North American short track stock racing legend Jr. Hanley will be at Riverside International Speedway on July 20 to attend the IWK 250 Presented by Steve Lewis for the second straight year. Last year, during Hanley’s first visit to Riverside since its 2006 rebuild, it was announced that a new trophy – the Hanley Cup – would be commissioned to perpetually honour the Nova Scotia native who throughout his racing career became one of the most respected and successful short track racers and car builders in North America. This year, he’ll be present to witness the unveiling of the Hanley Cup.

Hanley, now retired from driving, moved to Ontario in the 70s to pursue a racing career; he is widely known and well respected by fellow competitors, by those he built race cars for, and by fans who were lucky enough to see him on track back in the day – always sure to put on a show – win, lose, or draw. His vast accomplishments have been acknowledged with inductions into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame and the Maritime Motorsports Hall of Fame.

Hanley’s ties with Riverside go back 55 years to the facility opening in 1969. He was a friend of track founder, the late John W. Chisholm, and even after Hanley moved to Ontario he returned to Riverside often. Of all the tracks he has raced at in North America he calls Riverside his favourite, and home.

Jr. Hanley had the fastest lap during time trials for the first ‘250’ at Riverside in 1977, as he often had at almost any track he competed at. It was fitting that in creating an award to honour Hanley at Riverside, it would be in conjunction with time trials for the IWK 250 – enter the Hanley Cup – created in England by the same craftspeople of the John W. Chisholm Memorial Cup. It is etched with the Hanley Cup logo on the front and an inscription on the back. It sits on a wood base that will display the names of IWK 250 Time Trial winners for decades to come. They will receive a unique crystal platter etched with the Hanley Cup logo as their take-home piece.

Donald Chisholm track owner and son of John Chisholm, along with Jr. Hanley and other members of the Chisholm family will unveil the Hanley Cup during Opening Ceremonies for the IWK 250 and then present it to the winner of time trials for this year’s IWK 250.

Fans can enjoy video footage (with sound) of Hanley’s 1977 lap on Riverside’s website below. For comparison, last year’s fast time was set by NASCAR rising star Carson Hocevar at 14.364 seconds around the 1/3-mile high-banked oval – a mere 2/10-second faster than Hanley’s 1977 lap.

IWK 250 Time Trials are set for 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 20 – the first round of qualifying for the IWK 250 Presented by Steve Lewis – a race that guarantees the winner $20,000 with another $15,000 up for grabs in contingency bonuses – all part of a total purse that exceeds $116,000. Twenty-nine drivers including NASCAR Cup Series race winner and 2008 IWK 250 champion Regan Smith, are entered to run the race. Smith will drive the #24 Cat Car for Kids presented by Toromont Cat and co-sponsored by IWK Health Care Centre patients and families who will be able to sign their names on the hood of the car during a visit to the Centre next week. Since its inception in 2007, the IWK 250 has raised awareness and over $617,000 for the IWK Foundation.

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 IWK 250 Tailgate Party presented by Coldstream Clear. 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.

The IWK 250 Super Weekend event schedule including open times, qualifying, and race times, is posted at www.riversidespeedway.ca.

Camping opens Wednesday morning; with over 700 campsites reserved Riverside’s population could be greater than the Town of Antigonish over the weekend. 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.

As part of Riverside’s 55^th-anniversary celebrations kids 15 and under will get in free Friday and Saturday for general admission seating. Reserved seating for 15 and under is also available, at a reduced cost. Free tickets are available at the gate only on race day; reserved 15 and under seating 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).