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 Peterborough Speedway –
The Full Throttle Race Team was looking to build on the performance from Kawartha the previous night with another solid result. Johnny would test the #36 Ford and it would be running perfect so we would opt out of the last two practice sessions and wait for the Heats.
Johnny would pull the pole position for the first Heat. When he brought the pack of 10 cars to the green Johnny would shift through the gears and would maintain the lead into the first corner. The Martin-Coleman Sales, Doug Parmenter Auto Service, Vetteworks of Canada, Thompson Brothers Construction, P and J Speed and Custom and Imagefactor.ca sponsored #36 Ford Coupe would stay out front for every lap including a restart for a spin by the #27 of J R Pierik that brought out the yellow. Johnny would take the checkered flag and would win the first heat.
The second heat would see Johnny starting in 5th but with the car working well we knew that with some luck he could get her to the front. When starter Steve Peake waved the green flag Johnny would start his charge to the front. Johnny would make a good pass down the back straight and would quickly be in third. One lap later, Johnny would make a nice outside in move out of turn 1 and 2 and would take over the second spot. Johnny would chase down race leader #92 Riopelle and would complete the pass for the lead with 3 laps to go. Johnny would not look back and would take his second Heat win of the night.
Tonight was fan appreciation night so the stands were packed with lots of people and they all had an opportunity to come down onto the track and see the cars up close and meet the drivers. Johnny would talk to lots of people and signed tons of autographs while crew member Mitchell handed out chocolates to all the fans. Johnny’s number 1 fan Brandon was there as always and he brought his replica #36 Ford Coupe remote control car that he built which is identical to Johnny’s car to put on display. It was a big hit!!! Thanks for cheering us on every week!
Once fan appreciation was over it was time to get the Coupe filled up and ready for the feature. Johnny would start in the 5th position and it would be pole sitter #33 Paul Pierik that would lead the pack of 19 cars to the green. Johnny would have an incredible start and would actually find his way to the lead by the end of the back straight by keeping his car down tight out of turn 2. Johnny would lead for the first 5 laps and with the #79 and #77 on his tail he would pull high to allow them by to sit in third and let things cool down.
On lap 10 a caution would be waved for a spin in turn 2 which would tighten the pack up. Johnny saved his car with the hopes of a restart and he got it. On the green Johnny would not leave the bumper of race leader #79 Cuthburtson and the two cars would pull away from the rest of the field. Johnny would keep the #79 busy by being right in his mirror as Johnny definitely had the fastest car but would have to wait to see if the leader would make a mistake. With 2 laps to go Johnny had to give up waiting for a mistake because Cuthburtson wasn’t going to make one and gave him a tap as he exited turn two and slid underneath him as the went down the back straight.
Cuthburtson would follow on Johnny’s bumper into turn 3 and 4 and the #36 Ford would take the white flag as the race leader. Johnny would get a great run down the front straight pulling a gap between him and the #79. As Johnny and his #36 Ford Coupe rounded corner 3 and 4 the crowd was on their feet cheering as race starter Steve Peake raised the checkered flag at waved it as the #36 crossed the line. Johnny had finally won his first ever Ontario Legends Series race and is one of only a handful of triple winners in the series.
Absolute congratulations to everyone who is a part of our team from our sponsors to our family to our fans and friends. It is you that makes a difference and we truly Thank you for everything. This is our first but I will tell you it wont be our last!!!
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