NWFC at Castrol Raceway Aug 26/27

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Registration is open for the final rounds of the 2017 NWFC Championship.

https://www.motorsportreg.com/events...orthern-407709

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As the 2017 Season winds down we have another barn burner of a Championship this season not just 2 drivers fighting tooth and nail but 8 possible contenders for this years crown.

Zetec Class

The zetec races belonged to Mitch Egner last season but with him running in the Pacific series this year we will see a new zetec race winner at Castrol. Roger Smetaniuk should be the home track favorite as he was 2nd in all races here last season and has wins here in 2014 and 2015. He will be challenged by 2016 NWFC Champion Gavin Aitken who came in third overall last season at Castrol but was driving in the Pinto class so look for him to pick up even more pace this time around with his zetec. Third could be a tight one with Stephen Ross looking to be the slight favorite over 2015 NWFC Champion Greg Coffin. Greg Coffin hasn’t run Castrol in his zetec yet so he might take the easier path to the Championship by sticking with his Pinto powered Mygale for this race weekend. Rounding out the zetec class will be Brian Smetaniuk and Brad Law. Brian has struggled this season as he switched over to the American Racer tire but hopefully the new Gen 4 tire will bring him back up to speed as he has qualified on the front row here before. Brad Law finally getting a couple race weekends in in his new DP08 seems to have hit his stride at Mission so look for him to put pressure on Brian for 4th or 5th place.

Pinto Class

If Greg Coffin chooses his Pinto Mygale he should be the favorite at Castrol but he did miss out on last seasons race here so the rest of the pack may have caught up a little in his absence. The rest of the Pinto podium should be a tight race by the looks of it. Wade Anderson is leading the Pinto class overall but hasn’t had the best luck at Castrol in the past. Add to that a new car could lead to a tough race weekend but he is in the championship hunt so he will need to find a way to make it happen. Wade’s toughest challenges should come from his own teammate as Mike Webb has really picked up the pace this season and shown that he is capable of taking a podium spot from some of his more experienced competitors. Just back of those two could be another tight Hot Potato race between Doug Connon and Jason Gillen. Neither have a ton of experience at Castrol but Doug has more experience in his car while Jason showed last race weekend at Mission that he may have finally got comfortable in the #34 machine as he dropped some serious lap time in the last two races only to be hampered by a misfire. The wildcards in the pinto race could come from our friends out east as we are expecting to see some new drivers enter the NWFC. Keith Miller will be bringing his Bowman! yes you read that right a Bowman. While some familiar faces to local racers such as Gary Tholl and Wayne Schellekens should bring the first Renyards out to the series.


Overall

Probably one of the hardest weekends to call so far in the NWFC, the season has had numerous different winners in both classes and if the races get split between different drivers it could go to whomever is the most consistent overall. Looking at the numbers your best bets would be Gavin Aitken, Greg Coffin and Wade Anderson while Roger Smetaniuk and Mike Webb would need a weekend sweep in their class to be in contention.

[Brad Smith]

Is race fuel available at Edmonton raceway?

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Is race fuel available at Edmonton raceway?

Don't think so will look up and see if some place local has some.

[JGB]

AFD Petroleum sells race fuels and has offices in Edmonton. You probably should contact them before hand to see about availability etc.
https://www.afdpetroleum.com/fuel

Jim

[Brad Smith]

Thanks

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AFD looks to be one of the few places to get it in the Edmonton area.

Most of the other places where hit or miss.

[Gary_T]

I know I said I'd be there... but I'm piloting a combine around some fields this weekend instead. Way earlier than usual this year, which gets in the way of the Castrol race. Sorry, if NWFC heads back, and the timing works better, I'd still like to join in another year.

Gary

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Qualy

Roger Smetaniuk 1:17.600 (z)
Steve Ross 1:18.347 (z)
Greg Coffin 1:20.469 (p)
Brad Law 1:21.440 (z)
Wade Anderson 1:22.288 (p)
Brad Smith 1:23.133 (cfc)
Jason Gillen 1:26.124 (p)
Doug Connon 1:26.512 (p)
Brian Smetaniuk 1:27.321 (z)

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Race 1

Roger Smetaniuk 1:18.235
Steve Ross 1:19.003
Brad Law 1:21.277
Greg Coffin 1:21.386
Wade Anderson 1:22.294
Brian Smetaniuk 1:23.184
Brad Smith 1:23.246
Doug Connon 1:23.470
Jason Gillen 1:24.687

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Championship going into the final race of the season.

Wade Anderson 71
Greg Coffin 70
Roger Smetaniuk 55.5

With the points available to each driver Wade needs to win Pinto with Greg finishing 3rd or worse in pinto. Greg needs to finish 1st or 2nd in pinto or ahead of Wade. Roger needs both Wade and Greg to not start the final race with him winning it and the alternate race earlier in the day.

[gcoffin]

Well done Wade, a season to remember.

[ccoffin]

That was a pretty great season. Congrats to Wade for being super consistent throughout the year.

With Brad's win today we had 6 different pinto winners and 5 different zetec winners on the season. In 8 races total.

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Race 2 Results

Roger Smetaniuk 1:19.327
Steve Ross 1:20.430
Brad Smith 1:21.855
Brad Law 1:21.734
Brian Smetaniuk 1:22.629
Wade Anderson 1:22.420
Jason Gillen 1:24.481
Doug Connon 1:25.237
Greg Coffin 1:22.711

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Final Standings after Castrol

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CONGRATULATIONS WADE!!! I wish i was able to finish out this season it looks like you guys had a great time..

See you next year!!!
Dane

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Some Video's from the weekend.(Don't need bookface login to watch)

https://www.facebook.com/NASCC.ab.ca...mp;pnref=story

https://www.facebook.com/NASCC.ab.ca...E-YTRqNmLK9G4k

[shross]

I tried viewing. I was asked to login. Try again??

[Brad Smith]

Edmonton is a fun little track, but the 13 hour slog home less fun! Greg, looking at my video of the turn 3 incident, it looks like a pretty late lunge inside you by the F1000.

[kr 98]

Mission is a fun track especially when 13 fc cars show up and its less than an hour away and 5 brave souls so far for this weekend .

[Brad Smith]

I'm no good at slow corners

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I tried viewing. I was asked to login. Try again??

Are you on a mobile device? works from the couple places i tried.

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I'm no good at slow corners

What do you mean I have video of you dive bombing 3 cars through a slow turn 4 this past weekend!

[gcoffin]

Brad I'd love to see the incident. Did you forget to pick up your log book ?

[ccoffin]

As would I. Looking at past results it looks like the f1000 was either still a novice or in their first weekend after being licensed.

[gcoffin]

But the guy who consistently kept his car on the podium all season and took care of business at Castrol was Wade

[milesmcewing]

https://www.facebook.com/58028903873...2807207154316/

Here is the link to the video from the F1000 drivers car.

[T-Tom]

None of the links work for me. I guess you must have an account to view. And I'm not using a mobile unit.

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NWFC Points Race 1 (Not the incident race)

https://youtu.be/Ai95kjmMHTI

[ccoffin]

Thanks Miles

[Eric Little]

https://www.facebook.com/58028903873...2807207154316/

Here is the link to the video from the F1000 drivers car.

Not defending nor criticizing anyone (a very unfortunate contact that could have been avoided). Looks like it did not help matters that in the lap prior to the incident, he tries an inside move and in doing so, knocks the front wing off the car. Looks to understeer and not brake very well in the corners then leading up to the final incident.

Eric Little

[Brad Smith]

What do you mean I have video of you dive bombing 3 cars through a slow turn 4 this past weekend!

Yes, but that was a mistake! My foot slipped on the brake and that was a panic recovery.

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RACE REPORT NORTHWEST FC CASTROL 2017

The final races of the season are now done and it was another tight finish all the way to the end. With Wade Anderson leading the field into the final weekend trailed closely by Greg Coffin and Roger Smetaniuk it would come down to the final race of the season to decide the 2017 Champion.

The single qualification session for the weekend was on Saturday morning the field would be lined up this way all weekend so a good session was key. Roger Smetaniuk took pole followed closely by Steve Ross then the pair of Brad Law and Greg Coffin would fill the second row of the grid. Championship leader Wade Anderson would start on the inside of row 3 with Brad Smith in his Citation to his left. Teammates Jason GIllen and Doug Connon would come next followed up by Brian Smetaniuk in his 3 cylinder Mygale which would get fixed come race time.

Castrol Race 1

(The field enters the banking of Turn 3)

Roger Smetaniuk jumped out to an early lead with Steve Ross chasing behind the two would break from the pack early. Greg Coffin was being held up slightly by and F1000 which kept Brad Law close on his heals. Another F1000 would be backing up Wade Anderson into the clutches of Brad Smith who was just ahead of Brian Smetaniuk who made up 2 spots on the start now that he had all 4 cylinders going. Doug Connon would take his teammate Jason Gillen off the start and keep him close behind.


(Mid Race battle with Brad Smith Leading Brian Smetaniuk,Doug Connon and Jason Gillen)

By mid race Roger had a substantial lead over Steve Ross who had another substantial lead over the rest of the field. Greg Coffin and Brad Law would keep it close as they fought passed the F1000 with Brad overtaking Greg on lap 5. Wade Anderson would pull a slight gap back to Brad Smith who continued to fight off attacks from Brian Smetaniuk. The two were followed closely by Doug Connon as he looked for a chance to pounce. Jason Gillen would round out the field keeping Doug in his sites.
The Race would end under yellow as one of the F1000’s found the wall in between 1 and 2. Roger Smetaniuk would take home his second win of the season with Steve Ross and Brad Law locking down the all zetec podium. Greg Coffin would bring home max points as the highest finishing pinto in 4th with Wade Anderson close behind 2nd in pinto and 5th overall. Brian Smetaniuk would make it passed Brad Smith in his citation the lap before the yellow making him the hard charger of the race. Doug Connon and Jason Gillen would round out the FC field.
Going into the final race of the season Wade Anderson still held the lead in the championship but Greg Coffin was a mere point behind. Roger Smetaniuk had done what he needed to do winning zetec on Saturday and taking an alternate win early on Sunday. So for Wade to win he needed to finish in in front of Greg and for Greg to win he needed to beat Wade. For Roger to win the two had to come together and have problems while he wins the race.

Castrol Race 2

(Race 2 green flag)

The Race would begin much as race 1 did with Roger taking the early lead ahead of Steve Ross the track temp had gone up significantly since the last session so drivers were struggling for grip. Greg Coffin would stay ahead of the F1000 on the start this time putting him right behind Steve in third. Brad Smith had a lock up going into turn 4 as he made the move down the inside of Wade Anderson. As his car pushed up the track he almost collected the Championship leader on lap 1 but Wade backed out of it to avoid contact. Brad Law was almost collected in the same incident as he had pushed wide as well this allowed the recovering Brad Smith to move up into 4th overall. Jason Gillen was slightly balked by the action up front which allowed Brian Smetaniuk to move ahead of him and Doug Connon.


(Brad Smith locking them up into Turn 4)

Roger Smetaniuk and Steve Ross would once again begin to pull away on the field while Greg Coffin was being hounded by the F1000 in 3rd. Brad Smith was managing to hold off Brad Law for 4th place while a wide exit of turn 6 for Wade Anderson would allow Brian Smetaniuk passed pushing the points leader back to 7th 3 spots behind his main rival. Jason Gillen and Doug Connon were now hot on the tail of Wade.

By mid race most positions had remained the same and it looked to be Greg’s championship if we finished this way. Wade Anderson was trying to find a way passed Brian Smetaniuk but Brian had moved from the Gen 2 American Racers back to Avons and had found some more grip than in earlier races. Greg Coffin was still being chased by the F1000 and it began to heat up when the F1000 made a lunge down the inside of Turn 2 catching a wing end plate on Coffin’s rear tire. Luckily no puncture was sustained on the contact but Greg’s luck would run out 2 laps later. In turn 4 this time another attempt by the F1000 would end in tears with both cars parked up on the outside wall ending Greg’s Championship bid.



(Greg Coffin’s race and Championship was over)

Roger Smetaniuk would bring the race home under yellow again taking the weekend sweep and the first NWFC race win for American Racer tires. Steve Ross would come home in Second with Brad Smith 3rd on the podium and first in Pinto. Brad Law would lead home Brian Smetaniuk followed by new series Champion Wade Anderson. Jason Gillen would lead Doug Connon to the finish in 7th and 8th.

Weekend winners
1st - Roger Smetaniuk
2nd - Brad Smith
3rd - Wade Anderson
Hard Charger - Brian Smetaniuk

We would like to thank everyone for coming out this season and making it a close fight right down to the wire. Hope to see you all and more next season.

We had 5 different race winners in the Zetec Class
Russ Werner x 2 - Greg Coffin x 2 - Mitch Egner x 2 - Roger Smetaniuk x 3 - Gavin Aitken x 1

We had 6 different race winners in the Pinto class
Dane Babkirk x 1 - Geoff Fass x 1 - Reny Follett x 3 - Keray Mcewan x 3 - Greg Coffin x 1 - Brad Smith x 1

3 different Chassis makes won races
Van Diemen (5 Zetec wins / 8 Pinto wins)
Mygale (5 Zetec wins / 1 Pinto win)
Citation (1 Pinto win)

4 different Tire manufacturers won races
Avon (4 Zetec wins / 4 Pinto wins)
Hoosier (6 Pinto wins)
Pirelli (5 Zetec wins)
American Racers (1 Zetec win)