Western Canada’s all “door slammer” circuit – the WDRL – concluded it’s season operations with a recent double header event at Castrol Raceway….
The circuit’s second year of existence was unfortunately dogged by weather issues (again) which cut short both it’s originally planned season schedule and also curtailed some potential drama for it’s season championship points chases.
Over the recent Labour Day weekend, the Western Drag Racing League first completed it’s eliminations from the rained out IHRA Mopar Rocky Mountain Nationals event – originally scheduled for mid July.
That race was run off on the Saturday and featured the first ever circuit win from North Central BC’s Jeff Doyle driving his super slick and turbocharged, RH Racecars-built 1968 Firebird. Jeff, who had qualified 7th of the 11 cars originally entered back in July, topped another RH Racecars-built machine, the Camaro driven by Stoney Plain Alberta’s Paul Glandon in the final. Doyle had round wins over the WDRL’s defending 2015 event Champion Glen Kerusnky in round one and also beat this year’s event low qualifier Gary Urlacher (@6.003 secs) in round two of competition.
Jeff Doyle (from Fort St. John BC) won his first WDRL event racing his uber cool turbo Firebird.
Sunday’s final race of the season went to Calgary-based Pro Mod class stalwart Joe Delehay driving his popular supercharged Chevy Camaro. Joe ran down the defending 2015 WDRL points champion, Dale Pederson in at final round hitting a winning 6.033 secs at 240 mph. Pederson, who was the defending 2015 WDRL points champ, ran his Pro Street car orientated Chevy Monte Carlo to a 6.185 secs at 233 mph in the final.
Western Canadian Pro Mod powerhouse Joe Delehay scored in the Sunday portion for Castrol Raceway’s season finale “double header ” event.
Delehay, also beat Regina’s Dan Vogt and Paul Glandon in earlier rounds of competition. Joe’s final round appearance made things close in the overall Unique Concrete-presented Pro Mod points chase however it was not quite enough to catch American-based driver Garrett Richards who prevailed to win the 2016 WDRL title driving his very fast and supercharged late model Ford Mustang. Richards won the overall Pro Mod title over Delehay by a 101 points margin (a one round and one qualifying position differential).
The WDRL’s event performance star was arguably Calgary’s Ricky Distefano who while making his first WDRL appearance of the season was credited with both low ET (5.907 secs) and top speed @ 257.58 mph. That terminal speed driving his turbocharged ’70 Camaro was a WDRL speed record and came during his round one win. Distefano however then had a -.002 foul start in round two versus Pederson.
Racing in his first WDRL appearance of the season – “Ricky D” set a circuit speed record in his Camaro!
Other eliminator winners at the season final included, Outlaw 8.5 – Scott Schulhauser, Open Comp – Ben Hildebrand, Extreme Street – Wade Bulych and Top Sportsman – Gord Spak.
Racing his ’63 Corvette –Gord Spak won a hard fought Top Sportsman eliminator during the WDRL’s season finale race.
The final weekend of action did determine the season points champions for all of the WDRL’s race car divisions.
In addition to Garrett’s overall Unique Concrete Pro Mod title, it was Dan Vogt winning the WDRL’s Pro Nitrous class while Mike Lucas nailed down #1 in Top Sportsman points. Chris Gould took the Extreme Street (Outlaw 10.5) title, Mark Campbell the Outlaw 8.5 title and Keith Prozi is the 2016 Open Comp champ.
Dan Vogt – from Saskatchewan — is the 2016 WDRL Pro Nitrous point champion.
Racing this stealty looking Camaro — Chris Gould took the season title in Extreme Street (Outlaw 10.5)
Mike Lucas reigned in the WDRL’s 2016 overall TS points title.
Washington state-based racer Garrett Richards won the WDRL’s Unique Concrete 2016 Pro Mod points championship by a slim margin over Joe Delehay.
Posted by Bruce Biegler
DragRaceCanada File Photos
