Riverside International Speedway is ready for the 2024 edition of the IWK 250 Super Race Weekend which kicked off Wednesday and runs through Saturday. All signs are pointed toward a record-setting event, on and off the track, and there are oh so many storylines each contributing to the lure of the bucket-list event for racers and fans alike.

With 113 teams registered to compete Friday and Saturday the on-track action will be fierce. First to make the starting grids for the four featured races and then to visit Riverside’s hallowed Victory Lane. The weekend kicked off Wednesday evening with practice for Auto World MASS Sportsman and Cross Roads Legends Cars. Tonight the cars and stars of the IWK 250 presented by Steve Lewis hit the high banks for their practice session. Following practice, fans will enjoy one of the regions top cover bands, Shameless, at the Coldstream Tailgate Party.

On Friday, the pit will be packed with 72 expected entries combined in the NAPA/Henry’s AUTOPRO Sportsman 100 and the Superior Foundations Legends Challenge. Thirty-three of the top sportsman cars in the region are entered along with 39 legends. Saturday will see fans new and old enjoy the regions only vintage stock car series with 11 Hot Rod Classics entered for the Anchor Toyota Classic and then it’s the biggest richest stock car race in Canada – the IWK 250 presented by Steve Lewis which sees an entry list boasting 30 top drivers from all over Canada and the United States.

Former NASCAR driver Regan Smith, from Troutman, North Carolina, the 2008 IWK 250 champion has returned to the iconic event to see if he can become one of only a handful of multi-time champions of the event. He’ll drive the popular Cat Car for Kids sponsored by Toromont Cat and co-sponsored by child patients of the IWK Health Care Centre who will meet Regan today and, together with other members of their families, have the chance to sign their names on the race car’s hood. The IWK 250 and the Cat Car for Kids are both catalysts to fundraise for the IWK Foundation in support of the IWK Health Care Centre, with more than $617,000 raised since 2007.

The winner of the IWK 250 can take home over $34,000 with a whopping $20,000 guaranteed and will see their name etched on the coveted John W. Chisholm Memorial Cup alongside all those who have won the event since its inception in 1977. Over $14,000 is up for grabs as part of the IWK 250 Lap Leader Bonus which will see the leader of each lap earn an extra $55 (per lap) – thanks to all who sponsored laps; $1000 will be paid out at halfway with $500 to the leader of that lap and $500 to the car running halfway in the field (cars on track), compliments of M&R Automotive and Shorefront Marine. The IWK 250 purse is over $120,000 with the weekend purse approaching $150,000.

IWK 250 Entry List is Stacked With Talent

The expected entry list for the IWK 250 sits at 30 teams including drivers from six provinces and two states. There are six IWK 250 champions (Dylan Blenkhorn, Donald Chisholm, Cassius Clark, Greg Proude, Craig Slaunwhite, Regan Smith), five East Coast International Pro Stock Tour champions (Blenkhorn, Chisholm, Slaunwhite), and one Pro All Stars Series champion (Clark).

Hanley Cup Debuts for Winner of IWK 250 Hot Laps

The first round of qualifying for the IWK 250 will be time trials; each driver gets two laps to set their best time. The winner (fastest time) will be the first name etched on the new-for-24 custom-made silver-plated Hanley Cup named for North American short track stock car racing and car building hero Jr. Hanley, a native of Nova Scotia and longtime resident of Ontario. Hanley will be on hand to help unveil the Hanley Cup and to present it to this year’s winner during the IWK 250 Opening Ceremony. IWK 250 Hot Laps start at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Heat Races Will be Intense

The second round of qualifying for the IWK 250 is heat races where each cars finishing position will be used to set the starting grid. With 30 top short track stock car racers expected they’ll all want to start as close to the front as possible. Heat races follow the IWK 250 Hot Laps.

Looking for Back-to-Back Wins

Three drivers have the chance to go back-to-back in Riverside’s Victory Lane over the IWK 250 Super Race Weekend. Craig Slaunwhite won the IWK 250 last year, Chris Reid won the NAPA/Henry’s AUTOPRO Sportsman 100, and Cory Hall won the Superior Foundations Legends Challenge.

Everything Old is New Again

For the first-time, the region’s only vintage stock car series – the Hot rod Classics presented by Kimco – will make an appearance on the IWK 250 Super Weekend. They were originally slated to be at Riverside on June 30, but rained out. Eleven custom-crafted hot rods will treat fans young and old to a blast from the past in heat races and the Anchor Toyota Classic as part of Saturday’s show. The series was announced at Riverside in 2019 and is now in its fifth season. Two sons of the co-promoter of the first ‘250’ at Riverside in 1977 (Jerry Lawrence) are on the expected entry list for the Hot Rods (Patty Lawrence and Peter Lawrence). Ron Hefler will drive the ‘Midasizer’, a replica of the car he drove in the 1977 Riverside 250, ironically built on the chassis Regan Smith drove to Victory Lane in the 2008 IWK 250.

IWK 250 Finishes First-Half of PST Season

The IWK 250 is a championship points event on the 2024 East Coast International Pro Stock Tour (PST), round five of 10. Jarrett Butcher (802 points) leads the charge into Riverside with a slim four-point margin over rookie Gage Gilby (798) and Austin MacDonald, in his first full year with the Series, tied for second (798). Nicholas Naugle (791) is fourth just seven points out of second. Mike Rodgers (788) rounds out the top five in current point standings. Only 14 points separate the top five so they and the rest of the series competitors will be looking to earn valuable points in addition to the cash and accolades that go with the IWK 250. The complete PST point standings can be found at www.maritimeprostocktour.com.

Double-Duty

Three drivers are doing double duty over the IWK 250 weekend. Dylan Blenkhorn, Chris Reid, and Josh Collins have entered the IWK 250 and the Henry’s AUTOPRO Sportsman 100 for a total of 350 laps around the high banked 1/3-mile oval this weekend.

Quest for the Cup, the John W. Chisholm Memorial Cup

The majestic custom-made trophy was unveiled in 2015 and instantly became a symbol of excellence representing its namesake, the late John Chisholm – founder and builder of Riverside International Speedway and co-founder of the IWK 250. Having their name engraved on this majestic custom-made trophy is equally as meaningful as all the other accolades that go with being an IWK 250 Champion.

Coldstream For a Cause

Coldstream Clear Distillery and Riverside International Speedway will each donate $1 per can of Coldstream Lager and Lager Light sold at Thursday’s Coldstream Tailgate Party to the IWK Foundation. Coldstream has expanded its partnership with Riverside this year as the Official Packaged Drink along with the Tailgate Party and Coldstream Seat Service sponsorships. The Nova Scotia-based distillery will have reps on site over the weekend with promotional giveaways, merch sales, and product samples.

Storied History

While 2019 marks the 16th edition of the IWK 250, Riverside has hosted this historic event since 1977 when Ontario’s Billy Watson became the inaugural winner. Other “Riverside 250” winners include the late Scott Fraser (five wins), the late Don Biederman (three wins), five-time Maritime champion Greg Sewart (two wins), Maritime racing legend Frank Fraser (two wins), North America short track legend Junior Hanley (two wins), four-time Maritime champion Terry Clattenburg, two-time Maritime champion Rollie MacDonald, NASCAR racers Regan Smith and Kenny Wallace – Maritime racers Mike MacKenzie, Dylan Blenkhorn, Donald Chisholm, John Flemming, Darren MacKinnon, Greg Poude, Kent Vincent, Craig Salunwhite, Wayne Smith, Shawn Tucker – Maine’s Ben Rowe, Mike Rowe and Cassius Clark. Scott Fraser, Sewart, Biederman, MacDonald, and Hanley are members of both the Canadian and Maritime Motorsports Hall of Fame, and Frank Fraser, Clattenburg, and MacKenzie are members of the Maritime Motorsports Hall of Fame. Fifteen IWK 250 Champions will be part of the Opening Ceremony on Saturday.

Opening Act – Sportsman & Legends on Track Friday Night

The Auto World MASS Sportsman Series will see round five of nine in their 2024 title chase on Friday with the NAPA/Henry’s AUTOPRO 100. A full field is expected with several “outsiders” looking to challenge series regulars. With a  $17,000 purse, this race is the richest on the regional sportsman circuit. The winner is guaranteed $3000 and the leader of each lap gets a $10 bonus donated by the Breen family in memory of Laurie Breen, a longtime Riverside fan and racer.

Also on the card Friday night is the Superior Foundations Legends Challenge sanctioned by the Cross Road Maritime League of Legends, round three of 10 in the series chase for the championship; with 39 cars it’s the biggest field ever for this division at Riverside and one of (if not the) largest car count ever for the Legends race in this region. Both series will qualify with heat races to set the starting grids for the features. Both races are championship points races for their respective sanctioning series.

Entry Lists Online

Expected entry lists for all three races are at www.RiversideSpeedway.ca using the Expected Entry Lists button on the home page. Entries are added to the lists after their Official Entry Form has been filed. As of July 17, there are 113 teams expected at Riverside this weekend over the two days of racing.

Fans Urged to Get Advance Tickets & Arrive Early

With a large crowd expected to attend the IWK 250 fans who want to avoid line-ups are encouraged to take advantage of advance ticket sales and to arrive early. While tickets for the licensed area are sold out for Thursday’s Coldstream Tailgate Party, grandstand tickets (non licensed area) will be available at the gate. Great seats remain for Friday and Saturday available as reserved or general admission. Advance tickets are recommended to be guaranteed admission and to help avoid the wait at the gate; advance ticket holders have exclusive use of an expedited entry gate.

15 & Under Get in FREE

As part of Riverside’s 55^th anniversary celebrations this year kids 15 & under get free grandstand admission all weekend long; free tickets are available at the gate on race day. Reserved seating is also available for 15 & under at a reduced price; reserved seats are available in advance.

Camping at the IWK 250

With over 800 campsites reserved at Riverside for the IWK 250 Super Race weekend, camping is full. All overnight parking on Riverside property from July 17 to 21 requires a camping permit (issued at check-in).

Mark Your Calendar

A complete printable weekend schedule is available at www.riversidespeedway.ca.

Riverside Lineage Extends to Tennessee

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).