Issue 234

Race Preview - Irving Blending & Packaging 150 at Petty Raceway

What a weekend we had at Riverside International Speedway!

The IWK 250 had everything thrown into one race. The race itself started in the cool and damp of Saturday night, featured two red flags for moisture and resumed about 15 hours after it was halted at 74 laps due to rain. When the field went back to green on Lap 75, the moisture had rolled over to sun and warm temperatures. While teams had that adjustment period (cars were not impounded), I don’t think anyone had a solid idea of what to expect, which made the halfway break at 125 more pivotal than it has ever been in a 250-lap feature on our Tour.

Now, as much as I want to talk about the disqualifications and what happened, that horse has gone out to pasture and beat to death by some of the keyboard heroes on social media. There are some very valid points floating around out there on the subject of the three unapproved carburetors and there are some very wild conspiracy theories too. I will say, from reading statements the three drivers (Cassius Clark, Dave O’Blenis and J.R. Fitzpatrick) made, I have a new respect for them more than I did before. The three guys and their teams are great and all three can wheel a race car as good as anyone. It’s a tough call on both sides after the verdict comes down but here’s hoping all parties involved can move past it.

Kenny Wallace. Where do I start about our guest driver to the IWK 250 and now champion of the event? I get the question all the time about who I think has been the greatest guest driver to visit us and if you ask ten different folks the question you’ll get ten different opinions. They’ve all been great and we all have memories of them but man, Kenny has to be one of my favorites. He’s so genuine, made time for anyone who wanted to chat with him and had a blast. I had the chance to sit down with Kenny after Thursday practice and after the race Sunday where we cut a third place interview, which will be available via Riverside Speedway social media in the near future and his energy was as high Thursday as it was Sunday.

Oh, and he wheeled the heck out of the Nova Racing car he was in.

From Thursday practice where they had some battery issues to Sunday, he progressed quickly from a car finding speed and might be a top ten car to turning some of the fastest laps on track at the end of the IWK 250 on Sunday. He quickly moved through traffic in the last 50-laps and even had to move Nicholas Naugle on his way to the front to eventually win the race.

Congratulations to Kenny Wallace on his IWK 250 win! Here’s hoping we see him back in 2019 to defend his crown!

We’ll transition into talking about the Irving Blending & Packaging 150 by talking about three young drivers who had great runs at Riverside on Sunday.

When the dust settled Tuesday night, Braden Langille and Naugle were credited with top five finishes. It shouldn’t come as a surprise to fans of either camp, especially Naugle’s. The No. 08 Brycon Construction team has been progressively getting better as these races have clicked off. As impressive as his top five run was at Oyster Bed is his run in this crown jewel event. Is he there yet though? Could Saturday night be the night Naugle breaks through to victory lane? Naugle likes Petty International Raceway and has run well there in the past. If everything falls into line, I think you’ll see the 08 car near the front when that pay window begins to open.

Langille’s No. 51 Velocity Machining and Welding team had been focusing most of the season on getting their car to where it needed to be and it showed Saturday that they have that checked off the list. Langille has had success at Petty Raceway in both a Bandolero and Legend car and while he has limited Late Model experience at the track, he should be able to get a hang of it quickly.

Give a call out to Sarah McKay and her team on a top ten run in the IWK 250. That is huge for that team, especially after the season they have had on the Series. Sarah ran a new to her car that had been run by Dustin Tucker at Speedway 660 in the past and it took her little time to get used to it. With the speed they showed on Sunday, the A.E. McKay Builders team has to be looking forward to getting to their home track.

Up front, Cole Butcher and Craig Slaunwhite had podium runs at the IWK 250 and have to be considered favorites heading into the Irving Blending & Packaging 150. Both had different IWK 250 races where Butcher was a familiar face up front battling with the top three while Slaunwhite nearly fell a lap down in the second half before rallying back through the field. Either way, both have showed speed all season, are multi-time race winners at Petty International Raceway and should be in the equation at the end of Saturday night.

Kent Vincent, Dylan Gosbee and Darren MacKinnon finished just shy of the top five in the IWK 250 but could easily be on the other side of that mark this Saturday at Petty Raceway. Ever since they wrecked at the season opener at Petty, Vincent and their team has been making strides to get back to where they should be. I spoke with Donnie Garnier a couple times last weekend and he felt they are close to being where they need to be, and it showed on Sunday. Don’t count out the TireTire.ca Dodge this weekend, this could be the turning point they need heading back to PEI in two weeks.

Dylan Gosbee unloaded at Riverside with a wicked fast race car, as they have on most occasions this year, and rewarded their fans with a seventh place finish. They return to a Petty International Raceway where they had a truckload of speed in May and finished fourth. I wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest if Gosbee drove the No. 91 Greenfield Enterprises ride onto the podium after 150-laps on Saturday night, he’s more than due to hold a checkered flag.

Darren MacKinnon has been consistent all season and while it has yet to result in a podium finish, that could come this weekend. Like Gosbee, MacKinnon has had speed all season but is looking for that one run that gives them a shot in the arm. MacKinnon is one point behind Gosbee in the standings for fifth at the halfway point in the year and with strong tracks ahead like Petty Raceway and Oyster Bed Speedway, these next two races could spur one of those big MacKinnon victory lane parties if all the chips fall right!

On the other side, you had Shawn Turple and Jonathan Hicken that did not get finished what they desired I’m sure in the IWK 250 but should bounce back nicely at Petty International Raceway. Hicken absolutely loves this place, was fast here in May before one of the 14 cautions derailed his plans to race for a win and had a great battle with Butcher at Oyster Bed at the end of June. Turple was fifth here in May and won two of the three Petty Raceway shows in 2017 en route to his championship. This is also a key race for momentum for the pair when it comes to the point standings. Yes, we know 40 points can be made up in one race but you cannot bank on that kind of misfortune. Turple enters 71 points off the lead in fourth in the standings with Hicken 114 off the mark in seventh.

Who am I going to pick for the Pick the Winner contest? Greg Proude. Proude had the car to beat in the first half of the IWK 250 before brake problems sidelined him after the break. Proude was third in PEI but had to fight through clutch issues. Motor problems have also been a part of Proude’s season. He enters 15th in the point standings. I think this is the night they put it all together and make all the long nights in the shop worth it with a win at Petty International Raceway!

It will be an action packed and fun night in River Glade! Hopefully you can join us for the Irving Blending & Packaging 150!

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