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Rock and roll!!! It's time to get to get back in the saddle for another season of Maritime stock car racing. Once again the powers that be have granted me the space to write this column and keep you up to date with all the happenings on the ovals of action packed excitement.
The season gets underway later this month, April 18th to 20th to be exact, with the 34th annual Radical Speed Show at the Moncton Colliseum. Cars of all kinds, dragsters, antiques, stocks and collector types, will be on hand along with many super displays from the motorsport world. It is well worth the trip and it is sure to get your heart pumping!!!
Riverside Speedway is going to host perhaps the biggest single event of 2008 with the second running of the IWK 250 on July 18th and 19th. The entry list has reached 45 so far with more entries to come. Reagan Smith, who normally pilots the 01 Chevy for Dale Earnhardt Inc in NASCAR's Sprint Cup, has entered for a second time, claiming he still has some "unfinished business". His specially built machine will be on display at the Radical Speed Show.
Speedweekend, a great Labour Day extravaganza, will return at the newly renamed SPEEDWAY 660 (formerly NBIS) for an eigth straight year, providing a first rate camping and racing experience all weekend.
Centre for Speed returns to the Carquest Pro Stock Tour schedule with a 150 lapper on Sunday August 3rd. The Shediac oval is one of the fastest ovals in the Maritimes and the excitement will be at a fever pitch. They will also hold the Atlantic Championships in September and October once again.
Sportsman cars also have several high octane events this year at Riverside, Centre for Speed, Speedway 660 and River Glade. The River Glade one is extra special as it is the 44th annual International and always draws a top field.
The AOW and Legends Tours will also be very visable this year with stops in all three provinces.
The American PASS Tour has been dropped from the Maritime race schedule with the exception of the Atlantic Cat in August at Scotia Speedworld. Several of their drivers are entering the "big" events though at several of the tracks.
Riverside is again on the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series schedule with the second last race on their schedule being held there. This one will go a long way toward determining the NCTS champion, much as it did last year.
The New England Super Modified will be making an appearance at Shediac in September as well. These cars are fast and very popular everywhere they race.
Throw all this into the mix along with regular points racing at all eleven tracks and you have a very exciting summer to look forward to.
I'll be there to bring all the action home to you each week and remember, there is no substitute for the real thing so come on out and be a part of some great family fun. In the meantime, Gentlemen, (and ladies), Start Your Engines !
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