The Qwick Wick Can-Am Midgets presented by Miller Office Trailers headed up to Sauble Speedway in Hepworth, Ontario for their first double-header race weekend of the 2023 season. With the humidity high in the air, drivers needed to fid ways to keep cool all weekend long.
Drivers were out racing to celebrate Canada Day on Saturday. Canadian flags waving to represent our country, heat race #1 presented by HMCW Chassis got underway with Mike Westwood (91) and Andrew Whelan (5) starting on the front row. Whelan stayed put for runner up position with Daniel Hawn (42) out in redemption from a crash at the previous race at Sunset, taking the heat race win. Heat #2 saw David Miller (11) and Jody Bound (05) lead the field to green. Tight battle for the lead with Jeff Blackburn (7) visiting HMCW Chassis victory lane from third place.
Long way between heats and feature as the TQ Midgets were the headliner of the night! The 25-lap feature event had
Westwood and Miller on the front row. With all their flags waving in the wind, Miller powered around the outside in turn 1 and blistered out to the lead. Hungry cats behind him, the point leader and two heat winners of the night were running the outside line to get to the front. The field going single file, the three cars were soaring to catch Miller. Blackburn took the lead on lap 6 with heavy braking into turn 3. With Hawn in second place now, he proceeded to track down the #7 car to take the lead. Unsuccessful, the race went green to checkered flag with Blackburn winning it and claiming the first surf board trophy of the weekend for the midgets. Hawn and Cory Whittam (55) finished out the podium finishes. Miller, Whelan, James Stanley (57), Westwood, Bound, Sherry Hogan (74x), and Bob Bailey (15) rounded out the field.
Second day for the Qwick Wick Can-Am Midgets saw a couple of more cars show up with some free time over the long weekend free up. Jr Farrelly (72) joined us after running the APC Series Saturday, and new comer (but a familiar name across Ontario racing), Wally Wilson was making his first TQ midget start in the #48 car prepared by Larry Wilson. Bound and Whelan started heat race #1 presented by HMCW Chassis. Close racing throughout the field, Hawn continued his winning ways on the weekend taking the checkered flag for heat race 1. Westwood and Miller seemed to be magnetic together with starting side by side again for heat race #2. Miller soared to the lead and hung on to visit HMCW Chassis victory lane.
Sauble Speedway allowed all the drivers to bring their cars on track to park them for an autograph session and a “Meet the Drivers” session for the amazing fans who came out all weekend long. The drivers had fun with it. Hero cards, prizes, and even went up into the crowd at times to meet the fans. Game faces back on, it was feature time for the TQ Midgets. 25 laps ahead to see who could take home a surf board and conquer the beach. Westwood and Whelan led the field to green. The heavy hitters starting in mid field and to the rear of the field would have some work to do to get to the front. Sauble always has fast paced racing with long, sweeping corners having cars at higher speeds through them. With Whelan out front, cars were slicing left and right to make passes to the front. Smooth, close, and clean racing throughout the field. Other than Miller getting into a lapped car sending him into the wall and ending his night, clean racing with Daniel Hawn in the #42 car taking his first checkered flag of 2023. Farrelly with an amazing drive to the front and Whittam joins Hawn on the podium. Whelan, Stanley, Blackburn, Westwood, Bound, Hogan, Bailey, Wilson, and Miller round out the finishing order.
Thank you to John Karley and Sauble Speedway for their hospitality all weekend long. The TQ Midgets will be back the August long weekend for another double header weekend as part of the APC race. The Can-Am Midgets continue their summer stretch this weekend at Sunset Speedway.