The year-end Enduro race has been a big part of the Estevan Motor Speedway’s schedule for over a decade, and now the track’s executive has decided to add a second Enduro race.
An Enduro is slated to open the 2021 schedule on May 8, but there will still be a season-ending Enduro program in September.
“The one we do have is always well attended, and I guess we thought we’d give those guys another chance to race,” said speedway president Aaron Turnbull. “It’s a fairly easy event for the speedway to put on.”
Since they will likely be facing some measure of restrictions in the middle of the spring, Turnbull said this is an easy way to kick off the season.
The 2020 Enduro attracted 43 drivers who were trying to complete 150 laps around the track in 90 minutes or less. Greg Wanner completed the 150 laps in the quickest time. If nobody completes 150 laps within the time limit, then the winner is whoever has the most laps finished.
“We definitely would need a minimum of 30 to make a go of it,” said Turnbull. “I don’t think we’ll have too much of an issue getting to that. We generally like to have around the 40 mark, and if there’s more than that, great.”
Some of the drivers who have been fixtures at the Enduro have been calling for a second at some point in the speedway season.
If the weather doesn’t co-operate, the race would go on May 9.
The test and tune program, which typically is their first event of the season, runs on May 15. Their season-opening double-header is slated for May 22 and 23.
The Enduro has also served as an introduction to racing on the track for many drivers who have gone on to race regularly at the track, and Turnbull hopes that some who compete in the spring Enduro will eventually join the hobby stock class.
“That’s always the idea of an Enduro, no matter what, is to get new guys into cars and going around the speedway, and maybe they find out it’s something they really like, and they end up going into a hobby stock.
“That’s happened a lot of times. We have guys that are regulars at the speedway now, and that’s how they got their start is the Enduro. It’s another way to generate interest in people getting started racing as well.”
