Photo by WingNut Productions/Ashton Reekie
***UPDATE 09/15 - The Street Stock division has now been added to the October 15th Season Finale. Friday's 100 lap feature will now serve as the penultimate round for the division in 2022***
(RIVER GLADE, NB - September 14th, 2022) - While the Mike Stevens Memorial Super Late Model 200 may be the marquee attraction on the Mike Stevens Memorial Weekend, Petty International Raceway has two full days of racing that lead up to Saturday night’s 200-lap main event. Racing begins at the River Glade, New Brunswick oval on Friday, September 16th at 7pm with a handful of divisions hitting the track before a half dozen divisions crown winners on Day Two of this prestigious weekend on Saturday, September 17th at 2pm. In total, over 600 laps of feature racing will be contested over the two days of stock car racing action.
Prior to the Super Late Models hitting the track on Saturday evening, the A.E. McKay Builders Late Model Sportsman will have the spotlight for a 100-lap, $4,000-to-win feature. As of press time, nearly 20 teams have signalled their intentions to run for the big money and the Mike Stevens Memorial hardware on Saturday afternoon. With pre-registration not required for the event, the list of drivers that could pull their haulers through the pit gates could grow by the time they swing open Saturday.
As is the case with most major events near the end of the season, several drivers from across the region, some with big wins already in 2022, will meet at Petty International Raceway in hopes of putting their name on the Mike Stevens Memorial winner's list. When it comes to big races at Petty International Raceway, they have both belonged to Alexandra O’Blenis (Boundary Creek, NB). O’Blenis picked up $4,000 for her win in the Jones Auto Body River Glade International in June and followed it up with another big paycheck in a 100-lap feature in July. She also has three Sportsman wins at Speedway 660 including the extended distance Firecracker 100.
She is sure to be challenged by Miramichi, New Brunswick’s Brady Creamer. Creamer has hit the road this season with wins at almost every track he has competed in. After starting the season with an Auto World Maritime Allstar Sportsman Series win in June at Lake Doucette Motor Speedway, he picked up a win at Scotia Speedworld, a victory at IWK 250 weekend at Riverside Speedway and the Saturday SpeedWeekend Sportsman race at Speedway 660. Petty International Raceway has been his Achilles heel in 2022 though. Save for a podium finish at the River Glade International, his best finish at the track has been ninth.
One of the hottest hands in Nova Scotia when it comes to Sportsman competition will also head to Petty International Raceway to test his luck. Pete Miller (Kennetcook, NS) enters this weekend with six consecutive finishes of second or better at Scotia Speedworld, including three wins. Of those, two are in extended distance races, the AJK 50 and the Superior Foundations 100. Miller was third in August during the Morse Industrial 100, tied for his worst finish in Sportsman competition since August 12th. The No. 92 DAC Industrial Engines Chevrolet is sure to be one to watch on Saturday afternoon.
Among other 2022 Late Model Sportsman feature winners from across the Maritimes that are slated to compete Saturday at Petty International Raceway include Petty Season Opener winner Matt Rodgers (Smithtown, NB) and Speedway 660 winners Drew Greenlaw (Eastport, ME) and Courtney O’Blenis (Boundary Creek, NB). Former Sportsman feature winners at Petty International Raceway including Justin Beers (Moncton, NB), Kenny MacKenzie Jr. (Salisbury, NB), Marcel LeBlanc (Bouctouche, NB), Laurie Cormier (Riverview, NB) are all looking for the big win on Saturday.
Curtis Collins (Barnesville, NB), Maritime Street Stock Series champion Michael Cormier (Grand-Barachois, NB), Ronnie MacKay (Sydney, NS), Dennis Nickerson (Marshy Hope, NS), Nick Cudmore (Petitcodiac, NB), Koven Lewis (Salisbury, NB), Hudson Weston (Saint John, NB), Brandon Albert (Summerside, PE) and Ryan Raynes (Saint John, NB) only scratch the surface of what is a stellar field of Late Model Sportsman drivers looking for a Mike Stevens Memorial Late Model Sportsman title.
ENTRY LIST - MIKE STEVENS MEMORIAL $4,000-TO-WIN LATE MODEL SPORTSMAN 100
3 Justin Beers - Moncton, NB
10 Brady Creamer - Miramichi, NB
23 Drew Greenlaw - Eastport, ME
27 Curtis Collins - Barnesville, NB
30 Marcel LeBlanc - Bouctouche, NB
37 Brandon Albert - Summerside, PE
42M Ronnie MacKay - Sydney, NS
42R Andrew Rodgers - Smithtown, NB
43 Hudson Weston - Saint John, NB
46 Koven Lewis - Salisbury, NB
48C Courtney O’Blenis - Boundary Creek, NB
53 Laurie Cormier - Riverview, NB 68 Michael Cormier - Grand-Barachois, NB 74 Alexandra O’Blenis - Boundary Creek, NB 78 Dennis Nickerson - Marshy Hope, NS 85 Kenny MacKenzie Jr - Salisbury, NB 87 Nick Cudmore - Petitcodiac, NB 92 Pete Miller - Kennetcook, NS 94 Ryan Raynes - Saint John, NB
*entry list subject to change without notice
Saturday’s racing card will also feature the local Leisure Days RV Bandolero classes. Chase MacKay (Bear Cove, NS) leads the Outlaw class by four points over Ayden Christensen (Windsor Junction, NS) with just two races to go including Saturday’s race. These two rising stars have a big enough lead to settle this championship amongst themselves, an impressive feat in a season long championship. To set the Outlaw field, these drivers will Time Trial on Saturday prior to their feature event.
The Leisure Days RV Beginner Bandoleros will start the show when it comes to feature competition on Saturday. Hudson Ruff has only a two point lead on Mandi Lee with two races to go. Marco Doiron sits third after his most recent feature victory with a 14 point mountain to climb. The Beginners have put on some great races and are sure to leave fans on the edge of their seats on Saturday.
The Heart of a Champion Hot Rod Classics powered by Conrad Bros in the Subaru of Moncton Classic and the Cross Roads Maritime League of Legends Tour will compete on Saturday during the Mike Stevens Memorial Weekend. For both Touring Series, it is their final appearance at the high banked oval for 2022. Tylor Hawes (Porters Lake, NS) and Danny Chisholm (Canning, NS) won the appearances of their respective series’ in June at Petty International Raceway.
FRIDAY NIGHT - STREET STOCK AND MINI STOCK CHAMPIONSHIP RACES
Four divisions will compete in their Mike Stevens Memorial Weekend features on Friday evening, September 16th, beginning at 7pm. While the Atlantic Modified Tour and the Kings County Performance Women on Wheels will crown season long champions in October during the Petty International Raceway Season Finale, the Street Stock and Mister Transmission Mini Stocks will crown champions on Friday evening. Both divisions will run extended distance features to complete their 2022 season.
Four drivers enter Friday night’s Mike Stevens Memorial 100 for the Street Stock class with a realistic shot at the championship. Kenny MacKenzie Jr (Salisbury, NB), who is entered in both the Late Model Sportsman and Super Late Model races on Saturday, occupies the top spot in the standings by two points over reigning Maritime Street Stock Series champion Michael Cormier (Grand-Barachois, NB). Robert Raynes (Saint John, NB - nine points) and Brayden Tingley (Turtle Creek, NB - 13 points) both have outside shots at the championship should things go their way on Friday night.
The Mister Transmission Mini Stock title chase has come down to two drivers with different paths to the Mike Stevens Memorial. Ryan McKnight (Sussex, NB) has a five point lead on Patricia Weagle (Steeves Mountain, NB) with Time Trials and a 40-lap feature between them and the championship. McKnight has competed in the Mini Stock class for the last five seasons while Weagle has recently returned to the class she cut her teeth in after a brief run in the Street Stock division. Twenty-nine drivers have competed in at least one Mister Transmission Mini Stock race this season at Petty International Raceway.
While she cannot officially clinch the Kings County Performance Women on Wheels title with the Season Finale for the class on October 15th, Gail Thebeau can take a big step forward toward the championship. Thebeau leads by ten points over Paula Evans after four races. Thebeau is a former winner in the division on Mike Stevens Memorial Weekend.
The Atlantic Modified Tour will contest a 35-lap feature on Friday evening. The Series has four races to go on their season, including Friday’s event and their season finale back on the high banks on Saturday, October 15th. Chris Wilson (South Esk, NB) and Travis Conroy (Miramichi, NB) have wins this season at Petty International Raceway in the open wheel division.
Saturday’s Mike Stevens Memorial card features the Super Late Model/Pro Stock division in the 200-lap Mike Stevens Memorial 200. Also on tap is a $4,000-to-win A.E. McKay Builders Late Model Sportsman 100, point races for the Leisure Days RV Bandolero divisions in their penultimate race of 2022 along with the Heart of a Champion Hot Rod Classics powered by Conrad Bros and the Cross Roads Maritime League of Legends Tour. Qualifying begins on Saturday, September 17th at 2pm.
Racing action for the weekend kicks off on Friday, September 16th at 7pm with the season finales for the Street Stock and Mister Transmission Mini Stock divisions on tap. The Street Stocks will compete in a 100-lap feature on Friday evening. The Atlantic Modified Tour and Kings County Performance Women on Wheels will also take to the track. A Pro Stock Happy Hour and a Half will conclude the evening’s festivities.
Complete ticketing information along with race day formats and further event information as released can be found online at PettyRaceway.com. 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 on a first come, first serve basis.
Tim’s Corner Motorsports TV will have a video crew at Petty Raceway to provide broadcast coverage of Saturday’s events. 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.