Edmonton’s Emotional Rescue

Last weekend’s IHRA Mopar Rocky Mountain Nationals at Edmonton included a couple of moving tributes to some fallen patriots for the sport of drag racing at Castrol Raceway – Brenda McKinlay and Brent Harris who both succumbed to cancer in recent times…

Brenda – who was married to long time Castrol Raceway worker Carlton “Badge” Badgely passed away during June and Brent lost his battle last April.

Tragically, Brenda’s daughter Samantha, who is a fast rising area dragster racer, also lost her Dad Steve to cancer about 7 years ago. Badge continued to help Sam and her Mom Brenda — knowing they couldn’t race without someone to oversee the car. Over the years, kindness turned into respect, respect turned into love, and last year Badge and Brenda were married at the track during the Nitro Ratz Peanut Butter & Nitro Jam Nationals (Edmonton’s All Junior dragster event).

Carlton Badgley and Samantha McKinlay

On Friday – action was paused as Castrol Raceway’s incredible Nitro Ratz Junior racers showed their support for Badge, Brenda, and Sam with a first of it’s kind Junior Dragster “cacklefest”.

Then on Saturday another starting line tribute was held for Brent – who was unquestionably one of Castrol Raceway’s all time most popular racers.

Brent was honoured by both his family and friends and his pride and joy show quality 1933 Willys Gasser which he raced in various configurations since 1994, was paraded down the track – escorted by Blue Line Racing Police Cars.

Both of the tributes were of course moving for everyone in attendance.

Posted by: Bruce Biegler