Car 24 Layne Hamilton won the Evolution CupCar Series Feature Race at Edmonton International Raceway. Hamilton continued his racing success that night with a great 2nd place finish in the Baby Grand Series Feature Race. 2nd Place Car 10 Alex Krause followed by 3rd place Car 7 Travis Dolter. 4th Place Car 84 Tyler Knowles followed by 5th place Car 12 Chantal Orman. 6th Place.
Car 1 Blaine Kopeck also got a trophy by winning the No Feature Race (A race for anyone that did not win a Feature Race). 7Th Place Car 28 Autumn Kopeck followed by 8th place Car 44 Blake Hamilton. 9th Place Car 36 Keira McLean & lastly in the Top 10 was Car 45 Colton Orman in 10th place.
Car 1 Blaine Kopeck won the B Main Race (a race for anyone that did not win a Feature Race) 2nd Place Car 7 Travis Dolter followed by 3rd place Car 84 Tyler Knowles. 4th Place Car 36 Keira McLean followed by 5th place Car 12 Chantal Orman. 6th Place Car 77 Faith Luther followed by 7th place Car 45 Colton Ormon. 8th Place Car 23 Kaylee Wilkie & 9th place Car 95 Rylee McKennitt.
It was an exciting night of racing with the Evolution CupCar Series at Edmonton International Raceway. I was invited by Rob Hamilton to Edmonton International Raceway for the races after my article Evolution CupCar Mini Cup Series & H2 Motorsports/Action Restoration. The track had a full night of racing with NASCAR Super Stocks, Thunder Cars, Feature Stocks, IMCA’s, Mini Cups & Baby Grands. There was lots of action in all classes and I will be going back again. The track had just been resurfaced & was so smooth I was thinking of fixing my old stock car & getting back on the track.
Evolution CupCar Series are Mini Cup Cars that are 1/2 scale stock cars built just the Sprint Cup cars you see on TV. It is a class specifically designed for youth ages 9 to 16 who could be the next Carl Edwards or Danica Patrick. These race teams are different than Nascar as crew chief and crew are made up of family. Mom, dad, brother & sister these are families having fun at the race track. They are also out helping each other, if a car breaks you have other teams helping out to make sure no kid misses a race. With Mini CupCars & Baby Grand Cars the whole family can go racing & with this group that’s exactly what they are doing.
Being in the pits gave me a chance to do some interviews in between races with some racers.
1st Interview was Evolution Cupcar Series Car 95 9 year old Rylee McKennit who has her car done up as Lightning McQueen from the Cars movie.
I said “So you drive 95 Rusty’s Car – do you like the Cars movie?”
Rylee McKennit said “Yeah”
I asked ‘What do you like about racing?”
Rylee said “It`s fun!”
I asked ‘What got you into racing?’
Rylee McKennit said ‘Dad”
I asked, ‘So dad is a race car driver?”
Rylee said, ‘Yes”
I asked, “How long have you been racing?’
Rylee said, “1 year”
I asked “So do you have a favorite race car driver?”
Rylee McKennit said “Danica Patrick”
I asked “So dad, what kind of racing do you do?”
James McKennit said “I am in the Baby Grand. Actually I got her in the mini cup before I got into the Baby Grand’
I asked “So she can move up to that car?”
James McKennit said, “When she is 14 she can move up to the Baby Grand. She can drive the mini cup until she is 16.”
I said “I noticed it is momentum & pretty even cars?”
James McKennit said, “They have certain rules we can not do anything to them. The top kids are pretty much square, who drives around the track better.”
I said, With you being a parent I see safety equipment, this is like a Hans Device?”
James McKennit said “There is a Hans Device and there is a Next Gen. She has a Next Gen – smaller around the collar of the neck and not as bulky, but does the same thing.
Riley had a Hans but we had to go to the Next Gen as the Hans was too big.”
I said, “So it is safe, and you get in and out through the roof. Rescue can get to her quickly?”
James McKennit said, “It is quick straps so then they can just pull their quick straps and get out. That was the 1st thing we checked we had to have all safety gear exactly what would be the safest to have. Her mom wanted to make sure of that, you need the suit, the boots, the gloves, helmet and Hans Device or Next Gen. Whichever you prefer.”
I asked, “Speed here is?”
James McKennit said, “Here at Edmonton I believe it is 65 mph”
I asked, “Are the cars even?”
James McKennit said, “Yes engines are sealed so you can`t touch the inside of the motor. Just a little bit of set up to adjust how the car is leaning so to get them around in the fastest grove around the track.”
2nd Interview Evolution CupCar Series with the Kopeck family from Lloydminister, Alberta – Brandy (mom), Devon (dad), Car 28, twelve year-old Autumn Kopeck and Car 1, nine year old Blaine Kopeck.
I asked Autumn Kopeck, “When did you start Mini cup Racing?”
Autumn Kopeck said, “5 years ago”
I asked Blaine, “When did you start Mini cup Racing?”
Blaine Kopeck said, “I started last year”
I asked Autumn, “You started first, what got you into racing?”
Autumn said, “My dad raced and we were in Saskatoon when the Mini`s were running – I wanted one.”
I asked Blaine, “Were you just watching your sister or what got you into it?”
Blaine said, “I wanted one after Autumn started and when I was old enough I started”
I asked Autumn, “Who is your favorite race car driver?”
Autumn said, “Mark Martin”
I asked Blaine, “Who is your favorite race car driver?”
Blaine said, “Erica (Erica Thiering, Local Nascar Canadian Tire Series and Super Stock racer)”
I said, “Erica posted on Facebook her favorite photo is the one with the mini cup racers”
I asked Autumn, “So have you been following NASCAR for a while?”
Autumn said, “Yeah”
I asked, “So are you going to keep going in the racing maybe the new Danica?”
Autumn said, “I hope so.”
I asked Blaine, ‘So are you the future Kyle Busch?”
Blaine said, “Carl Edwards.”
Devon Kopeck (dad) said, “Also Jamie Mack. They both have the number 1 on their car.”
I said, “So dad, you have the kids in racing and you were a racer yourself. Did you start racing stock cars at this track?”
Devon Kopeck said, “No I started racing on a local dirt track in ‘Lloyd’ where we are from. It dwindled off so then I thought I would give pavement a try. Then I started in Wetaskiwin in Hobby Stock and ran that for 4 to 5 years. Then I ran a late model in Calgary for a couple years, here for a couple years and a couple years in Saskatoon.”
I asked, “So you must have felt good when she saw the mini cup and wanted to do that?”
Devon said, “Yeah but she didn’t say anything about it though. It was a total shock to us. Before her 8th birthday she came up to us and said i am going to be 8 years old and I want to go mini cup racing.”
Brandy Kopeck said, “Then Autumn said,”can you get me a car dad?”
Devon said, “Ok we will give it a whirl and see what you got.”
Brandy said, “She loves it – she has done really well.”
Devon said, “She had a few hard knocks along the way.”
Brandy said, “She had 2 ambulance rides.”
Devon said, “Being cautious you know”
Brandy said, “Safety gear test, she had a really bad one. She actually moved the big tractor tires with her car about 6 feet and launched her car up in the air and then nose-dived into a drainage hole. She had her Hans and everything she needed and not a mark on her. The safety gear the kids wear is good.”
Devon said, “Then we have Blaine there who started out last year. Not a scratch on his car and ends up with ‘Rookie of the Year’. Totally clean year. Takes ‘Rookie of the Year’ honors. So how did that work out that your sister gets bashed and beat up, tears her car up, and his car does not have a scratch?”
After the interview I was told about the B Main Race a race for anyone that did not win a Feature Race. So as Blaine Kopeck was getting lined up for the race I told him it would be better for my article if he won.
His sister Autumn was not in the race as she won the race last year, but she was with him for the photo with his trophy. After Car 24 Layne Hamilton got 2nd place in the Baby Grand Feature some of Evolution CupCar Series racers came out to congratulate him.
Next up for the Evolution Cupcar Series is September 6 at Medicine Hat Speedway.
Hobby Stock, IMCA Stock, Renegade Trucks, Mini Cup Cars & Baby Grands. Medicine Hat Speedway Evolution CupCar Series Sponsor: ALL NATIONS OPTIMISTCLUB OF MEDICINE HAT. http://www.medicinehatspeedway.net/
The Evolution CupCar Series racers at the final points day at the Medicine Hat Speedway, have all been nominated to do the ALS ice bucket challenge by the Quallie family. Kim and Dean will donate an extra $10 to the ALS campaign for every CupCar driver that does the challenge at the track on the 6th. Bring your towels!!!
Edmonton International Raceway Wetaskiwin
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 – RACING!
Featuring:
MAR’S 50 LEGENDS CAR SPECIAL
Legends Cars
Osman Auction NASCAR Feature Stocks,
NASCAR Modifieds, Mini Cups & Baby Grands
http://www.edmontonraceway.com/
Edmonton International Raceway Wetaskiwin
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 – RACING!
Featuring:
Osman Auction NASCAR Feature Stocks,
NASCAR Modifieds, NASCAR Thunder Cars,
IMCA’s, Mini Cups & STACKERS!
http://www.edmontonraceway.com/
After the season is done some of Evolution CupCar Series are headed to Roseville, California to race with the kids there at All American Speedway Oct 11, 2014.
Feature race finish order. Order reflects tech results.
Position, Car #, Driver
1. Car 24 Layne Hamilton
2. Car 10 Alex Krause
3. Car 7 Travis Dolter
4. Car 84 Tyler Knowles
5. Car 12 Chantal Orman
6. Car 1 Blaine Kopeck
7. Car 28 Autumn Kopeck
8. Car 44 Blake Hamilton
9. Car 36 Keira McLean
10. Car 45 Colton Orman
11. Car 95 Rylee McKennit
12. Car 23 Kaylee Wilkie
B Main Race (A race for anyone that did not win a Feature Race)
Position, Car #, Driver
1. Car 1 Blaine Kopeck
2. Car 7 Travis Dolter
3. Car 84 Tyler Knowles
4. Car 36 Keira McLean
5. Car 12 Chantal Orman
6. Car 77 Faith Luther
7. Car 45 Colton Ormon
8. Car 23 Kaylee Wilkie
9. Car 95 Rylee McKennitt
Heat Race results.
HEAT 1A
Position, Car #, Driver
1. Car 28 Autumn Kopeck
2. Car 2 Patrick Labrash
3. Car 12 Chantal Ormon
4. Car 7 Travis Dolter
5. Car 1 Blaine Kopeck
6. Car 77 Faith Luther
7. Car 23 Kaylee Wilkie
HEAT 1B
Position, Car #, Driver
1. Car 84 Tyler Knowles
2. Car 36 Kiera McLean
3. Car 24 Layne Hamilton
4. Car 10 Alex Krause
5. Car 44 Blake Hamilton
6. Car 45 Colton Ormon
7. Car 95 Ryle McKennitt
Heat Race 2A
Position, Car #, Driver
1. Car 24 Layne Hamilton
2. Car 2 Patrick Labrash
3. Car 12 Chantal Orman
4. Car 36 Keira McLean
5. Car 84 Tyler Knowles
6. Car 28 Autumn Kopeck
Heat Race 2B
Position, Car #, Driver
1. Car 10 Alex Krause
2. Car 44 Blake Hamilton
3. Car 1 Blaine Kopeck
4. Car 95 Rylee McKennit
5. Car 45 Colton Orman
6. Car 23 Kaylee Wilkie
Point Standings After August 23, 2014
Evolution CupCar Series
1. #24 – Layne Hamilton – 909
2. #10 – Alex Krause – 874
3. #44 – Blake Hamilton – 827
4. #28 – Autumn Kopeck – 797
5. #7 – Travis Dolter – 796
6. #77 – Faith Luther – 719
7. #2 – Patrick Labrash – 694
8. #36 – Keira McLean – 641
9. #1 – Blaine Kopeck – 576
10. #95 – Rylee McKennit – 569
11. #12 – Chantal Orman – 547
12. #18 – Tyler Emond – 533
13. #84 – Tyler Knowles – 487
14. #45 – Colton Orman – 486
15. #23 – Kaylee Wilkie – 421
16. #16 – Jaycob Masciangelo – 273
17. #66 – Jayde Masciangelo – 123
Edmonton International Raceway
1. #24 – Layne Hamilton – 690
2. #10 – Alex Krause – 663
3. #7 – Travis Dolter – 631
4. #84 – Tyler Knowles – 617
5. #44 – Blake Hamilton – 614
6. #28 – Autumn Kopeck – 610
7. #36 – Keira McLean – 582
8. #77 – Faith Luther – 553
9. #23 – Kaylee Wilkie – 528
10. #18 – Tyler Emond – 484
11. #95 – Rylee McKennit – 426
12. #1 – Blaine Kopeck – 405
13. #2 – Patrick Labrash – 388
14. #12 – Chantal Orman – 361
15. #45 – Colton Orman – 329
16. #16 – Jaycob Masciangelo – 273
17. #66 – Jayde Masciangelo – 123
Medicine Hat Speedway
1. #2 – Patrick Labrash – 465
2. #24 – Layne Hamilton – 450
3. #10 – Alex Krause – 449
4. #12 – Chantal Orman – 420
5. #44 – Blake Hamilton – 411
6. #28 – Autumn Kopeck – 407
7. #7 – Travis Dolter – 383
8. #1 – Blaine Kopeck – 372
9. #77 – Faith Luther – 364
10. #45 – Colton Orman – 345
11. #95 – Rylee McKennit – 327
12. #36 – Kiera McLean – 274
For more information on the Evolution Cup Car Series contact Rob Hamilton: rob@evolutionracingproducts.com or 403-948-5221
There are great sponsorship opportunities for the Evolution Cup Car Series or H2 Motorsports contact Rob Hamilton: rob@evolutionracingproducts.com or 403-948-5221