JAMES RIVER, NS (December 29, 2023) – Riverside International Speedway will celebrate its 55th anniversary in 2024 with plans to mark the significant milestone throughout the year, starting with the unveiling of a commemorative logo which will be used on special edition swag, promotional pieces, and more.
“It’s a milestone very few businesses celebrate so celebrate is what we intend to do,” said Joan Roué, Riverside manager. “We recognize it’s thanks to generations of fans, racers, sponsors, staff, and many more that we are at this significant anniversary. We’re planning an exciting season to mark the occasion.”
While the complete ’24 schedule at Riverside has yet to be announced, three of an expected five event weekends are already on the calendar…
June 28-30 sees the Canada Day Weekend Super Show featuring the NASCAR Canada Series (NCS) AND the East Coast International Pro Stock Tour. Both series are on the card for Saturday, June 29. Activities for June 28 and a second racing division for June 30 are expected to be revealed early in the New Year. This event marks the return of NASCAR to Nova Scotia with the ONLY doubleheader on the NCS schedule in ’24; adding the ECI Pro Stock Tour to the show elevates makes this event a “must-see” for fans and a “must-do” for racers. Camping will open on June 27; camping reservations will start in January. Fans can sign up for the pre-sale camping and ticket waitlist for this event by visiting www.riversidespeedway.ca.
Three weeks later, from July 17-20, it’s the much-anticipated IWK 250 Super Race Weekend – a bucket list event for fans and racers all over North America. This year, the Hanley Cup will be awarded for the first time to the driver who makes the fastest lap around the high-banked oval in the IWK 250 Time Trials. The Cup is named for Jr. Hanley, a North American short-track racing superstar originally from Nova Scotia who calls Riverside “home”. The weekend kicks off Wednesday, July 17 when camping opens in the morning and a practice for Friday racing divisions in the evening. Thursday will see the IWK 250 Test’N’Tune followed by the popular Tailgate Party. Racing starts Friday evening with divisions TBA. Saturday it’s the IWK 250 Presented by Steve Lewis.
Two more special event weekends at Riverside in ’24 will be announced soon. New merchandise featuring the 55th-anniversary logo will be available in early spring at www.riversidespeedway.ca and the track merchandise booth all (race) season long.
Riverside Speedway opened in 1969 under the helm of Antigonish businessman John “Nova” Chisholm. It was sold in 1989 and bought back by Mr. Chisholm late in 2005, rebuilt in 2006, and rebranded Riverside International Speedway. For 55 years, the popular 1/3-mile high-banked asphalt oval has provided generations of race fans with some of the best stock car racing entertainment in North America.
Mr. Chisholm built the track after a conversation with NASCAR founder “Big” Bill France. France suggested it should be easy access from a major highway and that it be a smaller version of Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee. Both became reality as the facility sits at Exit 30 on the Trans Canada Highway and the track is a 1/3-mile rendition of the original Bristol Motor Speedway. It opened May 18, 1969, to much hoorah and huge crowds and has been thrilling generations of race fans and racers ever since – and is still owned and operated by the Chisholm family.
Over six and a half decades Riverside has hosted a who’s who of racers from Canada and the U.S. To name a few, NASCAR greats Benny Parsons, Mark Martin, Brad Keselowski, and Joey Logano; top Canadian racers Jr. Hanley, Don Biederman, and Earl Ross; and top regional racers Rollie MacDonald, Frank Fraser, and Bob Allen. These are just a few of the many amazing drivers who have provided fast and furious action for generations of race fans.
