Victory Lane Speedway, 2005

Tim Johnson photo
Victory Lane Speedway, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
"Inaugural NAPA Auto Parts Mid-Canada Sprint Car Challenge"
Thursday, July 14, 2005

Two For Lou!!!

Before an overflowing grandstand of race fans, Winnipeg's Lou Kennedy Jr captured the inaugural NAPA Auto Parts Mid-Canada Sprint Car Challenge at Victory Lane Speedway, MB. Included in Kennedy's winnings was the $500 bonus money paid for a 360 Sprint to win the NOSA-sanctioned race which made his grand total payday $1500 dollars U.S.

This marks the second consecutive year that Lou has cashed in on the "Prairie Dirt Challenge" as he won the first Challenge race hosted by Estevan Motor Speedway on August 14, 2004.

The 360 sprints swept the event's top three spots and with that, collecting the additional bonus money of $250 paid to any 360 finishing in the top three postions in the feature. The other recipients of the bonus money were the second place car of Wade Nygaard of Fargo, ND and the third place car driven by Dave Sobczak of Winnipeg. The highest finishing 410 sprint was that of Mark Dobmeier of Grand Forks, ND who finished in fourth place.

During the race program an announcement was made that NAPA Auto Parts will once again join with Victory Lane Speeday to host the second annual NAPA Auto Parts Mid-Canada Sprint car Challenge again in July of 2006.

Heat #1: 1. RX Richard Rogers 2. #K9 Mike Balcaen 3. #81 Chris Burke 4. #35 Brendon Wilde 5. #14 Tom Egeland 6. #44S Stan Mayer 7. #1 Chris Shirek 8. #8 Casey Mack 9. #10tr Bob Martin 10. #2D Brian McCaughan

Heat #2: 1. #17 Dave Sobczak 2. #9 Wade Nygaard 3. #33 Scott McDonald 4. #13 Mark Dobmeier 5. #21k Lou Kennedy Jr 6. #29 Leigh Thomas 7. #31 Shane Roemeling 8. #41 Jade Fredrickson 9. #11 Nick Shirek

"A" Main (25 laps): 1. #21k Lou Kennedy Jr 2. #9 Wade Nygaard 3. #17 Dave Sobczak 4. #13 Mark Dobmeier 5. #35 Brendon Wilde 6. #K9 Mike Balcaen 7. #33 Scott McDonald 8. #10tr Bob Martin 9. #8 Casey Mack 10. #1 Chris Shirek 11. #81 Chris Burke 12. #41 Jade Fredrickson 13. #14 Tom Egeland 14. #29 Leigh Thomas 15. #11 Nick Shirek 16. #44S Stan Mayer 17. #31 Shane Roemeling 18. #RX Richard Rogers (DNF) 19. #2D Brian McCaughan (DNS)