Riverside International Speedway is ready for the 2023 edition of the IWK 250 Super Race Weekend which kicked off yesterday and runs through Saturday. Race cars, racing stars, historic car count, a North American racing legend, and two of Nova Scotia’s top party bands are just a few of the highlights that will entertain the thousands of fans expected to attend.
NASCAR rising star Carson Hocevar (Portage, MI) will drive the popular Cat Car for Kids in the IWK 250 Presented by Steve Lewis. It’s sponsored by Toromont Cat and signed by patients of the IWK Health Care Centre in Halifax – the region’s top children’s hospital. The car helps raise awareness for fundraising in support of the hospital with over $567,000 donated to the IWK Foundation since the event started in 2007. Hocevar is a two-time winner in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series this year and fitting the IWK 250 in on an off-weekend in his NASCAR schedule.
It was announced earlier this month that the IWK 250 will pay a whopping $20,000 to the winner who could also pick up another $13k-plus though competition awards, so the 2023 IWK 250 champion could take home over $33,000 of the $113,000 in posted winnings – the biggest ever offered for a late model stock car race in Nova Scotia. And, the champion will also see their name etched on the coveted John W. Chisholm Memorial Cup, the event’s perpetual trophy.
Fans in attendance will get a chance to see the legendary Jr. Hanley lead the IWK 250 field in an honourary pace car. Hanley, a native of Nova Scotia, will drive a replica of his famous orange #72, a Hot Rod Classics vintage race car owned by Stacey Clements (Halifax). Hanley is a North American short track stock car racing legend and inductee of both the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame and Maritime Motorsports Hall of Fame.
The entry lists for the three divisions racing Friday and Saturday boasts 87 entries – 26 pro stock, 31 sportsman, and 30 legends – the biggest count in nearly a decade. Besides Hocevar (from Michigan) it includes drivers from six Canadian provinces and some of the biggest racing names from each. Complete entry lists can be found at www.riversidespeedway.ca/iwk250central.
The IWK 250 is a championship points event for the East Coast International Pro Stock Tour, round five of 11 on the series 2023 season.
Besides the IWK 250 on Saturday fans will enjoy exciting racing action on Friday with the NAPA/Henry’s AUTOPRO 100 for the Auto World Allstar Sportsman Series and the Superior Foundations Legends Challenge for the Maritime League of Legends.
Thursday’s schedule sees a practice for the IWK 250 followed by the IWK 250 Tailgate Party featuring High Society and The Privateers. Friday includes a pre-race autograph session with Hocevar and racing action for the sportsman and legends. Saturday is all IWK 250 – practice starts at 11 a.m., qualifying time trials and heat races are at 3, followed by pre-race entertainment and autographs session, opening ceremony and the IWK 250 (expected to start at 7:30).
Tickets are available online at www.riversidespeedway.ca and at the gate on race day.
With over 800 campsites reserved for the weekend, camping is full.
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.
