O’Blenis Scores Exciting Pro Stock 250 Win at Speedway 660

The 30th anniversary running of the Speedway 660 Pro Stock 250 was Sunday night and it didn’t disappoint with an exciting race culminating with veteran Dave O’Blenis in Victory Lane. It was his second SpeedWeekend 250 win with the last one in 2022. O’Blenis used a late-pit strategy to gain fresh tires for a strong run to the front in the last 50 laps. He scored $18750 for the win.

O’Blenis (#48) used a restart with three laps to go to muscle his way around Ryan Messer (#1) for the victory. Messer would hold off defending winner Ashton Tucker (#2) in a photo finish for the second spot. Dustin Tucker (#52) and Robbie MacEwen (#40) had stellar performances to round out the top five.

Messer showed the way for the entire first half, with Robbie MacEwen in tow. MacEwen would be one of the first drivers to pit, doing so just before the halfway break aiming to gain track position when other contenders pitted later. Messer would stay out and fend off a challenge from Dustin Tucker for the Modern Electric Halfway Bonus, and then would pit on a lap 140 yellow for his tires. Dave O’Blenis assumed the lead at this point for the first time all race. After making several early pit stops, Ashton Tucker worked into the top three and showed himself as a contender, and he would pit around lap 170 for his fresh set of rubber. But while everyone else pitted, the O’Blenis team held steady at the front.

Tucker, with the speed of fresher tires, got to Messer’s car as lap 200 was crossed and they started dueling for second position when the caution flew on lap 212, changing the complexion of the race. Restarting on the front row, Messer and Tucker would continue to battle for the lead with Tucker showing the way and O’Blenis battling through traffic to get back up front. Another yellow on lap 235 was just what O’Blenis needed. Restarting third, he would get around Tucker on the restart as Messer vaulted back out front. Initially, it looked like Messer would still hang on, but one final restart with three laps to go set up the restart of a lifetime, which O’Blenis used to secure the win.

Six lead changes among three drivers put on a show for the fans, with fourteen cautions slowing the field.

Lap leaders included O’Blenis (75 laps), Ryan Messer (153 laps), and Ashton Tucker (22 laps). Each lap led paid an additional $50 bonus.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series star Stewart Friesen (#52F) broke an axle while running fifth with his appearance at the event helping raise funds and awareness for AIM Autism and VIVA Therapeutic Services.

MacEwen, Messer, and Cory Hall (#83) claimed heat race victories to start the day. Hall, a former winner of the race, fell pitside just after halfway.

Support classes results from Sunday are to come, but Donny Young (Heart of a Champion Hot Rods), Doug Matchett (Atlantic Modified Tour), Terry Lawson (Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooter), Danny Chisholm (CrossRoads Maritime League of Legends), and Landon Pierce (Bandolero Blast) scored feature victories earlier in the day.

That wraps up SpeedWeekend 2023. Only one weekend remains on the 30th-anniversary calendar for Speedway 660, and it’s a big one with the Riverview Honda Weekend of Champions! Saturday, September 23 will be the Night of Champions for all four stock car classes, and Sunday, September 24 the season will wrap up with the Enduro 300. Stay tuned for more information.

23^rd Annual Pro Stock 250 Results