By Tommy Goudge (July 9, 2021) – The Pinty’s Knights of Thunder series and Action Sprint Tour fueled by Pinty’s are both set to kick off the 2021 season on Saturday, July 10 at Merrittville Speedway!
The tricky one-third mile track in the Niagara Region will pose a challenge to both the Knights of Thunder 360 Sprint Car competitors and Crate Sprint Car teams of the Action Sprint Tour. More than 50 drivers are entered between the two divisions, and they’re all anxious to get on track after several delays in starting the season.
Quebec driver Jordan Poirier claimed two 360 Sprint Car wins at Merrittville last season, while Aaron Turkey also visited Merrittville’s victory lane in September for his first 360 Sprint Car win. Jim Huppunen also has a 360 win under his belt at the D-shaped oval.
Jacob Dykstra won the opening AST race at Merrittville last season, and is one of several drivers planning to race in both Sprint Car divisions on Saturday. Allan Downey also claimed an AST win at Merrittville in September, his first in a Sprint Car. Josh Hansen and Shone Evans both have AST wins to their credit at Merrittville, and both will compete in the KoT portion of the event on Saturday.
FANS IN THE STANDS!
Step 2 of the province’s Roadmap to Reopen plan allow 25% spectator capacity at auto racing facilities and tickets are SOLD OUT for Saturday’s event.
LIVE BROADCAST
GForceTV will have a free live broadcast from Merrittville if you can’t make it to the track. Eight cameras will be in place to make sure that the broadcast is the next-best thing to being there! Visit www.gforcetv.net to catch all the action.
KNIGHTS OF THUNDER MEDIA
Website: www.knightsofthunder.com
Twitter: @KoTSprints
Facebook: KnightsofThunderSprintCars
Instagram: @knightsofthunder
YouTube: GForceTV
About the Pinty’s Knights of Thunder Sprint Car Series: Founded in 2021, Knights of Thunder is a traveling winged 360 Sprint Car tour based in Ontario, Canada. Each points-paying event on the 2021 schedule will pay a minimum of $2,000-to-win and $250-to-start, and selected events will be broadcast live on GForceTV. The championship winner will be rewarded with $5,000 and a Pinty’s VIP package for the 2022 Bristol Dirt Race, while 10th place in the championship standings will pay $1,000. The 2021 Knights of Thunder Sprint Car Series is made possible with the support of Pinty’s Delicious Foods, Corr/Pak Merchandising, Stoneridge Specialty Insurance, Hoosier Tire Canada, Burger Barn, Nitro 54 Variety, Strickland’s Brantford Chevrolet, and EPIC Racewear. Visit www.knightsofthunder.com for more information.
ACTION SPRINT TOUR MEDIA
Website: www.actionsprinttour.com
Facebook: ActionSprintTour
Twitter: @ActionSprints
Instagram: @actionsprinttour
YouTube: GForceTV
About the Action Sprint Tour fueled by Pinty’s: Founded in 2018, the Action Sprint Tour is a traveling Winged Crate Sprint Car Series based in Ontario, Canada. The cars on the Action Sprint Tour are powered by GM 602 crate engines modified specifically to fit a Sprint Car chassis. The championship winner will be rewarded with $5,000 and a Pinty’s VIP package for the 2022 Bristol Dirt Race, while 10th place in the championship standings will pay $1,000. The 2021 Action Sprint Tour is made possible with the support of Pinty’s Delicious Foods. Visit www.actionsprinttour.com for more information.
JULY 3 EVENT INFO
WHAT:
Knights of Thunder 360 Sprint Car Series – 2021 Season Round #1
Action Sprint Tour Crate Sprint Car Series – 2021 Season Round #1
WHEN:
Saturday, July 10, 2021 – Pit gates open at 4:00pm; Racing begins at 7:00pm
WHERE:
Merrittville Speedway
2371 Merrittville Hwy
Thorold, ON L2V 3Y9
www.merrittvillespeedway.com
TICKETS:
25% spectator capacity is permitted at this event under Step Two of Ontario’s Roadmap to Reopen and tickets are SOLD OUT for this event.
KNIGHTS OF THUNDER ENTRIES:
0 Nick Sheridan – Mt. Brydges, Ontario
01 Mikey Kruchka – Hamilton, Ontario
1 Holly Porter – Dorchester, Ontario
5 D.J. Christie – Beachville, Ontario
5D Jacob Dykstra – Port Colborne, Ontario
9 Liam Martin – Binbrook Ontario
9B Scott Burk – Charing Cross, Ontario
11 Jamie Turner – Caistor Centre, Ontario
11J Chris Jones – Picton, Ontario
13 Cory Turner – Tillsonburg, Ontario
14H Jim Huppunen – Fenwick, Ontario
15 Dan Nanticoke – Ohsweken, Ontario
17X Mack DeMan – Mississauga, Ontario
28 Jordan Poirier – Saint-Mathieu-de-Beloeil, Quebec
35C Corey Gruhl – St. Catharines, Ontario
46 Kevin Pauls – St. Catharines, Ontario
68 Aaron Turkey – Ohsweken, Ontario
70 Baily Heard – Niagara Falls, Ontario
84 Tyler Rand – Picton, Ontario
87X Shone Evans – Scotland, Ontario
88H Josh Hansen – Beamsville, Ontario
90 Travis Cunningham – Grimsby, Ontario
91 Ryan Turner – Dunnville, Ontario
ACTION SPRINT TOUR ENTRIES
08 Steven Beckett – Fonthill, Ontario
2 Steve Murdock – Georgetown, Ontario
3S Austin Roes – Mossley, Ontario
4 Jesse Costa – St. Thomas, Ontario
4B Darrell Pelletier – Port Perry, Ontario
5 D.J. Christie – Beachville, Ontario
5D Jacob Dykstra – Port Colborne, Ontario
7 Eric Gledhill – Thamesford, Ontario
MK8 Matthew Hill – Six Nations, Ontario
9C Brian Nanticoke – Ohsweken, Ontario
12DD Darren Dryden – Hamilton, Ontario
14 Larry Gledhill – Thamesford, Ontario
14T Noelle Teal – Springvale, Ontario
19D Allan Downey – Waterloo, Ontario
20 Johnny Miller – Six Nations, Ontario
26X Terry Baker – Ancaster, Ontario
31 Dale Curran – Bowmanville, Ontario
38 Derek Miller – Six Nations, Ontario
BS39 Brett Stratford – Wainfleet, Ontario
45 Curtis Gartly – Thamesford, Ontario
45S Nick Sheridan – Mt. Brydges, Ontario
48 Lance Erskine – Grantford, Ontario
48M Andrew Marshall – Dorchester, Ontario
49C Cody Smith – Delhi, Ontario
49L Lucas Smith – Brantford, Ontario
50LS Adrian Stahle – Kitchener, Ontario
51 Trevor Young – Ancaster, Ontario
56 Dereck Lemyre – Hamilton, Ontario
69 Joshua Hill – Ohsweken, Ontario
70MM Dave McKnight – Brampton, Ontario
74 Rob Neely – Rockwood, Ontario
84 Dan Ferguson – Bloomfield, Ontario
94 Ryan Fraser – Rockwood, Ontario
WATCH:
www.youtube.com/GforceTV