Race teams from across Atlantic Canada and New England are making final preparations in advance of the annual September trek to Geary, New Brunswick’s Speedway 660 for Speedweekend 2022! Headlined by the 22nd Annual Pro Stock 250, the richest and most prestigious Pro Stock race in the province is set to unfold with just shy of 30 of the top teams in the region registered to vye for victory. This years running will take place on Sunday September 4th, 2022, with qualifying races firing off at 2pm, and opening ceremonies for the Pro Stock 250 slated tentatively for 6:30pm.
The Pro Stock 250 is widely regarded as the most thrilling stock car race of the year in the province of New Brunswick, with each edition featuring many twists and turns keeping fans and teams on the edge of their seat. With lap money on the line at $50 per lap and live pit stops putting strategy at the forefront, the intensity of the race is incredible – with strategy, survival, and skill being keys to finding Riverview Ford Lincoln victory lane as the sun sets over the Geary Woods on Speedweekend Sunday.
Cory Hall (#83 – Jolicure, NB) enters as the reigning champion, having earned the biggest win of his racing career one year ago! Hall made history by leading all 250 laps after the dust settled in the 21st running of the Pro Stock 250. His dominance one season ago makes Hall a heavy favorite going into the Labour Day Classic.
Ashton Tucker (#2 – Srathadam, NB) and Lonnie Sommerville (#23 – Barnesville, NB) are the only multi-time winners entered. Tucker was the first and only driver to win the race in back-to-back years, having gone to victory lane in the 2019 and 2020. Tucker has already found his way into victory lane this year, winning The Waterfront Pub Best of the Best 150 at Speedway 660 in July, while also earning the Summer Clash 250 victory at Scotia Speedworld a few weeks ago. Sommerville picked up his pair of victories on Speedweekend in 2006 and 2009, but the storyline for Sommerville will be redemption following an incident one year ago. Both drivers seek to become the third three-time champion of the event, an accomplishment which would place them alongside legends Shawn Tucker and Cassius Clark.
Dave O’Blenis (#48 – Boundary Creek, NB) and Ryan Messer (#1 – Harvey, NB) are also previous 250 winners on Speedweekend – O’Blenis earned his win in the second running twenty years ago in 2002. O’Blenis notably took home his 100th feature win in May at Speedway 660. Messer is also a feature win in 2022 at Speedway 660, and the 2018 winner was on the 250 podium one season ago. These two popular drivers have had many entertaining battles on the track, and this weekend should be no different as they seek their second Pro Stock 250 title.
Looking for his first Speedway 660 250 victory, Cole Butcher (#53 – Hantsport, NS) enters hot on the heels of capturing the illustrious Oxford 250 in the state of Maine this past weekend. The two-time East Coast International Pro Stock Tour champion has come as close as second place on Speedweekend but carries more momentum than ever before as he seeks a second major victory in as many weeks!
Five-time East Coast International Pro Stock Tour champion John Flemming (#97 – Halifax, NS) is striving to become the second driver to complete the Maritime Triple Crown. The former IWK 250 and Summer Clash 250 champion has been in position to win on Speedweekend on many occasions, but saw opportunities slip away. A victory for Flemming is long overdue. From one multi-time Pro Stock champion to another, four-time Speedway 660 Pro Stock champion Greg Fahey (#29 – St. Stephen, NB) will climb behind the wheel to take another shot at the race which has eluded him for so long. Fahey has been another driver who has found many ways to have the 250 within his grasp only to come up short, and 2022 could be the year the trophy goes back to Charlotte County.
The long list of heavy hitters does not end there! Devin Snell (#10 – Baxter’s Corner, NB) was a surprise runner-up finisher in 2021 after going for a lap one spin. However, it would not be a surprise this year if Snell repeated or improved upon this performance. Steve Halpin (#03 – Saint John, NB) is also past podium finisher, finishing second after leading late in the 2018 edition. Halpin also has a 250 podium from 2011 and will be driving the car which went to victory lane at Speedway 660 in July!
Making the haul north of the border will be current Speedway 660 Pro Stock points leader Wyatt Alexander (#96 – Ellsworth, ME). Alexander has one prior 250 start in 2019, but by focusing on racing north of the border in 2022, he enters more prepared than ever! With lots of success so far this season, Alexander hopes to end the streak of New Brunswick winners, and take victory back to the state which dominated this event for many years.
Alexander joins Messer and O’Blenis as Speedway 660 regulars looking for glory, along with a hungry pack of regulars whom have chased these three all season. Kevin Moore (#88 – Fredericton, NB) has knocked on the door of many podium finishes in the 250, and is known for his craft in long races. Ian Rasmussen (#81 – New Denmark, NB) seeks to put the big black Dodge up front and win his first career feature in the biggest of the season. Dustin Tucker (#52 – Killarney Road, NB) is a former 250 pole sitter, and is a favorite to finish up front and join his father as the only father-son duo to win the Pro Stock 250. Ben Pelletier (#24 – Quispamsis, NB) will return to the drivers seat for this special race, Robert Lee (#41 – Noonan, NB) will seek a strong performance to make Speedweekend 2022 memorable, while Clark Moore (#54 – Saint John, NB) aims to cap off a stout rookie campaign in Pro Stocks which has already turned many heads.
New Brunswick will also be represented by Mike Rodgers (#41 – Pine Glen, NB) who notched a podium finish earlier this season on the East Coast International Maritime Pro Stock Tour, and is expected to have lots of speed. Fans will also be excited to see Paul Gahan (#66 – Fredericton, NB) strap in one more time in his return to the track.
The new “Provincial Challenge” is shaping up to introduce an exciting twist, creating several races inside the race on Sunday. The province of Prince Edward Island will be well represented in the Geary Woods, as a trio of competitors will chase history hoping to become the first PEI winner of the 250. Robbie MacEwen (#40 – Charlottetown, PEI) and 2021 Oyster Bed Speedway Pro Stock champion Dylan Gosbee (#16 – Cornwall, PEI) have both had stellar runs in past years at Speedway 660, and they will be joined by veteran and Oyster Bed Speedway co-owner Robbie MacLean (#7 – North Milton, PEI) as challengers for the PEI leg of the provincial challenge – and the rights to history as the first driver to take the trophy and cheque across the Confederation Bridge.
Nova Scotia will also be well represented on the provincial challenge. In addition to Butcher and Flemming, reigning River Glade International champion Nicholas Naugle (#08 – Dartmouth, NS) will make the haul to take a shot at another big New Brunswick win. Chris Reid (#31 – Fort McMurray, AB) will be among the Nova Scotia challenges for the provincial challenge hauling from the province – one year ago, he was the top Nova Scotia finisher with a fourth-place effort. Brad Eddy (#72 – Lower Sackville, NS) enters with expectations of replicating his impressive 250 performance of a decade ago, while long-time sportsman competitor Jordan Veinotte (#11 – Porters Lake, NS) hopes the move to Pro Stock turns around his Speedweekend luck – Veinotte is preparing to make his inaugural Speedway 660 Pro Stock 250 start.
22nd Annual Pro Stock 250 Expected Entries (as of 2022-08-30)
#03 – Steve Halpin – Saint John, NB
#08 – Nicholas Naugle – Dartmouth, NS
#1 – Ryan Messer – Harvey, NB
#2 – Ashton Tucker – Strathadam, NB
#7 – Robbie MacLean – North Milton, PEI
#10 – Devin Snell – Baxter’s Corner, NB
#11 – Jordan Veinotte – Porters Lake, NS
#16 – Dylan Gosbee – Cornwall, PEI
#23 – Lonnie Sommerville – Barnesville, NB
#24 – Ben Pelletier – Quispamsis, NB
#29 – Greg Fahey – St. Stephen, NB
#31 – Chris Reid – Fort McMurray, AB
#40 – Robbie MacEwen – Charlottetown, PEI
#41 – Robert Lee – Noonan, NB
#41 – Mike Rodgers – Pine Glen, NB
#48 – Dave O’Blenis – Boundary Creek, NB
#52 – Dustin Tucker – Killarney Road, NB
#53 – Cole Butcher – Hantsport, NB
#54 – Clark Moore – Saint John, NB
#66 – Paul Gahan – Fredericton, NB
#72 – Brad Eddy – Lower Sackville, NS
#81 – Ian Rasmussen – New Denmark, NB
#83 – Cory Hall – Jolicure, NB
#88 – Kevin Moore – Fredericton, NB
#96 – Wyatt Alexander – Ellsworth, ME
#97 – Chris Duncan – Hampton, NB
#97 – John Flemming – Halifax, NS
Entry list is subject to change without notice.
Pro Stock competitors will have a busy weekend on tap, with a special Happy Hour session being hosted on Friday night “under the lights” as part of the annual Speedweekend Prelude Kick-Off, followed by a full day of practice on Saturday. Sunday promises to be tense as drivers work through the always exciting qualifying races to lock themselves into the 250. With many bonuses up for grabs, all drivers will challenge for their share of the large purse!
The 2022 edition of Speedweekend at Speedway 660 begins on Friday September 2nd and runs through Sunday September 4th, culminating with the 22nd running of the Pro Stock 250 Sunday evening!
It all gets started Friday night featuring the Speedweekend Prelude Kick-Off, with grassroots racing from the Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooter division and the Atlantic Modified Tour kicking the event off in addition to the Pro Stock Happy Hour! Following Happy Hour, fans will be treated to a Turn 5 19+ concert featuring the band Hazzard – back by popular demand after rocking the track in 2021! Racing begins at 7:30pm on Friday, with the Turn 5 concert estimated to kick-off at 10:30pm.
Saturday September 3rd is a big and busy day with the 21st running of the Riverview Ford Lincoln Sportsman 150! The biggest race of the year for the Sportsman competitors at Speedway 660 is always a crowd pleasing appetizer for Sunday. Racing action will also be contested from the Cross Roads Maritime League of Legends Tour with a 40-lap feature, the Passione Flooring and Interiors East Coast Mini Stock Tour contesting a 50-lap feature, and the first leg of the annual Bandolero Blast! Action kicks off at 5:30pm on Saturday.
Sunday is the biggest day of the year for stock car racing in the province of New Brunswick, with the Pro Stock 250 taking center stage. Qualifying for the 250 begins at 2pm. For fans, it’s a complete day filled with some of the best stock car racing, which will also include the is D. Gillespie & Sons Trucking Street Stock 100, the Heart of a Champion Hot Rod Classics only stop in the Geary Woods, plus the second features of the weekend for the Atlantic Modified Tour presented by Chess Piece Café and Patisserie, the Cross Roads Maritime League of Legends, Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooter division, and the Bandolero Blast!
Campsites and tickets remain available, but fans are encouraged to secure their campsites and tickets early! Tickets will also be available at the gate on race day. For more information, be sure to check out speedway660.com.
New for 2022, fans worldwide will be able to catch all the action from Speedweekend LIVE on FloRacing – the official streaming partner of Speedway 660’s Speedweekend! All 3 days of action will be broadcasted live (and on-demand) for FloRacing subscribers.
Past Pro Stock 250 Winners
2001 – Kirk Thibeau #28
2002 – Dave O’Blenis #48
2003 – Scott Fraser
2004 – Shawn Tucker #52
2005 – Scott Chubbuck #20
2006 – Lonnie Sommerville #23
2007 – Johnny Clark #54
2008 – Craig Slaunwhite #23SFR
2009 – Lonnie Sommerville #23
2010 – Johnny Clark #54
2011 – Shawn Tucker #52
2012 – Cassius Clark #13
2013 – Shawn Tucker #52
2014 – Travis Benjamin #17
2015 – Cassius Clark #13
2016 – Joey Doiron #73
2017 – Cassius Clark #13
2018 – Ryan Messer #1
2019 – Ashton Tucker #2
2020 – Ashton Tucker #2
2021 – Cory Hall #83
About Speedway 660:
Speedway 660 is one of Canada’s premier stock car racing facilities. Located in New Brunswick’s Fredericton region, it has attracted race teams and fans from the Maritimes, New England and Quebec since 1994. The Speedway 660 racing season runs from mid May until late September. SpeedWeekend, one of the most prestigious short track events in eastern North America, is the marquee event of the Speedway 660 season on Labour Day Weekend.
