It will be a double dose of thunder at Speedway 660 on the biggest weekend of the year, as the Atlantic Modified Tour contests a double header with two days of action over the three-day motorsports spectacular at the Geary, NB oval. The Atlantic Modified Tour Speedweekend double header will be presented by Fredericton based Chess Piece Patisserie and Café. With the end of the season and points championship in sights, and extra money on the line this weekend, the stage is being set for a memorable weekend of action for the mighty Modifieds!
For the third year in a row, the cars and stars of the Atlantic Modified Tour will help kick-off Speedweekend during the Friday night Speedweekend Prelude. The non-points race on night one will have extra meaning this year – it will be run in honour of long-time series official and well-respected New Brunswick tech inspector and engine builder George Fitzpatrick. A special twin 20-lap feature format will be utilized. Dave O’Blenis driving for Stafford Racing (#91) earned the Friday checkered flag last year.
Sunday will be the seventh of eleven rounds on the 2022 tour championship, with a 35-lap feature as part of the prestigious Speedweekend Sunday. This feature will be part of the opening act for the 22nd Annual Pro Stock 250. Chris Wilson (#2w) was the winner one year ago on Speedweekend Sunday.
Braxton Stafford (#91) enters as the Atlantic Modified Tour points leader as he continues an impressive streak of podium finishes – including eight in his last nine starts dating back to 2021. Stafford is also the most recent winner at Speedway 660, picking up the win during a stop back in June. While Stafford will look to pad his points lead on Sunday, Friday night it will be former Speedway 660 Sportsman champion Alexandra O’Blenis wheeling the #91 machine. Alex will look to follow in her father Dave’s tracks by scoring the Friday night victory.
Chris Wilson was the Speedweekend Sunday winner in 2021 with a convincing win after going for a lap one spin, with hopes of a repeat performance this weekend. Wilson won the first two races of 2022, but has been scratching to get back into victory lane. In total, Wilson has three AMT wins at Speedway 660 (including the inaugural Friday night win in 2020) and will aim to add to that stat this weekend.
Yves McCray (#58) is also a winner on Speedweekend Sunday – he earned back-to-back wins in 2019 and 2020. Throw in a regular season win and McCray too has earned three trips to Riverview Ford Lincoln victory lane and is sure to be a favorite. McCray was the winner in the Allstar Auto Center Triple 20’s at Speedway Miramichi in July.
McCray and Wilson find themselves outside of the points battle due to circumstances throughout the season, but Joe Hoyt (#17) and the most recent AMT winner at Speedway Miramichi Doug Matchett (#75) find themselves second and third in points respectively. Hoyt hails from just down the road in Waasis, and is a hometown favorite to win – as long as he doesn’t live up to his “Joe Dirt” nickname. Hoyt has five career wins at Speedway 660, including a Speedweekend win in 2006. Doug Matchett has never been to victory lane on Speedweekend, but with momentum on his side it is possible this could be the year he crosses it off his bucket list.
Minus Hoyt, the other four top five drivers have all earned feature wins thus far in 2022, along with defending champion Travis Conroy (#7) who picked up a win at Petty International Raceway in July during his part time season, marking five winners in six races. Conroy has been itching for a Speedweekend win, keep an eye on the defending champ this weekend.
Several drivers will look to join the list of winners in 2022. Kevin Bailey (#4) will race to recreate the magic that propelled him to a Speedweekend Sunday victory in 2018, while rookie Tristin Harris (#7H) enters his home track with high hopes of a big win – Harris won the Sharp Shooter championship and went to Speedweekend victory lane in 2019 in that class. Jamie Weston (#81) went to victory lane at Speedway 660 back in 2009, and had a podium in 2020 at the track, and will be a threat to win. Miramichi’s “Racing Ranger” Kim Hallihan (#97) is also planning on making the trek to Speedway 660 for the first time with his Modified as part of the Sunday show.
Many drivers are slated to make their 2022 debuts on Speedweekend. Former Speedway 660 Sportsman winner Zean Dutcher (#55), former AMT winner John Lyons (#88), and rookies from one season ago Brody Levesque (#05) and Michael Savoie (#00) are all digging to be on track in the Geary Woods.
Atlantic Modified Tour Speedweekend Double Header presented by Chess Piece Café and Patisserie Expected Entries
#00 – Michael Savoie
#05 – Brody Levesque
#2w – Chris Wilson
#4 – Kevin Bailey
#7 – Travis Conroy
#7H – Tristin Harris
#17 – Joe Hoyt
#55 – Zean Dutcher
#58 – Yves McCray
#75 – Doug Matchett
#81 – Jamie Weston
#88 – John Lyons
#91 – Braxton Stafford
#97 – Kim Hallihan
Entry list is subject to change without notice.
Action gets underway Friday night at 7:30pm, with Sunday kicking off at 2pm. The Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooter division joins the tour on Friday night, with a Pro Stock Happy Hour and a Turn 5 concert with Hazzard to follow. Saturday of Speedweekend features the Riverview Ford Lincoln Sportsman 150, followed by the 22nd Annual Pro Stock 250 on Sunday. Action starts at 2pm on Sunday with AMT being joined by Street Stocks, the Maritime League of Legends Tour, Heart of a Champion Hot Rod Classics, Fredericton Gun Shop Sharp Shooters, and Bandoleros as the undercard for the biggest race of the summer.
Fans who can’t make it to the track will be able to watch the entire weekend LIVE on FloRacing – the official streaming partner of Speedway 660 and Speedweekend. Fans can tune in from their living rooms by purchasing a FloRacing subscription.
Tickets and weekend camping are available for pre-order by contacting the Speedway 660 office.
Atlantic Modified Tour Speedweekend Winners
2003 – Vince McCormick #33 (Saturday), Rob Halpin #1 (Sunday)
2004 – Lowell Affleck #6 (Saturday), Mark Price #9 (Sunday)
2005 – Corey Little #83 (Saturday), Corey Little #83 (Sunday)
2006 – Joe Hoyt #17 (Saturday), Dave Burnham #00 (Sunday)
2007 – Troy Hamm #46
2008 – Mark Price #9
2009 – Shelley Stewart #43
2010 – Jamie Brown #48
2014 – Cody Price #81
2015 – Mike Raeburn #98
2016 – Mike Raeburn #98
2018 – Kevin Bailey #48
2019 – Yves McCray #58
2020 – Chris Wilson #2w (Friday), Yves McCray #58 (Sunday)
2021 – Dave O’Blenis #91 (Friday), Chris Wilson #2w (Sunday)
