Tommy Bailey[2]; 2. 22-Tyson Gregory[3]; 3. 42-Aidan Fletcher[4]; 4. 10-Travis Mclean[5]; 5. 54A-Tim Moore[6]; 6. 18K-Matt Knowlton[7]; 7. 37-AJ Peters[8]; 8. 24X-Devon Kippen[1]

Heat 3 8 Laps | 00:02:30.532 | Bill’s John Portable Toilets

1. 25-Lawrence Evenden[4]; 2. 75-Owen Chilvers[1]; 3. 71-Alesha Gerrard[2]; 4. 77-Matthew Welch[7]; 5. 21-Keith Dunk[3]; 6. 8-Devon O’Brien[6]; 7. (DNS) 61-Ryan Branscombe

Lawns We Do 360 Sprints 28 Entries

A Feature 1 25 Laps | 00:12:11.104

1. 28-Jordan Poirier[6]; 2. 36-Logan Crisafulli[7]; 3. 21-Alex Therrien[5]; 4. 53-Shawn Donath[4]; 5. 3-Paulie Colagiovanni[9]; 6. #15-Ryan Turner[12]; 7. 87-Jason Barney[8]; 8. 28F-Davie Franek[10]; 9. 31C-Dale Curran[11]; 10. 70MM-Matt Billings[13]; 11. 7C-Dylan Swiernik[21]; 12. 98-Joe Trenca[3]; 13. 90-Matt Tanner[16]; 14. 77T-Tyeller Powless[2]; 15. 70-Baily Heard[15]; 16. 84-Tyler Rand[17]; 17. 21K-Kyle Phillips[14]; 18. 79-Jordan Thomas[19]; 19. 45-Nick Sheridan[20]; 20. 13-Evan Reynolds[25]; 21. 42W-Rick Wilson[22]; 22. 93-Bryan Cloutier[18]; 23. 92-Adam Turner[24]; 24. 11J-Chris Jones[23]; 25. 10-Cole MacDonald[26]; 26. 87XS-Skyler Evans[1]

B-Main | 00:06:38.762

1. 79-Jordan Thomas[1]; 2. 45-Nick Sheridan[4]; 3. 7C-Dylan Swiernik[8]; 4. 42W-Rick Wilson[2]; 5. 11J-Chris Jones[6]; 6. 92-Adam Turner[5]; 7. 10-Cole MacDonald[10]; 8. 77E-Ashton VanEvery[7]; 9. 81-Tyler Reynolds[9]; 10. 13-Evan Reynolds[3]

Heat 1 10 Laps | 00:05:03.000

1. 36-Logan Crisafulli[1]; 2. 28-Jordan Poirier[2]; 3. 87-Jason Barney[3]; 4. 28F-Davie Franek[4]; 5. 70MM-Matt Billings[7]; 6. 90-Matt Tanner[5]; 7. 79-Jordan Thomas[10]; 8. 45-Nick Sheridan[6]; 9. 77E-Ashton VanEvery[9]; 10. 10-Cole MacDonald[8]

Heat 2 10 Laps | 00:09:09.000

1. 31C-Dale Curran[1]; 2. #15-Ryan Turner[2]; 3. 21-Alex Therrien[4]; 4. 3-Paulie Colagiovanni[5]; 5. 21K-Kyle Phillips[6]; 6. 84-Tyler Rand[7]; 7. 42W-Rick Wilson[8]; 8. 92-Adam Turner[9]; 9. (DNS) 7C-Dylan Swiernik

Heat 3 10 Laps | 00:02:28.000

1. 87XS-Skyler Evans[1]; 2. 98-Joe Trenca[2]; 3. 77T-Tyeller Powless[3]; 4. 53-Shawn Donath[4]; 5. 70-Baily Heard[5]; 6. 93-Bryan Cloutier[6]; 7. 13-Evan Reynolds[8]; 8. 11J-Chris Jones[9]; 9. 81-Tyler Reynolds[7]