By Scott Roblin

Championships awarded to close out drag racing season

Oct 1, 2017 | 5:58 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – A cold and blustery day at the drag strip on Sunday, as local drag racers entered their final heats of the season with valuable points on the line.

After almost four months of racing, the season finale for the Medicine Hat Drag Racing Association was held over the weekend.

In the Junior Thunder division, 13-year-old racer Kindi Opsal claimed her fourth top finish of the season to win the division championship by 85 points.

Racing over the last five years at the Medicine Hat track, she said it’s an amazing feeling especially since this was her last race in Junior Thunder.

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“This is what I’ve been hoping for all season,” said Opsal. “I just wanted to get this first-place points win, just to end off my Thunder career and move up to my 7.90 Lightning.”

Adam Hettler was crowned champion in the Streetbike class with 246 points, while NHRA National Finals qualifier Riley Toth outlasted his brother Zach for the Pro Bike championship.

The 2017 championship for Junior Lightning was claimed by Tanner Gaetz with 636 points, with Victoria Philbert rolling to a dominant victory in the Junior Street division.

A close race in the Sportsman division, with Elizabeth Mullen winning gold over Janice Vessey by a single point.

Rounding out the division winners on Sunday were Perry Bell in Pro class with 654 points, while it was a tie in the SuperPro class between Mark Simmons and Brooke Hawker.

Drag Racing Association president Dave Toth said he’s pleased with the way the 2017 season came to an end.

“I think it was a pretty good season overall,” said Toth. “Car counts were down a little bit, but I think that still goes to the economy. We had a lot of good events, our Mud Bog was of course one of our biggest we’ve had in 10 years, our Street Car Shootout was a very good, successful one again this year.”

Another highlight for Toth was his son Riley qualifying for NHRA Nationals, which will be held next month in California.

He added that family connection is a familiar one for many of the racers at the track over the summer.

“It’s a family sport,” he said. “This is the only place you can compete as a family and everybody races, it doesn’t get any better than this to be able to do what you like with your family on weekends and really have fun.”

Those interested in getting involved with drag racing next year are encouraged to contact the Medicine Hat Drag Racing Association through their Facebook page.