Mike Stevens (2013 photo by Ken MacIsaac)The Mike Stevens Memorial, Three Years & Growing Strong September 21, 2016 Regional (UPDATED – SEE BOLD INSERTIONS) AS OF 12:20 P.M. ON FRIDAY (SEPT. 23) THE SHOW SCHEDULED FOR FRIDAY (SEE BELOW) HAS BEEN POSTPONED BY RAIN UNTIL SUNDAY (TIME TBA). Petty International Raceway will host the Mike Stevens Memorial weekend this Friday and Saturday with the highlight expected to be the 200-lap pro stock race on Saturday. Offering $5,500 to win and bonus payouts for marquis event winners in the Maritimes and New England, the race has generated a post-season buzz among racers and fans alike. Besides a good payout, the Mike Stevens Memorial 200 offers a unique format that will see strategy play a part in the end result. There will be ‘Show Stopper Yellows’ every 40 laps of green flag racing through the first 175 laps of the race and all teams are required to make at least one pit stop. The race is a straight-up 200 laps with no half-time break, and the race leader gets lane choice at the start of the race and on restarts. A ‘Happy Camper’ option will see the first car one lap down at cautions have the choice of pitting or getting their lap back. And lap leaders will get $25 per sponsored lap led, always an incentive to get to the front. Five big winners on the 2016 race calendar in the Maritimes and New England are eligible for the ‘Big Winner Bonus’ of $5,000 should they win the Mike Stevens Memorial 200. Eligible teams include Donald Chisholm (winner of the IWK 250), Cole Butcher (winner of the Atlantic Cat 250), Joey Doiron (winner of the McLaughlin Roof Trusses 250), Wyane Helliwell, Jr. (winner of the HP Hood Oxford 250), and Travis Benjamin (winner of Beech Ridge PASS race on Sept. 19). The expected entry list shows Doiron and Butcher’s No. 53 (with Jarrett Butcher behind the wheel). The expected entry list shows Doiron and Butcher’s No. 53 (with Jarrett Butcher behind the wheel) throwing their helmets in the ring for a big payday at Petty. In addition to Doiron and Butcher, a third driver become eligible after being selected by fan; if that driver wins the Mike Stevens Memorial 200 then the driver and the fan will split the $5,000 bonus. Doiron, from Maine, will be joined by fellow American racers, Cassius Clark and Kirk Thibeau. Five-time regional pro stock touring champion John Flemming will also enter the race making his second start in a new car that he recently purchased. Expected Entry List – Mike Stevens Memorial 200 (to-date) 2- John Rankin 10- Brady Creamer 12- Michael Kyle 13c- Cassius Clark 13h- Jonathan Hicken 14- Terry Dougay 19- Corey Hall 28m- Kirk Thibeau 29- Greg Proude 29f- Greg Fahey 32t- Ashton Tucker 32s- Sarah McKay 33- Andrew McKay 40- Robbie McEwen 52- Dustin Tucker 53- Jarrett Butcher *Big Winner Bonus contender 67- Dylan Blenkhorn 73- Joey Doiron * Big Winner Bonus contender 88- Kevin Moore 91- Dylan Gosbee 97- John Flemming 97d- Chris Duncan 98 – Jerome Kehoe Entry list is subject to change without prior notice. Saturday will see final points races for the Street Stock and Bandolero house divisions. Besides valuable season ending points, Bandoleros will run for a $1,500 purse posted by King Freight Lines with $500 going to the driver with the best average finish of the Twin 25-lap features for that division. The Mike Stevens Memorial pays homage to fallen racer Mike Stevens who lost his life following a crash in a race in Prince Edward Island on August 4, 2013; he was 30 years old and called Petty International Raceway his home track. Proceeds from the 50/50 this weekend will go to a fund set up for Steven’s two young children following their father’s death. Shawn Turple won the pro stock leg of the 2014 edition of the Mike Stevens Memorial and Jonathan Hicken won the race in 2015. The Mike Stevens Memorial is presented by R Stevens Mechanical and Carnahan Property Management. The weekend kicks off Friday with a Mini Stock 50, Legends 50, Atlantic Modifieds 50, and Limited Late Model 75 (Limited Late Model division includes Oyster Bed Speedway Modifieds and Maritime Sportsman); the evening will conclude with a 60-minute practice session for super late model (pro stock) racers. Saturday will see Bando Twins 25’s, Street Stock 75, and the pro stock/super late model 200. A post-race party featuring Zack Lane will close the weekend on Saturday night. Racing starts Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 4 p.m. Tickets can be purchased for either Friday or Saturday or as a weekend pass. Adults tickets are $20 for Friday, $40 for Saturday; a weekend pass is $50. There will be an open practice for competitors on Thursday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.; pit admission is $10, with free admission to the grandstands. For more information please visit www.pettyinternationalraceway.com. Petty International Raceway is located in River Glade, New Brunswick.
