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Jarred Burland Repeats at Race City, Calgary |
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By Carrie Benson Big Sky Pro Racing Association (BSPRA) traveled to Calgary’s Race City Motorsport their 3rd race of the season. Nine Rocky Mountain Pro Stocks made the trip, along with over 50 of their fans from the Mission Valley. After having the fast time of the night, Jarred Burland went on to win the main event for the second year in a row. Lynn Olsen was second with Brad Lee in third. After a rough night, Burland, Olsen and Lee were the only cars left on the track at the end of the main event. This caused a major shift in the year-end point standings. Jarred came into Calgary tied for 7th and left six points out of first place. Tracy Burland had the lead, but due to car trouble couldn’t run the main allowing Brad Lee, who was able to run consistent, to take over first place with 129 points. The night started with two 6 lap dashes. In dash B, Chuck Morigeau took the lead on the first lap, going on to take the checkered flag. Dash A had the father-son battle between Tracy and Jarred Burland. Jarred got the jump on the green flag and Tracy was unable to get around him. The sun played a factor in the heat race, as the drivers were unable to see going through turns 1 and 2. The first caution came out when, on the 2nd lap, Duane Olsen spun coming out of turn 2. He was leading at that time, so the rest of the class was close on his bumper. Two cars were able to get around Olsen but Wade Shepard wasn’t as lucky and hit Olsen hard. Both cars were done for the night. Some of the remaining cars had minor contact when trying to avoid the wreck, but nothing that would slow any of them down. Lap 7 saw two separate yellow flags, first when RJ Olsen spun out of turn 2, then Chuck Reese spun at the same spot upon the restart. Chuck Morigeau went on to take the checkered flag. Only 6 cars were able to start the main. Unable to start were Duane Olsen and Shepard after the wreck in the heat, and Tracy Burland who blew a head gasket at the end of the heat and was unable to make repairs. After completing 3 laps the first frightening moment of the race happened when Chuck Reese’s car caught on fire out of turn 4. Reese got the car stopped at the end of the front stretch and was able to escape and the rescue crew got the fire out. The fire started after Reese’s gas cap came off and gas got onto the brakes. The second moment was on the restart when RJ Olsen’s A frame broke and he was unable to turn going into turn one. RJ hit the wall hard, causing the right front tire to come off and he lost most of the fiberglass body off of the right side of the car. Proving how well these cars are made, RJ’s roll cage was fine, and he came out of the wreck uninjured. Four cars were left for the next restart, but soon Chuck Morigeau had to pull into the pits due to engine noise after he had been overheating all night. Despite having a battery that didn’t want to keep a charge, Jarred Burland was able to finished in the lead, followed by Lynn Olsen and Brad Lee. The local classes running with the Rocky Mountain Pro Stocks were the Claimer Class and the Stocks. Joe Broom, one of Brad Lee’s pit men, was able to get in on the race action as they were a driver short in the Claimer class. Broom raced the #50 Claimer, finishing the first round of heats, but lost a tire and didn’t run in the main. This was the second annual trip that BSPRA had taken to Calgary and Race City Motorsport Park. The Friendship Trail was formed last year, to promote tourism to the Mission Valley and promotional flyers were handed out to the fans. Race City is a premier facility with a ½ mile oval track, drag strip and a road course. Over fifty fans traveled with BSPRA this year, and they had a full race weekend as Street Drags ran on Friday, Oval track on Saturday and a motorcycle road race taking place on Sunday. BSPRA’s next race is at a familiar track, Mission Valley Speedway in Pablo, Mt. Most of the drivers have raced this track, though not with the class of Rocky Mountain Pro Stocks. This race will take place August 27th, for more information go to the official web site: www.bigskyracing.net . Results: Fast time of the night: Jarred Burland 18.97 Dash A: Jarred Burland, Tracy Burland, Chuck Reese, Lynn Olsen Dash B: Chuck Morigeau, Brad Lee, Duane Olsen, RJ Olsen Heat: Chuck Morigeau, Jarred Burland, Brad Lee, Lynn Olsen, Chuck Reese, RJ Olsen, Tracy Burland, Duane Olsen, Wade Shepard Main: Jarred Burland, Lynn Olsen, Brad Lee, Chuck Morigeau, RJ Olsen, Chuck Reese Points:
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