Glen Vardy

Glen Vardy claimed his first victory in Quick 32 Sportsman Series racing over the weekend with his Top Dragster entry. The Burlington, Ont., driver had been knocking on the door several times but it all came together at Grand Bend.

Vardy defeated 2013 champion Bill Wilson with the Wilson & Gray Top Sportsman entry out of Ingersoll, Ont., in the final. The series is presented by NAPA Auto Parts.

Vardy qualified number two on the Top Dragster side, and went rounds through the field, eliminating Sydney Hyde of Stratford, Rob Hachie of Oshawa, Ont., and taking a bye run to meet up with Tony Positano of Toronto in the Top Dragster final. Number-three qualifier Positano had mechanical problems in his Mike Bos dragster, which allowed him to advance to meet up with the Top Sportsman finalist.

Bill Wilson

Wilson qualified the 2002 Cavalier in sixth, and eliminated Mike Leger of Hampton, Ont., Dan Flanigan of Buffalo, NY, and drew a single to meet up with number-one qualifier Wes Goddard of Guelph, Ont., with his turbocharged 1958 Nash entry for the Top Sportsman final.

Wilson got off the line first, posting a 6.798 at 185.98 on a 6.97 index while Goddard ran a 6.946 at 220.27 with a 6.93 index.

For the event final, Vardy ran a 6.177 at 228.25 for the win over Wilson’s 6.940 at 198.98.

Qualifying number two in the PBSS event with his 2004 Suzuki, Pro Bike rider Dan Cryderman of Thamesville, Ont., rode through the field to win the first race of the season, which is presented by Wiseco Performance Products.