Story By: JIM CLARKE / ONTARIO MODIFIEDS RACING SERIES – PONTYPOOL, ONT – Group officials and racers with the Ontario Modifieds Racing Series presented by GEN-3 Electrical gathered Saturday, November 16th at the Black Diamond Golf Club in Pontypool to celebrate their recently concluded schedule.
A perennial crowd favourite, ‘JBJ’ clinched the 2024 overall crown with his victory at Peterborough Speedway’s Autumn Colours Classic. It was the 4th OMRS championship for the popular racer who also claimed the title in 2016, 2019 and 2023. In addition, young upstart racer 16-year-old Ethan Thompson received the Rookie of the Year Award.
GEN-3 Electrical’s Bill Pickford Memorial Award is presented annually in recognition of unsurpassed commitment to OMRS. This year’s honour – given via video message by Tina Rosales to the group – was received by Race Director/Head Scorer Kathy McCabe for her contributions during the season.
“Since our inception in 2010, our cars have followed a traditional IMCA style asphalt open wheeled modified design,” said Warnes. “That will change as our cars will now include front fenders and a manufactured nose piece, modelled after the UARA Sportsman cars that are featured at a variety of U.S. tracks.”
Late in October, the majority of OMRS teams were able to preview the new car. At the annual banquet, attendees got their first look at the new identity for the group’s 2025 livery, as the festivities concluded with a brief video collage of images comparing the original car to a view of car style that teams will campaign next year.
The body rules package is currently being fine-tuned and will be available shortly. Chassis, tire and all other rules will mostly remain unchanged. Warnes says there has been a strong level of interest and excitement when it comes to talk about the new car. Several teams who didn’t compete with OMRS last year have already committed and are preparing for the exciting debut of the 2025 season at the group’s dates at Peterborough and Flamboro Speedways.