Williams Lake auto racers will have their lead foots ready this Saturday when accolades and bragging rights will be on the line for Thunder Mountain Speedway’s 2018 Grand Finale Points Championship.
The excitement for spectators and drivers won’t stop there, however, as TMS president Bob Lowen said the race track executive has decided to parlay the points championships with the always popular, fan favourite Day of Destruction Hit to Pass, Trailer Race, Smoke Show and King of the Hill for one jam-packed day of racing. Pit gates open at 10 a.m. for drivers, qualifying laps start at noon and racing gets underway at 1 p.m. with the points finale first, followed by the carnage of the hit to pass, and other novelty events.
Also, the TMS executive will be presenting its Memorial Day keeper trophies in its local classes due to the event being rained out earlier last month.
“We’re looking forward to a great weekend,” Lowen said, noting drivers will be bringing their ‘A’ games with them to the track this weekend.
“Especially when the points are a little tighter, we’ll see some good racing.”
In the bone stock class drivers who’ve been in contention all season include Shawn Knott/Tim Taylor, Tristan Waslen, Damien Fisher, Zach Salmon, Evan Fontaine and Ryan Grant.
In the pro mini class it’s been Terry Braman, Gord Bettles and Mike Garcia.
Street Stock drivers Tim Westwick, who’s put together an extremely consistent season in both local racing and the Tri-Series Championships Series, along with Kane Fraser and Darren Lemky will be in contention for a season championship.
As for the Hit to Pass, Lowen said it’s too early to say how many cars will be entered.
“You never really know until race day,” Lowen said. “That was part of why we’re doing it in one day, so people can all get organized and we can put on a good show on one day for the fans.”
Looking back on this year’s season, Lowen said it was a bit of an anomaly due to the wildfires cutting last season short.
He added a slew of young racers have jumped on board with the local race classes, particularly in the bone stock division, and have helped keep driver numbers fairly strong over the year.
“That’s where our racers come from,” he said. “Their parents used to race, and it’s great, and that’s why we started the bone stock class, and why we started letting 14 year olds run.”
Also a big hit was the Doug Larson Memorial Race, which showcased a vintage car class.
“The Doug Larson was pretty awesome,” Lowen said. “It’s been kind of a strange year, though, because of following up from last year with all the fires and we missed a couple races, but we’re in the works to have them [vintage cars] back next year, too, and I think it’s going to be an annual thing.”
Next month, TMS will also host its season awards and annual general meeting at a too-be- announced date.
