International Double-Header Weekend on Deck at Petty Raceway

RIVER GLADE, NB – One of the most anticipated motorsports weekends in Southeastern New Brunswick has arrived once again. All three Maritime Provinces will be represented at Petty International Raceway this weekend as the 53rd running of the Jones Auto Body River Glade International hits the track. Seven unique stock car divisions will showcase their brand of short track racing over two nights of exciting action on Friday, August 25th and Saturday, August 26th. The event is headlined by Saturday night’s Cummins 200 for the Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour.

The racing action kicks off Friday night at 7:30 pm with the Limited Late Model 125 presented by Jones Auto Body. While the event is a point race for the division, the winner will etch their name in history as a River Glade International champion. Kenny MacKenzie Jr (Salisbury, NB) leads the points by 11 markers over Jordan Veinotte (Porter’s Lake, NS). MacKenzie Jr is the most recent winner in the class after taking the Caleb Dunn Memorial on August 5th. Veinotte will have Phil Barkhouse Jr (Hammonds Plains, NS) in his car as Barkhouse, who will also run in the Cummins 200 on Saturday for Pierce Racing, will look for his first win in the prestigious River Glade International.

Popular local driver Neal Crawford (Salisbury, NB) will look to win his first River Glade International and close in on the point leader as he sits third after five point events. Rookie Justin Beers (Moncton, NB) is fourth in the standings as he makes his first start in the prestigious event on Friday.

Alexandra O’Blenis (Boundary Creek, NB) will be back in the seat of the #41 Dulux Paints Bayers Lake Chevrolet after a podium run at the Caleb Dunn Memorial. Ryan Raynes (Saint John, NB) and Lynden MacDougall (Sydney, NS) are among those who have expressed interest in putting their names on the trophy on Friday night.

Luc Bourgeois (Memramcook, NB) was the winner of the Sportsman portion of the River Glade International in 2016, while Laurie Cormier (Riverview, NB) and Russell Smith Jr (Lakeside, NS) each own two event wins between 2012 and 2015.

Nick Cudmore (Goshen, NB) heads into the River Glade International as the most recent winner in the Westwood Estates Street Stock division. Following post race technical inspection at the Caleb Dunn Memorial, two of the top three finishers would not pass the inspection, giving Cudmore the win in the second Triple Crown race for the class. The official results from the last race saw Mike Duskey (Albany, PE) and rookie Logan Power (Riverview, NB) on the podium.

Power now leads the overall standings with three races to go by just 11 points over Chuck Mercer (Mount Hebron, NB). Duskey has moved to third overall in the division, just six points back of Mercer. Cudmore’s most recent win has vaulted him to fourth in standings, ahead of Miramichi, New Brunswick’s James “Hollywood” Matchett. A total of ten drivers have competed in all five race meets this season, with half of those drivers being rookie competitors.

The Mister Transmission Mini Stock division has come down to a virtual two horse race following the suspension of Mike Weagle (Salisbury, NB) after an incident in the August 5th event. JR Lawson (Shubenacadie, NS) picked up the win at the Caleb Dunn Memorial, but it is Tim Webster (Beaver Bank, NS) who continues to hold court up front. Webster is in search of his second straight championship in the class. Mike Edwards (Penobsquis, NB) is Webster’s closest rival in the championship hunt, sitting 18 points behind.

Chris Garnett (Havelock, NB) is coming off the momentum of a podium finish during the Caleb Dunn Memorial in the Mister Transmission Mini Stock division, while Michael Savoie (Miramichi, NB) and Scott Habkirk (Petitcodiac, NB) have shown lots of promise thus far in 2017. Both will be threats to win on Friday night.

The Modified division will return Friday night and it is Mike Raeburn (Hampton, NB) taking the lead into the event over “Mr. Excitement” Doug Matchett (Miramichi, NB) by five points. Raeburn is the most recent winner at Petty International Raceway after besting Cody Price (Nackawic, NB) and Matchett during the Caleb Dunn Memorial.

Grandstand admission prices for Friday are $20 for adults and $10 for youth aged eight to 18, while children seven years of age and under will be admitted free. Pit admission is $25 and is restricted to those 16 years of age and older. Pit gates for competitors open at 4pm, grandstand gates open for spectators at 5:30pm with racing getting underway at 7:30pm.

The Leisure Days RV Bandolero division will lead off the racing action on Saturday. Nathan Blackburn (Timberlea, NS) maintained his point lead over Sam Rogers (Lower Onslow, NS) on August 5th and has a ten point advantage heading into Saturday. Josh Langille (Coldbrook, NS) sits third in the standings, five points out of second place.

The Maritime League of Legends Tour continues a busy August with a stop  Saturday at Petty for the Seaside Chevrolet 50, round seven of nine on the series 2017 season and second of two stops at Petty this year. Two drivers changes will give a pair of drivers their first Legend starts on the high banked Petty International Raceway on Saturday. Rookie of the Year leader Kyle Shipley (Halifax, NS) will hand the wheel of the #28 car to Scotia Speedworld Lightning car driver David Jollimore. Shipley took the lead in the top freshman chase last weekend at Riverside International Speedway and sits 11th overall in the point standings heading into the Seaside Chevrolet 50. Andrew Lively (Middle Sackville, NS) will substitute for Shane Lively in the #22 car, which is currently sixth in the standings heading into Saturday night. Andrew Lively competes full time at Scotia Speedworld and while he has four starts on the series this year in his own car, it will be his first career Legend race at Petty International Raceway.

A complete preview for Saturday’s Cummins 200 for the Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour can be found here.

Grandstand admission prices for Saturday’s events at Petty International Raceway are $35 for adults and $10 for youth aged eight to 18, while children seven years of age and under will be admitted free. Pit admission is $40 and is restricted to those 16 years of age and older. Pit gates for competitors open at 1:30pm, grandstand gates open for spectators at 4pm with racing getting underway at 6pm.

For complete, up-to-date information on Petty International Raceway, please visit PettyInternationalRaceway.com, follow on Twitter (@PettyRaceway_NB) and like on Facebook (@PettyInternationalRaceway).

About Petty International Raceway:
Petty International Raceway is located on Highway 106, just 40 km west of Moncton, New Brunswick. To learn more about Petty International Raceway, its location, admission, policies, history, and more, please visit www.pettyinternationalraceway.com. To get current updates delivered to you directly please follow us on Twitter.

source – track/series communications