(SYDNEY, NS – June 14th, 2023) – Bud’s Speedway is setting the stage for a showdown this Saturday with two of the fastest growing grassroots stock car racing divisions in the Maritimes. The Mallard Electric Hobby Stock and Saf-way Auto Parts V6 Thunder classes will be the spotlight classes for the Four & Six Cylinder Showdown, taking place on Saturday, June 17th at 4pm. The Hobby Stocks and V6 Thunders will be joined by the GWL Trucking & Landscaping Bandoleros, That’s Right Roofing Street Stocks and NAPA Auto Parts Mini Stocks in their second point races of 2023.
Opening Day saw two familiar names holding checkered flag in the classes that are in the spotlight on Saturday. Brennan MacInnis (Glace Bay, NS) and Dave Timmons (Inverness, NS) lead the Saf-way Auto Parts V6 Thunder and Mallard Electric Hobby Stock divisions, respectively, after wins on Sunday, May 14th. MacInnis, who has driven in several different divisions at the Grand Lake Road oval, will have to be on his toes to repeat against the likes of Gary Williams (Sydney, NS), Ryan Dixon (Gardiner Mines, NS) and Brad Mugridge (Sydney, NS), who all find themselves in a top five point position after Race One. The surprise of the first race may have been rookie Austin Petipas, who hauled his blue No. 24 car from Pictou County and wheeled the entry to a runner-up finish in May. Eleven teams competed in the first race of the year with more cars being built as the Spring pushes on.
Like MacInnis, Timmons has seen his share of laps around Bud’s Speedway and beyond in the Maritimes. Timmons topped a field of 13 on Opening Day in a race that saw lots of excitement from the opening lap to the checkered flag. Cory Aker (Sydney Mines, NS) and Chris Christensen joined Timmons on the podium on Opening Day with Jonny Bonnar (Sydney, NS) and Ferg MacKinnon (Sydney, NS) scoring top five finishes in the opening race of 2023.
Both feature contests in the Four & Six Cylinder Showdown are set for 35-laps and will pay $500 to win. Should either division see 15 or more entries on Saturday, that class will pay $1000 to the winner of the feature event.
The NAPA Auto Parts Mini Stocks were dominated by Kody Quinn (Blacketts Lake, NS) on Opening Day. Quinn returned to the class with a new car at October’s Caper Memorial after a short hiatus from the class. Dyllan Farrell (Sydney, NS) was second in May with Ryan Price (Main-a-dieu, NS), who scored two big wins last season at Bud’s Speedway, finishing third in the opener. Eleven Mini Stocks showed up on Opening Day and are in the fight for the season long point title.
A stout field of seven drivers, a mix of returning veterans and current top talents at the Speedway, brought back the “Bulldog” division in May. The That’s Right Roofing Street Stocks see Marshy Hope, Nova Scotia’s Dennis Nickerson lead the way with Street Stock mainstay Colton Beaver (Sydney, NS) and a returning John Biron (Sydney, NS) hot in his tire tracks after one race. Opening day also saw Chris Reid (Fort McMurray, AB) and JJ Cusack (Sydney, NS) join the likes of Chucky Campbell (Sydney, NS) and Sam Burke (Sydney, NS) to fight for Street Stock supremacy in Sydney.
With many tracks having their Bandolero divisions idle in the Maritimes this weekend, the GWL Trucking & Landscaping Bandolero class is expected to see some visitors. Landon Pierce (Bridgewater, NS) has a repeat in his crosshairs as the No. 19 team will look to return to victory lane on Saturday. Brett Biron (Sydney, NS) gave Pierce all he could handle in May and will look to take what he learned and move by the Plum Crazy car on Saturday. Jake Campbell (Sydney, NS) impressed in his first race at the wheel of a Bandolero and will continue to hone his skill on Saturday. Interest from several Scotia Speedworld (NS) and Oyster Bed Speedway (PE) teams has been received for this race.
Drivers are reminded they can save time at the gate on Saturday morning by pre-registering their car for the Four & Six Cylinder Showdown by heading to BudsSpeedway.com. The new website is also the place to find up to date information for competitors, including rules, a complete race day format and a link to the eWaiver, which must be filled out ahead of entering the pits on Saturday.
A food drive will also held in support of the Glace Bay Food Bank Society. A supply list can be found on the Bud’s Speedway Facebook page. Each donation will receive a chance to win a detail package from 125 Details!
Bud’s Speedway would like to thank event sponsors for the 2023 Season Opener, including MacDougall’s Contracting & Plowing, 125 Details, Max 98.3, Kyle’s Paving, Carabins & Transoverland Ltd and Industrial Wyde Custom Courier Service.
Adult grandstand admission price for the 2023 Season Opener on Saturday, May 13th is $20 (aged 19 and up), Youth 8 to 18 years of age are $10 each with children aged seven and under admitted to the grandstands free of charge. Pit admission is $30 and is restricted to those 18 years of age and older. Pit gates open at 12pm, grandstand gates open at 3pm with racing beginning at 4pm. Please note, if inclement weather interferes with the Four & Six Cylinder Showdown, a rain date has been set aside for Sunday, May 14th at 2pm.
For a full 2023 racing schedule, please visit BudsSpeedway.com.
About Bud’s Speedway:
Opened in 1975, Bud’s Speedway has built a racing tradition on Cape Breton Island over the past four decades. The track is home to a number of stock car racing divisions and is a destination for local touring series and motorsports events. For more information on Bud’s Speedway, find them online on various social media platforms at @BudsSpeedway or visit their website at BudsSpeedway.com.
Photo by WingNut Productions
