Speedway 660
SPEEDWAY 660 FIRST TO CROWN TRACK CHAMPIONS SATURDAY NIGHT
Track Release/Photo by Michelle Roy
(GEARY, NB – August 21st, 2018) – Speedway 660 will be the first to award season long track championships in Atlantic Canada on Saturday with the Night of Champions. The point racing finale will feature action in all four of Speedway 660’s house divisions, including the RE/MAX East Coast Elite Realty Pro Stock, Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman, DMR Auto Street Stock and Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooters. With last Saturday’s racing action washed out, the Night of Champions also doubles as Fan Appreciation Night. The action gets underway at 5:30pm with an on track autograph session followed by green flag racing at the Geary, New Brunswick oval at 6:30pm.
Heading into the final point night of 2018, not one of the four point leaders have a safe lead. In fact, the biggest point lead in any division is six points held by Drew Greenlaw (Eastport, ME) in the Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman division. Greenlaw battled for the championship one year ago on the final point day with John Rankin (St. Martin’s), coming up short in the war. Greenlaw now has a six point advantage on Curtis Collins (Saint John) with only one night left in the season long tug of war.
The two have a comfortable margin on the O’Blenis sisters but should something happen to the two Lonnie Sommerville Racing based race cars, the Boundary Creek siblings could capitalize. Courtney has a two point advantage on her older sister Alexandra for third in the standings and is 22 points out of Greenlaw for the lead. While not impossible to make up, the two sisters, who have combined for five wins in eight regular point paying features, will need some help from the top two to close the gap.
Speaking of the O’Blenis clan, it is Dave O’Blenis (Boundary Creek) who has the slimmest of margins as he looks to clinch his sixth RE/MAX East Coast Elite Realty Pro Stock championship. O’Blenis has a single point between himself and sophomore Ryan Messer (Harvey) heading into the final heat race and feature of 2018. O’Blenis has three regular point paying feature wins plus the Best of the Best 100 in July while Messer has two feature victories on 2018. Messer has division championships in Bandolero, Sportsman and Atlantic Modifieds but is searching for his first overall championship in the top weekly class of racing in Atlantic Canada.
Like the Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman division, should the top two stumble in the Pro Stock feature on Saturday, there will be a host of drivers trying to pick the bones to a championship. Greg Fahey (St. Stephen) enters just 17 points back, Brent Roy (Hanwell) is 29 points behind and Ashton Tucker (Lyttleton) is 30 points behind. The trio will hope to win out on Saturday night and wait to see if the championship points fall their way after 50-laps in the feature.
The Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooters division is guaranteed a new champion in 2018 but who that will be hoisting the big trophy is still a mystery. Bryan Suttie (Keswick) enters the title fight with only one point between himself and Brody Levesque (Fredericton) and six points on Scott “Bat Hubby” Kennie (Fredericton). Levesque has five feature wins this season, or half of the feature events contested in 2018. Suttie has remained consistent throughout the season while Kennie has been a yo-yo, sliding between first and third in the standings all season. The trio is sure to lay it out on the line as they each race for their first track championship at Speedway 660.
The DMR Auto Sales and Services Street Stock division is a four horse race heading to the finish line of the 2018 point season. Shawn Hyslop (St. Stephen) heads into Night of Champions with a two point lead after his win two weeks ago on the undercard to the Firecracker 150. Riley Goodwin (McAdam), who has led the championship chase for most of the middle portion of the Summer, is now the wolf chasing the rabbit with one race meet remaining. Justin Cole (Harvey), who has four feature wins on the year, enters seven points out of Hyslop for the championship lead. Roger Slocum (Chipman) is 16 points back from the lead trio but the former DMR Auto Street Stock titlist cannot be counted out of the fight on the final night.
While championships are on the line, every driver will want to win on Night of Champions to not only close out the point season on a high note but to take momentum into SpeedWeekend. The biggest weekend of the Speedway 660 season, SpeedWeekend is right around the corner on September 1st and 2nd and a head of steam from the regular season could propel any Speedway 660 regular to new heights on their big race on Labour Day weekend.
Returning for 2018, children aged 15 and under will be admitted to the grandstands for free to every stock car event at Speedway 660. The admission structure makes it easier for families to attend race events at the track and received positive feedback from fans when implemented mid-season in 2017.
Adult grandstand admission price for Saturday evening’s Night of Champions and Fan Appreciation Night is $14 (aged 16 and up). Pit admission is $16 and is restricted to those 16 years of age and older. Tickets are available at the gate on race day. Pit gates for competitors will open at 1pm, grandstand gates open for spectators at 5pm, the on track meet and greet autograph session begins at 5:30pm with racing getting underway at 6:30pm. A complete race day format will be available via Speedway660.com later in the week.
Fans are reminded that SpeedWeekend 2018 tickets and campsites are now available. An order form for both can be found on the front page of Speedway660.com or on the SpeedWeekend page on the website. Those that would like to order in person can order at the Speedway 660 office when they visit the race track this Saturday night for the races. Registration is now open for teams that are intending to compete in both the McLaughlin Roof Trusses Pro Stock 250 and the Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman 150 by heading online or visiting the Speedway 660 office.
For more information about 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.