By: Nicole Kleinsteuber

The first Ontario Traditional Sprints and Southern Ontario Modlites appearances at Brighton Speedway were a wild affair on Saturday night.

The OTS headlined the event with the annual Simon Pettit Memorial presented by Speedy Automotive and RBM Carriers.

The sizzling action sponsored by Sutha’s Pizza Bar & Grill did not disappoint with 82 cars including the OTS Sprints, Southern Ontario Modlites, Bainer’s OilGARD Anti Rust Canadian Modifieds, Brighton Automotive Thunder Stocks and Bill’s Johns 4-Cylinders.

No. 25 Warren Mahoney and No. 26 Dale Hunter led seven OTS to green in the 20-lap annual Simon Pettit Memorial.  Hunter pounced on the lead on the lead lap as Mahoney fought to regain the point.  Hunter’s lead would only last for five more laps as Mahoney sliced past him coming in to turn 2 on lap 6.  Mahoney was fierce and flawless on the cushion for 11 laps.  Coming off a second-place finish the night before at Ohsweken Speedway No. 6 Jacob Dykstra was determined to taste victory.  Wheeling a wingless sprint for the first time, the driver from Port Colborne took it high coming in to turn 1 and slingshotted down on the inside of Mahoney to scoop up the lead with just three laps to go.  Dykstra cruised to victory lane with Mahoney in second.  No. 0c Corn (Chris VanDeWiele) placed third, No. 92 Adam Turner fourth and No. 13 Ian Hunter fifth.

Lafleur Flies to Victory Lane

No. 66L Antonin Lafleur proved it doesn’t matter where you start as long as you’re determined to win anything is possible.  Starting at the rear of a 17 Southern Ontario Modlite field in the 25-lap feature didn’t sway the Quebec driver.  An intense flip and roll by No. 6 Rob Misener coming out of turn 1 on the third lap brought out the first caution.  Misener emerged uninjured and when the race resumed all Lafleur needed was 19 more laps to clinch the lead from No. 88 Shawn Sliter was a force to be reckoned on the bottom.  Lafleur flew to victory lane with Sliter in second.  No. 27 Sean Iftody was third, No. 3 Pierre-Olivier Trudel fourth and No. 44 Ryan Anderson fifth.

Boyle Brings Home 1st Win

Second-place starter No. 32 Doug O’Blenis pulled out ahead of polesitter No. 12 Caleb Severin at the drop of the green flag in the caution-riddled 25-lap Bainer’s OilGARD AntiRust Canadian Modified race.  Working the high side, Severin battled hard to reel O’Blenis in and on lap 7 his persistence paid off.  The rookie mod driver took his lead back and held off O’Blenis, No. 40 Ron Wadforth and No. 50 Dylan Boyle for 17 laps like a veteran.  Both on the hunt for their first career mod wins, Severin and Boyle treated fans to a ferocious side-by-side showdown.  Boyle secured the top spot with two laps to go and scored his first victory with Severin close behind earning a hard-fought second.  O’Blenis placed third, No. 09 Dan Price fourth and No. 1 Shawn Gregory charged from last fifth after a crash in turn 4.  

Checkers Fly for French

Polesitter No. 17 Ethan Humphry was the car to beat in the 20-lap Brighton Automotive Thunder Stock main event.  Humphry held the pace for 22 cars for just over half of the affair until No. 18 Kyle Anderson powered in from the top to lock up the lead.  It wouldn’t be for long as No. 0 Tyler French worked the bottom into the point on lap 14.  Hungry for his first win of the year, the division points leader parked it with No. 10 Carter Rhodes in second, No. 72 Doug Anderson third, No.44 Tommy Bailey fourth and No. 26 Brock Gregory fifth.

Gregory Victorious Again

No. 42JR Aidan Fletcher seized the lead from his second starting position on the first lap of the Bill’s Johns 4-Cylinder 15-lap affair.  Coming into turn 1 No. 22 Tyson Gregory muscled his way around the outside of Fletcher on lap 7.  Gregory led the rest of the chase with Fletcher glued to his back bumper.  The 2024 Mini Stock champ scored his second win of the year with Fletcher in second.  No. 24x Devon Kippen charged from 14th to finish third, No. 10x Brandon Gregory powered from 16th to fourth and No. 20 Cody Sager placed fifth.

Next Up

This Saturday, Monster Truck Madness returns to Brighton!  Hotch’s Auto Parts and QBT Excavating presents Overkill Evolution and Black Stallion for some monster excitement and destruction.  This event is by reserved seat, so advance tickets are available online!  Filling out the race card will be the Vanderlaan Building Products Late Models, Brighton Automotive Thunder Stocks, Bill’s Johns 4 Cylinder and Quinte Septic Stingers. Front Gates will open at 5:00 PM with an autograph session and monster truck action 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