VICTORIA, BC – The final Shockwave Seats Canada 200 race to be run at Westshore Motorsports Park (formerly Western Speedway) is set for this Saturday and Sunday.  Since 1972 the Victoria, British Columbia track has hosted some of the best Late Model racers competing for some spectacular prize money.  This race is no exception as the winner will receive $15,000 and have his name engraved on the Reg Midgley memorial trophy.  “I would give up the rest of the season to hoist that trophy,” exclaims Jason Frost, “having my name on the same trophy as Herschel McGriff, Garret Evans, Roy Haslam, Darrell Midgley, all the drivers on there that I watched.  Just to be included in the race that those guys raced in is a big deal for me.”  The driver of the Northern Provincial Pipelines/The Keg Steakhouse #81F Dodge raced his own car in the Canada 200 more than two-decades ago.   “I’ve been close. I finished second to Donny Smith (in 1993 or 1994).  I finished third once.”  Frost has run five Canada 200 events in the Team NPP Late Model since taking over driving duties from Darrell Midgley and has recorded three top-10 finishes.  His best Canada 200 finish in the Team NPP Dodge was 6th back in 2020.  “I’ve always enjoyed long races.  I’ve always enjoyed the endurance part of it.  I’m also ok with pacing and waiting my turn.”  Frost indicates the goal for him is simple.  “I’ve got to piece together a good smart race and finish close to the front.

Darrell Midgley meanwhile is looking at this weekend’s event at Westshore Motorsports Park as bittersweet.  “Every time we do something out there it’s the last time.  It’s very sad but its reality and we just have to deal with it.”  The oldest operating race track in Western Canada (est. 1954) is closing its doors at the end of September.  Midgley won back-to- back Canada 200 races in 1998 and 1999.  He finished 3rd in 2014.  “We should have won it in 2020 but my buddy kind of took me out.”  When the Canada 200 race weekend approaches each year it’s hard for Midgley not to think of his father.  “He was the one that started this race in 1972.  It’s got a tremendous amount of meaning to me.”  Reg Midgley was the promoter of Western Speedway in the early 70’s.  The Canada 200 trophy was re-named in Reg Midgleys honor after his passing in 2010.  “It’s a very special race and it’s a hard event to win too.  This is the last one (for Westshore Motorsports Park) so a win would be extra special.”  The driver of the Northern Provincial Pipelines/AMS Engines #81 Dodge indicates a pole position is nice but not crucial for the Canada 200.  “I do think it’s important to start in the top-10.  Further back, you get caught up in other peoples stuff.  It’s an endurance race.”  Due to a majority of Late Models not having large fuel cells, there will be a fuel stop at Lap 100 of the 200 lap race.  Track officials have several practice sessions set for Late Model teams on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

NOTE: Several Alberta based companies have stepped up and contributed to the prize fund for the 2022 Shockwave Seats Canada 200 at Westshore Motorsports Park on Vancouver Island.
– Northern Provincial Pipelines Ltd. (Edson)
– Ron Hodgson Chevrolet Buick GMC (St. Albert)
– Equipment Sales & Service (Edmonton)
– Carlan Services (Whitecourt)
– Integra Tire (Edson)

> FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2nd
5:00pm – 8:00pm Practice
———————————————-
> SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3rd  
10:00am Race Car Parade from Westshore Motorsports Park to Bryn Maur Parking area
10:15am – 11:45am Pancake Breakfast with the race teams
11:45am Race Car Parade from Bryn Maur Parking area back to WMP
4:30pm Spectator gates open
5:30pm Qualifying
6:30pm Racing
– Outlaw 4’s
– Modifieds
– BC Street Stocks (75 Laps)

———————————————
> SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4th
12:30pm Spectator gates open 
1:00pm Racing
– Late Model “B” Feature
– Outlaw 4’s
– Modifieds
– BC Street Stocks (75 Laps)
5:00pm On-track fan fest with drivers
6:00pm CANADA 200
– Late Models (200 laps)

———————————————-

>UPDATE #1
VICTORIA, BC (September 3) – Both Team NPP drivers qualified in the top-10 Saturday night at Westshore Motorsports Park.  The Canada 200 race, presented by Shockwave Seats, will run Sunday evening.  Jason Frost qualified the Northern Provincial Pipelines/The Keg Steakhouse #81F Dodge in the number 4 position running a 16.744.  Darrell Midgley ran 16.793 and was 7th fastest in the Northern Provincial Pipelines /AMS Engines #81 Dodge.  Part-time Team NPP driver Brandon Carlson, driving in his own race car, qualified #1 running 16.669.  The top-20 cars are locked in to Sundays race.  15 cars will battle Sunday afternoon in the ‘B’ Feature.  A total of 26-cars will take the green flag on Sunday evening in the $15,000 to win race.

CANADA 200 QUALIFYING (top 10)
1. #14 Brandon Carlson    16.669
2. # 5 Mark Stuart             16.670 (-.001)
3. # 5 Korbin Thomas        16.718 (-.049)
4. #81F Jason Frost          16.744 (-.075)
5. #41 Spencer Carlson    16.759 (-.090)
6. # 4 Kyle Cottam            16.775 (-.106)
7. #81 Darrell Midgley       16.793 (-.124)
8. #47 Trevor Adelman      16.808 (-.139)
9. #33 Dave Hemrich         16.813 (-.144)
10.#16 Rory Smith             16.825 (-.156)

NOTE:  Random pill draw determines official starting order after qualifying.  Pill draw result: Top-10 will be inverted.  Rory Smith will sit on the pole for the 2022 Canada 200 race on Sunday.  Dave Hemrich will start on the outside of the front row.  Darrell Midgley will start in the #4 position. Jason Frost starts in the #7 position.

>UPDATE #2
VICTORIA, BC (September 4 @ 12:40pm PST) – The final day of the Canada 200 at Westshore Motorsports Park is being hampered by on and off rain showers.  Afternoon race action (1:00pm start) featuring the Late Model ‘B’ Main and the 75 Lap Street Stock Feature has been delayed.  The Canada 200 presented by Shockwave Seats is still scheduled to begin at 6:00pm.  Will update when conditions change.

>UPDATE #3
VICTORIA, BC (September 4 @ 1:40pm PST) – Hornets and Modified’s took to the track for a brief session of hot laps.  Unfortunately light rain is falling once again at Westshore Motorsports Park.  Doppler radar is showing that precipitation will be in the area for another hour before moving off to the east. 

>UPDATE #4
VICTORIA, BC (September 4 @ 3:10pm PST) – Race officials at Westshore Motorsports Park called a drivers meeting for 2:00pm. It was announced that the Late Model ‘B’ Feature would be scrapped.  No Late Model teams will be going home and all cars will be starting the Canada 200.  Green flag expected at 6:15pm.  Light sprinkles continue to fall at the track however many race cars, track safety vehicles and race fans are currently on the oval track for track drying. 

>UPDATE #5
VICTORIA, BC (September 4 @ 3:53pm PST) – Track drying is complete. Some sunshine breaking through the clouds. There are still some wet patches in the pits. It was just announced that the Features in the Street Stock, Modified and Outlaw 4’s will run their races on Holiday Monday. Late Models will have a brief 15-minute on-track practice starting at 4:15pm