(July 23, 2017) Oh what a Night! Speedway 660 celebrated Christmas in July in style last Saturday and race teams in all four divisions delivered an evening of exciting entertainment. Santa’s visit to the Geary Woods and the Firecracker 150 were the highlights of the event. We invite you to check out this week’s photo album. 
Santa, a first-time visitor to Speedway 660, showed up in the Geary Woods on Saturday night for Christmas in July and the Firecracker 150. One of our elves gave the Jolly Lad a spin around the track. 
Hey who is this? Its Chris Wilson from South Esk making his first visit to 660. Fans, other race teams and Speedway 660 officials always love to have drivers from other areas come to visit and race with us. Chris is a Street Stock driver and it sure was nice to have his team come our way. 
Got to check those tire pressures before the races to make sure the Grey Owl’s little Sharp Shooter is ready to hit the track. 
Race officials even spent a little time with Santa. Our Christmas in July wish was for a great night of entertainment for our awesome fans. 
Lisa MacIntosh, from RE/MAX Group Four Realty, and her little helper take a break from selling 50/50 tickets to pose for the camera. Half of the money they collect goes to a lucky fan and the other half goes to the Relay For Life! 
One of our awesome marketing partners brought their employees to the races on Saturday evening. We hear the folks from Sewells Paving enjoyed their night in the Geary Woods. 
Brandon Skidmore is our Spotlight Driver of the Week. Brandon comes to Speedway 660 all the way from Springhill, Nova Scotia every week. The former Atlantic Modified Tour champ now drives a RE/MAX Group Four Realty Pro Stock. 
Its time to go racing and first up we’ve got qualifiers for the Firecracker 150. Matt Rodgers (#14) races hard against Luc Bourgeois from Memramcook. We were pretty happy to see Luc come visit us on Saturday night for the big race. 
Matt Maillet wins that first heat and will start on the pole for the Firecracker 150. 
The second heat goes green and we notice that Pete Miller (#92) from East Grove is in the line-up. Pete is another new visiting driver to 660. Nice to see you Pete.
George Jamieson’s “Ram 96” takes the second qualifying heat race. George has got a huge fan following because he has the only Dodge running in the Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman division. 
Kyle Campbell (#11c) races hard against Drew Greenlaw in qualifying heat number three. Kyle, from Salisbury West, drove up the big highway to run in one of the biggest Sportsman races of the season. Welcome to 660 Kyle.
John Rankin wins heat number three and that sets up the winner of the Martin’s Home Heating 100 with a great starting position for the Firecracker 150. 
The Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooters roll out next and it doesn’t take these cats long to get after it. Sharp Shooter racing is always exciting and these three-wide battles are pretty common in this division. 
Things only get a little more congested when Kyle MacKinnon(#22) comes into the picture. But this is what Sharp Shooters do every time they come to the Geary Woods. Fans are always delighted to see this brand of racing. 
Allison Hall, a former competitive cheerleader, wins the Sharp Shooter heat race. Allison is one of our most popular drivers, especially with all the little girls in our crowd. 
Luc McLaughlin, who retired from the DMR Auto Sales Street Stock 75 with mechanical issues last time out, wins the first Street Stock heat race of the night. 
If you like “old-school racin” Speedway 660 is the place to be. Our Street Stock drivers are always up to the challenge and race fast, race hard and often go bumper-to-bumper and door-to-door! 
The second Street Stock heat race is a good one and when all was said & done Shawn Hyslop drives the 99 into the Riverview Ford Victory Lane. 
The RE/MAX Group Four Realty Pro Stocks roll out next and as Tim Elliott flies the green flag Brady Creamer (#10) and Big Kevin Moore race each other hard. Brady, a fine Lad from the Miramichi, has a new addition to his family and doesn’t get over to 660 as much as he did in the past. But he still loves to race and this is still his favourite track. 
Dave O’Blenis, fresh off an impressive run at the IWK 250 a week ago at Riverside International Speedway, wins the first Pro Stock heat race. 
Derek Christie wins the second Pro Stock heat race. Derek is running a part-time schedule this year and it is always nice to see him come out to 660 and have success.
Our first feature of the evening is the Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooter division. Almost from the get-go these talented drivers start to mix things up! 
Things got a little hectic, which got our crowd pretty excited. The Sharp Shooters have a lot of fun and enjoy their unique brand of racing entertainment. 
It came right down to a very close race to the stripe between the two Kyles. 
Kyle Boudreau got the job done this time and celebrates with his capable crew in victory lane. Kyle won the championship in 2015 and hopes to make a run for another title this year. 
Kyle MacKinnon, our 2016 Sharp Shooter champion, settles for second this time out. Kyle as always had a blast and can’t wait to get back to 660 next Saturday night for another go-around!
Allison followed up her Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooter heat race win with an impressive 3rd place showing in the feature. Allison loves to go racing and Speedway 660 is where you’ll find her on Saturday nights.
The two Kyles, who thrilled fans with their exciting race to the finish line, did a side-by-side burn-out on their way back to the pits. It’s all about putting on a show for our fans.
Frosty the Snowman hung out in victory lane all evening long. As the DMR Auto Sales Street Stocks came out for their 30 lap feature Frosty had a big smile on his face because he likes “old-school” racin!
Santa takes a stroll and waves to all the good girls & boys in the Speedway 660 crowd. Santa enjoyed the racing but he prefers reindeer- power over horse-power. 
Three of our top Street Stock drivers race each hard early in their feature. McLaughlin, Goodwin and Hyslop are three of the best Street Stock drivers in all of Atlantic Canada. 
Shawn and Riley go for a wild ride, bringing out the caution and sending the two contenders to the rear for the restart. 
Luc McLaughlin cruises on to victory, earning another feature win in his effort to reclaim the DMR Auto Sales Street Stock championship he first won back in 2014.
Roger Slocum finished second on Saturday night. Roger, who has been on the podium several times this season, says he’ll find a way to go to victory lane before 2017 is over.
Destiny Enkel finished third in the Street Stock feature. Destiny is a little shy, but once she gets into the race car she transforms into a fierce competitor! 
Here’s Luc’s Riverview Ford Victory Lane shot. Luc says he’s one of the luckiest guys in racing because he gets to drive the C.B. Warren’s Auto Care race car every week down at 660. 
Meanwhile Santa continues to meet the kids and hand out frozen treats he brought all the way from the North Pole!
The highlight of the Pro Stock feature was the side-by-side action involving Dave O’Blenis and Dustin Tucker. They ran each other hard during the 50 lap feature but in the end there can only be one winner. 
Tucker crosses the finish line first. He’s been racing full-time for the last couple of years, but had never won a feature until July 22, 2017. That’s almost 24 years to the day that Speedway 660 held its first race in 1994.
For the second week in a row Dave finishes second behind one of the young up and comers! O’Blenis, a five time RE/MAX Group Four Realty Pro Stock champ knows he’ll be back in victory lane sooner or later.
Dave, a real sportsman and gentleman, shakes hands with Dustin and congratulates the young driver on his first Pro Stock victory. O’Blenis might have to think back a long time to remember when he got his first Pro Stock win in the Geary Woods.
Derek Christie follows up his heat win, earlier in the evening, with a very nice third place finish in the 50 lap Pro Stock feature. It’s got to make him feel pretty confident heading into next week’s Clark Chevrolet Best of the Best 150.
Three generations of Tuckers and three generations of winning race car drivers. Dustin, his Grandfather LeRoy and Father Shawn celebrate a special win in victory lane.
Santa continues meeting our fans and making sure everyone gets a few treats during Christmas in July at Speedway 660.
The Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman cars park on the front stretch, for driver introductions, just as the sun starts to set. 
Matt Maillet cracks a joke and gets a chuckle out of John Rankin as the two prepare to jump in their cars for one of the biggest races of the season.
George Jamieson waves to the crowd after being acknowledged by flagman Tim Elliott during driver intros.
Justin Cole gets all helmeted up before climbing into the 38 for the Firecracker 150.
Gerald Greenlaw makes sure his son Drew is securely buckled up before the race begins. Safety is always priority number one for everyone at Speedway 660.
The cars follow the Riverview Ford Fusion pace car prior to the Firecracker 150 going green.
Santa climbs up on the flag stand to the applause of Tim Elliot and prepares to wave the green flag to start the big race.
They race hard early on with Matt Maillet running side-by-side with George Jamieson. Rankin, Rodgers and Greenlaw round out the top five in the first few laps.
A little further back Richard Atkinson (#40) and Alexandra O’Blenis have a nice little battle going on.
As the first half of the race winds down Laurie Cormier (#53) who started deep in the field makes a bold and daring dash toward the front.
They take a ten minute break on the front stretch after lap 75, allowing the crews to bring out their “mini-war wagons” to service the cars.
The gregarious Mr. Claus slides down to the front stretch to check things out. It looks like he might be starting to get interested in this horse-power thing.
Santa embraces a couple of “little boys” on the Gahan flatbed. He’s advising them to be nice and not naughty. Looks like they are going to take Santa’s words to heart.
The second half begins with Laurie Cormier getting an inside run on John Rankin for the lead. John battles hard, but…..
….Laurie grabs the leads and races on into the evening. Cormier is one of our visiting drivers and fans know that he comes to race hard and appreciate his efforts every time he comes up to Speedway 660 from his home down Moncton way.
The O’Blenis sisters both had good runs on Saturday night. Courtney (#48) was impressive in her first ever Firecracker 150. At this point in the race Alexandra is just beginning to make her run toward the front.
On a restart, after a late race caution, John makes his move on the outside of Laurie and Alex goes to work on Matt. Drew and Courtney line up fifth and sixth. 
John Rankin goes to victory lane, climbs out of the car and is captivated by the sight and sounds of an amazing fireworks show at the end of a tremendous night of racing.
Speedway 660 is pretty famous for it’s post-race fireworks shows after the Firecracker 150 and SpeedWeekend events.
John is as wide-eyed as a little kid on Christmas morning when Santa comes to visit him in victory lane.
Congratulations to Rankin and his team for winning the 2017 version of the Firecracker 150. John, who also won the Martin’s Home Heating 100, has a rare opportunity on SpeedWeekend to go for a sweep of our three big Sportsman races.
Alexandra O’Blenis ran out of laps. Had the race gone ten laps more she just might have been able to pass Rankin for the win. However Alex was very pleased to finish second and ever more pleased to be congratulated by Mr. Claus!
Team O’Blenis is pretty proud of Alexandra’s efforts in the Firecracker 150. After a so-so first half she pitted and the crew made a minor adjustment, bringing the car to life and sending her toward the front of the field.
Laurie Cormier, who came home third, sure put on a show for our great Speedway 660 fans. He is congratulated by Santa and Glyn Nott. Glyn and his wife Brenda gave Laurie a nice cash contingency award in memory of Glyn Sr. who passed away during the off-season. Senior sure would have enjoyed this night of racing in the Geary Woods! 
Laurie brought a big group of supporters up from Moncton. Cormier, son of legendary racer and Maritime Motorsports Hall of Fame Member Adelard Cormier, always runs well at 660. Thanks for coming up to see us Laurie and we hope to see you again soon. 
Everyone can’t help but smile when they get a photo taken with Santa Claus. Congrats to Laurie, Alexandra and John for a tremendous Firecracker 150.
Speedway 660 would like to thank you for checking out this week’s photo album. We appreciate the support of all of our fans, race teams, marketing partners & sponsors and staff & employees. This week we really want to thank the visiting drivers who traveled to Geary Woods to race with us. Oh yeah and thank-you too Santa.
(photos by Michelle Roy)
