JAMES RIVER, NS (June 6, 2017) – Danny ‘Chocolate’ Myers, the man who fueled the iconic No. 3 driven by the late Dale Earnhardt Sr. to six of his seven NASCAR championships, will be at Riverside International Speedway July 14 and 15 as part of the IWK 250 Super Race Weekend.
Myers’ appearance at Riverside is being presented by Ron MacGillivray Chev Buick GMC, a four-time Triple Crown Award-winning General Motors dealership located in nearby Antigonish where Myers will make a special appearance on Friday, July 14.
“We’re thrilled to add the legendary Chocolate Myers to the lineup for the IWK 250 weekend,” said Paul McLean, general manager for Riverside International Speedway. “It’s part of our ongoing commitment to stock car racing fans that Riverside continue to lead the way as a premier entertainment venue. We greatly appreciate Chocolate’s interest in the IWK 250 and the support from Ron MacGillivray Chev Buick GMC.”
Myers, from Lexington, North Carolina, became widely known as the backbone of the Richard Childress Racing ‘Flying Aces’ pit crew for Earnhardt, hoisting 100-lb gas cans in more than 700 races over 20 years. Since his retirement from pit road, Myers has become an internationally syndicated host of “Tradin’ Paint” where he talks NASCAR with fans five days a week on Sirius XM NASCAR Channel 90. He is also curator of the Richard Childress Racing (RCR) Museum in Welcome, North Carolina.
His notoriety as Earnhardt’s most visible crew member along with that which he has gained since ‘Tradin’ Paint’ and at the RCR Museum, has led to a huge fan following for Myers; interestingly, Canada is the second-largest geographic listening area for his show.
“For us to have an opportunity to go to Canada, especially Nova Scotia, and meet our Canadian race fans, it is quite an honour,” said Myers from his North Carolina studio. “We’re very excited about it…Can’t wait to get there.”
Myers will join NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin as special guests for the IWK 250 Super Race Weekend. The Myers addition is sure to add even more excitement to an event that is already widely known as the most anticipated stock car race in Canada. While Myers kicks back to watch the IWK 250 presented by Steve Lewis with the fans, Martin will be making his return to super late model racing behind the wheel of the Cat Car for Kids presented by Atlantic Cat.
Both Myers and Martin will visit the IWK Health Centre in Halifax as part of their visit to Nova Scotia for the IWK 250, where they will meet with patients and their families. Since its inception in 2007, the IWK 250 has helped raise awareness and more than $410,000 for the IWK.
Myers love for racing is in his blood. His father, Bobby Myers, was a NASCAR pioneer. Bobby Myers lost his life in 1957 in the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina when Chocolate was just a young boy, but he didn’t lose his passion for racing. He and childhood friend Childress sold snacks at their local track just to have money to buy parts for a car. He later became a full-time crew member for Richard Childress Racing where his illustrious career also led to appearances in television commercials and in movies, including Smokey and the Bandit as well as being a colour commentator for NASCAR events on ESPN2.
The IWK 250 Super Race Weekend kicks off Thursday, July 13, with the IWK 250 Tailgate Party featuring Canada’s acoustic party band, Signal Hill. On Friday, July 14, it’s Chocolate Myers presented by Ron MacGillivray Chev Buick GMC along with the R&D Performancenter 150 for the NAPA Sportsman Series and the Maritime Legends Challenge for the Maritime League of Legends. The weekend culminates Saturday, July 15, when Steve Lewis presents the IWK 250 in which NASCAR legend Mark Martin will take on the best short track racers in the region.
Advance tickets for the IWK 250 will be available soon – fans should sign up for the Riverside newsletter at www.riversidespeedway.ca to receive advance notice of the on-sale date.
All overnight parking (RV’s tents, etc.) at Riverside over the IWK 250 weekend requires an advance reservation and is based on availability, currently at zero. Management is working to find a solution that will accommodate as many RV’s as possible. To be added to the campsite request list please email mclean@riversidespeedway.ca including RV details and daytime contact information. Emails will be sent to those on the request list as sites become available.
The 2017 season opens June 17 at Riverside International Speedway with the Ron MacGillivray Chev Buick GMC 150 for the Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour and the R&D Performacenter 75 for the NAPA Sportsman Series. Advance tickets for June 17 are now available online at www.riversidespeedway.ca. There is plenty of free spectator parking for the June 17 event, along with free unreserved parking for self-contained RV’s.
Riverside International Speedway is recognized as a premiere stock racing facility in Canada. The 1/3-mile high-banked asphalt oval roars to action several times a year for special events. It is the home of the IWK 250 – widely known as the best stock-car race in Canada, and of the Bumper to Bumper 300 – Eastern Canada’s only NASCAR event. Located in James River, between New Glasgow and Antigonish, the facility is easily accessible at exit 30 on Trans Canada Highway 104. For more information please visit www.riversidespeedway.ca or call 902-863-2410.
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