2021-07-19

John Baker Jr. Captures the 1st Ontario Modifieds Win of the 2021 Season


John Baker Jr. Captures the 1st Ontario Modifieds Win of the 2021 Season 

By Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media 

 

It may have taken a bit longer than first anticipated but in the tour's first start since late in the 2019 schedule, fans of the Ontario Modifieds Racing Series, presented by GEN-3 Electrical saw teams put on a show – Saturday, July 17th – during the Summer Kick-Off at Canada's Toughest 3rd Mile Oval. 

 

Chad Strawn and multi-time series champion John Baker Jr. paced the starting field to the line for the 25-lap affair and within seconds of taking the green flag, Strawn was a man on a mission to claim the year's first checkered flag. With Baker Jr. in his rear-view mirror, the pilot of the No. 77 machine had built-up a strong lead and was working his way through slower traffic as the lap counter showed 9 circuits complete. 

 

The lead duo had moved out to nearly half a track's advantage over 3rd place running Alex Cuzilla, who was named rookie of the year during the 2019 season. A single car spin in the 3rd turn with less than a handful of laps remaining slowed the pace and it was on the restart from that yellow flag that everything changed for the race leader. 

 

"I messed-up the restart and the car was really loose off the corner," admitted Chad Strawn in a social media post. "That gave JBJ a good run going into the first turn. He had cleared me, but I was hoping he thought he wasn't clear and was going to leave me room to get back my spot. I ended up bumping into him trying to jam in back in there, spinning myself out." 

 

John Baker Jr. led the balance of the race distance and collected the win. Strawn regrouped and finished 5th. The pair chatted in victory lane, where Chad Strawn offered a handshake as an apology. Baker Jr. gave his racing friend a hug and called it a day. 

 

OMRS finishing order: John Baker Jr., Alex Cuzzilla, Rick Warnes, Bob Franks, Chad Strawn, James Townsend, Ben Gruntz, Willow Barberstock, Randy Hollingsworth. 

 

Qualifying heat wins: Alex Cuzzilla, Chad Strawn, John Baker Jr., Chad Strawn. 

 

Ontario Modifieds Racing Series Peterborough Speedway notes: After running No. 62W throughout her career, Willow Barberstock has switched to No. 67 as a tribute to the memory of her friend Melissa Bullen…James Townsend ran the No. 52 OMRS Mod from the Mark Gordon team…The Ontario Modifieds Racing Series is slated to return to Peterborough Speedway Saturday, August 14th. Tickets for any 2021 events at the track need to be purchased in advance, using the online platform www.eventsprout.com/events/peterborough-speedway-2000-ltd. There is also a link available on the venue's website. 

 

2021 Ontario Modifieds Racing Series, presented by GEN-3 Electrical action is sponsored by All or Nothing Brewhouse, Sterling Tire, Bourque Transmission, Conview Concrete, Thinkpath Design, TNT Performance Products and Clarke Motorsports Communications. 

 

For the latest schedule information, driver profiles and more, visit www.facebook.com/OMRS or www.ontariomodifiedsracing.com.  

 

Photo attachment: Melissa Smits, OneNine Marketing www.facebook.com/oneninemarketing 

 

Former series champion and fan favourite John Baker Jr. (No. 63) picked-up the Ontario Modifieds Racing Series main event win – Saturday, July 17th – at Peterborough Speedway. 

 

Prepared by Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media 


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Posted by Marc Patrick Roy at 19.7.21 0 comments

Heating Up a Summer’s Night at Canada’s Toughest 3rd Mile Oval

Heating Up a Summer's Night at Canada's Toughest 3rd Mile Oval 

By Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media 

 

Temperatures during the week climbed to familiar mid-summer highs and while it was a little cooler by race-time, action on the track matched the mercury's mid-week levels as the 2021 schedule rolled-on with the Summer Kick-Off, presented by Lucas Oil Products – Saturday, July 17th – at Peterborough Speedway. 

 

Shawn Solomon and Angelo Novis brought the Battlefield Equipment Rental Bone Stockers from the staging area for the night's first 20 lap main event. Solomon grabbed the early lead, with Jake Kelly slipping into 2nd. A quick caution flag for debris slowed the pace and brought Ryan Oosterholt into the fight. It was a 3-car battle for the lead, with Oosterholt taking the top spot with just 7 laps complete. Another yellow brought everyone back together but couldn't delay the eventual outcome. Oosterholt picked-up another checkered flag over Kelly, Novis, Mark Griffin and John Lavalle. 

 

Solomon and Oosterholt shared the Bone Stock qualifying event wins. 

 

Chad Strawn and John Baker Jr. paced the Ontario Modifieds Racing Series, presented by GEN-3 Electrical teams to starting line for the tour's first headline dance of 2021. From the drop of the green flag, Strawn took off with just a single thought in mind. Getting to victory lane. The No. 77 ride was fast and the driver hit his marks lap after lap. He and Baker Jr. had nearly a half track's advantage over the 3rd place car when the yellow flag waved for a single car issue. On the restart, the lead duo came together on the way into the 1st turn. Strawn's car needed to be helped off a trackside curb, while Baker Jr. continued on his own. Baker Jr. scored the win over Alex Cuzzilla, Rick Warnes, Bob Franks and Strawn. 

 

Strawn had a pair of OMRS heat race checkered flags, with Cuzilla and Baker Jr. taking the others. 

 

With Kevin Strutt and Jeremy Kelly on the front row, the Jiffy Lube Mini Stockers rolled the Great Canadian RV green flag for their 20-lap feature. Kelly moved into the lead early, with Brad Lavalle taking the runner-up spot. The leaders caught the rear of the field with less than a handful of laps complete as Ryan Oosterholt was marching through the running order. Looking for the lead at lap 17, Oosterholt took over the spot as racers saw the white flag. At the checkers it was Oosterholt, Kelly, Lavalle, Ember Junkin and Strutt.  

 

Oosterholt continued his unbeaten 2021 season with a pair of Mini Stock opening round wins. Kelly and Strutt split the other 2. 

 

Sean Walker and Steve Powell paced the pack of Late Model hopefuls to the line to wrap-up the second week's feature race action. Powell grabbed an early lead, but the yellow flag flew before a single lap was scored. On the restart, Powell was back in front with Bryan Mercer running 2nd. The driver of the No. 81 had a strong piece and had as much as a 3-car length advantage until surrendering the top spot to Dan McHattie on lap 14. Try as he might, Mercer couldn't regain the position and McHattie picked-up the first Late Model win of the 2021 season. Mercer, Robert Cousineau, Kyle Batty and Powell completed the top 5. 

 

McHattie had a pair of qualifying heat victories, with Batty and Mercer splitting the others. 

 

Results are unofficial and subject to scoring review as well as post-race safety and technical inspection. 

 

Bullring bullet points: Even though tracks in other regions of the province cancelled shows because of rain earlier in the day, the Peterborough Speedway team rolled-off its complete show in just over 3 and a half hours…Blair Kelly of Peterborough collected $704 in the night's 50/50 draw…2019 Mini Stock track champion returned to the track at the controls of Kyle Novis' No. 45…James Townsend was at the wheel of Mark Gordon's No. 52 OMRS Mod, with Willow Barberstock running No. 67 on her Modified, in memory of her friend Melissa Bullen. 

 

Next on the agenda will see the Jiffy Lube Mini Stock, KOD Disposal Super Stock, Trent Lakes Complete Plumbing Renegade Truck, hometown Late Model divisions and the Trailers Plus Ontario Legends Series Saturday, July 24th. Advance tickets are available using the on-line reservation platform www.eventsprout.com/events/peterborough-speedway-2000-ltd. There is also a link on the speedway's website. 

 

Keep checking www.peterboroughspeedway.com and the track's Facebook or Twitter social media platforms for the latest news and updates on the 2021 schedule at Canada's Toughest 3rd Mile Oval. 

 

Photo attachment: Melissa Smits, OneNine Marketing www.facebook.com/oneninemarketing 

 

2021 has been a great season for Ryan Oosterholt (No. 79) who picked-up his 2nd straight Battlefield Equipment Rental Bone Stock feature win – Saturday, July 17th – at Peterborough Speedway. 

 

Former series champion John Baker Jr. (No. 63) captured the Ontario Modifieds Racing Series checkered flag – Saturday, July 17th – at Peterborough Speedway. 

 

Ryan Oosterholt (No. 79) continues to hold a hot hand in the Jiffy Lube Mini Stock ranks and claimed another main event victory – Saturday, July 17th – at Peterborough Speedway. 

 

It was the division's first appearance of 2021 and multi-time track champion Dan McHattie scored the Late Model feature win – Saturday, July 17th – at Peterborough Speedway. 

 

Prepared by Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media 




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Posted by Marc Patrick Roy at 19.7.21 0 comments

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