Setting the “Stages” for Riverside and the Triple 50s

Race Preview: Ceilidh Honda Triple 50s at Riverside

What a great Cummins 150 we had at Scotia Speedworld last weekend!

Now, I’m not just saying that because we are on the Tour’s website, but it truly was a great race. It didn’t matter where you watched, there were typically two or three (at minimum) really good battles around the track and in the second half of the race some drivers started changing lanes and searching for speed. While there were a few cautions near the end, I thoroughly enjoyed the Cummins 150 from start to finish.

Before we talk about the battle for the win, lets start with Craig Ward. It was great to see “THE THRILLMAKER” make the trip to Scotia Speedworld and while the race didn’t go how he wanted results wise, he told me he had a blast. At Petty Raceway, he was able to battle with Harry Ross White and at Scotia Speedworld, he battled with Allison MacKinnon, a battle he had fun with on his first trip to Scotia and looked like a lot of fun from the tower. My point here? Whether it is for second or twenty-second, the great thing about our series is that our drivers leave it all out on the track for our fans. If you missed it, we caught up with Craig Ward prior to the Cummins 150 and you can catch that interview on our Facebook page.

Scotia provided us with a great show. Dylan Blenkhorn scored his third Tour win in the last four races dating back to 2018 and his fourth win in his last five races with the victory but it wasn’t easy. Jarrett Butcher had a career run, ultimately edging out Jonathan Hicken at the end to take home second. Kent Vincent had a ton of speed and came home a strong fourth. Lonnie Sommerville returned to Scotia Speedworld for the first time in five years and had great speed before getting spun around in Turn Four. Cole Butcher had a parts failure but was blazing a trail through the field before that happened. Chris Hughes had some good long run speed and Ryan Messer impressed in his first run in Halifax before his brakes began to fade in the final 50 laps.

We’ll preview the Nova Truck Centres 150 in a couple weeks, but if I were you, I would circle that June 22nd date on the calendar right now. We had two dozen cars take the green flag and sixteen of those finished on the lead lap in the Cummins 150. With a handful of teams really on their game, combined with another handful that were probably a couple small adjustments away from being right there, that race has the building blocks of being one of the best early season shows of the year. I know, every one of our races are usually a great show, but this Scotia event upcoming, based on what we saw last weekend with great racing front to back, has the potential to be one of the best Scotia races we’ve seen in a while.

But, lets step back from the big picture and look at the smaller picture and this weekend’s task at hand - the Ceilidh Honda presents the Triple 50s at Riverside International Speedway. Who doesn’t love some high banked action, right?!

Blenkhorn heads to Riverside as the point leader, but if you look at our point standings you have a healthy mix of veterans and young talent near the front after two races. A snapshot of the top ten will show four part-time teams and two rookies near the top of the board. Chris Hughes, Cory Hall (who will hand the wheel back over to Kyle Reid on Saturday), Ryan Messer and Cole Butcher all entered 2019 as part time teams and at least two of those will be at Riverside on Saturday. This event was not originally on the radar for Hughes, but it is hard to turn away being third in points on the Series. The Reid Racing team will be at their home Tour track with two cars (Chris will be in the No. 31). Messer did not originally have this event on his schedule and we will see “Big Orange” back at Scotia Speedworld on June 22nd.

This race wasn’t on Cole Butcher’s radar either, until Thursday morning. Butcher will be bringing the No. 53 to Riverside on Saturday in search of his first win on the high banks. At this point, Cole is still listed as a “part time car,” but you know, a Riverside win can do a lot to change things!

Outside the top ten in points, we have former Riverside winners Shawn Turple, Greg Proude and Darren MacKinnon along with Dylan Gosbee, who has shown speed on the high banks. All four of those names could easily find themselves in victory lane on Saturday if the right opportunity presents itself. Remember, Shawn is the defending winner of this race, by a fraction of an inch over Cole Butcher and had a nice rebound at Scotia Speedworld with a top five run following a rough ride at the Lucas Oil 150 at Petty Raceway.

Not to mention, you have strong drivers like former Riverside winners including Blenkhorn, Slaunwhite and Vincent inside the top ten in points. Jarrett Butcher and Jonathan Hicken are both coming off podium runs at Scotia Speedworld and will ride a wave of momentum into Riverside. Waylon Farrell showed some speed in his heat race last week and looked decent last year in the Lucas Oil 150 in September. Nicholas Naugle has had speed at our first two races. Marty Prevost typically performs well on the high banks. Robbie MacEwen always excels when we come to Riverside and will also be one to keep an eye on. Ashton Tucker comes back to Riverside after a second place run in the Season Opener and will look to take his first Tour win on Saturday. On the opposite end of that spectrum, John Flemming knows how to win at Riverside and will be a threat before the checkered flag is thrown at the end of the Ceilidh Honda Triple 50s.

Obviously, we’re going to Riverside, so Nova Racing will be tough to beat with Donald Chisholm and George Koszkulics looking for a win. Chisholm gave his new Vandoorn car a run last week at Scotia and was consistent speed wise throughout the race en route to a sixth place finish.

The format of the Triple 50s is going to be something to see unfold. We’ve seen drivers come from the back to the front in less than 100 laps at Oyster Bed Speedway, so while that first potential of a “full field invert” doesn’t totally scare me if my driver is at the back as a fan at Lap 50, especially with a caution at Lap 100. Let’s say there is a top ten invert at Lap 100 and the final 50 laps go green. Those drivers will have to get up on the wheel, which will be great to see if it happens for the fans. I think the latest example we’ve seen of drivers go from the back to the front was Blenkhorn at Petty International Raceway where Dylan went from the front, got put to the back after getting some contact in the early laps and raced back to third at the checkered flag in 150 laps.

The format is intriguing and I think has grabbed a lot of attention since it was announced. How will it all work out? We will find out on Saturday!

I’m excited to get to Riverside, and I hope you are too!

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