JAMES RIVER, NS (June 5, 2019) – Riverside International Speedway is ready to roar into action for 2019 this Saturday with the Triple 50s presented by Ceilidh Honda, a championship points event for the Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour. The event will kick off at-track celebrations for Riverside’s 50th anniversary which will include special track decor, giveaways, and an extra-special pre-race ceremony.
The Triple 50s is a throwback format popular during the era when Riverside opened in 1969. The race will see a brief pause at the end of lap 50 and lap 100 when a lucky fan selected from the audience will spin a wheel of chance to determine if the running order is inverted or not. The spin at lap 50 could see a total inversion while the spin at lap 100 will see a maximum 10 cars inverted. Series championship points and race results will be based on the order the cars cross the finish line at lap 150.
As an extra incentive, the leader at laps 50 and 100 will each receive a $500 bonus in addition to their regular winnings for the event which include the purse and contingency awards from Atlantic Tiltload (heat race winners), Kenny U-Pull (hard charger), and Exide (rookie of the year).
“We’re excited to be kicking off our 50-anniversary celebrations at the track with this event,” said Paul McLean, general manager for Riverside International Speedway. “The format adds another level of strategy to the event for the teams which just about always adds up to a better show for the fans.”
The Ceilidh Honda Triple 50s is round three of 12 on the 2019 Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour schedule and the first of three stops for the series this year at Riverside.
Dylan Blenkhorn (Truro) leads the series point standings heading to Riverside. He’s just 11 markers ahead of sophomore PST racer Jarrett Butcher (Porters Lake) with Chris Hughes (Brackley Beach, PE) in third, 13 behind Butcher. Only seven points separate fourth and fifth-place points runners Jonathan Hicken (Brudenell, PE) and Cory Hall (Jolicure, NB). Cole Butcher (Porters Lake), elder brother of Jarrett, and Blenkhorn have won the first two races on the PST season, respectively.
Ceilidh Honda, the authorized Honda dealer for Antigonish and Pictou counties, will be on-site for the event showcasing its automotive, off-road, and power equipment line-up.
Since 2001 and the formation of the PST, the season-opening event at Riverside has seen 12 different winners. From 2001 until 2013 it was a 100-lap event and in 2013 it expanded to a 150-lap event. This will be the 19th edition of the event.
There are six drivers tied at two wins apiece in this event over its 18-year history: defending winner Shawn Turple (Enfield), George Koszkulics (New Glasgow), John Flemming (Halifax), Shawn Tucker (retired, Fredericton NB), Donald Chisholm (Antigonish), and Blenkhorn. Six others have one win each: Wayne Smith (retired, Halifax), Rollie MacDonald (retired, Pictou), Mike MacKenzie (retired, Dartmouth), Greg Proude Charlottetown PE), the late Mike Stevens (Moncton NB), and JR Fitzpatrick (Appin ON).
Ceilidh Honda Triple 50s Expected Entry List*
Based on tire orders as of June 4, showing car number, driver name, and hometown.
1. (#02) Craig Ward, Riverview, NB
2. (#08) Nicholas Naugle, Dartmouth, NS
3. (#0) Shawn Turple, Enfield, NS
4. (#1) Ryan Messer, Harvey, NB
5. (#2) Ashton Tucker, Miramichi, NB
6. (#5) Jonathan Hicken, Brudenell, PE
7. (#8) Kent Vincent, Crapaud, PE
8. (#11) Marty Prevost, Fall River, NS
9. (#14) Terry Dougay, Albany, PE
10. (#18) – Darren MacKinnon, Charlottetown, PE
11. (#21) Shawn Pierce, Bridgewater, NS
12. (#29) Greg Proude, Springvale, PE
13. (#31) Chris Reid, Fort McMurray, AB
14. (#40) Robbie MacEwen, Charlottetown, PE
15. (#42) Kyle Reid, Fort McMurray, AB
16. (#44) Russell Smith, Jr., Lakeside, NS
17. (#48) Waylon Farrell, Conception Bay South, NL
18. (#54) Jarrett Butcher, Porters Lake, NS
19. (#67) Dylan Blenkhorn, Truro, NS
20. (#82) Chris Hughes, Brackley Beach, PE
21. (#89) Donald Chisholm, Antigonish, NS
22. (#91) Dyan Gosbee, Cornwall, PE
23. (#99) Craig Slaunwhite, Terrence Bay, NS
*Entry list is subject to change without prior notice.
Besides pro stock action, fans at Riverside on Saturday will see support class action with a full field expected for the Napa Sportsman Series Henry’s AUTOPRO 75, the first of four championship points events for the series this year.
Napa Sportsman Series heat races will kick the show off Saturday starting at 6 p.m., followed by Atlantic Tiltload pro stock heat races and then feature races for both divisions.
Reserved and general admission tickets are available at RiversideSpeedway.ca until Thursday at 5 p.m.; general admission tickets will be available at the gate on race day. There is plenty of free spectator parking for this event as well as free non-serviced camping for RV’s.
Riverside Speedway opened in 1969 under the helm of Antigonish businessman John Chisholm. It was sold in 1989 and bought back by Mr. Chisholm late in 2005, rebuilt in 2006 and rebranded Riverside International Speedway. For 50 years, the popular 1/3-mile high-banked asphalt oval has provided generations of race fans with some of the best stock car racing entertainment in North America.
