Firecracker 150 to Highlight Saturday’s Show at Speedway 660

GEARY, NB – After a quiet New Brunswick Day long weekend, Speedway 660 is about to get loud this Saturday night. The Firecracker Sportsman 150 will kickstart a stretch of races that will not only crown point champions for the 25th Anniversary Season of Speedway 660 but will also finish with SpeedWeekend 2018. Racing action on Saturday, August 11th goes green at 6:30 pm.

The Firecracker 150 will serve as the final tuneup for the Sportsman division prior to the Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman 150 on SpeedWeekend. In addition to drivers being able to dial their cars in for the long run, the top five will also be thinking big picture as they will receive provisional starting position in the Labour Day Weekend Sportsman showcase. While the huge purse for the winner awaits on September 1st, this event could foreshadow who will be running for the $7,500 in three short weeks.

The “front five” have made most of the headlines in the Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman division in 2018. The top five in the point standings have won every regular point night features and only Brady Creamer (Miramichi) has been able to best them with that victory coming in the Martin’s Home Heating 125 in June. Drew Greenlaw (Eastport, ME) and Curtis Collins (Saint John) have swapped the point lead back and forth all season and each have one feature win on the year. While this race does not pay points based off finishing positions, both young guns will have their radar placed on the checkered flag Saturday.

The O’Blenis sisters, Alexandra and Courtney (Boundary Creek) have lit the lamp a total of five times in feature racing action. Alexandra is the most recent feature winner and has a one win advantage on her sister. Courtney has the advantage on her sister in the championship standings by two points with only Fan Appreciation Night and Night of Champions standing between them and the end of the championship chase.

Jacob Logan (Harvey) has been consistent all season and was rewarded with a victory on July 21st during DMR Auto and Ricky Bobby Night. While Logan is a former Atlantic Champion, he is still searching for his first extended distance victory at his home track.

While the Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman stars have the spotlight, the DMR Auto Sales Street Stock, Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooters and the return of the Atlantic Modified Tour will each look to steal the Saturday show.

Santa did not leave Riley Goodwin (McAdam) the greatest of gifts during Christmas in July. A mechanical failure late in the DMR Auto Street Stock feature on July 28th resulted in the No. 77 having to pull off before the finish. With his three closest rivals each finishing on the podium, it tightened the point standings even more with just three point races to go. Goodwin still holds the advantage but it is only two points on Justin Cole (Harvey), four points on Shawn Hyslop (St. Stephen) and five points on Christmas in July’s feature winner Roger Slocum (Chipman). With this being the tightest the top four has been all season in this division, one mistake could eliminate them from championship contention.

Not to be outdone, the Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooters are putting on quite the classic championship battle with only three point races to go. With a misstep during Christmas in July, Brody Levesque (Fredericton) fell from first to third in the standings. The good news for the fans of the No. 05 is that he only sits three points out of new leader Bryan Suttie (Keswick). Sandwiched in the middle is Scott “Bat Hubby” Kennie (Fredericton), who is a single point from Suttie’s championship top spot. The trio will have to be on top of their game not only to beat each other but fend off some hungry competition looking for a victory after a weekend off.

The Atlantic Modified Tour will make their first of two stops to Speedway 660 this Saturday night with a 35-lap feature on tap. It is the first time the Tour has been in town since SpeedWeekend 2016 when Mike “Sparky” Raeburn (Hampton) drove to victory lane. Cody Price (Nackawic) is the most recent winner on the Series, going to victory lane last Sunday at Petty International Raceway. Joe Hoyt (Waasis) leads the Atlantic Modified Tour point standings by a single point over the Stafford Racing car, which has been shared by Braxton Stafford (Blackville), Ashton Tucker (Miramichi) and “The Racing Ranger from Renous” Kim Hallihan. The pair of cars have a substantial gap on the rest of the field in the championship standings.

The RE/MAX East Coast Elite Realty Pro Stock division is off this weekend and will return for Fan Appreciation Night on August 18th.

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 Firecracker Sportsman 150 is $15 (aged 16 and up). Pit admission is $20 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 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.

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. For more information about Speedway 660, visit Speedway660.com, like @Speedway660 on Facebook or call the Speedway 660 Raceline at (506) 454-7223.

source – track communications