2/17/2025
Lake of the Woods Speedway
MacDonald Claims Enduro, Rookie Gagnon Takes Twins Win, Love Dominates SnoX
Lake of the Woods Speedway hosted the 8th Annual StayInKenora100, Vintage Twin Shootout, and the Inaugural Vintage SnoX during the Family Day weekend. While frigid temperatures were on tap, the sun was shining brightly for both days of racing.
Sunday, February 16, 2025 Races
A total of ten entries split into two heats for the Vintage Twins at the beginning of Sunday’s races. Lorne Dubois and Danny Leonard had a back-and-forth battle during their five lap race as both led laps. Dubois moved up high on the last couple laps showing good momentum, but some engine bogging slowed him down through the corners. Leonard claimed the lead back and took the checkered.
In heat two, Taylor Goodfellow started on the preferred inside line, but as he got on the track, there was a noticeable issue with power in the engine. However, he felt he could give it a go. Rookie Ethan Gagnon was quick at the wave of the green flag and claimed the top spot quickly. Rehill finished second.
The feature event had Leonard get the hole shot and the early lead. Dubois moved up high again and kept a close pace behind the leader. They ran side by side for several laps before Dubois started to fall back. Meanwhile, Gagnon was starting to reel them both in. About halfway through the race, Gagnon was now right behind the leader of Leonard. Making a move, he was able to duck by coming out of turn four. Dubois was able to get by Leonard with a handful of laps left.
Congratulations to Ethan Gagnon for his first feature win in his first ever start!
The StayInKenora100 was up next with Jack Strutynski and Tyson Bennett starting on the front row. It didn’t take long until Travis MacDonald and Christopher Leek would be battling side by side at the front. Dubois and Mike Wojtyniak were also near the front early one. Surprisingly, the four-time winner of Dylan Smith was looking slower than usual, and he fell back a couple laps early on.
The first sled to retire was Strutynski who broke down on the outside of turn two, only 12 laps in.
Inches apart from each other, MacDonald and Leek were setting an incredible pace. Dubois and Wojtyniak swapped positions several times. Lap traffic started to play into the battle for the lead a bit with some close calls between the leaders.
Bennett was the next one to retire from the race on lap 48. Leek would take the lead on lap 50 over MacDonald as they continued to battle it out.
Suddenly, Leek pulled up to the top of the track as they were about to complete lap 51. While difficult to see from the stands, it looked as though there was an equipment issue. Two laps went by and Leek pulled into the pits.
At the same time, Dubois would also pull into the pits, ending his race at lap 60.
From that point on, it was all MacDonald. Dylan Smith was able to crawl himself into the second position, having gained two laps back that he lost from Wojtyniak.
Having snapped a chain in his first Enduro at Lake of the Woods Speedway, a blown piston the second year, and crashed out in the third year, MacDonald claimed his first StayInKenora100, snapping the four consecutive wins by Dylan Smith.
Monday, February 17, 2025 Races
On Family Day, the speedway hosted its first ever Vintage SnoX event. A total of 8 sleds registered into two heats and one feature event.
For heat one, Brady Love set an incredible pace, leading all 8 laps. Second place was Brendan Veert and Jonathan Neniska rounding out the top three.
In the second heat, Wyatt Bender claimed the win with Mitchell Moncrief not far behind. Gary Flett rounded out the top three.
Beginning the feature, Love and Neniska got an incredible start as they ramped up their speeds going around turn three and four. It would be Love who would make the pass through the jumps and the early lead. Neniska stayed as close as possible for much of the race with Veert not far behind the top two.
As the race reached halfway, it was looking like a runaway show for Love who continued to run at top clip. Neniska was able to maintain his own space against Veert. Meanwhile, there were good battles with the bottom half of the field. Bender would finish ahead of the back half in fourth.
Love would eventually claim the Win, Neniska and Veert completing podium finishes.
Congratulations to Brady, Ethan, and Travis for their wins!
Thank you to our amazing sponsors, www.stayinkenora.com (Kenora Hospitality Alliance), Pioneer Construction, Joe Neniska & Sons, Veert Landscaping, as well as our incredible volunteers and all the fans that braved the cold!
Next up is the 2025 Home & Leisure Show in Kenora on May 2-3! Stop by our booth and grab a schedule for our stock car races! More information in the co
Article Media
