(RIVER GLADE, NB - September 13th, 2022) - One of the Maritimes marquee racing events returns for a ninth season this weekend at Petty International Raceway in River Glade, New Brunswick. The Mike Stevens Memorial Weekend is anchored by two days of racing with the staple event, the Mike Stevens Memorial Super Late Model/Pro Stock 200, taking place on Saturday, September 17th. The Mike Stevens Memorial Super Late Model 200 sees a healthy list stacked deep with the region’s top talents. From the up and coming rising stars to the veteran racers that have lit the lamp for decades in Eastern Canada and beyond, it will be difficult to pick favorites from the pre-registration list heading into Saturday’s 200-lap event. Qualifying for the Mike Stevens Memorial Super Late Model 200 begins on Saturday afternoon at 2pm.
Photo by Ryan Chapman
Leading the pack to Petty International Raceway is Craig Slaunwhite (Terence Bay, NS). Slaunwhite has held the hot hand in Maritime racing over the past two seasons. In addition to the 2021 East Coast International Pro Stock Tour championship, the most recent Pro Stock Tour win at Petty International Raceway in the Cummins 150 held in August, he is the reigning Mike Stevens Memorial 200 champion. While Slaunwhite has triumphed four times in Maritime Pro Stock Tour competition this season, he stumbled during the two 250-lap events on the local circuit. He and his No. 99 RJ Motorsports/Presidential Ventilation Chevrolet team hope they can put those woes behind them with another victory on the high banks Saturday.
Speaking of 250 winners, a trio of them are looking to add a Mike Stevens Memorial 200 win to their resume on Saturday. Ashton Tucker (Lyttleton, NB) has a few Petty wins to his credit with the most recent coming in July during the Irving Oil 150 but also has the Summer Clash 250 at Scotia Speedworld and the Pro Stock 250 at Speedway 660 on his win list in 2022. Greg Proude (Springvale, PE) broke through the 250 bubble for his first at the IWK 250 at Riverside Speedway in July. Cole Butcher (Hantsport, NS) made the Maritimes and Canada proud with his win last month at the Oxford 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway. All three have been to victory lane in River Glade before but all are still in search of their first Mike Stevens Memorial 200.
The field continues to grow deeper from there, including former River Glade International and Pro Stock 250 at Speedway 660 champion Cory Hall (Jolicure, NB), ’22 Summer Clash 250 podium finishers Russell Smith Jr (Lakeside, NS) and Jarrett Butcher (Porters Lake, NS), all who have achieved lots of success throughout the current season. Multi-time 250 champion Lonnie Sommerville (Barnesville, NB) and Fredericton 250 champion Ryan Messer (Harvey, NB) join Saturday’s field, along with reigning Oyster Bed Speedway track champion Troy Burke (Winsloe, PE).
Former Maritime Pro Stock Tour feature winners including Dylan Gosbee (Cornwall, PE), Darren MacKinnon (Charlottetown, PE), Robbie MacEwen (Sherwood, PE), Marty Prevost (Fall River, NS) and Kevin Moore (Fredericton, NB) will also be on hand at Petty Raceway. Devin Snell (Saint John, NB), Steve Halpin (Saint John, NB), Paul Gahan (Fredericton, NB), John Rankin (St. Martin’s, NB), Dustin Tucker (Darling’s Island, NB), Chris Hughes (Brackley Beach, PE) and Chris Duncan (Hampton, NB) all have Pro Stock victories on their resume at a local track level and are fully capable of coming home with the big win Saturday.
Some familiar faces from near and far will either return to the Pro Stock ranks or make their Petty Raceway debut in a Super Late Model this weekend. Adam Briggs (Lakeland, FL) competes on the Wheelman Sportsman Series based in Central Florida and will campaign a No. 14 entry in River Glade on his off-weekend. Multi-time Legend car winner Wyatt McCulloch (Stewiacke, NS) will make his second career Pro Stock start after racing at the Summer Clash 250 at Scotia Speedworld a month ago driving with the Farrell’s Racing team. A fan favorite, Ken MacKenzie Jr. (Salisbury, NB) will also step aboard the No. 85 for his debut in a Pro Stock.
Mentioning fan favorites, Gary Elliott (Truro, NS) and Robert Lee (Fredericton, NB) have both seen their share of bad luck and misfortune this season but the two seasoned veterans will look forward Saturday and hope to be around for a good finish when the checkers fly! Former A.E. McKay Builders Late Model Sportsman Champion Jordan Veinotte (Porters Lake, NS) and Mike Rodgers (Moncton, NB), who is coming off a runner-up finish at Riverside International Speedway last weekend, will also be contenders on Saturday night at Petty Raceway!
ENTRY LIST - MIKE STEVENS MEMORIAL SUPER LATE MODEL 200
1 Ryan Messer - Harvey, NB 01 Troy Burke - Winsloe, PE 2 Ashton Tucker - Lyttleton, NB 03 Steve Halpin - Saint John, NB 9 John Rankin - St. Martin’s, NB 10 Devin Snell - Saint John, NB 11P Jordan Veinotte - Porters Lake, NS 11P Marty Prevost - Fall River, NS 14 Adam Briggs - Lakeland, FL 16 Dylan Gosbee - Cornwall, PE 18 Darren MacKinnon - Charlottetown, PE 23 Lonnie Sommerville - Barnesville, NB 29 Greg Proude - Springvale, PE 36 Gary Elliott - Truro, NS 40 Robbie MacEwen - Sherwood, PE 41L Robert Lee - Fredericton, NB 41R Mike Rodgers - Moncton, NB 44 Chris Hughes - Brackley Beach, PE 48 Wyatt McCulloch - Stewiacke, NS 52 Dustin Tucker - Darling’s Island, NB 53 Cole Butcher - Hantsport, NS 54 Jarrett Butcher - Porters Lake, NS 66 Paul Gahan - Fredericton, NB 83 Cory Hall - Jolicure, NB 85 Ken MacKenzie Jr - Salisbury, NB 88S Russell Smith Jr - Lakeside, NS 88M Kevin Moore - Fredericton, NB 97 Chris Duncan - Hampton, NB 99 Craig Slaunwhite - Terence Bay, NS
*entry list subject to change without notice
The field for the Mike Stevens Memorial will be set by two rounds of qualifying. Time Trials will set the field for qualifying races. The top eight will move into a Pole Dash with the top eight starting positions in the Mike Stevens Memorial 200 being set by the finish of the Dash. The balance of the field will compete in heat races to determine who will roll from what spot when the green flies on the marquee race of the night. All heat and dash races will be 15-laps in length. A full competitor package can be found at PettyRaceway.com.
Photo by Ryan Chapman
Also on Saturday’s Mike Stevens Memorial card 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.
A full preview of Friday’s racing action along with Saturday’s undercard to the Super Late Model 200, including a Late Model Sportsman expected entry list, is expected on Wednesday afternoon.
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.