Issue 230

Race Preview: Ron MacGillivray 150 at Riverside Speedway

Roarin’ to Riverside for the Ron MacGillivray 150

I hope you enjoyed your two weeks off because that is the longest stretch our teams and fans will have off until the end of September!

We now embark on our longest stretch of the season with three races back to back to back. Hats off to Tour management for finding a way to make this a three race stretch this year rather than four in previous years. While some of us fans, myself included, would hit any race we could, it becomes difficult on some race teams in our region to piece together a long stretch over a big geographical location like we have had in recent seasons.

What hasn’t changed in this stretch is that it is a stretch big enough that will take us (darn close) to the halfway point in the season. By the time we leave the Island on June 30th and turn the page on the month, we will have a clearer picture on who has survived the stretch to come out as a championship contender. Yes, we saw last year that almost any mathematical gap heading into the Dartmouth Dodge 200 can be obtainable, but we can find out who will be in our championship conversation come September.  The old adage works here nicely; you cannot win the championship in the month of June but you sure as heck can lose it!

First up in this stretch is the Ron MacGillivray Chevrolet Buick GMC 150 at Riverside International Speedway.
Our pre-race advance for the race soaks the battle between Dylan Blenkhorn and Cole Butcher and rightfully so. The two are at the top of the standings with a point between them. Blenkhorn won two of the three races at Riverside Speedway last year and took the Lucas Oil 150 at Petty International Raceway, a track with high banks similar to Riverside. Butcher won a PASS North race at Petty Raceway two weeks ago. Both are on top of their game and whether you enjoy their dominance or not it is certainly something you have to step back and admire.

Now, I was here two weeks ago preaching how good Cole Butcher was at Scotia Speedworld and on paper he was good enough to go to victory lane there during the Cummins 150. Yup, check mark. Now, when you compare Butcher’s record to Blenkhorn’s record at Riverside, Butcher is slightly better in most categories. The pre-race advance mentioned average finish and that reflects in top tens (Butcher 14 - Blenkhorn 10), top fives (Butcher 8 - Blenkhorn 7) and even podiums (Butcher 6 - Blenkhorn 4).

But, there’s one statistic between the two that Blenkhorn has Butcher on at Riverside - and it’s a trio of wins for the No. 67 Blenkhorn Racing team at Riverside versus a big looming goose egg for the No. 53.

Between the two on paper, it is neck and neck at Riverside. My gut feeling tells me the No. 67 has the slight edge because of that win column but best believe the No. 53 will be there at the end on Saturday night.

Oh, and there are 27 others expected to line up on Saturday in the last big tune up before the IWK 250 presented by Steve Lewis.

While Butcher and Blenkhorn have been the story, I think it will be hard to bet against Donald Chisholm on Saturday night. The Nova Racing team is just so good at Riverside Speedway and in addition to Chisholm winning back in September at his home track, he placed in the top ten at Scotia Speedworld in their first outing of 2018. When the chips fall on the table, make sure some make their way onto the No. 89 spot.

I think this is a big race for Craig Slaunwhite. Slaunwhite has been third in each of the first two races on our Series in 2018 but a good run goes a long way here. Slaunwhite is determined to be the first driver to win all three Maritime 250 events and can do so in July if he wins the IWK 250. Gathering notes this weekend could be big towards that ultimate goal so keep your eye on the No. 99.

I'm intrigued to see how Kent Vincent runs this weekend. We really did not get to see Kent stretch his legs in the new car at our last high banked track but was able to come home in the top ten a few weeks back at Scotia Speedworld. This is a “home race” of sorts for sponsor Direct Tire based just across the Causeway and their online warehouse TireTire.ca is just down the road the other way in Truro.

Darren MacKinnon is coming off a winning weekend after besting Dylan Gosbee and Chris Hughes at Oyster Bed Speedway last Saturday in their local house division. MacKinnon has placed sixth in each of the first two Pro Stock Tour events and will look to scratch his way into a top five run on Saturday.

There are so many good cars that will be at Riverside but I have a feeling this could be the first weekend Jarrett Butcher and/or Nicholas Naugle score their first top five at that track. Obviously, the top five is only big enough for five cars and I’m not sure who you bump to put both there but with the way their high banked program has been over the last year and with the two sophomores gaining experience, I think they both have the potential to turn some heads on Saturday night during the Ron MacGillivray 150.

Shawn Turple has quietly gone about his business and has himself in fifth in points after two races. Riverside is a track where Turple was strong last year and should be on your radar for a top five run when that pay window begins to slide open on Saturday. Of note, Turple has slid into third all time when it comes to top tens on the Series dating back to 2001. Turple has 116 career top tens, now one ahead of John Flemming and still one behind Kent Vincent. The all time mark is 123 set by Shawn Tucker and with the pace they are on, Vincent and Turple both have the potential to crack that top spot by the time this year ends in 10 races.

Jason Hathaway is making his return to Riverside International Speedway for the Ron MacGillivray 150. He’s making the long haul with the E3R team to Riverside from Uxbridge, Ontario and hopes to be on the front straight celebrating at night’s end. If he can, he would be the 35th different winner in Tour history and 17th in Series history at Riverside.

There are so many strong contenders and only so much room in this article to really go over them. Add in the likes of Greg Proude, Dylan Gosbee, Jonathan Hicken, John Flemming, George Koszkulics and Robbie MacEwen to the list we’ve mentioned as drivers that could take home a win if the cards fall right. Steve Halpin has shown speed in the first two weeks and Shawn Pierce continues to chug along with some great finishes. The Exide Batteries Rookie of the Year battle is slated to roll into Week Three with Cory Hall on the registration list. He has a two point advantage on Waylon Farrell and Braden Langille in the standings for top freshman after two races and comes off a Legend car win last weekend in Halifax.

This race is going to be nothing short of wild. Make plans now to be at Riverside International Speedway if you haven’t already!

Until Saturday, keep the hammer down and we’ll see you at the track!