IWK 250 History

IWK 250 | Historical Overview

The very first “Riverside 250” was held in 1977, and won by Ontario’s Billy Watson. Since then the event has become Riverside’s marquis event and is one of the longest-running, most storied stock car races in all of Canada. Some of the top racers in North America have competed in, and won, our “250” including “Daytona” Don Biederman, Junior Hanley, Scott Fraser, Ben Rowe, Mike Rowe, and NASCAR’s Regan Smith. The modern era of this event, the IWK 250, started in 2007 after the facility was rebuilt to become one of the premier facilities in North America. Since then we have featured celebrity NASCAR drivers every year and have continued to grow to become the largest annual summer sporting event in Nova Scotia. Celebrity NASCAR drivers in the modern era of the IWK 250 include…

  • Aric Almirola (2008)
  • Marcos Ambrose (2010, 2011)
  • Matt Crafton (2014, 2015, 2016)
  • Ricky Craven (2007)
  • Brad Keselowski (2013)
  • Joey Logano (2012)
  • Mark Martin (2017)
  • David Reutimann (2009)
  • Mike Skinner (2022)
  • Regan Smith (2007, 2008, 2009)
  • Austin Theriault (2013)

We're proud to have raised over $600,000.00 for the IWK Foundation since the inception of the IWK 250 in 2007!

IWK 250 CHAMPIONS
Year Race Title Sanctioned By Winner
1977 CHFX 250 Open Billy Watson
1978 CHFX 250 Open Frank Fraser
1979 Gatorade 250 Open Don Biederman
1980 No. 7 Lights 250 Open Don Biederman
1981 Dairy Queen 250 Open Don Biederman
1986 Riverside 250 MASCAR Greg Sewart
1987 Labatt Blue Riverside 250 MASCAR Frank Fraser
1989 Labatt Blue Riverside 250 MASCAR Rollie MacDonald
1990 Labatt Blue Riverside 250 MASCAR Terry Clattenburg
1991 Riverside 250 ACT Junior Hanley
1992 Riverside 250 ACT Junior Hanley
1993 GM Goodwrench 250 MASCAR Greg Sewart
1994 Bud GM Goodwrench 250 MASCAR Scott Fraser
1995 Bud Thunder 250 MASCAR Scott Fraser
1996 Pioneer Coal 250 MASCAR Scott Fraser
1997 Pioneer Coal 250 MASCAR Scott Fraser
1998 Pioneer Coal 250 MASCAR Scott Fraser
1999 Pioneer Coal 250 MASCAR Mike MacKenzie
2006 Fall Foliage 250 PASS Ben Rowe
2007 IWK 250 PASS Mike Rowe
2008 IWK 250 MPST Regan Smith
2009 IWK 250 MPST Wayne Smith
2010 IWK 250 MPST Kent Vincent
2011 IWK 250 MPST Darren MacKinnon
2012 IWK 250 MPST John Flemming
2013 IWK 250 MPST Shawn Tucker
2014 IWK 250 MPST John Flemming
2015 IWK 250 MPST Kent Vincent
2016 IWK 250 MPST Donald Chisholm
2017 IWK 250 MPST Dylan Blenkhorn
2018 IWK 250 MPST Kenny Wallace
2019 IWK 250 MPST Cassius Clark
2020 IWK 250 MPST not held (COVID-19)
2021 IWK 250 MPST not held (COVID-19)
2022 IWK 250 MPST Greg Proude
2023 IWK 250 MPST Craig Slaunwhite
2024 IWK 250 MPST Craig Slaunwhite