(FREDERICTON, NB – September 3rd, 2020) – SpeedWeekend 2020 at Speedway 660 is right around the corner and with it comes three action packed days of racing. While the RE/MAX East Coast Elite Realty 250 is the marquee attraction of the Labour Day Weekend, there are ten feature events that are to be run between the green flag on Friday, September 4th and the start of the big show on Sunday, September 6th. From Bandoleros to Late Models and everything in between, there is something for every motorsports fan this weekend to enjoy at the Geary, New Brunswick oval.

Here’s a small snapshot of what fans can expect this weekend in the Geary woods.

SPORTSMAN SHINE SATURDAY NIGHT

The Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman division will be the spotlight feature on Saturday evening on SpeedWeekend 2020. The Sportsman stars will compete in an extended distance 125-lap feature event that is expected to draw cars from across the Province. With no required pre-registration prior to race day, there is not a full expected entry list available as of press time.

The competition in the class has been fierce all season long, boasting four different winners in as many races in 2020. Brady Creamer (Miramichi, NB), Matt Rodgers (Smithtown, NB), Curtis Collins (Barnesville, NB) and Clark Moore (Saint John, NB) all have feature victories this season at Speedway 660. Rogers scored his win in the extended distance Fog City Auto Spa 125 while Moore is the most recent winner in the Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman division after winning his first career feature during the Gunslinger Weekend.

If a fifth different winner in 2020 is produced for the class, it could come from Geary drivers Richard Atkinson or Luc McLaughlin. The pair have been knocking on the door of Riverview Ford Lincoln Victory Lane with fast cars that have not been able to crack the code yet. Ryan and Rob Raynes (Saint John, NB), Destiny Enkel (Royal Road, NB) and Hudson Weston (Saint John, NB) have continued to gain speed with every race this season with the hopes of it to culminate in a win in the Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman 125.

Several visiting teams will be making the trek to Speedway 660 as they look to add their name to SpeedWeekend winners. Jordan Veinotte (Porters Lake, NS), Kenny MacKenzie Jr (Salisbury, NB) and Laurie Cormier (Riverview, NB) are all former track champions at Petty International Raceway looking to make the haul up to race for the victory. The long haul award may go to Ronnie MacKay (Sydney, NS), who has his eyes set on his first SpeedWeekend start of his career.

The O’Blenis sisters return to the Geary woods with their sights on adding their names to a list that sees their father Dave O’Blenis (Boundary Creek, NB) with five SpeedWeekend Sportsman victories. Both Alexandra and Courtney have multiple Sportsman wins at Speedway 660 and have seen their share of success across the Province throughout their racing careers. When it comes to SpeedWeekend, Courtney has one victory on her resume – a 2016 win in the Street Stock division.

Collins is the reigning champion of the Sportsman SpeedWeekend show. Twelve drivers have won a Sportsman feature on SpeedWeekend, led by five-time winner Dave O’Blenis, three time winner Brian Gillespie (Nackawic, NB) and two time winner Glyn Nott (Burton, NB).

STREET STOCKS COULD STEAL SHOW SUNDAY

The DMR Auto Street Stocks have seen some intense racing throughout the 2020 season and on Sunday they will set the bar ahead of the 20th Annual RE/MAX East Coast Elite Realty Pro Stock 250. Their SpeedWeekend feature event will be 50-laps in length on Sunday afternoon.

Like their Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman counterparts, the DMR Auto Street Stocks are still looking for their first repeat winner of 2020 at Speedway 660. Rick Cashol (Saint John, NB), Riley Goodwin (McAdam, NB), Chris Hanley (St. Stephen, NB) and Wayne Smith (River Glade, NB) have raced to feature victories this season. Of the four, Cashol is the only one with SpeedWeekend victories. Cashol has climbed the mountain in September twice, in 2004 and 2012. Shawn Hyslop (St. Stephen, NB) is also a two-time SpeedWeekend winner in Street Stock competition, winning last season and in 2008, but has yet to visit Riverview Ford Lincoln Victory Lane in 2020.

The DMR Auto Street Stock division will be one of the most hotly contested features of the weekend. With time running out on the season to take a checkered flag and the Ricky Bobby 150 on the horizon on September 26th, there are several drivers on different agendas. Justin Cole (Harvey, NB), Roger Slocum (Chipman, NB) and rookie Tristin Harris (Harvey, NB) are among those that have seen strong efforts this season but are still awaiting the door to open to victory lane.

TCM BANDOLERO BLAST RETURNS FOR ELEVENTH EDITION

A SpeedWeekend favorite, the Tim’s Corner Motorsports (TCM) Bandolero Blast returns as a two day show on Saturday, September 5th and Sunday, September 6th. The rising stars of Maritime motorsports will race in 25-lap features each day with the best average finish over the two events taking the Bandolero Blast championship.

Eight different drivers have won the TCM Bandolero Blast on SpeedWeekend over the past eleven years. Only two drivers, Sam Rogers (Lower Onslow, NS; 2016, 2017 and 2018) and Cole Boudreau (Chipman, NB; 2011 and 2012) have won the event multiple times.

Chase MacKay (Bear Cove, NS) is the reigning champion of the event and will look to add a second title to his resume when the dust settles on Sunday. Tanton Wooldridge (Summerside, PE) raced to the win last month in the TCM Bandolero Blast Off at Speedway Miramichi over Teagan Dempsey (Fredericton, NB) and Danny Chisholm (Canning, NS). The trio will look to transfer their successes on the North Shore to the Geary woods this weekend.

Among the early entries for the TCM Bandolero Blast also include Sydney Speedway winner Brooke Dowe (Bedford, NS), Ayden Christensen (Windsor Junction, NS), Nate Singer (Kennetcook, NS), Dawson Noble (Upper Nine Mile River, NS), Rory Coates (Moncton, NB), Will Murphy (Summerside, PE) and Aiden MacDonald (Charlottetown, PE) as of press time.

Photo by Tanya Everett

TRIPLE THREAT FOR FOUR CYLINDERS ON SPEEDWEEKEND

Four Cylinder competitors will have three chances to run over three days on SpeedWeekend 2020 – with something for every team when it comes to rules packages!

The Friday night, 50-lap feature will see the Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooters take to the track. The event will be run with house rules from Speedway 660. With big car counts and unpredictable action, the Sharp Shooter action has become a fan favorite during Speedway 660’s regular racing card. Kyle Boudreau (Saint John, NB) is the most recent winner on the season, capturing the Gunslinger 50 two weeks ago to go with a win earlier in 2020.

Saturday evening will see a 50-lap Mini Stock feature. The rules package will follow Petty International Raceway Mini Stock rules, allowing International models to compete with the domestic entries usually seen at Speedway 660. Several teams from Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island have their eyes on this event, including three-time SpeedWeekend East Coast Mini Stock Tour winner Dave Matthews (Kennetcook, NS).

Sunday afternoon will cap the four cylinder racing action with an “Outlaw” Four Cylinder feature. Just like it sounds, it is a “run what you brung” type open event, allowing teams to get creative with their entries for the event. Their Sunday feature will be 50-laps in length.

LEGENDS RETURN TO SPEEDWEKEEND SATURDAY FOR TWO FEATURES

The Legend cars will return to Speedway 660 for SpeedWeekend 2020 and while lots of things can change over a year, one thing seemingly has stayed the same. Braden Langille (Shubenacadie, NS) has continued his dominance of the Legend ranks in Atlantic Canada and beyond.

Since SpeedWeekend 2019, Langille wrapped up the Maritime League of Legends Tour championship, won the 2020 INEX Winter Nationals Pro championship at Citrus County Speedway (FL) and has feature wins at every Maritime track he has competed at in 2020, including Sydney Speedway, Petty International Raceway and Scotia Speedworld. Langille’s car went to victory lane last Friday night with Sam Rogers at the wheel. Rogers, the aforementioned three-time TCM Bandolero Blast Champion, will be back in the seat of the No. 12 car this week to give Langille a run for the title.

Craig MacDonald (Waverley, NS) is still searching for his first SpeedWeekend 2020 victory. MacDonald has suffered heartbreak in the last three SpeedWeekend Legend races in the waning laps while leading the event. The Legend event will be his first start of the 2020 season.

A dozen cars are expected to compete this weekend. The Legend division will compete in two features  -a 20 lap and a 30 lap feature – with the winner of the event having the best average finish between the two features.

HATFIELD AND MCKAY ENTER RE/MAX EAST COAST ELITE REALTY PRO STOCK 250

Two familiar names to New Brunswick stock car fans filed entries for the 20th Annual RE/MAX East Coast Elite Realty Pro Stock 250 on Wednesday. Former Atlantic Modified Tour champion Cal Hatfield (Saint John, NB) and former Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman Rookie of the Year Sarah McKay (Quispamsis, NB) will be in the field Sunday as they search for their first 250 title.

Qualifying for the RE/MAX East Coast Elite Realty Pro Stock 250 begins at 2pm on Sunday, September 6th.

ATLANTIC MODIFIEDS DOUBLE DIP ON SPEEDWEEKEND 2020

The THUNDER of the Atlantic Modified Tour heads to Speedway 660 for two events this SpeedWeekend. The Bryn Enterprises 35 is the first event of SpeedWeekend, taking place during the SpeedWeekend Teaser on Friday evening at 8pm. The Krown Rust Control 35 is the third point race for the Series on the 2020 season on Sunday afternoon at 2pm. A complete race preview can be found at www.atlanticmodifieds.com and www.speedway660.com for the Atlantic Modified Tour.

Tim’s Corner Motorsports and their TCMtv crew will be at Speedway 660 to produce video on-demand episodes of the three nights of SpeedWeekend 2020. Their coverage will be available the following afternoon of each event with a Video On Demand pass to each race at www.timscorner.tv. Passes are on sale now with a portion of each sale going back to support Speedway 660.

SpeedWeekend 2020 will kick off with a new addition. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the traditional Corn Boil, Concert and Bonfire cannot be held within the infield of Speedway 660. Fans will be able to watch some racing to start SpeedWeekend though, as the Atlantic Modified Tour and the Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooters will open the weekend on Friday, September 4th at 8pm. A Pro Stock Happy Hour practice will follow the racing action, giving the teams a chance to put down laps on the oval in a night time setting on 250 weekend prior to the big race. Grandstand admission for the Friday evening racing action will be $5.

Saturday’s racing card will once again be anchored by an extended distance Sportsman show as Martin’s Home Heating presents a 125-lap feature for the class. The Legend and Mini Stock divisions will compete in their only feature events of the weekend while the Tim’s Corner Motorsports Bandolero Blast kicks off with the first of two 25-lap features on SpeedWeekend 2020. The Mini Stock division will compete under Petty International Raceway Mini Stock rules. The start time for the Saturday SpeedWeekend show is 6pm.

SpeedWeekend 2020 will be capped on Sunday, September 6th with the 20th Annual Pro Stock 250. The 250 is the third of four races in the home and home series with Petty International Raceway for the Pro Stock division and is expected to draw the best talent from across Atlantic Canada to compete for the $10,000 top prize. The Atlantic Modified Tour will be back to contest their third of six scheduled point races on their 2020 season. The DMR Auto Street Stocks, Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooters and Tim’s Corner Motorsports Bandolero Blast will round out the show. Qualifying begins at 2pm on Sunday, September 6th.

Please note, 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.

Advance tickets and campsites for SpeedWeekend 2020 are selling fast and are available now by calling the Speedway 660 office. For more information about SpeedWeekend 2020, or any event 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 attracts race teams and fans from the Maritimes, New England and Quebec. The Speedway 660 racing season runs from mid May until Labour Day Weekend. SpeedWeekend, one of the most prestigious short track events in eastern North America, wraps up Speedway 660’s racing season.