Photos by Dale Calnan/ImageFactor Media
By Tommy Goudge
PORT COLBORNE, Ont. (July 31, 2021) – Jordan Poirier passed Jim Huppunen on the last lap to win Saturday’s Pinty’s Knights of Thunder 360 Sprint Car series A-Main at Humberstone Speedway. The victory helped Poirier to sweep the Knights of Thunder portion of All-Canadian Championship weekend, and remain undefeated in 2021.
Ryan Turner and Travis Cunningham made up the front row for the 25 lap A-Main, and Turner took the early lead in what turned out to be a caution-free race. Jim Huppunen overtook Turner for the lead on lap nine and went on to lead the majority of the race until Poirier slipped past on the last lap.
Huppunen settled for the runner-up spot, while Cory Turner charged from row five to finish third, followed by Ryan Turner, and Aaron Turkey. Travis Cunningham, Tyler Rand, row ten starter Liam Martin, Josh Hansen, and Mikey Kruchka rounded out the top ten. Jordan Poirier, Aaron Turkey, and Josh Hansen claimed heat race wins.
The Pinty’s Knights of Thunder series will next be in action on Friday, August 6 at Merrittville Speedway, and Saturday, August 7 at Southern Ontario Motor Speedway. Visit www.knightsofthunder.com, www.merrittvillespeedway.com, and www.southernontariomotorspeedway.com for more information.
Knights of Thunder 360 Sprint Car Series
Race Report – Saturday, July 31, 2021
Humberstone Speedway
Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada
Roster
0 Lucas Smith – Brantford, Ontario
01 Mikey Kruchka – Hamilton, Ontario
1 Holly Porter – Dorchester, Ontario
3G Dale Gosselin – Saint-Pie, Quebec
5 DJ Christie – Beachville, Ontario
5D Jacob Dykstra – Port Colborne, Ontario
9 Liam Martin – Binbrook Ontario
9B Scott Burk – Charing Cross, Ontario
11 Jamie Turner – Caistor Centre, Ontario
11J Chris Jones – Picton, Ontario
11N Nathan Jackson – Dunnville, Ontario
13 Cory Turner – Tillsonburg, Ontario
14H Jim Huppunen – Fenwick, Ontario
15 Dan Nanticoke – Ohsweken, Ontario
28 Jordan Poirier – Saint-Mathieu-de-Beloeil, Quebec
46 Kevin Pauls – St. Catharines, Ontario
68 Aaron Turkey – Ohsweken, Ontario
70 Baily Heard – Niagara Falls, Ontario
84 Tyler Rand – Picton, Ontario
87X Shone Evans – Scotland, Ontario
88H Josh Hansen – Beamsville, Ontario
90 Travis Cunningham – Grimsby, Ontario
91 Ryan Turner – Dunnville, Ontario
Heat Race 1 [Started] 8 laps – 2:11.613
1. 28-Jordan Poirier[3]; 2. 5-DJ Christie[2]; 3. 01-Mikey Kruchka[4]; 4. 14H-Jim Huppunen[8]; 5. 0-Lucas Smith[1]; 6. 1-Holly Porter[5]; 7. 3G-Dale Gosselin[6]; 8. 15-Dan Nanticoke[7]
Heat Race 2 [Started] 8 laps – 2:12.784
1. 68-Aaron Turkey[1]; 2. 91-Ryan Turner[5]; 3. 11J-Chris Jones[2]; 4. 13-Cory Turner[6]; 5. 11-Jamie Turner[3]; 6. 5D-Jacob Dykstra[4]; 7. 9-Liam Martin[7]; 8. 11N-Nathan Jackson[8]
Heat Race 3 [Started] 8 laps – 2:13.296
1. 88H-Josh Hansen[4]; 2. 90-Travis Cunningham[5]; 3. 70-Baily Heard[1]; 4. 84-Tyler Rand[7]; 5. 9B-Scott Burk[2]; 6. 46-Kevin Pauls[3]; 7. 87X-Shone Evans[6]
A-Main [Started] 25 laps – 7:18.747
1. 28-Jordan Poirier[7]; 2. 14H-Jim Huppunen[4]; 3. 13-Cory Turner[10]; 4. 91-Ryan Turner[1]; 5. 68-Aaron Turkey[3]; 6. 90-Travis Cunningham[2]; 7. 84-Tyler Rand[5]; 8. 9-Liam Martin[19]; 9. 88H-Josh Hansen[6]; 10. 01-Mikey Kruchka[9]; 11. 11-Jamie Turner[13]; 12. 9B-Scott Burk[14]; 13. 5D-Jacob Dykstra[17]; 14. 0-Lucas Smith[15]; 15. 3G-Dale Gosselin[20]; 16. 1-Holly Porter[16]; 17. 87X-Shone Evans[21]; 18. 11J-Chris Jones[11]; 19. 5-DJ Christie[8]; 20. 15-Dan Nanticoke[23]; 21. 70-Baily Heard[12]; 22. 46-Kevin Pauls[18]; 23. 11N-Nathan Jackson[22]
A-Main Lap Leaders – Ryan Turner 1-8; Jim Huppunen 9-24; Jordan Poirier 25
Margin of Victory – 0.584 seconds
Hard Charger – Liam Martin +11
Up Next:
Friday, August 6, 2021 – Merrittville Speedway – Thorold, Ontario
Saturday, August 7, 2021 – Southern Ontario Motor Speedway – Merlin, Ontario
KNIGHTS OF THUNDER MEDIA
Website: www.knightsofthunder.com
Twitter: @KoTSprints
Facebook: KnightsofThunderSprintCars
Instagram: @knightsofthunder
YouTube: GForceTV
About the Pinty’s Knights of Thunder Sprint Car Series: Founded in 2021, the Knights of Thunder series is a traveling winged 360 Sprint Car tour based in Ontario, Canada. Each points-paying event on the 2021 schedule will pay a minimum of $2,000-to-win and $250-to-start, and selected events will be broadcast live on GForceTV. The championship winner will be rewarded with $5,000 and a Pinty’s VIP package for the 2022 Bristol Dirt Race, while 10th place in the championship standings will pay $1,000. The 2021 Knights of Thunder Sprint Car Series is made possible with the support of Pinty’s Delicious Foods, Corr/Pak Merchandising, Stoneridge Specialty Insurance, Hoosier Tire Canada, Burger Barn, Nitro 54 Variety, Strickland’s Brantford Chevrolet, and EPIC Racewear. Visit www.knightsofthunder.com for more information.