If the recent sprint car finale was any indication, fans are in for a treat every time these speedy cars do battle at Western Speedway.
Jeff Montgomery took the checkered flag in Saturday's 30-lap feature race, but had Jeff Bird and Duane Zeinstra hard on his tail at the end. Montgomery managed a slim victory over the latter two drivers, who roared across the line in second and third less than one second after the winner.
The next six drivers, led by a tightly bunched Shane Woolcock, Mike Haslam and Mark Stuart in fourth through sixth spots, were not far back. At the finish, an amazing eight of the 15 starting drivers were still on the lead lap.
Bird led the pack in qualifying with a lap time of 16.160 seconds, which was bettered by himself, Montgomery and Zeinstra at various times in the main event.
Other sprint car event winners included Ryan Orchard in the trophy dash, Woolcock in the first heat race and Deter Lejeune in the second.
The stock car division saw Kevin Knight capture the 30-lap feature main, ahead of Dave Reside and Chris McInerney, while Jim Steen and Wayne Hart were a ways back in fourth and fifth, respectively.
Kyle Cottam won the heat race and had the fast time of 18.576 seconds, while McInerney collected the trophy dash win.
In mini stocks, Ryan Patterson won the 20-lap main ahead of Sean Constantine, Alex Mouner and Jeremy Waske. Mouner won the trophy dash and heat race and Constantine had fast time (18.814).
Stewart Lee had a solid night among the dwarf car racers, winning the main event ahead of Brandon French, Tovay Helgesen and Miles Maxie, in order, and capturing the heat race and fast time (17.951). Maxie won the trophy dash.
In the 25-lap main for the Old-Time Racers Association, winner Geoff Morris enjoyed a four-second advantage at the end over second-place finisher Joe Dardengo, who came in ahead of Jim Miller and George Jenson. Jenson recorded the fast time (18.447) and won the trophy dash, while heat race winners were Daryl Simpson in the first and Dardengo in the second.
This Saturday's card (May 9) sees the bombers, demo cars and trucks, mini figure 8s and a total destruction. It's also military appreciation night, where active and retired personnel with valid ID get in free. Gates open at 4:30 p.m., with qualifying at 5:30 and racing at 6:30.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com