Event to honour memories of Maritime racing pioneers Ernie McLean and Pat Rodgers
(RIVER GLADE, NB – June 15th, 2022) – One of Canada’s oldest and most prestigious stock car racing event takes place this weekend as the 58th River Glade International hits the track at Petty International Raceway. The two day event taking place on Friday, June 17th and Saturday, June 18th, is the first major multi-day show of the season at the high banked bullring and is dedicated to the memories of Ernie McLean and Pat Rodgers. The weekend presented by Jones Auto Body will see seven unique classes compete. Racing action on Friday begins at 7pm with the green flag on Saturday at 4pm.
For Late Model fans, whether they enjoy the thrill of the Late Model Sportsman division or the hype of the Pro Stock/Super Late Models, Saturday is a day made for them! The June 18th card features a twin bill of high octane excitement with the Super Late Model 150 in Memory of Ernie McLean and Pat Rodgers and the Fog City Auto Spa Late Model Sportsman 100. The A.E. McKay Builders Late Model Sportsman portion of the show is the first of four events that will pay $4,000 to win.
The Super Late Model entry list features 18 cars, with more expected to be added, and includes all the big names in the division from the Province of New Brunswick along with several stars from Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. The last major race at the track was the Cummins 150 for the East Coast International Pro Stock Tour and four of the top nine drivers from that June 4th event will look to better their finishes. Robbie MacEwen (Sherwood, PE – fourth), Darren MacKinnon (Charlottetown, PE – fifth), Mike Rodgers (Moncton, NB – sixth) and Gary Elliott (Truro, NS – ninth) will all look to crack the podium for the first time this season at Petty Raceway. Former Petty Raceway winner Ashton Tucker (Miramichi, NB) led laps in the early June race before a parts failure sidelined him with 30 to go in that race.
New Brunswick heavyweights including Dave O’Blenis (Boundary Creek, NB), Lonnie Sommerville (Barnesville, NB), Dustin Tucker (Darling’s Island, NB), Chris Duncan (Hampton, NB), Devin Snell (Saint John, NB) and defending race winner Cory Hall (Jolicure, NB) anchor a stout field looking to add their name to the River Glade International trophy as the winner of the 58th running of the event.
One driver will look to do double duty on Saturday as Michael Cormier (Grand Barachois, NB) has entered both the Super Late Model and Late Model Sportsman portions of the show. Cormier, the reigning Maritime Street Stock Series Champion, will pilot the Oval Outlaw Racing No. 44 in the Super Late Model 150 in memory of Ernie McLean and Pat Rodgers. He will be aboard the LeBlanc No. 00 in the Fog City Auto Spa Sportsman 100. He will also wheel his familiar No. 68 Street Stock on Friday, creating a triple header in a two day span on River Glade International weekend.
Over 20 drivers are expected to compete in the first $4,000-to-win Late Model Sportsman feature of the season at Petty International Raceway. With the prestige of the River Glade International along with the big payday, it has drawn several big names to the high banked oval for the first time in 2022. Among those registered to compete include Hall of Famer Frank Fraser (Shubenacadie, NS), Laurie Cormier (Riverview, NB), Jordan Veinotte (Porters Lake, NS), Alexandra and Courtney O’Blenis (Boundary Creek, NB), Kenny MacKenzie Jr (Salisbury, NB), Justin Beers (Moncton, NB), Chris Reid (Sydney, NS), Curtis Collins (Barnesville, NB), Brady Creamer (Miramichi, NB), Lynden MacDougall (Sydney, NS), Deven Smith (Lakeside, NS), Tony Leonard (Goodwood, NS) and Ronnie MacKay (Sydney, NS), among others. Simply put, while quantity appears to be massive when it comes to A.E. McKay Builders Sportsman cars, quality also runs deep with this group.
EXPECTED ENTRY LIST – SUPER LATE MODEL 150 IN MEMORY OF ERNIE MCLEAN AND PAT RODGERS
1 Ryan Messer – Harvey, NB 2 Ashton Tucker – Miramichi, NB 9 John Rankin – St. Martin’s, NB 10 Devin Snell – Saint John, NB 11 Marty Prevost – Fall River, NS 14 Andrew Rodgers – Smithtown, NB 18 Darren MacKinnon – Charlottetown, PE 23 Lonnie Sommerville – Barnesville, NB 36 Gary Elliott – Truro, NS 40 Robbie MacEwen – Sherwood, PE 41L Robert Lee – Fredericton, NB 41R Mike Rodgers – Moncton, NB 42 Mike Duskey – Albany, PE 44 Michael Cormier – Grand Barachois, NB 48 Dave O’Blenis – Boundary Creek, NB 52 Dustin Tucker – Darling’s Island, NB 83 Cory Hall – Jolicure, NB 97 Chris Duncan – Hampton, NB
*As of Tuesday, June 14th
EXPECTED ENTRY LIST – FOG CITY AUTO SPA LATE MODEL SPORTSMAN 100
0 Frank Fraser – Shubenacadie, NS 00 Michael Cormier – Grand Barachois, NB 3 Justin Beers – Moncton, NB 8 Chris Reid – Sydney, NS 10 Brady Creamer – Miramichi, NB 11 Jordan Veinotte – Porters Lake, NS 27 Curtis Collins – Barnesville, NB 31 Lynden MacDougall – Sydney, NS 37 Brandon Albert – Summerside, PE 42 Ronnie MacKay – Sydney, NS 43 Hudson Weston – Saint John, NB 46 Koven Lewis – Salisbury, NB 48C Courtney O’Blenis – Boundary Creek, NB 51 Tony Leonard – Goodwood, NS 53 Laurie Cormier – Riverview, NB 65 Brandon Carter – Moncton, NB 74 Alexandra O’Blenis – Boundary Creek, NB 85 Kenny MacKenzie Jr – Salisbury, NB 87 Nick Cudmore – Petitcodiac, NB 87 Kevin Morse – Antigonish, NS 94 Ryan Raynes – Saint John, NB 94 Deven Smith – Lakeside, NS
The Saturday portion of the show also includes racing action in the Leisure Days RV Bandoleros and Beginner Bandoleros along with the Heart of a Champion Hot Rod Classics powered by Conrad Bros.
Grandstand admission prices for Saturday’s event are $30 for adults and $10 for youth aged eight to 18 with children aged seven and under admitted for free. Pit admission is $35 and is restricted to those 16 years of age and older. Pit gates open at 10am, grandstand gates open for spectators at 2pm with qualifying getting underway at 4pm.
The 58th Jones Auto Body River Glade International kicks off Friday night with a trio of divisions in action. The Stuff Your Stuff Commercial Storage Street Stocks are fresh off the Old Fashion Meat Market 100 and are preparing for another 100-lap feature as a part of International weekend. Cormier held off Logan Power (Riverview, NB) on a late restart two weeks ago for the win in that extended distance affair with Kenny MacKenzie Jr (Salisbury, NB) in third. This trio is expected to be tough to beat on Friday evening – the question is, who will step up to the plate and challenge them for the victory?
The Kings County Performance Women on Wheels and Mister Transmission Mini Stocks will compete in point paying features for the first time since the Season Opener. Since it has been almost a month since these drivers hit the track, you know they will be chomping at the bit to not only get on track but to take home a prestigious River Glade International trophy. Gail Thebeau was the Women on Wheels winner on Opening Day while BJ Gillespie (Harvey, NB) and JR Lawson (Shubenacadie, NS) took opposite ends of twin features on May 21st.
Grandstand admission prices for Friday’s event are $20 for adults and $10 for youth aged eight to 18 with children aged seven and under admitted for free. Pit admission is $25 and is restricted to those 16 years of age and older. Pit gates open at 4pm, grandstand gates open for spectators at 5pm with qualifying getting underway at 7pm.
New in 2022, all those entering the pit gates must complete their insurance waiver online prior to heading to the track. This waiver can be completed by going to PIRL.speedwaiver.com. Camping is available. An adult grandstand weekend pass is available for $45 for those race fans attending both nights of the 58th Jones Auto Body River Glade International on the front side.
Tim’s Corner Motorsports TV will have a video crew at Petty to provide broadcast coverage of Saturday’s portion of the River Glade International weekend. You can watch the race LIVE or On-Demand by heading to www.TimsCorner.tv and getting your Event Pass.
For complete, up-to-date information on Petty International Raceway including the complete 2022 racing schedule, 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.
Photos by Tanya Everett Photography