2015 is becoming a banner year for racing at Speedway 660. We’ve seen an increase in our car count and the racing continues to be the best in the Maritimes, if not the entire country. The real winners are our fans who are being treated to fast-paced, action-packed shows every time they come down to the Geary Woods. 

 

 660 Rocks All Summer Long!

The big story this year is that the competition level is the best it’s been in awhile, especially in the RE/MAX Group Four Realty Pro Stock Division. Of the 15 to 20 cars that show up to race every week, a good 10 or 12 of them have a realistic chance of finishing on the podium.The return of Lonnie Sommerville to Speedway 660’s Pro Stock roster is just one of the reasons the division is so tough. Lonnie will go for his third straight feature win this coming Saturday night.   

The Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman Division has rebounded nicely this year. We’ve got six rookies in the fold and a couple of veterans returning, so the car count is back up and competition is over-the-top.Former Bando champ and Atlantic Modified Tour champ Ryan Messer is one of six rookies who have rejuvenated our Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman division.

The DMR Auto Sales & Service Street Stock Division started the year with fewer cars than expected, but their car count has continued to grow during the season. The competition in Street Stock is pretty intense and we’ve seen several sensational runs in this division.Street Stock racing continues to be popular with our fans. The new 30 lap features has added a new dimension to this old style of racing!

All I can say about the Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooter Division is that it’s out of control! Twenty or more cars every week, more dust than you can shake a stick at and topsy-turvy racing every time out. Most nights this little division alone is worth the price of admission.What can I say about our Sharp Shooters? They certainly have evolved into something pretty special on Speedway 660 race nights.

The West Wood Estates Bandoleros started out with five or six cars in 2010 and grew to more than 15 a couple of years later. This year the car count is usually eight to ten. And that’s because so many former Bando drivers are now filling out the rosters of the other divisions. Bando has been a proven training ground for drivers and we’re looking for the next group of youngsters to jump into this division and light up our sport!There’s always going to be a high turn-over rate in Bando racing. This division is extremely important because it is a feeder system for all of the other racing divisions. 

The Bando kids just outgrow the cars after a few years and have to move up if they want to continue racing. There are only so many Bando race teams out there so the tracks, especially Petty & 660, would be well advised to work together in the future to avoid scheduling conflicts.

How about those two former Bando Boys who finished one-two in the Cummins 100 last weekend? Cole Butcher and Dylan Blenkhorn have each won two Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour races this season – that’s four out of the six events the Tour has held. They are young, they are fast and they are two members of the Bando fraternity.Dylan Blenkhorn (#67) and Cole Butcher (#53) proved last Saturday night that they are two of the brightest young stars in our sport.  

The Cummins 100 was run off in less than 35 minutes and had only three minor cautions. That’s got to be some kinda record for a Maritime Tour race in the Geary Woods.

Also last week, the O’Blenis girls had a big night. Alexandra won a thrilling Sportsman race, while Courtney took her second straight Street Stock podium. These former Bando Belles are no longer little girls, they too are members of the Bando fraternity, a fraternity that is changing the face of racing in our region.Courtney and Alexandra O’Blenis share a moment with their Dad Dave after Alex won the Sportsman feature on Saturday night. These two Bando graduates are having awesome seasons! 

There are always a few moments, during every season, that touch your heart and we had one of those last Saturday. After her great Street Stock finish, Courtney scrambled up the embankment, through the gate of the fence to give and receive a huge hug from a gentleman in our crowd. That gentleman was her Grandfather and it was a lovely gesture by one of our youngest drivers that reminded me just how important family is, particularly in our racing community.

Speedway 660 rolls right back into action this Saturday night with the DMR Auto Sales & Service Street Stock 75. It’ll be another great race, but fans will also see drivers in all of our other weekly divisions run for championship points.There’s something special about Street Stock racing that excites our fans. There’ll be an ample supply of excitement on Saturday night when these drivers run a 75 lap feature.

Things are sure heating up at your favourite race-track. The racing continues to be awesome, we’ve got a growing number of race teams and now that school is out and summer vacay season is in the air, the crowds are growing too. So if you haven’t been out to see us yet this year, this is a good weekend to spin down to Speedway 660. It starts at 6:30PM on Saturday and is the best family entertainment bang for your buck!

One last thing, we all were some happy to see Wanda Campbell back in the Speedway 660 office last Saturday. Wanda plays several key roles at our track and we’re glad she’s back in good health!

We’ll see you at the races!