JAMES RIVER, NS – Russell Smith Jr. picked up another Napa Sportsman Series victory at Riverside International Speedway on Friday night in the Highland Home Building Centres 100. Smith, from Halifax, led 61 laps en route to a convincing win with a 0.732-second margin of victory of second place Dale Richardson, from Stellarton. Phil Barkhouse, from Hammonds Plains, was third. Corey Breen, from Antigonish, was fourth and Kyle Reid, from Sydney, rounded out the top five finishers. Heat race winners included Reid, Richardson, and Brad DeCoste. Twenty-five cars entered the event; 12 finished on the lead lap in the feature that took one hour, 15 minutes to complete. Other lap leaders included Reid (for five laps), Richardson (for 16 laps), and Darren Wallage (for 18 laps). In other action the Scotia Trucks made their first-ever stop at Riverside with a ‘Twin 25’ feature. Jason Fenton took the win, followed by Matt Vaughan and Adam Carter. On Saturday NASCAR makes its only annual stop east of Quebec at Riverside for the Wounded Warriors Canada 300, a championship points race for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series (NCATS). Local favourite Donald Chisholm, from Antigonish, is set to defend his win in the 2014 edition of the event. Halifax’s D.J. Casey will make his series debut, thanks to John Flemming turning over the keys to his NCATS ride, and Newfoundland’s Josh Collins will become the first-ever competitor from his home province to start a NASCAR event. Series regulars like point leader Scott Steckly, Andrew Ranger, DJ Kennington, and more will be doing their best to claim a win on one of their favourite race tracks. Besides NASCAR, fans at Riverside today will see the Atlantic Tiltload Maritime League of Legends contest the Cummins 50, a points race for that series. The box office and grandstand opens today at 12:30 p.m. with practice sessions on track until 2:35 when Legends heats are on track. NASCAR qualifying goes at 3:30 followed by a 5:15 on track autograph session. The Cummins 50 is set for 6:15 p.m. followed at 7:30 by opening ceremonies for the Wounded Warriors Canada 300, for which the green flag will fly at 8 p.m. Wounded Warriors Canada is a non-profit organization that supports Canada’s ill and injured Canadian Armed Forces members, Veterans, and their families. Through a wide range of national programs and services, Wounded Warriors provides a spectrum of care that is focused on mental health and, particularly, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. To make a donation to, or for more information on, Wounded Warriors Canada please visit www.woundedwarriors.ca. 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.
