A mainland Late Model Stock Car veteran achieved a big win on Saturday (Aug. 31) at Saratoga Speedway for the 46th running of the annual Canada 200. 

Agassiz鈥檚 Korbin Thomas clinched his fifth Reg Midgley Canada 200 victory, fending off Metchosin-based racer Rory Smith in a thrilling showdown over the last 50 laps of the 200-lap race. 

Sidney鈥檚 Darrell Midgley and Parksville鈥檚 Charlie Ackerman led the 18-car field to the green flag, with Midgley emerging as the early race leader. 

Ackerman would get by with just over 30 laps completed in the first half, holding on to his lead over his rivals until Kale Woodske took the top spot shortly before the halfway mark.

Woodske wouldn鈥檛 maintain the spot long. Smith managed to move past, with Thomas close behind to secure the lead heading into the 10-minute fuel stop break at lap 100. 

When the race resumed, Thomas and Smith took the lead, with Thomas overtaking the 16-car on lap 156. Smith attempted to pass Thomas many times throughout the final 40 laps, with both drivers getting sideways many times in the fight for the lead. 

After a late race restart with nearly 20 laps left, Thomas and Smith would have one more side-by-side battle, with Thomas emerging as the leader and scoring the win by two car lengths over Smith. 

鈥淭hat was some of the most fun I have ever had in a race car,鈥� Thomas said after the win. 鈥淚 can always race Rory clean, but as hard as we need to without going over the edge.鈥� 

Smith also complimented his opponent.

鈥淲e were both struggling to drive off the corner, so it turned into a real drivers race to see who could get their car to work the best,鈥� Smith said. 
鈥淯nfortunately, we just came up a little bit short at the end.鈥� 

Thomas took home $5,000, becoming the only active driver with the LD Industries BC Late Models to have five Canada 200 wins.