Williamson, Tuttle, Welch, Hornquist and Newton Win on Labor Night at Ransomville

COLUMN BY: Steve Petty / RANSOMVILLE SPEEDWAY – RANSOMVILLE, NY  – “Money” Mat Williamson from St. Catharines, Ontario picked up the checkered flag on Friday night in the Krown Undercoating Modifieds, as Ransomville Speedway hosted the 17^th Annual Labor Night at the Races to benefit the United Way of Greater Niagara. A-Verdi Storage Containers presented the racing action.  Cameron Tuttle from Wilson, NY won the Stirling Lubricants DIRTcar Sportsman main event. Mike Welch from Stanley, NY won the KiPo Chevrolet Street Stock feature. Matt Hornquist from Eden, NY won the Sunflowers of Sanborn Mini Stock feature. Lucas Newton from Oakfield, NY won his third J&D Tires and Service Novice Sportsman feature of the season

John Smith and Scott Just led the Krown Undercoating 358 Modifieds to the green flag for their main event, with Smith in the lead ahead of Andrew Smith, Steve Lewis Jr, Brad Rouse, and Ryan Susice. Andrew Smith would take the lead away on lap two, with Steve Lewis Jr racing into second place. Rouse, Susice, and Chad Brachmann were all able to pass John Smith to enter the top five. The Lenco Supply caution would come out on lap seven, as Andy Jankowiak spun in turn three. The restart would see Andrew Smith in the lead as Ryan Susice raced to second. Susice would take the lead on lap eight, as Brachmann took over third place from Lewis. Mat Williamson would take over third place on lap 12, as the lead duo started to pull away. Williamson would reel in Brachmann with 11 laps remaining for second place. Williamson would take the runner up spot away on lap 21. The caution would come out on lap 25 as Steve Lewis Jr spun on the back straightaway, just as the leaders were encountering lap traffic. The restart would see Erick Rudolph challenge Brachmann for third place, as Williamson continued to hound race leader Susice. Williamson would go to the outside of turn four coming to the checkers to score the win, his fourth of the season and 44^thof his Ransomville career, tied for fifth all-time in the division with Hall of Famer Todd Burley.

Brendan Zimmerman and Kyle Teeter brought the Stirling Lubricants DIRTcar Sportsman to the green flag for their feature, with Zimmerman showing the way ahead of Jake Bansmer, Cam Tuttle, Teeter, and Brett Senek. Bansmer would take the lead away early, as Zimmerman continued to hold off Tuttle for the battle for second place. Tyler Foster would take over fourth place, with Brett Senek battling Cody McPherson for fifth. Zimmerman’s strong run would come to an end on lap 14 as the 14-machine slowed on the front straightaway. Bansmer would lead on the restart, with Tuttle drawing to the outside and would go on to pass Bansmer to take over the lead. McPherson and Senek would battle for third place, as Tuttle started to pull away from the field. Tuttle would go on to score the win over McPherson, who had a last corner pass on Bansmer for second place. With the win, Tuttle collected the Bud’s Bounty, earning an extra $50 from Bud’s Apple Pie.

Mike Kelly and Phil Schepis led the KiPo Chevrolet Street Stocks to the green with third place starting Mike Welch taking over the lead. Brandon Sherwood would race his way to second and then would reel in race leader Welch. Sherwood would take over the lead on lap five. The Lenco Supply caution would come out on lap nine as Sherwood slowed entering turn one. Welch would take off in the lead on the restart, with Kelly and Butch Zimmerman battling for second place. Zimmerman would take second away from Kelly on lap 12, as John Zimmerman and Chase Kish reeled in the battle for second place. Welch would go on to score the win, his fourth Ransomville win and first since July of 2025.

Matt Hornquist and Brandon Close brought the Sunflowers of Sanborn Mini Stocks to the green flag for their main event, with  Close and Hornquist battling for the top spot early on, with Hornquist having the lead from his pole position. Ben Hornquist was holding on to third throughout the race, as Jeffrey Wynes and Nathan Vaillancourt raced tight behind. Matt Hornquist would lead from wire to wire to score his second win of the season.

Lucas Newton and Jacob Flynn shared the front row for the J&D Tires and Service Novice Sportsman feature, with Newton taking the lead ahead of Flynn, Christian Soladay, Jayme Just, and Brandon Guyette. Newton would go on to score the win, his third of the season.

Next Friday night, Chris’s Appliance Repair and Erway’s Christmas Tree Adventure presents the annual Kids Poster Contest plus a full card of the Krown Undercoating 358 Modifieds plus the Stirling Lubricants DIRTcar Sportsman, KiPo Chevrolet Street Stocks, Sunflowers of Sanborn Mini Stocks, and the J&D Tires and Service Novice Sportsman. Pit gates will open at 5pm, grandstands open at 6pm, and racing will get underway at 7:15pm.

Then on Tuesday, June 23, Wendts Propane presents the 41^st Ron Martin Summer Nationals featuring the Super DIRTcar Series plus the Mateo Hope Memorial for the Empire Street Stock Series. The night will also feature the Ring of Honor Induction Ceremony of Stan Friesen plus the Niagara Lock & Key Dash for Cash for the Super DIRTcar Series. Pit gates will open at 4:30pm, with grandstands opening at 5pm.

For more information, visit our website at www.ransomvillespeedway.com and follow along on social media.

RACE RESULTS – June 12, 2026 – 17^th Annual Labor Night at the Races  

Krown Undercoating 358 Modifieds: MAT WILLIAMSON, Ryan Susice, Chad Brachmann, Erick Rudolph, Andrew Smith, Brad Rouse, Gary Lindberg, Noah Walker, Austin Susice, John Smith, Scott Just, Kyle Richner, Jessica Kriegisch, Jesse Cotriss, Andy Jankowiak, James Sweeting, Steve Lewis Jr

Qualifying Heats: John Smith, Scott Just

Stirling Lubricants DIRTcar Sportsman: CAMERON TUTTLE, Cody McPherson, Jacob Bansmer, Brett Senek, Derek Wagner, Nigel Pendykoski, Tyler Foster, Austin Seburn, Kyle Teeter, Madyson Rouse, Steve Miller, Brendan Zimmerman, Jesse Truax, Abby Castile, Tyler Moore

Qualifying Heats: Cody McPherson, Cam Tuttle

KiPo Chevrolet Street Stocks: MIKE WELCH, Butch Zimmerman, John Zimmerman, Mike Kelly, Chase Kish, Kenny Zimmerman, Dave Stolzenberg Jr, Ron Richter, Phil Schepis, Joey Zimmerman, Brandon Sherwood, Dave Conant

Qualifying Heat: Mike Kelly

Sunflowers of Sanborn Mini Stocks: MATT HORNQUIST, Brandon Close, Jeffrey Wynes, Ben Hornquist, Nathan Vaillancourt, Ian Paul, Cody Griffin, Salvatore Morreale

Qualifying Heat: Brandon Close

J&D Tires and Service Novice Sportsman: LUCAS NEWTON, Jacob Flynn, Christian Soladay, Jayme Just, Brandon Guyette, Vincent Lewis, Jacklyn Netleton

Qualifying Heat: Brandon Guyette