TCM Stock Car Shootout
By The Numbers: Second Annual TCM Icebreaker Endurance Race
The TCM Icebreaker Endurance Race presented by St. Louis Bar & Grill – Moncton and Dieppe is set for Saturday afternoon at East Coast Karting. After a successful inaugural event in 2018, TCM returns with a hungry group of teams looking for their shot at pre-season glory before the green flag flies at their home race tracks.
Here’s a quick look at some of the drivers and stats in the 14 team field in this “By the Numbers” ahead of Saturday’s event. You can find the Competitor Package, Driver’s Meeting Notes and a schedule below. Please note, the schedule has been pushed back 90 minutes from the original schedule published in February.
1 – Stephen Oliver returns as the only driver that stood on the top step of the podium in this race one year ago. Oliver, teamed with Austin and Shane Riley, won the race with the Racing with Autism team. Oliver will team up with his roommate and Calum Dunbar for this year’s edition of the race.
2 – Stock car track promoters will strap helmets on this weekend. Speedway Miramichi’s Barry Richard and Petty International Raceway’s Wayne Smith will both be on track Saturday. While Wayne may have more racing experience, the rain that is forecast may become the ultimate equalizer in this battle.
3 – All three Maritime Provinces are represented in the field.
4 – Podium finishers in Maritime Triple Crown Late Model races. Wayne Smith and Dylan Blenkhorn are former IWK 250 champions, Robbie MacEwen (IWK 250) and Steve Halpin (McLaughlin Roof Trusses 250) are former podium finishers in 250-lap Pro Stock events.
5 – River Glade International wins in Saturday’s field. Laurie Cormier and Kenny MacKenzie Sr each have two wins in the prestigious event, while Kenny MacKenzie Jr is the most recent champion from that event in field after winning it in 2017.
6 – The number of 2018 track championships represented in the field on Saturday. Devin Gallant (Oyster Bed Speedway Outlaw), Rob Poirier (Speedway Miramichi AND Petty Raceway Mini Stock), Doug Matchett (Speedway Miramichi Modified), Owen Mahar (Scotia Speedworld Bandolero Bandit) and Luc McLaughlin (Petty Raceway Street Stock Triple Crown) will all be on track in the event, each representing a different team.
8th – After a five minute penalty last year for a quick pit stop, Just For Fun went from being 17 seconds behind the winners at the finish of last year’s Icebreaker to an eighth place finish.
9 – Nine former TCM Stock Car Shootout competitors will take a run at their first TCM Icebreaker Endurance Race title – including Kody Quinn, Ben Israel, Owen Mahar, Garth Bezanson, Marshall Bezanson, Greg Snelgrove, Kayle Ford, Cody Byrne and Chad Jackson.
14 – The four cylinder Mini Stock division has the most drivers in the field with 14 drivers who have competed in a Mini Stock over the last season or plan to compete in one in 2019. They include Poirier, Gallant, Kody Quinn, Ryan McKnight, Chris Garnett, Brad Daley, Garth Bezanson, Marshall Bezanson, Greg Snelgrove, Matt Watson, Cody Byrne, Chad Jackson, Travis Conroy and Wayne Smith.
14 – Teams registered for the event as of Thursday morning.
51 – Driver count between the 14 teams heading into Saturday’s event.
203 – The amount of laps completed in two hours last year by the winning team, Racing with Autism.
229(AUTO)- The Dan McGrath led team was the first to register for the TCM Icebreaker Endurance and is the only one to feature a team that has representatives from all three Maritime Provinces on the same roster. Nova Scotia is represented by Dylan Blenkhorn and Kody Quinn, Prince Edward Island by Robbie MacEwen and New Brunswick by Laurie Cormier.
Family Tradition – At least two Father/Son combinations will take to the track this weekend. Ken MacKenzie Sr and Jr and the Bezansons – Darren, Marshall and Garth, will look to make victory lane a family affair.
REGISTERED TEAM LIST (As of April 24th, 2019):
- 229Auto – Roster; Kody Quinn, Robbie MacEwen, Dylan Blenkhorn, Laurie Cormier
- CBR Racing- Roster; Ryan McKnight, Chris Garnett, Brad Daley
- Team Name TBA – Roster; Calum Dunbar, Stephen Oliver, Stephen Oliver’s Roommate
- TBA – Roster; Chris Warren, Shawn Warren, Luc McLaughlin, TJ Madore
- Still Just 4 Fun – Roster; Steve King, Wayne King, TBA
- 902 Bandits – Roster; Ben Israel, Owen Mahar, James Montgomery
- Bezanson Motorsports – Roster; Garth Bezanson, Marshall Bezanson, Rebecca Baker, Greg Snelgrove, Darren Bezanson
- Game Day Decision – Roster; Kayle Ford, Brodie MacQuarrie, Kyle Hambly, Mike Duskey
- Speedy Spuds – Roster; Matt Watson, Cody Byrne, Chad Jackson, Janson Gallant
- Speedway Miramichi; Roster; Barry Richard, Doug Matchett, Travis Conroy
- “12 Time” – Roster; Ken MacKenzie Sr., Kenny MacKenzie Jr., Wayne Smith, Nick Reid
- The Pit Maneuvers – Roster; Klaas de Boer, Feije de Boer, Devin Gallant, TBA
- Team Green RJR – Roster; Rob Poirier, Jake Poirier, Rob MacLeod
- Vicious and Delicious – Roster; Steve Halpin, Geoff Armstrong, Craig Bietz, Matt Halpin, Matt Rodgers
COMPETITOR PACKAGE:
Click here for the 2019 TCM Icebreaker Endurance Race Competitor Package and Drivers Meeting Notes
RACE DAY FORMAT
1:30pm | Registration Opens
All teams must be checked in and paid for prior to the Driver’s Meeting! |
2:45pm | Driver’s Meeting |
St. Louis Bar & Grill Grid and Kart Draw (based on registration order) |
|
Class Photo | |
Approx. 3:30pm |
Green flag – TCM Icebreaker Enduro presented by St. Louis Bar & Grill Moncton and Dieppe – TWO HOURS |
5:30pm | Checkered flag |
5:45pm | Trophy Presentation and Podium Photos |
Approx. 6pm |
Post Race Mixer St. Louis Bar & Grill Dieppe Food and Drink Specials for participating teams 500 Kennedy (Across from Bass Pro Shops) |
Format Subject to Change Without Notice
TCM Karting Endurance Event Champions List:
TCM Spring Enduro
2018 – Racing With Autism (Austin Riley, Shane Riley, Stephen Oliver) (East Coast Karting – TCM Icebreaker Presented by St. Louis Bar & Grill – April 28th, 2018)
2017 – Cory Hall Racing/Lively Motorsports (Cory Hall, Andrew Lively, Craig MacDonald, Brandon Crawford, Kyle Gammon) (Kartbahn Racing – TCM 250 – Sunday, May 7th, 2017)
TCM Fall Endurance Race
2018 – Cory Hall Racing/Lively Motorsports (Cory Hall, Andrew Lively, Craig MacDonald, Brandon Crawford, Kyle Gammon) (Kartbahn Racing – TCM Fall 250 – November 11th, 2018)
2017 – Cory Hall Racing/Lively Motorsports (Cory Hall, Andrew Lively, Craig MacDonald, Brandon Crawford, Kyle Gammon) (Kartbahn Racing – TCM Fall 250 – November 12th, 2017)
TCM ICEBREAKER ENDURANCE RACE MARKETING PARTNERS
Presenting Sponsor and Post Race Mixer – St Louis Bar & Grill Moncton and Dieppe
Trophy Sponsors – Finish Line Vinyl Design and Phil-Ko Plastics and Glass
East Coast Karting
Atlantic Motel
Photos by Mike Francis/Racin Photos