Last weekend marked the third weekend of the 2024 race season at Sunset Speedway. The track celebrated its annual Spring Velocity weekend, taking place on Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19, with Sunday’s Big Z Memorial Race, for the Hot Rod Division, headlining the card to honour the late Bill Zardo Sr.
For the single-car time trials, Rick Spencer-Walt (No. 8SR) timed in fastest, driving for car owner Paul Bogensberger Sr. In Zardo’s name, it was twin 46-lap features for the Hot Rod division, with the lowest combined result from both features determining an overall winner.
For the first feature race, Dwayne Baker (No. 47) was third overall, with Mark Dilley (No. 64) in second and Spencer-Walt taking home another first-place finish. Spencer-Walt also won the OSCAAR Modified feature on Saturday.
“This thing is so incredible to drive,” an excited Spencer-Walt said in NAPA Auto Parts Victory Lane. “To have the opportunity to drive for people like Paul Sr. and Allen is incredible and to work with great people tops it off. Terry Snyder at HRE built this motor and it’s incredible and Tommy Walters with the setup, we only had to make a few small adjustments to get it where I liked it.”
The second feature for the Hot Rods saw a complete invert of the finishing order of the first feature. On the opening lap, trouble arose on the back straightaway, as Tyler Sagan (No. 31), Tyler Ecker (No. 00) and Dean Jessop (No. 7) got together, with Jessop needing assistance from B&B Towing, bringing an end to his evening. Once the race resumed, there were no further cautions, with Dilley scoring the win over Cory McAllister (No. 71) and Rob Bromley (No. 6).
“This means a lot for car owner Tom Walters to wrap this car like my first race car,” an exhilarated Dilley said in Parry Automotive Victory Lane. “When I walked in the shop, it took me back 40 years, and to win this race in Bill’s honour is bigger than any NASCAR race I’ve won; we were close friends and this means the world to be celebrating with Sharon and Pete and the whole Zardo family here.”
Josh Davenport (No. 30) and Wyatt Sprung (No. 92) finished first in their Jr. Late Model heat races. In the 20-lap feature, Keegan Moat (No. 52) came third, Davenport in second and Cole Kamrath (No. 51) claimed round one of the Elmer’s Flighting Supply Big 3 Series for the Junior Late Models.
“It was a great battle with Josh through the back half of the race,” Kamrath said with a smile in Ideal Supply Victory Lane. “He got by me with two laps to go and I wasn’t sure I had enough to make the pass back. I got the run and was able to clear him and its great to win round one of the series.”
Bone Stock heat races saw Jordan Owen (No. 68) and Kris Khan (No. 48) in first-place. For the evening’s 20-lap feature, Chris Allard (No. 76) came third, with Phil Givens (No. 0) second, and Aidan Harper (No. 42) recording his first feature win of the 2024 season.
“To win one of these is big; the competition in this division is incredible and to hold off guys like Chris and Phil is a huge accomplishment,” an exasperated Harper said in Parry Automotive Victory Lane. “There has been so much learning, even as a mechanic by trade, to figure out what it takes to get a car around a race track; now that we have a race-winning setup, hopefully there is more to come.”
The Mini Stock division saw the most cautions and restarts for the evening, with the majority coming in the 25-lap feature race. For heat winners, it was Cameron McGlashan (No. 83) and Jacob Sutcliffe (No. 27). In the Mini Stock B Main race, Peter Wakeling came first. Sutcliffe not only won his heat race, but he also finished his feature race in first-place. Coming in second was Shawn Taylor (No. 76), with Blaise Shaw (No. 81) taking the third-place position. In victory lane, Sutcliffe was surrounded by loved ones in a flurry of celebration.
“To be able to battle wheel-to-wheel with Shawn Taylor and get the win, I don’t have any words,” Sutcliffe said elatedly in NAPA Auto Parts Victory lane. “We have been working closely with Dale Shaw and he’s been coaching me, telling me ‘if you are going to run the top, you have to stay tight on the car to your inside and not give up track space.’ Those last four laps, I held it as close to Shawn as I could without touching and it worked.”
For the Outlaw Midgets, heat winners were Jason Metcalfe (No. 29) and Kevin Spiesz (No. 98). The Midgets’ 25-lap feature had Nick Spiesz (No. 77) in first, followed by Kevin Spiesz and Mike Homewood (No. 17).
Finally, for the Superstock division, the heat winners were Paul Pepper (No. 29) and Lane Zardo (No. 46). For the 30-lap feature race, Johnny Morrison (No. 83) took home his first feature win of the 2024 season, with Gord Shepherd (No. 10S) in second and Lane Zardo (No. 46) in third.
“This car is the best it has ever been and it’s incredible,” a pumped-up Morrison said in Ideal Supply Victory lane. “I feel bad knowing how bad Lane wanted to win but, as the race went on, my car kept getting better and it looked like he used up his right-rear tire. Getting this win before heading into the Flyin Frank brings a lot of momentum to this team and we are ready for the big race.”
Coming up next weekend, Sunset is hosting the Flyin Frank 49 Super Stock Invitational, in honour of Frank Davey. Twin Pro Late Model features, Mini Stocks, and the Bone Stocks are also on the card. Intermission will see the debut of Power Wheel Drags, heads up drag racing on pit road for young fans, who are able to bring their Power Wheels to the track. Racing gets underway at 3 p.m., with Grandstand gates opening at 1:30. More information can be found at www.sunsetspeedway.ca.
- By Danielle McPherson
