(FREDERICTON, NB – September 1st, 2021) – The Atlantic Modified Tour is back in action this weekend for the first time in almost a month. Speedway 660 is the host for SpeedWeekend 2021 and the Atlantic Modified Tour will be in action twice – once on Friday evening, September 3rd at 7:30pm for a non-point exhibition event and once on Sunday, September 5th in the Northside Auto Parts 35. The Northside Auto Parts 35 will serve as the eighth point race on the Atlantic Modified Tour in 2021 and final stop at the Geary, New Brunswick oval for the year. Racing action on Sunday begins at 2pm.
After a cancelled event at Petty International Raceway last Saturday, this weekend will mark the first time the Atlantic Modified Tour has been on track since August 7th at Speedway Miramichi. With a busy stretch upcoming ending back in Miramichi on Saturday, October 2nd, SpeedWeekend 2021 at Speedway 660 could set up the momentum needed for a championship drive that ends at The Very Best Fall Shootout on the North Shore.
Sunday’s Northside Auto Parts 35 is expected to draw a crowd as all 14 Atlantic Modified Tour drivers that have competed this season are scheduled to be in attendance! Travis Conroy (Miramichi, NB) shows the way by 22 points over defending Series champion Yves McCray (Neguac, NB) and by 28 markers over multi-time Tour titlist Joe Hoyt (Waasis, NB). McCray and Hoyt account for five of the last seven point race wins at Speedway 660 dating back to 2018. McCray has three, including the last two SpeedWeekend events in 2019 and 2020 while Hoyt has two wins at Speedway 660 since 2018 – including the most recent stop for the Series at the Geary oval during the Kamizo Transport 35.
The other two feature winners at Speedway 660 since 2018 will also be in the field on Sunday. Kevin Bailey (Minto, NB) won the SpeedWeekend 2018 feature while Chris Wilson (South Esk, NB) drove to victory lane in the Chess Piece Café 35 on July 31st of this year. Wilson also won the non-point exhibition race during SpeedWeekend 2020.
Not to be overshadowed is the fact that the Atlantic Modified Tour has seen six different winners in seven point races so far in 2021. Wilson has two victories while Conroy, McCray, Hoyt, Doug Matchett (Miramichi, NB) and Braxton Stafford (Miramichi, NB) each have single feature victories in the current season. Stafford is the most recent winner on the Series, winning the JBS Towing and Blackville Auto Parts 35 at Speedway Miramichi on August 7th. Zean Dutcher (Miramichi, NB) enters fifth in the standings and is a prime candidate to add his name to the winner’s list in 2021.
The Rookie of the Year battle heads to Brody Levesque’s home track for the final time in 2021. Levesque, from nearby Lincoln, New Brunswick, trails Tracadie, New Brunswick’s Michael Savoie by 16 points with a third of the season remaining. Levesque’s best finish in Atlantic Modified Tour feature competition came at Speedway 660 in July with a sixth place return during the Chess Piece Café 35.
Steven Curtis (South Esk, NB), John Lyons (Fredericton, NB), Kim Hallihan (Renous, NB) and Jamie Weston (St. Martin’s, NB) are among the part-time competitors with the Series looking to take their share of SpeedWeekend glory and capture their first feature victory of the season.
EXPECTED ENTRY LIST
Northside Auto Parts 35 – Speedway 660
Race Eight of 12 – 2021 Atlantic Modified Tour
00 – Michael Savoie ® – Tracadie, NB
2W – Chris Wilson – South Esk, NB
4 – Kevin Bailey – Minto, NB
05 – Brody Levesque ® – Lincoln, NB
7 – Travis Conroy – Miramichi, NB
12 – Steven Curtis – South Esk, NB
17 – Joe Hoyt – Waasis, NB
55 – Zean Dutcher – Miramichi, NB
58 – Yves McCray – Neguac, NB
75 – Doug Matchett – Miramichi, NB
81W – Jamie Weston – St. Martin’s, NB
88 – John Lyons – Fredericton, NB
91 – Braxton Stafford – Miramichi, NB
97 – Kim Hallihan – Renous, NB
Friday evening serves as the final tuneup for Sunday’s final stop in the Geary woods for 2021. The 35-lap exhibition race will anchor the racing portion of the SpeedWeekend Kick Off along with the Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooters. The racing card begins at 7:30pm and is capped off by a 19+ concert featuring Hazzard. Grandstand admission for the event is just $5.
SpeedWeekend 2021 will be capped on Sunday, September 5th with the 21st Annual RE/MAX East Coast Elite Pro Stock 250. The 250 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 eighth scheduled point race on their 2021 season. The DMR Auto Street Stocks will race in a 100-lap feature presented by D. Gillespie & Sons Trucking. The Maritime League of Legends Tour Cross Road Cycles 40, Tim’s Corner Motorsports Bandolero Blast and the Heart of a Champion Hot Rod Classics Clash of the Classics presented by Steele GMC Buick and Fredericton Hyundai will round out the Sunday show. Qualifying begins at 2pm on Sunday, September 5th.
Advance tickets and campsites for SpeedWeekend 2021 are selling fast and are available now by calling the Speedway 660 office. For more information about SpeedWeekend 2021, or any event at Speedway 660, visit Speedway660.com, like @Speedway660 on Facebook or call the Speedway 660 Raceline at (506) 454-7223.
For more information about the Atlantic Modified Tour, please visit AtlanticModifieds.com.
About the Atlantic Modified Tour:
The Atlantic Modified Tour is a New Brunswick based open wheel modified touring series. Founded in 2003 by Jim Duke, the Atlantic Modified Tour continues to thrill fans across the Province. You can keep up with the Atlantic Modified Tour by liking the Series on Facebook and following the Tour on Instagram (@AtlanticModifieds) or by visiting their website at AtlanticModifieds.com.
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.
