9/4/2025
Can-Am Speedway
Showdown in September: Legends Remembered, Champions Made at Can-Am
It’s a weekend we have all anticipated, which also means the 51st season at Can Am Speedway is drawing to a close. The Showdown in September kicks off two days of action packed racing, with some major events set to take to the speedway.
Friday night the Super DIRTcar Series takes to the track with plenty on the line for both the series regulars and our own track regulars. Last season Mat Williamson took advantage of a rare mistake by four time track champion Tim Fuller, to score the win in the R.D Hutchinson Memorial 67. The defending series champion will be back in action ready to try again. Williamson has 26 wins in 2025 including one at the Nasty Track of the North in early August. Series regulars Matt Sheppard, Alex Yankowski, Erick Rudolph, Tim Sears Jr., Felix Roy and a host of others will be on hand, but will have to contend with our own track regulars who will be tough to beat.
Now crowned 7 time track champion Billy Dunn will lead the list of local drivers who will challenge the Big Block regulars. Tim Fuller, Lance Willix, last weeks winner Shaun Shaw and Ryan Bartlett will be among the many drivers looking to take the win. All have multiple wins at Can Am in 2025 and will look to end the season with a Super DIRTcar Series triumph.
Also on Friday night’s race program will be the DIRTcar Sportsman Championship Series and all eyes will be on our newly crowned Bob Johnson Auto Group DIRTcar Sportsman Champion Gavin Eisele, who is also the tour points leader. Eisele won a Central Regional race at Weedsport plus the Championship opener at Glen Ridge. Canadian drivers such as Cornwall and Mohawk Track Champions Tristan Ladouceur and Shane Pecore, along with track regular Jessica Power, will be one of the many challenging for the win. Three time winner Richard Murtaugh will also be a part of the action with 4 time track champion Tyler Corcoran also in the top 10 in series points. Last season Eric Nier upset the field as he took the lead from Murtaugh and then edged out Shane Pecore on the final lap by the narrowest of margins for his first series win, after winning his first career race the week prior.
The Panther Frameworx Crate Sprints will be in action with a very competitive field expected for their final event of the year. All drivers will be chasing Josh Verne Jr., who’s had an incredible season with 12 wins between Brockville and Can Am, along with both track championships in 2025.
Saturday night the Bob Johnson Auto Group DIRTcar Sportsman division will be back in action, but will honor one of the greats, to ever call a race at Can Am and in the Northeast. The Late John Burr had those classic calls that brought Can Am fans to their feet every week. “This is what ya come to see Can Am!”, “These drivers are horsepower hungry tonight!” and “We Gotta Green Can Am Here We Go!”, were just some of his legendary calls in his career. The 7th annual John Burr Memorial is one event all drivers want to win, with Tyler Corcoran winning three of the previous six events. Lafargeville New York’s Dave Rogers won the most recent event in 2023 after a spirited battle with Jessica Power in the closing stages. A big field is expected, after last year’s event was claimed by Mother Nature.
Saturday’s card also features another racing legend who will be honored in the Sundance Leisure Thundercar class. Ron White was one of the best in local Modified racing. White claimed several feature wins at many tracks in Canada and the United States, including a win at Can Am on June 4th of 1977. White also brought the same intensity to the promotion side of the racing world, running tracks across the region with plenty of success. White was well respected in the Northeast and will be honored during the 10th annual Ron White Memorial, which will draw a great turn out for Saturday. Over the years only two drivers have won the event twice, Matt Zira in 2017 and 2018 and Joe Orvis, who won in 2014 and again in 2022. 8 time winner Corey Valade and Francis White are without a Ron White Memorial trophy and will be the many looking for their first. Over the years Josh Verne Sr, Matt Zira and Francis White lead all drivers with 4 career top 5 runs with Verne leading all drivers with 6 top 10 finishes in 8 events. 2025 track Champion Tony Frezzo will look for his second, after winning the event in 2021, his first track title year.
Saturday’s card will also welcome the third and final appearance for the Empire Super Sprints, with plenty of stars on hand, looking to win the 55th ever stop for the tour at Can Am since 1987. Dylan Swernik and Shawn Donath won the prior two events held this season and with many talented drivers expected to be on hand, a third different winner this year, is very much a possibility.
Be sure to give the track a follow on our Facebook page and don’t forget to add us to your favorites on My Race Pass to get all the up-to-date results, alerts and media releases at the speedway. To check out everything that’s going on all season long check out our website at racecanam.com. Can’t make it to the track? All the racing action will be broadcast live on Dirtvision Friday night and Dirt Track Digest TV on Saturday.
Article Credit: Tim Baltz
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