Wade Lee hadn't been on a race track for four years until Saturday, but he made up for it by taking the checkered flag at the first White Spruce Enterprises Big Bore Super Truck race of the season in Prince George.
Lee, driving the Castrol No. 74 truck, sped out to the lead early and never looked back in the 100-lap main event at PGARA (Prince George Auto Racing Association) Speedway.
Lee's Chevy Silverado was the one that Darin Guillet, a Super Truck driver who grew up in Prince George and now calls Calgary home, drove last year.
"[Before the race] Darin asked how the truck felt and it felt good and he said if it wants to go, let it," said Lee, 47, a five-time CASCAR champion from Calgary. "I was a little rusty for the first few laps and I got the lead and hung on. They [the rest of the field] were right behind me and it felt pretty good.
"The track was quick in practice and I didn't quite hit it in qualifying, but I had an advantage of being out front. Both of the guys were strong at the end and if I had to do another 50, I'm not sure it would've been the same result. It was a little bit of luck and a perfect race."
Dean Graham of Kitscoty, Alta. finished second in the No. 44 Cave Inspections truck. Dusty O'Connell of Lloydminster, Alta. was right behind in third place.
Braham had taken an early lead until Lee passed him around the fourth lap. The two front-runners maintained their edge ahead of everyone else the entire time during the main race that took a little more than 30 minutes to complete and featured only two yellow flags.
"I've watched Wade race many times so I knew what I was up against," said Braham, 44, who was named Super Truck rookie of the year in 2009.
Braham, who finished fifth overall in the series in 2013, credited Guillet with giving the entire field some inside knowledge on his home track.
"Darin has raced here lots and it was great to have him here," said Braham. "In the two hours [between qualifying and the main], we made a pile of adjustments to the truck and it was great just to hold on at the end. I just went for it. It was a fantastic way to start the year."
The Super Truck Racing Series is based in Saskatoon and features six races in 2014. Its pit stop in Prince George, one of two slated outside Saskatchewan, opened PGARA's racing season.
The series arrived in town Thursday and visited fans Saturday morning at Chieftain Auto Parts and Mr. Quick prior to hot lapping that afternoon. Twelve vehicles were expected to race in the main event, but only eight were set to go after the qualifying round.
Racing conditions were perfect under clear, warm skies and atop a dry track surface.
"It's a great track," said Braham, who hadn't raced in Prince George before. "We didn't quite know what to expect, but it's a really fun track."
The series returns to Saskatoon on June 7.
Prior to the main Super Truck race, local drivers showed their mettle.
Gary Howard won the main race in the hornets class while Lawrence Barks won the main race in the mini-stocks class. James Lewis won the main race in the street stocks.
The next race at PGARA is the ASA (American Speed Association) OK Tire Challenge on June 14.
