By Jon Brown, ROSEBURG, Ore. – Johnny Giesler finished the inaugural Canadian-American Western Winged Sprintcar Series season just three points behind champion Sierra Jackson.

Now, more than halfway through the 2013 season, the Meridian, Idaho driver finds himself at the top.

He made sure of it with a wire-to-wire victory in the Western Winged Sprints’ debut Friday night at Douglas County Speedway.

After running the third-fastest qualifying lap, Giesler was supposed to start on the second row in the fourth position directly behind series leader and fellow Meridian racer Bryan Warf.

But when Warf lost a brake caliper during warmup laps prior to 40-lap feature, Giesler found himself lining up alongside polesitter Ron Larson of Quesnel, British Columbia and heading for the green flag.

The wave of the green was all Giesler needed. He blew past Larson, claimed the lead and stayed out front for the duration of the Don Hein/Casey Diemert Memorial.

The ASA Northwest Sprintcar Racing Association co-sanctions the weekend in western Oregon with the WWS, which is also ASA affiliated.

Giesler grabbed his third feature victory in Roseburg since 2011.

Winston, Ore.’s Andy Alberding finished second in the main event, and fast qualifier Scott Aumen from Duncan, British Columbia was third. Duncan’s qualifying speed of 108.199 mph moved him around the track in a series record 12.477 seconds.

Friday’s victory was Giesler’s second of the season and pushed his WWS all-time-leading mark to six.

After Friday, Giesler owned a 25-point lead over Warf in the season standings.

Canadian-American Western Winged Sprintcars Series

ASA Northwest Sprintcar Racing Association

Hein/Diemert Memorial

Douglas County Speedway

3/8-mile paved oval

Roseburg, Ore.

Friday’s results

Hein/Diemert Memorial (40 laps) – 1. Johnny Giesler, Meridian, Idaho; 2. Andy Alberding, Winston, Ore.; 3. Scott Aumen, Duncan, British Columbia; 4. Matt Hein, Roseburg, Ore.; 5. Sierra Jackson, Middleton, Idaho; 6. Rick Brown, Springfield, Ore.; 7. Guy Barrett, Victoria, British Columbia; 8. Billy Kennely, Seattle; 9. Greg Middendorf, Snohomish, Wash.; 10. Ryan Burdett, West Jordan, Utah

Trophy dashes

(Four laps each)

A Dash – 1. Hein; 2. Giesler; 3. Aumen; 4. Alberding

B Dash – 1. Brown; 2. Matt Mansell, Victoria, British Columbia; 3. Mike Sullivan Jr., Roseburg, Ore.; 4. Barrett

Heat races

(Eight laps each)

Heat No. 1 – 1. Sullivan; 2. Giesler; 3. Vern Scevers, LaPine, Ore.; 4. Ron Larson, Quesnel, British Columbia; 5. Kennely; 6. Craig Senger, Roseburg, Ore.

Heat No. 2 – 1. Mansell; 2. Bryan Warf, Meridian, Idaho; 3. Alberding; 4. Middendorf; 5. Burdett; 6. Mitch Holte, Veneta, Ore.

Heat No. 3 – 1. Brown; 2. Rob Haslam, Victoria, British Columbia; 3. Aumen; 4. Hein; 5. Jackson; 6. Barrett

Fast time

Aumen, 12.477 seconds (108.199 mph)

Note -- Western Winged Sprints track record