Drivers set to strive for perfection at Darryl Adams Memorial races
By Ryan McCracken on August 11, 2018.
rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com @MHNMcCracken
Dozens of drivers will be striving for perfection at the Medicine Hat Speedway this weekend.
Drivers from five classes descend on the track for the two-day Darryl Adams Memorial — a weekend dedicated to the memory of a former Speedway champion, and one president Rick Jondreau says always brings out the best in everyone.
“For drivers, a lot of us are pretty passionate about getting our name on that trophy,” Jondreau said. “What we’ve done years ago is we just opened it up and said striving for perfection is kind of what we’re looking at for that trophy.
“To win that trophy you have to get the most points in any class, no matter what class you race in. Whoever leads with the most points overall for two days wins that trophy.”
Last year’s champion, No. 10 baby grands driver Dale Edwards, fit that perfect billing by winning every single one of his heats over both days. His name was promptly etched on the coveted piece of hardware and it’s been kept in his possession ever since — but this weekend it’s back up for grabs.
“The drivers find it very prestigious to get that,” said Jondreau. “You’re obviously trying to win every race you’re in, but I think every driver, in the back of their mind, knows getting good consistent finishes and doing the best you can to get as many points as you can will hopefully put your name in the mix.”
Jondreau added Adams’ family routinely makes the trip to Medicine Hat to take in the races and present the Darryl Adams Memorial Trophy to each year’s champion.
“We just thought it was fitting to have a memorial race for our fallen racer,” said Jondreau. “Darryl was a pretty hard, competitive racer who raced the speedway for a really long time. He raced in the mini class, which was very fast … The last year he raced with us, he won the championship and ended up passing away shortly thereafter. He was fairly sick, he just didn’t tell anybody.”
The weekend will feature evolution mini cup cars, hobby stock, renegade trucks, elite street stocks and baby grands on Saturday and Sunday.
Gates open at 5 p.m. Saturday followed by green flag racing at 6:30 p.m. The action continues Sunday, with gates at 1 p.m. and racing at 2 p.m.
