Submitted by Andy Guest
One of the most spectacular crashes ever witnessed at Saratoga Speedway highlighted the Saturday night racing program which featured the Wilroc Sprint cars, IMCA Modifides and the Bomber cars.
The scary mishap came on the second lap of the Sprint car B dash. It involved Victoria’s Tyler Clough and Port Hardy’s Brad Purdy. The two got tangled up, sending them into the tires, where Purdy’s car went up over Clough, launching him, barrel-rolling, up over the 30-foot high billboard signs, landing on his wheels in between two trees.
A credit to the safety rules in Sprint car racing had Purdy unhurt, however, his vehicle, which took nearly a half-hour to remove from behind the signs, was heavily damaged.
The Brian McLean/Tyee Chev sponsored night of racing saw Victoria’s Mike Haslam, the series point leader, complete a clean sweep of the main events this season at the Black Creek oval by winning all three main events, including Saturday night’s. Earlier races saw James Miller winning the trophy dash with heat race wins going to Jer Bird and Jarrod Heap.
With only one race night remaining in his 2018 season, Modified point leader Chris Beaulieu clinched the season championship after winning the main event. Second place runner Travis Stevenson finished seventh after a heat race crash forced him to miss the first nine laps of the 25-lap race. Courtenay’s Peter Mulion came away with two wins in the trophy dash and heat race.
In Bomber car action, Campbell River’s Chad Taks also came away with two wins after going uncontested in the main event after taking the win in the trophy dash with the heat race win going to Boston Larson.
This Saturday night, the speedway hosts the second travel trailer race where cars tow trailers around the oval with hopes of having the most trailer remaining at race’s end. The action will also feature the Road Runners, Hornet cars, Mad Max and Crash to Pass cars. Saturday night racing goes rain or shine.
