CANADIAN MOTORSPORTS HISTORY WILL BE MADE AT THE IWK 250

JAMES RIVER, NS (July 8, 2011) – The 2011 edition of the IWK 250 presented by Steve Lewis Auto Body will make Canadian motorsports history on July 23 as the first-ever short track stock car race in Canada to be broadcast live on national radio, to an international audience in Canada and the United States.

Race Time Radio and Riverside International Speedway, along with the Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour, have reached an arrangement that will see live flag-to-flag coverage of the event on Sirius Satellite Radio Channel 158/ The Score.

“This truly puts our event at the top of the Canadian short track racing totem pole,” said Paul McLean, general manager for Riverside Int’l Speedway. “Putting this together will allow us to showcase our event, our facility, our sponsors, our fans, our teams, and especially the IWK Health Care Centre, to a much broader audience than ever before. We’ve always believed we have the best; now the rest of the country will have the chance to share in our excitement.”

Joe Chisholm, host of Race Time Radio, shares McLean’s enthusiasm for the broadcast. "This is a first for all of us,” said Chisholm. “The Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour is the hottest racing series in Canada right now and fans across Canada and the U.S. will be able to hear just how hot it is on July 23. Having covered the series for a few years now, I know they are true short track professionals. I look forward to broadcasting the first ever live short track Canadian race from one of the best speedways in Canada at Riverside International Speedway.”

Wayne Smith - the series point leader, five-time Maritime touring series champion, and winner of the 2009 edition of the IWK 250 - sees the broadcast as “pretty cool” for racers from this part of the world. “For us to be the first in Canada is really something,” said Smith. “I know first-hand that the level of competition in our series is second-to-none. It will be awesome to expose our teams and the event to the audience on Sirius channel 158.”

Ken Cunning, general manager of the Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour is also thrilled with the announcement. “We are excited to have Race Time Radio broadcast the IWK 250 live on Sirius radio,” said Cunning. “We believe that the Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour racing and drivers are as good as any other and race fans all over North America will now have a chance to experience our product. It’s not often the Maritimes has the opportunity to be on the world stage but we have that opportunity on July 23. This bodes well for our series, teams and our great corporate sponsors.”

Rudi Foster, Vice President Sales for Parts for Trucks - the race series sponsor, is equally enthused. “Parts for Trucks is looking forward to being involved with this first live radio broadcast on Sirius Radio,” said Foster. “The IWK 250 is one of the most anticipated events on the Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour schedule. This is a great opportunity for us as the Tour’s title sponsor and also a great chance to showcase what our Tour is really about. We have talented drivers that put on an incredible show; I am glad we will be able to share that with fans across North America.”

Besides top regional racers the IWK 250 will host NASCAR’s Marcos Ambrose, returning to the event for the second year in hopes of taking home the top prize. The live flag-to-flag radio broadcast of the IWK 250 will start at 7 p.m. AT (6 p.m. ET) July 23.

The IWK 250 Super Weekend kicks off Thursday July 21 as part of the inaugural Richard Petty Driving Experience Canadian Tour when fans can drive or ride in a NASCAR race car at Riverside (advance purchase required – www.drivepetty.com). Friday, July 22 will see day two for RPDE and then Maritime Sportsman Series and Maritime League of Legends racing starting at 7 p.m. Saturday July 23 will see the fifth annual IWK 250 with time trials at 3:30 p.m., heat races at 4:30 p.m., and autograph session and concert at 5: 30 p.m. Pre-race ceremonies for the IWK 250 start at 7 p.m. Advance reserved and general admission tickets are now available – check www.riversidespeedway.ca or call 902.863.2410 for details.

Riverside International Speedway is a 1/3-mile high banked asphalt oval located in James River, between New Glasgow and Antigonish, at exit 30 off Trans Canada Highway 104. Opened in 1969, the facility was completely rebuilt in 2006 to become a premiere motorsports site comparable to the best short tracks in North America. For more information please visit www.riversidespeedway.ca or call 902.863.2410.