IWK 250 Saturday, July 21 Riverside Int'l. Speedway James River, Nova Scotia

PASS Event # 8 of 14, for 2007

Start Time (track time): 5:00 p.m./AT

Feature Race Distance: 250 laps

Year-To-Date Results & Point Standings: click here

Area Weather Forecast:
The Weather Network - click here
Environment Canada - click here

Mike Rowe Wins Wild IWK 250
Posted July 22 at 7: 45 p.m.

JAMES RIVER, NS (July 22, 2007) - Mike Rowe from Turner, Maine won the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) North IWK 250 Presented by Steve Lewis Auto Body and DuPont Refinish held Sunday afternoon at Riverside International Speedway.

Rowe beat his son Ben Rowe to the finish line; Regan Smith was third. Both Rowe's hail from Turner, Maine and are PASS North series regulars, while Smith is a native of Cato, NY, currently residing in North Carolina, a competitor in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. Maine's Richie Dearborn was fourth and PEI's Greg Proude rounded out the top five.

The elder Rowe started the race from the 13th spot on the grid of 30 cars, pitting for under hood difficulties on a lap 53 caution. Quick work by his crew kept him on the lead lap and he progressed through the field from the rear, moving into the top five by lap 100. After the mid-race break, Rowe started lap 126 from the third spot. He took the lead for the first time on lap 148, then swapped it with Johnny Clark over the next 30 laps. Then Clark blew a right front tire that eliminated him from the race. It was Enfield's Shawn Turple's turn to challenge Rowe; just as Turple was about to make a move to get beside Rowe for the lead, he also blew a right front tire and hit the wall.

Regan Smith took the point from Rowe on lap 205, then he and Rowe swapped it a through lap 218 when Rowe made the pass that he kept for the win. In all there were 20 lead changes among six different drivers in the race, including Mike Rowe, Johnny Clark, Billy Penfold, Regan Smith, Trevor Sanborn and Ben Rowe.

NASCAR's Ricky Craven saw his hopes for victory go away after an altercation on lap 21 in which he was the victim of circumstances beyond his control.

The IWK 250 saw 15 caution periods and took approximately two hours, 20 minutes to complete. Close to 8,000 enthusiastic fans gathered to watch the event.

Qualifying heat race winners were Ben Rowe, Billy Penfold, Derek Ramstrom and Cassius Clark.

Leonard Boutilier won the Riverside Sportsman Super Series feature, with Harry Ross White and Paul Blenkhorn rounding out the top three.

The IWK 250 was originally scheduled for July 21 but postponed to the 22nd due to rain.

Riverside International Speedway is back in action August 4 for the Parts for Trucks 100, a championship points event for the CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour.


IWK 250 podium finishers, left to right: Regan Smith (3rd), Mike Rowe (winner) and Ben Rowe (3rd). Follow the links below to lots more great pix from the event...

Gallery 1 - Morning Practice Session

Gallery 2 - Autograph Session & Pre-Race Festivities

Gallery 3 - The Race

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS - IWK 250 at Riverside International Speedway
1. Mike Rowe, Turner, ME
2. Ben Rowe, Turner, ME
3. Regan Smith Cato, NY
4. Richie Dearborn Hollis, ME
5. Greg Proude N. Wiltshire, PEI
6. Adam Bates Warner, NH
7. Wayne Smith Timberlea, NS
8. Frank Fraser Shubenacadie, NS
9. Gary Bellefleur Jr. Stetson, ME
10. Stephen Berry Gorham, ME
11. Shawn Turple Enfield, NS
12. Trevor Sanborn Parsonsfield, ME
13. Johnny Clark Hallowell, ME
14. Bobby White Kennetcook, NS
15. Dean MacInnis Shawnee, KS
16. Robbie MacLean Winslie, PEI
17. Travis Benjamin Morrill, ME
18. Chris Duncan Kingston, NB
19. Bill Penfold Yarmouth, ME
20. Cassius Clark Farmington, ME
21. Marty Prevost Fall River, NS
22. John Flemming Halifax, NE
23. Rollie MacDonald Pictou, NS
24. Derek Ramstrom W. Boylston, MA
25. Cy Harvey Elmsdale, NS
26. Ricky Craven Newburgh, Maine
27. Donald Chisholm Antigonish, NS
28. Darren Vanderaa Charlottetown, PEI
29. Curtis Gerry Waterboro, ME
30. Mike MacKenzie Dartmouth, NS

More Race Coverage...

Click here to see race coverage in The Chronicle Herald - you will be redirected to their website.

Click here for race coverage in The Daily News - you will be redirected to The Daily News online...

Click here to see comments from NASCAR's Regan Smith and Ricky Craven about Nova Scotia and Riverside Speedway - you will be redirected to The Daily News online...

IWK 250 Entry List
Posted July 22/07

Click here to see a list of IWK 250 entries (PDF file). Print and take it with you...

IWK 250 Postponed Til Sunday
Posted 5:30 p.m. July 21

JAMES RIVER, NS - Rain has forced the IWK 250 to be postponed until Sunday afternoon at Riverside International Speedway. Qualifying heat races will start at Noon with the IWK 250 estimated to start at 2 p.m.

Thirty pro stock teams, along with the sportsman and Atlantic Open Wheel teams, sat in the pit area watching rain fall most of the day Saturday. They got on the track for just one practice session per division.

Both Ricky Craven (Newburgh, Maine) and Regan Smith (Cato, New York) have changed their return travel plans to allow the NASCAR racers to stay for Sunday's show. The remainder of the 28 pro stock teams that entered Saturday are also expected to be back Sunday.

The event format will be changed slightly to allow the pro stock feature, the IWK 250, to be run before the Sportsman and AOW feature races, allowing the NASCAR drivers and the U.S. teams to start their long journey's home a little earlier Sunday afternoon.

The pit gate will open at 8 a.m. with the grandstand gates and box office opening at 10 a.m. A complete Sunday schedule will be posted this evening at www.riversidespeedway.ca.

Saturday Updates

4 p.m.
The IWK 250 has been postponed until Sunday afternoon, heats at Noon, the IWK 250 at approx. 2 p.m. More details between 5 and 6 p.m.

2 p.m.
Things dried up and they got a practice in for each division before the rain started again; the event is in a holding pattern with the plan remaining to make every attempt to get the show in tonight. The track plans to provide a 3 p.m. update via a message on their phone lines...

11:45 a.m.
Intermittent showers are in the area, but the track is drying quickly between those showers. According to an 11:30 forecast there are some clear windows this afternoon and evening, so the plan remains to run as close to schedule as possible...

8:30 a.m.
Just talked to them...It's overcast but dry at the track; all systems are go for the show to proceed as scheduled. We'll provide at least one more update later this morning - but if you're leaving your computer, check for updates at the following track phone numbers: 902.867.1635 or 902.863.2410. The plan is to provide updates to those numbers at Noon and 3 p.m. today...

6:30 a.m.
It's too early to call anyone in Antigonish yet...The forecast says the POP is 90%...As the eternal optimist we say there is a 10% chance it won't rain - AND - as any die-hard Riverside fan knows, the track has more than once seemingly been under an invisible umbrella while rain fell just a few miles away in both directions...Time will tell. The Sunday forecast currently calls for clear weather...

Stay tuned for an updated report later this morning after we talk with track management...

On another note, many of you may have been wondering what would happen with some of the U.S. guys if the IWK 250 is postponed until Sunday, the same day as the 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway in Maine. We may have the answer to that question...

According to a report published in Maine, Ben Rowe and Mike Rowe, first and second in PASS North points, both have a back-up plan in place for Oxford. They flew to Nova Scotia with the plane on standby to take them back to Maine after the 250 at Riverside Saturday night. However, if the IWK 250 were to be postponed by rain from Saturday to Sunday, then the Oxford race would see Jeff Taylor fill in for Ben Rowe, and Tracy Gordon for Mike Rowe...

Friday Updates

It rained all morning in the Antigonish area, stopping around noon...

At 1:30 p.m. the track was almost dry and they were close to starting practice...

Twelve U.S. teams were already in the pits...

NASCAR's Regan Smith and Ricky Craven are eager to get on the track...

The Meet & Greet scheduled for Friday evening remains as planned and will happen, in some fashion, regardless of the weather. Plan B, in case of rain tonight, is to use the Mall and/or Boston Pizza - which is located at the Mall...

5 p.m.

22 cars had participated in two 30-minute practice sessions, including 13 teams from the U.S...At least six more Maritime teams are expected to show up Saturday morning...

Heavy rain is now falling over the track and in Antigonish...

If the rain continues for much longer, it will likely be drivers only at the Meet & Greet tonight at the Antigonish Mall - too wet for the cars!

Jeff Gordon's No. 24 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup racecar is on site at the Mall...

Stellar Field Expected for IWK 250

JAMES RIVER, NS - (July 17,2 007) - Riverside International Speedway will host some of the best short track racers in the Maritimes and New England this Saturday in the IWK 250 Presented by Steve Lewis Auto Body and DuPont Refinish. Twenty-eight teams are expected to enter the prestigious event, including champions, winners, veterans, rookies and stars.

Headlining the entry list are NASCAR drivers Ricky Craven and Regan Smith. Craven, a native of Maine, has the distinction of being the man who captured the checkered flag in the race with the closest recorded finish in NASCAR history, winning by just 0.002-second over Kurt Busch in March 2003 in Darlington, South Carolina. Smith, from New York, shares the driving seat this year in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup competition with veteran Mark Martin, with each driver running a limited schedule. Just last week it was announced that rookie Smith will move to full-time Cup competition in 2008; Martin is behind Smith all the way.

"Regan's ready," said Martin last Saturday. "100% ready. Everybody is real proud of him and I have talked to other drivers who all think that he's doing a great job and think he's ready. We're excited about getting him going."

With Craven and Smith in the field, top regional racers will want to pick it up a notch in the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) North sanctioned event.

John Flemming, three-time CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour champion hailing from Halifax, is looking forward to racing the guys from racing's big league.

"It will be great racing against those guys," said Flemming. "I think it's awesome for the track to bring them in, both for the fans and for us racers to be able to test our talent against guys that have made it to NASCAR. I'm looking forward to rubbing fenders with them."

Frank Fraser, a veteran racer from Shubenacadie, has been rubbing fenders with NASCAR racers since the 70s and says he's never done much different when racing them.

"They've always be just another racer to me," said Fraser. "If you let yourself think they're better than you to start with, then your beat."

Besides Flemming and Fraser, other top Maritime Canadian racers expected to enter the IWK 250 include: Donald Chisholm (Antigonish), Chris Duncan (Saint John, NB), Cy Harvey (Elmsdale), Rollie MacDonald (Pictou), Dean MacInnis (Wycocomagh), Mike MacKenzie (Dartmouth), Robbie MacLean (Winslow, PE), Marty Prevost (Fall River), Wayne Smith (Halifax), Shawn Turple (Enfield), and Bobby White (Kennetcook).

Of the Canadian group, MacDonald and Smith are also former CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour champs, and MacDonald is a member of the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame. Chisholm, Flemming, MacDonald, MacKenzie, Prevost, Smith, Turple and White are all race winners with the competitive CARQUEST Tour.

Representing the PASS series are champs Johnny Clark (Hallowell, Maine), Ben Rowe (Turner, Maine), and Mike Rowe (Turner, Maine). Also on the entry list from the U.S. are Maine's Gary Bellefleur, Steve Berry, Travis Benjamin, Cassius Clark, Richie Dearborn, Curtis Gerry, Bill Penfold and Trevor Sanborn. Derek Ramstron from Massachusetts and Adam Bates from New Hampshire are also expected to make the trek to Nova Scotia this weekend.

Besides the challenge of racing against NASCAR stars, regional racers will be fighting for their share of the event purse, which could top $70,000, if all 250 laps are sold prior to the race. The winner of the IWK 250 is guaranteed $7,500 U.S. A $100 bonus per lap led will be awarded the leader of each sponsored lap in the race for a potential $25,000 CDN bonus.

Besides pro stock competition, fans in attendance for the IWK 250 will see racing action from the Riverside Sportsman Super Series and the Atlantic Open Wheel series. Preliminary indications are for more than 25 sportsman cars and over 20 AOW cars.

Racing action starts at 5 p.m. Saturday with qualifying heats setting the starting grids for all three divisional feature races. The IWK 250 is expected to start by 9 p.m. An autograph session is scheduled during the event to allow fans the chance to meet the drivers.

Friday will see an open practice session between Noon and 5 p.m. then pre-race activities move to the Antigonish Mall. An evening Meet and Greet will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. where fans can see the cars and meet the stars that will race in the IWK 250 - and - get the chance to see Jeff Gordon's No. 24 DuPont Refinish NASCAR NEXTEL Cup showcar.

A limited number of reserved seats remain as well as approximately 3,000 general admission seats. Discounts are offered for advance ticket purchases made through the Riverside International Speedway box office. Call 902.863.2410 or click here for an advance order that can be faxed or emailed. Credit card orders are welcome.

Related News

Riverside 250 Renamed IWK 250 (May 30)

Elliott Cancels Riverside Appearance (July 9)

NASCAR'S Regan Smith to Compete in IWK 250 (July 11)

Ricky Craven Joins Regan Smith as Second NASCAR Entry in IWK 250 (July 12)

Regan Smith Gets Full-Time Ride, Replacing Marlin Immediately (July 18)

IWK 250 Schedule of Events
As of July 16/07; Source: Riverside International Speedway

Friday July 20 Schedule

Open Practice Noon -5pm

Track Box Office Open 1-5pm 1 -5pm

Off Site Box Office ( Antigonish Mall) 9-30-5:30

Car Show Set Up 6pm-7pm

Car show and Meet and Greet Boston Pizza 7pm-9pm

Temp Box Office at Meet & Greet 7-9pm

Pits Reopen to Park Haulers (Optional) 9:30pm-10:30pm

Saturday July 21 Schedule

Highland Games Parade (Downtown Antigonish) 9am

Pit Gates open 9am

AOW/ Sportsman Tech 9-am - 11am

Pro Stock Tech - tba

Grandstands Open Advance Ticket Holders Only 11:30

Box Office Opens 12:30 noon

Practice

AOW Practice 12:40 PM

Sportsman 12:50 PM

Pro Stock Practice 1:05 PM

Bring AOW Cars In From Back Pit 1:45 PM

AOW Practice 1:50 PM

Sportsman 2:00 PM

Pro Stock Practice 2:15 PM

Bring AOW Cars In From Back Pit 3:15pm

AOW Practice 3:20 PM

Sportsman 3:30 PM

Pro Stock Practice 3:45 PM

Track Closes 4:00 PM

Drivers Meeting (Tour Trailer) 4:00 PM

Racing times are ONLY an estimate

Pro Stock Heats 5:00pm

AOW 10 Lap Heats 5:30pm

Sportsman Heats 10 laps 5:45pm

AOW Semi 15 Laps #1 6:15pm

AOW Semi 15 Laps #2 6:22pm

Pro Stock Semi or B Feature 6:30pm

AOW Feature 25 Laps 6:45pm

Sportman Driver Introductions 7:00pm

Sportman Feature 75 Laps 7:10pm

IWK 250 Driver Meet & Greet 8:00pm -8:45pm

Iwk 250 Driver Introduction 8:45pm

Green Flag (Est only) 9:00pm

Schedule Subject to Change Without Notice

Click here for a printable PDF version of this schedule.

The Track

Riverside Speedway, a 1/3-mile high banked asphalt oval, is located in James River, between New Glasgow and Antigonish, at exit 30 off Trans Canada Highway 104. Opened in 1969, the facility was totally rebuilt in 2006 to become a premiere motorsports site, comparable to the best short tracks in Canada and the U.S. The 2007 schedule sees three CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour events (June 9, August 4 and August 11), the Atlantic Dodge Dealers 300 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series event (September 15) and the IWK 250. For more information about Riverside Speedway, please visit www.riversidespeedway.ca or call 902.863.2410.

Photo Gallery - stay tuned

IMPORTANT: All information, schedules and/or scheduled events is/are subject to change without notice. Please check with the source to confirm.