WESTERN STOCKS: ROY ROSS MEMORIAL 47

Mike Clarke Wins I.M.C.A. Canada’s Most Prestigious Event For a Third Time

Story by Robert K. Rooney

For many years, I.M.C.A. Canada has had more licensed drivers competing in more sanctioned events than any other oval track organization in Western Canada. For 27 of those years, the most prestigious trophy available to an I.M.C.A. Modified competitor has been the one awarded to the winner of the Roy Ross Memorial 47.

Roy Ross was killed in a crash at Race City Motorsport Park in Calgary. To honour his memory, his family and I.M.C.A. Canada created a race that, for the better part of three decades, has attracted the top pavement Modified teams to race in Ross’s memory. Part of that memory is remembering and sharing the passion and joy that racing gave Roy Ross. The feature race is 47 laps because that was the number that the Roy Ross race cars wore.

This year Mike Clark of Grande Prairie put his name on the impressive Roy Ross Memorial trophy for the third time, winning the August 19 race at Edmonton International Raceway in Wetaskiwin.

Once just a very special date on the I.M.C.A. calendar, the Roy Ross race is now the culminating event of the Annugas Goldbrick 447 Championship – essentially a mini-series. Each of the three I.M.C.A.-sanctioned paved tracks holds one qualifying race. The first was at Medicine Hat Speedway on May 27 and, despite being a long way from home, Clark was the big points earner at the end of the night. His home track – Hythe Motor Speedway – was the site for race two and Clark acquitted himself pretty well there, too, although Keaton Pylypiuk, also of Grande Prairie was the overall winner. With two strong races to his credit, Clark didn’t have to work his No. 92 too hard in the EIR edition of the Goldbrick 447 held immediately prior to the Roy Ross 47. It was just as well, as the car was off the pace and Pylypiuk won again, leading flag to flag.

Ultimately, when everyone’s best two results were calculated and their worst thrown out, and his crew made adjustments to the car, Clark would start the big race on the pole. He was flanked by Justin McTavish – also a former Roy Ross 47 winner. At the green, Clark made no mistakes and took the lead with McTavish and 2012 winner Jamie Krzysik right behind. On lap 5, Krzysik got past McTavish and was running a strong second when his car broke on lap 17, putting McTavish back into the runnerup spot, from where he pressured the leader for the rest of the race.

Justin`s father, Barry McTavish, who won one of the early Roy Ross races in 1997, started seventh and had his No. 23 as high as fourth at the halfway point.

Unfortunately, Barry was caught up in a crash on lap 31 that also eliminated Jason Bujold and Tyler Knowles.

At the finish, Clark took the chequers a mere couple of tenths ahead of McTavish’s No. 14. Pylypiuk marched forward from fifth at the start to finish third with Tyler Knowles all the way up from row seven at the start to take fourth. Chase Guidolin was fifth.

Canada 200

Although Western Speedway on Vancouver Island is no more, one of the track’s biggest races lives on. On September 2, a fine field of Late Models assembled at Saratoga Speedway, located between Courtenay and Campbell River, to keep the Reg Midgley Canada 200 tradition alive.

The 2023 version of the race was solidly in line with that tradition as the podium was occupied by the last three winners of the Western Speedway Canada 200. Rory

Smith, winner in 2021 and 2018, took the win. Korbin Thomas, who earned his fourth 200 trophy last year, was runnerup and 2020 winner Brandon Carlson was third.

Thomas timed-in quickest of the 21 entrants, just ahead of former Western Speedway GM Daryl Crocker. The two would start from row four while three-time winner Dave Hemrich and Kyle Cottam were up front at the green. Unfortunately for Hemrich, right from the start his orange No. 33 showed no interest in staying on the bottom and Cottam had his No. 4 in the lead immediately. Smith took over before lap 20, but only lasted a couple of dozen laps before being tagged and turned. He had to restart his No. 16 all the way back in ninth. Thomas, too, had his troubles. At one time the black No. 5 was as far back as 11th, but before the halfway point he was back challenging Cottam for the lead.

Smith was on his way back, too, and seized the lead just after lap 100. He would not cede control again. Cottam fought Thomas for second but then fell back through the field to finish sixth. Although Carlson also had his troubles in the first half, he battled back, got to second and was just overtaken in the last few laps. Mike Haslem finished fourth behind Smith, Thomas and Carlson with Kirt Rompain fifth. IT