One of New England’s most accomplished short track racers has entered the IWK 250 Presented by Steve Lewis, set for July 20 at Riverside International Speedway. Cassius Clark (Farmington, Maine) will drive No. 13 out of the King Competition stable in Salt Springs in a joint effort with local racing legend, Rollie MacDonald, from Pictou.
Clark’s return to Riverside is his first since winning the event in 2019; he’ll join other event champions as part of the annual class photo during the Opening Ceremony. Other notable accomplishments on his racing resume include winning one of the biggest short track races in the United States – the Oxford 250, in 2021 – in a King car. He is the 2013 PASS North SLM champion, a five-time champion of the annual 250 at Scotia Speedworld, a three-time champion of the annual 250 at Speedway 660, and a winner of the Mike Stevens Memorial at Petty International Raceway.
Clark brings the expected entry list for this year’s IWK 250 to 30 cars and including Regan Smith, a NASCAR Cup Series race winner, 2008 IWK 250 champion, and well-known FOX Sports announcer on NASCAR broadcasts. Smith, from North Carolina, will drive the popular Cat Car for Kids sponsored by Toromont Cat and co-sponsored by patients and their families at the IWK Health Care Centre who will have the chance to sign the hood of the car at a visit by Smith next week. Besides Clark and Smith, there are four other IWK 250 champions on the entry list: Donald Chisholm, Dylan Blenkhorn, Greg Proude, and Craig Slaunwhite – as well as many other notable drivers from across Canada looking for their first trip to the IWK 250 Victory Lane.
The entry from Clark brings the total number of cars entered to compete at Riverside over the IWK 250 Super Race Weekend to 109 in four divisions. In addition to the 30 East Coast International Pro Stock Tour racers for the IWK 250, the Hot Rod Classic Vintage Race Car Series shows 10 entries – both series race on Saturday, July 20. On Friday, July 19, the Auto World MASS Sportsman Series entry list is at 36 for the NAPA/Henry’s AUTOPRO 100, and the Cross Roads Legends Tour sits at 33 entries for the Superior Foundations Legends Challenge. All expected entry lists are here.
The IWK 250 Super Weekend kicks off on Wednesday, July 17 when camping opens at 10 a.m. and with a late afternoon/early evening practice for sportsman and legends teams. On Thursday, it’s IWK 250 practice from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. followed by the popular Coldstream Tailgate Party. Friday will see the Superior Foundation Legends Challenge and the NAPA/Henry’s AUTOPRO Sportsman 100. On Saturday, it’s the Anchor Toyota Hot Rod Classic and the IWK 250 presented by Steve Lewis. A complete schedule is available at www.riversidespeedway.ca.
Tickets are still available at www.riversidespeedway.ca; advance ticket purchases are recommended to help avoid the wait at the gate as those ticket holders will have exclusive use of an expedited entry gate.
As part of Riverside’s 55th-anniversary celebrations kids 15 and under will be admitted free to the grandstand on Friday and Saturday for general admission seating. Free tickets are available at the gate on race day; reserved seating for 15 and under is available in advance.
Riverside has long attracted top drivers from throughout North America. It is a scale rendition of the original Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee. Riverside founder, the late John “Nova” Chisholm, visited with NASCAR founder Bill France in the 60s seeking advice about building a track in Maritime Canada. France recommended a smaller Bristol and emphasized it should be easy to access near a highway interchange. With France’s blessing, Chisholm took an engineer to Bristol – they measured the track and returned to Nova Scotia to build Riverside – 1/3-mile (vs 1/2-mile at Bristol), high banks, and located at an interchange for the Trans Canada Highway. It opened on May 18, 1969, as a top track in Canada and still retains that designation.
About Riverside International Speedway
In 2024 Riverside International Speedway is celebrating 55 years as a premiere stock racing facility in Canada. The 1/3-mile high-banked asphalt oval roars to action several times a year for special events. It is the largest outdoor entertainment venue in eastern Canada and the home of the IWK 250 – widely known throughout North America as a “bucket list” event for racers and fans alike. Located in James River, between New Glasgow and Antigonish, the facility is easily accessible at exit 30 on Trans-Canada Highway 104. For more information, please visit www.riversidespeedway.ca or call 902-863-2410 (May to September) or 902-404-7049 (October to April).
