2014 ASA Advance Testing
White Spruce 100 Race 1 – PG
After a disappointing rainout in Williams lake two weeks
earlier, the advance testing teams had high hopes for good weather and a successful
race 1 in Prince George. The weather would just about cooperate. 23 of the best
sportsman cars made the trip to the most northern race of the series.
Ian Graham set the stage with the fastest time in qualifying
at a 16.665, with Trevor Adelman a very close 16.993. The entire 23 car field
was separated by just over a second, and the majority of the group was within 3
tenths. A very tight field.
Heats were split into three groups with Kyle Day taking the
C heat, Dave Olson the B, and Wes Mader the A heat. A great drive by all three.
After a qualifying spin left the 71 of Dave Olson scrambling,
he just made the invert and started on The pole. Chris Babcock in the 22 Ford
was outside pole. The green flag set the field to racing on the 3/8 symmetrical
oval. The green flag run lasted for 8 laps until the 89 and 22 came together and
both cars started at the back of the restart. After 20 laps of green, 71 of
Dave Olson was handling the lead well, the 92 of Logan Jewel, the 19 of Korbin
Thomas, the 1 of Matt Stephenson, and the 47 of Trevor Adelman were all working
through traffic and setting sights on the leader. Laps 20 brought out a caution
with the 2 tangling with another car and the 19 of Thomas caught in the middle.
The 2 and 19 to the back. Olson has a great restart, perfectly executed all
night long, jewel Makes a run on the high side, Olson unflappable, keeps the lead.
The 19 of Thomas and the 86 of Tom Berrow are working from the back fast. The
race is on as Stephenson pressures the 71, Jewel in the mix and Trevor Adelman
showing great speed. Bruce Bently holds the 5th spot until caution
slows the field.
The caution now brings on a series of cautions, as they say,
cautions breed cautions. Finally at lap 67 what looks like a clean restart turns
into turn three mayhem as many cars are caught in “the big one”. Stephenson and
Jewel make contact in the front and the field stacks up. The track goes red as
cars come into the pits for repairs. The 18 of Ian graham has contacted the wall
hard, along with Tom Berrow, the 22 Ford of Babcock is damaged on each corner, the
14 of Bently, having a great run is spent in the infield. Many cars in and out
for service as the cleanup continues. Involved
in the wreck, 57 of Les Hein, 99 of Sarah Cornett-Ching, 73 of Kyle Day, 31
Steve Hancock, 5 of Bob Williams. Reluctant benefactors of the wreck are the cars
lucky enough to make it through.With the cars lined up, ready to finish the
last 20, the rain starts to fall and the race is called. The 19 of Thomas ends up in second. In the first tour
race of his racing career, and first podium, is Cameron Graham, brother of front
running Ian Graham. The 23 of Derek Christiansen is rewarded for a solid a
patient run with 4th position, Wes Mader makes the Top 5, and rookie
Jarret Bonn finishes 6th. A crazy night of
racing with a very unexpected finish.Rookie Cameron Graham now leads the ASA Advance Testing points, the first time in history a rookie has lead the points after the first night. Race 2 in Agassiz is coming up July Fifth, and will be another exciting night racing, with the best drivers and cars in BC competing for the checkered flag
* Photos by April Sedlock
