By Ken Keating
The Demo Cars, Demo Trucks, Bombers, and Mini Figure 8's will be after Championships Saturday night, October 1st, at Western Speedway with the event sponsored by Galaxy Motors. Greg Sagmoen only has a forty-six point advantage over Troy Tarbuck in the Demo Car Series and Sagmoen would like to retire as a Champion as he says he will not return next season. Kevin Knight has a forty-nine point advantage over George Haywood and has driven in many different Series and would love to have a Championship to add to his resume. He has been a force to reckon with since driving a Paul Scotthorne owned Demo Truck winning several Feature events in 2011. Haywood is the defending Champion and would love to have another. The Figure 8 Series has three drivers in the thick of the points battle with Kyle Rizok, Ashton Campbell, and Rhett Szevics separated by only thirty-four points. This one could be interesting between these three drivers. Four drivers are very close in the Bomber Series with last year's Champion, Brandon Steen holding the top spot but has Dennis Stewart, Jamie Morgan, and Aaron Camron all within striking distance as 1st to 4th are separated by sixty-four points. They not only have to race one another but also have to stay over the twenty second lap time while doing so. A DQ in any race could spell disaster if you want to claim a Championship.
The last time here, Chris Stone won the Bomber Trophy Dash, Richard Milne was the winner in the Demo Truck Dash, Troy Tarbuck won the Demo Car Trophy Dash, and Marie Haywood picked up the win in the Figure 8 Series. Milne made three wide racing with Kevin Knight and George Haywood going through turn one in this Dash. This is rare for the Demo Truck Series.
Kail Beck was the winner of the Figure 8 Heat race, Richard Milne picked up another win in the Demo Truck Series Heat race, Greg Sagmoen was the winner in the Demo Car Series Heat, while Chris Broughton and Mark Lockhart were victorious in the Bomber Heat races. The Demo Truck Heat proved costly as Shawn Hansen plowed into the wall on turn three and his night was finished on lap four. Points leader, Kevin Knight also suffered lots of damage along with Paul Scotthorne as these trucks could not come out for Feature event racing.
Kail Beck and Kyle Rizok shared the front row for the start of the Figure 8 Feature event with Rizok getting the lead for the first lap and then lost to Beck for the next three. On lap five, Rizok went back to the lead and held that for two laps when Beck regained that position. Andrew Buchanan moved into the second position with Rory Smith moving into contention two laps later. On lap fourteen, Smith moved into the second position while Rizok, Cam Wilkinson, and Marie Haywood battled behind him. On the last lap, Dan Baluch and Wilkinson collided hard at the crossover while Beck took the chequered flag. Smith and Haywood rounded out the top three positions. Beck said: I really wanted to win this race and winnings will be donated to the Cops For Cancer Tour."
Chris Pollard and Craig Holfeld had the front row for the start of the Demo Car Feature event with Holfeld grabbing the lead very early. On lap five, Marc Parkinson moved into the second position with Bryce Muir taking third. On lap ten, Parkinson took over the lead, a position he would hold for the chequered flag. He was followed by Holfeld and Muir rounding out the top three positions.
Doug Richens had the pole for the start of the Demo Truck Feature event with only four trucks able to make the call. Kenny Baker, George Haywood, and a very fast Richard Milne made the field with Milne looking for a clean sweep. He did not make up too much ground until the final corner when he was able to catch and push Richens around and took the lead and the win. Haywood hung on for second while Richens made the third position.
Eighteen cars lined up for the start of the Bomber Feature with Bill Lushaw and Andy Riddoch on the front row. Just as the Feature was about to begin, rain began to fall and would have an impact on this race. Riddoch got out to the early lead followed by Mark Lockhart and Teresa Johnson. On lap seven, the yellow flag came out as Brian Wakelin lost a wheel and went off the track in a hail of sparks on turn one. On the restart, Chris Broughton got control and went into the lead while Riddoch and Jamie Morgan traded the second position back and forth with Lockhart and Brandon Steen in a tight group as well. On lap twelve, the yellow came out again as Lockhart and Heath Cooper got together sending Lockhart to the pits. Cooper had damage on his car but could continue. On the restart, Broughton got the lead again but now had Steen and Jarrod Sagmoen, driving the #18 car, on his tail. On lap fifteen, Steen dove to the inside of Broughton and made a clean pass for the lead. With the rain still falling, officials dropped the laps to seventeen as Steen drove to the victory followed by Broughton, Sagmoen, Giles Cyr, and Andrew Wilson rounding out the top five positions.
Saturday night also is the last regular race of the 2011 season. We must congratulate each of the Champions in all the Series racing at Western Speedway as they deserve and have earned their respective titles. A heartfelt thank you must be extended to all that help put on a great season of racing at Western Speedway, to all of the many sponsors as, without them, racing would not be without difficulties, and to you, the many fans that support the great sport of auto racing. We look forward to seeing you back for the 2012 race season. Thank you all.
Now Lets Go Racing!!