Racing fans can get a hit of speed and feed those in need as local races shift to a new format.

With races cancelled due to COVID-19 B次元官网网址� for the first time since the track opened in 1954 B次元官网网址� locals are following the lead of NASCAR and Indycar, taking their series online. Starting Sunday, drivers that Western Speedway fans will recognize, compete in a multi-week online racing series to raise money for the Goldstream Food Bank.

Fans will recognize a number of the participants, from David Smith, who races competitively in Canada and the U.S., to top local drivers including Lane Zerbin, Jason Day, Gary Smith, Jason Tarasenko. The locals B次元官网网址� who will be joined by three veterans of the NASCAR Truck Series B次元官网网址� will race simulated late model stock cars painted to match the ones they race in real life at the Langford track.

B次元官网网址淧eople wonB次元官网网址檛 be able to tell the difference between the cars that race at the speedway and the cars they are racing in Horsepower For Hunger,B次元官网网址� David Smith said. B次元官网网址淭hey are very realistic.B次元官网网址�

The virtual races are free to viewers each Sunday through June 7, with a team of Victoria organizers hoping to raise $20,000 in donations for the food bank.

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B次元官网网址淚f youB次元官网网址檙e managing all right weB次元官网网址檙e going to provide you some entertainment. If youB次元官网网址檙e in a position to, hopefully, you donate and itB次元官网网址檚 going to help the people who arenB次元官网网址檛 in a good position,B次元官网网址� said Daryl Crocker, general manager at Western Speedway.

Because of associated costs, it couldnB次元官网网址檛 be done without some significant support from Shockwave Motorsports and Jason Frost of The Keg Steakhouse + Bar, he said.

B次元官网网址淐OVID-19 has really been hurting the silent majority, so IB次元官网网址檓 tickled to join forces with Western Speedway to come up with an idea to help the speedway, to do something for the community, and to fulfill a need for all the racers,B次元官网网址� said Smith, owner of Shockwave Motorsports. B次元官网网址淭his checks all the boxes. ItB次元官网网址檚 going to be a win-win for everybody.B次元官网网址�

The racetracks in Horsepower For Hunger will be familiar to followers of NASCARB次元官网网址檚 Cup Series; Richmond Raceway (May 17), Daytona International Speedway (May 24), Sonoma Raceway (May 31), and Phoenix Raceway (June 7).

B次元官网网址淢ore than likely this will become a permanent fixture on the local racing scene, COVID-19 or not,B次元官网网址� Smith said. B次元官网网址淲e want to extend the reach of Western Speedway with virtual races and make this thing go across Canada. ItB次元官网网址檚 endless, the possibilities.B次元官网网址�

The first race in the four-week Horsepower For Hunger series is May 17 at 7 p.m. on .

c.vanreeuwyk@blackpress.ca
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