The 2020 edition of the IWK 250 is set for July 18. For the 14th-straight year, the highly-anticipated event will be presented by Sydney businessman Steve Lewis as an awareness and fundraising endeavor for the IWK Foundation. Since  2007, the IWK 250 presented by Steve Lewis has raised over $481,000.00 for the Foundation.

“We’re happy to get the date out there so fans can circle it on their calendars,” said Paul McLean, General Manager for Riverside International Speedway. “We know folks look forward to this event and even book vacation plans around it so we hope it’s a help for them to know the date this far in advance. And we are most appreciative for Steve’s continued support and the ongoing affiliation with the IWK.”

“This event means a lot to us,” said Steve Lewis. “We have a family connection with first-hand knowledge of the fantastic care the IWK Heath Centre provides patients and their families; being able to pay it forward by helping other patients and families is a true blessing for us. We are so thankful to have the support of the IWK 250 fans year after year and are looking forward to seeing all of them again in 2020.”

The IWK 250 is one of Canada’s biggest stock car races and one of the largest annual summer sporting events in Atlantic Canada. Thousands of fans, old and new, make the pilgrimage to Riverside each summer; with more than 900 RV’s on-site for the weekend the population of James River grows significantly for the event.

As in years past, the IWK 250 Super Race Weekend is a three-day event, kicking off Thursday, July 16 with the IWK 250 Tailgate Party. Friday, July 17 will see racing for the Napa Sportsman Series and at least one other division. The weekend culminates Saturday, July 18 with the IWK 250 presented by Steve Lewis.

Starting today, fans of the IWK 250 can purchase a special discounted Christmas package including two (2) general admission weekend passes as well as a Riverside Classic t-shirt and cap. The packages are available online until December 10.

IWK 250 weekend camping renewals and reservations will be available online in January. More event details will be announced as available.

The first ‘250’ at Riverside was held in 1977; the event was rebranded the IWK 250 in 2007. The list of champions for the event is a who’s-who list of Canadian stock car legends and superstars – including Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame inductees Earl Ross, Junior Hanley, Don Biederman, Greg Sewart, Rollie MacDonald, and Scott Fraser –  with a couple of well-known NASCAR names – Regan Smith and Kenny Wallace – included as well.

Fans can keep up with Riverside news all year long by visiting www.RiversideSpeedway.ca, subscribing to the email newsletter, and by following social media accounts on Facebook (riversidespeedwayns) and Twitter (Riverside_NS). 

Riverside Speedway opened in 1969 under the helm of Antigonish businessman John Chisholm. It was sold in 1989 and bought back by Mr. Chisholm late in 2005, rebuilt in 2006 and rebranded Riverside International Speedway. For 50 years, the popular 1/3-mile high-banked asphalt oval has provided generations of race fans with some of the best stock car racing entertainment in North America. 50th-anniversary celebrations this year have included special additions to each event, enhanced track decor, throwback Thursday trivia, limited edition 50th-anniversary merchandise, and more celebrating Riverside’s fantastic five decades.

About Riverside International Speedway:

For 50 years, Riverside International Speedway has been recognized 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 home of the IWK 250 – widely known as the best stock-car race in Canada, and of the Bumper to Bumper 300 – eastern Canada’s only NASCAR event. 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.