JAMES RIVER, NS – Riverside International Speedway is ready for its season opener this Saturday with the Maple Leaf Classic Presented by Tidal Tractor. The nations only national stock car touring series, NASCAR Canada, will see a 300-lap feature and the regions longest running pro stock/late model series, the FGI Pro Stock Tour, will contest the Wajax 150. Both races are championship points events for their respective series.
This Saturday is round two of 12 for the NASCAR Canada Series, its first oval race of the year. Marc-Antoine Camirand (St. Leonard d’Aston, QC) won round one and is the series points leader heading into Saturday’s event. He holds a four-point margin over second-place Gary Clutt (Halton Hills, ON).
“The East Coast brings a unique energy to the series. The fans are passionate and the racing is always competitive. Riverside has delivered different winners year after year, and we’re excited to be back.” said Alan Labrosse, General Manager of the NASCAR Canada Series.
This is the only stop east of Quebec this year for the NASCAR Canada Series and, with Riverside’s 1/3-mile oval boasting the highest banks of any track in Canada – a favourite among racers and fans alike.
Former NASCAR Canada Series winners at Riverside on the entry list include Andrew Ranger (2009), D.J. Kennington (2010, 2012), Jason Hathaway (2013, 2019), LP Dumoulin (2018), and Kevin Lacroix (2024).
The FGI Pro Stock Tour is bringing a strong field of contenders for the Wajax 150 including current championship point leader Cory Hall (Jolicure, NB) who has won the first two races of the FGI Pro Stock Tour season and is entering Riverside with a 15-point lead of the series ’24 champion, Jarrett Butcher.
Ontario’s Jason Hathaway is doing double-duty, entering both the NASCAR Canada Series 300 and the Wajax 150. Seven Canadian provinces and one American state will be represented between the two series competing in Saturday’s Maple Leaf Classic Presented by Tidal Tractor.
NASCAR CANADA SERIES 300 / ENTRY LIST
- (3) Jason Hathaway, Stouffville, ON
- (04) TBA
- (8) Sara Thorne, Chance Cove, NL
- (9) Matthieu Kingsbury, QC
- (17) D.J.Kennington, St. Thomas, ON
- (27) Andrew Ranger, Roxton Pond, QC
- (28) Ryan Vargas, La Mirada, California
- (45) Will Larue, Quebec City, QC
- (47) Louis-Phillipe Dumoulin, Trois Riviere, QC
- (74) Kevin Lacroix, Mirabel, QC
- (80) Donald Theetge, Boischatel, QC
- (84) Larry Jackson, Oakville, ON
- (96) Marc-Antoine Camirand, St, Leonard d’Aston, QC
- (98) Brent Wheller, Toronto, ON
WAJAX 150 ENTRY LIST / FGI PRO STOCK TOUR
- (0) Sam Rogers, Lower Onslow, NS
- (2) Ashton Tucker, Miramichi, NB
- (3) Jason Hathaway, Stouffville, ON
- (11v) Jordan Veinotte, Porters Lake, NS
- (13) Austin MacDonald, Pictou, NS
- (25) Ryan VanOirschot, Antigonish, NS
- (25g) Gage Gilby, Enfield, NS
- (26) Braden Langille, Shubenacadie, NS
- (28) Matt Palmer, PEI
- (30) Stephen Lively, Shubenacadie, NS
- (31) Chris Reid, Fort McMurray, AB – originally from Sydney, NS
- (32) Chris Hughes, Brackley Beach, NS
- (36) Gary Elliott, Truro, NS
- (42) Kyle Reid, Fort McMurray, AB – originally from Sydney, NS
- (54) Jarrett Butcher, Porters Lake, NS
- (83) Cory Hall, Jollicure, NB
- (88) Russell Smith, Jr, Lakeside, NS
- (89) Donald Chisholm, Antigonish, NS
Entry lists are subject to change without notice.
Besides 450 laps of feature racing action, fans will see time trials set the field for the NASCAR Canada Series 300, and heat races set the field for the FGI Pro Stock Tour. The show will conclude with a fireworks display to celebrate Canada’s 158th birthday on July 1. Fans are encouraged to display their Canadian pride at Saturday’s Maple Leaf Classic by wearing Canada-themed swag and/or red and white, with prizes for the “best-dressed.”
Racing action gets underway at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. The grandstand opens at 1 p.m. for advance ticket holders. The box office opens at 2 p.m. NASCAR Canada practice runs from 1:30 p.m. until 2:15 p.m., and FGI Pro Stock Tour practice is from 2:20 p.m. to 3:20 p.m. At 4:30 p.m., fans can meet the drivers in a 30-minute autograph session.
As part of its longtime and ongoing commitment to affordable family fun, Riverside is offering free admission for kids 15 and under at every race this year. Free tickets are available at the gate only and the kids must be present and accompanied by an adult who has a ticket for the event. Reduced rates are available for reserved seating for kids.
Tickets and camping reservations are available in advance by visiting the Maple Leaf Classic page at www.riversidespeedway.ca. Three types of seating are available, general admission, reserved bench, and reserved premium (stadium-style with back and arms located in the top two rows). Tickets will also be available at the gate on Saturday; all major forms of payment are accepted.
Fans should stay tuned to Riverside’s website (www.riversidespeedway.ca), social media (Facebook, X, and Instagram), and sign up for the electronic newsletter (www.riversidespeedway.ca/media/newsletter) for further announcements.
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).
