Harvey’s First Win Highlights Weather Plagued Opener
UPDATED MAY 14TH, 2023 WITH SPORTSMAN RESULTS (May 13th, 2023) – The Riverview Ford Season Opener at Speedway 660 was being contested on a beautiful May Saturday – until a switch got flipped.
Entering the final two (2) features of the night, skies clouded over, and precipitation began spitting through the air before becoming a persistent rain, leading to the Super Late Model Series 150 and Sportsman 75 to be pushed to Sunday at 12pm.
Three (3) features were contested along with all the heat races prior to conditions deteriorating conditions. The balance was run on Sunday afternoon.
Fans got treated to a big moment to kick off the 30th anniversary season prior to this, as Mitchell Harvey (#19) drove to his first career feature victory in the Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooter division. Harvey passed Wesley Harnish (#61) in the final laps and held on during a late race restart to secure the win.
Last years points runner-up Alex Gallant (#5) capitalized on the final restart to vault to a second-place finish while Harnish finished third. Randy Storey (#92) and Matt Martin (#33) rounded the top 5.
Seventeen (17) cars were in attendance for opening day, and the 20-lap feature took fifteen and a half (15.5) minutes to complete. Harnish and Daniel Atyeo (#15) won heat races.
Michael Cormier (#68) pulling double duty started off with a win in the Shur-Fit Automotive, Bumper to Bumper Street Stock division. Cormier made the winning pass on Justin Cole (#38) on lap 30 and held on for the win. Cole would fade to third as Luc McLaughlin (#11) made a late move for second. Shawn Hyslop (#99) and Tom Nicholls (#28) rounded out the top 5.
Eleven (11) Street Stocks were in attendance and the 35-lap race ran caution free in just under ten (10) minutes. Cole and Hyslop won heat races.
The Atlantic Modified Tour was in attendance for their first of five races at Speedway 660 in 2023. Chris Wilson (#2W) swept the event winning both the heat and feature. Yves McCray (#58) and Doug Matchett (#75) rounded out the podium. Official results will be published by the Atlantic Modified Tour.
In Sportsman competition, Courtney O’Blenis (#48c) took home the heat victory and when racing resumed on Sunday, led the field to the green. After an early spin, Drew Greenlaw (#23) reeled Brady Creamer (#10) in during the closing laps of the 50-lap feature and made the pass to secure the victory. Alexandra O’Blenis (#74) would edge her sister for the final podium position in the nine-car field.
In Super Late Model Series action, Ryan Messer (#1) scored the monumental first win in series history. Check out full results from the Super Late Model Series!
Sportsman 50-Lap Feature Results
- Drew Greenlaw #23
- Brady Creamer #10
- Alexandra O’Blenis #74
- Courtney O’Blenis #48c
- Richard Atkinson #40
- Caleb Urquhart #11
- BJ Gillespie #69
- Michael Cormier #68
DNS – Brody Seveck #44
Shur-Fit Automotive, Bumper to Bumper Street Stock 35-Lap Feature Results
- Michael Cormier #68
- Luc McLaughlin #11
- Justin Cole #38
- Shawn Hyslop #99
- Tom Nicholls #28
- Rick Cashol #54
- Ron Enkel #52
- Drew Lewis #61
- Jimmy Sommerville #5
- Kyle MacKinnon #22
- Jonathan Hanley #16
Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooter 25-Lap Feature Results
- Mitchell Harvey #19
- Alex Gallant #5
- Wesley Harnish #61
- Randy Storey #92
- Matt Martin #33
- Todd Day #4
- Terry Lawson #14
- Jesse Savoie #96
- Ben Woodcock #94
- Brian Mallet #83
- John Richard #7
- Ryan Bernard #68
- Brian Crossman #70
- Daniel Atyeo #15
- Austin Harnish #13