River Glade, NB – (May 25th, 2017) Petty International Raceway is set to begin their 2017 stock car season on Saturday, May 27th with the Canadian National Autism Foundation’s (CNAF) KIDS RACE presented by Acura of Moncton. The event is the first of 11 racing events taking place this year on the River Glade, New Brunswick oval over eight weekends spanning from May to September. Six unique oval racing divisions will hit the race track Saturday, with qualifying heat races set to roll off at 6pm.
The top division at Petty International Raceway has had a slight facelift since the last point paying event of 2016. The former Sportsman division has been rebranded as the Limited Late Model class and will be comprised of Sportsman race cars with Hoosier 1070 “Pro Stock” slick tires as opposed to a grooved tire. Many Petty International Raceway favorites will be ready to attack the track in their first starts of the season, including former track champions Russell Smith Jr (Lakeside, NS) and Kenny Mackenzie Jr (Salisbury, NB). Pete Miller (Kennetcook, NS), Phil Barkhouse Jr (Hammonds Plains, NS) and Jordan Veinotte (Porter’s Lake, NS) are among those pre-registered for the season, as is local favorite Matt Maillet (Burton, NB). The Limited Late Model feature on Saturday evening will be 75-laps in length.
The Street Stock division has been growing throughout the winter with an increased car count expected along with a new sponsor in Westwood Estates Apartments of Oromocto, New Brunswick. Westwood Estates will also present the Street Stock Triple Crown, a series within the point season that will comprise of extra distance races on May 27th, August 5th and September 22nd. Registration has been strong for the class, which includes over six rookie contenders, including Riverview’s Curtis Moase along with Moncton drivers Adam Lemon and fan favorite Logan Power. Familiar faces looking for the first Westwood Estates Street Stock checkered flag of the year include Nick Cudmore (Goshen, NB), Mike Duskey (Albany, PE), Merv Lemon (Moncton, NB) and Ryan Richard (Saint John, NB).
Tim Webster (Beaver Bank, NS) has plans to return to defend the Mister Transmission Mini Stock Championship in 2017. Webster has started off the season hot after taking his first win since 2014 at Scotia Speedworld last Sunday and will look to become the first back to back Mini Stock titlist since Petty International Raceway re-opened in 2011. Webster will be up against stiff competition from a healthy mix of newcomers to the high banked oval including former champion JR Lawson (Shubenacadie, NS), Rob Poirier (Irishtown, NB), Mike Edwards (Penobsquis, NB) and Chris Garnett (Havelock, NB).
The Leisure Days RV Bandolero class returns for another season of high speed action and with Michael Cormier (Grand-Barachois, NB) moving up to the Westwood Estates Street Stock class, the division will crown a new champion in 2017. Fans will see Canadian Bandolero champions including Nathan and Josh Langille (Coldbrook, NS), Sam Rogers (Lower Onslow, NS) and INEX Winter Nationals feature winner Owen Mahar (Hubley, NS) duke it out with home track favorites Koven Lewis (Salisbury, NB) and Evan Lane (Moncton, NB) and other youngsters for the prestigious track championship.
Brenda Shortell (Lakeside, NS) will begin her title defense of the Petty International Raceway Women on Wheels championship this Saturday. The class is comprised of female drivers with no previous stock car experience higher than the “WoW.” The ladies will take to the track three times over the summer months. Ashley Campbell (Harrietsfield, NS) is the reigning winner of the first race in the series, taking the inaugural win in the class in June 2016.
The Atlantic Modified Tour will race five times at Petty International Raceway in 2017 and will crown a Petty International Raceway track champion for the first time in series history. Saturday’s feature marks the first race of the season for the open wheeled stars of the Maritimes.
As if the pressure of the first race day of the season was not enough, each division will compete for double points. The extra championship points will go a long way in deciding who will hoist the big trophies in September.
Please note Kids Race is not an actual race, it is just a name the CNAF uses to brand their events at race tracks across the country. On track action will be the same as every other Petty International Raceway event.
The Junior Fan program will return in the 2017 season. During all eleven Petty International Raceway events, including the CNAF KIDS RACE presented by Acura of Moncton, a Junior Fan will be selected from the crowd and will be able to take a ride around the high banked oval with their favorite driver during the intermission.
Grandstand admission prices for Saturday’s events are $20 for adults and $10 for youth aged eight to 18, while children seven years of age and under will be admitted free. Pit admission is $25 and is restricted to those 16 years of age and older. Pit gates for competitors open at 1pm, grandstand gates open for spectators at 4pm with racing getting underway at 6pm.
For complete, up-to-date information on Petty International Raceway, please visit PettyInternationalRaceway.com, follow us on Twitter (@PettyRaceway_NB) and like us on Facebook (@PettyInternationalRaceway).
About the Canadian National Autism Foundation:
The Canadian National Autism Foundation (CNAF) promotes the positive enhancement and quality of life for people with autism in Canada. The CNAF was formed in June 2000, by parents of children with autism. The foundation is completely run and administrated by unpaid volunteers. Our foundation is funded by donators, and fundraising events put on by others as well as the foundation. The CNAF has been formed to provide funding for: Educating the general public and professionals; Providing information and resources to families of people with autism; providing funding for Canadian based research and development; Promoting national autism awareness.
About Acura of Moncton:
Acura of Moncton has the pleasure of serving all of New Brunswick & Prince Edward Island, with an exceptional selection of all of today’s finest new Acura models, as well as a meticulously curated selection of Certified Pre-Owned Acura models and premium used cars. We serve Moncton, Dieppe, Riverview, Edmundston, Salisbury, Saint John, Bathurst, Fredericton, and the surrounding towns and rural areas with an unbeatable Acura selection with all of today’s hottest Acura models including the new Acura ILX, the new Acura MDX, the newest Acura RDX, and more. Acura of Moncton is located on 1170 Aviation Avenue in Moncton, can be found online at AcuraOfMoncton.ca and can be contacted toll free at 1-855-431-0234.
About Petty International Raceway:
Petty International Raceway is located on Highway 106, just 40 km west of Moncton, New Brunswick. To learn more about Petty International Raceway, its location, admission, policies, history, and more, please visit www.pettyinternationalraceway.com.
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