(FREDERICTON, NB – August 4th, 2021) – The second half of the Atlantic Modified Tour championship season kicks off this Saturday, August 7th when the Series returns to Speedway Miramichi. The Blackville Auto Parts and JBS Towing 35 is Round Seven of 12 on the Atlantic Modified Tour point season and the third of four trips to the Miramichi, New Brunswick oval in 2021. Racing begins at 4pm on Saturday.
The first six races of the Atlantic Modified Tour have produced five different winners. Chris Wilson (South Esk, NB) is the only driver to win multiple feature events in 2021, including the most recent round at Speedway Miramichi and the Chess Piece Café 35 at Speedway 660 one week ago. While Wilson is not running for the Tour championship this year, he will look to rack up his win total Saturday evening as the Series returns to his home track.
Travis Conroy (Miramichi, NB) leads the Atlantic Modified Tour point standings at the midway point of the year. Conroy has a trio of second place finishes in the last three events dating back to the All Star Auto Center 35 at Speedway Miramichi in early July. The youngest full-time driver on the Atlantic Modified Tour has an 18-point advantage on the reigning Tour titlist Yves McCray (Neguac, NB). Both drivers have Tour victories this season. Conroy took the Season Opener at Petty International Raceway in June while McCray was a winner in the Bryn Enterprises 35 at Speedway 660. While both have the championship in mind on Saturday evening, their first Miramichi win of the season would go a long way in their quest for the Tour title.
Joe Hoyt (Waasis, NB) reminded the Atlantic Modified Tour field last Sunday why he is a multi-time Series champion. After a broken axle in first practice last Saturday put him and the No. 17 Keswick Kitchen Modified team on the ropes, Hoyt bounced back the next day to drive to victory lane in the Kamizo Transport 35 at Speedway 660. The drive from the back of the field also helped Hoyt power to third in the point standings after six races, 32 points out of the lead. With Hoyt on the top of his game and back in victory lane, it could be a dangerous combination for his competition as the Tour heads back to Miramichi – a track he won at last September.
If a new winner on the season is to emerge in the Blackville Auto Parts and JBS Towing 35, one would have to think it would come from Braxton Stafford or Zean Dutcher. The two Miramichi, New Brunswick drivers are the only two drivers on the Series in 2021 with at least one podium finish without a feature victory. Dutcher has two third place efforts so far this Summer while Stafford third in the All Star Auto Center 35 in Miramichi. Stafford has led the most laps this season on the Series without scoring a victory and he hopes to change that this weekend by becoming the sixth different winner in seven races.
The Rookie of the Year battle is almost square after Speedway 660’s double header last weekend. Michael Savoie (Tracadie, NB) has a slim eight point advantage on Brody Levesque (Lincoln, NB) at the halfway point of the 2021 season. The freshman fight heads to Savoie’s home track of Speedway Miramichi this weekend and he will hope that home field advantage will help him pad his lead in the Rookie of the Year chase.
Nothing satisfies like home cooking and several drivers will hope to take advantage of racing in front of their hometown crowd on Saturday evening. After two top five efforts at Speedway 660, Sutherland’s Excavating 35 winner Doug Matchett (Miramichi, NB) will look to return to podium form on Saturday. “The Racing Ranger” Kim Hallihan (Renous, NB) has spent time dialing in his race car and all indications point towards the No. 97 being ready for a run for the front during the Blackville Auto Parts and JBS Towing 35. Steven Curtis (South Esk, NB) and his Pinto are fan favorites and are ready for another shot at the checkered flag Saturday evening. Curtis has one top five finish in two starts on the Series in 2021.
EXPECTED ENTRY LIST
Blackville Auto Parts and JBS Towing 35 – Speedway Miramichi
Race Seven of 12 – 2021 Atlantic Modified Tour
00 – Michael Savoie ® – Tracadie, NB
2W – Chris Wilson – South Esk, NB
05 – Brody Levesque ® – Lincoln, NB
7 – Travis Conroy – Miramichi, NB
12 – Steven Curtis – South Esk, NB
17 – Joe Hoyt – Waasis, NB
55 – Zean Dutcher – Miramichi, NB
58 – Yves McCray – Neguac, NB
75 – Doug Matchett – Miramichi, NB
91 – Braxton Stafford – Miramichi, NB
97 – Kim Hallihan – Renous, NB
Grandstand admission prices for Saturday’s event are $20 for adults and $10 for youth aged eight to 17 and $10 for Seniors aged 65 and older, while children seven years of age and under will be admitted free. Pit admission is $25. Pit gates for competitors open at 12pm with grandstand gates opening at 1pm. Racing action gets underway on Saturday at 4pm.
Can’t make it to the track to see the Blackville Auto Parts and JBS Towing 35 in person? No problem! Tim’s Corner Motorsports TV will have a crew at Speedway Miramichi to produce the event, including Round Seven of the Atlantic Modified Tour. You can watch the race LIVE or On-Demand following the event by heading to TimsCorner.tv and getting your Event Pass! TimsCorner.tv is a member of the Speed Sport TV family.
For more information about the Atlantic Modified Tour, please visit AtlanticModifieds.com.
About the Atlantic Modified Tour:
The Atlantic Modified Tour is a New Brunswick based open wheel modified touring series. Founded in 2003 by Jim Duke, the Atlantic Modified Tour continues to thrill fans across the Province. You can keep up with the Atlantic Modified Tour by liking the Series on Facebook and following the Tour on Instagram (@AtlanticModifieds) or by visiting their website at AtlanticModifieds.com.
Photo by Michelle Roy
