Rough bumpy pavement and full-throttle bumper-to-bumper stock car racing have created an element of danger for years on the three-eighths mile oval track at PGARA Speedway.
Drivers like Mark Jewell, who grew up racing in the Prince George Auto Racing Association, know all the ins and outs of that track and tried to avoid the notorious backstretch dips and humps that used to unload the front-end weight of a race car and create corner steering havoc.
So news the back straight section of the PGARA track was repaved on Tuesday came as a great relief to Jewell and the rest of the 18-car field expected for Saturday night's Mr. Quick Lube/White Spruce Enterprises 100.
"I honestly can't wait, the track needed to be paved and you could lose complete control and hit the wall," said Jewell.
"That hump going into Turn 3 was a bit scary. If you hit that just right it could knock you right up into the marbles and those walls come up way too fast. I'm not scared about that any more."
Sponsored by Pittman Asphalt and White Spruce Enterprises, the paving project also took care of some of the little bumps in the corners and created two more paved spots in the pits. ASA rules prevent drivers from practicing on the track the week before the race so Jewell will have to wait until race day to turn some hot laps and get used to the new tires the ASA series has adopted. Now that the track has been made safer, Jewell figures more drivers from southern B.C. will be willing to race in Prince George.
The 100-lap race is the third of six stops on the American Speed Association OK Tire Challenge Series. Matt Stephenson of Kaleden won the first two feature races in Vernon and Williams Lake and sits second on the points standings behind three-time series champion Korbin Thomas of Surrey, back after several years away from the series. The 23-year-old Jewell, who finished third in points in 2012, currently ranks sixth with 135 points, 33 behind Thomas.
Jewell led the Vernon race after 10 laps but got involved in a bit of wreck late in the race and had to pit to change a damaged rim. He finished on the lead lap in 10th, and followed that up with a fourth-place result in Williams Lake.
Local drivers Sheldon Mayert, Bob Williams, Warren Bergman, and Dave Olson will bring their loyal followers to the stands Saturday. PGARA's Chieftain Auto Parts mini-stock and Richmond Steel street stock series will also race Saturday. Time trials start at 6 p.m., with racing at 7.
