(FREDERICTON, NB – September 15th, 2021) – The Atlantic Modified Tour returns to action this Friday night at Petty International Raceway. The 35-lap feature as a part of the Eighth Annual Mike Stevens Memorial Weekend will serve as Round Ten of 11 on the 2021 championship chase and the final of three stops at the high banked bullring in River Glade, New Brunswick for the year. Racing begins on Friday, September 17th at 7pm.
Even after having to rebound from being in last weekend’s only caution flag at Petty International Raceway, Travis Conroy (Miramichi, NB) was still able to extend his Atlantic Modified Tour point lead with only two races to go. With a heat win and a fourth place finish, Conroy and the No. 7 Patterson’s Sales and Service Modified leads reigning champion Yves McCray (Neguac, NB) by 27 points after nine races. Conroy has been a model of consistency in 2021, finishing all but one feature so far this season within the top five. Another one of those top five finishes could go a long way in giving him some breathing room heading into the October 2nd Keswick Kitchen Season Finale at Speedway Miramichi.
McCray will need to dig deep in the final two races should he want to successfully defend his Atlantic Modified Tour title. McCray, who has five podium finishes in feature competition in 2021, will need to gain points on the No. 7 this week to give himself a realistic opportunity at racing for a championship in two weeks. McCray’s last feature win at Petty International Raceway with the Series came in July 2019.
Zean Dutcher (Miramichi, NB) drove the “Flyin’ 55” to the win last Saturday night at Petty International Raceway, becoming the seventh different feature winner in nine events in 2021. Dutcher also flew up the standings, landing in third with two races to go in the season. Dutcher is 17 points out of McCray for second and 44 out of the championship lead. While a championship with two races remaining may be a tall task – do not count out Dutcher with the wave of momentum he is riding into the Mike Stevens Memorial Weekend.
Three of the last four Atlantic Modified Tour winners on the Mike Stevens Memorial Weekend will be competing this weekend at Petty International Raceway. Chris Wilson (South Esk, NB) won the 2020 edition, Doug Matchett (Miramichi, NB) was the 2019 winner and Joe Hoyt (Waasis, NB) took home the glory in 2017. All three have won races this season on the Atlantic Modified Tour with Wilson taking home three victories so far in the current year. The trio are all looking for their first win of the season at Petty International Raceway and will only have one more shot at it this weekend.
This weekend’s race also includes the likes of the most recent Miramichi winner in Braxton Stafford (Miramichi, NB), Jamie Weston (St. Martin’s, NB) and Kevin Bailey (Minto, NB). The Rookie of the Year battle continues with Brody Levesque (Lincoln, NB) taking the upper hand last week on Michael Savoie (Tracadie, NB). Savoie is expected to be back in the No. 00 Kamizo Transport Modified as he looks to close the gap on Levesque heading into his home track in two weeks.
EXPECTED ENTRY LIST
Race 10 of 11 – 2021 Atlantic Modified Tour
00 – Michael Savoie ® – Tracadie, NB
2W – Chris Wilson – South Esk, NB
4 – Kevin Bailey – Minto, NB
05 – Brody Levesque ® – Lincoln, NB
7 – Travis Conroy – Miramichi, NB
17 – Joe Hoyt – Waasis, NB
55 – Zean Dutcher – Miramichi, NB
58 – Yves McCray – Neguac, NB
75 – Doug Matchett – Miramichi, NB
81W – Jamie Weston – St. Martin’s, NB
91 – Braxton Stafford – Miramichi, NB
The two day Mike Stevens Memorial Weekend presented by NAPA Petitcodiac & Salisbury, Brycon Construction, Archibald Drilling & Blasting, R. Stevens Mechanical and Carnahan Construction opens on Friday, September 17th with a five division card anchored by a 100-lap Street Stock feature. The Atlantic Modified Tour, Kings County Performance Women on Wheels, Mister Transmission Mini Stocks, Sherwood Sawmills Legends and Leisure Days RV Bandoleros round out a busy night. Post time is 7pm on Friday night. Grandstand admission prices for Friday’s event are $20 for adults and $10 for youth aged eight to 18 with children aged seven and under admitted for free. Pit admission is $30 and is restricted to those 16 years of age and older. Pit gates open at 4pm, grandstand gates open for spectators at 5pm with qualifying getting underway at 7pm.
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 Ashton Reekie/WingNut Productions
