Prince George may be in the throes of an early winter, but that doesn't mean stock car racing enthusiasts aren't stuck spinning their wheels.
In fact, it's just the opposite.
Organizers of the Tri-City Race Series have recently given the green flag to add a fourth race in Penticton in 2015.
"The fourth race is huge for the series, it compliments the racers in the Lower Mainland and the Island giving them a closer venue to compete in the Tri-City Race series," said Tri-City Race Series vice-president Bill Klugh Jr. "It also says a lot for the tight-knit racing community that has not had tracks this close together in the province communicating with each other in many, many years. Adding the fourth race has attracted many more drivers to the series and I expect car counts to rise into the 40s."
The series dates back to the early 1970s where stock car races were held every weekend in one of the three cities in central B.C. - Prince George, Quesnel, and Williams Lake - and a champion was crowned at the end of the season.
After the popularity of the series of old-fashioned stock car racing in the '70s and '80s , the series sputtered out but was re-ignited in 2013 as 12 cars took to the track at Thunder Mountain Speedway in Williams Lake on Stampede weekend.
In 2014, the series opened up to street stocks from across the province and Washington State as between 20 to 29 cars lined up at the three races.
The race at Prince George Auto Racing Association's track was held Aug. 9 and 10.
Twenty street stock cars - mostly Camaros, Dodges, Buicks and Monte Carlos - competed in the weekend event that included a 75-lap main event.
When the dust settled at the end of the season after Quesnel's race Sept. 27 and 28, Brian Clutchey of Victoria won the series, followed by Arnie Kunka of Williams Lake in second place and Byron Hesselgrave of Quesnel locking down third place.
"The series has helped local tracks also build car count as many cars are being built as we speak in our surrounding area," said Klugh Jr., who represents PGARA on the Tri-City organization. "The response was amazing from all drivers in last year's series - not one sad face. Drivers have contacted me from all over, including the United States."
The meeting to bring Penticton into the fold was held Nov. 22 in Quesnel with representatives from all three tracks, plus Penticton.
Klugh mentioned maybe the series should show its support of drivers from the southern part of the province such as the Okanagan, by hosting a fourth race in that region.
That's when Tim Graham, the representative of the Penticton Speedway Street Stock volunteered its prestigious Gordie Manne's Invitational Race on Aug. 1.
With that addition, the decision was made that the series championship format would change from a three-race points total to a best three-out-of-four race points tally.
It now allows drivers to choose from their three best finishes or even sit out a race for any reason, whether it be from mechanical failure or financial restrictions.
The points championship fund has also increased from $3,000 to $4,000.
Also new this year is the addition of a new main series sponsor - Fraser Bevz Broughton Chartered Accountants, which has offices in all four communities. The firm has committed $6,000 to the series, bringing the four-race shoot-out style series total pay-out to $10,000.
That's due to Kane Fraser, a partner in the firm as well as a rookie street stock driver, said Klugh Jr.
The first Tri-City Race Series of 2015 takes to the track at Thunder Mountain Speedway in Williams Lake on June 27.
It then travels south to Penticton on Aug. 1, and returns to Prince George at the PGARA Playground of Power Invitational weekend on Aug. 15. It will wrap up on Sept. 26 at the QARA (Quesnel Auto Racing Association) Fall Classic Invitational at Goldpan Speedway.
