Williams Lake Pictures - April Sedlock

Logan Jewel in The MacCarthy GM Chevrolet Wins Heartland Toyota 100

2012 ARCA OK Tire Sportsman Series Race Recap for Williams Lake - Race 2

Saturday afternoon in Williams Lake brought beautiful blue skies and mid 20’s temperatures to Thunder Mountain Raceway, the venue for race 2 of the ARCA OK Tire Sportsman Series. The superfast 3/8 mile oval was hot and slick through practice and looking like only one racing groove would come in. As practice sessions passed, the ARCA series was able to connect their timing and scoring system to the internet and for the first time in sportsman racing history in BC, the entire world had access to the Heartland Toyota 100 lap event. In fact, previous series official Tyler Polaski watched the scoring live from Australia.

Qualifying order was set from the last practice session and it was clear local driver Ryley Seibert was superfast. Not to be left out was Mark Berriau, Sarah Cornett-Ching, Logan jewel, Dave Olson, and Ian Graham all within 2 tenths. When Qualifying was all over, Ryley Seibert had set a new track record of 15.852. Berriau so close with a 15.913, and Olson a 15.933. The top eight cars were separated by just over two tenths.The heat races were fast and furious with Trevor Adelman winning the B heat and Ian Graham winning the A heat.

The three wide solute to the fans was awesome as the fans came to their feet to watch the field pass. The 47 of Trevor Adelman took the field to green with the Ford of Chris Babcock number 22 on outside pole. Adelman took a commanding lead as the 22 slid into second place. A long green run had rookie Barry Clayton racing hard to stay on the lead lap. The 92 of Logan Jewel was solid in third and Dave Olson in the 71 biding his time in fourth.  Lap 28 had the 92 under the 47of Adelman, taking the lead. Adelman became a victim of a one groove race track and began to shuffle towards the back. Yellow flew for the spinning 47 car in turn two. Ryley Seibert was tangled up in the wreck and peeled the right front fender back on the 09 Chev. Under caution Seibert tried to rub the fender off against the front stretch wall, but a black flag sent him to the pits for repair. Back to green Jewel continued to lead with pressure from 71 and 27. Graham fourth, Babcock held fifth, with Loudoun in the 12 saving tires. After a long green run, the 09 of Seibert slid off the backstretch, nearly missing the wall and spinning into turn three, bringing out the caution. Green on 76, Berriau into second, as he begins to size up the 92 of Jewel. A spinning 99 car of Cornett-Ching has the yellow back out, leaving a ten lap sprint to decide the winner. Running in second, Berriau draws the high side restart, with Olson in third tight behind jewel. Jeff Cameron gets the free pass and earns a lap back. Ian Graham, last years’ race winner in fourth, but will have to battle the high side restart. Babcock solid in fifth, loudoun sixth, Seibert back on the lead lap in seventh, hoping for a great restart. Mear and Adelman hold eighth and ninth respectfully. Rookie points leader Jeff Cameron sits in tenth spot, Cornett-Ching eleventh, and Clayton in twelfth. The green flew again as nine laps remain. Berriau tries the high side for a pass on Jewel, but dives low to hold second, Olson third. With cooled tires, the 92 pulls out a car length, Berriau pushes but time runs out and Jewel collects the big prize. Berriau looks after his points lead with a second and Olson shakes the monkey off his back with a strong third and the fastest lap of the race. Congratulations to all ARCA OK Tire Sportsman drivers for a great race. Truly a very skilled and committed group of drivers and crews. The championship battle is in full swing so come to Prince George and enjoy the 50^th anniversary celebrations on June 16 – race 3.        

Mark Berriau Finishes Second in ARCA Race 2

Dave Olson Places 3rd in ARCA Race 2

THUNDER ON THE MOUNTAIN – WILLIAMS LAKE NEXT RACE

The ARCA OK Tire Sportsman Series heads to Thunder Mountain Raceway in Williams Lake for race two next Saturday May 26. The three eighths egg shaped oval always provides fans and racers with guaranteed excitement. The track is one of the fastest short tracks in the west and with the two distinctly different corners provides a challenge to racers. “It is one of those tracks you have to be passively aggressive on” says one seasoned racer. “You have to race the track and the other competitors. One mistake and the track will beat you, the walls are tight and there is little room for error.”  The championship contenders have already emerged. Two time ARCA champ Mark Berriau sits only four points out of the top spot. Top three contenders from 2011 has young guns Ian Graham and Ryley Seibert in the cat bird seat. Regular touring racers Trevor Adelman, Logan Jewel, and Dave Olson stand a great chance of moving into the top five. 2011 WCSS race winner Sarah Cornett-Ching needs a good run to battle into the points challenge. The rookie battle heats up as all three rookies plan to make the trip to the lake. Jeff Cameron, Cass Walker and Barry Clayton are separated by only thirteen points.  ARCA welcomes all sportsman racers to come on out and enjoy the fun.  See you at the track.

Lordco 100 Race Recap

2012 ARCA OK Tire Sportsman Series Race 1 Lordco 100 – Motoplex

 



Trevor Seibert Wins Lorco 100



Dave Hemrich - Second Place



Ian Graham - Third

A beautiful summer day in the Okanagan valley was the backdrop to a great ARCA OK Tire Sportsman Series race. 21 drivers were prepping cars and polishing driving after the long cold winter. NASCAR Canadian Tire driver Trevor Seibert was out in the number 69 car, marking the second only father-son combination to compete since the Mike and Peter Ernst duo years ago. Ryley Seibert was pumped to race against his dad, and as 2010 ARCA rookie of the year, he was fully qualified to take him on. In an interesting twist, Mike Ernst was the crew-chief for the 69.  A great looking field of cars practiced hard on the ½ mile D shaped oval, unfortunately for returning racer Ray Campbell, something failed in the motor and left him sidelined for the night. Qualifying order was set by last practice times and both previous ARCA/WCSS champions Mark Berriau and Matt Stephenson were one and two respectively. Not to be left out was Ian Graham, current track record holder posting the third quickest practice time. When qualifying concluded, Berriau was number one with an 18.695. A hot slick track left Graham’s record in-tact. Heat races were fast and furious with Bobby Mear winning the B heat taking home the 5 gallon can of VP Racing fuel. Unfortunately the night ended early for Dan Ursel in the 74 Lordco machine as the engine let go early in the heat. 2011 ARCA rookie of the year, Sarah Cornett-Ching was unchallenged in her number 99 Cadillac, bringing a flag to flag victory home in the A heat.

The long anticipated feature event had the weather cooling and crews scrambling to adjust. The 22 Ford of Chris Babcock took the field to the field to the green with Logan Jewel on the outside pole. Jewel, running hard lead the first lap and settled in. An early caution for a spinning Bobby Mear reset the field and set up a long green run. Jewel lead with Cornett-Ching, Rob Angus, Trevor Seibert and Chris Babcock in chase. As cars sorted out, Berriau, Stephenson, Ryley Seibert, Loudoun, and  Dave Hemrich worked through traffic. The yellow flag flew at lap 40 for a spinning Matt Stephenson and Sarah Cornett-Ching off of turn 4. Stephenson stayed off inside wall, but Cornett-Ching made contact, doing minor suspension damage. She was able to return, but the car was slowed by the damage. Jewel brought the field to the green with Seibert now pressuring in second, Graham and Hemrich take advantage of the restart and slid into third and fourth spots. Caution again for the spinning 71 of Dave Olson. A transmission popping out of gear cost the young driver 5th spot. Lap 57 Seibert mounted the pass for the lead on the high side. Jewel fought back, but Seibert took the lead. The 92 of jewel, pinched tight down low, slid to fourth as Hemrich and Graham gained spots. Pacing his way through the field, at lap 76, Mark Berriau entered the fray, passing Ian Graham for fourth spot as Ryley Seibert entered the mix. Lap 91 slowed the field to yellow for contact sending 96 of Don Nickel around. Nine laps to go, the battle between Hemrich and Trevor Seibert heated up. You couldn’t fit a piece of paper between the two cars. Five to go had Berriau sliding by Hemrich to second, setting his sights on Seibert. Jewel, Ryley Seibert, and Graham lay in wait. White flag and Berriau set up the pass. Off of two, Berriau pressured hard. Something in the diff lets go, turning the car sideways. Berriau saves the car, but Seibert and Graham react, one on each side. Trevor Seibert wins the Lordco 100. Hemrich into second, Graham third, Ryley Seibert fourth, Mark Berriau holds Fifth. Jewel a solid run in sixth, Loudoun seventh, Trevor Adelman brings his new car to eighth, Bobby Mear recovers after his spin to ninth spot. Stephenson after a tough night rounds the top ten. Babcock eleventh. Dave Olson manages a twelfth spot. Mike Soppit with a solid in lucky number thirteen. Don nickel fourteen, ARCA rookie Jeff Cameron fifteenth, Cornett-Ching survives the night with a sixteenth. Rookie contender Cass Walker finished a good run in seventeenth, A cut tire sends Rob Angus back to eighteenth, Rookie Barry Clayton rounds out the nineteenth spot. Thanks to all of the sportsman racers, teams and fans for a great night of racing. See you all in Williams Lake for Race 2 of the ARCA OK Tire Sportsman Series.          



Official results - ARCA OK Tire - Lordco 100 Motoplex

Timing and Scoring notes Race 1. Sarah Cornett-Ching on lead lap 89, scored down a lap on 90 due to no count caution placement issue. Corrected no count placement placed her back on lead lap on 90. changed main results by 3 positions. Cass Walker earned 1 passing point not posted, added to championship corrected main event finish and championship results May 15 2012.