Thompson Media (2026)

12/02/2024

Dan McHattie: The Last of a Dying Breed

CAVAN, ON - With over 30 years of competition under his belt, ‘Old School’ Dan McHattie’s name is as well known with Late Model racing in Ontario as anyone.

You’d be hard pressed to find a driver that better encapsulates what it is to be the proverbial ‘weekend warrior’. A blue-collar family man during the week and, for an average of 10 weekends per year, one of the most lauded competitors in the province.

This near-religious dedication to racing was something McHattie recognized at a young age, growing up on his family farm just outside of Peterborough.

“As a kid, I did nothing but dream of racing,” says McHattie with a smile. “My family would take me to Westgate Speedway most weekends in the 80s and my Dad did some Demo Derbies and Enduros”

“I did everything with my Dad, so, as a 7 year old I was working on stripping interiors and trim from derby cars or helping him with his. We lived on the farm, so I could drive all these cars around every day”

Saturday nights at Peterborough afforded McHattie the chance to follow some of the top drivers in the province - many of which have impacted the Ontario short track scene across numerous decades.

And, after years watching some of the best of the best, it was a natural progression for McHattie to move from the grandstands to competing alongside his idols.

“At that time we went to the track and we’d watch the local heroes - guys like Bryan Cathcart, Kelly McBain, Dave Taylor, Derek Lynch, Mike Shane and, my personal favourite, Warren Shrubb,” explains McHattie.

“Our family who’ve always been close friends with Bryan Cathcart. So, when my Dad quit racing in 1988, it was Bryan that would take me to the track to help him all Summer. The Winter after I had helped Bryan, I talked my parents into going racing with me - and Dad and I built a car for the Challenger division. That was 1990. I was 13 but I did all of the work on the car and all the weekly maintenance”

“In the early ‘90s it was fairly uncommon to be racing at such a young age,” recalls McHattie. “Just about every guy I was racing against was between the age of 25 and 45. At the time, basically all of my friends were adults. Because all of my parents’ friends or the people that I raced with treated me more like an adult than someone’s kid”

It didn’t take long for McHattie to fully embrace the ‘built not bought’ mentality, adding ‘fabricator’ to his resume at an incredibly early age.

“When I was 15, I wanted to upgrade to a Metric-framed car to be more competitive,” continues McHattie. “My parents didn’t want to buy a car but they would secure the tools that I needed to build one properly. They rounded up a tube bender, sheet metal, bead roller and an I-beam platform for a jig - and that was the first car I built all on my own”

“I was lucky to have the help from competitors and some good friends. Guys like Jim Jackson, Rod Marshall and Bob Franks who each played big roles in my career, when they’d come over to weld up all of my creations”

“We ran that car for two seasons and won the championship with it in 1994. Then, in 1995, we bought a Howe chassis that Brad Pearsall had raced. It had been used up pretty bad, so we cut it up, reclipped both ends and installed a whole new interior and body. In our second season on that car, we won the championship”

“Since then, I’ve built 4 more cars for myself. We won 14 championships, 2 Autumn Colours Classic titles and over 100 feature wins. It’s been an incredible ride”

McHattie is a throwback in every sense of the word. A hardworking husband and father that squeezes his passion for racing into an increasingly busy schedule. A racer that is far more than just a helmet toter or ‘arrive and drive’ participant. He’s a link to an era that has, almost completely, been removed from short track racing as a whole.

“I think I was born in the wrong decade,” laughs McHattie. “I really believe I was destined to have been born earlier so that I could come up racing in the ‘80s”

“I’m proud of what I’ve been able to do with my own cars,” continues the second-generation racer. “There were times where it might have been nice to have a new McColl car or a Hamke but, in reality, I may not have enough talent to get everything out of them anyhow”

Now, looking back on a career full of accomplishments he never thought possible, McHattie notes that present-day trips to the speedway are every bit as much about family as it was when he was walking into Westgate in the ‘80s.

“Having My Mom, Dad, my wife Heidi, Jim, Colin and my kids with me at the speedway is all that matters,” says the Cavan, ON legend. “The last car that I built was really to show my kids what I was capable of. And that I didn’t have to pay someone to do it. They’re my motivation now.”

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22/10/2023

Chase Pinsonneault Announces Next Chapter of Driver Development

Belle River, ON - After impressing in Delaware Speedway’s weekly Pro Late Model division and touring Ontario with the APC United Late Model Series in 2023, third-generation racer Chase Pinsonneault will join forces with NASCAR star Carson Hocevar under the newly minted Carson Hocevar Racing banner for the 2024 season.

Pinsonneault will open his season in a CHR-prepared Pro Late Model, chasing events across the Midwest and Southeastern United States, with the goal of eventually transitioning to Super Late Model competition later in the season.

“Having this chance to continue my progression as a driver is an amazing opportunity,” says Pinsonneault. “The fact that Carson (Hocevar) and his team see potential in me is a huge confidence booster. I’ve got to work with them a little already in testing and it really does feel like they’ve built a program strong enough to succeed anywhere we go”

Carson Hocevar Racing Team Manager and Crew Chief Zach Dunson sees a bright future ahead for Pinsonneault and is excited to get to work with the rising star.

“Carson and I are both very excited for the next chapter of Carson Hocevar Racing. We’ve both watched a lot of Chase’s race footage from the 2023 season and you can see just how much raw talent he has”

“He’s a very respectful young man and his family has been in the Motorsports industry for generations, which makes them incredibly knowledgeable on what it takes to be successful”

“Carson and I have talked about doing a development deal for a couple years now,” continues Dunson. “Having him sign a multi-year (NASCAR) Cup deal was the perfect time to start developing a new talent”

“I’ve been racing with Carson since he was 12-years old and all that time together has allowed us to experience the highest of highs and the lowest of lows and - at the end of the day - your program’s strength is built from how you rebound from the bad days and how you leap forward from the good ones”

Pinsonneault sees a chance to learn from Hocevar as a way to grow as a competitor - both on and off the track.

“I’m incredibly excited to get to work with Carson,” says the Belle River, ON native. “He’s a wheelman and I’m really happy to have the chance to learn from him and just continue to refine my craft and grow as a racer”

“I’ve been dreaming of this type of chance from the moment I watched my first race. I’m ready to take on the challenge. I’m excited to race against some of the best in Late Model racing. Guys like Bubba Pollard who I’ve watched my entire life. I can’t wait to see how I stack up”

While 2024 sees Pinsonneault competing exclusively in the US, Pinsonneault & CHR have already had the opportunity to begin building their relationship at the CHR shop in Michigan.

“We’ve tested with Chase three times this Fall,” says Dunson. “The number one thing that stuck with me is how much info you can pack into Chase - and he just absorbs it like a sponge”

“Every time we stopped for a major change in setup, Chase was immediately right under the car with us to ask questions and understand the next moves we were going to make”

Pinsonneault is set to make his CHR debut January 20th at Speedfest at Crisp Motorsports Park in Cordele Georgia & is ready to begin learning from Hocevar as soon as possible.

“Just being around Carson and his team is going to give me a chance to polish up how I approach racing,” explains Pinsonneault. “From what I’ve seen, our driving styles are very similar. I’m ready to get started. I can’t wait for this to get rolling”

For more information on Speedfest at Crisp Motorsports Park, visit www.crispmotorsportspark.com

13/09/2023

Andy Kamrath Closes Door on Fulltime Racing

CHURCHILL, ON - When the Seaton Structures NASCAR Modified division rolls off the track to close out their season at this weekend’s Fall Velocity, Andy Kamrath will close a chapter on his career that has been over two decades in the making.

Kamrath has given the reigns of his family owned modified back to former owner Shawn Chenoweth of SCR with pickup scheduled for the conclusion of Fall Velocity weekend as he readies to transition into the role of fulltime mentor, driver coach, hauler driver and lead mechanic for his son Rylan’s Junior Late Model endeavours.

“I’m really excited to help Rylan and watch him develop,” says Kamrath. “It’s a whole new challenge, as a Father, when you’re trying to get inside his brain and figure out what he’s thinking and try to adjust the way I’m teaching him so that he can better understand me”

“I’m ‘all in’ on his deal. He wants to race and I want to do absolutely everything that I can for him to enjoy every minute of it. So, if we’re going to do that properly, it’s time for me to slow down as a driver and ramp up as a Dad and a mentor”

Kamrath arrived on the provincial radar through a successful freshman campaign in Sauble’s former Limited Late Model division in 2008 and rose to prominence over the course of the following decade.

“I was decent in a Junior Late Model but I was hooked after we won the Rookie of the Year in the big car in 2008,” explains Kamrath. “I finished 3rd in points that season and I showed enough speed that it felt like we had something to work with”

“From there, I just tried to do all that I could to do the absolute most with the equipment that I had. Looking back on it, I think the Pro Late Model and Modified divisions helped me develop the most as a driver. I figured out, fairly quickly, that when you’re going that fast you really have to think about what the cars doing and make smart decisions - not only on driving but on adjustments and giving your team good feedback”

Looking back on almost 20 years of weekly racing, Kamrath expresses a sense of completion for the victories he was able to add to his resume across a myriad or divisions.

“Winning the big events was absolutely the most enjoyable part of my career,” explains the Churchill, ON resident. “I came in not knowing if I’d ever win one big event. So, looking back and see all that I was able to accomplish. It’s surreal, man”

“From Autumn Colours Classic wins to Frostoberfest and Jukasa. Fall Velocity at Sunset. It’s incredible when I take a moment to really stop and look back on it all. I’ve always felt that those types of events are the measuring stick of who you are in this sport. And how good the people are that you’ve surrounded yourself with. Because, those are the races where the best of the best turn up - and you have to be on your game to get anywhere close to one of those wins”

When asked what lessons he hopes to impart on his son as he begins his foray into weekly racing, Kamrath is eager to share all that he’s learned in 20 years of racing.

“The biggest thing I’ve taken away from racing is to always listen,” explains ‘The Instant Classic’. “Learning. Taking in everything you can. That’s what I’m excited to teach Rylan. If it’s not your day, it’s not your day. But, when it is, you’d better take advantage of it”

“I’ve enjoyed racing against anyone I’ve ever lined up next to. I always raced guys the way I wanted to be raced. I’ve won every invitational in the province - but learning to listen and treat guys the way I want to be treated is the number one lesson I can give him. He’s going to be able to figure out the driving stuff on his own - with my help. But I really just want to make sure I help him be the best competitor and the best man he can be. That’s the part I’m most excited for”

“I’ll say this - I’m not going anywhere,” insists Kamrath. “I’m not leaving the racetrack. I’m going to be there to help Rylan develop every step of the way. I’m still going to be in the pits spinning wrenches for buddies and helping other teams. I just have to take a step back from the week to week driving part”

With Shawn Chenoweth Racing (SCR) reacquiring Kamrath’s Modified, it would also allow Andy to still jump back into the drivers seat a handful of times throughout the year & support his core sponsors LRR & Humberviewparts.ca, while providing feedback & help continue to build & support SCR, Shawn Chenoweth & Paul Pepper.

“The car has been sold back to Shawn Chenoweth Racing and I’ll still have the chance to jump in it from time to time. But, my number one focus moving forward is to focus on Rylan’s development. I look forward to spending time with him with a more hands-on approach. He’s got a lot of career firsts coming his way and I’m really looking forward to experiencing them with him.”

When asked was it fun, “It was a Blast”

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21/05/2023

Mike Bentley Returns to the APC United Racing Series

HAMILTON, ON - Noted as one of the best Late Model racers in Ontario for a period of time in the 2010s, Mike Bentley moved away from active competition and seemingly disappeared into anonymity.

Years spent competing atop a Sunset Speedway Late Model division that had one of the most competitive weekly series in North America, had burned Bentley out, both mentally and financially. It was time to press pause.

“I left the sport because of the time and the monetary constraints,” says Bentley. “There’s not really any other way to put it. I’d never fallen out of love with the sport and it’s not like I wanted to go and do something else. I just couldn’t keep up with the time and the money that were needing to be invested”

“I could have kept racing but, given the competitor that I am, I said to myself that if I couldn’t do it the right way then I didn’t want to do it at all. I never really left the sport, I’ve just been behind the scenes”

“I think I’ve been in the stands for just about every single APC race and there hasn’t been a single day where I wasn’t wishing I was on the track,” adds Bentley. “Stepping away from competing was hard. Racing was a huge part of my identity. But, it gave me the time to focus on the other important areas of my life”

5 years after his last start, Bentley is ready to return to APC United Late Model Series competition, behind the wheel of a Holdaway Motorsports Late Model.

“This year just felt like the perfect time to make a comeback,” says Bentley. “I’ve known Taylor for a really long time and he’s done an incredible job building his program up. He had a ride available for this weekend and, I figured, a 150-lap race at one of my best tracks was absolutely the right time to dust off my helmet”

With multiple victories at Sunset as a driver, combined with Holdaway’s impressive record as a Crew Chief and Owner, Bentley believes the tandem will be strong enough to be in the mix tonight.

“This is a really good car that we’re bringing to Sunset. We tested last week and I have complete belief in the package that Taylor has designed for us. The car felt great in testing and I believe it’s absolutely strong enough for a top-5 finish”

“Bennett Construction Group has come on board for this first race with a potential for a couple more races this season. If everything goes well, I’m hoping for at least 3 or 4. So, in a lot of ways, we’re coming out and racing for our lives here. A good finish is going to help us get back to the track - so, we have all the motivation in the world this weekend”

For Bentley, this weekend is all about reminding the province and himself how good he can be behind the wheel of a racecar.

“I’m excited to see where I stack up against these guys”. “It’s been a few years, and these are the best racers in the province, but I have a lot of belief in Taylor’s equipment. And, I think I still know the quick way around Sunset”

“There were a few years where we were the team to beat when it came to Sunset,” continues Bentley. “Countless hours in the shop. Late Friday nights into early, early Saturday mornings scaling the car. Everything and anything to stay ahead of the competition”

“There were a couple years of bad luck and budget issues really hampered our efforts and that can beat you up, mentally. It takes a toll on you as a driver. Sometimes, you just have to step away, gather your thoughts and find a way to come back stronger. I’m counting the hours until we take the green tomorrow night.”

For more information on the Dayco 150, visit www.apcracingseries.com or www.sunsetspeedway.ca

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05/05/2023

Ryan Kimball Set for 2023 Debut Saturday Night at Sunset Speedway

NORWOOD, ON - Pro Late Model veteran Flyin’ Ryan Kimball will open his season this coming Saturday at Sunset Speedway, as he kicks off his ‘Outlaw’ schedule born out of the reformation of his own team for 2023.

Kimball will also be a throwback, as he returns to the same No. 16 that saw him capture checkered flags all over the province in both the Thunder Car and Late Model division.

“This Saturday is going to be the first paragraph of a brand new chapter for us,” says Kimball. “I figured it was sort’ve poetic for us to start our new deal with a little towards where we’ve come from, that’s why we’re going back to number 16. Maybe it’ll bring us some luck”

Kimball’s 2023 season will be a foray into uncharted waters, fresh off of the dissolution of Sean Grosman’s SMG Motorsports outfit last October.

“I can’t say enough how grateful I am for Sean Grosman and everything that he did for me,” notes Kimball. “His friendship changed my life. I know that sounds cliche - but it’s true. He was a fantastic mentor and driving for him was some of the happiest memories I’ve ever had”

“When he told me he was shuttering his deal, he wanted to make sure I was going to be taken care of and could keep racing. So, I got to keep one of the cars and I pretty much built my 2023 program around that. It’s been a lot of work to be ready for Spring - but, here we are”

Kimball’s ‘outlaw’ schedule will consist of select Pro Late Model races at Sunset and Peterborough as well as a pair of APC United Late Model Series events.

“Our number one goal for this team now is to just come out and have fun,” says Kimball. “That’s one of the main reasons we aren’t committing to a full season racing for points anywhere. We just want to come out and enjoy racing”

“If we hit the ground running and can contend for wins right out of the gate - amazing. But, if we have to work together as a team to figure this car out, we’re fine with that, too. This season is all about the journey and less about the destination. I’m excited to get started.”

Ryan Kimball’s 2023 campaign is powered by J Bex Construction, Crowe’s Fuel and GTA Race Design.

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02/05/2023

Jordan Lawrence, Success on Both Sides of the Pit Wall

LONDON, ON - As a race winner on both sides of the pit wall, Jordan Lawrence has become lauded as one of the best Late Model racers & the best short track engineers in the province.

The son of the late Dave Lawrence - one of the most popular and successful Super Stock racers in Delaware Speedway history, Lawrence has worked tirelessly to carve out a name for himself, wheeling anything from a Bone Stock to a Pro Late Model and virtually everything in between.

“I’ve always just wanted to race,” says Lawrence. “It doesn’t matter what division it is. So long as it’s a challenge. It’s just always been about racing for me. Because I love it”

Lawrence has long juggled his passions for both driving a racecar and engineering one, ultimately solidifying himself as one of the rare few in Ontario that can do both seemingly with ease.

“From inside the car I find the most joy in just trying to be the absolute best on the track and to search for speed running different line’s.” “The engineering side is a little bit different. Because you get the absolute joy of being apart of the entire process. You’re able to build something from scratch to the finished on-track product”

Lawrence’s time spinning wrenches was taken to the next level when he joined the team at McColl Racing Enterprises.

“I joined McColl Racing Enterprises fulltime in 2017. I had worked a little with Mike on and off for a while before that. So, after I finished my schooling at UNOH I decided it was time to come home and work on this side of the border”

Through his stint at MRE, Lawrence met racer Nick Goetz and eventually worked with his NG Motorsports team as both an engineer and a driver.

“I got the chance to start racing a Late Model thanks to Nick Goetz,” says Lawrence. “He had two cars and at first, I was just practicing his backup and then start and parking it. It slowly turned into a full race every now and again, then a full season with the Great Lakes Concrete Limited Late Model Series in 2018”

After his time with Goetz, Lawrence got his first APC start racing for Luke Ramsay and Jamie Cox, then went on tour across Ontario with the APC United Late Model Series, eventually winning a tour championship in 2020.

“Winning an APC United Late Model Series championship meant a ton to me. We won 4 races that season against some of the absolute best guys in the country. If you’re out running guys like Brandon Watson, Matt Pritiko, JR Fitzpatrick and DJ Kennington then you’re obviously doing something right”

Lawrence returned to the team for the 2021 season, but was unable to secure funding to race with the tour in 2022.

This season, Lawrence will again return to APC United Late Model Series action, having put together an entry alongside his brother - multi-time Delaware Speedway winner Kris Lawrence - with the intentions of running the full schedule across Ontario.

For more information on Jordan Lawrence’s 2023 season, visit www.delawarespeedway.com or www.apcseries.com

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20/04/2023

Chase Pinsonneault Seeking Dual Championship Hunt in 2023

LONDON, ON - Following an initial foray into Super Stock competition in 2022, rising star Chase Pinsonneault will look to take things up a notch in 2023 - declaring his bid for a track championship in both the Super Stock and Pro Late Model divisions.

“This season is all about adapting to running both cars,” explains Pinsonneault. “It’s a huge challenge - but it’s something I’m super excited for. Running both cars simultaneously over a full season is going to be a sure fire way to see where I stack up against some of the absolute best racers in the province”

And, while Pinsonneault might be a new face in Ontario short track circles, his family lineage goes back a long way when it comes to racing in North America.

“Racing for my family started in the early 1980s when my Grandfather sponsored Bob Merrifield,” explains the multi-generational racer. “At some point, he got the chance to test the car and he loved it. So, he bought his own and started racing it at Checker Flag Speedway and then all over North America with the ASA Series”

“From there, he fielded cars for himself and for Johnny and Tim Sauter in the ASA Series. Eventually, he took a shot at running a NASCAR Busch Series team, but the sponsorship never took off and the team was disbanded. I love hearing his stories from that time period. We talk about it constantly”

For Pinsonneault, the enormous task of jumping into a talent-rich Pro Late Model division is being met with measured expectations.

“The hope for any race season is that you end it campaigning for a championship,” offers the Belle River, On native. “But, realistically, the goal for our team is to aim for a top-3 in points in both divisions”

“Moving into the [Pro] Late Model is going to come with its own set of challenges. The biggest adjustment I need to make is my mindset and my consistency. Learning how to diagnose problems with the car and make the finite changes to fix those problems is huge. And, just learning how to really pay attention to all the little stuff”

“As the year progresses, I think I’ll be talking to Ray Morneau Jr. for advice,” continues Pinsonneault. “He’s a great guy to talk to and an excellent race car driver. He’s the perfect guy to compare feelings about track conditions, discuss struggles and just learn from in every way”

As he readies himself for the 2023 season, Pinsonneault feels that his dedication to his craft is his greatest asset when looking to outrun some of the best of the best.

“I believe that my biggest drive is just how much work and time I put into racing,” says Pinsonneault. “It feels like it’s only fair to the team - and to myself - that I give it 100% at the shop and at the speedway”

“It’s been a dream of mine to be able to do exactly what I’m doing right now since I first started racing at Grand Bend in 2013. I know that, if the younger version of myself saw me now, he wouldn’t want to see me give anything less than every ounce of effort I have in me.”

Chase will begin his Season Friday May 12th at Delaware Speedways 71st Season Opener!

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06/04/2023

Treyten Lapcevich Paving His Own Way

GRIMSBY, ON - As a third-generation member of one of Ontario’s most notable racing families, there’s no question that Treyten Lapcevich has been destined for a fire suit and a steering wheel from the time he could walk.

And, as the second of Jeff Lapcevich’s three racing sons, he could certainly be forgiven for feeling an always-present pressure to succeed. But, to hear Treyten tell it, having his family so involved in the world of short track racing has been nothing but a positive.

“There definitely is pressure but that’s just because we all want to outdo each other,” says Treyten of his two brothers. “It makes us work harder. We work real well together and when you add in the insight that my Dad provides, it’s incredibly helpful to have a family this involved in the sport”

“I’ve leaned on (older brother) Cayden and Dad a lot over the last two years racing with the NASCAR Pinty’s Series. They’ve run these cars before me and they’ve been to all these tracks before I have, so being able to get their perspective is invaluable”

Two victories with Canada’s national tour anchored Treyten’s resume in 2022, en route to a 4th-place finish in the championship points standings. By the time the dust had settled, it became apparent that Treyten had finally ‘arrived’ on the national scene.

“Winning against the Pinty’s Series guys was absolutely huge for my confidence,” admits Treyten. “It felt like we ran all of 2021 on the national tour and couldn’t get anything to go right no matter where we went or what we tried. Showing up with cars that you know are capable of winning but not having the luck to go with it can really drain you”

“2022 was a big step for us and our program. We hit the ground running and won the Season Opener and it was a huge relief right from the start. It felt like, once I was able to win a Pinty’s Series race, a lot of people stopped seeing me as ‘Cayden’s little brother’ and started seeing me as my own person”

“Treyten is more a student of racing than his brothers,” offers Jeff Lapcevich. “He’s a really sharp kid and he can figure alot of things out. He’s gotten some great opportunities with 22 Racing in the NASCAR Pinty’s Series and he’s also working on doing some racing in the [United States] as well. So, it’s going to be a lot of fun with him”

Treyten made an impression with fans south of the border with his 2021 appearance at the Snowflake 100 - the largest Pro Late Model race in the Southeastern United States.

In his debut at 5 Flags Speedway, Lapcevich stood toe-to-toe with some of the top Late Model racers in North America, posting a 14th-place finish and establishing a name for himself away from his Ontario homebase.

“To be able to go down to Pensacola and show speed all week with our family equipment was really special,” says Treyten. “The car was good during the actual (Snowflake 100) race but it was a parts failure that ended up impacting our day at the end”

“It gave us a lot of confidence that we can come to the Southeast and race against the best in the country and hold our own. I’m trying to do everything I can to put together the funding to get back there and take another swing at that race”

Looking ahead to his hopeful return to the NASCAR Pinty’s Series, there’s no doubt Treyten is headed back on tour with the confidence of a multi-time winner.

“Now that I’ve had success on asphalt ovals, dirt ovals and I’m starting to show speed on road courses, I think it opens up a lot of potential for the future. Winning brings a total change in mindset. That confidence allows me to race knowing that I’ve proved I belong.”

Treyten will kick off his 2023 Pintys Series Championship Hunt on May 13th at Sunset Speedway.

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23/03/2023

Matt Pritiko Shifting Gears for 2023

LONDON, ON - After 28 years of competing across a myriad of different disciplines, racing veteran Matt Pritiko is ready for a Summer that will look considerably different in 2023.

The former road course standout turned APC United Late Model Series champion is not likely to make a single start this season, instead concentrating on a very successful family business and a growing family, that leaves little time for anything else.

Thanks, in large part to Pritiko’s work away from the speedway, his shop, Burwell Auto Body, recently won Best BMW Certified Collision Center.

“I’ve been running Burwell Auto Body after My Dad and Uncle sold it last June,” explains Pritiko. “That’s kept me super busy. Work is fantastic right now and we’re looking at possibly opening future locations. So, between that and my family, I haven’t had the time to even think about racing much less put a car and a schedule together”

For Pritiko, the decision to take a Summer away from the speedway is seen more as a chance to take a breath than a permanent farewell to the sport.

“I’ve been racing since I was 6-years old,” says Pritiko. “I spent more time in planes and airports than I did in High School. I’ve been insanely fortunate to go all over North America in everything from Karts to Open Wheel Cars to Pinty’s Stock Cars and IMSA Touring Cars”

“I don’t regret a single second of it, but I’m absolutely looking forward to a Summer where I’m not trying to get to a speedway at the end of a long work week. Having a few months of nothing but weekends with family is a change I’m looking forward to”

“I don’t think this is ‘goodbye’ yet,” This is just ‘see you in a little while’. It’s a breather after having been away every May long weekend until Thanksgiving for Late Model racing. It’s time to find out how to have fun somewhere else”

When asked if a step backwards from competition will have him looking back on his career more than ever before, Pritiko is more than ready to offer up his favourite racing moments.

“My wife was just asking me that the other day,” laughs the veteran. “I think winning the APC Series championship is the one I think of the most. Because that was such a monster season for us. We beat some really good teams to win that championship”

“After that, there’s the year we finished 2nd at the (Jukasa Motor Speedway) Canadian Short Track Nationals or my podiums at the Daytona Road Course when I was racing in the Grand-Am Series”

“I’d definitely agree that the less you race, the more you start to think about all the places you’ve gotten to go to,” continues Pritiko. “From destroying a car in turn-4 at Jukasa or doing a tank slapped and hitting the wall on the last corner at Lime Rock - even the bad nights are memories you can look back on and smile. If I could go back and do it all over again, I would in a heartbeat.”

Matt’s laid back, competitive presence will be missed across Ontario & competing in the APC Series, but look forward to seeing him compete in the future.

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