Crédit photo :Don Simpson Luke Whitteker Wins Canadian Nationals Championship
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The final race of the Draper Door Canadian Nationals at Cornwall Speedway is all set and done. There was a big fanfare for the winner of the race, Steve Bernier. There was how ever another winner that night, Luke Whitteker, who claimed the 2018 Canadian Nationals Championship, this past weekend.
It’s really a miracle that Luke is even racing considering the severe injurers he sustained in a skiing accident last winter. The young 24-year-old from Iroquois, Ontario, overcame that and is now the 2018 champion.
I asked Luke what he thought about the win. “At the beginning of the season, I wasn't sure if I would make it back in the car this season due to my injuries. After clinching the win on opening night at the BOS for the fourth 50L Ogilvies Series event in a row, I knew I still had what it took to compete and overcome my injuries”.
“The Canadian Nationals events at CMS were definitely on the radar since a win in the series had eluded me from the previous years. In 2017 I led the race in each event but was never able to take home the win due to mechanical failures in each of the three events.
Crédit photo : Don Simpson
“Since that Canadian Nationals race win on August 5, we have won two more races and have not finished out of the top three in the last five events we have attended.
“Wrapping up the championship was not made easy since we were tied for the points lead going into the last event. Things got even more difficult when I got a flat around lap 35. We made it back out onto the track just in time to remain on the lead lap. I made up several positions before I got into more trouble, trying to avoid contact with another car and spinning into the infield. After getting reset around the 15th position, I made it up to the third position where I ended the event and capturing the title. It means a lot to me, and my team. I'd like to thank Raymond Lavergne and Joe Draper from Draper Doors for putting together a great series.”
For sure it has been an up-and-down season for Luke, and as he deals with constant pain, he has learned to persevere through it all, clearly showing he still has what it takes to become a champion.
Crédit photo : Don Simpson
“Since that Canadian Nationals race win on August 5, we have won two more races and have not finished out of the top three in the last five events we have attended.
“Wrapping up the championship was not made easy since we were tied for the points lead going into the last event. Things got even more difficult when I got a flat around lap 35. We made it back out onto the track just in time to remain on the lead lap. I made up several positions before I got into more trouble, trying to avoid contact with another car and spinning into the infield. After getting reset around the 15th position, I made it up to the third position where I ended the event and capturing the title. It means a lot to me, and my team. I'd like to thank Raymond Lavergne and Joe Draper from Draper Doors for putting together a great series.”
For sure it has been an up-and-down season for Luke, and as he deals with constant pain, he has learned to persevere through it all, clearly showing he still has what it takes to become a champion.