SYDNEY, NS – The stock car season in Atlantic Canada opens this weekend and Bud’s Speedway will be the first paved oval in Nova Scotia to swing their gates opens to competitive racing in 2023. The 2023 Season Opener at the Sydney oval will feature action in six divisions with a combined 250-laps of feature competition on tap. Pit gates open on Saturday morning at 8am, grandstand gates swing open at 11am with opening ceremonies and the first green flag of the season flying at 12pm.
After a successful first full season under the ownership of Lynden MacDougall and Kyle MacKinnon, the group is ready to hit the ground running with the first of five scheduled racing events for the 2023 season. Returning to the track for the first time in over five years is the opportunity for drivers to chase a track championship. Each event will pay championship points with the 2023 Caper Memorial on Saturday, October 21st being the last point events and ultimately determining the new top drivers of the Grand Lake Road oval. The first chance to get points and take the advantage in the track title chase is this Saturday at the 2023 Season Opener!
The Robby’s Towing Late Model Sportsman division anchors the 2023 Season Opener with the Late Models racing around the oval for 100-laps in their feature. Several local favorites are planning on heading to the bullring for a shot at the checkered flag, including Chris Reid, Ronnie MacKay, Shawn Waterfield, Darren Price and Kenny Magliaro. The quintet of drivers who call the Sydney area home, or a stones throw from, will each look to capture the track championship and will put on a battle all season at their home track!
The That’s Right Roofing Street Stock class is shaping up to be one of the biggest stories of 2023 with new cars with familiar faces set to hit the track this season. John Biron (Sydney), Sam Burke (Glace Bay) and JJ Cusack (Sydney) know their way around Bud’s Speedway and will focus their driving attention to the Street Stock division this year. For Biron and Cusack, it is a return to regular competition at their home track after being a part of the NAPA Sportsman Series at Riverside International Speedway while Burke makes the move up from the Saf-way Auto Parts V6 Thunder division. Pist ‘n Broke Racing Team’s Alister and Jason Russell from Glace Bay are gearing up for Saturday, as is Street Stock feature winner from 2022 in Chucky Campbell (Sydney). The That’s Right Roofing Street Stock class continues to grow as the revival of “The Bulldogs” continues on Cape Breton Island!
The strongest pre-event registrations of any classes continue to be the NAPA Auto Parts Mini Stocks and Saf-way Auto Parts V6 Thunders with both divisions hovering around a dozen entries each. Kody Quinn (Sydney, NS) leads a strong contingent of Mini Stocks into the first of five races for the class. He will be challenged from several drivers who made their mark in 2022, including Ryan Price (Louisbourg, NS), Josh Rozicki (Point Edward, NS), Dan MacDonald (Albert Bridge, NS), Brian Axworthy (George’s River, NS), a returning Jonathan MacInnis (Louisbourg, NS) and many more!
The Saf-way Auto Parts V6 Thunder is wide open for the taking on Opening Day and a point championship is sure to be on their minds as the season begins. Brennan MacInnis (Glace Bay, NS), Gary Williams (Sydney, NS), Ryan Dixon (Gardiner Mines, NS) and Brad Mugridge (Sydney, NS) return, along with sophomore driver Austin Rudderham (Sydney, NS) and fan favorite Stephanie Boutilier (Sydney, NS). With the division seeing growth year over year, several new faces are expected throughout the 2023 season!
Anticipation continues to build in the Mallard Electric Hobby Stock division as the Season Opener draws closer. The most recent registration for the class is former Late Model Sportsman competitor Dave Timmons (Inverness, NS). Timmons will be in tough against the likes of Ethan Lillington (Neil’s Harbour), Cory Aker (Sydney Mines, NS) and Brandon MacMillan (Glace Bay, NS), who returns to the seat of the MacKay Motorsports car.
Landon Pierce (Bridgewater, NS) brings the James E. Barkhouse Trucking Bandolero to Bud’s Speedway this Saturday in hopes of adding a win in Cape Breton to his resume. Pierce, who ran full time at Scotia Speedworld and Oyster Bed Speedway in 2022, will try to top local drivers Brett Biron (Sydney, NS) and rookie Jake Campbell (Sydney, NS) in the first GWL Trucking and Landscaping Bandolero feature of the season.
Drivers are reminded they can save time at the gate on Saturday morning by pre-registering their car for the 2023 Season Opener by heading to BudsSpeedway.com. The new website is also the place to find up to date information for competitors, including rules, a complete race day format and a link to the eWaiver, which must be filled out ahead of entering the pits on Saturday.
A supply drive will also held in support of Haley Street Adult Services Centre Society. A supply list can be found on the Bud’s Speedway Facebook page. Each donation will receive a chance to win a detail package from 125 Details!
Please note, if inclement weather interferes with the 2023 Season Opener, a rain date has been set aside for Sunday, May 14th at 2pm.
About Bud’s Speedway: Opened in 1975, Bud’s Speedway has built a racing tradition on Cape Breton Island over the past four decades. The track is home to a number of stock car racing divisions and is a destination for local touring series and motorsports events. For more information on Bud’s Speedway, find them online on various social media platforms at @BudsSpeedway or visit their website at BudsSpeedway.com.
