PORT HARDY—The annual stock racing showcase, the Dirt Bowl at the Tri-Port Speedway, lived up to its billing last weekend with a superb display of racing over the two days of the doubleheader.
Ten cars took to the track for the racing proper, with laps from a mini stock and dwarf car between races, as fans were treated to double heats and trophy dash events in addition to the main events.
And, like any good racing, the frontrunner was too close to call as several drivers split the honours over the weekend.
Fast car for the weekend went to Chris Hardy, who posted the top time both days in hot laps.
The overall points win went to Jim Swift, who claimed three heat wins over the weekend, placing third in the other.
In the main events, a burgeoning rivalry between Nathan Bonn and Glen Day saw the pair nip and tuck at the front of the pack both nights, splitting the honours for the weekend.
Bonn travelled from Alberta last year to race in his first Dirt Bowl behind the wheel of a Woss relative’s car. Evidently he enjoyed the experience, as he returned to find his first checkered flag in Sunday’s main event.
Saturday’s main saw Bonn jump to the front off the green flag and hold position for most of the race. Day started five cars back and fought his way up the ranks, nestling behind the frontrunner ten laps in.
Behind them, Terry Olfrey, Donny Lawrence and Hardy were locked in their own battle, trading off position before Hardy spun out with a pair of flats, opening the door for Swift to move behind the leaders.
The front pair ran picture-perfect laps until lap 22 when Day found a little daylight on the inside of turn three and muscled through, converting the inside line into the lead out of the next corner and holding position for the win.
The Woss car got its revenge Sunday, taking the checkered flag from Day.
“It was an awesome weekend of racing,” said Glenn Bonn of Woss. “We did our homework and set the car up right for Sunday.”
Local driver Daniel Hovey rallied after car trouble put him on the sidelines during Saturday’s main event, finishing third overall in points with three wins and a second place in heat racing, a trophy dash win Sunday and third in Sunday’s main.
Brock Shore took a trophy dash win Saturday, while Day claimed two trophy dashes and two heat wins to go with Saturday’s main.
Day’s haul sees him sitting in familiar position at the top of the season standings with one more race to go. Behind him sit Swift and Jared Breitreitz, although, with just 56 points separating third from sixth, that order could easily change after the season final.
The drivers are back on the track Saturday, September 6, at the Speedway.
Event organizers also unveiled a new line of memorabilia last weekend, with a range of Tri-Port Speedway hats and T-shirts now available from the concession.
STOCK CAR RACING
Dirt Bowl
at Tri-Port Speedway
Dirt Bowl Round 1
Aug. 16
Fast time-in:
Chris Hardy
Trophy dash A:
1. Glen Day; 2. Daniel Hovey; 3. Nathan Bonn
Trophy dash B:
1. Brock Shore; 2. Chris Hardy; 3. Donny Lawrence
Heat 1A:
1. Day; 2. Bonn; 3. Jim Swift
Heat 2A:
1. Hovey; 2. Shore; 3. Lawrence
Heat 1B:
1. Swift; 2. Bonn; 3. Jared Breitkreitz
Heat 2B:
1. Hovey; 2. Day; 3. Hardy
Main event:
1. Day; 2. Bonn; 3. Swift; 4. Lawrence; 5. Terry Olfrey; 6. Shore; 7. Hardy; 8. Breitkreitz; 9. Hovey; 10. Paul Weeks.
Round 1 points:
1. Day, 103; 2. Swift, 102; 3. Lawrence, 81; 4. Bonn, 79; 5. Hardy, 76; 6. Hovey, 73; 7. Shore, 72; 8. Breitkreitz, 65; 9. Olfrey, 58; 10. Weeks, 30
Dirt Bowl Round 2
Aug. 17
Fast time-in:
Hardy
Trophy dash A:
1. Hovey
Trophy dash B:
1. Day
Heat 1A:
1. Hovey; 2. Day; 3. Bonn
Heat 2A:
1. Swift; 2. Lawrence; 3. Shore
Heat 1B:
1. Swift; 2. Lawrence; 3. Breitkreitz
Heat 2B:
1. Day; 2. Hovey; 3. Shore
Main event:
1. Bonn; 2. Day; 3. Hovey; 4. Swift; 5. Shore; 6. Lawrence; 7. Breitkreitz; 8; Hardy; 9. Olfrey
Round 2 points:
1. Swift, 113; 2. Day, 98; 3. Hovey, 93; 4. Bonn, 82; 5. Lawrence, 77; 6. Hardy, 63; 7. Breitkreitz, 63; 8. Shore, 62; 9. Olfrey, 45.
Season points
(through Aug. 17)
1. Day, 562; 2. Swift, 446; 3. Breitkreitz, 331; 4. Hovey, 311; 5. Shore, 298; 6. Hardy, 275; 7. Robbins/Lawrence, 212; 8. Bonn, 161; 9. Weeks, 124; 10. Olfrey, 103.