Track Release/Photos by McCarthy Photographic

(October 15th, 2014 – SYDNEY, NS) – Cape Breton Miners Memorial Speedway will bring their successful first season of racing to a close Saturday afternoon, October 18th at 2pm. Big crowds, healthy car counts and exciting short track racing has set the tone in the opening three rounds of the year and much more of the same is expected for the final stock car race in the province for 2014.

The fourth event of the season will carry a Halloween theme, and those drivers who are looking for their final checkered flags and first championships are hoping there are more treats than tricks when the field of cars fires up Saturday. After Chris Reid (Fort McMurray, AB) gained points on NAPA Sportsman Series leader Dale Richardson (Stellarton) in the last round of the seven race series on September 27th. The gap between the top two for the NAPA Sportsman title is just a mere 16 points heading into the season finale Gillis Home Hardware 100 on Saturday.

Sitting third in the series is Shawn Waterfield of Sydney. Waterfield broke through on September 27th for his first victory of the season and in turn, stopped the two race win streak that Chris Reid had on Cape Breton Miners Memorial Speedway. While Waterfield’s 31 point gap is a longer shot at the title, anything can happen in the final laps and with Waterfield proving he can win, the #23 will be one to keep an eye on Saturday.

Dave Timmons (Inverness) is nipping at Waterfield’s heels, just a single point behind for third place in the standings. Both Timmons and Darren Price (Main-à-Dieu) sit in the top five in the standings and are looking for that elusive victory to close off the season in style.

Fans will be treated to the “big car” debut of Cole Tanner (Shubenacadie), as Tanner will slide in the window of the #31 Robby’s Tractor Trailer Chevrolet for Robby Reid (Sydney). Tanner is a former Canadian Bandolero champion and has three track titles and many feature wins in a Bandolero car around Atlantic Canada. Lots of eyes will be on the rising prospect Tanner as he goes racing in a Sportsman for the first time Saturday.

The Cape Breton Trailer Sales and Service Street Stock class has been a see-saw battle all season between Sydney’s Mike MacLeod and Joey Rudderham. Heading into the event, there is a three point difference between the top two in the class and with upwards of a dozen Street Stock drivers expected to do battle in the season finale, this one could go either way.

The race of the weekend may very well come in the Cat Rental Store Mini Stock class as they contest the Jay’s Chicken and Ribs 35. Sure, there is a three way dance for the point championship with Kody Quinn leading Josh Benac by five points and Brandon MacMillan by 23 markers, but they will all have to be on their game with the “out of towners” making their way up the Trans Canada Highway to compete Saturday. The 581 Motorsports team, comprised of current Petty International Raceway and CENTRE For Speed track champion JR Lawson (Shubenacadie) and 2012 Scotia Speedworld Thunder and CENTRE For Speed Atlantic Champion Kyle MacMillan (Hammonds Plains) lead a field of visiting cars that is also expected to include Tim Hortons at the Airport Rookie of the Year Brad Hayes (Head of Jeddore), “The Ironman” Drew MacEachern (Dartmouth), “The Mayor of Cleveland” Art McNamara (Cleveland) and two-time Scotia Speedworld Thunder champion Tim Webster (Beaverbank).

With the extra cars from out of town for the Jay’s Chicken and Ribs 35, and an increased purse which will pay $300 to win, the field could be pushing two dozen cars, making it one of the biggest Mini Stock fields seen anywhere in Atlantic Canada in 2014!

Tim Webster (86) leads JR Lawson (81) in a heat race for the Speedworld Thunder on the Hill 50 in August. Both will be looking to lead the field Saturday in Sydney. (MCCARTHY PHOTOGRAPHIC)

The event carries a “Halloween for Children” theme, where kids are encouraged to dress up in their costumes for the big afternoon at the Speedway before the big evening on October 31st. Fans should be on the lookout for Jay’s Chicken and Ribs chicken, who will be in the stands handing out coupons.

Racing action will heat up the oval beginning at 2pm on Saturday afternoon. Main gates open at Noon for spectators with pit gates swinging open for competitors at 8am and practice beginning at 10:15am. Adult admission for the season finale at Cape Breton Miners Memorial Speedway is $18, student admission for those 13 to 18 years old is $8 and children 12 and under are admitted free. Pit admission is $25 and restricted to those 18 years and older. In the event of inclement weather on Saturday, a rain date has been set aside for Sunday, October 19th.

Competitors are encouraged to stick close to the track’s social media outlets for an Awards Banquet announcement in the coming months. The banquet, which will honor the top drivers from Cape Breton Miners Memorial Speedway and the NAPA Sportsman Series, is expected to be announced for the early months of the 2015 calendar.

The event will also be covered by Tim Terry and Tim’s Corner Motorsports. Tim’s Corner Motorsports is the one stop shop for all your Maritime racing news and will be covering the event for their racing website TimsCorner.ca, and social media platforms on Facebook (@TimsCorner) and Twitter (@TweetTimsCorner). The finale at Cape Breton Miners Memorial Speedway will be the 47th Maritime race card on the season for Tim’s Corner Motorsports. Their coverage on the weekend is presented by Shawn’s Simple Signs and 581 Motorsports.

For complete information on Cape Breton Miners Memorial Speedway, please visit CBMinersMemorialSpeedway.ca or “like us” on Facebook at facebook.com/cbminersmemorialspeedway.

About Cape Breton Miners Memorial Speedway:
Formerly Island Speedway, Cape Breton Miners Memorial Speedway was re-opened by Bill and Lynne Vasil for racing in July 2014, bringing life to the motorsport and stock car racing scenes on Cape Breton Island. The track features three classes, the NAPA Sportsman, the Cape Breton Trailer Sales Street and Trucks, and The Cat Rental Store Mini Stocks, on four race dates in their inaugural season. The track is located at 1162 Grand Lake Road in Sydney, Nova Scotia. For more information, please visit CBMinersMemorialSpeedway.ca or find the track on Facebook, at Facebook.com/CBMinersMemorialSpeedway.

RACE DAY FORMAT – SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18th

Rain Date – Sunday, October 19th

8:00am Pit Opens

8:15 Tech Opens – All Classes

10:15 Mini Practice 15 min
10:30 SS Practice 15 min
10:45 Sportsman Practice 30 min
11:15 Mini practice 15 min
11:30 SS practice 15 min
11:45 Sportsman Practice 25 min
12:00 Main gate opens
12:10 Mini practice 15 min
12:25 SS practice 15 min
12:40 Sportsman Practice 20 min
1pm Practice Ends

12:30 Tech closes, cars entering pits will be teched only if time allows

1:05 Drivers meeting
1:30 Line up (All Classes)

2:00 Heats begin all classes
Feature Mini + Street Stock
Sportsman to the track
National Anthem
Gillis Home Hardware 100
Napa Sportsman Frequency 458.5875

*subject to change

Tim’s Corner Motorsports coverage of the NAPA Sportsman Series finale at Cape Breton Miners Memorial Speedway is presented by:

 

 

581 MOTORSPORTS