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Speedway hits brakes for end of season

Cole Byrd, in just his third year racing, claimed the Thunder Mountain Speedway’s street stock championship.
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Thunder Mountain Speedway’s 2015 Street Stock champion

Racing is in Cole Byrd’s blood.

Cole, in just his third year racing, claimed nine trophies — including the most sportsmanlike driver and best appearing car — and sprinted away with Thunder Mountain Speedway’s street stock points championship.

Drivers were honoured at the Williams Lake Sportsmen’s Association Clubhouse during TMS’s Awards Banquet Saturday.

Cole, in the No. 77 car formerly run by Shuster Johnson for 40 years, amassed 72 points across seven events, four points ahead of a second-place tie between Kane Fraser and Byron Hesselgrave (68 points).

Third place in the division went to Tim Graham, followed by Joran Bremner in fourth and Donny Kunka in fifth.

Cole’s brother, Matt Byrd, made it a two-way sweep as Matt claimed the Quesnel Goldpan Speedway season points championship, following in their father George’s footsteps after he raced cars in the 1980s and 1990s.

In the TMS pro mini division it was youth over experience as Allen Roberts picked up the first-place championship with 91 points over his dad, Tim Robers (76 points), in second place. Third went to longtime racer Marius Dunford with 48 points.

The bone stock class another father, son duo finished first and second.

Gordon Bettles claimed 134 points on the season to finish ahead of his dad, Brian Bettles (102), to win the championship. Third place went to Shawn Knott (89 points).

TMS president Bob Lowen thanked all of the racers for a great season and said the year-end awards banquet went well.

“We had some close finishes,” Lowen said. “That tie between Kane and Byron in the street stock division is a good example.”

Volunteers were also honoured during the TMS banquet.

“We can’t thank them enough,” he said. “Without the volunteers we wouldn’t be racing and doing what we love to do. We gave several volunteers extra recognition.”

Additionally, Heartland Toyota donated a trip for two to a choice of 99 destinations, won by Jennifer Knott in a raffle.

During the racing offseason, Lowen said TMS’s concession in the pits — an old school bus converted into a concession — will be replaced.

“Last year we had a proper concession trailer donated to us,” he said. “It needs to be remodelled a bit but that’s our main priority to get that done.”

He added TMS directors are also working on several interesting sponsorships for next season.



Greg Sabatino

About the Author: Greg Sabatino

Greg Sabatino graduated from Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops with a Bachelor of Journalism degree in 2008.
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