Drag racers pay tribute to friend

By medicinehatnews on June 19, 2019.

PHOTO COURTESY BERNIE FREY
Darcy Frey rode to a win in the pro division on Sunday, June 16, 2019.

Medicine Hat’s drag racing community came together this past weekend to race hard and celebrate the life of one of their own.

Sunday’s pro bike final was renamed the Shane Ashby Memorial Race in honour of the former drag strip regular who died in February.

Zach Toth won the final over Dave Toth, following up his Saturday victory in the class.

Issac Stettnar of Regina was the only other double-winner on the weekend, taking the junior street division both days.

On Friday Cyril Forchuk was the street legal winner in a 1971 Barracuda, while Adam Hettler took the bike division on his 2007 Suzuki Hayabusa.

As for Saturday’s other results, Grey Schaan won junior thunder, Kyler Skjonsberg junior lightning, Ted Buzunis sportsman, Harvey Turner pro and Glenn Bazylo superpro.

On Sunday it was Cole Caron in junior thunder, Brendan Ashby in junior lightning, Marlin Ulriksen in sportsman, Darcy Frey in pro and Rachelle Fleck in superpro taking finals wins.

The NHRA’s National Open series comes to the Medicine Hat Drag Strip July 19-21 for the next set of racing.