The Thunder Mountain Speedway race season will slam into gear this Saturday when the lakecity track plays host to the Wescar Late Model Touring Series.
On top of the provincial racing series action, local classes including bone stocks, pro minis and street stocks will hit the pavement for their first point-standing outing of the season.
In Wescar racing former Williams Lake resident and longtime racer Korbin Thomas, the three time and defending champion, and his brother, Kendall Thomas, will be looking to put on a show for the fans.
Joining Thomas will be fan favourite, Ryley Seibert of Williams Lake, who has been following in his father, Trevor’s, footsteps in the racing world.
Seibert said fans can expect to witness lots of horsepower on a small track.
“There’s generally about 20 cars that show up and we all make about 450 horsepower, so you’ve got about 9,000 horsepower going around that track,” Seibert said. “For people who haven’t been there it’s a sound that’s not just heard with your ears but in your chest. It gets your heart racing.
“There are lots of good drivers in this series so we’re going to be racing quite hard, laying fenders into each other. Close racing and really fast.”
As for racing at his hometown track, Seibert said it’s something he always looks forward to.
“I’ve always had good speed at that track and it’s always fun to put on a good show in front of your hometown crowd,” he said. “My family, friends and people who support me from town have always been really good to me, so it’s always a treat to race at home.”
After taking three fourth place finishes and one fifth place finish in his Wescar racing career, Seibert is looking to have a strong season this year. His season ended in disappointment last year when he was taken out in the first lap during the final race of the season, eliminating him from having a shot at the championship.
“I’ve got my hopes high and I’m driving for the win, like always,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to win a championship racing safe and racing hard. That’s the best way to win the championship is to make sure you make it to the finish line. We’re going to be coming hard and not going to be holding anything back.
“[I’m looking for] a bit of revenge on the championship this year.”
The Wescar stop is the first of six spanning from May to September. Other series events are scheduled in Prince George (June 11), Quesnel for Billy Barker Days (July 16), Agassiz (Aug. 6), Williams Lake (Aug. 27) and Quesnel (Sept. 17) for the points final.
The TMS executive, meanwhile, has been busy getting the track ready for the opening event.
The season opener kicks off with qualifying laps at 4 p.m. and racing at 5 p.m. at TMS, located west of Williams Lake off Highway 20 on Bond Lake Road.