The Qwick Wick Can-Am Midgets presented by Miller Office Trailers were back in action after a week of this past Saturday, June 18th. They made their long awaited return to the bullring at Grand Bend Speedway in Grand Bend, Ontario. The TQ midgets set very quick laps at the track and have not been there since the 2018 season.
The drivers and crews had two practice sessions to dial in their race cars for the night’s races. The first of two heat races brought to you by HMCW Chassis took to the track. The #81 car of Cassidy March and the #83 of Brody Rickwood took the field to the green flag. The field bunched up when the #29 car of Paul Harrison didn’t get going. All got away cleanly and Harrison pulled into the infield. This saw the #11 of David Miller make it three wide down the backstretch on the first lap to take the lead. The race went green to checkered with Miller taking the heat win with over a straightaway lead.
Heat race 2 came to the track. The #7 of Jeff Blackburn and the #6 car of Craig Pitchell started on the front row and led the field to green. Blackburn powered to the lead in turn 1 with Daniel Hawn in the #42 car right behind him. This race also went green to checkered with Blackburn visiting the HMCW Chassis victory lane.
This race night had a special race in between the heat races and feature event. There was a dash for cash added in for the top 2 of each heat race to race for one thing only…cold hard cash. This was brought to us by Larry’s Small Engines. Originally, this was to be the #42 of Daniel Hawn, #11 of David Miller, #7 of Jeff Blackburn, and the #83 of Brody Rickwood. Blackburn, however, surrendered his spot to Cory Whittam in the #55 car to battle it out for the cash. This race was a quick 6 lap dash. Hawn took the checkered flag and the cash paid out from Larry’s Small Engines.
The 25-lap feature event was up next. The cars thanked the fans with a 3 wide salute instead of a 4 wide salute due to the track being narrow. The green flag was waved with March and Blackburn on the front row. Blackburn took the early lead before the caution flew on lap 2 for the #44 of Mike Coleman and the #46 of Bob Bailey spinning out in turn 1. Blackburn soared to the lead again before another caution came out with the #83 of Rickwood spinning out and doing a full 360 before the #5 of Andrew Whelan spun to avoid him. The restart saw Blackburn and Hawn battle side by side for the lead. It was Hawn that won that battle. Hawn pulled away and pulled up onto lap traffic. Caution flew for the point leader of Whittam spinning out coming out of turn 2. Hawn took the lead on the restart before caution flew for the #5 car of Whelan hitting the wall coming out of turn 4 and Pitchell had no where to go. Single file restart had a few laps before the #81 car shut down in turn 4. The final restart of the night found Hawn pull away from the field again on route to take his first checkered flag of the 2022 season. #7 of Jeff Blackburn, and the #11 of David Miller rounded out the podium finishers. The #57 of James Stanley and #13 of Jaden Riddell were your top 5.
The Can-Am Midgets would like to thank Grand Bend for their hospitality. Larry’s Small Engines for putting up some cash for the dash race. Qwick Wick, Miller Office Trailers and to all the fans that came out. The TQ stars make their annual trip to Peterborough Speedway next Saturday night, June 25th.