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Top B.C. racers hit Thunder Mountain this Saturday

The best race car drivers in the province will make their way to Williams Lake this Saturday.
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The ARCA West OK Tire Sportsman Series cars return to Williams Lake this Saturday. The action starts at 6 p.m.

The best race car drivers in the province will make their way to Williams Lake this Saturday when the ARCA West OK Tire Sportsman Series (AWOTSS) invades Thunder Mountain Speedway.

Kendall Thomas, AWOTSS race director, said fans are in for a treat.

“It’s a culmination of all the top drivers from local race tracks around B.C. coming to Williams Lake to prove themselves,” Thomas said. “This has become one of the most competitive and tightest raced touring series probably on the west coast.”

Local racing fans will recognize at least one name on the driver list as 2010 AWOTSS Rookie of the Year Ryley Seibert of Williams Lake will be in action.

Ryley’s dad, Trevor, who won the opening AWOTSS event May 13 in Vernon won’t be racing this weekend, Thomas said. Ryley, racing for the first time against his dad in the series, crossed the finish line in fourth to start his season.

The AWOTSS is a six-race provincial touring series, which evolved from the WESCAR series (Williams Lake, Quesnel and Prince George made up the series) to a combination of both the northern and southern regions of the province.

“It’s sanctioned by the Auto Racing Club of American (ARCA) ... everyone starts at an entry level at their local track and as they learn and prepare and go through all of this these drivers eventually purchase a car that meets this specific set of rules,” Thomas said.

“This is as high as you can go as far as provincial dealing.”

The engines require a two-barrel carburetor and house about 450 horsepower.

“They’re mandated to run an eight-inch-wide grooved tire, too,” Thomas said. “The way it’s designed it really forces the drivers to drive well, race well and learn how to set their cars up.

“It really puts focus on that and not so much focus on having big horsepower and sticky tires. They have to put the whole package together.”

In addition to the AWOTSS cars local drivers will kick off their points series at the track in Heartland Toyota Pro Minis, Bone Stocks, Street Stocks and Thunders.

Following local Thunder Mountain Speedway points finals the 100-lap AWOTSS main event takes place.

Time trials start at 5 p.m. with racing to begin at 6 p.m.



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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