O’Blenis Starts Season in Victory Lane at Speedway 660

GEARY, NB – FivFive-time/Max East Coast Elite Realty Pro Stock Champion Dave O’Blenis (Boundary Creek) drove his No. 48 to Riverview Ford Lincoln Victory Lane on Sunday to kick off Speedway 660’s 25th Anniversary Season.

O’Blenis, who started fourth in the 13-car Pro Stock field, wasted little time taking his car to the front. O’Blenis made the move on reigning champion Brent Roy (Hanwell) and would battle with 2017 Rookie of the Year Ryan Messer (Harvey) in his quest to take the first victory of the season.

“I spun the tires really bad on the restart,” said O’Blenis of the green flag that saw Messer take the lead. “I was trying something different and now I know not to do that again! I had to run him hard to get the lead back. It feels really good to get back to victory lane.”

Messer came home second and was joined on the podium by a fellow young hot shoe in Ashton Tucker (Lyttleton). Devin Snell (Saint John) and pole sitter Matt Harris (Fredericton Junction) completed the top five. Harris and Roy won qualifying heat races.

Drew Greenlaw (Eastport, ME) also started fourth en route to his win in the Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman feature. Greenlaw established a healthy lead in the 30-lap feature over an incredible battle for second which resulted in Jacob Logan (Harvey) coming home with the runner-up spot. Logan was pressured to the end by a very patient Courtney O’Blenis (Boundary Creek), who set the Sportsman track record earlier in the day at a 14.519 second lap. Curtis Collins (Saint John) and Alexandra O’Blenis (Boundary Creek) barely missed the podium but raced to top five finishes in the feature. Heat victories went to Logan and Richard Atkinson (Geary).

Justin Cole (Harvey) made his return to the DMR Auto Sales and Service Street Stock class a success by winning the 30-lap feature. Cole had to pass 2017 division runner-up Shawn Hyslop (St. Stephen) to take the win in his No. 38 car. Hyslop finished second with Riley Goodwin (MacAdam) completing the podium. Matt Crocker (Oromocto), who had a spirited battle with “The Villain” Rick Cashol (Saint John), wound up fourth and Chris Hanley (St. Stephen) was fifth in the 11-car field. Cole and Hyslop won heat race qualifiers.

In a Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooters field that featured five rookie competitors in the 11-car field,  it was three returnees who settled the 20-lap feature amongst themselves. Brody Levesque (Fredericton) easily handled the Four Cylinder field for his first win of the year but the battle was for second in the waning laps. Sophomore driver Scott “Bat Hubby” Kennie (Fredericton) was able to score a career-high second place finish after getting the best of Bryan Suttie (Keswick) in the late race battle. Rookies Randy Titus (French Lake) and Wesley Harnish (Beaverdam) rounded out the top five in the Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooters field. Levesque and Suttie took home heat race wins.

Complete, unofficial, feature results can be found below from the Riverview Ford Lincoln Season Opener and the Race for Hunger.

Re/Max East Coast Elite Pro Stock Feature – 50 Laps
1st – #48 Dave O’Blenis
2nd – #1 Ryan Messer
3rd – #32 Ashton Tucker
4th – #10 Devin Snell
5th – #87 Matt Harris
6th – #26 Brent Roy
7th – #29 Greg Fahey
8th – #83 Jeff Doherty
9th – #24 Ben Pelletier
10th – #29T Robert Tomlinson
11th – #81 Ian Rasmussen
12th – #45 Calvin Rankin
13th – #28 Shawn Warren

Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman Feature – 40 Laps
1st – #23 Drew Greenlaw
2nd – #37 Jacob Logan
3rd – #48C Courtney O’Blenis
4th – #27 Curtis Collins
5th – #74 Alexandra O’Blenis
6th – #94 Ryan Raynes
7th – #40 Richard Atkinson
8th – #54 Clark Moore
9th – #43 Hudson Weston
10th – #96 George Jamieson
11th – #14 Matt Rodgers
12th – #52 Destiny Enkel
13th – #41 Rob Raynes

DMR Auto Street Stock Feature – 30 Laps
1st – #38 Justin Cole
2nd – #99 Shawn Hyslop
3rd – #77 Riley Goodwin
4th – #00M Matt Crocker
5th – #71 Chris Hanley
6th – #15 Roger Slocum
7th – #81 Kyle Boudreau
8th – #21 Courtney Barton
9th – #54 Rick Cashol
10th – #22 Kyle MacKinnon
11th – #95 Danny Bourque

Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooter Feature – 20 Laps
1st – #05 Brody Levesque
2nd – #71 Scott Kennie
3rd – #51 Bryan Suttie
4th – #4T Randy Titus
5th – #61 Wesley Harnish
6th – #01 Jeff Rose
7th – #92 Randy Storey
8th – #73 Allison Hall
9th – #68 Ryan Bernard
10th – #69 BJ Gillespie
11th – #60 Grey Owl

Speedway 660’s 25th Anniversary Season continues on Sunday, June 3rd with the annual Kids Day event. All four house divisions will contest regular distance events with qualifying beginning at 2 pm.

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

About Riverview Ford Lincoln:
Riverview Ford Lincoln Sales is the number one choice for all things Ford in Fredericton, NB and the surrounding areas. Whether you’re in the market for a new or quality pre-owned vehicle, servicing, parts or accessories, you’ll find everything you need along with the warmest of welcomes here at Riverview Ford Lincoln. Your complete satisfaction is our absolute priority, and that philosophy permeates through every aspect of our operation. Ford has what must be the most impressive lineup of new vehicles in its history available right now, and you’ll find them all here at Riverview Ford Lincoln. Visit them at 970 Hanwell Road, online at RiverviewFord.ca or call them at (506) 453-0400.

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.

source – track communications