(GEARY, NB – August 27th, 2019) – The McLaughlin Roof Trusses 250 and SpeedWeekend 2019 are fast approaching and the field of Pro Stocks is beginning to assemble for the final Maritime Crown Jewel race of the year. Over 20 of the top talents from New Brunswick and some big names from outside provincial borders are getting ready to gather for the 19th annual edition of the 250 on Sunday, September 1st. Qualifying heat races for the $15,000-to-win McLaughlin Roof Trusses 250 will begin on Sunday at 2pm.
Ryan Messer (Harvey, NB) led an all New Brunswick podium in the 2018 edition of the McLaughlin Roof Trusses 250 and all three drivers have signaled their intentions to compete for the win again in 2019. Messer took the lead in last year’s 250 with 16 laps to go over two-time podium finisher Steve Halpin (Saint John, NB) to lock down the biggest win of his young racing career. Lonnie Sommerville finished third in that race and the two-time 250 champion will look to add a third to his resume coming up this Sunday.
Joining Messer and Sommerville as former McLaughlin Roof Trusses 250 champions in the field are three time event champions Cassius Clark (Farmington, ME) and Shawn Tucker (Fredericton, NB). Clark is looking to sweep all three Maritime 250-lap races after winning the IWK 250 at Riverside International Speedway (NS) in July and the Toromont Cat 250 at Scotia Speedworld earlier this month. Tucker returned to the driver’s seat earlier this season and has split the season in the Geary woods driving with his son Dustin. Both will look to break the tie Sunday and become the most decorated driver in the race’s 19 year history with four titles.
The RE/MAX East Coast Elite Pro Stock division track championship came down to Brent Roy (Hanwell, NB), Greg Fahey (St. Stephen, NB) and Ian Rasmussen (New Denmark, NB). While Roy and Fahey each have multiple championships at their home track, neither have a 250 win on their resume. Rasmussen, in his third year as a Pro Stock driver, has continued to improve each and every lap on the track and will look to impress on Sunday in the McLaughlin Roof Trusses 250 in the “Big Black Dodge.”
Cole Butcher (Hantsport, NS) is readying his car for Sunday’s McLaughlin Roof Trusses 250. Butcher is a two-time Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour champion, two-time Toromont Cat 250 winner and a former Parts for Trucks Tour feature winner at Speedway 660. The two-time Kulwicki Driver Development Program (KDDP) finalist and the sixth place finisher from last Sunday’s Oxford 250 has one previous McLaughlin Roof Trusses 250 start.
Matt Harris (Fredericton Junction, NB) and Chris Duncan (Rothesay, NB) are both familiar faces to Speedway 660 and have a long list of accomplishments at the track. Both are looking to crack Riverview Ford Lincoln Victory Lane on Sunday to put the cherry on the top of their storied careers with a 250 win. Kevin Moore (Fredericton, NB) is always a factor in extended distance races and brought a strong No. 88 car home to a top five finish last season in the McLaughlin Roof Trusses 250. Robert Tomlinson (Arthurette, NB) has been in the RE/MAX East Coast Elite Realty Pro Stock division and will look for a big night on Sunday. Robert Lee (Fredericton, NB) has also filed an entry for Sunday’s marquee attraction for SpeedWeekend 2019.
With the experience in the field also come a youth movement. Ashton Tucker (Lyttleton, NB) has a podium finish in the McLaughlin Roof Trusses 250 on his resume and was a podium finisher earlier in the year on the Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour at Petty Raceway in May. He and Ben Pelletier (Quispamsis, NB) are former Bandolero graduates and will be looking to notch their first extended distance Pro Stock feature on Sunday.
Devin Snell (Saint John, NB) and John Rankin (St. Martin’s, NB) have both proven themselves in Late Model competition in Geary and would be popular winners with their home track fans should they be able to pull a victory out in the McLaughlin Roof Trusses 250. Andrew Rodgers (Smithtown, NB) has split his time in 2019 between racing on the Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour and competing in a Late Model Sportsman, with his most recent resulting being a top five finish in last weekend’s River Glade International Sportsman 100.
Robbie MacEwen (Sherwood, PE) enters his first McLaughlin Roof Trusses 250 on a career season. MacEwen scored his first Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour win at his home track at Oyster Bed Speedway in August. Like MacEwen, Wyatt Alexander (Ellsworth, ME) is making his first McLaughlin Roof Trusses 250 start on Sunday. Alexander, the winner of Valvoline’s Fast Track to Fame contest in 2018, has several starts between the CARS Racing Tour and the Pro All Stars Series on his resume. The 19-year old finished fourth at Speedway 660 in a RE/MAX East Coast Elite Realty Pro Stock division race on August 17th.
EXPECTED ENTRY LIST – 19th ANNUAL MCLAUGHLIN ROOF TRUSSES 250
1 – Ryan Messer – Harvey, NB
2 – Ashton Tucker – Lyttleton, NB
9 – John Rankin – St. Martin’s, NB
00 – Robert Lee – Fredericton, NB
03 – Steve Halpin – Saint John, NB
10 – Devin Snell – Saint John, NB
13 – Cassius Clark – Farmington, ME
23 – Lonnie Sommerville – Barnesville, NB
24 – Ben Pelletier – Quispamsis, NB
26 – Brent Roy – Hanwell, NB
29 – Greg Fahey – St. Stephen, NB
29T – Robert Tomlinson – Arthurette, NB
40 – Robbie MacEwen – Sherwood, PE
42 – Andrew Rodgers – Smithtown, NB
52 – Shawn Tucker – Fredericton, NB
53 – Cole Butcher – Hantsport, NS
81 – Ian Rasmussen – New Denmark, NB
87 – Matt Harris – Fredericton Junction, NB
88 – Kevin Moore – Fredericton, NB
96 – Wyatt Alexander – Ellsworth, ME
97 – Chris Duncan – Rothesay, NB
*Entry list subject to change without notice
Past Champions – McLaughlin Roof Trusses 250
2018 – Ryan Messer of Harvey, NB
2017 – Cassius Clark of Farmington, ME
2016 – Joey Doiron of Berwick, ME
2015 – Cassius Clark of Farmington, ME
2014 – Travis Benjamin of Morrill, ME
2013 – Shawn Tucker of Fredericton, NB
2012 – Cassius Clark of Farmington, ME
2011 – Shawn Tucker of Fredericton, NB
2010 – Johnny Clark of Hallowell, ME
2009 – Lonnie Sommerville of Barnesville, NB
2008 – Craig Slaunwhite of Terence Bay, NS
2007 – Johnny Clark of Hallowell, ME
2006 – Lonnie Sommerville of Barnesville, NB
2005 – Scott Chubbuck of Brunswick, ME
2004 – Shawn Tucker of Fredericton, NB
2003 – Scott Fraser of Shubenacadie, NS
2002 – Dave O’Blenis of Boundary Creek, NB
2001 – Kirk Thibeau of Fort Fairfield, ME
Drivers in italics are entered in 2019 McLaughlin Roof Trusses 250
The McLaughlin Roof Trusses 250 is the highlight of SpeedWeekend 2019. The weekend features two days jam packed with racing action from seven unique stock car racing divisions. Among those divisions include point paying events for three touring series – the Maritime League of Legends Tour, the Passione Flooring & Interiors East Coast Mini Stock Tour and the Atlantic Modified Tour.
SpeedWeeekend 2019 kicks off on Friday, August 30th with the popular weekend corn boil, bonfire and pre-event concert featuring The Walking Contradictions with DJ Dale Case spinning tunes throughout the evening. The festivities get underway on Friday evening at 7pm.
The racing action on SpeedWeekend 2019 begins on Saturday, August 31st at 5:30pm with the Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman 100 as the opening act for the two day short track showcase. The Maritime League of Legends Tour will contest INEX sanctioned action on Saturday a 50-lap INEX National Qualifier for Legends and the 25-lap Tim’s Corner Motorsports Bandolero Blast Part One. Joining the Sportsman, Legend and Bandolero competitors on Saturday will be the Passione Flooring & Interiors East Coast Mini Stock Tour racing in the Pub’s Drive Thru Bottle Exchange 50.
The racing action gets underway at 2pm on Sunday, September 1st with qualifying for the 19th Annual McLaughlin Roof Trusses 250. In addition to the Pro Stock action, the DMR Auto Street Stock, Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooter and Tim’s Corner Motorsports Bandolero divisions will be in action along with the Atlantic Modified Tour.
Advance tickets and campsites are available now by calling the Speedway 660 office at (506) 454-7223. Laps for the McLaughlin Roof Trusses 250 are also available now for $50 each, with the money pledged going into the pocket of the leader of that sponsored lap.
For more information about SpeedWeekend 2019, 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.
