News Director 
Story By: TIM BALTZ / CAN-AM SPEEDWAY – LAFARGEVILLE, NY – With great weather in store Friday night, VP Racing Fuels and Lubricants will be on hand for the 48th season opener at the Can Am Speedway.
Plenty will be happening on opening night, with a new division taking to the track and some familiar friends returning to full time competition at the speedway from north of the border.
Making a return to the speedway in 2022, are some of the top Canadian drivers who were contenders and champions before the pandemic shutdown in 2020.
Jessica Power out of Kingston Ontario, will be making Can Am her Friday night home this season in the Bob Johnson Auto Group DIRTcar Sportsman division. In 2019 Power had a great season collecting two feature wins and was a title contender throughout the year.
2019 Whitesboro Plow Shop DIRTcar 358 Modified track champion Ryan Arbuthnot is set to make his full time return this season. The Renfrew Ontario native collected 4 wins on his way to the championship and became the first Canadian born driver to win the title in nearly a decade.
Jarrett Herbison, who was part of the Bob Johnson Auto Group DIRTcar Sportsman division in 2019, will join Arbuthnot in the Whitesboro Plow Shop DIRTcar 358 Modified ranks. Herbison has one career win in DIRTcar Sportsman action at the speedway and looks to carry that same success into his rookie campaign.
The Whitesboro Plow Shop DIRTcar 358 Modifieds saw plenty of winners in 2021. Billy Dunn led the division with 5 wins but it was veteran Tim Fuller who notched his first track title after many years of trying. Jordan McCreadie, Jackson Gill and Ryan Bartlett are among other title favorites this season.
Tyler Corcoran has been on a roll in the Bob Johnson Auto Group DIRTcar Sportsman the last two years. Corcoran dominated a very competitive field last year winning 6 events on his way to a second straight track championship. Mike Fowler was the only other driver to win multiple features in 2021 and is expected to be one of many drivers, along with Dave Rogers, to stop Corcoran’s bid for a third straight crown.
The FABCO DIRTcar Pro Stock division saw Justin White breakthrough in many ways in 2021. White notched his first career feature win, added three more along the way which also included his first DIRTcar Pro Stock Series win. White also took home his first track title. Tyler Bushey and several others will be hoping for similar success in 2022.
Tony Frezzo had a season to remember in the Marsha Gibbons TLC Realty Thunderstock division one year ago. Frezzo won 9 times in 14 events on his way to the track title in 2021. Frezzo is hoping for a repeat performance this season.
The Donath Motorworx Limited Sportsman is always a crowd favorite as the up-and-coming drivers get to showcase their talents on a weekly basis. Several drivers are expected to make the jump from the karting ranks which will make for a very competitive field in 2022.
The Panther Frameworx 602 Crate Sprint Car division has created a lot of talk over the off season. The class is expected to bring in new faces to the speedway, some we have not seen in a long time and current drivers making the switch from other divisions.
Pit Gates open at 4:00pm with General Admission gates opening at 5:00pm. The drivers meeting will take place at 6:00pm sharp with Hot Laps to ensue at 6:20pm. Opening Ceremonies for the evening will kick off at 7:00pm by the lovely Miss Adirondack/Miss Thousand Islands and Heat Races will immediately follow.
