JAMES RIVER, NS (June 21, 2023) – The 2023 IWK 250 champion will take home a whopping $20,000, bumping the overall purse for the race to over $112,000, among the richest ever offered in regional stock car racing. When combined with contingency bonuses, the winner could earn as much as $33,100 along with having their name engraved for perpetuity on the coveted John W. Chisholm Memorial Cup which is named for John ‘Nova’ Chisholm – founder of Riverside International Speedway and co-founder of the IWK 250.

“The IWK 250 is a bucket-list event for racers and fans alike,” said Joan Roué, manager of Riverside International Speedway. “Raising the purse to one of the richest in the country elevates it even more, and will most certainly add to the intensity on the track as top drivers vie for their share, adding excitement for the fans.”

Besides bumping up the purse, track management is also announcing the qualifying format for the IWK 250. Qualifying races will set the starting grid, using heat races and a B Feature; heat race starting spots will be based on a random draw set by overall practice times. The finisher order of the heats will set the starting order for the B Feature. A guaranteed number of transfer spots from the qualifying races will be announced prior to the event. Provisionals will determine the balance of the starting grid for the IWK 250.

New-for-’23 are two provisional starting spots for the Super Late Model Series (SLMS), awarded based on current point standings among SLMS racers not already qualified for the IWK 250. The other provisional starting spots come from the East Coast International Pro Stock Tour (per series rule book) and the track (discretionary). The IWK 250 is a PST championship points race, round five of 11 for the 2023 campaign.

IWK 250 PURSE (2023): 1. $20,000; 2. $8,000; 3. $7,000; 4. $6,000; 5. $5,000; 6. $4,000; 7. $3,500; 8. $3,000; 9. $2,750; 10. $2,500; 11. $2,400; 12. $$2,300; 13. $2,200.00; 14. $2,100; 15. $2,000; 16. $1,950; 17. $1,925; 18. $1,900; 19. $1,875; 20. $1,850; 21. $1,825; 22. $1,800; 23. $1,775; 24. $1,750; 25. $1,725; 26. $1,700; 27. $1,675; 28. $1,650; 29. $1,625; 30. $1,600 PLUS Lap Leader Bonus @ $50 per lap led PLUS PST Contingency $.

The track will hold an open practice for IWK 250 entries on Thursday, July 12 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. – a prelude to the popular IWK 250 Tailgate Party that gets underway afterward and features TWO great bands, High Society and The Privateers.

Track management is also upping the ante for the Auto World Allstar Sportsman Series with $5000 more in the purse for the NAPA/Henry’s AUTOPRO 100 on Friday, July 14. The increase for this race is spread throughout the field with the purse now totaling over $16,000. An additional $1,000 is added to the pot at $10 per lap led, in memory of Laurie Breen. Also on the card July 14 is the Maritime League of Legends with the series expecting a record car count with entries from the four Atlantic Provinces. An open practice for sportsman and legends is set for Wednesday, July 12 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

IWK 250 Super Race Weekend racer registration for all events opens Thursday, June 22 at 9:00 a.m. (www.riversidespeedway.ca.)

SPORTSMAN 100 PURSE (2023): 1. $3,000; 2. $2,000; 3. $1,000; 4. $800; 5. $750; 6. $700; 7. $650; 8. $600; 9. $550; 10. $500; 11. $475; 12. $450; 13. $425; 14. $400; 15. $390; 16. $380; 17. $370; 18. 360; 19. $350; 20. $340; 21. $330; 22. $320; 23. $310; 24.-26. $300 PLUS $10 per lap led.

All told, the total prize money up for grabs on the IWK 250 Super Race Weekend is over $145,000.00.

All of this exciting news comes on the heels of announcing NASCAR rising star Carson Hocevar as the celebrity driver of the Cat Car for Kids in the IWK 250. Fans will have a chance to meet Hocevar on Friday, July 14 at a Meet’N’Greet to be held before the evening racing card and on Saturday, July 15 during an autograph session with the entire starting lineup for the IWK 250.

Tickets for the IWK 250 weekend are available www.riversidespeedway.ca. Selections include weekend passes, single-day tickets, reserved and general admission, grandstand and pit – something for everyone. Prices and more can be found on the IWK 250 Central page on our website (www.riversidespeedway.ca/iwk-250).

Since its inception in 2007, the IWK 250 Presented by Steve Lewis has raised awareness and over $550,000 for the IWK Foundation. Numerous fundraising activities are planned to add to the total this year.

The IWK 250 Presented by Steve Lewis is the grand finale of the IWK 250 Super Race Weekend. It kicks off Wednesday, July 12 when the day starts with camping opening and ends with a practice session for sportsman and legends teams.

On Thursday, July 13 fans will get a sneak peek of IWK 250 competitors in a late afternoon open practice followed by the popular IWK 250 Tailgate Party, this year featuring two of the region’s top party bands – High Society AND The Privateers. On Friday, fans will be treated to a big night of racing with the Auto World Allstar Sportsman Series and the Cross Roads League of Legends. Saturday it’s all IWK 250 with practice at 11:30, qualifying races at 3:30 followed by the autograph session and opening ceremonies. Green flag for the main event is set for 7:30 p.m.

A very limited number of campsites remain in the regular camping sections (A,C,D,E). Reservations can be made online at www.riversidespeedway.ca. Advance reservations are required for all campers on the IWK 250 Super Race Weekend (no drive-ups).

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. Still owned by the Chisholm family, 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 for over 50 years.

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

About Riverside International Speedway:

For over 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. 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.