BSPRA holds Championship Night

By Carrie Benson

Big Sky Pro Racing Association (BSPRA) had their championship night of racing for the Rocky Mountian Pro-Stocks hosted at Mission Valley Speedway, Saturday August 26. Going into the night, Jarred Burland had a six point lead over Wade Shepard with Tracy Burland only two points behind him. Shepard finished one place ahead of Jarred in all three races earning 256 points for the year. Unfortunately for Wade, that was one shy of Jarred’s 257 points that won him the 2006 Pro-Stock Championship. Jarred also won the championship in 2004, and was only three points out of the lead in 2005.

Although Burland won the championship, Casey Brandt was the big winner of the night taking home the Main Event trophy and the heat win. This was Brandt’s first race with BSPRA and he started out laying down the fast time of the night with a 16.27. In BSPRA’s rule book, all rookies must start in the back of the line-up for the heat and main races, which meant that Brandt had to work his way though the field to get his two wins on the night. Also having to start in the back along with Brandt were rookies Bobby Butler, who has raced this season with BSPRA, and Pat McCrea who got in and raced for the first time with the group.

The heat started out the night, with all the pro-stock running hard for the year end points. On lap 7, in the middle of the pack, RJ Olsen and Jarred had contact but the race was able to continue without a yellow. Then on lap 13, RJ spun into the infield, but again was able to continue. Tracy Burland was in the lead until he and Brandt had contact coming out of turn 4 and Burland spun. Brandt led the remaining 3 laps to take the win.

Trophy dashes were then lined out from the heat finish. RJ Olsen got a good start in the B Dash, and went on to win his first trophy of the year. Dash A was a 6 lap shoot out between the top three in points, Jarred Burland, Tracy Burland, and Wade Shepard. Shepard took the trophy with Jarred in second and Tracy in third. Brandt was unable to start due to engine troubles.

The main event again had Brandt and Tracy Burland fighting it out. After starting in the back, Brandt was able to get to the front in 9 laps. The first yellow also came on that lap, when Jarred Burland and Shepard had contact. This sent both cars to the back, with Shepard one ahead of Burland. The only other yellow flag of the night came on lap 19 when Josh Burland was having mechanical problems slowing on the track and had to go into the pits, and RJ Olsen spun on turn 2. This yellow packed the class with Tracy Burland trying to then get around Brandt. Brandt was able to stay in front, with Tracy Burland coming in second, and Wade Shepard in third.

For more information go to BSPRA’s official web site: www.bigskyracing.net

Results:

Fast time: Casey Brandt 16.27

Heat: #33 Casey Brandt, #4 Wade Shepard, #43 Jarred Burland, #7 Tracy Burland, #16 Josh Burland, #26 RJ Olsen, #40 Duane Olsen, #3 Bobby Butler, #6 Pat McCrea

Trophy Dash B: #26 RJ Olsen, #16 J. Burland, #40 D Olsen, #3 Butler

Trophy Dash A: #4 Shepard, #43 J. Burland, #7 T. Burland, DNS: Brandt

Main:  #33 Brandt, #7 T Burland, #4 Shepard, #43 J Burland, #26 RJ Olsen, #6 Pat McCrea, #40 D Olsen, #16 J Burland, DNS: #3 Butler