It was a few weeks later than hoped, but the Estevan Motor Speedway opened its 2022 season with a doubleheader on Friday and Saturday nights.
Races were held in each of the five classes: the IMCA modifieds, stock cars, sport mods and hobby stocks, and the slingshots entry class. Nearly 60 cars entered each night between the five divisions.
In the modified class, Ed Turnbull grabbed the lead at the start of Friday’s race, and then had to hold off Kody Scholpp in what proved to be a thrilling duel during the second half of the 25-lap feature. Scholpp would come close to passing Turnbull a few times, but couldn’t seize the lead.
Tyson Turnbull was third and Tyler Wagner came in fourth.
In Saturday’s feature race, Tyson Turnbull took top spot. Scholpp was second, Ed Turnbull was third and Joey Galloway was fourth.
The stock car class was the closest of all Friday. Scholpp, also competing in that division, had the lead for most of the race, but had to drop out after he was involved in a couple of incidents.
Chris Hortness took the lead, and was in top spot entering the final lap, but lost top spot to Ryan Atkings coming out of turn two. Hortness would get it back coming out of turn four, and he edged Atkings by less than one-tenth of a second.
Geoff Mann was third and Gary Goudy Jr. was fourth.
Scholpp won the feature on Saturday night. Austin Daae was second, Gregg Mann was third and Hortness settled for fourth.
Leevi Runge was the winner in the sport mod class both nights. Friday night’s race was a caution-free feature. Runge jumped into the lead early on, and without a yellow flag to bring the field together, Runge was able to win by nearly five seconds.
Keenan Glasser was second Friday night. Brian Kentner was third and Justin Fichter was fourth.
Rylan Raynard was second on Saturday, with Fichter third and Glasser in fourth.
Connor Hansen captured the hobby stock feature Friday night. He took the lead six laps into the feature, and then held off challenges from multiple drivers.
The race had several cautions, including one with a couple of laps to go, but the field couldn’t catch Hansen.
Kaiden Tuchscherer was second, Kayden Hjorteland was third and Riley Mann came fourth.
Tuchscherer was the winner for Saturday night’s feature. Landon Runge was second, Connor Hansen was third and Kruz Wilson was fourth.
Cash Saxon won the slingshot feature. Like the sport mod feature, it was run without a caution, allowing Saxon to pull away and win by about five seconds over Eli Turnbull. Jagger Ashworth was third and Jacek Ashworth was fourth.
Jace Emmel captured the feature race on Saturday. Eli Turnbull was second for the second straight night, while Jacek Ashworth was third and Jagger Ashworth came in fourth.
The speedway season was supposed to open May 13 and 14, but those programs were cancelled due to rain. The spring endure was also called off.
The next program at the track will be June 17, starting at 7 p.m.
