A trio of former track champions and a couple Pro Stock heavy hitters began their 2024 seasons with statement victories at Speedway 660 for the Riverview Ford Season Opener on Saturday May 18^th under textbook May weather conditions. All four Speedway 660 house classes were in action to begin their championship chase during the tracks 31^st season of operation.

One of the most intense battles came for the 75-lap Re/Max East Coast Elite Realty Pro Stock division feature, between Saint John area drivers Steve Halpin (#03) and Devin Snell (#10). Both drivers are former Yard Gear 250 podium finishers, and with several major regional Pro Stock / Super Late Model events on tap in the weeks to come, wanted to get their seasons started off right.

Halpin won his heat race and started up front, while Snell took his time working through traffic. Before long Snell was hot on Halpin’s bumpers but was unable to make the pass. When the races lone caution came out in the closing laps, Snell attempted to use the outside to catapult out front. While momentarily it appeared Snell might be stealing the race, Halpin dug deep on the bottom and reclaimed the top spot en route to victory. Easy-Kleen Super Late Model Series rookie Curtis Collins (#27) rounded out the podium, ahead of Ian Rasmussen (#81) and Clark Moore (#54).

Nine (9) Re/Max East Coast Elite Realty Pro Stock division drivers took to the track for opening day. For Halpin, this was his fourth career win in the Speedway 660 Pro Stock division, and his first win since 2018.

In the Summit Dodge Sportsman division, defending champion Drew Greenlaw (#23) continued his winning ways in the Geary Woods, wheeling his way to victory lane in the 75-lap feature event. Greenlaw had to survive a pair of late race restarts to hold down the victory over Courtney O’Blenis (#48), with Richard Atkinson (#40) claiming the final podium position. Charles Mercer (#19) and Jacob Logan (#37) rounded out the top five.

Alexandra O’Blenis (#74) was the biggest challenger to Greenlaw much of the race but would drop out while running in the runner-up spot in the closing laps.

Greenlaw also won the heat race. Seven (7) Summit Dodge Sportsman competitors were on the property for opening day. This marked the fourteenth career Sportsman win at Speedway 660 for Drew Greenlaw.

Justin Cole (#38) and Riley Goodwin (#77) put on a clinic in the Shur-Fit Automotive, Bumper to Bumper Street Stock divisions 35-lap feature. Cole, the reigning division champion, would lead wire-to-wire to score the win and commence his title defense, but Goodwin kept him honest throughout the race keeping chase. It was nearly an eleven (11) second gap back to the final podium position, with Kyle MacKinnon (#22) emerging on top of what was a spirited battle for third. Ron Enkel (#52) and Rick Cashol (#54) rounded out the top five.

MacKinnon and Cole won heat races. Thirteen (13) cars were in attendance for the season opener. The feature win was Justin Cole’s thirteenth career Street Stock win at Speedway 660.

Two-time Changing Hands Thrift Shop Sharp Shooter champion BJ Gillespie (#69) pulled double duty on Saturday, and while he had not much luck in the Sportsman division, emerged victorious in the 30-lap Sharp Shooter feature.

Gillespie got the lead early but fell back with a missed shift on a restart. Not missing a beat, Gillespie got up on the wheel and made some bold moves to regain the lead en route to victory over Randy Storey (#92) and Terry Lawson (#14). Evan Gallon (#9) and Curtis Tremblay (#00) rounded out the top five.

Lawson and Gillespie won heat races to kick-off the day. Seventeen (17) Sharp Shooters were in attendance. This was Gillespie’s fifteenth career Sharp Shooter victory at Speedway 660.

The next event at Speedway 660 is a big one! Saturday May 25^th is Kid’s Day, along with the season opener for the East Coast International Pro Stock Tour. It will be a 150-lap event and many of Speedway 660’s best are expected to join the stars of the Pro Stock Tour in an epic all-star showdown. Action from the Shur-Fit Automotive, Bumper to Bumper Street Stock division and Changing Hands Thrift Shop Sharp Shooter division will also be on tap. Start time will be 4pm.

 

Re/Max East Coast Elite Realty Pro Stock 75-Lap Feature Results

1. Steve Halpin #03
2. Devin Snell #10
3. Curtis Collins #27
4. Ian Rasmussen #81
5. Clark Moore #54
6. Calvin Rankin #45
7. Marcel Leblanc #30
8. Kevin Moore #88
9. Ryan Raynes #94

Heat Winners – Steve Halpin #03

 

Summit Dodge Sportsman 75-Lap Feature Results

1. Drew Greenlaw #23
2. Courtney O’Blenis #48
3. Richard Atkinson #40
4. Charles Mercer #19
5. Jacob Logan #37
6. BJ Gillespie #69
7. Alexandra O’Blenis #74

Heat Winners – Drew Greenlaw #23

 

Shur-Fit Automotive, Bumper to Bumper Street Stock 35-Lap Feature Results

1. Justin Cole #38
2. Riley Goodwin #77
3. Kyle MacKinnon #22
4. Ron Enkel #52
5. Rick Cashol #54
6. Dan Gillespie #83
7. Jimmy Sommerville #5
8. Drew Lewis #61
9. Alex Gallant #45
10. Jonathan Hanley #71
11. Daniel Atyeo #15
12. Ryan Bernard #68

DNS – Luc McLaughlin #11

Heat Winners – Kyle MacKinnon #22, Justin Cole #38

 

Changing Hands Thrift Shop Sharp Shooter 30-Lap Feature Results

1. BJ Gillespie #69
2. Randy Storey #92
3. Terry Lawson #14
4. Evan Gallon #9
5. Curtis Tremblay #00
6. Austin Harnish #13
7. Todd Day #4
8. Jason Duffield #91
9. Ben Woodcock #94
10. Braden Carr #74
11. Darren Wilcox #32
12. John Richard #7
13. Brian Mallet #83
14. Tyler Collett #21
15. Rebecca Rose #44
16. Robert Kamphuis #99

DNS – Randy Titus #75

Heat Winners – Terry Lawson #14, BJ Gillespie #69

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.