Inaugural Maritime Sportsman Challenge Announced

On the heels of historic meetings that have brought Sportsman rules in Atlantic Canada closer than they’ve ever been between tracks and series, management at Riverside International Speedway, Scotia Speedworld and Petty International Raceway have collectively announced the formation of the Maritime Sportsman Challenge. The Maritime Sportsman Challenge will highlight the three staple Friday night Sportsman shows in Atlantic Canada, one at each track, with the top three drivers from the mini-series to receive cash bonuses.



The first of three races takes place at Riverside International Speedway in James River, Nova Scotia with the NAPA Sportsman Series on Friday, July 19th with the Challenge switching to the 3/10-mile Scotia Speedworld in Enfield, Nova Scotia on Friday, August 9th. Both events are slated to be 100-laps in length while the final race to run on Friday, August 23rd as Twin 75’s at Petty International Raceway. All races will be run by their respective sanctioning bodies and staff with points being kept for the three race series. The top driver in points for the Maritime Sportsman Challenge will take home $1,500 as the champion, with second pocketing a cool $1,000 and third banking $500 at the end of the three races.

The common ground made on the Sportsman rules during this past off-season was a big stepping stone in the Maritime Sportsman Challenge coming to fruition. “The tracks in the region put a lot of time and effort in to working on the rules throughout the winter,” says Paul McLean of Riverside International Speedway. “We are happy to be hosting the first race in the Challenge with the Highland Building Supplies 100 on July 19th which will see these teams compete for some extra cash within the Challenge.”

Ken Cunning of Scotia Speedworld echoes those same thoughts on the rules. “The rules package that has been brought together allows a Sportsman team to race, for example, on Friday night at Scotia Speedworld and with minimal changes can go to Petty International Raceway on Saturday. In the past, teams would have to spend hours in their shops after the Friday race to be competitive on Saturday. This is a great time to be involved with Sportsman racing and with the Maritime Sportsman Challenge point bonus hanging in the balance, it will only add to the anticipation for the Scotia Speedworld 100 on August 9th!”

The longest race of the trio will come on August 23rd with the Jones Auto Body Twin 75’s on the 49th Annual River Glade International weekend at Petty International Raceway. “This is a pretty big deal for our Friday night show,” comments Craig McFetridge of Petty International Raceway. “Not only will the race winner be etched into history as a winner of the iconic River Glade International, we will crown our first Maritime Sportsman Challenge champion on the same night. As with the other two race dates within the Maritime Sportsman Challenge, there is a big Pro Stock show on the next night, which we hope fans will make plans to be at as well. It’s a win/win situation for the teams, the tracks and the fans at these three great weekends of racing.”

For more information on the each single race that comprises the Maritime Sportsman Challenge, please contact the respective track office. More information on the Maritime Sportsman Challenge will be released as it becomes available.

2013 Schedule - Maritime Sportsman Challenge

About Riverside International Speedway:
Riverside International 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. To learn more about Riverside Int'l Speedway, please visit www.riversidespeedway.ca or call 902.863.2410.

About Scotia Speedworld:
Scotia Speedworld (SSW) is a 3/10-mile asphalt oval racing facility. SSW is the only track in Nova Scotia to host a weekly racing series, which runs May through September and features six different classes of racecars. SSW also hosts special events, including Monster Jam and the Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour. SSW is located at Exit 6 on Highway 102, across from the Halifax Stanfield International Airport. For more information please click on www.ScotiaSpeedworld.ca or call our Event Hotline at (902) 873-2277 or our office at (902) 481-2514. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sswracing and follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/sswracing

About Petty International Raceway:
Petty International Raceway is located on Highway 106, just 40 km west of Moncton, New Brunswick. To learn more about Petty International Raceway, its location, admission, policies, history, and more, please visit www.pettyraceway.com. To get current updates delivered to you directly please follow us on Twitter.