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RIVER GLADE, NB – One of the marquee events of the motorsports season in Atlantic Canada returns to Petty International Raceway this weekend. The Seventh Annual Mike Stevens Memorial Weekend is the first doubleheader weekend of the year at the River Glade, New Brunswick oval, taking place on Friday, September 18th and Saturday, September 19th. Eight divisions will compete over the two days with the ultimate goal for the drivers to become a Mike Stevens Memorial champion. Racing begins on Friday evening at 7 pm with the Saturday festivities beginning at 4 pm.

The main attraction of the weekend is the Mike Stevens Memorial Super Late Model (Pro Stock) 200.  Nearly two dozen teams are expected to compete in the 200-lap feature in hopes of taking the biggest share of the $70,000 purse. Teams will compete in Time Trials to set the front row for the feature with the remaining drivers competing in 15-lap heats to set the field for the 200-lap feature. Race rules remain the same as in previous seasons, including competition cautions after 40 consecutive laps of green (up to Lap 160) and each car having to make one live pit stop sometime throughout the event. The race is a favorite amongst teams and fans alike and is shaping up to be another instant classic.

Ashton Tucker (Lyttleton, NB) and Jonathan Hicken (Brudenell, PE) have written a majority of the headlines in the top division of racing in the Maritimes in 2020. In three Pro Stock division races at Petty International Raceway this season, Hicken has the edge on Tucker with two victories compared to one. Hicken won the most recent event at the high banked oval, taking home the 56th Jones Auto Body River Glade International. Tucker drove to second that night, then followed it up with a victory in the RE/MAX East Coast Elite Realty 250 at Speedway 660 on Labour Day Weekend. Hicken is the most recent champion of the race, taking his third victory in the race in 2019.

While those two have made a majority of the headlines, a third has emerged as a favorite heading into Saturday’s Mike Stevens Memorial 200. Cole Butcher (Hantsport, NS) has three top four finishes at Petty International Raceway but none of those have resulted in a feature win. Last Saturday, Butcher drove to the victory in the Jim Hallahan 250 at Scotia Speedworld over Tucker and Nicholas Naugle (Dartmouth, NS). The two-time Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour champion will look to continue his winning ways this weekend in an event that has eluded him so far in his career.

Among those pre-entered for Saturday’s 200-lap feature that have top five runs at Petty International Raceway this season, outside the aforementioned “big three,” include Darren MacKinnon (Charlottetown, PE), Craig Slaunwhite (Terence Bay, NS), Dave O’Blenis (Boundary Creek, NB), Jarrett Butcher (Porter’s Lake, NS), Cory Hall (Jolicure, NB) and Naugle.

The race is also the final one in the Petty Raceway and Speedway 660 “Home and Home” Pro Stock Series. Tucker has a five point lead on Cole Butcher for the $2,500 top prize. With each position in the Mike Stevens Memorial 200 being worth one more point than the next and Tucker owning two victories, a top five finish on Saturday would secure the championship for the No. 2 Brad Silliker Motorsports entry.

Cole Butcher has a comfortable 19 point advantage on the battle for third and the $1,000 that goes with it. Cornwall, Prince Edward Island’s Dylan Gosbee has a two point lead on Lonnie Sommerville (Barnesville, NB) heading into Saturday. Four points behind Sommerville is a cluster of four drivers who have four points between them. Ryan Messer (Harvey, NB), Brent Roy (Hanwell, NB), Slaunwhite and Naugle each have a chance at third place should they have a good run and a little luck Saturday. Ten drivers have competed in all three races and still have a chance at a ARBodies Race Car Body from Lonnie Sommerville Racing, given out by a random draw to those who competed in each of the four races.

MIKE STEVENS MEMORIAL 200 – EXPECTED ENTRY LIST

  1. #1 Ryan Messer – Harvey, NB
  2. #01 Troy Burke – Winsloe, PE
  3. #2 Ashton Tucker – Lyttleton, NB
  4. #5 Jonathan Hicken – Brudenell, PE
  5. #8 Kent Vincent – Westmoreland, PE
  6. #08 Nicholas Naugle – Dartmouth, NS
  7. #16 Brent Roy – Hanwell, NB
  8. #18 Darren MacKinnon – Charlottetown, PE
  9. #21 Shawn Pierce – Bridgewater, NS
  10. #23 Lonnie Sommerville – Barnesville, NB
  11. #36 Gary Elliott – Truro, NS
  12. #40 Robbie MacEwen – Sherwood, PE
  13. #42R Andrew Rodgers – Smithtown, NB
  14. #44 Russell Smith Jr – Lakeside, NS
  15. #48 Dave O’Blenis – Boundary Creek, NB
  16. #48F Waylon Farrell – Conception Bay South, NL
  17. #52 Shawn Tucker – Fredericton, NB
  18. #53 Cole Butcher – Hantsport, NS
  19. #54 Jarrett Butcher – Porter’s Lake, NS
  20. #80 Ryan VanOirschot – Antigonish, NS
  21. #83 Cory Hall – Jolicure, NB
  22. #91 Dylan Gosbee – Cornwall, PE
  23. #97 Chris Duncan – Rothesay, NB
  24. #99 Craig Slaunwhite – Terence Bay, NS

**entry list subject to change without notice

The Super Late Model competitors will have a chance to practice on Friday night as a part of opening night of the Mike Stevens Memorial Weekend. A half hour practice will take place prior to Friday’s racing card between 6:30pm and 7pm, another half hour practice at Intermission and a final “Happy Hour” practice following the checkered flag in the Street Stock 100. Please note, all Pro Stock teams must be signed in and parked by 6:30pm to participate in the Friday Pro Stock practices.

Friday’s racing card also includes the Atlantic Modified Tour Krown Rust Control 50, the Mister Transmission Mini Stock, Kings County Performance Women on Wheels and Leisure Days RV Bandoleros. The AE McKay Builders Late Model Sportsman will warm up the track Saturday with a 100-lap feature. The Legend and Heart of a Champion Hot Rod Classics presented by NTN will play support to the Late Model divisions on Saturday. A preview of the support classes for the Mike Stevens Memorial will be available Thursday morning.

Fans and teams are reminded to practice social distancing throughout the Mike Stevens Memorial weekend and a complete list of updated COVID-19 restrictions in regards to Petty Raceway can be viewed online at www.PettyRaceway.com. Additional grandstands have been added to the property since the River Glade International. Please note, due to COVID-19 regulations in the Province of New Brunswick, Petty International Raceway is required to collect contact information from every individual that attends this event.

Grandstand admission prices Saturday’s Mike Stevens Memorial 200 at Petty International Raceway are $40 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 $50 and is restricted to those 16 years of age and older. Grandstand admission prices for Friday’s Night One of the Mike Stevens Memorial are $20 for adults and $10 for youth. Pit admission on Friday evening is $30. An Adult Weekend Pass, which includes admission to Friday and Saturday night’s racing action, is $70 for the pits and $50 for the grandstands.

Tim’s Corner Motorsports and their TCMtv crew will be at Petty International Raceway to produce a video on-demand episode of the Mike Stevens Memorial 200 racing card on Saturday. Their coverage will be available on Sunday morning with a Video On Demand pass to the event or a TCM Fast Pass VOD Subscription at www.timscorner.tv. Passes are on sale now with a portion of each sale going back to support Petty International Raceway.

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

source – track communications

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