Riverside International Speedway is just days away from its first-ever Canada Day Weekend signature event. Over the span of three days this coming weekend – Friday to Sunday – attendees will see one of Canada’s top country groups – James Barker Band, the nation’s only stock car touring series – the NASCAR Canada Series, the region’s top pro stock touring series – the East Coast International Pro Stock Tour, the region’s only vintage stock car series – the Hot Rod Classics presented by Kimco, a Mini Stock open, and a huge fireworks display.

It all kicks off Friday with Country Rocks Riverside Presented by Tidal Tractor featuring James Barker Band – 2024 Juno Award winner for Country Album of the Year. Opening acts include Mabou’s Eddie Cummings and Halifax’s Merimac. The gates open at 5, the show starts at 7.

On Saturday it’s 300 laps of feature racing with some of the top stock car racers in Canada with the PRO•LINE 150 for the NASCAR Canada Series along with the RJ Poirier Heavy Equipment 150 for the East Coast International Pro Stock Tour.

On Sunday, fans will see the NASCAR Canada Series back on track for the Choko 150 – a rare doubleheader weekend for the series. The Hot Rod Classics presented by Kimco will provide a blast from the past with the Anchor Toyota Twins 20s, and the Maritime Allstar Series Whispering Winds Campground Mini Stocks in open (non-points) Twins 20s. A fabulous fireworks display is planned to end the Sunday show and cap the weekend.

Racing starts at 5 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday; the grandstand gates open at 1:30 p.m. in time for NASCAR practice at 1:45 p.m. and local practice at 2:30 p.m. At 4 p.m. fans get a chance to meet the drivers in a 30-minute autograph session. Pit gates open at 9 a.m. for NASCAR teams and members, and at 11 a.m. for all others. Details are available on the Schedule page at www.riversidespeedway.ca.

NASCAR Canada Series officials will release more information and the entry lists for its races – expected to be in the 18-20 range. Please visit nascar.ca for more information.

EXPECTED ENTRY LIST – RJ Poirier 150 / East Coast International Pro Stock Tour

  • (08) Nicholas Naugle, Dartmouth, NS
  • (0) Sam Rogers, Lower Onslow, NS
  • (11v) Jordan Veinotte, Porter’s Lake, NS
  • (13) Austin MacDonald, Pictou, NS
  • (25) Ryan Van Oirschot, Antigonish, NS
  • (25g) Gage Gilby, Enfield, NS
  • (29) Greg Proude, Springvale, NS
  • (30) Stephen Lively, Shubenacadie, NS
  • (31) Chris Reid, Fort McMurray, AB
  • (32) Chris Hughes, Brackley Beach, NS
  • (36) Gary Elliott, Truro, NS
  • (41) Mike Rodgers, Moncton, NB
  • (42) Kyle Reid, Fort McMurray, AB
  • (51) Tyler Smith, Brackley Beach, PE
  • (54) Jarrett Butcher, Porter’s Lake, NS
  • (88) Russell Smith, Jr., Lakeside, NS
  • (89) Donald Chisholm, Antigonish, NS

Jarrett Butcher leads the ECI Pro Stock Tour championship points battle heading into Riverside in the fourth of 10 races on the season. Gilby is second, just 21 markers out of first. MacDonald is third, only four points behind Gilby. Rodgers and Naugle round out the top five in current standings; only 33 points separate first to fifth. Butcher has two wins this year, Naugle has one.

Expected Entries – Hot Rod Classics Anchor Toyota Twin 20s

  • (U2) Patty Lawrence, Dartmouth, NS
  • (10) Ron Hefler, Sackville, NS
  • (12) Jeff Ainslie, Lower Sackville, NS
  • (12c) Steven Curtis, Miramichi, NB
  • (23) Chris Dingle, Shubenacadie, NS –
  • (35) Laurie Hutt, Fort Ellis, NS
  • (47) Brad Melendy, Gander, NL
  • (47) Kevin Turnbull, Mount Uniacke, NS
  • (50) Stacey Clements, Hubley, NS
  • (76) Barry Hubley, St. Margaret’s Bay, NS
  • (77) Bobby Hutchings, Grand Prairie, AB

These cars are show-stopping throwbacks to pre-1979 race cars and include original vintage cars and tribute cars built on newer chassis. Some will be on display Friday from 11 to 1 at Anchor Toyota in New Glasgow for the annual Hot Rods and Hot Dogs fundraiser for the IWK Foundation. Two NASCAR Canada Series race cars will be on display as well.

Expected Entry List – MASS Whispering Winds Mini Stock Twin 20 Opens

  • (0) Jason Pickles, Meagher’s Grant, NS
  • (0) tba, tba
  • (10) Tim Wright, Middle Stewiacke, NS
  • (13) Chris McMullin, Lake Egmont, NS
  • (22) Brett Biron, Sydney, NS
  • (42) Jeff Reid, Sydney, NS
  • (44) Merrick Rozicki, Sydney, NS
  • (45) Travis Keefe, Chester Basin, NS
  • (48) Chris Dover, Lower Sackville, NS
  • (58) Jamie Dillman, Shubenacadie, NS
  • (61) Adam Aker, Sydney Mines, NS
  • (67) Cody Byrne, Pinette, PE
  • (71) Jonathan MacInnis, Louisbourg, NS
  • (71) Neil Miousse, New Minas, NS
  • (88) Cody Quinn, Sydney, NS

Advance camping reservations for this weekend close at 6 p.m. Wednesday; sites are available for drive-up reservations at the check-in tents. Advance online ticket sales close 60 minutes before start time Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Tickets can be purchased online as single day or in discounted bundles – reserved and general admission. Visit www.riversidespeedway.ca for online sales. Tickets will be available at the gate all three days. Gate sales will be single-day only, general admission for Saturday and Sunday. Free admission for 15 & under both Saturday and Sunday (general admission seating, tickets at the gate only).

Camping check-in opens at Noon Thursday, 9 a.m. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday – closing one hour after show time each day. Campers who arrive after check-in closes should wait in spectator parking overnight for check-in to open in the morning.

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).