MILLGROVE, ON – Shae Gemmell picked up right where he left off in 2025, beginning the 2026 season by parking his entry in Flamboro Speedway victory lane on opening night Saturday, May 2.
Gemmell qualified third-fastest for the opening round of the Flamboro Grisdale Showdown Series and maintained a solid top-five presence through the first half of the event. He took control of the lead on Lap 36 and paced the remaining distance of the 50-lap feature to secure the win. Race report continued below the gallery.
PHOTO GALLERY
MAY 2, 2026 – FLAMBORO SPEEDWAY SEASON OPENER – PHOTOS BY DEREK SMITH / RACEPULSE.COM
Fast qualifier Jake Sheridan charged forward late to finish second, followed by Billy Schwartzenburg, Dale Shaw and Shawn Chenoweth. Kyle Steckly returned north of the border and overcame qualifying issues to finish sixth, ahead of Blair Wickett, Kevin Gallant, Tyler Di Venanzo and Kevin Albers.
Jacob Sutcliffe finished 11th in his first career Pro Late Model start at Flamboro Speedway, followed by Gerritt Tiemersma, Ray Morneau, Connor Maltese, Dwayne Baker, Josh Gruntz and Billy Zardo.
Shawn Chenoweth went flag-to-flag to win the season opener for the Steel City Rumble Series. Lane Zardo finished second, with Justin Collison, Coltin Everingham, Cole Burrows and Nick Troback completing the top six.
Jason Keen opened the Grindstone Landscaping Canadian Vintage Modifieds season with a victory, taking the lead on Lap 9 and holding on for the win over Ty Riopelle, TJ Marshall, Mike Podd and Jordan Ramsbottom. Scott Tonelli led the opening eight laps before finishing sixth, followed by Chris Pendlebury, Dave Evison Sr., Jay Linde and Doug Hood. Harry Gillis and Alexandria Ditner rounded out the field.
Keen completed the nightly double by winning the second Vintage Modifieds feature after again taking the lead on Lap 9. TJ Marshall finished second after leading the opening eight laps, followed by Jordan Ramsbottom, Ty Riopelle and Mike Podd. Tonelli once again finished sixth, this time ahead of Chris Pendlebury, Jay Linde, Doug Hood and Dave Evison Sr., with Alexandria Ditner and Harry Gillis completing the order.
Blaise Shaw led from start to finish to claim the opening Klotz Auto Repair Mini Stocks feature of the season. Tyler Lewis finished second, followed by Matt Young, Shawn Taylor and Mike Thomson. Mike Robinson III placed sixth, ahead of Dustin Goodfellow, Andrew Smith, Nikki Richmond and Bobby Mercer.
Lewis rebounded in the second Mini Stocks feature, taking the lead on Lap 4 and driving away to the win. Young, Taylor, Shaw and Robinson III filled out the top five. Thomson led the opening three laps before finishing sixth, followed by Wyatt Sutcliffe, Andrew Smith, Bill Pearsall, Nikki Richmond and Mercer.
Rodney Rutherford led every lap to win the season-opening Hogan Law & McClurkin Properties of Cambridge Pure Stocks feature over Spencer Riddell, Matt Young, Dan Storey and John Cote. Chase Mitchell worked forward to finish sixth, ahead of Chance Rogers, Jake Watson, Brandyn Milligan and Leo Labarbera.
Rachel Mitchell raced inside the top-10 early before settling for 11th, followed by Mark Allan, Reece Bourgeois, Chris Burrows, Megan Mitchell, Mac Ingram, Rick Mitchell, Cam Thomson, Jacob Landry, William Young, Hailey Hill and Courtney Scott.
Rutherford completed his own nightly sweep in the second Pure Stocks feature, getting to the front in the closing laps for the victory over Rick Mitchell, Leo Labarbera, Chase Mitchell and Matt Young. Rachel Mitchell ran inside the top five for much of the race before finishing sixth, ahead of John Cote, Spencer Riddell, Chance Rogers and Dan Storey.
Jake Watson finished 11th after running inside the top 10 early. He was followed by Reece Bourgeois, Courtney Scott, Chris Burrows, Mac Ingram, Jacob Landry, Hailey Hill, William Young, Mark Allan and Brandyn Milligan. Milligan’s night ended early after a rollover on Lap 2 following contact on the backstretch.
Next Race – Saturday, May 9, featuring the season openers for the Southern Ontario Modified Association and Ontario Pro Challenge Series. OSCAAR will present its season preview “Beat the Clock Challenge” with the JRS Auctions OSCAAR Super Late Models presented by Just Foam It, Overkill Enterprise OSCAAR Modifieds, and The Fyre Place & Patio Shop OSCAAR Hot Rods presented by Bromley Automotive. The program is rounded out by the Klotz Auto Repair Mini Stocks and Hogan Law & McClurkin Properties of Cambridge Pure Stocks.
For more information, visit www.flamborospeedway.ca and follow Flamboro Speedway on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.