The Northern Late Model Racing Association's first Estevan appearance since 2008 will have a familiar look to it.Estevan Motor Speedway's Monday program will be the only Canadian stop and third overall on the NLRA's first-ever Western Tour.Patterned after the Dakota Classic Modified Tour, the Western Tour will feature six races in six nights starting Saturday in Jamestown, N.D.The rest of the tour will take place in North Dakota with other stops in Minot, Williston, Dickinson, and Mandan."We thought why not race them all in a six-night period?" said NLRA competition director Adam Fischer. "We thought it might be a little more fun for the people and it might kind of get a bit of a following."The familiarity doesn't stop there, however, as Fischer says local IMCA modified staples like Ed Turnbull, Wayne Johnson, and Hank Berry have expressed interest in driving a late model at the event.Fischer expects about 30 cars to take part in the tour - among them the NLRA's top four in points this season.Winnipeg's Mike Balcaen currently leads the standings with 532, followed closely by Brad Seng of Grand Forks (520) and Fargo's Joel Cryderman (510). A little farther back is fourth-place Cody Skytland of Thunder Bay, Ont. at 488.The whirlwind week won't be played out as a special event unto itself, but will instead constitute points races eight through 13 on the NLRA's 15-date 2010 schedule.Still, Fischer is already anticipating Estevan as one of the week's highlights."I'm excited and I wouldn't mind going to the Beefeater," he said with a laugh. "That's what we all talk about down here is the Beefeater. Every time we come up we have to go to the Beef."Monday's program is also slated to include all three of the Speedway's regular classes running for points on the last scheduled race date before championship night.
