PENTICTON, BC – The Gordie Mannes Memorial race weekend runs this Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Penticton Speedway.  Taking the green flag each night in the Northern Provincial Pipelines Ltd./Saanich Braves Hockey Club #81 Dodge, is a driver that hasn’t competed at the facility in two decades.  “It’s been a long time since I competed there,” admits Victoria, British Columbia’s Jason Frost, “it’s a tricky track.  I only ran there a handful of times but what I remember was the local guys were really good.”  Frost did have some success in the few times he raced Penticton Speedway.  “Never won but I did finish second (at one race), set fast time and won a couple of trophy dashes.”

Frost last raced at Penticton Speedway in 1999.  Three-years earlier he claimed his first season championship at his home track of Western Speedway.  In the years that followed, Frost and team decided to try their racing luck a few times at Penticton Speedway.  “The first time we went with a really good car and I thought we were really fast.  The local guys drove past us like we were standing still.”

Twenty years later Frost returns to Penticton Speedway with a higher horsepower Late Model.  “We’ve run really well this season (at home).”  He currently sits fifth in points in the 2019 The Keg Late Model Drivers Challenge Series.  Frost says he will take advantage of some pre-race practice time to get reacquainted with Penticton Speedway.  “They are having a test on Thursday night so we are going to make sure we are up to speed (on the track) real quick.”  Frost won’t be alone when he rolls into the pits this week.  Several other top Late Model teams from Western Speedway will also be at the Southern BC facility for the Invitational race weekend.  “I know Brandon Carlson and Rory Smith are going.  There will probably be a few others as well.”  Late Model Qualifying and Heat races go Friday night.  Two separate Feature races will be run both Saturday and Sunday evenings.  “The cars that will be competing there will be fast.  Hope to give the local teams some competition.”  Home track drivers Tim Graham, Mike Sproule and Matt Stevenson are the early favorites heading into the race weekend.  Penticton Speedway is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2019.

Penticton, British Columbia
GORDIE MANNES MEMORIAL RACE WEEKEND
– Racing starts at 7:00pm each night

Classes racing:
Late Models
Street Stock
Hornets

>Friday, August 2nd
Late Model Qualifying and Heats
Street Stock Heats and Feature

>Saturday, August 3rd
Late Model Feature
Street Stock & Hornets Heats and Feature

>Sunday, August 4th
Late Model Feature
Street Stock & Hornets Heats and Feature