If you love racing, you are sure to love the action this Saturday afternoon at Eastbound International Speedway in Avondale.
Since 2014, it’s a weekend that’s been circled on the calendars of race fans in the province … and for good reason.
The Eastbound Speedway Finale 150 is the Newfoundland track’s version of the Daytona 500, its signature event.
“Each year, the racing is very intense,’’ race director Mike James said Wednesday.
“This is our biggest and longest race and because of that, competition ramps up and you never know what is going to happen.
The Finale 150 caps off the track’s fifth season of racing, and if recent history is an indication, anything could happen.
Josh Collins has won the last three Finale 150s and will be hoping to wrap up his 2018 season by making it four in a row. Dylan Gosbee, a Maritime Pro-Stock Tour driver from Prince Edward Island, took the inaugural event in 2014.
In addition to the 150, Saturday will see all four major divisions at the track officially crown 2018 champions. Those drivers — Wayne Walsh in the Division I NASCAR series, Michael Neary in the Hanlon Realty US Legends division, Owen Groves in the MNR Performance Bandolero Series and Shane Collins in the Atlantic Dodge Dealers Hobby Stock division — have had exceptional seasons, so much so that each owns an insurmountable point lead in his respective division heading into this final weekend of racing.
But there are still plenty of reasons to race as a host of drivers are battling for position in each series. Plus, everyone wants to end the year on a high note by winning before putting the car away for the winter.
James expects Collins to be tested by some of the best cars in the field and perhaps by a few others who could surprise.
Take the Sept. 16 race for example. Nobody expected 15-year-old Owen Groves to jump out of a Bandolero car and sweep both segments of the Wounded Warriors 75 Division One race. Can he have the patience and skill to do that again this week?
Will early-season success return for the new No. 16 car of Ross Thorne? Has the No. 29 of Mitchell Fahey shook out the newness of his car? Will Thorne’s daughter Sara make her Division One debut? How about Ches Cole in the No. 61, a mainstay at the track who has missed just one race in 20 seasons and has the knack of winning big events?
The season finale originally started as a night race, but was changes a matinee to make it more fan friendly, especially with weather in late September being unpredictable.
The main gates open at 12 p.m. and Paul McAusland will perform on the Shamrock City Stage at that time to warm up the fans.
Qualifying begins at 1 p.m. for all four divisions, including time trials for the Finale 150 which will see each entrant timed for a two-lap circuit to determine starting position. Racing gets underway at 2 p.m.
The Legends and Hobby Stock series will each run a 25-lap main event final, while the Bandoleros will do 20 laps.
Tickets are $20 for general admission and children under 12 are admitted for $15.
Tickets are available online, at North Atlantic Orangestores or at the Gates. There is free parking for RV’s with all ticket purchases.
A rain date has been set for Sunday, Sept. 30.
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Codner elevated to Sept. 16 Bandolero winner after review
Following a post-race review of the Sept. 16 main event, it has been determined Nicholas Codner’s No. 54 was the winner in the MNR Performance Bandolero Series, giving Codner the first big win of his young racing career.
The caution flag and checkered flag flew simultaneously as Codner and Owen Groves raced to the start-finish line. Both drivers followed protocol and slowed coming to the line as there were two cars involved in an incident in Turn 1.
After looking at the race video and checking the timing system, it was determined Codner was the leader at the last timing loop, sending Groves to his first loss in the past 17 races in the series.
In Saturday’s Bandolero finale, Codner will seek to solidify second place in the overall and stay ahead of Sara Thorne in her No. 06 car, with Joey Arsenault pushing both of them.
Pullout
