Chieftain Auto Parts / Pennzoil WESCAR 100 - September 8

click [here] to open this article in a new window 1st Place: #23 - Peter Ernst 2nd Place - #14 Phil Hustad 3rd Place - #3 Logan Jewel WESCAR OKTIRE Challenge Series - Chieftain Auto Parts/ Pennzoil WESCAR 100 Results: September 8, 2007, PGARA Speedway Park - Prince George, BC

The WESCAR OKTire Challenge arrived at PGARA speedway in Prince George on Saturday under the promise of clear blue skies and warm temperatures. The fans dressed for the event weather only to be chilled by the late summer evening event that chilled many, even some of the drivers. Three veteran drivers were in the hunt for a championship on this night, #23 Peter Ernst of Quesnel, # 5 Bob Williams of Prince George and the #38 Lee Thomas of Fort St. John. Only one would have the opportunity to spray champagne in the winner’s circle and claim the season title. Qualifying saw the #6 Brandt Tractor Chevy of Sheldon Mayert from Prince George set fast time with a 17.039 lap with Lightning Lee Thomas in the #38 T&T Communications Pontiac only 8 thousandths of a second slower to earn 2nd fastest. Early in the evening as the sun set and the air cooled the B-heat was won by Phil Hustad driving the Ian Black #14 Jock’s Excavating Chev and the A-heat winner was #52 Garnet Grimard in the NorthShore Repair Chevy. The temperatures dropped and the green flag went up to start the final race of the 2007 tour sponsored by Chieftain Autoparts and Pennzoil Lubricants. The #14 Jock’s Excavating Chev driven by Phil Hustad moved to an early lead and was chased down by fellow Terrace driver #92 Darcy McKeown driving the Gary McCarthy GM prepared Chevy. On lap 4 the #38 Thomas and #52 Grimard got together with the #52 getting the worst of the contact. Garnet slammed the turn 3 wall hard, his second hard hit of the season after an earlier incident in Williams Lake. On the July long weekend at Thunder Mountain Speedway Grimard also hit the turn 3 wall hard. Lap 14 saw a caution for debris on the track and lap 32 had a yellow flag wave when the #5 Bobby Williams and the #22 Chris Babcock got together. A poorly aligned restart on lap 37 resulted in a repeat restart with #92 Darcy McKeown holding the point position. McKeown had to fend off many challengers (#14, #5, #23) on restarts through the evening but did a masterful job of capitalizing on all except one on lap 90 when being challenged by the #23 Peter Ernst. Coming off turn 4 to the green the #92 slid sidewards and brought out another caution along with the #2 Chase Larson and #89 Darren Swaan all stopping together on the front straight. This accident ended the night early for the #92 McKeown short of the 100 lap marker after putting on a great show of driving skill for all the cheering race fans. One more caution flag waved on lap 92 when the #38 Thomas and the #6 Mayert made on track racing contact. This last caution created a 5 lap shootout with #23 Peter Ernst in his Fountain Tire Chevy holding the front position. The #14 Hustad drove consistent but was not able to catch the dominant #23 machine and close behind the #14 was WESCAR rookie #3 Logan Jewel in his NEWALTA Monte Carlo in his first WESCAR race. Another rookie #22 Chris Babcock was running close behind the pack in 4th when the Fountain Tire sponsored #23 Peter Ernst passed under the checkered flag claiming his 5th victory of the season winning the Chieftain Autoparts/Pennzoil WESCAR 100 and earned with his crew the 2007 OKTire Challenge Series Championship. That was how the front four finished to complete the 8th race of the OKTire Challenge Series , the rest of the finishing order is attached below.. The WESCAR Awards banquet will be held later this fall. All the volunteers, drivers and crews applaud all the dedicated WESCAR fans that continue to follow and support the series. Everyone with WESCAR appreciated the season support and invite all of you loyal fans back to the track when the OKTire Challenge Series resumes racing in May 2008. Thank-you and travel safely in the off season of racing.

place, car, driver: 1. #23 Peter Ernst; 2. #14 Phil Hustad; 3. #3 Logan Jewel; 4. #22 Chis Babcock; 5. #6 Sheldon Mayert; 6. #38 Lee Thomas; 7. #5 Bob Williams; 8. #2 Chase Larson; 9. #89 Darren Swaan; 10. #92 Darcy McKeown; 11. #44 Grant Powers; 12. #71 David Olson; 13. #52 Garnet Grimard; // Fast Qualifier: #6 Sheldon Mayert, 17.039 seconds // Margin of victory, 1.643 seconds // Race time 49:48 //

Submitted by Douglas Waller WESCAR OK Tire Challenge Series Announcer/Media Rep.