Big Winner Bonus, Cone Restarts, Legends Coming to Mike Stevens Memorial in September

Story by TCM/Photos by McCarthy Photographic

Plans are continuing to fall into line for the Mike Stevens Memorial weekend at Petty International Raceway presented by Mike Stevens Memorial presented by R. Stevens Mechanical and Carnahan Property Management (CPM).

The event, which runs on Friday, September 23rd and Saturday, September 24th will feature racing in seven different classes, highlighted with a Pro Stock 200 lap event.

Event management, which includes Jason Carnahan of CPM (and former owner of Speedway Miramichi) have been hard at work adding bits and pieces to the event to make it special. Here are a few of the things you can expect at the Mike Stevens Memorial in 2016.

BIG WINNER BONUS – CHISHOLM AND BUTCHER FIRST TO QUALIFY

If you win a big event in the Northeast this summer, it could pay off for an extra $5,000 this fall at Petty International Raceway.

Donald Chisholm of Antigonish, Nova Scotia and Cole Butcher of Porter’s Lake, Nova Scotia are the first two drivers to qualify for the “Big Winner Bonus” for the Mike Stevens Memorial event. By virtue of Chisholm’s IWK 250 win and Butcher’s Atlantic Cat 250 win, they are in the running for an extra $5,000 should they choose to make the haul to Petty International Raceway on September 24th and WIN the Mike Stevens Memorial 200. This would be in addition to any lap money ($25/lap to lead each lap) or purse money they would win.

The winning driver from the HP Hood Oxford 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway (ME), the McLaughlin Roof Trusses 250 at Speedway 660 (NB) and the Beech Ridge 300 at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway (ME) will also qualify for the “Big Winner Bonus” should they enter the Mike Stevens Memorial 200 after their victories.

CONE RESTARTS MAKE MARITIME RETURN

The return of cone restarts to Atlantic Canada will be at the Mike Stevens Memorial in September.

Popular throughout the United States and a staple at most major US Legend Car events (Winter Nationals, Bojangles’ Summer Shootout), restarts at the Mike Stevens Memorial will be cone style “choose” restarts. When the lineup has been set from the previous green flag lap and race control is ready to line up cars for the ensuing restart, the field will pass “the cone.” At the cone, drivers will choose inside or outside to choose the lane they want to restart in.

For example, if the top five drivers choose they want to start on the inside and the sixth place driver wants to start outside, s/he would go from sixth to the front row on the outside contingent no other driver chose the outside line at the cone.

The cone restarts made their debut in 2014 during the Chi City Showdown Pro Stock race at Speedway Miramichi, where Jason “Coneahan” was used a live cone on track. There has been no confirmation whether Coneahan will make a return on the September 23rd and 24th weekend.

LEGENDS THUNDER INTO MIKE STEVENS MEMORIAL WEEKEND

The Legend cars will race as a part of the Mike Stevens Memorial weekend, running a 50-lap feature to kick off the weekend on Friday, September 23rd.

The race will be governed under the Upper Clements Parks Maritime League of Legends Tour rulebook but will be a non-points race. The point season wraps up the weekend prior at Scotia Speedworld.

The Upper Clements Parks Maritime League of Legends Tour will contest a point paying 50-lap feature next weekend, Saturday, August 27th, during International weekend.

The Legend cars will join the Friday card along with the Limited Late Models (mainland Sportsman cars on Pro Stock slicks, Island Late Models with rules modifications) for 75 laps, a Mini Stock 50 championship finale and a whopping 75-laps for the Atlantic Modified Tour.

The Mike Stevens Memorial 200 will be joined on the Saturday card by a 75-lap Street Stock show and Twin 25 lap features for the Bandoleros.

The weekend will be complete with a victory lane concert featuring Borderline.

More information on the event to follow in the weeks leading up to the event. For venue information, please visit PettyRaceway.com.