The Estevan Motor Speedway treated its fans to another doubleheader on the weekend, with approximately 75 vehicles entered between the six classes each night.
Late models made appearances both nights for what was billed as the Western Canadian Late Model Nationals. Drivers from throughout the Prairie provinces were at the track Saturday and Sunday night.
Shane Edginton of Winnipeg was the class of the late models both nights. On Saturday night’s program, he won going away, as there was just one caution for debris early in the race. From there, he built up a lead of several seconds, with the biggest challenge he faced seemingly coming from lapped traffic
Local driver Aaron Turnbull passed Winnipeg’s Mike Balcaen late in the race and finished second, while Balcaen was third. Estevan’s Jim Harris was fourth and Tyson Turnbull was 11th.
The modified race on Saturday saw Ed Turnbull take top spot ahead of Kody Scholpp. Scholpp worked his way to the front early after starting seventh of the grid, and had a lead of several seconds at one point.
But a caution midway through the race bunched the field together, and Ed Turnbull passed Scholpp with about 10 laps to go. From there, he managed to pull away.
Winnipeg’s Ward Imrie was third and Torquay’s Isaiah Geisel was fourth.
The best racing of the night was in the stock car class. The start of the feature was delayed as the track was watered to reduce the amount of dust. But it was worth the wait, as after a couple of early cautions, three Estevan drivers – JJ Barnstable, Jeremy Swanson and Chris Hortness – put on a show.
Barnstable took the lead early on and spent the rest of the race fending off challenges from Swanson and Hortness. Hortness passed him at one point, but Barnstable regained the lead.
Swanson made a couple challenges late, but couldn’t wrestle top spot from Barnstable.
Jeremy Istace of Estevan was fourth.
Connor Hansen of Torquay won the hobby stock feature, finishing ahead of Estevan’s Kaiden Tuchscherer, Manor’s Kruz Wilson and Lampman’s Dexter Saxon. The hobby stock feature was plagued with cautions early on, with four in the first two laps, and six overall. But when they did settle down for some green flag racing, Hansen proved to be the best of the field, and edged out Tuchscherer.
Leevi Runge of Lampman won the sport mod feature, finishing ahead of Bailey Cousins of Morden, Man., Lampman’s Rylan Raynard and Estevan’s Blake Penna.
Ryyder Raynard of Estevan took the sling shot feature, holding off Lampman’s Cash Saxon. Brooke Cousins of Morden was third and Ty Saxon of Estevan was fourth.
Sunday’s program resulted in many of the same feature winners.
Edginton once again the late model feature, with Turnbull and Balcaen again finishing second and third, respectively. This time the feature was much closer, with a couple of cautions bunching the field together, which meant that Edginton had to fend off Turnbull’s attempts to take the lead.
Harris was seventh and Tyson Turnbull came in eighth.
Ed Turnbull took the checkered flag in the modified class, followed by Scholpp for the second straight night. Les McLenehan was third and Devin Raynard was fourth.
Hortness won the stock car feature, with Swanson once again in second. Chase Davidson of Estevan was third and Geoff Mann of Roche Percee came in fourth.
Hansen won the hobby stock feature for the second straight night, finishing ahead of Estevan’s Dylan Gonas. Another Estevan driver, Kayden Hjortland, was third and Manor’s Kruz Wilson came in fourth.
Bailey Cousins rebounded to win the sport mod feature ahead of Runge. Estevan’s Dan Blackburn was third and Rylan Raynard came in fourth.
And in the slingshot class, Ryder Raynard and Cash Saxon were 1-2 for the second straight night. Jace Emmel of Estevan came in third and Sierra Staff from East Saint Paul, Man., was fourth.
In the points standings, Kody Scholpp has top spot in the modified class with 196 points, 16 more than Geisel. McLenehan sits third with 179 and Ed Turnbull is fourth with 173.
Tuchscherer leads the hobby stock standings with 193 points, 13 more than Cruz Wilson and 14 more than Hansen. Hjorteland is fourth with 170 points.
Leevi Runge sits atop the sport mod class with 178 points, 11 more than Estevan’s Justin Fichter. Rick Milewicz of Estevan is third with 158 points and Bailey Cousins is fourth with 153.
Hortness leads the stock car standings with 193 points. Swanson (186 points) is second, Barnstable (180) is third and Davidson (175) is fourth.
Ryder Raynard sits atop the slingshot standings with 199 points, 12 more than Cash Saxon at 187. Jace Emmel (181) is third and Eli Turnbull (175) is fourth.
The next program at the track will be a regular points night Aug. 15.
