The stage is set for the 10th anniversary edition of the IWK250 presented by Steve Lewis Auto Body at Riverside International Speedway on July 16. Thirty-five teams have entered the prestigious event that offers a guaranteed $10,000 to win with a possible $17,100 winner-take-all. With this many cars, qualifying action for the big race will surely be intense so fans will want to be at the event well before the 4:30 p.m. green flag to start the heat races.

Based on the number of entries received and a 30-car starting field for the IWK 250, the teams will compete in five 15-lap Atlantic Tiltload Heat Races with only the top four from each transferring to the main event. The heat race lineups will be set by random draw – a wild card, to say the least in that there is no way of knowing the competition level of those grouped together for the heat races. Then, those who have yet to qualify, estimated at 15 cars, will run a 25-lap B Feature with only the top two transferring to the feature. The remainder of the field will be set by provisional starting spots as determined by the series and the track.

The entry list is stout, comprised of champions Matt Crafton (Tulare, California) – two-times on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, John Flemming (Halifax) -five-times on the Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour (PST), Donald Chisholm (Antigonish) – PST, Shawn Turple (Enfield) – PST, and Jeff Fultz (Troutman, North Carolina) – multi-time short track champion in the United States. Flemming is a two-time IWK 250 winner, as is reigning race champ Kent Vincent (Crapaud, PE), and Darren MacKinnon has also visited the IWK 250 Victory Lane.

PST race winners with their sights set on seeing their name on the John W. Chisholm Memorial Cup, the IWK 250 perpetual trophy, include Cassius Clark (Farmington, Maine) and Dylan Blenhorn (Truro) – each with two wins on the PST season, along with Cole Butcher (Porter’s Lake), Jonathan Hicken (Brudenell, PE), George Koszkulics (New Glasgow), Greg Proude (Springvale, PE), and Craig Slaunwhite (Terence Bay).

Both Gary Elliott (Dundas, ON) and Shannon Squires (St. John’s, NF) are making a long haul to the fabled event and then there is a long list of others hoping for a breakthrough, career-making, trip to Victory Lane in the IWK 250.

Large fields are also expected July 15 in the Highland Home Building Centres 100 for the NAPA Sportsman Series with 30 teams having indicated they plan to run, and in the Maritime Legends Challenge for the Upper Clements Park Maritime League of Legends with 23 teams on the docket. Both fields feature former champions and race winners from their respective series.

Complete lists of expected entries for all three divisions can be found on respective event pages for July 15 and July 16 (Entries tab). More names could be added through race day, so stay tuned.

Only two days remain to take advantage of the Early Bird Special being offered for IWK 250 weekend pass purchases which include admission for all events at Riverside International Speedway from July 14 to 16 (excluding the Rusty Wallace Racing Experience.) Campsites for the IWK 250 weekend are in very limited supply; anyone planning to bring their RV who hasn’t reserved their site should call 902-863-2410 for current availability and should note there is no overnight parking without a camping permit at Riverside International Speedway from July 13 to July 17 (no drive-ups).

The IWK 250 weekend kicks off Thursday, July 14 with the Rusty Wallace Racing Experience from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., open practice from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and then at approximately 9:30 the inaugural IWK 250 Tailgate Party with a concert by Signal Hill, Canada’s east coast acoustic party band. All ticket holders for race events at Riverside on July 15 or 16 can enjoy the concert free of charge.

On Friday, July 15 it’s the Rusty Wallace Racing Experience from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. The pits open at 2 p.m. for competitors in the NAPA Sportsman Series and Upper Clements Park Maritime League of Legends which, at 7 p.m. will contest the Highland Home Building Centres 100 and the Maritime Legends Challenge.

Saturday, July 16 it’s the event widely known as the most anticipated stock car race in Canada – the IWK 250 featuring two-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Matt Crafton as he challenges the best regional racers. Pit gates open at 10 a.m., grandstand gates at Noon, and qualifying heat races to set the starting grid are at 4:30 p.m. At 5:30 the pre-race show starts with an autograph session and entertainment by ‘Sparrow’; the opening ceremonies are at 7 p.m. and the green flag for the 10th running of the IWK 250 is set for 7:30 p.m.

Besides being a great race the IWK 250 helps raise awareness and funding for the IWK Health Centre with more than $350,000 donated over the past nine years, in addition to a surprise one million dollar donation made by the Chisholm family (owners of the track) during opening ceremonies for the IWK 250 in 2013.

Riverside International Speedway is recognized as a premier 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 for eastern Canada’s only NASCAR event, and of the IWK 250 – widely known as the best stock car race in Canada. 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 call 902.863.2410 or visit www.riversidespeedway.ca.