Over the years, there have been a select handful of multiple winners of the prestigious Daffodil Cup.
Victoria鈥檚 famed Roy Smith and Billy Foster, Edmonton鈥檚 Eldon Rasmussen, Norm Ellefson of Spokane, Doug Larson of Quesnel, Craig Deaver of Sumner, Wash., and locals Trevor and Jeff Montgomery are among them.
But dating back to 1961, no one 鈥� including Smith 鈥� has lifted the treasured trophy more than Duncan鈥檚 Scott Aumen, who has taken home five of the last seven Daffodil Cup titles at Western Speedway.
The 2007, 鈥�08, 鈥�10, 鈥�11 and 鈥�13 champion will attempt to add a sixth as fans make their way to the Langford racetrack to view some of the fastest winged sprint cars in the Northwest compete in one of sa国际传媒鈥檚 oldest races Friday and Saturday nights for the 44th edition.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 one of the things we鈥檙e most proud of,鈥� said Aumen, 44, who first began racing in 1991 and had his first sprint car in 1993.
鈥淔or one thing, it鈥檚 our home or local track and there all the historic guys that have won it, like Roy Smith, who had won it four times. That鈥檚 something we definitely like to brag about.鈥�
Aumen, who operates Mid Island Engine with a partner in Duncan, doesn鈥檛 race around these parts much anymore 鈥� just on Daffodil Cup weekend as Western Speedway stopped running winged cars on a weekly basis a few seasons ago.
鈥淭hings have always worked out well for us at Daffodil Cup. The car usually runs pretty well there and we鈥檝e got a few breaks,鈥� he said, speaking for himself and his crew. 鈥淗opefully, we can do it again. The fastest car doesn鈥檛 always win, you need a few breaks. The odd caution lap at the right time. When a car spins out or something happens, it saves you.鈥�
He continues to have success elsewhere, though, as he sits in the top three in the NSRA circuit as he competes at stops in Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Aumen is two points out of first place behind Matt Hein and Andy Alberding, both of Oregon. Fellow Island racer Matt Mansell is also in the points hunt.
Last year鈥檚 Daffodil Cup winner, Ron Larson, is also right there in the top five.
All are expected to run at Western Speedway this weekend with gates opening at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, qualifying commencing at 5:30 p.m. and racing for the P & R Truck Centre-sponsored event starting at 6:30 p.m.
鈥淓verything we did last year was wrong, we just have to make up for it this year,鈥� said Aumen, who is looking for a bounce back and, possibly, a sixth crown.
Racers are expected to practise tonight and are hoping the forecasted rain stays away for Friday.
The weekend also includes WILROC non-wing sprint cars, Old Time Racers Association competition and dwarf cars.
Advance tickets are on sale at the Market on Millstream or by calling Western Speedway at 250-474-2151.
