Maritime Pro Stock Tour
Blenkhorn Becomes First Time IWK 250 Champion
Series Release/Photo by McCarthy Photographic
(Antigonish, NS- July 16, 2017) – Dylan Blenkhorn (Truro, NS) made a life-long dream a reality by winning the John W. Chisholm Memorial Cup at the IWK 250 at Riverside International Speedway this evening. The stacked field included drivers from six provinces and three states. Cole Butcher (Porter’s Lake, NS) battled Blenkhorn all the way to the checkers but came up just short. Craig Slaunwhite (Terence Bay, NS) plowed through the field during the second half of the event and finished in the final spot on the podium. Shawn Turple (Enfield, NS) and Dylan Gosbee (Cornwall, PE) completed the top five.
Competition got underway with five Atlantic Tiltload Heat Races for the 38 competitors vying to make the 30 car field. Heat races were won by Jason Hathaway (Uxbridge, ON), Shawn Turple (Enfield, NS), Dave O’Blenis (Boundary Creek, NB), Kyle Reid (Fort MacMurray, AB) and George Koszkulics (New Glasgow, NS). Jarrett Butcher (Porter’s Lake, NS) won the Atlantic Tiltload B Feature.
Twenty cars qualified for the prestigious event via heat races. Cars who did not qualify through their heat then competed in a 25 lap last chance race with the top two securing their positions on the starting grid. The remaining eight positions were determined by provisionals as set in the event procedures. Receiving a provisional to make the elite starting field were Kent Vincent (Crapaud, PE), Darren MacKinnon (Charlottetown, PE), Nicholas Naugle (Dartmouth, NS), Stephen Lively (Shubenacadie, NS), Greg Fahey (St. Stephen, NB), Gary Elliott (Dundas, ON), Josh Collins (Placentia, NL) and John Flemming (Halifax, NS).
NASCAR legend Mark Martin (Batesville, AR) had a rough start to the day after hitting the wall hard during afternoon practice doing significant damage to the car. The 17 crew battled and were able to get the Cat Car for Kids into the starting grid but their issues continued into the evening. Martin pitted on Lap 57 but was unable to return to the race due to extensive mechanical issues.
The Exide Batteries Rookie of the Race went to Jarrett Butcher. The King Freight Lines Future Winner Award was won by Collins who finished ninth. Blenkhorn pocketed the Linde Most Laps Led Award, pacing the field for 184 of the 250 circuits.
The Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour is in action next weekend for the Irving Oil Blending & Packaging 150 at Petty International Raceway, located just outside on Moncton NB. Visit www.maritimeprostocktour.com for complete event details and coverage.
Visit www.maritimeprostocktour.com for complete event details and coverage.
Race Results
IWK 250 presented by Steve Lewis Auto Body
Riverside Speedway
| Pos | No. | Name | Laps | Heat Finish | Sponsor | Hometown |
| 1 | 67 | Dylan Blenkhorn | 250 | H2:3 | Blenkhorn’s Auto Recyclers | Truro, NS |
| 2 | 53 | Cole Butcher | 250 | H5:3 | Atlantic Tiltload | Porter’s Lake, NS |
| 3 | 99 | Craig Slaunwhite | 250 | H1:3 | Archibald Drilling & Blasting | Terence Bay, NS |
| 4 | 0 | Shawn Turple | 250 | H2:1 | Dexter Construction | Enfield, NS |
| 5 | 91 | Dylan Gosbee | 250 | H5:2 | Greenfield Enterprises | Cornwall, PE |
| 6 | 8 | Kent Vincent | 250 | H1:7 | Vector Aerospace | Crapaud,PE |
| 7 | 48 | Dave O’Blenis | 250 | H3:1 | Irving Blending & Packaging | Boundary Creek, NB |
| 8 | 5 | Jonathan Hicken | 250 | H1:2 | Castle Building Centres | Brudenell, PE |
| 9 | 56 | Josh Collins | 250 | H1:6 | Edward Collins Contracting | Placentia, NL |
| 10 | 29 | Greg Proude | 250 | H3:2 | Atlantic Dodge Dealers | Springvale, PE |
| 11 | 42 | Kyle Reid | 250 | H4:1 | Robby’s Towing | Fort MacMurray, AB |
| 12 | 3 | Jason Hathaway | 248 | H1:1 | CHOKO Authentics | Uxbridge, On |
| 13 | 21 | Shawn Pierce | 248 | H2:4 | C&P Tack and Apparel | Blockhouse, NS |
| 14 | 89 | Donald Chisholm | 248 | H4:2 | Nova Construction | Antigonish, NS |
| 15 | 40 | Robbie MacEwen | 248 | H5:4 | Maritime Steel Roofing and Siding | Charlottetown, PE |
| 16 | 2 | Lonnie Sommerville | 248 | H1:4 | Pub’s Bottle Exchange | Saint John, NB |
| 17 | 88 | George Koszkulics | 246 | H5:1 | Nova Construction | New Glasgow, NS |
| 18 | 54 | Jarrett Butcher | 246 | H1:5 | Top Construction | Porter’s Lake, NS |
| 19 | 36 | Gary Elliott | 229 | H3:7 | Quaker State | Dundas, ON |
| 20 | 18 | Darren MacKinnon | 202 | H2:8 | Shaw’s Towing Service | Charlottetown, PE |
| 21 | 13F | Jeff Fultz | 167 | H3:4 | King Racing Parts & Fabrication | Troutman, NC |
| 22 | 13 | Cassius Clark | 105 | H3:3 | King Racing Parts & Fabrication | Farmington, ME |
| 23 | 37 | Cy Harvey | 94 | H4:4 | Harvey Racing | Enfield, NS |
| 24 | 08 | Nicholas Naugle | 86 | H5:5 | Brycon Construction | Dartmouth, NS |
| 25 | 29F | Greg Fahey | 86 | H2:6 | McLaughlin Roof Trusses Ltd | St. Stephen, NB |
| 26 | 30 | Stephen Lively | 86 | H5:6 | Casey Racing | Shubenacadie, NS |
| 27 | 14 | Terry Dougay | 60 | H4:5 | Right on Board Locksmith | Albany, PE |
| 28 | 17 | Mark Martin | 57 | H2:2 | CAT Car For Kids | Batesville, AR |
| 29 | 97 | John Flemming | 25 | H2:5 | Happy Harry’s Building Centres | Halifax, NS |
| 30 | 32 | Sarah McKay | 11 | H4:3 | AE McKay Builders | Quispamsis, NB |
| 94 | DJ Casey | DNQ | H1:8 | Casey Racing | Prospect, NS | |
| 52 | Chris Hughes | DNQ | H5:7 | Subaru of Moncton | Brackley Beach, PE | |
| 66 | Daryl Mahar | DNQ | H3:5 | K Hubley Woodworking | Hubley, NS | |
| 51 | Vance Hanes | DNQ | H3:6 | Leonard’s Auto | Kennetcook, NS | |
| 07 | Allison McKinnon | DNQ | H4:6 | Oyster Bed Esso | Oyster Bed Bridge, PE | |
| 10 | Devin Snell | DNQ | H2:7 | AJ Mallette & Son | Saint John, NB | |
| 1 | Matt Moore | DNQ | H3:8 | Pothier Motors | Upper Burlington, NS | |
| 49 | Harry Ross White | DNQ | H4:7 | Archibald Drilling & Blasting | Kennetcook, NS |
Failed to Qualify: 8
Margin of Victory: 0.629 seconds
Number of Cautions: 10
Atlantic Tiltload Heat Winners: #3 Jason Hathaway, #0 Shawn Turple, #48 Dave O’Blenis, #42 Kyle Reid, #88 George Koszkulics
Atlantic Tiltload B Feature Winner: #54 Jarrett Butcher
Exide Batteries Rookie Of The Race: #54 Jarrett Butcher
Linde Most Laps Led: #67 Dylan Blenkhorn
King Freight Future Winner: #56 Josh Collins
About the Riverside Speedway:
Riverside International Speedway is recognized as a premiere stock racing facility in Canada. The 1/3-mile high banked asphalt oval roars to action several times a year for special events. It is the home for eastern Canada’s only NASCAR event, and of the IWK 250 – widely known as the best stock car race in Canada. Located in James River, between New Glasgow and Antigonish, the facility is easily accessible at exit 30 on Trans Canada Highway 104. For more information call 902.863.2410 or click www.riversidespeedway.ca.
About the Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour:
The Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour (PST) is considered the highest level of stock car racing in Canada. The Tour is recognized in the industry as one of the healthiest stock car racing series in North America. PST visits five tracks throughout the Maritimes during its May through September season. The Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour is owned and operated by Maritime Pro Stock Tour Limited. For more information, call our administration office at 902.481.2531 or click www.maritimeprostocktour.com . You can also follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/prostocktour and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/prostocktour
