(Geary, NB – August 30th, 2018) – The McLaughlin Roof Trusses Pro Stock 250 and the Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman 150 are the feature racing attractions this weekend at Speedway 660, but six unique support divisions split over Saturday, September 1st and Sunday, September 2nd will provide some thrilling door-to-door excitement when the Late Model divisions are preparing for their racing action.
Before the Pro Stocks sail it onto the Speedway 660 surface, the Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooters, DMR Auto Street Stocks, the Atlantic Modified Tour and the final leg of the Tim’s Corner Motorsports Bandolero Blast will take the SpeedWeekend stage. Post time for Sunday’s show, including McLaughlin Roof Trusses 250 Pro Stock qualifying, is 2pm. The McLaughlin Roof Trusses 250 itself is scheduled for a 7pm start.
The DMR Auto Street Stocks and Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooters have consistently put on some of the best racing all season long in the Geary woods. Both of their championship point battles came down to the final laps of the final features on Night of Champions. While season long championships bring the prestige of beating the best over a summer of racing, hoisting the winning trophy on SpeedWeekend brings a thrill like no other regardless of division.
In both the DMR Auto Street Stock and Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooter divisions, the champion and feature win leader are two different drivers. While Shawn Hyslop (St. Stephen, NB) took home two feature wins and the championship, runner up Justin Cole (Harvey, NB) won a whopping five features in 11 starts in 2018. Roger Slocum (Chipman, NB) drove to two feature victories in 2018 while fan favorite Riley Goodwin (McAdam, NB) also put a feature win in his back pocket this Summer. When it came to the Ricky Bobby 100 presented by DMR Auto, it was two-time Street Stock track champion Luc McLaughlin (Geary, NB) driving to victory.
Bryan Suttie (Keswick, NB) was the champion in the Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooters division in 2018 with one feature win, the first of his career, coming early in the season. Brody Levesque (Fredericton, NB) had Riverview Ford Lincoln Victory Lane on speed dial with five visits to victory lane in his four cylinder car. Scott “Bat Hubby” Kennie (Fredericton, NB) flew to three feature victories in his sophomore season. Malcolm Suley (Clarendon, NB) is the most recent winner in the division wile BJ Gillespie (Nackawic, NB) scored an emotional victory mid-way through the 2018 season.
With winning on the mind of every driver on SpeedWeekend, the traffic on the track heading towards Riverview Ford Lincoln Victory Lane will be congested. With this being the final weekend of racing at Speedway 660 for the 2018 season, expect the action to be ramped up from all divisions this weekend.
The Atlantic Modified Tour will also race on Sunday afternoon as a part of SpeedWeekend. This is their second visit to the Geary woods in 2018. Joe Hoyt (Waasis, NB) won the first stop to Speedway 660 for the Modifieds in 2018 while Yves McCray took the most recent round on the Series last weekend at Petty International Raceway. Hoyt leads the championship standings over the No. 91 Stafford Racing team heading into the month of September.
Saturday’s racing will open at 6pm with the Tim’s Corner Motorsports (TCM) Bandolero Blast. The first leg of the TCM Bandolero Blast on the weekend will consist of a 20-lap feature event with qualifying based off final practice and an invert drawn at the driver’s meeting. Saturday’s race will serve as an INEX National Qualifier. INEX members accumulate points at INEX sanctioned feature events throughout the season. A Bandolero driver’s best nineteen finishes plus their best qualifier counts towards their International Point standing.
The TCM Bandolero Blast will conclude on Sunday with heat racing and a 25-lap feature. The driver who accumulates the best average finish over the two days of racing will receive the overall event trophy crafted by Phil-Ko Plastics and Glass and Finish Line Vinyl Design.
Sam Rogers (Lower Onslow, NS) enters as a two-time and the defending TCM Bandolero Blast champion. Rogers will look to do something no driver have done before in the history of the event and become a three-time Bandolero Blast champion on SpeedWeekend. Chipman, New Brunswick’s Cole Boudreau is the only other repeat winner of the event, winning it back in 2011 and 2012.
A number of the region’s top up and coming talents are expected to compete for SpeedWeekend victories. Among those that have expressed interest include Owen Mahar (Hubley, NS), Nyk Pothier (Halifax, NS), Ayden Christensen (Fall River, NS), Chase MacKay (Bear Cove, NS), Kelsea Lewis (Salisbury, NB), Evan Lane (Salisbury, NB), Scotia Speedworld Outlaw point leader Colton and brother Dawson Noble (Upper Nine Mile River, NS), 2017 Scotia Speedworld Beginner Bandit champion Brooke and brother Dylan Dowe (Bedford, NS), Matthew and Jordan Rushton (Dartmouth, NS). Needless to say, the quest for Rogers to make event history will be difficult with the potential entries on the weekend.
Saturday’s racing action will also include two touring series in town to contest racing in their penultimate rounds of 2018. The MJS and Prime Lift East Coast Mini Stock Tour will race in the Pub’s Drive Thru Bottle Exchange 50 with the Maritime League of Legends Tour contesting a 50-lap INEX National Qualifier presented by King Freight Lines.
Both Series enter SpeedWeekend with tight point battles. Chris Hatcher (Beaver Bank, NS; driving for Matthew Warren) leading Andrew Warren (White’s Lake, NS) and Tim Webster (Beaver Bank, NS) by 10 and 15 points, respectively, in the MJS and Prime Lift East Coast Mini Stock Tour. Shelby Baker (Fall River, NS) holds on to a five point lead over Emily Meehan (Rawdon Gold Mines, NS) with an INEX National Qualifier hanging in the balance on Saturday evening.
You can check out a full preview of both touring series on their respective websites, EastCoastMiniStockTour.com and MaritimeLegends.ca. Previews for those races can also be found on Speedway660.com.
The annual SpeedWeekend 2018 corn boil, bonfire and pre-race concert kicks off festivities in the infield of Speedway 660 on Friday, August 31st. DJ Dale Case will be spinning tunes in between sets by The Walking Contradictions. Admission to the event is FREE and will run from 7pm to 12am on Friday.
Fans are reminded that SpeedWeekend 2018 tickets and campsites are now available. An order form for both can be found on the front page of Speedway660.com or on the SpeedWeekend page on the website. Those that would like to order in person can order at the Speedway 660 office. Registration remains open for teams that are intending to compete in both the McLaughlin Roof Trusses Pro Stock 250 and the Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman 150 by heading online or visiting the Speedway 660 office.
For more information about Speedway 660, visit Speedway660.com, like @Speedway660 on Facebook or call the Speedway 660 Raceline at (506) 454-7223.
About Speedway 660:
Speedway 660 is one of Canada’s premier stock car racing facilities. Located in New Brunswick’s Fredericton region, it attracts race teams and fans from the Maritimes, New England and Quebec. The Speedway 660 racing season runs from mid May until Labour Day Weekend. SpeedWeekend, one of the most prestigious short track events in eastern North America, wraps up Speedway 660’s racing season.
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