The Ontario Sportsman Series officially kicked off its season Friday night with the Gladiator 100 presented by Mccoll Racing Enterprises, and despite an incredibly difficult start to the evening, the racing community once again showed what it means to come together.
Just prior to the start of the event, our Race Director, Adam Martin, suffered a medical emergency and was unable to continue his duties. The medical staff at Delaware Speedway responded immediately, providing outstanding care and safely transferring Adam to the hospital. We are incredibly thankful to report that Adam was conscious and awake, and thanks to the quick actions of the Delaware Speedway team, he is expected to make a full recovery.
While emotions were understandably high throughout the night, the staff at Delaware Speedway stepped up in a major way to help us keep the program moving forward and ensure the event could be completed safely. Once the green flag dropped, fans were treated to an outstanding battle at the front of the field as Connor James, Jade Franklin, and Brendan Patrick traded the lead multiple times in an intense fight for victory. As promised before the event, caution laps began counting after the third caution period, adding even more pressure and strategy as the laps wound down and the drivers fought to position themselves for the final sprint to the finish. In the end, Shawn Mcglynn snagged third place with Jade Franklin in second, and you guessed it, Connor James narrowly taking first place.
We want to extend a huge thank you to McColl Racing Enterprises for their support of the Gladiator 100. Their team was excited to be part of the event and even provided complimentary hats for all of the drivers, a gesture that was greatly appreciated throughout the pit area. Events like this would not be possible without partners like McColl Racing Enterprises, and we are truly grateful for their support. Our friends at InstantBond we’re also in the stands and you’ll see more from them in 2026.
Importantly, we want to once again thank the entire Delaware Speedway staff for taking care of our friend and family member Adam Martin while also helping us complete the show under difficult circumstances.
We appreciate everyone who attended and supported the opener, and we’re already looking ahead to our next stop at Full Throttle Motor Speedway in two weeks. We’ll see you there!