The NASCAR Canada series continues its journey in the Maritime Provinces on June 29 and 30, with a return to Riverside International Raceway for the Pro•Line 150 and the Choko 150, two 150-lap races. The asphalt oval located in Antigonish, 200 km northeast of Ahalifax, hosted 13 NASCAR Canada races between 2007 and 2019, and saw 10 different winners.
The track, designed by the late John “Nova” Chisholm, is inspired by Bristol Motor Speedway, one of NASCAR’s most prestigious ovals, located in Tennessee. Riverside is a smaller version, a third of a mile long compared to Bristol’s half mile.
Tomorrow, Friday, June 28, the venue will host Country Rocks Riverside. Fans will enjoy a fun night of country music headlined by the James Baker Band, as well as special performances by Eddie Cummings and Merimac.
Series veteran Jason Hathaway, who scored victories at Riverside in 2013 and the most recent event in 2019, will aim for a hat-trick at the iconic track. DJ Kennington joins Hathaway as the only other active driver with two wins at this track, achieved in 2010 and 2012.
Mark Dilley returns to the series, returning to the track where he notched his first career victory in 2007. Dilley’s last race in NASCAR Canada was in the 2022 season finale at Delaware.
Louis-Philippe Dumoulin, Andrew Ranger and Alex Labbé are the only other drivers currently in the series with victories at Antigonish. Ranger won top honours in 2009, while Dumoulin claimed victory in 2018. “Riverside is a track that I like, where I’ve had success in the past, but it’s a difficult circuit at the same time,” explains Labbé. “It’s a circuit that reminds me a bit of Autodrome Chaudière, but faster,” says the St. Albert driver, who won in 2017, the year he was crowned NASCAR Canadian Series champion. “Following the problems we had at Vallée-Jonction earlier this month, we made several adjustments to the car. I’m confident that it’s paying off,” concludes Labbé, pictured above.
Alex Guénette will also be back for his second race of 2023 and his second at this location. Matrc-Antoine Camiramd, Kevin Lacroix, Donald Theetge, Larry Jackson and Bryan Cathcart are ready to return to the Antigonish circuit.
For many drivers, this will be their first time on this technical track. Glenn Styres, Sara Thorne, Thomas Nepveu, Brandon MacFarlane, Maxime Gauvreau and Danny Chisholm, a native of Port Williams, Nova Scotia, will make their debut on the track. Chisholm will make his second NASCAR Canada Series start after competing in the 2024 season opener at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, where the 19-year-old finished 21st.
Three drivers from Newfoundland will follow the series from Eastbound to Riverside. Sara Thorne and Brandon Macfarlane will make their debuts on the Nova Scotia circuit, after finishing 14th and 8th respectively last week at home. Finally, Josh Collins will make his second start at Riverside, his first since 2015, where he finished 10th.
A total of 19 drivers are registered. They will have two days with the same schedule, Saturday and Sunday: free practice at 1:45 p.m., followed by an autograph session in the stands from 4:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., then qualifying from 5:20 p.m. and the green flag for the start of the race at 8:30 p.m.
