2026 Delaware Speedway - Mini Stock Invitational

The popular Mini Stock category provides new drivers with an opportunity to participate in an entry-level stock car class. Rules are written to keep costs to a minimum.

The Mini Stock division is open to any 2010 and older approved 4-cylinder automobile having an engine no larger than 2500cc. The cars may be front or rear-wheel drive. Rules prohibit convertibles, 4-wheel drives, trucks, BMW, Audi, Saab turbo, V-Tec, supercharged or rotary engines. Also, excluded are mid or rear-engine vehicles. The weight of the cars is determined by the engine displacement and cylinder head design.

The body must retain its stock appearance - no chopping, channeling or sectioning is allowed.

Safety is a major concern in this division. Mini Stocks are fitted with a roll cage, fuel cell, five-point quick-release belts (shoulder and lap), aluminum racing seat and a window net.

Some of the makes and models typically raced by competitors include the Ford Mustang, Nissan 240SX, Acura Integra, Honda Civic and Pontiac Sunfire.

For the second consecutive year, Delaware Speedway hosted the Mini Stock Invitational, which attracted twenty-five competitors from across Ontario. Drivers competed in a thirty-five-lap contest around the half-mile semi-banked asphalt oval.

Twenty-five Mini Stock competitors lined up on Delaware Speedway’s back straight for the track’s Mini Stock Invitational. After the ten-car inversion, the No. 23D ARM Technologies Dodge Neon driven by Jason D'Antimo started on the pole. Beside D’Antimo is Delaware Bone Stock driver, Gary Tiska in the No. 26 Rick's Heating & Cooling Pontiac Sunfire. The second row includes the Acura Integra of Matt Young and Chris Cunnigton driving a Ford Mustang.

Last year’s winner, Doug Butler, delivered the same results. However, at the 2025 Mini Stock Invitational, he started second in the No. 10 Highway 90 / Nissan 240SX; this season there was a ten-car invert. As luck would have it, Butler was gridded tenth. He advanced rapidly and by lap 13 caught the leaders but had to contend with Chris Cunnington and Jacob Sutcliffe. After disposing of these two competitors, Butler secured first place and victory.

Former Flamboro Speedway Mini Stock track champion, Shawn Taylor, also returned for the Delaware Speedway Invitational. Last year, Taylor started on the pole and finished second to Doug Butler. This season, he qualified second fastest and started ninth. By about lap 10, Taylor was passed by Butler. He followed the leader as they moved through the field. Once again Taylor finished in the runner-up spot, 1.580 seconds behind Butler.

Another Mini Stock track champion returning to this year’s Invitational was Sunset Speedway’s Jacob Sutcliffe. Sutcliffe, who drives the No. 27 Auto Tech Service Center, finished fourth at last year’s event. This season, he was fifth-fastest after group qualifying and started in sixth position. Sutcliffe moved to the lead early and battled with Chris Cunnington before losing places to the eventual winner Doug Butler and Shawn Taylor. He finished third.

Mike Thomson is a Flamboro Speedway regular who owns a Mini Stock title. The driver of the No. 16 Al Borgo Estates Winery Ford Mustang has a couple of victories this season and is third in the points standings. Thomson recorded the third fastest time during the session and was gridded in the eighth spot. He advanced during the thirty-five-lap contest but could not match the pace of Doug Butler and Shawn Taylor, finishing fourth.

Matt Young drives the No. 7 Blue Streak Contracting Acura Integra. Young is a busy man and is the points leader in Flamboro Speedway’s Mini Stock and Pure Stock divisions. He competed in last season's Delaware Invitational and finished sixth after starting eighth. This year, Young lined up third after qualifying eighth fastest. Early in the contest, he fell to eighth place but then began his charge forward and crossed the finish line in fifth place.

Nathan Rhea drives the No. 26BT Rick's Heating & Cooling Pontiac Sunfire in this year’s Liftow Bone Stock Series at Delaware. However, Gary Triska piloted the Pontiac at the Mini Stock Invitational. Some changes were made to improve the car’s performance, which would make it illegal in the Bone Stock division. Triska started on the outside of the front row and led a couple of laps before being passed by the Mini Stock prepared cars. He finished sixth.

Doug Butler used to be a regular at Sunset Speedway, but now he competes in selected events. His most significant victory came in 2019 at Jukasa Motor Speedway when he beat a field of thirty-four Mini Stock competitors to claim the $2,200 payday. In addition to winning last year's Delaware Speedway Mini Stock Invitational, Butler took the honours in the prestigious Autumn Colours at Peterborough Speedway.

FINISH	START	DRIVER	SPONSOR / CAR	LAPS
1	10	Doug Butler	Highway 90 / Nissan 240SX	35
2	9	Shawn Taylor	GM Electric / Nissan 240SX	35
3	6	Jacob Sutcliffe	Auto Tech Service Center / Ford Mustang	35
4	8	Mike Thomson	Al Borgo Estates Winery / Ford Mustang	35
5	3	Matt Young	McGinty Toman Electric / Acura Integra	35
6	2	Gary Triska	Rick's Heating & Cooling / Pontiac Sunfire	35
7	1	Jason D'Antimo	ARM Technologies / Dodge Neon	36
8	12	Paul Fothergill	BT / Pontiac Sunfire	35
9	15	Michael Verberne	Brown Auto Service / Pontiac Sunfire	35
10	13	Andrew Smith	Countryside Contracting / Nissan 240SX	35
11	17	Len Sterritt	Dixie Dairy Bar & Tackle Shop / Chevrolet Cobalt	34
12	16	Chris Pinder	Pinder Construction / Mazda 3	34
13	19	Joe Kicks	Wonder / Chevrolet Cobalt	31
14	24	Nathan Dettwiler	- / Ford Escort ZX2	20
15	7	Wyatt Sutcliffe	Auto Tech Service Center / Ford Mustang	19
16	11	Teegan Stanley	KD Contracting / Honda Civic	19
17	4	Chris Cunnington	HWY 400 Transmissions / Ford Mustang	19
18	22	Peyton Lewis	BEXTERIORS / Ford Mustang	16
19	5	Kent Missions	Taunton Tire / Honda Prelude	14
20	25	Mark Lamont	- / Pontiac Sunfire	7
21	23	Chad Proulx	Newby's Towing / Scion ION	6
22	14	Matt McGrath	SKLD Motorsports / Acura Integra	0
23	18	Curtis Burnett	KC Automotive / Ford Mustang	0
24	20	Austyn Jennett	SKLD Motorsports / Acura Integra	0
25	21	Matt Tallman	Kal Tire / Pontiac G5	0