By Western Speedway
Western
Speedway will host its first two day show of the year this weekend, highlighted
by the running of the Times Colinist Strawberry Cup on Saturday Night. The
action will start Friday Night, as night one will feature the Richlock Rentals
Non Wing Sprint Cars, the IMS4 Mini Stocks and Old Time Racers Association
Vintage Cars. Saturday Night will see
the WILROC Non Wing Sprint Cars will run for the prestigious Strawberry Cup for
the first time ever, the Island Series Stock Cars will be on the card along
with the Mini Stocks and the Old Time Racers.
Campbell
River driver Mark Stewart the current Richlock Rentals WILROC Non Wing Sprint
Car points leader will be looking to extend his early season point lead and win
his third main event win in a row on Friday Night. Stewart leads the point
standings by a very slim three point margin over Shawnigan Lake’s Jeff Bird despite
winning the first two events, Bird has chased Stewart to the checkered in both
features so far this year, as well as having set fast last time out and winning
the fast heat. The next three positions
are separated by only three points, Sidney drivers Rob Scott and Chris Root have
112 and 111 points respectively, with Saanichton’s Paul Verhagen at 110. New drivers expected to be out for the first
time this year and challenge for the wins this weekend include, last year’s
champion Jesse Dardengo, Deter Lejeune, and Lance Wade, winged driver Matt Mansell should be back
in action after running in the Idaho Speedweeks last weekend for Winged Sprint
Cars.
The
Island Series Stock Cars will only run on Saturday Night and leading the way
will be point’s leader Duncan’s Cody Aumen.
Aumen is leading the points with 387, twenty three more than Kyle Cottam
at 364, Cottam picked up his first ever main event win at the last event on May
26th, while Aumen set a new
track record and finished third in the main.
Defending Champion Ryan Wade is in third spot with 324 points and will
be looking to win his first feature of the year, club president Dave Reside sits in third only three
points behind Wade at 321. Rookie driver
Brandon Steen rounds out the top five with 313 points on the strength of his
second place finish at the last race. Other drivers expected to challenge for the
win include former champion Brian Clutchey and Darryl Crocker who debuted his
new car last race.
The
Old Time Racing Association will make their second start of the year on Friday
Night, these beautiful cars from the 30’s and 40’s that resemble the first cars
that raced at Western in the 50’s and 60’s always put on a great show as well
as being very popular with the fans. George
“The Jet’ Jenson will be looking to make it two wins in a row after his victory
at the opening race for the old Timers on May 26th, others expected to fight for the win include,
Tom Cinnamon and two sets of father and son teams, Joe & Stephen Dardengo,
and Roger & Kyle Beck.. Up island drivers slated to compete are Nanaimo’s
Larry Joyce, and Duncan drivers, Rich Bennett and Bob Martin.
The IMS4 Mini Stocks will make their season debut on both Friday and Saturday Nights, drivers expected to contend for the win include last year’s champion Alex Mouner, Matt Szauer, Justin Woodske, Caleb Van Bree, Jeremy Wazzel and Gilles Parenteau.Both Friday and Saturday nights the front gates will open at 4:30 pm, qualifying at 5:30 and racing at 6:30 pm.
The next event at Western Speedway will be Saturday June 16th for O’Dell Slinger Service Night presenting The Keg Late Model Drivers Challenge Twin 50’s along with the Stock Cars, Mini Stocks and Dwarf Cars.
For more information regarding Western Speedway please call (250) 474 2151 or visit our new exciting website at www.westernspeedway.net
Western Speedway is proud to be partnered with so many great partners that include Steve Copp Construction, Richlock Rentals, Waynes’s Trucking, Ali Baba Pizza, Pepsi, Times Colonist, P&R Truck Center, 100.3 the Q, The Keg, Scotty, Lordco Auto Parts, Cash Advantage, Maxam Insurance Services, Wilson & Procter, Alpine Group, Boyd Autobody & Glass, Howie’s Car Corral, Orka Graphiks, Freedom Rent To Own, The Market on Millstream and Yates, Chek News, Vancouver Island Brewery, Western Star, Sooke Disposal, KMS Tools, Willie Dodge Chrysler Jeep, Goldstream News, IslandCarBuyer.com, Hetherington Industries, Steve Draine Harley-Davidson, O’Dell Slinger Service, Westside Instaprint, Westshore Transmissions