Williamson, Miller, Sherwood, Wynes and Miller Score Ransomville Wins Ed Ortiz Inducted into Ring of Honor
COLUMN BY: Steve Petty / RANSOMVILLE SPEEDWAY – RANSOMVILLE, NY – Mat Williamson from St. Catharines, Ontario won the Krown Undercoating 358 Modified feature on Bailey Brothers Landscaping and Auto Value night at the Ransomville Speedway. It was “Money Mat’s” third victory of the season.
For the first time since August of 2008, Stephen Miller from Olcott, NY won the Stirling Lubricants DIRTcar Sportsman feature. Brandon Sherwood from Sanborn, NY won the KiPo Chevrolet Street Stock feature. Jeffrey Wynes from Wilson, NY won the Sunflowers of Sanborn Mini Stock main event. Chris Miller from Olcott, NY won the J&D Tires and Service Novice Sportsman feature. Dylan Haniszewski was victorious in the May Mayhem Demolition Derby paying $1000 to win.
Before the racing action, Ed Ortiz was the inaugural inductee into the Ransomville Speedway Ring of Honor. Ed’s racing legacy began in the 1950s, during the early days of organized racing in Ransomville. As president of the Ransomville Slowpokes, Ed, alongside eight fellow racers and visionaries, helped establish the original Ransomville Speedway behind Ortiz Garage. A career that spanned more than 25 years, 200 victories and more, we celebrated the pioneer that started it all.
Scott Just and Steve Lewis Jr brought the Krown Undercoating 358 Modifieds to the green flag for their 30-lap feature, with Lewis in the early race lead ahead of Just, and Kyle Richner. The Lenco Supply caution would immediately come out in turn three as Jesse Cotriss spun, collecting Gary Lindberg, Ryan Susice, Dave Flannigan Jr, James Sweeting, and John Smith. Lewis would take control of the race off the restart. Brad Rouse would pass Noah Walker for fourth place, with Erick Rudolph battling behind for fifth place, with Walker and Mat Williamson.
The Lenco Supply caution would come out on lap seven as Dave Flannigan Jr slowed on the back straightaway. The restart would see Lewis and Richner on the front row, with Lewis in the lead, as Noah Walker went into the moat to pass both Richner and Lewis to take the lead away, as Mat Williamson moved into third place. Willamson would pass Lewis on lap 10 to take over second place. Williamson would take the top spot away before the races’ halfway mark. Once out front, Williamson drove away to his third win of the season, and 43rd career Ransomville victory, tying Gary Iulg for sixth place on the all-time wins list.
Steve Miller and Abby Castile were on the front row for Stirling Lubricants DIRTcar Sportsman feature, with Miller in the lead ahead of Tyler Foster, Jake Bansmer, Nigel Pendykoski, and Castile. Cody McPherson would quickly work his way into the top five on lap seven and would chase down Bansmer for third place on lap 10. With Miller in the lead ahead of Foster, the battle was on for third between Bansmer and McPherson. Miller would be on cruise control all race long, as he would lead all 25 laps to win for the first time since August 22, 2008.
Kenny Zimmerman and Mike Kelly led the KiPo Chevrolet Street Stocks to the green with Kelly in the lead ahead of Butch Zimmerman, Dave Stolzenberg Jr, Brandon Sherwood, and Phi Schepis. Following an early Lenco Supply caution, Stolzenberg and Sherwood were on the front row, with Sherwood taking over the lead. Josh Pangrazio battled with Mike Kelly for fourth place on lap five and would take the position away just one lap later. Pangrazio would race his way to second on lap nine as Sherwood increased his lead over the field. Sherwood would be on cruise control to pick up the feature win.
Cody Griffin and Brandon Close brought the Sunflowers of Sanborn Mini Stocks to the green flag for their 15-lap main event, with Close in the lead ahead of Jeffrey Wynes and Ian Paul. The top three would battle throughout the main event, as Ben and Matt Hornquist were closing in and entering the battle as well. Wynes would battle with Close for the lead, with Wynes taking the lead on lap 11. Wynes would hold off Close to score the feature win.
AJ Mitchell and Jayme Just shared the front row for the J&D Tires and Service Novice Sportsman feature, with Mitchell in the lead ahead of Chris Miller. Austin Seburn would quickly challenge Just for third place, just ahead of divisional feature winners Christian Soladay and Lucas Newton. Seburn would take over second on lap three and would chase down leader Mitchell. The red flag would come out as the leaders would encounter a slower car in turn two, with Mitchell hitting the back straightway wall as did Aideen Rusnock. Both drivers were okay and climbed out of their cars under their own power. The restart green flag would see Chris Miller in the lead ahead of Soladay, Seburn, and Newton. Seburn would battle with Soladay for second and would complete the pass on lap eight. Seburn’s strong run would end on lap 10 as he hit the turn two wall. Chris Miller would hold off Christian Soladay to score the feature win.
Next Friday night, May 29, Mark Cerrone Inc will present the full card of racing, with the Stirling Lubricants DIRTcar Sportsman taking center stage for their Western Region event for the DIRTcar Sportsman Series. The Krown Undercoating 358 Modifieds, KiPo Chevrolet Street Stocks, Sunflowers of Sanborn Mini Stocks, and the J&D Tires and Service Novice Sportsman will all be in action plus the Niagara Regional Vintage Car Series. Pit gates will open at 5pm, grandstands open at 6pm, and racing will get underway at 7:15pm. For more information, visit our website at www.ransomvillespeedway.com and follow along on social media.
RACE RESULTS – May 22, 2026 – Bailey Brothers & Auto Value Night
Krown Undercoating 358 Modifieds: MAT WILLIAMSON, Noah Walker, Kyle Richner, Erick Rudolph, Steve Lewis Jr, Brad Rouse, Andrew Smith, Chad Brachmann, James Sweeting, Scott Just, Jesse Cotriss, Jessica Kriegisch, John Smith, Andy Jankowiak, Dave Flannigan Jr, Gary Lindberg, Ryan Susice, Austin Susice
Qualifying Heats: Mat Williamson, Scott Just
Stirling Lubricants DIRTcar Sportsman: STEPHEN MILLER, Tyler Foster, Cody McPherson, Jake Bansmer, Nigel Pendykoski, Cam Tuttle, Abby Castile, Brett Senek, Derek Wagner, Matthew Jessome, Sam Hoxie, Martin Polhill, Madyson Rouse, Kyle Teeter, Brendan Zimmerman, Even Nugent, Jesse Truax
Did Not Start: Tyler Moore
Qualifying Heats: Steve Miller, Jake Bansmer
KiPo Chevrolet Street Stocks: BRANDON SHERWOOD, Josh Pangrazio, Mike Welch, Dave Stolzenberg Jr, Doug Webster, Chase Kish, Butch Zimmerman, Mike Kelly, Kenny Zimmerman, Ron Richter, Charl Shetler Sr, Phil Schepis, Carl Shetler, Damian Long
Qualifying Heats: Josh Pangrazio, Phil Schepis
Sunflowers of Sanborn Mini Stocks: JEFFREY WYNES, Brandon Close, Ben Hornquist, Matt Hornquist, Ian Paul, Cody Griffin, Brayden Bronschidle, Cierra Keus, Justin Guyle, Gushi Burr, Maggie Guyle
Did Not Start: Brad Whiteside, Sierra Antonucci, Salvatore Morreale
Qualifying Heats: Brad Whiteside, Jeffrey Wynes
J&D Tires and Service Novice Sportsman: CHRIS MILLER, Christian Soladay, Lucas Newton, Johnny Zimmerman, Jayme Just, Jacob Flynn, Jacklyn Nettleton, Brandon Guyette, Austin Seburn, AJ Mitchell, Aideen Rusnock, Elizabeth Nugent, Vincent Lewis
Qualifying Heats: Chris Miller, Jayme Just
