Riverside International Speedway will wave the checkered flag on the 2025 season this Saturday with the Back to School Spectacular presented by NAPA Auto Parts Antigonish-New Glasgow-Port Hawkesbury. And just as they have done for the past 56 years, track management are excited to offer a value-packed exciting and affordable show for the whole family.
Champions will be crowned in the Auto World Sportsman and Whispering Winds Campground Mini Stock – both sanctioned by the Maritime Allstars Series. Fans will also enjoy the vintage Hot Rod Classics presented by Kimco, and an Enduro race. The event will start at 5 p.m. and kick off with Kiddies Rides where children can do a lap around the track in a race car with their favourite driver. With free admission for kids 15 & under, it’s a great way to spend Saturday evening.
Matt Vaughan (Lantz) holds a commanding 50-point lead in the sportsman point standings, but it’s not insurmountable. Dylan Dowe (Bedford) is second by a slim four-point margin over Sara Thorne (Chance Cove, NL). Dennis Nickerson from nearby Marshy Hope is fourth, only four points behind Thorne and Joey Livingstone rounds out the top five points-getters heading into Saturday. The expected entry list and top 20 in the point standings are included below.
Besides being the championship-deciding race, the NAPA/Henry’s AUTOPRO Sportsman 100 is offering over $16,000 in winnings, with the winner guaranteed $2,500 from a $10k+ purse. NAPA Bonus Bucks will see $3,000 split among five teams that competed at Riverside on July 18 and again this Saturday; the top spot pays $1,000, $500 each for second and third, and $500 for the winners of two random draws. Another $750 from Fastrac Machining & Fabrication will see $250 awarded by random draw. And $2,500 will be paid out at $25 per lap led, by the following lap sponsors…
The Fastrac Machining Twin 25s will decide the Whispering Winds Campground Mini Stock title. Kody Quinn (Sydney) holds a slim 10-point lead over Dave Matthews (Upper Nine Mile River) in the chase for championship. Travis Keefe is third, Jason Pickles is fourth and Tim Wright rounds out the top five. The top 20 in current standings are below.
The Hot Rod Classics presented by Kimco will make its only stop at Riverside this year for the Anchor Toyota Classic. The cars are custom-built for the series and all featuring bodies fashioned after 1985 or older. Some are tributes to racing heroes and some are newly crafted – but they all pay homage to Maritime racing history. Many of the drivers are names veteran fans are familiar with from other divisions like Ron Hefler, Stacey Clements, Steve Curtis, Patty Lawrence, and Brad Melendy, to name a few. Fans can stop by Anchor Toyota in New Glasgow on Saturday morning from 9 to 11 to see Hot Rod Classics race cars up close as part of a Show & Shine.
The show will end with an Enduro race, the first of its kind at Riverside in decades. Enduro race cars are low buck very basic stock cars for newcomers and veterans alike. The winner will take home $750, second place $500, and third place $250.
The Pit Stop canteen will have end-of-season specials including the return of the $2 hot dog and the track merchandise booth will have blow-out prices on select track swag. Both are located in the base of the tower.
The pit gate opens at 1 p.m. on Saturday, practice starts at 2:30 p.m. The grandstand opens at 2:30 for advance ticket holders and the box office opens at 3:30 p.m. Racing starts at 5. Advance tickets and a complete schedule for the day are available at www.riversidespeedway.ca.
Adult grandstand tickets are just $30, HST included; 15 & under free tickets are available at the gate, starting at 3:30 p.m.
Camping is free this weekend, from Noon on Thursday to Noon Sunday, using Section A. In consideration of the dry conditions and the provincial burn ban, restrictions are in place. No open fires including propane fire pits. If using a propane BBQ or any other enclosed flame device, please keep a fully charged fire extinguisher close by. Smokers are asked to extinguish butts in a bottle of water.
There is plenty of free spectator parking as well.
NAPA/Henry’s AUTOPRO Sportsman 100 / Expected Entries
- (01) Joey Livingstone
- (06) Sara Thorne
- (08) Matt Vaughan
- (6) Kyle Bent
- (8) Dawson Noble
- (9) Daniel Delorey
- (18) Harry Ross White
- (19) Landon Pierce
- (45) Ashley Creelman
- (47) Dan Cameron
- (50) Mike Riley
- (51) Dylan Dowe
- (66) Jeffrey Breen
- (78) Dennis Nickerson
- (85) Darren Hilchie
- (87) Kevin Morse
- (99) Phillip Barkhouse Jr.
Entry list is subject to change without notice.
Auto World Sportsman Point Standings (with one event remining)
1. 08 Matt Vaughan 235; 2. 51 Dylan Dowe 185; 3. 06 Sara Thorne 181; 4. 78 Dennis Nickerson 177; 5. 01 Joey Livingstone 149; 6. 14 Alex Johnson 134; 7. 45 Ashley Creelman 131; 8. 18 Harry Ross White 130; 9. 47 Dan Cameron 129; 10. 66 Jeffrey Breen 113; 11. 50 Mike Riley 105; 12. 87 Kevin Morse 103; 13. 99 Phillip Barkhouse 98; 14. 68 Michael Cormier 84; 15. 85 Kenny MacKenzie Jr. 58; 16. 81 Lynden MacDougall 58; 17. 94 Deven Smith 55; 18. 96 Scott O’Neill 53; 19. 3 Justin Beers 52; 20. 10 Brady John Creamer 50.
Whispering Winds Mini Stock Point Standings (with one event remaining)
1. 31 Kody Quinn 220; 2. 99 Dave Matthews 210; 3. 45 Travis Keefe 188; 4. 0 Jason Pickles 167; 5. 10 Tim Wright 159; 6. 19 Billy Wright 157; 7. 71 Neil Miousse 157; 8. 06 Marshall Bezanson 115; 9. 11 Lauchie Daniel Stubbert 97; 10. 67 Cody Byrne 90; 11. 68 Mitchell Hopkins 88; 12. 48 Chris Drover 84; 13. 14 Darren Hodder 71; 14. 98 Steven Matthews 68; 15. 47 Dave Timmons 67; 16. 58 Jamie Dillman 65; 17. 66 Josh Rozicki 61; 18. 44 Trevor Wayne Smith 56; 19. 24 Aaron Pettipas 51; 20. 96 Cadence Frizzell 50. McMullin 27.
Fans should stay tuned to Riverside’s website (www.riversidespeedway.ca), social media (Facebook, X, and Instagram) for the latest news from Riverside.
About Riverside International Speedway:
For 56 years, Riverside International Speedway has been recognized as a premier stock racing facility in Canada. The 1/3-mile high-banked asphalt oval roars to action several times each 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. It also hosts the NASCAR Canada Series in its only stop on the East Coast. 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).
