2025-08-21

​Kurtis Connell Makes a Fan Appreciation Pit Stop at Peterborough Speedway

Kurtis Connell Makes a Fan Appreciation Pit Stop at Peterborough Speedway
By Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media



When a racer has an open night on their schedule, they do what comes naturally. Load the car into the hauler and head to a nearby racetrack.
Saturday, August 16th Peterborough, Ontario's Kurtis Connell rolled his No. 8 Crate Sprint Car into the team's rig and headed for his hometown track. Even though he'd been there before as a fan and a crew member for friends Jake Sheridan, Kendra Adams and Kelly Balson, it is an asphalt facility and not exactly where you'd expect to find a dirt racecar in the pit area, let alone in Victory Lane. The night's Fan Appreciation event was a great opportunity to meet some fans and provide some dirt track racing education.
"A media rep from the track reached out with an invitation through Facebook messenger and even though we wouldn't be racing, our team thought coming out for the event would be a great idea," said owner and driver Kurtis Connell. "It is always fun to meet the fans and answer the questions they might have about the car. You never know what contacts you can make from a casual conversation at the racetrack."
Connell – along with his fiancée Tori, who shares the team's crew chief duties with Matt Reid – makes the weekly 12-hour round-trip trek from their Peterborough home base to compete every Friday at Ohsweken Speedway on the 6 Nations Reserve near Brantford, Ontario. Their 2025 program also includes selected travelling shows at Brockville and Brighton Speedway. The Ohsweken shows are carried live through GForce TV's You Tube channel.
This year's sponsorship partners include Connell's Construction, Claybar Contracting, DJD Gear & DJD Graphics, Neil Strome Trucking & Bin Service, Crazy Browner Tuned, Atkinson Mechanical and Ryan Hunsinger Racing. The team is also thankful to the crew members, family and friends who help out behind the scenes and at the racetrack.
The driver says he's thankful to Lance Erskine – drives a similarly painted and lettered No. 88 car, Ryan Hunsinger and Ryan Turner – for helping him learn the sport. He's also looking forward to Brighton Speedway's ROCK 107 Labour Classic Sprint Car Extravaganza August 30th and 31st and the 4th annual Northern Crate Sprint Car Nationals – Friday, September 12th – at Ohsweken.
Follow the No. 8 Connell Motorsports program during weekly dates at Ohsweken Speedway and through the team's social media posts.
Photo attachment: Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media
Kurtis Connell (No. 8) treated the capacity crowd to a few Crate Sprint Car hot laps during the Fan Appreciation Night – Saturday, August 16th – at Peterborough Speedway.
Peterborough, Ontario Crate Sprint Car driver Kurtis Connell (No. 8) met with local fans during the Double Toonie/Fan Appreciation Night – Saturday, August 16th – at Peterborough Speedway.
Prepared by: Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media


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Making Saturday Night Motorsports Memories at Peterborough Speedway

Making Saturday Night Motorsports Memories at Peterborough Speedway
By Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media




As the regular season winds down, the 2025 championship fights are heating up at Peterborough Speedway.
The Saturday, August 23rd raceday line-up at the venue known for Making Memories for Life includes the home track Battlefield Equipment Rental Bone Stock and KOD Disposal Late Model divisions, plus the Trailers Plus Ontario Legend Car Series and GSR Outlaw Midgets. Reverse and Flagpole Races will be a special attraction, with Kid's Bike Races as the intermission feature. General admission grandstand gates open at 5:00, with the night's first Great Canadian RV green flag at 6:00.
Heading into the second to last weekend of the 2025 regular season, Alex Dallaire holds-down the top spot in the Bone Stock field. Less than a month after his first career feature win, the driver of the No. 46 machine has a 12-point lead over Tegan Stanley. Victoria McLenon, Cory Horne and rookie of the year hopeful Jacob Stavropoulos are 3rd, 4th and 5th in the standings.
In the Late Model ranks, reigning track champion Ryan Kimball is showing the way, with a 27-point cushion over Kelly Balson. Steve Powell, Dan McHattie and Jacob Mercer are next in the running order. Kimball, Balson and McHattie are the only drivers in the top 5 who have scored a main event victory.
The Bone Stock and Late Model divisions are the only classes to have a pair of shots to pad their point totals. They'll be joined by the Mini Stock, Renegade Truck, Super Stock and Junior Late Model teams for the season finale Championship Clash – Saturday, August 30th – for a program that will also include the GEN-3 Electrical OMRS SportsMods and home track Non-Winner's Races.
With a complete line-up of family motorsports entertainment, topped off by some of the best racetrack food options anywhere in the province new this year, Whips & Licks Ice Cream Bar, feature the always popular Kawartha Dairy products, Peterborough Speedway is a great night out for all ages.
Find the latest track news, along with schedule details and information by visiting www.peterboroughspeedway.com or checking the venue's social media platforms and pages.
Photo attachment: Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media
Battlefield Equipment Rental Bone Stockers Jacob Stavropoulos (No. 03) and Cory Horne (No. 09) will be looking for a championship advantage – Saturday, August 23rd – at Peterborough Speedway
Current point leader Ryan Kimball (No. 16) will continue his chase for the 2025 KOD Disposal Late Model championship – Saturday, August 23rd – at Peterborough Speedway
GSR Outlaw Midgets will be part of the next night of action – Saturday, August 23rd – at Peterborough Speedway
Prepared by: Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media


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