Fan Appreciation Night Set Following a Night of Milestones at Can Am

COLUMN BY: Tim Baltz / CAN AM SPEEDWAY – LA FARGEVILLE, NY  – Six races into the 2026 racing season and the action has been exciting and this past Friday night was no different with historical moments highlighting the night at Can-Am Speedway.

Billy Dunn was able to take charge late in the 25 lap Whitesboro Plow Shop DIRTCar 358 Modifieds. The Watertown New York native battled leader Lance Willix through a good portion of the event. Willix looked to be on his way to the win until a restart allowed Dunn to get by for the lead. Dunn would survive one final restart to score his third win of the year but more importantly, history, as he claimed his 73rd career Modified win tying Hall of Famer and 10 time Can Am champion Pat O’Brien at the top of the all time win list. Preston Forbes was able to cross in 2nd with Willix completing the podium. Tim Fuller still holds a 10 point lead over Dunn with Willix in third, 44 points behind heading into the weekend.

It was a first time winner in the Bob Johnson Auto Group DIRTCar Sportsman division as Frank Sibley finally got the job done, but it wasn’t easy. Brady Howard was the dominant force through the majority of the race and appeared to be headed to the win. Sibley made his way to 2nd and was doing everything to chase the leader down. On lap 18 a caution flew, setting up one of many restarts before the finish. On the final restart Sibley charged to the top of turns 1 and 2 to grab the lead, pull away and score his first career win after several years of trying on dirt. Points leader Gavin Eisele crossed in 2nd while Keegan Nier crossed in third. Eisele increased his points lead to 28 over Tyler Stevenson heading into the weekend.

Josh Verne Jr. made it 4 wins in 6 starts claiming the 20 lap Panther Frameworx Crate Sprint car feature last week. Verne came from 9th on the grid and took the lead from Adam Turner on lap 5 and pulled away to nearly a 4 second lead at the checkered flag for his 22nd win in the division at Can Am, the most all time. Former Sportsman track champion Josh VanBrocklin crossed in second with Ken Klinkowsky turning in another solid run finishing third.

Jock Symonds has been hard to beat in the Sundance Leisure Thundercars and on this night it was no different. Symonds took the top spot early in the 15 lap event, however Kevin Greenfield made it tough in the closing laps. The veteran Symonds was not phased and would march on to his 5th win of the year and 4th in a row. Greenfield came across in 2nd with Jared Gilson finishing 3rd.

Mike Durham has had plenty of success at Can Am in the Thundercar ranks but in the last three weeks has the Donath Motorworx Limited Sportsman set up dialed in. The veteran notched his 2nd career Limited Sportsman win in the last three outings on Friday night and held off a determined Mason Rogers to do it. Brianna Murtaugh also ran strong coming home third at the checkers.

Things to keep your eye on this week:

-In the Whitesboro Plowshop DIRTCar 358 Modifieds Billy Dunn will look to make more history as he goes for his record breaking 74th career Modified win at Can Am. The win would give him possession of the top of the all time win list over 10 time track champion and Hall of Famer Pat O’Brien.

-Different winners in the Bob Johnson Auto Group DIRTCar Sportsman. Will we see another different winner or maybe someone following in the foot steps of Frank Sibley and claiming their first ever win. All this and more will be answered on Fan Appreciation Night this Friday.

-Josh Verne Jr. continues to add to his legacy in the Panther Frameworx Crate Sprint Car division. Verne scored his 22nd career win in the 52nd race ever held for the lass last week. For those keeping track, that’s a winning percentage of 42%. The class continues to grow which means more drivers will look to drop that win percentage this weekend. 

-Symonds half way to the record! Following his 5th win of the season and 4th in a row last Friday in the Sundance Leisure Thundercars, Jock Symonds is closing in on the consecutive win record currently held by Phil Desormeau III at 8 in a row, set in 2015. Symonds will have so tough customers trying to deny him that record with Kevin Greenfield, Jared Gilson and a host of others looking to get to victory lane on Friday.

-Can Durham keep it rolling? Mike Durham has quickly become one of the drivers to beat in the Donath Motorworx Limited Sportsman with now two wins in the last three weeks, where he beat one of the best in young Mason Rogers to get the job done. Durham will go for his third of the year on Friday with a host of others looking for a win as well.

This week it will be Fan Appreciation Night at the speedway with all five divisions ready to roll at 7pm.

To keep up with what is happening at Can Am Speedway in 2026 stay tuned to our website at racecanam.com. Also give us a follow on our Facebook page and be sure to follow us on My Race Pass for the live timing and scoring at all events. Can Am events will be broadcast weekly on Dirt Track Digest TV.