Issue 237

Race Preview: Cummins 200 at Petty International Raceway

This weekend we head to one of Canada’s most prestigious race events in the 54th Annual Jones Auto Body River Glade International at Petty International Raceway to contest the Cummins 200.

This race can be likened to what the Shriners Classic is to the Sportsman class at Scotia Speedworld. It is an extended distance race, it has a bearing on the point race and while there is no “big money” on the line compared to other races like this in the region, it has a huge amount of prestige. With the past champions list boasting a number of stock car racing legends, the River Glade International trophy is that every stock car driver in the Maritimes wants their name on.

The big change will be in the point leader’s car. Cole Butcher, who has amassed a 103-point lead on the field, is racing in the 45th Annual Clark’s Scrap Metals Oxford 250 this weekend and will miss the River Glade International for a second consecutive season. This year, he has tabbed Russell Smith Jr to drive the No. 53 car. Russell finished third in this race last year in the Slaunwhite Motorsports car and has podium finishes racing for DM Motorsports in the No. 66 car. While he has his own car now, he is still one of the best fill in drivers in the region. Not to mention, he’s a former Sportsman champion at Petty International Raceway and a two-time River Glade International champion in that class.

Put Russell Smith Jr in a good race car and he’ll do good things. It is usually hard to bet against the No. 53 and I can’t see that changing this weekend.

Though I believe Dylan Blenkhorn will be well in the mix when the checkered flag falls and the pay window opens on Saturday night. The team appears to have that car back to, or close to back to, where it was at the start of the season when they won the Lucas Oil 150. Blenkhorn has had a busy week so far after tying in the annual Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibition Demolition Derby Wednesday with Derby legend Kevin Grant. Blenkhorn will take part in the River Glade International Jones Auto Body 125 for the A.E. McKay Builders Late Model Sportsman on Friday night in the No. 41 Dulux Paints car before hopping into “Black Betty” on Saturday. He’s one for one so far this week, let’s see if he can keep the streak intact.

It will be hard to bet against Darren MacKinnon with the way he ran here in July. MacKinnon didn’t have the best of qualifying efforts during the Irving Blending & Packaging 150 but stormed to the front early in the race and was in second chasing down Butcher when a tap from behind send him for a twirl in front of the field. He rallied back to sixth but that was far from indicative of how he ran throughout the night. The crew has the car back together after the Toromont Cat 250 and will be one to keep your eye on Saturday night.

In the first two Petty International Raceway races for us this year, you’ve had a number of drivers with really strong runs. I would have to believe Dylan Gosbee, Craig Slaunwhite, Kent Vincent and Braden Langille will be there at the end of 200-laps on Saturday. All three have shown strength at Petty this year. For Gosbee and Slaunwhite, they both have an average finish of three in the first two races. Gosbee was second in July and fourth back in May while Slaunwhite has two third place finishes in as many races this year at the River Glade oval.

Braden Langille had a really strong run here in July before a late race incident that set him back. Kent Vincent had a strong car here in the opener but didn’t even get the race started before he was out of the race due to a wreck. Vincent roared to the front in July but had that late slide with Shawn Turple that left both scrambling late with Vincent recovering to fourth. There’s another name we have yet to mention in two-time and defending International champion in Shawn Turple. Turple has finished fifth in our first two races at Petty this year and is coming off a third place finish in the Toromont Cat 250 with a Crate motor within the No. 0 car.

I’ve mentioned eight drivers so far, so who else would I slide into my top ten for Saturday? That’s a really tough call. We haven’t mentioned Jonathan Hicken or Nicholas Naugle yet, who were fifth and sixth here last year in this race. You know Greg Proude is going to be there if they can hold that No. 29 car together for 200-laps. You can’t count out a veteran like Chris Duncan, Waylon Farrell is improving every race, Robbie MacEwen loves this race track and will be one to watch and Stevie Lively is a fan of this little bullring. Hey, Terry Dougay ran in the top five here late in the Irving Blending & Packaging 150 before coming home eighth and Shawn Pierce was ninth here in the Lucas Oil 150 in May. Of course, “The Thrill Maker” Craig Ward will also be looking to gain valuable seat time in his Pro Stock as well.  

I’ll shine the light on two drivers though that had really good races at the Toromont Cat 250 and could easily turn those top ten runs into top five finishes at Petty under the right circumstances. Qualifying might not mean much in the grand scheme of things besides a few extra points in the standings, but it gave Jarrett Butcher a shot of momentum. While the race went on, Butcher may not have had a winning car at Scotia but he stayed well within the top ten for most of the night. He’s had some great runs at Petty in the past and has an average finish of tenth here in 2018. I think Butcher will bring that number up a bit on Saturday with another top ten finish, question is how strong will the No. 54 be?

Last but not least, don’t be surprised to see Sarah McKay in the top ten when the Cummins 200 ends on Saturday. McKay has top ten finishes in the first two extended Parts for Trucks Tour races this year and was turning top five lap times when she got clean air late in the Toromont Cat 250 but did not have the track position to crack her first Tour top five finish. She was well within the top ten here in July before an accident took her out of contention in the second half of the Irving Blending & Packaging 150.

So, who would I pick to win? Let’s go with the No. 53 again with Russell Smith Jr. Russell is a smart driver, has been close before and is overdue for a win on this series with the runs he has had with us in the past. But, as we’ve spoken about above, there are well over a dozen drivers on paper that could win this thing.

Saturday is going to be a great night and we hope you can join us for some great racing in four great divisions.

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