(GEARY, NB – May 22nd, 2019) – Speedway 660 will welcome the cars and stars of the Atlantic Modified Tour on Sunday afternoon to “the Geary woods.” The Atlantic Modified Tour will join the four Speedway 660 house divisions as they continue their racing season following the Riverview Ford Lincoln Season Opener. The RE/MAX East Coast Elite Realty Pro Stock, Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman, DMR Auto Street Stock and Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooter classes will all take to the track on Sunday for their second event of 2019. Post time on Sunday, May 26th is 2pm.
One of the biggest stories coming out of the Riverview Ford Lincoln Season Opener last Sunday was the Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman feature. While Richard Atkinson (Geary, NB) was out front, making history by becoming the first driver in Atlantic Canada to score a win with the new Five Star Bodies “Generation Two” Late Model body, there were plenty stories trailing the No. 40 car. One of those stories was Clark Moore (Saint John, NB) and his run to the podium late in the feature. Moore, entering his fourth year of Late Model Sportsman racing, muscled his way to the third place spot in the waning laps of the main event to start the season strong in his No. 54 The Trailer Store Chevrolet.
Like all successful race teams, the work throughout the week in the shop is what pays off when it comes to the performance on the track.
“My Dad and I have the car working really well and I feel it is even better than it was at the end of last season,” said Moore of his performance at the Riverview Ford Lincoln Season Opener. “Lonnie Sommerville has helped us tremendously with the setup so we can keep this car up front. The goal would be to keep up with these podium finishes and eventually we’ll find our way to victory lane, especially in the extended distance races. I feel like those longer races will be our best chance to race our way to a win.”
Moore enters tied for third in the standings with Courtney O’Blenis (Boundary Creek, NB). Atkinson, “The Old Musket,” leads a field of younger drivers in the top five of the championship standings, including Curtis Collins (Barnesville, NB) in second and Alexandra O’Blenis (Boundary Creek, NB) in fifth.
By virtue of his win on Sunday in both his RE/MAX East Coast Elite Pro Stock heat and the main event, Brent Roy (Hanwell, NB) will lead the field into competition on Sunday. Familiar faces Dave O’Blenis (Boundary Creek, NB), Greg Fahey (St. Stephen, NB), Matt Harris (Fredericton Junction, NB), Devin Snell (Saint John, NB) and Ian Rasmussen (New Denmark, NB) chase Roy within the top five in the point standings after the Riverview Ford Lincoln Season Opener.
A career best finish by Courtney Barton (Minto, NB) of second in the DMR Auto Street Stock feature last Sunday has the fan favorite second in points behind former champion Roger Slocum (Chipman, NB). Chris Hanley (St. Stephen, NB) and Ryan Richard (Saint John, NB) find themselves tied for third in the standings heading into Sunday’s second show of the season.
The biggest car count in the Geary woods is in the Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooters division, where 17 cars took part in the first race of 2019. While several rookies tried to make their mark, it was a podium full of veterans that comprised the front of the field last Sunday. BJ Gillespie, in a newly built car for the 2019 season, leads the field into Sunday’s event ahead of Brody Levesque (Fredericton, NB) and reigning track champion Bryan Suttie (Keswick, NB).
The Atlantic Modified Tour will race their second of 12 races on their provincial touring series Sunday with their first of two stops at Speedway 660. The Tour is seeing a resurgence in returning Saturday night heroes from the North Shore and is led into competition on Sunday afternoon by two of those drivers. Yves McCray (Neguac, NB) is the point leader after winning at Speedway Miramichi in Miramichi, New Brunswick last weekend but was chased closely by “The Racing Ranger” Kim Hallihan (Renous, NB). Former RE/MAX East Coast Elite Realty Pro Stock drivers Braxton Stafford (Blackville, NB) and Brandon Skidmore (Springhill, NS) finished in the top five in the Season Opener and would love nothing more than to score a Modified win at a race track they have hundreds of laps at.
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 Sunday’s Atlantic Modified Tour 35 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 9:30am, grandstand gates open for spectators at 12pm with racing getting underway at 2pm. A complete race day format will be available via Speedway660.com later in the week.
For more information about the Atlantic Modified Tour 35, 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.
