FREDERICTON, NB – The racing season at Speedway 660 will get the green flag this Saturday, July 11th with the Riverview Ford Lincoln Season Opener. The first race of the 2020 season will be headlined by a 100-lap feature for the RE/MAX East Coast Elite Pro Stocks. The Sportsman, DMR Auto Street Stock and Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooters will play support to the Super Late Models. Racing action gets underway at 6:30pm on Saturday evening.
While this may be the first race for most Speedway 660 regulars this season, several drivers have made laps throughout the province since COVID-19 restrictions have loosened in recent weeks. Most recently, it was Jonathan Hicken (Brudenell, PE) taking home the win in the Brycon Construction Bubble Buster 150 at Petty International Raceway. Hicken raced to the win in a dash to the checkered over reigning Pro Stock 250 winner Ashton Tucker (Lyttleton, NB) and two-time Maritime Touring champion Cole Butcher (Hantsport, NS). The trio that led the field last weekend in River Glade have all made early indications that they will make the haul up the Trans-Canada Highway towards Speedway 660 on Saturday.
Speaking of the Pro Stock 250, four of the top five finishers from last September’s race will be in the field. In addition to Tucker, 2019 point champion Brent Roy (Hanwell, NB), 2018 Pro Stock 250 champion Ryan Messer (Harvey, NB) and multi-time track titlist Greg Fahey (St. Stephen, NB) will be in the hunt Saturday for the first checkered flag in the Geary woods for 2020.
Cory Hall (Jolicure, NB) and Nicholas Naugle (Dartmouth, NS) both have plenty of Legend and Bandolero wins and championships to their credit and have turned heads in their Pro Stock rides. Naugle started off the 2020 season with a win at New Smyrna Speedway (FL) during the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing. With youth comes experience and Gary Elliott (Truro, NS) has plenty of that. “Canada’s Ironman” has moved back home from Ontario over the winter and his 52nd consecutive season of racing will include a stop Saturday at Speedway 660.
The field continues to get deeper from there for the Pro Stock 100 on the Riverview Ford Lincoln Season Opener. Chris Duncan (Rothesay, NB), Steve Halpin (Saint John, NB), Kevin Moore (Fredericton, NB), Ian Rasmussen (New Denmark, NB), Ben Pelletier (Saint John, NB), John Rankin (St. Martin’s, NB), Devin Snell (Saint John, NB) and Jeff Doherty will look to successfully defend their home turf when the green flag goes in the air for the 100-lap feature.
With the Riverview Ford Lincoln Season Opener being the first race of the season for the Sportsman, DMR Auto Street Stock and Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooter divisions, several drivers will look to make a strong statement to kick off 2020. With no point championships on the line for the four house divisions at Speedway 660 this season, drivers will have one goal on their minds and that is to race their way into Riverview Ford Lincoln Victory Lane. While no pre-registration list is available as of press time for the three support classes on Saturday, fans can expect to see many familiar faces as they get their first crack at the Speedway 660 oval under racing conditions in 2020.
For the fourth straight season, children aged 15 and under will be admitted to the grandstands for free to every stock car event at Speedway 660. The admission structure makes it easier for families to attend race events at the track and received positive feedback from fans when implemented mid-season in 2017.
Adult grandstand admission price for Saturday’s Riverview Ford Lincoln Season Opener is $20 (aged 16 and up). Pit admission is $25 and is restricted to those 16 years of age and older. Tickets are available at the gate on race day. Pit gates for competitors will open at 9:30am, grandstand gates open for spectators at 5pm with racing getting underway at 6:30pm. Should inclement weather interfere with the Riverview Ford Lincoln Season Opener, a rain date of Sunday, July 12th at 2pm has been set aside. A complete race day format will be available via Speedway660.com later in the week.
For more information about the Saturday’s racing card, or any event at Speedway 660, visit Speedway660.com, like @Speedway660 on Facebook or call the Speedway 660 Raceline at (506) 454-7223.
About Speedway 660:
Speedway 660 is one of Canada’s premier stock car racing facilities. Located in New Brunswick’s Fredericton region, it attracts race teams and fans from the Maritimes, New England and Quebec. The Speedway 660 racing season runs from mid May until Labour Day Weekend. SpeedWeekend, one of the most prestigious short track events in eastern North America, wraps up Speedway 660’s racing season.
Speedway 660 Press Release
Photo courtesy of Ken MacIsaac Racing Photos
