The Martins Home Heating Sportsman 100 has attracted a lot of attention among established race teams in the Maritimes. Little wonder, with first place prize money of $3000.00 up for grabs, it’s one of the biggest Sportsman races of the year. The race will also see the much anticipated debut of one of Canada’s up and coming young female racing stars.
Sarah Lynn McKay will step into a Sportsman car to compete against the best drivers in the Maritimes this weekend at Speedway 660. The 17 year old Quispamsis native is ready to move up after spending several years in the Championship Kart Racing Association.
“Sarah is excited about this opportunity to get into a Sportsman car and attempt to qualify for the big Martins Home Heating Sportsman 100 at Speedway 660” said Billy Sommerville, a former RE/MAX Pro Stock champion, who will serve as Sarah’s crew chief this weekend. “She is fast and consistently ran lap times under 15 seconds during recent practice sessions in the Geary Woods, so we think she will have a pretty good chance to qualify for Saturday night’s race. ”
Sarah McKay has a habit of turning heads in the racing world. In 2011 she became the first Canadian female to ever stand on the podium at the ASN/FIA Canadian Karting Championships by taking home the 3rd place hardware in the Junior Briggs Division. In 2012 she did one better, after leading the much of the race, she ended up on the podium again with the 2nd place trophy.
“It’s a big step from karts to Sportsman but this young lady loves to race and I am confident she’ll be able to adapt quickly to the bigger, heavier, more powerful Sportsman car” said Sommerville. “Sarah is excited about taking the next step in her racing career this weekend at Speedway 660’s Martins Home Heating 100.”
Sarah McKay will race a Sportsman car out of the A.E. McKay Builders Racing stable this weekend. Andrew McKay is an avid race fan who has owned and sponsored a car for Maritime Pro Stock star Lonnie Sommerville. Lonnie, who is Billy Sommerville’s son, is a former Pro All Star Series Rookie of the Year and two-time Auto Value 250 winner at Speedway 660. Lonnie, apprenticed under the late Scott Fraser at the Fraser race shop in Shubenacadie before opening his own race shop in Saint John. He built the car Sarah McKay will race this weekend.
