MLA Racing #44, Thunder Bay, ON (2026)

10/03/2026

13th Annual Thunder Bay Truck Centre / Peterbilt Fort Frances, Dryden, Longlac Dirt Track Nationals

Firstly I would like to thank Dave and his team for their efforts in putting on this amazing event.

Sept. 25, 2026
Heat - 2nd -> 5th
B-Main - 3rd -> 1st🥇
Feature - 19th -> 20th

Sept. 26, 2026
Heat - 3rd -> 5th
B-Main - 4th -> 4th

As you can tell by the pictures this wraps the season for 2026! We had a great year and great last race at Thunder City this past weekend. We are trying to act fast this year so that we aren't rushing as much in previous years. Anyways lets go over the weekend!

Friday we started out with a great show. Got out to first quickly but a bobble on the next couple laps had us back to 3rd. Made my way back to second with a run for first and got caught trying to hard. Spun and sent to the back. Was able to make a couple cars back in to laps to finish 5th. Started 3rd in the B with some tough people in front. Kept the car low a smooth and pulled of a 1st place finish in the B. Having come from the B with started close to the back. Track had room to move in every lane and got myself to the middle of the pack before another mistake in trying to hard sent me to the back. Made a few more spots while being cautious for a finish in 20th. With more than 50 cars I'm happy with getting into the feature.

Saturday the track dried out real good with no real lines to run. Unfortunately had a stacked heat and ran the best we could with conditions leaving us 5th. B-Main was no different and just played follow the leader. Couldn't get the big show done but happy we got to put the car away without real damage.

Already making big plans for next year!

As always, a big shout out to all my sponsors. Without all your help we wouldn't be getting around the track like we do!

Selectomatic Games
Thunder Bay Truck Centre / Peterbilt Fort Frances, Dryden, Longlac
Lost Art
Superior Screen Printing
Diamond Dave
Recreation World RV
Garden Lake Timber
Sound Hearing Inc.
Del Carpenter Equipment Services
Alloy Technical Welding Services
Thunder Bay Insulations Limited
Grace Place Thunder Bay
JJ's Family Restaurant

09/21/2026

Sept. 10, 2026
Heat - 2nd -> 4th
Feature - 14th -> 12th

Sept. 11, 2026
Heat - 8th -> 6th
Feature - 16th -> 18th

Sept. 12, 2026
Heat - 3rd -> 3rd
Feature - 13th -> 19th
Special Show - 2nd -> DNF

First a shoutout to a couple people that got me onto the track;

Martins Machinery
The Reeds
Glen Brown
Carl Muller

We strolled into the track Thursday with time to spare. Was doing our final checks when we discovered a car wrecking break in the frame. Running around finding a welder, generator, someone to weld, and material to weld, we are all able to get it together just before hot laps. Got the car out and some changes which helped but still wasn't quite there. Made some more and got it dialed in. Lost a couple spots in the heat but still managed a feature spot. Ran it up two more spots finishing 12th.

Friday night we held it together for our heat. With out typical high draw, we were able to run down a few cars getting us back to the A with no B-Main in sight. As the night went along the track got more slick. Found some traction right down low but a tough battle for position left me cutting the grass and spinning. Sent to the back but wheeled it back to 18th.

Saturday night was like ice. Lost a couple spots in the first few laps but ended up getting them back by the end for a spot in the A. Was making some headway but got caught in someone else spin. We were able to finish the race but got very cautious and fell back. (Still managed to keep it out of last). The last race of the night was the Canadian Special. Even with the damage we got it good enough to run. Started outside pole but fell back a few spots and ended up with a car in our rear end giving us a flat. Pulled it off as to not inflict anymore damage.

Overall, it was a good weekend! We'll have her back and ready for the invitationals!

Selectomatic Games
Thunder Bay Truck Centre / Peterbilt Fort Frances, Dryden, Longlac
Lost Art
Superior Screen Printing
Diamond Dave
Recreation World RV
Garden Lake Timber
Sound Hearing Inc.
Del Carpenter Equipment Services
Alloy Technical Welding Services
Thunder Bay Insulations Limited
Grace Place Thunder Bay
JJ's Family Restaurant

09/04/2026

August 26, 2026
💊- 3
⛈ - Rained out

August 27, 2016
💊- 56
🔥- 4th -> 2nd
🏁- 1st -> 7th

I would like to firstly thank the sponsors of our team. Without their help, there is no way I would be able to get on the track. It was great seeing the Selectomatic Games Team and the Diamond Blades team at the track!

I don't think I could have asked for a better season finale. We have crossed off another first at the track. Not only finishing with our first top 10 at our home track with a total of 34 cars but in the feature I lead for a total of 7 laps and held 2nd for another 3 after.

Ill start with the heat. With a worse draw than the rainout day we started middle of the pack. I was able to make a quick dash for second and kept it up to finish the race. We had a terrible miss at low rpm and thought it had to do with the carb so had it switched out before the big show. (Spoiler - it wasn't a carb issue)

With an awesome redraw we started pole in the show. With a good start I was able to hold onto first for 7 laps. With a few cautions, (that definitely didn't help) I think we had our tires glaze over and the car started to tighten up. Made a few mistakes causing us to fall back a few spots but overall ended 7th with our first top ten at home.

Got to working on the so thought carb issue this week only to find two pushrods shot through our rockers. Thankfully we got some great wrenchers behind the team and got it back up and running for our trip down to Superior for Northern Nationals. Would have been nice to have all 8 cylinders for last race at home but at least they should all be good for down south.

We will see everyone at Superior next week, our invitationals for the 24-26 AND maybe one more show down in emo 👀
Selectomatic Games
Thunder Bay Truck Centre / Peterbilt Fort Frances, Dryden, Longlac
Lost Art
Superior Screen Printing
Diamond Dave
Recreation World RV
Garden Lake Timber
Sound Hearing Inc.
Del Carpenter Equipment Services
Alloy Technical Welding Services
Thunder Bay Insulations Limited
Grace Place Thunder Bay
JJ's Family Restaurant

08/25/2026

This year has been crazy busy like most but I need your opinions! The past two years I have been unable to find time to edit my in car videos as I have done in the past. So I have a couple options;

1. Wait to post until I find time 💖
2. Post the raw footage 💙

If I wait until I find time, I will post the videos to Youtube and do a small post saying when they are up. If I post raw footage would you rather me still post to Youtube or keep it on Facebook?

Heart is Wait
Like is Raw Footage

08/24/2026

August 19, 2026
💊 - 1
🔥Heat -> 1st - 1st
🏁Feature -> 6th - 17th

Well a good start for our home track. With a pill of 1 we started out front in the first heat. Little bit of tack had our car hooked up and pull away right from the start and finished with out first home town heat win! Could have had a better redraw than 6 but we'll try again. The evening brough the crapshoot. Caution after Caution, carnage upon carnage. Not sure what was happening the rest of the night but seems like something was against us. Lost a few spots of the hop as I couldn't get the car down low where we like it but after every single caution, I kept getting pushed back 1-3 spots (not sure how that happens). With the second fastest time of the night I know we didn't finish were we should have. Will regroup for the Season Championship Night

Thanks for all the sponsors that keep us moving!

Selectomatic Games
Thunder Bay Truck Centre / Peterbilt Fort Frances, Dryden, Longlac
Lost Art
Superior Screen Printing
Diamond Dave
Recreation World RV
Garden Lake Timber
Sound Hearing Inc.
Del Carpenter Equipment Services
Alloy Technical Welding Services
Thunder Bay Insulations Limited
Grace Place Thunder Bay
JJ's Family Restaurant

08/17/2026

August 14, 2026

💊 - 4
🔥Heat -> 1st - 1st
🏁Feature -> 3rd - 6th

This weekend had a lot of firsts! We took the trip down to Emo for their Fall Fair and it did not disappoint. This was our first out of town race. With a pill draw of 4 we started pole in the first heat. Had to make a decision quick as to where to run and happily made the right choice. Held first the whole race and finished with my first ever heat win! Redraw we ended up drawing 3rd with some big names in front and also right behind. Missed the mark a little on the first few laps and fell back a couple spots. Figured out where to run and was making a battle back for 5th but ran out of laps. With a top our first top 10 finish I can say Emo was a success. With Saturday being a rain out we decided to drive back home early as we had commitments for Sunday's rain date. We will try to get back here for more racing. As typical we got some right quarter panel work but otherwise back in the trailer clean!

Another shout out to the Stieh's for some helpful advice at the track and also to Scott Gregory for Friday night corndogs!

Selectomatic Games
Thunder Bay Truck Centre / Peterbilt Fort Frances, Dryden, Longlac
Lost Art
Superior Screen Printing
Diamond Dave
Recreation World RV
Garden Lake Timber
Sound Hearing Inc.
Del Carpenter Equipment Services
Alloy Technical Welding Services
Thunder Bay Insulations Limited
Grace Place Thunder Bay
JJ's Family Restaurant

08/14/2026

Unloaded and ready! Drew 4 so lets see if we can make some movement on the track and stay upfront. New track so I’ll have to learn quick!

08/14/2026

*Last two week update*

August 5, 2026
💊 - 29
🔥Heat -> 3rd - 3rd
🏁Feature -> 12th - 20th

August 12, 2026
💊 - 29
🔥Heat -> 3rd - 5th
🏁Feature -> ⛈

August 13, 2026
💊 - 84
🔥Heat -> 7th - 5th
🏁Feature -> 20th - 19th

Last week we had a decent pull. Started 3rd and was able to keep it till the end. Passed 2 and then another 2 passed back 🤷‍♂️ Was running good in the feature fighting for a top 10 when got hit and spun. And yet again somehow got sent to the back 🤔 Didnt fight it (should have fought it) and on restart huge pile up wrecking the front end pretty good. Was able to keep going to at least finish the race.

Another decent draw Wednesday but made some mistakes and dropped back to 5th. Still a transfer but ended the night with rain. Thursday draw was a little farther back but started 7th and made it to 5th. Strong battle with Craig for 4th. Started feature at the back but was wheeling it around. Got up to 16th with room for more when a pile up in front had us spin and wreck some tin. Made a mistake near the end and had a few cars get by.

Headed off to Emo today for our first out of town race at the fall faire!

P.S. I'm getting tired of fixing the RR Quarter panel 😩

Thanks again to all the sponsors that allow us to keep going!

Selectomatic Games
Lost Art
Thunder Bay Truck Centre / Peterbilt Fort Frances, Dryden, Longlac
Superior Screen Printing
Diamond Dave
Recreation World RV
Garden Lake Timber
Sound Hearing Inc.
Del Carpenter Equipment Services
Alloy Technical Welding Services
Thunder Bay Insulations Limited
Grace Place Thunder Bay
JJ's Family Restaurant

07/31/2026

July 29, 2026

💊 - 62
🔥Heat -> 6th - 4th
🏁Feature -> 13th - 12th

Another week, another race day! Our typical pill draw popped its head back for this week. Starting 6th we had a bit of work to get up where we wanted to be. Came in way too hot in 3 and 4 and was unable to stop from sliding up into the 267. Put to the back of the pack but yet again made my way up to 4th for a decent transfer spot to the A. Starting 13th we fell back a spot but at the end of the race we got it back and more. Was a tough race trying for our first top 10 but fell a touch short. Car went into the trailer will minimal work which leaves some time for tweaks. See everyone next week!

📸Dennis Orr

Thanks to all the sponsors that keep us going around the track every week.

Selectomatic Games
Lost Art
Thunder Bay Truck Centre / Peterbilt Fort Frances, Dryden, Longlac
Superior Screen Printing
Diamond Dave
Recreation World RV
Garden Lake Timber
Sound Hearing Inc.
Del Carpenter Equipment Services
Alloy Technical Welding Services
Thunder Bay Insulations Limited

07/25/2026

July 22, 2026 - Richard Schutte Double Deuce Tribute Night

💊 - 33
🔥Heat -> 4th - 3rd
🏁Feature -> 11th - 23rd (DNF)

Firstly I would like to thank the Schutte family for all their effort and generosity for this sport. A crisp $100 to all the drivers was an amazing gesture and all the other things they did for us. The supper from Forks was an awesome touch also!

Ill be happy if we keep pulling numbers like these! Not up front just to fall back and just far enough back that we got some room to make up space. Starting 4th we made a quick 2 passes but also had a car sneak in. Kept 3rd the rest of the race for a podium heat finish. Started the feature 11th right behind the Mitchell Racing boy. Just for fun we had to give him a love tap in staging ❤️ Matt paved a way for us straight up to 9th. Unfortunately a few cautions came up and started the outside. Lost a few spots as I wasn't able to make back to the bottom line where we like it. About half way through the unexpected happened. Started to get drenched in antifreeze, looked at our temps, instantly killed the engine and pull in. Lost a fan blade at some point and the vibrations shook the waterpump off. Quick end to the night but at least we know the car can move up the pack!

Hopefully a quick fix and back out next week!

Thanks to all the sponsors that keep us going around the track every week.

Selectomatic Games
Lost Art
Thunder Bay Truck Centre / Peterbilt Fort Frances, Dryden, Longlac
Superior Screen Printing
Diamond Dave
Recreation World RV
Garden Lake Timber
Sound Hearing Inc.
Del Carpenter Equipment Services
Alloy Technical Welding Services
Thunder Bay Insulations Limited❤️

MLA Racing #44

10/03/2026

09/21/2026

09/04/2026

08/25/2026

08/24/2026

08/17/2026

08/14/2026

08/14/2026

07/31/2026

07/25/2026

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