SASKATOON, SK (September 10, 2017)- Another terrific Saturday as the mercury climbed above 30 degrees. It brought residents of the Martensville Valley area out in droves for Martensville’s annual Show and Shine. Stock car drivers were out to meet with fans and the people came out to Wyant Group Raceway Saturday evening for a great night of racing.
Besides the Martensville Valley A&W Street Stock 100, the night also saw the Tiger Automotive Pro Trucks and Law Enforcement Guardian Bandoleros wrap up their season. The night also doubled as the points final race for the Golf’s Car Wash Street Stock division and the Golf’s Car Wash Mini Stocks put their second last race meet of the season in the books.
Warm weather translates into a warm track and that often means higher speeds and track records. The track didn’t disappoint Saturday as Mike Rea took his #18 J&L Frame and Alignment Monte Carlo around the track in 15.995 seconds. That is the first recorded lap under 16 seconds for the street stocks.
The Law Enforcement Guardian Bandoleros took to the track first, with Kohn MacLaggan picking up the Heat Race win in the #1 CrimeStoppers Bandolero. Sam Howlett took home the Qualifier Race in the #12 Neufeld Building Movers Bandolero.
After three tries and the loss of three cars in the Law Enforcement Bandolero Feature Race, they finally settled in to get their final race of the season in the books. Despite a late race challenge by Sam Howlett, Kohl MacLaggen took home the final checkered flag in the #1 CrimeStoppers Bandolero. Sam Howlett was second in the #12 Neufeld Building movers Bandolero and Lachlyn Anderson was third in her #10 C&F Installations Toyota Camry.
The Tiger Automotive Pro Truck Division was next on the schedule. We’ve seen some flipping back and forth in the points for the top three the last couple of races and nobody knew what to expect on the final race night of the year for the Pro Trucks. Coming into the night Alex Leschenko was leading in the points, Aaron Anderson was one point back and it was only another single point to Shantel Kalika.
Shantel Kalika won the first heat race in the #49 OK Tire Dodge Ram. Alex was third and Aaron was fifth. That put Shantel and Alex in a tie, Anderson three points back going into the Qualifier.
The Qualifier Race was a nail biter for all three teams. This time it would be Leschenko across the line first, Shantel would be second and the #92 of Brennan Kirton third. Anderson finished in sixth, all but eliminating him from taking the championship. Alex would go into the feature with a one point lead on Kalika. Anderson was eight points out of top spot.
Starting the Tiger Automotive Pro Truck Feature outside the third row, Alex quickly moved around the slower traffic and grabbed the lead by lap five. Meanwhile, Kalika was caught up in the slower traffic and moved backward a couple of spots to seventh.
Anderson’s truck appeared to be running slow, perhaps feeling the effects of the heat. It would run a few quick laps then slow for a few laps. By mid race it looked like he was just out for a Sunday drive amongst Circle Drive traffic. Kalika meanwhile was still going for the kill.
Brennan Kirton had moved in behind Leschenko and Kirton knows how to make his truck wide, making passing more difficult. While Shantel worked on Brennan, it gave Alex a chance to just drive, winding the laps down without much challenge.
Shantel never did get by Kirton, meaning the #01 Family Pizza Ford F150 of Alex Leschenko picked up the feature win and the season championship. Brennan Kirton was second in the #92 Cervus Equipment Silverado and Shantel Kalika had to settle for third (second for the season) in the #49 OK Tire Dodge Ram.
The Golf’s Car Wash Mini Stocks kept the racing clean Saturday night, but it was pretty clear the young guns of Cole and Cameron Nixey, Dylan Isley, Scott Kozak and Riley Surcon do have something to teach the seasoned drivers of Jim Barnsley and Shawn Magee.
Although Jim Barnsley won the Heat Race in the #41 Streetwise Service Dodge Neon and Shawn Magee won the Qualifier race in his #4 Tommy Guns Original Barbershop Honda Prelude, there was no catching Cole Nixey in the feature.
The Golf’s Car Wash Mini Stocks ran caution free all night. In the end it was Cole Nixey taking home the Wyant Group Raceway Commemorative flag and widening his points lead with the #23 33rd Street Automotive Acura Integra. Shawn Magee was second and Jim Barnsley was third.
Back to the Street Stocks, running a combined Golf’s Car Wash points final and Martensville Valley A&W Street Stock Invitational, Scott Barrand picked up the prize pack in the Trophy Dash in the #01 Tailgatorz Bar and Grille Camaro. Mike Schroeder cruised through the first heat in the #34 Always Towing Camaro and Curtis Houben fought his way to a win in the second heat with his #81 RPM Camaro.
The B Main was shortened by three laps when a blown transmission line sprayed oil ¾ of the way around the track. Scott Barrand was declared the winner under caution and the cars were moved back to the pits to get ready for their 100 lap race.
The street stock drivers clearly came out to race as well Saturday night as they ran their 100 lap feature race with only one incident caution in lap 90. There was the competition caution for fuel at lap 50, but otherwise it was clean fast racing.
Craig Katelnikoff had the pole for the start with Scott Barrand outside. Katelnikoff got off to a quick lead and Mike Rea was soon on his tail. By lap seven it had settled into a Katelnikoff, Rea, Schroeder drive that continued for several laps. In lap 19 though, Craig came up on lap traffic and Schroeder took advantage, going around both Katelnikoff and Rea, taking over the lead.
It was a lead he carried through the mid race break and right to the end. At lap 100, it was the #34 Always Towing Camaro of Mike Schroeder taking the win and the Martensville Valley A&W Street Stock Invitational Trophy. Curtis Houben was second in the #81 RPM Camaro and Craig Katelnikoff was third in the #3 BDI Canada Trans Am.
Curtis Houben also claims the Golf’s Car Wash Street Stock Championship for 2017
Things continue to wind down as next week we see the points final races for the Golf’s Car Wash Mini Stocks, the Earthworks Sask Legends and the Shell V-Power Sportsman Divisions. The Super Late Models will be doing double duty as well, settling their WSSL Auto Parts local points championship and the Market Tire Western Speed Association Series.
Racing moves to Saturday afternoon, with a 2:00pm green flag. The front gates open at 12:30pm
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