BLENKHORN TOPS ELITE FIELD,
WINS HIS FIRST IWK 250

(Antigonish, NS- July 16, 2017) – Dylan Blenkhorn (Truro, NS) made a life-long dream a reality by winning the John W. Chisholm Memorial Cup at the IWK 250 at Riverside International Speedway this evening. The stacked field included drivers from six provinces and three states. Cole Butcher (Porter’s Lake, NS) battled Blenkhorn all the way to the checkers but came up just short. Craig Slaunwhite (Terence Bay, NS) plowed through the field during the second half of the event and finished in the final spot on the podium. Shawn Turple (Enfield, NS) and Dylan Gosbee (Cornwall, PE) completed the top five.

Competition got underway with five Atlantic Tiltload Heat Races for the 38 competitors vying to make the 30 car field. Heat races were won by Jason Hathaway (Uxbridge, ON), Shawn Turple (Enfield, NS), Dave O’Blenis (Boundary Creek, NB), Kyle Reid (Fort MacMurray, AB) and George Koszkulics (New Glasgow, NS). Jarrett Butcher (Porter’s Lake, NS) won the Atlantic Tiltload B Feature.

Twenty cars qualified for the prestigious event via heat races. Cars who did not qualify through their heat then competed in a 25 lap last chance race with the top two securing their positions on the starting grid. The remaining eight positions were determined by provisionals as set in the event procedures. Receiving a provisional to make the elite starting field were Kent Vincent (Crapaud, PE), Darren MacKinnon (Charlottetown, PE), Nicholas Naugle (Dartmouth, NS), Stephen Lively (Shubenacadie, NS), Greg Fahey (St. Stephen, NB), Gary Elliott (Dundas, ON), Josh Collins (Placentia, NL) and John Flemming (Halifax, NS).

NASCAR legend Mark Martin (Batesville, AR) had a rough start to the day after hitting the wall hard during afternoon practice doing significant damage to the car. The 17 crew battled and were able to get the Cat Car for Kids into the starting grid but their issues continued into the evening.  Martin pitted on Lap 57 but was unable to return to the race due to extensive mechanical issues.

The Exide Batteries Rookie of the Race went to Robbie MacEwen (Charlottetown, PE). The King Freight Lines Future Winner Award was won by Collins who finished ninth. Blenkhorn pocketed the Linde Most Laps Led Award, pacing the field for 184 of the 250 circuits.

The Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour is in action next weekend for the Irving Oil Blending & Packaging 150 at Petty International Raceway, located just outside on Moncton NB. Visit www.maritimeprostocktour.com for complete event details and coverage.

Visit www.maritimeprostocktour.com for complete event details and coverage.

Race Results

IWK 250 presented by Steve Lewis Auto Body
Riverside Speedway

Failed to Qualify: 8
Margin of Victory: 0.629 seconds
Number of Cautions: 10
Atlantic Tiltload Heat Winners: #3 Jason Hathaway, #0 Shawn Turple, #48 Dave O'Blenis, #42 Kyle Reid, #88 George Koszkulics
Atlantic Tiltload B Feature Winner: #54 Jarrett Butcher
Exide Batteries Rookie Of The Race: #40 Robbie MacEwen
Linde Most Laps Led: #67 Dylan Blenkhorn
King Freight Future Winner: #56 Josh Collins