Starting young as a driver at Laird Raceway has been quite common with drivers like Dustin Jackson, Jarritt Varcoe, Daniel Bibeau, Brad Bibeau, and Chase Wilson who have raced their way up behind the wheel of a race car at Laird Raceway. So many of these names in racing here in the Sault Ste Marie and Algoma area were young men and some were not even born with the inception of Laird Raceway.

Sault Ste Marie, Ontario’s Dustin Jackson who is now 22 years old started racing when he was only 10-years-old when he started racing at Laird International Raceway in the summer of 2011. Jackson set a world record for the Youngest stock car driver in 2011, according to World Record Academy (www.worldrecordacademy.com). Now 21and ten years under his belt racing, the Sault Ste Marie driver does double duty most nights at Laird Raceway piloting his #61 Super Late Model along with driving Bart Jarrett’s #27 Modified. In two evenings leading up to July 28th, Jackson has five heat race wins along with winning two Super Late Model features at Laird after two evenings of racing in 2022. Dustin sits first in the standings for the Super Late Model and Modified classes heading into Thursday, July 28th event.

Yes, the “VARCOE” name is tied to racing in Sault Ste Marie, but 26-year-old Jarritt Varcoe races the #67 Factory Stock with only the tie to Donnie Varcoe being that Donnie Varcoe is his uncle and Jarritt races with his own race crew. Jarritt raised a checkered flag in the Thursday Night Thunder with his heat win on July 21st at Laird Raceway. Varcoe has one top five and two top ten finishes entering the big Factory Stock event at Laird on July 28th.

Another well known name in racing in Sault Ste Marie is “WILSON“, 18-year-old Chase Wilson does not race in the shadows of his father the “Steel City Outlaw” George Wilson. Chase has grown up around the track with his father racing throughout the years. Chase jumped behind the wheel of a go-kart in Grand Rapids and worked his way up the racing ranks, now racing in the Super Late Model of the Black and Yellow #77. Chase has been racing for 14 seasons heading into 2022. With getting the right feel behind the wheel of the #77 Super Late Model that was purchased brand new six months ago. Race one of the 2022 season at Laird, Chase was leading the race before getting a flat and in the second race night of the season, Chase had mechanical engine problems. As soon as the Super Late Model is back together, Chase will be in the hunt for the checkered flags at the 1/3 oval at Laird Raceway.

When asked about short track racing, Chase said” I think it’s simply just the competitiveness in me but also the enjoyment and thrill behind the wheel. I love winning and being able to celebrate with a proud and happy crew showing them all the work we have done together has payed off.”

We have a family affair when it comes to the Bibeau family with brothers, Daniel and Brad Bibeau racing week in and week out door to door around the 1/3 oval at Laird Raceway. #8 Daniel sits atop of the Factory Stock division with Brad in ninth after a few engine problems on Thursday, July 21st at Laird. 25 year old Daniel who has been racing since the age of 15 years old where he started as in the Xtreme 4 class at Laird Raceway now has two feature wins this season with two top five and two top ten finishes heading into the Factory Stock Frenzy on Thursday, July 28th.

Daniel told Saultsports.com that the reason why he races “is because there is nothing like stock car racing I love the adrenaline and addiction that comes with it there’s nothing like it, it’s a big family and it’s our family sport and it’s what we love to do together.”

Brad has been racing for 15 years now since the age of 16 at Laird Raceway where he started in a four cylinder before heading into the Factory Stock class.

“I love the rush of driving a car it doesn’t matter how many times you jump behind that wheel; it never gets old! The nice thing about short track racing is that we do it as a family which makes it even more special. my dad, my brother Daniel obviously. Our wives and kids even love coming to watch and help. That makes it even better because without there support it wouldn’t be possible.”

Goulais, Ontario’s Buddy Palahnuk who guides the 26B in the Factory Stock division who is sitting in sixth in the Service Rental Factory Stocks standings only racing the first week of the 2022 season at Laird due to being sick week two of Thursday Night Thunder. The 25 year old Goulais driver has been behind the wheel of a race car since he jumped behind the wheel of a Mustang at the age of 14 years old at Laird Raceway.

Palahnuk said “I got hooked right away at the age of 14 with the adrenaline and being around great people at the track. Jumping behind the wheel the first time was a rush never goes away every time I climb into the Factory Stock 26B.”