NCAT: Sunset Speedway Becomes NASCAR Sanctioned; To Host Canadian Tire Series

NASCAR announced on Thursday, February 5th that Sunset Speedway (Innisfil, Ontario) will host the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series on June 20th. The date is meant to replace the void left by the closure of Barrie Speedway in early January. NASCAR also announced today that Sunset Speedway is part of the NASCAR Whelen-All American Series.

“We are pleased to welcome Sunset Speedway to the NASCAR family,” George Silbermann, NASCAR’s vice president for regional and touring series, said. “Sunset is a fantastic facility with great competition and it will anchor NASCAR racing in Ontario.”

The Leland Industries 300 presented by Johnsville will mark the inaugural visit for the series to Sunset Speedway. The 0.333 mile, high-banked oval has been vowing for a Canadian Tire Series date for the past six years, and has significant connections to the series. Series veteran Mark Dilley is the track’s general manager, while Jeff Lapcevich’s son Cayden is the defending Super Stock Series Champion. Sunset Speedway originally opened in 1968, but underwent a significant face lift during the 2009 off-season. It now becomes the 18th facility to play host to the Canadian Tire Series.

“It is a very exciting year for me and the whole Sunset team,” Dilley said. “Our goal has always been to host a NASCAR, and that day has finally come. Not only will we have the inaugural Leland Industries 300 presented by Johnsonville, but we will see a full year of NASCAR racing with the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. It is a great opportunity for all of the fans, competitors and staff at Sunset, and I am proud to be a part of it.”

The NASCAR Whelen All-American Series program was established in 1982 and NASCAR’s way of recognizing national champions for weekly short track auto racing. Competitors at over 50 paved and dirt tracks across North America vie for track, state, province and overall series championships in Divisions I-V.

Sunset will host their first night of competition on Saturday May 2nd with the Sauble Falls Limited Late Models as Division I, St. Onge Recreational Super Stocks as Division II, the Graham Landscape Mini Stocks as Division III, and the Mighty Minis as Division IV.