The track had fallen victim to two massive storms in the previous week, and for awhile it was in question whether Saturday's program would go ahead at Estevan Motor Speedway.
It did, but with a handful of significant crashes that may or may not have had something to do with rough track conditions.
Riley Emmel, who won his second modified feature of the season, said he wasn't sure if the track had an impact on the collisions.
"I don't know if it did. I think it was just racing. Everybody was racing a lot harder. When you race hard in the holes, it'll upset the car a lot. I got just about sideways the one time there and I just drove my line. I lost my brakes, I had no brakes, so I just had to baby it in there kinda, and try and do some pumping down the straightaway and get my brakes up."
The mod feature was the most tightly contested of the four (including sport mods) on the night, as Emmel battled the likes of Les McLenehan, Tyler Wagner and Aaron Turnbull for the win.
Emmel overtook McLenehan - who finished second - with fewer than five laps to go and held on.
"I found a line on the top there with about six to go. I got around Aaron and I was coming around Les and I just felt it working, so when I was in second I chose the top line because I knew I was going to be fast, so that's where I went and that's how she panned out," said Emmel.
Having won his first two career features this year, the Estevan driver said he's getting better with time.
"I've just been more experienced. Seat time has helped me out a lot. I've driven different race cars throughout the year, so it's kinda helped me with trying to find grip on the race track, trying to do all that kind of stuff."
Estevan's Austin Daae got his first win of the year in the stock car feature, leading from start to finish. Aside from an early crash involving Rocky Alexander and Geoff Mann, the race was largely devoid of yellow flags, an anomaly on this night.
"Honestly, the track was rough. It was hammer down, fast track and it took a few laps to get used to it," said Daae. "I like it when it goes caution-free, I get in somewhat of a groove and just try to stay in it. It's tough (being in front) because you don't know who's behind you or not, so you just try to stay as consistent as you can throughout the whole race."
Saturday's result gives Daae a win in each of his years of racing.
"It took a while. I've had some really strong nights but some bad luck, and luckily (Saturday) everything was just smooth. I didn't have to do anything to the car, just fuel it, air pressure, left all the tires on it from the heat race and it worked out good. It's a big weight off the back for sure."
Daae said the conditions made for more of a challenge.
"When you see all this torn-up stuff, it's not so much the drivers, but one lap your car is doing exactly what you want it to, and then you hit one rut the wrong way and it throws your car somewhere else. I kinda do like the rougher, faster (track), you find the quickest lane with keeping your car as straight as possible."
In the hobby stock feature, Brad King of Fairbanks, Alaska, got his second win at EMS in a span of less than a month.
As usual, he had to battle garage mates Brock and Brandon Beeter for the win, with both of them placing in the top five.
"With the Beeters, it's always tough, you just gotta stab and stare. Brock and I were side-by-side going into (turns) three and four, we're both just on the rev limiter, and even one and two, side-by-side, on the rev limiter. That's what it takes to run with those guys because it's just wide open. You gotta leave it all on the track."
King said he hopes he can build on the two wins by doing well on the final three nights of the schedule.
"I would say there's some momentum there. It's still just hanging on for dear life out there every time. It's nice to show up and come away with some wins. It keeps the blood flowing and keeps a guy motivated for the next week."
The Speedway is back in action on Tuesday, with a program featuring late models as well as the usual three classes.
