OMRS: John Baker Jr. Wins At Peterborough

Race time temperatures climbed close to the 30-degree mark as the GEN-3 Electric OMRS SportsMods (Ontario Modifieds Racing Series) made their long anticipated 2025 regular season debut at Peterborough Speedway on Saturday, May 5th.

With John Baker Jr. and Chad Strawn on the front row, teams rolled from the staging area for the 20-lap headliner. At the drop of the green flag, Baker took the early race lead, with Rob Richards using the preferred inside line to work his way into the runner-up spot. He didn’t hold the position long, as Strawn became the new second-place car and set off in pursuit of his rival in the No. 63.

JBJ – a multi-time Super Stock and Modified feature winner at the popular Central Ontario facility – had his foot down as quickly as the pack came to the line and didn’t lift for the entire race distance. He moved out to as much as a 10-car length advantage, with Strawn on his back bumper as the local fan favourite sought to add another checkered flag to his impressive resume.

The leaders started to work through slower traffic with 11 laps on the board, but Baker kept his machine glued to the track’s lower lane. At one point, Strawn got close enough to the leader to get him out of shape but looked at the big picture.

At the checkered flag, Baker Jr. took the win by mere inches over Strawn. Richards, Ethan Thompson, Glenn Morris, Rick Warnes and Garrett Yake completed the running order.

GEN-3 Electric OMRS SportsMods race notes:

• John Baker Jr. and Chad Strawn split wins in the group’s qualifying heats.
• Brad Stevenson was hoping for a strong run in the SMS Racing No. 77 but mechanical issues in practice sidelined his effort.
• OMRS officials announced changes in the posted schedule. The next event on the agenda for the group will be a Saturday, July 19th date at Peterborough Speedway. The marquee Bill Pickford Memorial has been moved to Saturday, August 16th.