The latest programs at the Estevan Motor Speedway had lot of action back-to-back race nights on June 26 and 27, which also featured the Northern Super Truck Racing Association (NSTR).
It was quite the program on June 26, because what started out as a gorgeous sunny evening, turned into a stormy night. They were able to get most of the features in but the modified class was postponed to the following night.
Though they started the modified feature, seven laps into the race, it was called when rain and lightning began.
The super truck division consisted of eight trucks with Tyson Turnbull racing as the lone local representative. In the feature, Jamie Vernaus was the winner. He was out in front at the start of the race and held onto the lead for the win. Jerome Guyot finished second and Tyson Hiebert was third.
Gregg Mann finished the stock feature in first having led throughout. He took the lead early in the race and never trailed from there.
“It felt like it was the exact same race that I won prior (June 13). I was driving the car the same way, entering the corner the same way, and I just waited until I saw somebody,” said Mann.
Even though Mann had a commanding lead, it was quite the battle for second with Jordan Durward edging out Austin Daae.
Leevi Runge took the Weatherford hobby stock feature, despite the numerous cautions. He started in 12th position out of 24 cars. By the second lap, he took the lead and held on for the win.
“I just tried holding my line. I wasn’t worried about what anyone else was doing. I was trying to keep my car straight and keep going,” said Runge post-race.
With multiple cautions in the race he was able to persevere but he was getting a little frustrated.
“I was getting upset, and I wanted the race to be over. I was overheating … it being plus 25 (degrees) out and running the car at 220 degrees,” he said.
Riley Raynard finished second, and Blake Penna was third.
The second night of the doubleheader started off by wrapping up the modified feature from the night before, and Joey Galloway captured the checkered flag. Jett Big Eagle took second, and Kody Scholpp finished third.
The super truck feature had a lot of excitement a number of lead changes, but Jerome Guyot finished with the win.
“It was pretty hard fought. I had to work for that one. I tried going to the high side at the beginning, and there was really no grip up there yet. Luckily, I had hometown guy Tyson, help clear it off for me, and I was able to roll up there in the end and get it,” said Guyot.
Guyot started the race in the lead, and eventually fell a couple of positions back. But in the second half of the race, he and Tyson Turnbull had quite the battle, as it was back and forth between the two.
On the last lap, both took the high line coming out of turn four and bumped into each other, but it was Guyot who prevailed; and Turnbull dropped to third as Jeff Remple took the low line to finished second.
“I held my ground and went straight down and we made a little bit of contact, but it was good,” said Guyot.
In the modified feature, Mason Big Eagle took first place and was happy to get his first feature win of the season.
“It was pretty exciting, I've been a little disappointed in myself that I haven’t won all year … I just went out there and got out front,” said Big Eagle.
He led from start to finish and was glad to keep the lead. Galloway was second and Aaron Turnbull was third.
Daae took top spot in the stock car feature racing the top line but was contested by Durward throughout the race.
“It was exciting. It was nerve-racking. It's tough knowing you can see someone in the corner of your eye, but you just got to try and run you own line,” Daae said.
Durward finished second, and Gregg Mann was third.
Runge won the hobby stock feature for the second consecutive night, making it three feature wins at the speedway this year.
Five laps into the race, Runge took the lead and never looked back for the win.
Brent Thompson finished second and Brad King was third.
The next program at the speedway is the Dakota Classic Modified Tour on July 6.
