(Weyburn driver Tyler Wagner is shown on the track in the modified category.)
The Estevan Motor Speedway is looking forward to having a lot more fans in the stands, and to having one of its biggest programs of the year.
The speedway will have a doubleheader program on the weekend of July 16 and 17 鈥� the first programs after the provincial government is slated to lift all COVID-19 restrictions on July 11.
It means the speedway can have 1,500 fans in its main grandstand, compared to the 150 it has been limited to since the start of the 2020 season. Fans won鈥檛 have to wear masks, either.
It will also be the speedway鈥檚 annual late model programs. In a normal year, the late model show would be their second-biggest race program of the year, trailing only the Dakota Classic Modified Tour. But the mod tour won鈥檛 be at the speedway this year.
鈥淚t makes it even more special that it鈥檚 one of our more attended events,鈥� said Estevan Motor Speedway vice-president Brad Pierson. 鈥淲e鈥檙e just excited that we鈥檙e going to be restriction-free.鈥�
People love the late models and they come from a great distance to watch them compete. Pierson has received messages from people in Moose Jaw, wondering about ticket availability.
Drivers are scheduled to come from throughout Saskatchewan and Alberta for the race program.
Spectators will also be watching from their vehicles along the south and the west fences of the track. About 100 cars can fit along the fenced area.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 a different experience in itself,鈥� said Pierson. 鈥淚t gives the people the ability, if they have a small family, it鈥檚 鈥� almost like their own private little party out there in the vehicle,鈥� said Pierson.
There will also be people watching from the grandstand in the pit area.
The other classes at the track 鈥� slingshots, hobby stocks, stock cars, sport modifieds and modifieds 鈥� are also scheduled to be part of the program.
Food trucks have been a big part of the speedway鈥檚 success during the past year, and add to the experience. The track鈥檚 concession has been closed since the start of the 2020 season.
They鈥檝e worked with the speedway to have food like hamburgers and hot dogs, in addition to their traditional menu items.
Pierson stressed that you don鈥檛 have to be a big racing fan to enjoy a night at the races. They鈥檙e trying to promote the experience of going to the event and the social element.
鈥淧eople are loving our food trucks. People just love the outing the speedway brings. We鈥檙e trying to sell the speedway as so much more than racing,鈥� said Pierson.
Drivers from the Weyburn area have been a big part of the speedway since the track opened in 2000. The Weyburn contingent has brought quality and quantity to the speedway鈥檚 car count, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic has prevented American drivers from coming to Estevan.
The entry level slingshot class features five Weyburn drivers: Dane and Jace Skjerdal, Jacek and Jagger Ashworth, and Brogan Wagner. Brent and Quentin Skjerdal are in the hobby stocks, Mike Hudson races in the sport mods, Lindsey Wagner is in stock cars, and Tyler Wagner and Kelly Bauman are long-time racers in the modifieds.
Hudson finished second at the July 3 race program.
Weyburn has had other racing families in the past, with the Pickerings and LaBattes among them.
When it comes time for the annual Enduro race at the speedway, Pierson jokingly calls it the Weyburn Enduro, because they get more entries from Weyburn than Estevan.
鈥淭heir fan base is a huge part for us,鈥� Pierson said. 鈥淚 look at it as almost a regional speedway. It incorporates a big part of southeast Saskatchewan.鈥�
When you factor in drivers from such communities as Midale and Stoughton, the Weyburn area鈥檚 influence becomes even greater. Stoughton drivers include Karen Parachoniak (hobby stocks), Adrian Dickie (sport mods), and Gary Goudy Sr. and Jr. (stock cars). Devon Gonas of Midale is in the stock car class as well.
Fans get the ability to interact with drivers after the races in the pit area. Competitors will sign autographs, and kids get to meet their favourite drivers.
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