By Tommy Goudge (August 6, 2021) – The Pinty’s Knights of Thunder 360 Sprint Cars and Action Sprint Tour Crate Sprint Cars fueled by Pinty’s are set to race on Friday at Merrittville Speedway, while the Knights of Thunder will saddle up again and ride to Southern Ontario Motor Speedway on Saturday. Another big payday is on the line for the AST racers on Friday thanks to Sundance Restaurant Services.
MERRITTVILLE FRIDAY
The Knights of Thunder series and Action Sprint Tour both opened their seasons at Merrittville on July 10. Jordan Poirier (KoT) and Jacob Dykstra (AST) claimed the wins that night, and both remained perfect by winning both ends of their respective doubleheader weekends at Humberstone Speedway last weekend. Dykstra and his fellow AST racers have a big prize to shoot for on Friday night as the A-Main winner will take home $5,000 thanks to Sundance Restaurant Services. Visit the Sundance website at www.sundancepressurecleaning.com
SOMS SATURDAY
More than two years have passed since Sprint Cars last competed at Southern Ontario Motor Speedway. Much has changed in the intervening time, as the track formerly known as South Buxton Raceway underwent a transformation from a semi-banked D-shaped configuration to a high-banked oval. DJ Christie is one of just a few Sprint Car drivers to get some practice time on the new Southern Ontario Motor Speedway.
“When we first got there it looked like a smaller version of Ohsweken because it was so wide and banked,” Christie told Knights of Thunder media. “After we got the hang of it we started to turn some faster times, and it feels like you’re flying because there’s an outside wall all the way around. It should make for a multi-lane race track.”
CHAMPIONSHIP CHASES
The championship points chases for the Knights of Thunder series and Action Sprint Tour began to take shape following the two events run during All-Canadian Championship weekend at Humberstone.
Jordan Poirier is at the head of the Knights of Thunder table on the strength of three A-Main wins, but Cory Turner is just 22 points behind thanks to three top-five finishes. Jim Huppunen, Ryan Turner, and Travis Cunningham round out the current top five.
Jacob Dykstra leads the Action Sprint Tour standings thanks to three A-Main wins, while Allan Downey is 30 points behind in second. Brett Stratford, Nick Sheridan, and Lucas Smith hold the remaining top five positions.
TICKETS
Spectators ARE permitted at both events this weekend. Visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com and www.southernontariomotorspeedway.com for more information.
LIVE BROADCAST
GForceTV will be broadcasting live from Southern Ontario Motor Speedway on Saturday night. Multiple 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 SCHEDULE UPDATE
Officials from the Knights of Thunder series and Brighton Speedway have worked to add a date for the 360 Sprint Cars at the Northumberland County oval following two July rainouts; the series will head to Brighton on Saturday, August 21 for a third try at getting Sprint Cars back on the Brighton track for the first time since 2019. The event will serve as a tune-up for Labour Day Classic weekend at Brighton when both the Knights of Thunder and Action Sprint Tour will be in action.
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. Action Sprint Tour cars 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.
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, the Knights of Thunder series 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.
EVENT INFO
WHAT:
-Knights of Thunder 360 Sprint Car series – 2021 Season Rounds 4 & 5
-Action Sprint Tour Crate Sprint Car series – 2021 Season Round 4
WHEN:
-Friday, August 6 – Knights of Thunder and Action Sprint Tour @ Merrittville Speedway
-Saturday, August 7 – Knights of Thunder @ Southern Ontario Motor Speedway
WHERE:
Merrittville Speedway
2371 Merrittville Hwy
Thorold, ON L2V 3Y9
www.merrittvillespeedway.com
Southern Ontario Motor Speedway
20954 A D Shadd Rd
Merlin, ON N0P 1W0
www.southernontariomotorspeedway.com