The Estevan Motor Speedway was host to a roaring race that had dirt flying, and saw many locals place, on Aug. 6. Five classes of cars, which included, slingshot, hobby, stock car, modified and Wissota Late Models raced at the Speedway, taking advantage of the great evening weather.
The attraction of the night was the race featuring the Late Model cars, said Byron Fichter, a board member with the Estevan Motor Speedway. Fichter noted that late models are a special category all their own, because of their substantial engine power compared to other classes.
“We just ran them once so far this year, so they were the special,” said Fichter.
The late model division had a special distinction that night, because its winner was one of many locals who placed and took first in their respective classes. Fichter said Jim Harris of Estevan put on an exceptional winning performance against 10 other drivers, in a special 40-lap circuit entitled “The Fast 40.” Eventually Harris took such a strong lead, that he began lapping other cars.
“For Jim Harris to win that race was a prestigious mark for him. There were a lot of talented drivers across that whole field. It was really something,” said Fichter. “There was only one caution in the race, so he was able to really put some distance between himself and the other cars.”
Harris, a decorated racer with past national championships under his belt, managed the lap traffic with his car deftly, maneuvering around the opponents he passed and lapped.
“The second and third place guys were fast, but the way he dealt with that traffic and got around them, putting more cars between him and the second place guy, that really gave him the advantage of the race,” said Fichter.
Fichter said Les
McLenehan’s first-place win in the modified division was another significant moment, adding, “He hadn’t won a race for quite a few years, so it was a good night for him, since he got that monkey off his back.”
The stock car division’s first place winner Jeremy Swanson has the distinction of being the track points leader, going into Saturday night’s race.
“His average finish this year has been second place. You’re finishing there out of all the cars in the league, so that’s a pretty good average finish,” said Fichter.
Racers participating in the event came from all over southeast Saskatchewan, as well as cities from out of province, like Edmonton and Winnipeg, and even stateside, with drivers from North Dakota and Montana present on Saturday.
Fichter said that “racey” dirt leads to drivers being able to truly compete, where skill will get a person ahead, no matter how far inside or outside on a track they are.
The hobby stock division’s first place was taken by Landon Runge of Lampman, with Leevi Runge taking second and Riley Raynard in third.
In the late models division, Jim Harris’ first-place victory was followed by Aaron Turnbull in second and Mike Balcaen in third.
The modified division’s first place went to McLenehan of Estevan, while second and third place went to Travis Hagen and Kody Scholpp, respectively.
In the stock car class, Swanson took first place, while the second-place winner was Jordan Durward and third went to Austin Daae.
