The Can-Am Late Model Shootout brought some of the top race car drivers from the Canadian Prairie provinces and the northern mid-west U.S. to the Estevan Motor Speedway on Friday night, and it was a local driver who prevailed.
Aaron Turnbull moved up from the No. 5 position on the starting grid and won the feature, finishing ahead of veteran late model driver Mike Balcaen of Winnipeg. David Smith of Parkland County, Alta., was third, completing an all-Canadian podium.
Jim Harris of Estevan was seventh. Some well-known American drivers who aren’t strangers to racing in Estevan also competed, including Hank Berry of Sidney, Mont., who finished fifth, and Steven Pfeifer of Minot, N.D., who came in sixth.
Drivers from southeast Saskatchewan won the other feature races as well. Manor’s Mason Big Eagle won the modified race, with Kody Scholpp of Estevan in second and Travis Hagen of Williston, N.D., finishing third.
The hobby stock feature was won by Leevi Runge of Lampman, with his brother Landon Runge in second. Riese Dignan of Kenmare, N.D., wound up in third.
Chris Hortness of Estevan was the winner in the stock car feature, with fellow local drivers Austin Daae and Gregg Mann finishing second and third, respectively, to complete the all-Estevan top three.
Finally, in the slingshot class, Keenan Glasser of Estevan was the winner, with Ryder Raynard in second spot and Cash Saxon of Lampman coming third.
Next week’s edition of the Mercury will have more on this story.
