Photos by Michelle Roy

UPDATE (05/27) – Speedway 660 officials have been informed by the Provincial Government that COVID-19 guidelines and restrictions have changed surrounding entertainment venues, specifically race tracks, effective today. With these changes, Speedway 660 cannot produce the racing event our drivers, teams and fans are accustomed to. This leaves officials no choice but to cancel Saturday’s scheduled racing card.

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(FREDERICTON, NB – May 26th, 2021) – While a season long championship cannot be won or lost in a single event, a run towards that yearlong title can be built in the early laps of the Summer. The cars and stars of three Speedway 660 house divisions will take to the track Saturday night in search of valuable championship points and the checkered flags in the second event of the 2021 season. It is the first night race of the season at the Geary, New Brunswick oval with racing on Saturday, May 29th beginning at 6:30pm.

The Late Model Sportsman set the bar high for 2021 with an exciting finish to their opening feature of 2021. Alexandra O’Blenis (Boundary Creek, NB) capitalized after Luc McLaughlin (Geary, NB) and Courtney O’Blenis (Boundary Creek, NB) came together in Turn Four with the checkered flag in sight. While Alexandra had previously mentioned that their team would not be running for a point championship and would be focusing on major races, only time will tell whether the temptation will be strong enough to give up the point lead.

She is not alone at the top of the standings though. Destiny Enkel (Darlings Island, NB) enters tied with the elder O’Blenis sister on the strength of a heat race win and a runner-up finish in the 40-lap feature. A former DMR Auto Street Stock feature winner, Enkel is in search of her first Late Model Sportsman feature win and sole possession of the championship lead on Saturday evening. Luc McLaughlin (Geary, NB), who came within a lap of winning the Riverview Ford Lincoln Season Opener for Sportsman, enters Saturday night three points behind the lead duo after sliding across the line third on May 16th. Courtney O’Blenis and Clark Moore (Saint John, NB) complete the top five in the standings after one of nine scheduled events for the Sportsman in 2021.

The action was intense during the DMR Auto Street Stock division on opening day and it was Nick Cudmore (Petitcodiac, NB) who emerged as the winner of both his heat and the feature when the dust settled. The podium was shared by drivers from three different parts of the Province on Opening Day, including McAdam’s Riley Goodwin and Miramichi’s Darcy O’Neill. As the division heads into the “meat and potatoes” portion of the season, building up to big races late in the year, this is the time where championship contenders will emerge ahead of those extended distance races in August and September.

The Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooters left it all out on the track during the Riverview Ford Lincoln Season Opener. While several rookies impressed in their first show, a trio of elder statesmen drove to the front in race one. Friends off track, BJ Gillespie (Harvey, NB) and Matt Martin (Geary, NB) find themselves pacing the field in the class after one event with “Titanium” Randy Titus (French Lake, NB) following in their tire tracks. Randy Storey (Royal Road, NB) and rookie Hunter Kilfillen (Chipman, NB) secured top five runs on opening day and find themselves within the top five in points of 25 competitors heading into Saturday night’s shootout. With the wild action that transpired two weeks ago, fans will want to hold on for what is sure to be a night full of door-to-door excitement under the lights with the four cylinder stars!

Please note, due to travel restrictions, the Passione Flooring & Interiors East Coast Mini Stock Tour have deferred their season opener scheduled to take place at Speedway 660 on May 29th due to travel restrictions. The track hopes to reschedule this event with the Series once borders re-open between the three Maritime Provinces and Speedway 660 looks forward to hosting the Passione Flooring & Interiors East Coast Mini Stock Tour during SpeedWeekend 2021.

For the fifth straight season, 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 Saturday’s Championship Point Racing is $20 (aged 16 and up). Pit admission is $25 and is restricted to those 14 years of age and older. Tickets are available at the gate on race day. Pit gates for competitors will open at 1pm on Saturday, grandstand gates open for spectators at 5pm with racing getting underway at 6:30pm. A complete race day format will be available via the track’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/Speedway660, on Friday.

Due to COVID-19 regulations in the Province of New Brunswick, Speedway 660 is required to collect contact information from every individual that attends this event. Masks are required as you move through the facility but can be removed when seated or within your pit area.

The popular Kids Day has seen a scheduling change. Due to an event next door at Rucker’s Reels on the same evening, the Kids Day race card at Speedway 660 has been moved to Sunday, June 13th at 2pm. Speedway 660 apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause.

For more information about the events 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 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.