Tuesday, August 30, 2005

O’Leary Pontiac On Board for Sportsman 150: Brookside Storage Announces Halfway and Winner Bonuses

By Gord Curran, General Manager, NBIS

August 29th, 2005, Fredericton, NB – One of the Speedweekend’s thrilling events just got a little more Excitement. NBIS is proud to announce that the Saturday night sportsman race will be the O’Leary Pontiac Excitement Sportsman 150, sponsored by O’Leary Pontiac in Fredericton. In addition, Brookside Storage announced that they are putting up a $250 Halfway Award and $250 bonus to the winning driver.

Scheduled on Speedweekend on September 2nd-5th, the O’Leary Pontiac Excitement Sportsman 150 race on Saturday night is an extremely popular part of the weekend as it draws a large car count and full stands as fans prep themselves for the Irving Oil 250 the following day. Last season’s race featured an epic battle between wily NBIS veteran Bradley Logan and young Shawn Turple from Scotia Speedworld with Turple leading the majority of the race, but Logan taking checkers with a late race pass.

Located on the 1135 Hanwell Rd. in Fredericton, O’Leary Pontiac Buick GMC has been central New Brunswicker's #1 choice for all their automotive needs since 1987. Owner Jerry O’Leary has come full circle – he built New Brunswick International Speedway in 1994 before selling it to the current ownership group ten years ago. Now he will sponsor the major sportsman race on the speedway’s biggest weekend of the season.

Speedweekend kicks off with the free Bridges Farms Corn Boil on Friday night at 7pm, but the racing action begins with the O’Leary Pontiac Excitement Sportsman 150 on Saturday night at 7pm. Although Speedweekend is highlighted by the Irving Oil on Sunday, the Saturday night sportsman race continues to grow into an attraction of its own with over thirty-five sportsman expected to attempt to qualify for 26 spots on the starting grid. The night will also feature a 35-lap Atlantic Open Wheel feature. The event has always provided fans with edge of their seat action.

The race’s purse also continues to grow as Brookside Storage of Fredericton has provided some extra contingency money. Darren Sutherland, owner of Brookside Storage, is pleased to offer $250 to the Halfway Leader and an extra $250 to the race winner.

“We are very happy to be involved in a race like the O’Leary Pontiac Excitement 150,” said Sutherland. “The Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman division at NBIS features some of the top quality drivers in the region and provides fans with outstanding entertainment. We are also very excited to be associated with O’Leary Pontiac’s race.”

Please contact Gord Curran at New Brunswick International Speedway (direct 506-455-3181, page 506-462-8116 or gord.curran@nbisonline.com ) if you have any other questions.

The Irving Oil 250
The 2005 Irving Oil 250 will take place on Sunday, September 4th, 2005 and will be the highlight of the fourth annual Speedweekend. The event will showcase the NBIS CARQUEST Pro Stocks against the best of the Eastern Canada and New England. The purse for 2005 will be over $60,000 with a guaranteed $15,000 to the event winner and possible winner’s cheque of $27,500. Two years ago, the late Scott Fraser took home a record $25,400 including lap money. Only five years old, the event as grown in crowd, atmosphere, and car count every year since its inception. Over 7,000 people attended the 2004 event to break attendance records at Canada’s Fastest Short Track. A record 36 pro stock cars, including several Maine drivers, attempted to qualify for 28 spots on the starting grid.

Speedweekend
Just like the Irving Oil 250, Speedweekend continues to grow every year with over 12,000 people attending the weekend in 2004. The four-day stock car fest is scheduled for September 2nd-5th, 2005 and includes the Bridges Corn Boil on Friday night, O’Leary Pontiac Excitement Sportsman 150 race on Saturday night, the Irving Oil 250 on Sunday, and finishes up with an Enduro 200 on Monday. While the Irving Oil 250 is the highlight of the racing events, the weekend has developed into an event on its own with over 300 campers turning NBIS into a small town over the weekend. It has become the destination of choice for the region’s stock car fans.

New Brunswick International Speedway
New Brunswick International Speedway is Canada’s Fastest Short Track. The 1/3 of a mile high-banked paved oval features three classes of racing on a weekly basis: CARQUEST Pro Stocks, Martin’s Home Heating, and Coast Tire Street Stocks. Over 60,000 people are expected to attend over 25 events during the 2005 season. NBIS is located off Highway 7 on Route 660 in Geary, NB, and is within minutes of Saint John and Fredericton. NBIS can be found online at http://www.nbisonline.com/.

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