When PGARA Speedway Park opens its new season on May 24, some high-powered trucks will be stars of the show.
PGARA - otherwise known as the Prince George Auto Racing Association - has struck a deal to bring the SuperTruck Racing Series to town.
"They're late-model truck bodies with full race car chassis," said PGARA president Chris Arronge.
"They've got stickier tires and bigger motors than the ASA [American Speed Association] cars that we have up, so they'll be quite a bit faster. You're probably looking at 16-second lap times."
The ASA show, typically the highlight of the season for race fans, is set for June 14.
The SuperTruck Racing Series is based in Saskatoon and holds most of its events there. Prince George and Hythe, Alta., are the only other places the SuperTrucks will run in 2014. One of the drivers is former Prince George resident Darren Guillet.
Arronge saw a SuperTruck race in Vernon a couple of years ago and that got him thinking about bringing them to Prince George. With the Vernon track not in operation this season because of a sale of its land, a window of opportunity presented itself and PGARA took advantage.
Arronge said the SuperTruck show will cost PGARA between $8,000 and $10,000 so he's hoping the event attracts a lot of ticket-buyers.
"It will be our biggest opening day in years," he said.
"It will be the first time we've had a truck series here, so that's cool. I think it will be a good deal for people to come out to the track."
Also on May 24, PGARA will run its Inland Kenworth hornets, Chieftan Auto Parts mini stocks and Richmond Steel street stocks in a double points meet.
The entire show will be sponsored by Mr. Quick Lube & Oil and White Spruce Enterprises.
