(GEARY, NB – August 21st, 2019) – Speedway 660 will be the first paved oval race track in Atlantic Canada to crown track champions in 2019 on Saturday evening, August 24th with the running of the Night of Champions. Divisional point and rookie of the year champions will be decided in all four house classes, including the RE/MAX East Coast Elite Pro Stock, Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman, DMR Auto Street Stock and Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooter classes. The event will also serve as the final event for drivers to fine tune their cars prior to SpeedWeekend 2019. Racing begins on Saturday, August 24th for the Night of Champions at 6:30pm.
Big car counts and intense racing action have led the Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooter division to a two car duel for the season long championship. It is experience versus youth as Brody Levesque (Fredericton, NB) will square off against rookie Tristan Harris (Harvey, NB) for the championship. The gap between the pair is two points, or the amount of points between positions in a feature event. This division was decided in a fury of action on and off the track, meaning anything can happen given the circumstances of an evening like Night of Champions. While still mathematically involved in the championship discussion, Scott “Bat Hubby” Kennie (Fredericton, NB) and rookies Jon Forsythe (Oromocto, NB) and Caleb Urquhart (Charter’s Settlement, NB) will need some help to pull out a track title in 2019.
The DMR Auto Street Stock division has been a tug of war between two fan favorites over the last month. Chris Hanley (St. Stephen, NB) took the lead following the August 11th event and still holds a six point lead on former champion Roger Slocum (Chipman, NB) following last weekend’s event. The racing action has been unpredictable at best in this division and should be a close battle all the way down to the finish of the 30-lap feature on Saturday evening. Rick Cashol (Saint John, NB) has come on strong over the past few weeks, but even with his strong effort he still sits third, 49 points behind the leader and will need lightning to strike Hanley and Slocum to find himself in championship contention on Saturday.
The gap has equalized over the past few Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman races between Curtis Collins (Barnesville, NB) and Richard Atkinson (Geary, NB). While Collins has won five feature events, including the last two, Atkinson has kept him honest. The point gap is only 17 points between the pair heading into the final race, meaning the door to the championship would be open if Collins falters in the final 40-lap feature of the year. While still mathematically eligible for the championship, once the feature begins on Saturday Ryan Raynes and Robert Raynes (both of Saint John, NB) will see their dreams of a championship all but dashed this season.
Based on a 15 car field, all Brent Roy (Hanwell, NB) will have to do is start both the RE/MAX East Coast Elite Realty Pro Stock heat and feature to clinch his second championship in Speedway 660’s top class. Roy holds a 40 point lead over Greg Fahey (St. Stephen, NB) and are the only two drivers mathematically eligible for the championship leading into Night of Champions. With this being the final Pro Stock event in the Geary woods prior to the McLaughlin Roof Trusses 250, you may see some drivers make the haul to Speedway 660 to tweak their setups prior to the Maritime crown jewel event.
Returning for 2019, children aged 15 and under will be admitted to the grandstands for free to every stock car event at Speedway 660. The admission structure makes it easier for families to attend race events at the track and received positive feedback from fans when implemented mid-season in 2017.
Adult grandstand admission price for Saturday’s Night of Champions is $15 (aged 16 and up). Pit admission is $18 and is restricted to those 16 years of age and older. Tickets are available at the gate on race day. Pit gates for competitors will open at 1:00pm, grandstand gates open for spectators at 5:30pm with racing getting underway at 6:30pm. A complete race day format will be available via Speedway660.com later in the week.
Pro Stock teams are reminded that registration is now open for the 19th Annual McLaughlin Roof Trusses 250 on Sunday, September 1st. Teams can register online by visiting Speedway660.com or at the Speedway Office during Night of Champions to take advantage of early bird pricing. Fans can also reserve camp sites, buy advance tickets or purchase laps on the McLaughlin Roof Trusses 250 Lap Leaderboard by contacting the Speedway 660 Office by calling (506) 454-7223 or visiting the office on the speedway grounds. SpeedWeekend 2019 runs from Friday, August 30th to Sunday, September 1st at Speedway 660 in Geary, New Brunswick.
For more information about the Fan Appreciation Night, or any event at 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.
