Cody McPherson and Dylan Kirkland Split Applefest Shootout Sportsman Wins at Brighton

Story By: RACE OF CHAMPIONS – BRIGHTON, ON – Cody McPherson (St. Catherines, Ont.) and Dylan Kirkland (Maitland, Ont.) each found victory lane during the annual AppleFest Shootout Weekend at Brighton Speedway. McPherson opened the weekend with his third consecutive Race of Champions 602 Dirt Sportsman Modified Series win on “Apple Eve,” while Kirkland closed it out on Saturday night with his first career Race of Champions and AppleFest Shootout triumph.

McPherson, who started third in Friday’s Apple Eve feature, took control just before halfway and never looked back, securing the victory and clinching his first Race of Champions Series championship.

Friday Results (Apple Eve):

Winner: Cody McPherson (St. Catherines, Ont.)
2nd – Matt Barbour (Brockville, Ont.)
3rd – Bobby Herrington (Elginburg, Ont.)
4th – Tyler Puchalski (Port Colborne, Ont.)
5th – Nigel Pendykoski (Niagara Falls, Ont.)
Qualifying Races: Justin Desrosiers (Cornwall, Ont.), McPherson, Kraig Handley (Picton, Ont.), Barbour, Kirkland.
B-Mains: Jordan Wood (Mallorytown, Ont.), Dylan Moore (Elgin, Ont.).

On Saturday night, Kirkland outdueled McPherson in the closing laps to score a breakthrough victory. The win marked his first with the Race of Champions 602 Dirt Sportsman Modified Series and his first AppleFest Shootout triumph.

Saturday Results (AppleFest Shootout):

Winner: Dylan Kirkland (Maitland, Ont.)
2nd – Cody McPherson (St. Catherines, Ont.)
3rd – Bobby Herrington (Elginburg, Ont.)
4th – Fire Swamp (Akwesasne, N.Y.)
5th – Brennan Moore (Elgin, Ont.)

Qualifying Races: McPherson, Puchalski, Handley, Dan Ferguson (Bloomfield, Ont.), Brad Rouse (Port Colborne, Ont.).
B-Mains: David Andre (Long Sault, Ont.), Matteo Panunte (Port Colborne, Ont.).

NEXT EVENT

The Race of Champions “Family of Series” returns to action this Saturday, October 5, with the Fall Shootout at The Bullring – Wyoming County International Speedway in Perry, N.Y.