The popsicle sticks are in the air, as just two races remain on the 2022 Atlantic Modified Tour championship. After a relatively tame season, the chase for the championship has been thrown into a blender over the recent events, with the points lead being cut in over half. As turmoil brews for points, it will be a wild card race serving as round ten of eleven – as the tour returns to Shediac’s Centre for Speed for the first time since 2014.
Saturday October 8th will see the Tim’s Corner Motorsports 50 for the Atlantic Modified Tour as part of the 22nd Annual Atlantic Championships at the 3/8-mile oval. The last race for the tour here in 2014 was won by now Pro Stock sensation Ryan Messer in a race where he clinched the championship that year. Very few drivers in the field have raced a Modified at the Centre for Speed, which is sure to make this a crazy race!
Braxton Stafford (#91) has dominated the point standings almost all season. However, the last few races have been plagued by mechanical issues and tough luck, leaving the Blackville driver will just a 16-point lead with two races to go. Stafford has one win this year, but rode a wave of consistency with five podiums in the first six races, until his luck swing.
Chasing Stafford is most recent winner at Speedway Miramichi’s The Very Best Fall Shootout last week, Chris Wilson (#2W). Wilson leads the tour with four feature wins – including one non-points race. A technical failure and a wreck hurt Wilson’s chances, but his wins have tightened the points picture and he looks to overcome those bad races and capitalize on the success he has had.
Wilson and Stafford started the year with a 35-lap clean side-by-side battle for the win on opening day, so it’s fitting to see them battling for the championship – however, there are three hungry drivers who also have a legitimate shot to overtake both of these drivers – and they have experience on their side this weekend.
Yves McCray (#58) is a former AMT champion with a pair of wins in 2022. McCray has experience from running his Sportsman at the Centre for Speed in years past. With wins in the Speedway Miramichi Triple 20’s and the Mike Stevens Memorial, McCray has won plenty of big races this year and looks to make it a trifecta Saturday.
Doug Matchett (#75) has fond memories of the Centre for Speed too – he captured his first career feature win at the track in 2008. In 2022, the track could be monumental in his quest for an AMT championship. Similarly, veteran Joe Hoyt (#17) has found victory lane in Shediac with a pair of victories coming in 2012 and 2013. Hoyt sees a third AMT championship possibly within his reach and will use his experience at the track to his advantage.
Also on the preliminary entry list is the “Racing Ranger” from Renous, Kim Hallihan (#97) who had a stellar run the last race in Miramichi, and Michael Savoie (#00) who will make his debut at the Centre for Speed. Additional entries are expected to make an appearance, with the likes of Zean Dutcher (#55) and Kevin Bailey (#4) being rumored to make the trip.
Action gets underway at 1pm on Saturday October 8th.Tickets can be purchased at the gate or pre-ordered online. Fans are encouraged to check out the official website of the Centre for Speed, Centreforspeed.com, for all information related to the Atlantic Championships!