WESTERN SHORT TRACK PREVIEW

Alberta Extreme Sprints headline Rad Torque Raceway schedule

Stories by Robert K. Rooney

Onceagain in 2023, the main attraction at Rad Torque Raceway in Edmonton will be the Alberta Extreme Sprints. According to Ed Wiersma, who oversees the oval track program at RTR, rebuilding the program after the pandemic was quite a process but, “We had good racing and the racers were happy with what was going on. If we get the same weather and the same number of cars, I think it will be a good show.”

One factor that quickened the recovery was that RTR didn’t have to find people to fill positions.

“Of the staff we’ve had in the last few years, about 90 percent are back,” said Wiersma.

There was a time when the high-dollar 360 Sprints ruled the Edmonton dirt, but Wiersma says the number of teams still able to afford racing 360s isn’t big enough to put on a good show. The more-affordable sportsman sprints of the Extreme series are fully capable of putting on a show.

In fact, he points out, “We’ve got the big wings now, and the track is so good, we’re actually just about as fast as the 360s used to be.”

Most of the controllable factors are in good shape, Ed notes, “It all comes down to the weather.”

With a few breaks from Mother Nature, he anticipates a good year.

“When the evening’s done, I want everybody to go home and tell other people what a great time they had,” said Wiersma.

The Alberta Extreme Sprints teams have a busy summer ahead of them. Although the bulk of their schedule is in Edmonton, they will also run in Swift Current and several events in Montana. Several Canadian events should also see US teams in attendance as part of the CanAm series.

EDMONTON INT’L RACEWAY

The Alberta capital’s paved track –Edmonton International Raceway – has released a schedule offering much the same wide variety of race cars as previous years. Uniquely featuring a NASCAR Home Track sanction, EIR’s crown jewel event will be the July 22 Bayer 300 for the NASCAR Pinty’s Series. Once again, the Fathers Day weekend will see the Roy Ross Memorial 47 for

I.M.C.A. CANADA

In 2023, I.M.C.A. Canada will continue for at least another year under the guidance of its founder, Bruce Hampton. After nearly 30 years at the helm, Hampton is trying to arrange an orderly transition to new leadership for Western Canada’s largest racing organization.

“I had three deals going to buy me out,” said Hampton. “But I’m going to have to pull the trigger and go another year.”

No big changes are expected for 2023, he said, so a new owner can put their own stamp on how things are run.

“It’s funny,” said Hampton. “For years everybody has been telling me how I ought to run it and what I should do, but now, nobody’s coming forward!”

SUTHERLAND AUTO. SPEEDWAY

The site of the other race in the Pinty’s Series Western Swing – Sutherland Automotive Speedway in Saskatoon – is also building on a decent year in 2022. The change to a doubleheader format – this year the Leland Fasteners Twin 125s – made the Saskatoon stop on the NPS unique on the tour. Somewhat hampered by weather in previous years, according to Jeff Kozak of the club that runs the track.

“Last year was a good one for us and this year should be better yet.”

The other marquee events at SAS are a pair of Late Model races, a 150 on June 17 and a 200 on August 12. The Western Speed Association events at the Saskatoon paved oval have often drawn top teams from other provinces.

Canadian Super Trucks

The Canadian Super Trucks will finish their 2023 season at SAS, when they appear on August 26th. This will be a busy summer for the colourful and competitive pickup-bodied racers. Beginning with a doubleheader in Penticton on the May long weekend, the trucks will race twice in Saskatoon before the final, as well as at Medicine Hat, Prince George and Hythe Motor Speedway for a total of ten events on the championship tour.

Wescar

Another touring series, WESCAR, has six events lined up for British Columbia Sportsman Late Model teams. Beginning with a big event on the May 5 weekend at Penticton, WESCAR will race at Agassiz, Prince George, Gold Pan Speedway in Quesnel and Thunder Mountain Speedway in Williams Lake before heading back to Penticton at the end of September to crown a champion. IT