2026 Inductee Lois Pollard-Grant

Lois Pollard-Grant grew up at Western Speedway, surrounded by racing and learning the sport from the people closest to her. Her father Earl was an accomplished racer, winning championships in their hometown of Victoria BC as well as at tracks throughout Alberta and Saskatchewan. Her brother Larry made history as the first Canadian to win a NASCAR Busch Grand National race (now known as the “Infinity Series”).

When Larry moved to North Carolina to pursue his NASCAR career, Earl came out of retirement to give racing another try – this time alongside his youngest daughter, Lois. The decision would mark the beginning of a memorable father-daughter racing journey.

At five years of age, Lois could be found in the grandstands with her Mom and two sisters, watching her Dad and brother compete. She was also a trophy girl and presented trophies to winning drivers such as Ray Birtwhistle and Chris Van de Water. In 1987 at the age of twenty-one, Lois strapped on a helmet for the first time and climbed into a borrowed Mini Stock owned by Dan McAmmond. She competed in the final race of the 1987 season and finished second in the main event – her first outing.

Over the next two seasons, Lois and her Dad raced in identical 1969 Datsuns in the Mini Stock division, becoming the first father-daughter racing combo in the history of Western Speedway. Competing full time in the Molson Mini Stock series, Lois also raced in the Lower Island Track Racing Association (LITRA) Claimer class. That season alone she ran in more than thirty events, earning her first main event wins in both divisions along with five heat race victories. She finished the year fifth in Claimer points and second in the Mini Stock championship point standings, an accomplishment she would repeat in 1998 and 2007.

In 1990, Lois and her Dad purchased a rolling chassis from Neil and Trevor Montgomery and entered the VITRA Stockcar class. She earned a few top three finishes and was awarded Rookie of the Year honours. In 1992, the newly-formed Mohawk Thundercar series saw Lois and her team enjoy one of their strongest seasons. They recorded several wins, set a new track record and finished the year third in championship points standings.

Beyond the driver’s seat, Lois was deeply involved in the sport. She managed the club’s promotions and points standings, organized mall shows, press releases and fund-raising events that supported local charities. The Pollard family also entered decorated vehicles in local parades. Lois and her Dad spoke at area high schools about racing and mechanics and, in later years, she and Demo driver “Smokin’ Joe” Liberatore hosted elementary school field trips teaching students about driving safely and keeping speed where it belongs – on the track.

Lois also contributed to the sport through writing. She began writing for the “Pit Talk” section of the Speedway program in 1985 when Reg Midgley was Track Manager. She later wrote for publications across Canada and the U.S.A. Alongside a full racing schedule, Lois and her mother took on the enormous task of writing a twenty page supplement on the forty-fifth and fiftieth year history of Western Speedway for the Goldstream News Gazette. She also penned her own weekly column, “The Checkered Flag” for three years.

In 1991, Lois married fellow racing enthusiast George Grant whom she had met in the pits at Western Speedway. George racing both Stockcars and IMCA Modified divisions had become an integral part of Lois’ racing career.

In 1997, she faced one of the most difficult moments of her life with the passing of her father who had been her crew chief, mentor and dear friend. The first Earl Pollard Memorial Mini Stock race at Western Speedway drew a record number of twenty-seven cars and was won by George Grant, a fitting tribute to Earl.

Her career reached a high point when she was crowned Western Speedway Mini Stock champion in both 2008 and 2009. During those championship seasons, she earned seven fast time awards, won trophy dashes, heat races and main events as well as setting a new track record in qualifying. Her consistent finishes in the top four every night were a testament to preparation, consistency and teamwork. They competed at Western and Saratoga Speedway in Courtenay. Those seasons were especially meaningful as her mother Laura was able to share in those moments before her passing in 2010.

In 2010 and 2011, Lois and George ran in the highly competitive Pro 4 Alliance series based out of Washington State, competing at Yakima Speedway and Stateline Speedway in Idaho. In 2011 Lois won the trophy dash and finished twelfth in the Yakima Fall Classic weekend. A record number of almost sixty cars were there trying to qualify for the show.

In 2012, George was diagnosed with kidney cancer and racing took a back seat. The team raced only occasionally after that until selling their car in 2017.