Mini Cup Series Season Opens Sunday at Oyster Bed Speedway

The Eastern Super Mini Cup Series (ESMCS) is set to start their 2019 season on Sunday afternoon, June 2nd, at Oyster Bed Speedway in Oyster Bed Bridge, Prince Edward Island. The track will host the five-race series with races taking place from June to September. The first round of the season is presented by Doc Dawson Enterprises of Tyne Valley, PE. The Doc Dawson Enterprises 20 is a part of a full card of racing at the Island oval and features a total of six unique stock car racing divisions. The action kicks off on Sunday afternoon at 2 pm.

A seven car field is expected to roll into the gates of Oyster Bed Speedway to begin their chase to a championship in 2019. Leading the charge will be Mark Ferguson (Saint John, NB). Ferguson, who was contemplating retirement after last October’s Concept Drilling 15 at Speedway Miramichi, has decided over the winter months to defend his title and look for a third ESMCS crown. Ferguson, who won the Doc Dawson Enterprises 20 last year at Oyster Bed Speedway by inches over Matt Watson (Summerside, PE), is looking forward to racing with the Series again in 2019.

“I can definitely feel the target on my back,” said Ferguson when the conversation turned to defending his title in 2019. “It is going to be a tough season with a lot of fast race cars all going with the goal of winning the championship. We’re still putting the finishing touches on our car after the big wreck in Miramichi last October. The hope for Sunday would be for no surprises and try to stay out of trouble. I can’t wait to see the guys and girls of the Series and put on a show for our fans after a long winter!”

Logan Dawson (Tyne Valley, PE) ended the season on a strong note. The youngster hopped into the No. 88 car as a rookie in 2018 but quickly caught on to the style of racing the ESMCS produces. He scored his first feature victory at the Shediac CENTRE For Speed in October during the Atlantic Championships and followed it up with a podium finish the next week in Miramichi. His Father Danny Dawson (Tyne Valley, PE) will look to take lessons learned from his limited seat time last year to propel himself to the checkered flag Sunday during the Doc Dawson Enterprises 20.

It didn’t take “Old Man” Donnie McNeil long to find victory lane once he got comfortable in his ESMCS ride. The stock car racing veteran drove to two victories on the Series in 2018, scoring back to back wins in Rounds Two and Three last season. Those two wins were the only two podium finishes for McNeil at Oyster Bed Speedway in 2018, so consistency will be key if McNeil wants to add a Series title to his long list of accomplishments on his resume.

Kirk Sheasgreen (Miramichi, NB) has been involved with the ESMCS since the inception of the Series but finds himself fighting a spell of hard luck. Mechanical issues outweighed podium finishes for the No. 40 in 2018, but with a new season upon us, he hopes to put the past behind him with a good run Sunday during the Doc Dawson Enterprises 20.

Randy Wilson returns for his second season behind the wheel of the No. 4 car. Wilson showed improvement from the green flag in 2018 to the checkered flag and will be one to watch as he begins his search for his first feature victory of his ESMCS career.

Tanton Wooldridge (Summerside, PE) is making the move to the ESMCS from the Bandolero ranks in 2019. Wooldridge has been one of the pioneers on the Island when it comes to the Bandolero division and has his eyes set on dabbling with his next racing adventure. The youngster will be one to watch as he makes his Series debut in 2019.

With a busy winter, three-time 2018 feature winner Jacob Dunlop (Hampton, PE) and Brodie Lewis (Charlottetown, PE) will not have their race cars ready in time for the Doc Dawson Enterprises 20 on Sunday. Watch for this quick pair of drivers to be in the field throughout the ESMCS season in 2019.

Adult grandstand admission price for Sunday afternoon’s Doc Dawson Enterprises 20 is $17 (aged 16 and up), youth admission (aged eight to 15) is $5 and children under eight are admitted free of charge. Pit admission is $22 and is restricted to those 16 years of age and older. Tickets are available at the gate on race day. Pit gates for competitors and grandstand gates for fans will open at 10:30am with racing getting underway at 2pm. The event also includes racing in five Oyster Bed Speedway house divisions, Pro Stocks, Street Stock, Mini Outlaw, Four Fun and Legends.

The Eastern Super Mini Cup Series returns to action at Oyster Bed Speedway on Saturday, June 15th for Race Two. It is the first night race for the Series for the year and is Round Two of Five on the Mini Cup schedule. Post time is 6pm on June 15th. The Series is still exploring race dates off the Island for 2019 and will have news on additional events when it becomes available.

About Doc Dawson Enterprises:
Doc Dawson’s Enterprises is based in Tyne Valley, Prince Edward Island and specializes in heat pump and ventilation systems with brands like LG, Keeprite and Daikin, among others. They service what they sell. Check out their Facebook page by searching Doc Dawson’s Ent., visit their website at DocDawsonHeat.com or call Doc today at (902) 954-1976.

About Oyster Bed Speedway:
Oyster Bed Speedway is Prince Edward Island’s premier auto racing facility and features fun and excitement with weekly stock car racing special events throughout the season. The 1/3 mile paved oval is located in Oyster Bed Bridge at the intersection of routes 6 and 7, halfway between Cavendish and Charlottetown on beautiful Prince Edward Island. Phone: (902) 892-6684. Website: www.oysterbedspeedwaypei.com

About the Eastern Super Mini Cup Series:
The Eastern Super Mini Cup Series offers all the excitement of stock car racing in a small package! Formed for competition in the Maritimes in 2012, the Series is anchored at Oyster Bed Speedway in the 2019 season. To keep up with the Eastern Super Mini Cup Series, like them on Facebook at Facebook.com/EasternMiniCupCar or follow them on Twitter at @ESMCSeries.

source – series communication