Scotia Speedworld Set to Host 15th Annual Atlantic Cat 250 Weekend

(Halifax, NS, August 6, 2014)The Atlantic Cat 250, Halifax’s most anticipated stock car racing weekend of the season, returns to Scotia Speedworld this Friday and Saturday for two days of full throttle excitement! The year’s event will attract the best stock car drivers from the Maritimes and a trio of American-based competitors. Friday night the Dartmouth Dodge Sportsman will kick things off as they go head-to-head in the Dartmouth Dodge 100. Saturday race fans will see the stars of the Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour battle for 250 grueling laps in the weekend’s main feature, the Atlantic Cat 250, which has a posted purse of over $50,000.00!

Three commemorative cars will be in the field for the 15th Annual Atlantic Cat 250. Ben Rowe (Turner, ME), Cassius Clark (Farmington, ME) and Donald Chisholm (Antigonish, NS) will all field cars that pay tribute to late racers Scott Fraser and Scott Kelly. Rowe will pilot Fraser’s iconic ‘double zero’ while Clark will be behind the wheel of the No. 08 which Fraser regularly raced South of the border. Chisholm, who purchased Kelly’s last racecar, will be in a throw-back of the No. 12.
Following the 15th edition of the Atlantic Cat 250 the No. 00 and the No. 12 will be officially retired from Maritime Pro Stock Tour competition.

Dean Clattenburg (Moorseville, NC) rounds out the trio of American-based drivers. Clattenburg calls Dartmouth, Nova Scotia home but has been based out of North Carolina for many years, building much sought after race cars. Clattenburg will drive the No. 66 of series regular Daryl Mahar.

John Flemming (Halifax, NS) continues to lead the point standings heading into race eight this weekend. Flemming is one of only three Canadians to ever win the Atlantic Cat 250. Former series champions Shawn Tucker (Fredericton, NB) and Shawn Turple (Enfield, NS) remain in second and third respectively. Jonathan Hicken (Brudenell, PE) moves from sixth to fourth following his win last weekend in the Parts for Trucks 100. 2013 Exide Rookie of the Year Dylan Blenkhorn (Truro, NS) rounds out the top five in the chase for the championship.

In addition to winning the 15th edition of the Atlantic Cat 250 and taking home the coveted Scott Fraser Memorial Cup, drivers will also be vying for their piece of the $50,000 purse and lucrative contingency funds, including $6250 in lap money - for each lap a driver leads he will receive $25! Drivers will also want to be ahead of the pack at the halfway marker as there is a $1000 bonus for the driver who leads lap 125.

Competitors will also have the opportunity to put an extra $2000 in their pockets courtesy of the Atlantic Tiltload Pole Challenge. All drivers who make the King Freight Dash for Cash Saturday are eligible to take the Pole Challenge. The driver who takes the challenge moves from the head of the field to the final starting position in the Atlantic Cat 250. Only one driver can accept the challenge – with first option going to the winner of the King Freight Dash for Cash, and if not accepted, moving to second place, and so on. If a driver accepts the challenge they will receive a bonus of $500. An additional $500 will be paid if the driver finishes in the top 10, $1000 will be paid if the driver finishes in the top five, $1500 will be paid to the driver if they can come from the back and win the Atlantic Cat 250!  

The Hydraulics Plus Bandolero cars will get things started Saturday with a 15 lap feature followed by The Maritime League of Legends Scotia Tire 50. 

Gates open at 2:00pm on Saturday with Atlantic Tiltload Time Trials for the Atlantic Cat 250 set for 4:10pm. Racing will commence at 5:00pm.

Friday Night the Dartmouth Dodge Sportsman Take Centre Stage!

The Maritime Sportsman Challenge will come to a close Friday night with the running of the Dartmouth Dodge 100. The Challenge is comprised of three 100-lap Sportsman features at three different tracks in the region - Riverside International Speedway, Petty Raceway and Scotia Speedworld. Russell Smith Jr. (Lakeside, NS) comes into Friday leading the Challenge and is also the defending champion of the Dartmouth Dodge 100. Also expected to be in the field are Scotia Speedworld veterans, including several former Dartmouth Dodge Sportsman Series Champions- Aaron Boutilier (Porter’s Lake, NS), Colby Smith (Cape Sable Island, NS) and reigning series champion Darren Wallage (Oakfield, NS).

Warming up the track for the Dartmouth Dodge 100 Sportsman feature will be the Coors Light Trucks and the four-cylinder Thunder and Lightning cars. Gates open at 5:00pm Friday with racing action set for 7:00pm.

Joe Chisholm and the gang from Race Time Radio will also be at Atlantic Cat 250 Weekend! Race broadcasts will be available for listeners absolutely free, no subscription necessary, via www.racetimeradio.com by clicking the “Listen Live” links in the upper right of the page, or by downloading their smart phone App, for iPad, iPhone, & Android. Over 129,000 fans streamed the 2014 IWK 250 live via www.racetimeradio.com!

Admission for the Dartmouth Dodge Sportsman 100 is $12.00 for adults, $2.00 for youth (8-15 years old); pit admission is $15.00.  Admission for Saturday’s Atlantic Cat 250 is $35.00 for adults; $6.00 for youth; pit admission is $40.00.  Two day passes are also available - adults are $40.00, two day pit passes are $45.00.  Children 7 and under are admitted for free all weekend. Tickets available at the gate on race day. (Cash Only)

Past winners of the Atlantic CAT 250

• 2000: John Flemming, Halifax, Nova Scotia

• 2001: Louie Mechalides, Tyngsboro, Mass.

• 2002: Ben Rowe, Turner, Maine

• 2003: Ben Rowe, Turner, Maine

• 2004: Johnny Clark, Farmingdale, Maine

• 2005: Mike Rowe, Turner, Maine

• 2006: Johnny Clark, Farmingdale, Maine

• 2007: Mike Rowe, Turner, Maine

• 2008: Travis Benjamin, Belfast, Maine

• 2009: Lonnie Sommerville, Saint John, New Brunswick

• 2010: Cassius Clark, Farmington, Maine

• 2011: Ben Rowe, Turner, Maine

• 2012: Cassius Clark, Farmington, Maine

• 2013: Craig Slaunwhite, Terence Bay, NS
  

EXPECTED ENTRY LIST

#00 – Ben Rowe – Turner, ME
#02 – Brad Eddy – Lower Sackville, NS
#08 – Cassius Clark – Farmington, ME
#0 - Shawn Turple - Enfield, NS
#5 – Jonathan Hicken – Brudenell, PE
#8 - Kent Vincent - Westmoreland, PE
#12 – Donald Chisholm – Antigonish, NS
#14 – Terry Dougay – Albany, PE
#18 – Darren MacKinnon – Charlottetown, PE
#21 - Shawn Pierce - Bridgewater, NS
#24 - Steve Ross - Waverly, NS
#29 - Greg Proude - Springvale, PE
#32 – Sarah McKay – Quispamsis, NB
#44 – Wayne Smith – Timberlea, NS
#51 – Vance Hanes – Kennetcook, NS
#52 - Shawn Tucker - Fredericton, NB
#53 – Cole Butcher – Porter’s Lake, NS
#66 – Dean Clattenburg – Moorseville, NC
#67 – Dylan Blenkhorn – Truro, NS
#80 - Roger Miller - Kennetcook, NS
#88 – George Koszkulics– New Glasgow, NS
#97 - John Flemming - Halifax, NS
#99 - Craig Slaunwhite - Terence Bay, NS 

 
*Entry list subject to change without notice

Weekend Format

Friday Night Format

Opening Ceremonies          7:00 p.m.

Heats
Lightning Cars - 10 laps
Thunder Cars – 10 laps
Coors Light Trucks – 10 laps
Dartmouth Dodge Sportsman – 10 laps

Features
Lightning Cars – 25 laps
Thunder Cars – 25 laps
Coors Light Trucks – 25 laps
Dartmouth Dodge Sportsman – 100 laps

*format subject to change without notice

Saturday Night Format