Craig Slaunwhite is a two-time back-to-back champion of the IWK 250 presented by Steve Lewis. He picked up the checkers in his first Maritime Pro Stock Tour start of the season. Slaunwhite led the field for the majority of the race and was first under the checkers in one of the crown jewel events of the season – the IWK 250. Slaunwhite pocketed over $29,000 for the win and will see his name etched (for a second time) on the revered John W. Chisholm Memorial Cup. Jarrett Butcher was closing on Slaunwhite in the final laps when a late caution set up a five-lap dash to the checkers. Slaunwhite was able to maintain the lead on the restart and Butcher had to settle for second. Ashton Tucker stayed out of trouble and found himself in the final spot on the podium in victory lane. Austin MacDonald had a great showing coming home fourth. Greg Proude rounded out the top five finishers on the 30-car field.
Slaunwhite won the Hanley Hot Laps with a blistering lap of 14.160 seconds and became the first driver whose name will go on the new-for-’24 Hanley Cup, named for North American short track racing legend Jr. Hanley – a native of Nova Scotia who calls Riverside his home track. Hanley was on hand to see the impressive Hanley Cup unveiled by the Honourable Time Houston, Premier of Nova Scotia, and track owner Donald Chisholm. Hanley presented Slaunwhite with the Hanley Cup take-home piece, a crystal plate engraved with the Hanley Cup logo.
Donald Chisholm (Antigonish, NS) and NASCAR competitor Regan Smith (Troutman, NC) both picked up wins in their Atlantic Tiltload Heat Races. Russell Smith Jr. (Lakeside, NS) started P1 for the iconic race after winning the 15-lap Dash for the Pole. Smith Jr. was representing in throwback paint scheme, a tribute to George Koszkulics’ 6 car which George piloted in the 1980s.
Additional contingency winners at the IWK 250 included:
- MR Auto / Shorefront Marine Halfway Award: Jarrett Butcher $500 / Mike Rodgers $500
- Eastlink Fastest Lap Award: Craig Slaunwhite
- R&D Performancentre Most Laps Led Award: Craig Slaunwhite
- Swift Springs Hard Charger Award: Chris Reid
- QA1 Free Pass Award: Donald Chisholm
- Wilwood Racing Future Winner Award: Austin MacDonald
- Aero Wheels Last Car on The Lead Lap Award: Robbie MacEwen
- Fivestar Hard Luck Award: Dylan Blenkhorn
- Lucas Oil Rookie of the Race: Gage Gilby
The Hot Rod Classics Vintage Race Car Series saw Stacey Clements win the Anchor Toyota Classic, postponed from June 30 (rained out); feature race results follow…
- 50 Stacey Clements
- 99 Peter Lawrence
- 23 Chris Dingle
- 10 Ron Hefler
- 47 Brad Melendy
- 55 Donny Young
- U2 Patty Lawrence
- 63 Jim Rankin
- 12c Steven Curtis
- 12 Jeff Ainslie
- 76 Barry Hubley
Since 2007 the IWK 250 and the Cat Car for Kids have raised more than more than $617,000 for the IWK Foundation in support of the IWK Health Care Centre.
Riverside International Speedway is back in action on August 17 for the Summer Sizzler presented by Wilson Equipment.
