Lots of Action from Saratoga Speedway!

With 58 cars in the infield, race fans got a full night of racing Saturday night at Saratoga Speedway! Fearless Log Salvage sponsored a night of racing that featured the Bomber cars, Stock cars, Road Runners, Hornets, IMCA Modifieds and the speedway Motorcycles.

With only one race remaining for the Bombers. Stocks and Modifieds and with the point battle in all three very close, the racing was tight and very competitive. After the nights racing very little changed in the point races leaving the last race on September 27th left to decide this seasons champions.

In Bomber car racing point leader Rob Gaudrealt did what he needed to do to stay in the lead by winning the 30 lap main event ahead of Kyle Harrison and Darren Larsen, however five drivers still have a chance to finish in top spot. For the 2nd straight main event Campbell River’s Stewart Lee, who sits only 48 points back of Gaudrealt looked to have the main event won but got involved with a lapped car that brought out the yellow. This in turn put Lee at the rear of the field ending any chance of winning. The top five drivers Gaudrealt, Lee, Harrison, Andy Meyers and Justin Beaulieu are separated by only 315 points and with double points up for grabs on the seasons final race, anywhere from 350 to 370 points are up for grabs making it winnable for any of the five drivers. Due to the chance of rain the main event for all classes were moved up as heat races followed the mains and for the Bombers wins went to Johnny Zeneti and Charlie Ackerman.

Even though their car count has been down this season both the Stock cars and IMCA Modifieds have been very competitive within their classes and it shows in the point battles as only 192 points separate the top four stock cars, while only 107 points separate the top five IMCA racers.

In Stock car action Victoria’s Arron Wilkie came away as the big winner by capturing both the 20 lap main event and the heat while in the battle for season points Victoria’s Kerry Steen continued to sit in top spot 74 points up on Mike Dionne, 182 up on Martin Beaulieu and 192 points ahead of Don Hallgarth.

In IMCA racing Oyster River’s Chris Beaulieu took the win in the 20 lap main event ahead of Brad Purdy and Kevin Noble to put himself only 1 point behind heat race winner, Victoria’s Tony Johnson. The IMCA point battle is the closest of any class as after Johnson and Beaulieu. Noble sits only 12 points back followed by Parksville’s Pat Brown 24 points back and Comox’s Rob Ryan 107 points back.

In Road Runner racing Haans Baan came away as the big winner as he took wins in the 30 lap main event ahead of Riley Carter and Beau Haslehurst as well as the 12 lap heat race. The battle for top spot for the Runners has Kermit Dahl sitting 242 points ahead of defending point champion Kenny Davis while James Buchanan remains the only other driver with any chance of capturing the championship and sits 325 points back and will need lots of bad luck from the top two for any kind of serious chance.

Another big field of Hornet cars were on hand as twenty cars lined up for their 35 lap main event that saw Brandon Steen match his heat race win by finishing ahead of Jocelyn Popowich and Weston Lane, while the other heat race win went to Darren Werebowy. The battle for the Hornet championship is a two car battle with Dave Hargrave holding a 173 point advantage on Doug McLean while Lyle Bowlen has very little chance, 382 points back but with two races remaining this could become a very close finish.

In Motorcycle action Lyle Warren took the win in the main event and 1st heat with Dean Thompson taking the win in the 2nd heat.

This Saturday night marks the 2nd last race for the Crash to Pass, Figure 8, Mini Oval and Road Runner classes with only the Mini Oval class having their point champion in Ryan Guest decided. In the battle for the Crash to Pass championship Travis Stevenson’s bad luck of late has allowed the point difference to decrease as David Dahl sits only 242 points back while Ryan Monks sits 325 and with two races remaining this one may go down to the season’s final main event.

Also looking to go down to the final main event to decide their point champion are the Figure 8 cars as only 229 points separate the top four cars lead by Brandon Steen who is 74 points ahead of Rachael Sawasky. 105 ahead of Michael Corder and 229 ahead of Walker Welsh.

Racing this Saturday night will also feature the Hornet cars. Gates open at 5:30 followed by qualifying at 6 and racing at 7pm. A reminder the season’s final race October 5th will feature the great pumpkin race along with a big fireworks display and will be run rain or shine.

Pit stop……Last race of the NPP Dirt Late Model was held Saturday night in Edmonton and it had Oyster River’s Jason Beaulieu winning the main event leaving him 4th overall in the final points standings. The main event win was Beaulieu’s 3rd straight main event win after winning the last two Katana Late Model feature races…..The 2008 awards banquet will be held October 17th in Courtenay and all drivers with trophies that need to be returned should do so at the speedway or at Like New Car Care in Campbell River…