Race of Champions

CODY MCPHERSON AND DYLAN KIRKLAND SPLIT APPLEFEST SHOOTOUT WEEKEND AT BRIGHTON SPEEDWAY

9/29/2025

Race of Champions

CODY MCPHERSON AND DYLAN KIRKLAND SPLIT APPLEFEST SHOOTOUT WEEKEND AT BRIGHTON SPEEDWAY

– McPherson Secures First Race of Champions Series Crown –

Cody McPherson (St. Catherines, Ont.) and Dylan Kirkland (Maitland, Ont.) each found victory lane during the annual AppleFest Shootout Weekend at Brighton Speedway. McPherson opened the weekend with his third consecutive Race of Champions 602 Dirt Sportsman Modified Series win on “Apple Eve,” while Kirkland closed it out on

Saturday night with his first career Race of Champions and AppleFest Shootout triumph.

McPherson, who started third in Friday’s Apple Eve feature, took control just before halfway and never looked back, securing the victory and clinching his first Race of Champions Series championship.

Friday Results (Apple Eve):

Winner: Cody McPherson (St. Catherines, Ont.)
2nd – Matt Barbour (Brockville, Ont.)
3rd – Bobby Herrington (Elginburg, Ont.)
4th – Tyler Puchalski (Port Colborne, Ont.)
5th – Nigel Pendykoski (Niagara Falls, Ont.)
Qualifying Races: Justin Desrosiers (Cornwall, Ont.), McPherson, Kraig Handley (Picton, Ont.), Barbour, Kirkland.
B-Mains: Jordan Wood (Mallorytown, Ont.), Dylan Moore (Elgin, Ont.).

On Saturday night, Kirkland outdueled McPherson in the closing laps to score a breakthrough victory. The win marked his first with the Race of Champions 602 Dirt Sportsman Modified Series and his first AppleFest Shootout triumph.

Saturday Results (AppleFest Shootout):

Winner: Dylan Kirkland (Maitland, Ont.)
2nd – Cody McPherson (St. Catherines, Ont.)
3rd – Bobby Herrington (Elginburg, Ont.)
4th – Fire Swamp (Akwesasne, N.Y.)
5th – Brennan Moore (Elgin, Ont.)

Qualifying Races: McPherson, Puchalski, Handley, Dan Ferguson (Bloomfield, Ont.), Brad Rouse (Port Colborne, Ont.).
B-Mains: David Andre (Long Sault, Ont.), Matteo Panunte (Port Colborne, Ont.).

NEXT EVENT

The Race of Champions “Family of Series” returns to action this Saturday, October 5, with the Fall Shootout at The Bullring – Wyoming County International Speedway in Perry, N.Y.

Full unofficial results and more at:
Apples Eve @ Brighton Speedway / www.rocmodifiedseries.com/schedules/event/580323

Applefest @ Brighton Speedway / www.rocmodifiedseries.com/schedules/event/580326

The Race of Champions is a premier sanctioning body for Modified and Stock Car racing on both asphalt and dirt surfaces throughout the Northeast, with events across New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Its primary marketing partners include Sunoco Race Fuels, Hoosier Racing Tire, Racing America, Airport Collision, Rocket Performance, Waddell Communications, Image X Design, Sherwood Racing Wheels, DirtTrackDigest.com, and Speed Sport. The 75th Annual Race of Champions Weekend will take place later this year, continuing its tradition as the second-longest-running auto racing event in North America—second only to the Indianapolis 500.

For more information, contact;

Race of Champions Media at media@rocmodifiedseries.com