Maritime Racing
Speedway Miramichi Announces Schedule Changes, NB Big Dawg Challenge with Petty Raceway
Upon fan and team consultation, Speedway Miramichi officials have released an updated version of their 2014 season schedule. The schedule includes date changes to two of the three stock car events scheduled for the track, extra information added to the demolition events to be held at the speedway and updated start times for each motorsports card.
STOCK CAR SERIES DATE CHANGES
The big change is the alteration the change to Sunday at 2pm dates for the July and August stock car events. The change was made to accommodate teams and fans that would have had a prior conflict on the Saturday night at 7pm dates and, in turn, paves the way for the announcement of the inaugural New Brunswick Big Dawg Challenge.
NEW BRUNSWICK BIG DAWG CHALLENGE
The New Brunswick Big Dawg Challenge is a six race series set up between Petty International Raceway and Speedway Miramichi for the Late Model Sportsman, Street Stock and Mini Stocks divisions. Three races will be contested at each track and while those races will be run for house points for that respective race track, points will also go towards the New Brunswick Big Dawg Challenge. The winner of the six race series in each class will be crowned the inaugural New Brunswick Big Dawg Challenge champion.
Petty Raceway dates for the Challenge include Saturday, May 17th, Friday, July 11th and International Weekend, Friday, August 22nd and Saturday, August 23rd.
NB Big Dawg Challenge Dates:
Sat May 17th Petty
Sun June 15th Miramichi
Fri July 11th Petty
Sun Aug 17th Miramichi
Fri Aug 22nd Petty
Sun Sept 27th Miramichi
DEMOLITION INFORMATION ANNOUNCED
More information has been announced about the Demolition events, including the “feature attractions” on each race. The three race point series for Demolition competitors will be held on Saturday nights at 7pm, with the grand finale to be held on Saturday, October 18th at 3pm. The September 6th event will include the popular Full Contact Figure 8 100 event, while all Demolition events will also see a Mini Stock feature on the card. A full schedule is below.
The track also reminds competitors that drivers do not have to compete for the point championship in the demolition division if they do not want to. Anyone can build, race or demo – points are just a bonus!
SHOW EXAMINATION
Upon review of the reaction of the initial schedule release, Speedway Miramichi officials went back to the drawing board. The team looked many things, including other schedules to create a stock car schedule that does not conflict with any other major facility or event in the region. The focus was also turned to the Pro Stock portion of the schedule, where the decision was made to run one race at the end of the year to put the focus on putting on one marquee show for the Super Late Model class. Mini Stocks were also an addition to each of the Demolition cards, bringing the Mini Stock schedule to seven events in the ‘chi in 2014.
Looking at historical data of events in the past, management also focused on two aspects in scheduling. Statistics show that the fans that come to the stock car racing shows at Speedway Miramichi are different than those that typically attend the Demolition events and with that, the track hopes to differentiate between the two, with the Mini Stock racing on all cards being the only visible crossover between the two.
The track is also planning on targeting a three hour window for their shows. Young race fans typically get tired or distracted when a motorsports program drags on and the track will be looking to “tighten up” the show, time wise, to attract more families. Track management also feels the two Sunday shows may be a winning formula, in the fact that fans can pack more activities into their weekend, knowing the track will be racing stock cars Sunday afternoon.
At the end of the day, the track has listened to fans, teams and drivers to create a schedule that caters to both the stock car and demolition communities and works with other tracks to not create conflicting schedules, which would have forced fans to choose between two races.
For complete, up-to-date information on the track, please visit SpeedwayMiramichi.ca. New for 2014 includes a mobile friendly version of the website. Check it out!
2014 Revised Schedule – Speedway Miramichi
Saturday, May 17th – DEMO – 7pm
“Spring Smash” – including Full Contact Enduro 100, Mini Stocks and Eastern Super Mini Cup Series
Sunday, June 15th – STOCK CAR SERIES #1 – 2pm
Sportsman 75, Street Stock 50, Mini Stock 25, Bandoleros, Eastern Super Mini Cup Series
Saturday, July 12th – DEMO – 7pm
“Rock & Wreck” – Full Contact Demolition, Smash to Pass 100, Atlantic Open Wheels, Mini Stocks
Sunday, August 17th – STOCK CAR SERIES #2 – 2pm
Sportsman 75, Street Stock 75, Mini Stock 25, Atlantic Open Wheel Modifieds, Bandolero
Saturday, September 6th – DEMO POINT FINALE
“Back to School Smash” – Figure 8 Survivor 100, Mini Stocks.
*Note- Demo points finale
Saturday, September 27th – STOCK CAR SERIES #3 – GRAND FINALE
Pro Stock 125, Sportsman 100, Street Stock 50, Mini Stock, Bandolero, Atlantic Open Wheel and Eastern Super Mini Cup Series.
*Notes – Optional practice day Friday, September 26th. Rain date is Sunday at 2pm.
Saturday, October 18th – SPOOKTACULAR
Smash to Pass 75, Mini Stock
*All Demolition events have a rain date for Sunday at 2pm. Schedule subject to change without notice.