The Tri-City Racing Series is picking up some serious speed.
The second-year street-stock series stops at PGARA Speedway Park on Saturday night and, when the 75-lap main event hits the track, there could be as many as 30 cars battling for the checkered flag.
"As far as I know, for Western Canada, this is the biggest touring series right now," said PGARA president and driver Chris Arronge. "WESCAR is down to 15 cars and CASCAR, they don't get 30 cars for their races, that's for sure.
"There's a ton of interest in this," Arronge added. "It's pretty easy to show up to those two extra races, besides your local one. (There are) a lot of cars and there's a lot of prestige. And a lot of good cars too. These guys are points leaders in their towns - they're fast guys. We set a track record here (in time trials) and we go down to Williams Lake and we're fifth-quick on new tires and everything."
The first race in the Tri-City Series was held at Thunder Mountain Speedway in Williams Lake on July 2. The third and final one will run in Quesnel on Sept. 17.
At Thunder Mountain, Bob Kuhn of Penticton won the main event and was followed across the finish line by Rob Zimmer and Tim Graham. In a field of 28 cars, Prince George's Lyall McComber was fourth, while Arronge finished 14th after he was forced to the pits to deal with a flat tire.
Saturday's race will feature drivers from the three main cities - Williams Lake, Prince George (11 entries) and Quesnel - and will also have representation from Agassiz, Vernon and Penticton.
Among the favourites will be Williams Lake driver Arnie Kunka, who won last year's Tri-City race in Prince George.
The Tri-City race night, which starts at 6 with time trials, is being sponsored by Twin Rivers Developments. The event will include the Tri-Par RV Rentals hornets and the Chieftan Auto Parts mini stocks.
As an added attraction on Saturday, an airplane from the Vanderhoof Air Show will do a fly-by during the national anthem, at about 7 p.m.
For those who don't get their fill of squealing tires and bent metal on Saturday, the local oval also has a Sunday show, the PGARA Street Stock Invitational. Several of the out-of-town drivers are expected to stick around for the Sunday fun, which will double as a points meet for PGARA drivers.
"It's important," said Arronge, whose team is currently leading the PGARA street stocks point race with 170. In the top three, Arronge is ahead of Wayne French (148) and Jerry Gascon (137).
"You can make it or break it," Arronge added. "If you get a flat tire or get into trouble in the main event you lose a whack of points. With that many cars, you've got potential for 75 points for winning the main."
Sunday action will begin with time trials at 1 p.m., followed by racing at 2 p.m. Also on the schedule are the Northern Outlaw 4s, the hornets and mini stocks. The overall sponsor for the weekend is Brandt Tractor.
