CNAF Kids Race Coming Up Saturday at Petty Raceway

After an action-packed Saturday night to open the 2019 season, Petty International Raceway returns this Saturday with more stock car racing excitement. The Canadian National Autism Foundation (CNAF) Kids Race presented by Acura of Moncton takes to the track on Saturday, June 1st with six unique divisions taking to the high banked bullring. Post time for the event is 4 pm.

The A.E. McKay Builders Late Model Sportsman and Street Stock classes each kicked off 2019 with their first race last Saturday as a part of the Lucas Oil 150 festivities. It was clear that drivers in both divisions were itching to get their first races in as they pushed their cars to the limit from the drop of the green to the checkered flag.

Marcel LeBlanc (Bouctouche, NB) enters Saturday’s CNAF Kids Race presented by Acura of Moncton on the top of the A.E. McKay Builders Late Model Sportsman division for the first time in his career. Neal Crawford (Salisbury, NB) was poised to drive to a breakthrough win in the class after dominating the middle portion of last Saturday’s 60 lap feature before a late caution set up a three lap dash to the checkers. A set-to with former track champion Luc Bourgeois (Memramcook, NB) on the restart put both drivers to the rear and gave the lead to LeBlanc. LeBlanc held on over Kenny MacKenzie Jr. (Salisbury, NB) and reigning Caleb Dunn Memorial winner Justin Beers (Moncton, NB) for the first feature win of his career.

Championship favorites Laurie Cormier (Riverview, NB) and Jordan Veinotte (Porter’s Lake, NS) occupied the bottom two spots in the finishing order from last Saturday with misfortune finding both drivers. They will look to have a quick rebound on Saturday and bring their entries back to victory lane.

Mike Duskey (Albany, PE) and Brad MacLean (Miramichi, NB) stole the show in the Street Stock season opener. The pair left it all on the track with Duskey taking home the win ahead of MacLean on a three lap shootout. The pair, along with the rest of the field, have set the competition bar high, one that they will look to uphold on Saturday during the CNAF Kids Race presented by Acura of Moncton.

On the opposite side of the coin, the last two Street Stock track champions suffered setbacks on Saturday. Michael Cormier (Grand-Barachois, NB) fought overheating issues and retired before the finish to protect their motor from blowing. Logan Power (Riverview, NB), the 2017 champion of the division, was involved in a crash just shy of the finish of the race. The pair of fan favorite drivers will look to park last week with podium finishes this Saturday.

For the Leisure Days RV Bandolero, Mister Transmission Mini Stock and Kings County Performance Women on Wheels divisions, the CNAF Kids Race presented by Acura of Moncton will serve as their first official laps of competition in 2019.

Mike Edwards (Penobsquis, NB) and Chris Garnett (Havelock, NB) got a leg up on their Mister Transmission Mini Stock competition by getting laps last weekend in the Passione Flooring & Interiors East Coast Mini Stock Tour opener. While Garnett had a mechanical failure in the race, Edwards put up a strong fourth place finish in a caution free event. JR Lawson and Chantel Ackles (both of Shubenacadie, NS) also have success under their belt this year with a 1-2 finish at the Speedway Miramichi opener earlier this month. They’ll all be chasing Rob Poirier (Irishtown, NB), who scored his first Petty International Raceway track championship in 2018 and will look to successfully defend his crown in 2019.

With Sam Rogers (Lower Onslow, NS) graduating from the Leisure Days RV Bandolero division, the class will crown a new champion in 2019. Colton Noble (Upper Nine Mile River, NS), Danny Chisholm (Canning, NS) and Owen Mahar (Hubley, NS) tip the scales as the favorites in the division with their experience and victories within the INEX sanctioned division around the Maritimes. Chisholm is the most recent winner in the Bandolero class at Petty International Raceway, dating back to the Mike Stevens Memorial weekend last September. Chase MacKay (Bear Cove, NS) won the Beginner Bandolero feature at the 2018 Mike Stevens Memorial and will be on the hunt for another victory during the CNAF Kids Race presented by Acura of Moncton on Saturday.

The Kings County Performance Women on Wheels division will begin their season Saturday. Paula Evans returns as a two-time and the reigning champion of the class but will have her hands full on track. Ashley Campbell, Lauralee Blackburn, newcomer Gail Thebeau and 2018 Season Opener winner Casie Skidmore are among those that are slated to make appearances in the class.

The Atlantic Modified Tour will contest the second race of their 12 race season Saturday at Petty International Raceway and is the first of five stops in River Glade for 2019. Yves McCray (Neguac, NB) heads into Saturday as the touring series point leader after his win at Speedway Miramichi on May 19th. “The Racing Ranger” Kim Hallihan (Renous, NB) and 2018 Petty International Raceway track champion Braxton Stafford (Blackville, NB) raced their way to the podium on the North Shore in the Tour’s season opener.

Please note Kids Race is not an actual race, it is just a name the CNAF uses to brand their events at race tracks across the country. On track action will be the same as every other Petty International Raceway event.

Grandstand admission prices for Saturday’s events 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 11am, grandstand gates open for spectators at 2pm with racing getting underway at 4pm.

About the Canadian National Autism Foundation:
The Canadian National Autism Foundation (CNAF) promotes the positive enhancement and quality of life for people with autism in Canada. The CNAF was formed in June 2000, by parents of children with autism. The foundation is completely run and administrated by unpaid volunteers. Our foundation is funded by donators, and fundraising events put on by others as well as the foundation. The CNAF has been formed to provide funding for: Educating the general public and professionals; Providing information and resources to families of people with autism; providing funding for Canadian based research and development; Promoting national autism awareness.

About Acura of Moncton:
Acura of Moncton has the pleasure of serving all of New Brunswick & Prince Edward Island, with an exceptional selection of all of today’s finest new Acura models, as well as a meticulously curated selection of Certified Pre-Owned Acura models and premium used cars. We serve Moncton, Dieppe, Riverview, Edmundston, Salisbury, Saint John, Bathurst, Fredericton, and the surrounding towns and rural areas with an unbeatable Acura selection with all of today’s hottest Acura models including the new Acura ILX, the new Acura MDX, the newest Acura RDX, and more. Acura of Moncton is located on 1170 Aviation Avenue in Moncton, can be found online at AcuraOfMoncton.ca and can be contacted toll free at 1-855-431-0234.

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