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The Steve Slaughter Classic marked the opening weekend for Sunset Speedway's 2025 season.
The bill included Junior Late Models, Mini Stocks, Super Stocks, Pro Late Models and the popular LUDUH Hot Rod division.
In addition to their appearance on the opening night the Hot Rods would compete eleven times at Sunset.
The cars competing in the Sunset championship are constructed to specifications and rules common to most stock car series. What makes the Hot Rod division unique are the makes and models that compete in the division. The cars must be North American, have a steel body and have been produced between 1949 and 1984. No convertibles or front-wheel-drive vehicles can participate in this series. Changes to the rules in the off-season included the addition of pick-up trucks and an increase in the eligible year range from 1974 to 1984. The Hot Rods must have a stock roof, grill, and tail, while the rest of the body panels can be fabricated from 22-gauge sheet steel but must retain a stock appearance. Many other rules governing this class are for safety and to keep the costs down. With the 2025 Struyk Energy Systems Hot Rod series completed and Tyler Hawn declared the champion, Sunset Speedway hosted the final Hot Rod race at ‘The Last Dance’ event. The contest was a fifty-lap contest around the track’s 1/3-mile banked asphalt oval.
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‘The Last Dance’ pace lap for the Hot Rod division at Sunset Speedway. Leading the field of fourteen starters through corner three is the pole-sitter, Nick Holman, in the No. 22X 1968 Chevrolet Camaro. Beside Holman is Paul Bogensberger Sr., driving the No. 8SR 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle. Behind the front row are Tom Walters in the 1965 Rambler Ambassador and the No. 07 1976 Chevrolet Nova driven by Dan Archibald. |
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Former CASCAR and NASCAR Canada competitor Mark Dilley joined the Struyk Energy Systems Hot Rod series last season. Dilley pilots the No. 64 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle. He was entered in the first qualifier at ‘The Last Dance’ event and grabbed the victory. In the feature, Dilley was gridded sixth. By the halfway mark of the race, he was in the lead. However, Dilley had to contend with Tom Walters. He prevailed and collected the win. |
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Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame member Tom Walters drives the No. 47W 1965 Rambler Ambassador. Walters was the 2023 LUDUH Hot Rod champion at Sunset Speedway and finished second this year. He competed in Heat Race 2 and finished as the runner-up. Walters lined up third for the finale. By the midpoint of the contest, he was battling Mark Dilley. The two staged an epic fight with Walters coming up short by a margin of 0.302 seconds. |
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Finishing third at ‘The Last Dance’ Hot Rod event was Mark Gordon. In addition to competing in Sunset Speedway’s Struyk Energy Systems Hot Rod division, Gordon is a regular in Peterborough Speedway’s Super Stock class. The driver of the No. 52 1986 Chevrolet Monte Carlo encountered problems during Heat Race two and was gridded thirteenth for the feature. With the issues resolved for the finale, Gordon charged to the front and finished third. |
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John Gaunt is another driver with experience in the CASCAR and NASCAR Canada series on his racing resume. Gaunt, who competed in the NASCAR championship for four years, finished twelfth in 2007 and 2008. He drove the No. 96 1966 Chevrolet Chevy II at ‘The Last Dance.’ Contact in Heat Race one relegated him to a fifth-place result. Gaunt lined up in the seventh position for the feature and crossed the finish line in fourth place. |
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The winner of ‘The Last Dance’ Hot Rod race, Mark Dilley, is interviewed by Sunset Speedway announcer, Brendan Doherty. Dilley has been the former owner, promoter and race director at Barrie and Sunset Speedways. He is also known as a competitor in CASCAR and NASCAR Canada. During his tenure in NASCAR, Dilley earned three victories, with his best season coming in 2011, when he finished eleventh in the championship. |
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| FINISH | START | DRIVER | CAR | LAPS | RETIREMENTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | Mark Dilley | 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle | 50 | - |
| 2 | 3 | Tom Walters | 1965 Rambler Ambassador | 50 | - |
| 3 | 13 | Mark Gordon | 1986 Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 50 | - |
| 4 | 7 | John Gaunt | 1966 Chevrolet Chevy II | 50 | - |
| 5 | 2 | Paul Bogensberger Sr. | 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle | 50 | - |
| 6 | 9 | Josh Berry | 1968 Chevrolet Chevelle | 49 | - |
| 7 | 1 | Nick Holman | 1968 Chevrolet Camaro | 49 | - |
| 8 | 11 | Luke Gignac | 1964 Dodge Polara | 49 | - |
| 9 | 12 | Jay Cutting | 1964 Ford Falcon | 49 | - |
| 10 | 8 | Jaymee Adams | 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass | 48 | - |
| 11 | 5 | Cory McAllister | 1979 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 | 40 | Did Not Finish |
| 12 | 4 | Dan Archibald | 1976 Chevrolet Nova | 36 | Did Not Finish |
| 13 | 10 | Tanner Holmer | 1967 Chevrolet Camaro SS | 24 | Did Not Finish |
| 14 | 14 | Jason King | 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle | 3 | Did Not Finish |
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