Home Track Advantage for Penticton's Mark Berreau

by Carrie Benson

Home track proved to be an advantage as Mark Berreau had wins in the A Heat and Main Event when Big Sky Pro-Racing Association (BSPRA) traveled to Penticton Speedway on Saturday, June 18. This was BSPRA’s second race of the 2005 season. Ten Rocky Mountain Pro Stocks made the trip from the Mission Valley, with two local cars passing inspection to race with the traveling class. After an early session of hot lapping, Josh Burland lost his transmission. Lucky for Burland, the #6 ‘company’ car didn’t have a driver at that point, so he was able to add a number and run it as his #16 to get year-end points.  Berreau also claimed fast time of the night with a 15.02.

Heat A started with Chuck Reese leading the first nine laps until Jarred Burland spun in turn 3 and Reese made contact sending both cars to the back. This made Berreau in the lead with a green-white-checkered finish. Berreau was able to hold off Wade Shepard who took second with Tracy Burland third. Heat B ran its ten laps without incident with Chuck Morigeau winning followed by Joe Ludwar and Brad Lee for third.

Two trophy dashes were then run, being lined-up according to Heat finishes. In dash A, Shepard took the lead and held off Chuck Morigeau for the win. On the white flag lap, T.Burland and Lee spun simultaneously but were able to get straightened out without a yellow being thrown. Dash B started the same with Chuck Reese leading all laps for the first win of his rookie season. Lynn Olsen had problems during this dash, only completing four laps before pulling into the pits.

The first half of the main was some stiff competition and lots of jockeying for positions. Lynn Olsen had troubles again, only completing four laps in the main. On lap 24, as the leaders were coming upon lap traffic, RJ Olsen and Joe Ludwar made contact at the start line sending Olsen around. Morigeau was close behind them and hit Olsen as he came back up the track.  Morigeau was done for the night but Olsen and Ludwar were able to come back out. On the restart, Ludwar lost his right front fender on the race track so a yellow was thrown before completing a lap, sending Ludwar to the back of the pack.

After completing one lap on the second restart, Jarred Burland got loose out of turn 4 coming down across the track in front of Wade Shepard. Shepard was unable to avoid Burland and they hit hard, with Burland coming to a rest backwards along the pit wall. Both cars were done for the night. Chuck Reese had a tire going down, but stayed on the track to keep position and points. Berreau took the checkered followed by T Burland and Lee rounding out the top three.

BSPRA’s next race is also in Canada when the group will travel the Friendship Trail for the second year as they return to Calgary Raceway Park on July 30^th. For more information and pictures, go to BSPRA’s main page at www.bigskyracing.net

Results:

Fast time of the night: Mark Berreau 15.02

Heat A: Berreau, Wade Shepard, Tracy Burland, RJ Olsen, Chuck Reese, Jarred Burland

Heat B: Chuck Morigeau, Joe Ladwar, Brad Lee, Lynn Olsen, Josh Burland

Dash A: Shepard, Morigeau, T Burland, Lee

Dash B: Reese, Jarred Burland, RJ Olsen, Josh Burland, L Olsen

Main: Berreau, T Burland, Lee, Ludwar, Josh Burland, RJ Olsen, Reese, Jarred Burland, Shepard, Morigeau, L Olsen