SOUTH BUXTON, Ontario – The American Ethanol Modified Tour Presented by Allstar Performance made its international debut Friday at Southern Ontario Motor Speedway and Brian Speelman took home the checkered flag.
Thirty laps was the scheduled distance for the main event Friday night. Persistent rains on Thursday gave the track plenty of moisture to work with, but it also gave the racing surface plenty of character.
Drivers battled each other and the race track in hopes of becoming the first ever winner of an AEmods event in Canada. Brad McLeod and Daryll Hoekstra led the field to the American Ethanol Green Flag. McLeod led for two laps before Joel Dick powered his way to the front. Hoekstra quickly found issues in turns three and four, falling through the field before spinning and bringing out the first caution flag of the night.
On the ensuing restart, drivers all looked for the advantage as Dick pulled away to the lead. Speelman, Drew Smith and Justin Mills went three wide for the second spot.
Speelman had found something on the bottom of the race track, and was rolling on his way to the top of the board, getting around Dick just two laps after the restart.
Two more minor cautions would wave for debris and a slowing Clayton Smith before Speelman punched his ticket to victory lane.
Not only did Speelman win the race, but he and nine other competitor guaranteed themselves a starting spot in Saturday’s event.