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Speedway’s season opener drew nearly 50 drivers for a fun night of racing

The Estevan Motor Speedway’s first-ever pay per view-only event, named the Lockdown Showdown, drew drivers from throughout southern Saskatchewan and even Manitoba for a fun night of racing.
Speedway pic
Isaiah Geisel (21Z) and Tyler Wagner were among the modified drivers who raced Saturday night. Photo courtesy Byron Fichter Fotography

The Estevan Motor Speedway’s first-ever pay per view-only event, named the Lockdown Showdown, drew drivers from throughout southern Saskatchewan and even Manitoba for a fun night of racing.

Forty-eight drivers from Canada raced in the five different programs, with hobby stocks representing the largest share of the car count at 14. Modifieds, stock cars, slingshots and sport mods also competed.

The vehicles were spaced accordingly in the pits due to social distancing. Each driver could bring three crew members along.

In the hobby stock class, Landon Runge of Lampman took top spot. He moved up from fourth place on the starting grid to first. Connor Hansen of Torquay, who started on the pole position, was second.

Kaiden Tuchscherer of Estevan was third despite starting from the eighth spot.

In the sport modified class, Grant Hall of Brandon, Man., took top spot. Leevi Runge, who was racing in sport mods after winning the hobby stock track championship last year and four times in the previous five years, was second. Justin Fichter was third.

In the stock car class, Jeremy Swanson of Estevan finished where he started from, in first place. Chris Hortness of Estevan was second even though he started from the back of the field in eighth, and JJ Barnstable, also of Estevan, came in third.

Ryder Raynard continued his mastery of the sling shot division, as the young Estevan driver won the feature race. He was also last year’s track champion in the division. Cash Saxon of Lampman was second and Jagger Ashworth of Weyburn came in third.

The modified feature wrapped up the night. Kody Scholpp of Estevan won the pole position and went on to capture the feature. Les McLenehan of Estevan started from the fifth spot and worked his way up to second. Tyler Wagner of Weyburn was third.

Track president Byron Fichter was pleased with the number of drivers they attracted.

“It’s pretty tough to expect a large car count. Most of the tracks that we work with directly as far as same sanctioning, they’re all American tracks,” said Fichter.

Most tracks in the Prairie provinces operate with different rules than Estevan.

The drivers were racing for points in the standings, but not for money, because cash prizes weren’t offered for the winners Saturday night.

“Everybody was beyond excited to be back at the race track. Everybody was beyond excited to feel normal or to get to do something fun,” said Fichter. “It was almost like a weight had been lifted off a lot of people. I think there was concern whether we were going to race at all.”

The program aired live on DARN TV, a dirt track racing pay per view service out of North Dakota. Seventy-seven purchases were made.

Even the pay per view faced some challenges, as DARN TV couldn’t cross the border, since the Canada-U.S. border is closed to non-essential travel.

“They had attempted to ship their gear to us for us to use. That gear did not make it,” said Fichter. “In a last-minute deal we brokered with SaskTel Max, they came in with the assist, and they helped supply us with some of the video that we needed. Without them, we couldn’t have raced.

“It was a lot of last-minute forging of new relationships, but it went absolutely amazing. They did a stellar job.”

The number of pay per view purchases was lower than expected, as Fichter was hoping for at least 100. There was a big memorial race in Jamestown, N.D., Saturday night that attracted a lot of viewers.

Pay per view traditionally hasn’t been a big source of income for the speedway.

“People rented it for the first time. They’re used to coming to the track. So they rent it for the first time, give it a try for the first time and see how amazing it is.”  

Due to restrictions from COVID-19, the track can’t use the grandstand, although they did sell spots for people to park their vehicles south of the grandstand and watch races from there. Fichter estimates they had about 25 vehicles watching from that area, which would normally have about 50 vehicles, but the speedway had to take social distancing into account.

Fichter said the board will have to meet to decide their next step. They won’t ask drivers to race for free again.
“We want to make sure they’re getting something out of the deal,” said Fichter.

The next program was slated for June 20, but it has been postponed.

Fichter said the speedway has had really constructive conversations with the provincial government regarding future programs. Their grandstand holds about 1,500 people, and the track has been asking for 30 per cent capacity, which would allow them to have 400-500 spectators.