2023 RE/MAX Rumble Weekend Preview

(CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – June 30, 2023)

With three wild race weekends in May and June out of the way, it’s time for the weather and the competition to get hotter as we move into the month of July, beginning with a five-division event on Canada Day, July 1!

Returning for the second year in a row, it’s the RE/MAX Rumble presented by Richard’s Quality Auto Repair, featuring Outlaw Twin-40 races (including a $4500 purse!) and regular championship point racing!

The RE/MAX Rumble is round one of a three-round Mini Stock/Outlaw Challenge that runs at Oyster Bed Speedway, Miramichi Speedway, and Petty International Raceway. The $4500 purse is courtesy of RE/MAX Charlottetown and those who choose to sponsor laps, $25 each.

Here is a preview of every division that’ll be racing this weekend. The points standings for each division are at the bottom of each section.

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Reliable Motors Bandolero Division

After two rounds in the Beginner division, Hudson Linzel-Waddell (#57) sits atop the standings with three wins, five podiums, six top-5s, and 165 total points in six starts. The rookie got off to a hot start on opening weekend but didn’t show nearly as much speed last weekend, finishing third, second, and fourth respectively in his heat & semi races and the feature.

This past weekend saw the rise of Andrew O’Connor (#63) and Mason Gillis (#9).

O’Connor, the 2022 Tim’s Corner September Shootout winner, fell just short of victory in all three races on opening weekend, but he finally visited victory lane on Fan Appreciation Night in his heat race. The speed is there, but keeping the car straight on a more consistent level will be his key to future success. He is the only Beginner driver with a podium and top-five finish in every race so far.

Gillis is coming off a huge resurgence that makes his mediocre opening weekend forgettable. With a semi race win and three podiums on June 24, Gillis will look to join the points battle between Linzel-Waddell and O’Connor.

New Brunswick’s Hudson Ruff (#83) arrived on the scene for Fan Appreciation Night and took the field by storm with a total of 90 points from three wins, all coming from the back of the field. If he returns to OBS this weekend, there’s no doubt he will collect more wins.

Don’t count out other drivers such as Payton Gallant (#42), Rhyan Burke (#01), and Juliana O’Connor (#10), who are ready to strike if the top drivers have issues.

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After two rounds in the Outlaw division, Landon Pierce (#19) is the man to beat.

The 2022 Bandolero points runner-up is hoping to go from that title to champion, and so far, the possibility is looking really good. With three wins, six podiums, six top-5s, and 171 total points in six starts, the #19 car is nothing short of dominant. Most notably, in the June 24 feature, Pierce collected frontend damage in a big wreck, but he still visited victory lane.

The Doyles in Cole (#12) and Simon (#91) sit second and fourth in points respectively. Cole, who finished fourth in the 2022 Bandolero points, has been the faster of the two so far, with four podiums. Ironically, the two finished in consecutive order in all three races on Fan Appreciation Night (third-fourth, fourth-fifth, third-fourth).

Wyatt Peters (#33) sits in between the Doyles in points in third, having scored 71 points in each round so far. It was like climbing a ladder this past weekend as the 2022 Rookie of the Year finished sixth, third, and second respectively. With only one podium on opening weekend but improving to two last weekend, Peters remains in the championship hunt. His challenge is going to be figuring out how to keep up with Landon Pierce.

It’s been a rough start for Hunter MacKinnon (#07), who finished last in every race on May 28 and only slightly improved his results on June 24. The 2021 Rookie of the Year and 2022 Most Sportsmanlike Driver is 53 points behind, but there’s still time to turn things around.

Ethan Hicken, the May 28 feature winner, didn’t attend the June 24 races and dropped from first to sixth in points. If the #5 car from New Glasgow returns on Canada Day, he should most certainly give Landon Pierce another challenge. UPDATE: He will return!

Nova Scotia’s Daniel Vandenburg ran his first OBS races of the season last weekend, scoring heat and semi wins, but crashing out of the feature. The #97 was fast and daring, pulling off many tight maneuvers, so a return on July 1 would be quite entertaining.

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Chris’s Bobcat Services Mini Stock Division

The competition in Mini Stocks is something that everyone has been keeping an eye on.

It’s the Bridges family atop the standings. Jeff (#95) has a one-point lead over Corey (#04). Jeff, the 2021 Mini Stock champion, was dominant on May 28 with two wins in three races, but the Lightning McQueen-themed car wasn’t as fast on June 24, his only notable finish being a podium in the semi race.

Corey, the 2022 Mini Stock points runner-up, stole the May 28 feature and claimed two podiums last weekend. With the upheaval of two drivers, Corey was the best of the rest and is easily a championship contender.

One of those two drivers is Randy MacTavish (#76). On May 28, MacTavish finished runner-up in the heat race but also dealt with tech inspection issues. He found adversity on June 24 with a heat runner-up finish and feature victory. Last weekend saw two runner-ups and a semi race victory. The #76 jumped from fifth to third in points and has the momentum to join Jeff & Corey Bridges in the title hunt.

Rookie Bradley Darrach (#44) is fourth in points with three podiums and four top-5s in eight starts. Darrach scored all of his podiums on May 28, including a runner-up in the semi race, but he struggled last weekend with a best finish of fourth. For a rookie in a highly-competitive division, the #44 could surprise people and sneak into victory lane at any time.

Defending Mini Stock champion Tyler Doucette (#24) hasn’t been off to the most successful start to his sophomore campaign. With only one podium and five top-5s in eight starts, Doucette has struggled to move from the back to the front in most races, with a few tangles not of his fault getting in his way. With a great commitment to improving the car at every open practice, it wouldn’t be one bit surprising to see him turn his season around sometime soon.

Brandon Forsyth (#3) was the other driver alongside Randy MacTavish to rise to the top last weekend, winning the heat and feature races with incredible speed. It’s been a roller coaster of a campaign for the #3 car, finishing only one of three races on May 28 and winning the heat race and prematurely exiting the feature race on June 17.

Cash Bridges (#69), Ricky Bedell (#2), and Emma Farrell (#23) have been stuck toward the back of the field for most races so far, but any of them has the potential to pull off an underdog upset and get the fans talking. Cash won the semi race on 2022 Labour Day Weekend, so some experience is there, but it’s going to be a matter of getting through tough competition.

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Moore Well Drilling Outlaw Division

Who else but Ricky Millar?

The 2018 Mini Stock champion and four-time award winner (#17) is atop the standings with an unbelievable six wins in eight starts, only finishing outside the top two once.

For a driver who, in what-if territory, could have three OBS championships, Millar is clawing hard at finally hoisting another championship trophy. It’s been working to great heights so far.

If there’s anyone who can challenge him, it’s Ryan McKnight (#46m). The 2022 Petty International Raceway Mini Stock champion is the only other driver in the field to have a podium and a top-five finish in every single start so far. He claimed his first feature victory last weekend, although had the race been a few laps longer, Ricky Millar was right there to steal it from him.

McKnight is one of the top contributors to the RE/MAX Rumble and the Mini Stock/Outlaw Challenge. With his integral involvement, there’s no doubt fans will be cheering on the #46m to gain some good points and win the $4500 purse.

Behind Millar and McKnight, the LeClair’s hold third and fifth, with Jordan (#47) ahead of Jessie (#46).

Jordan, who finished sixth in the 2022 Outlaw points, has shown a similar pace to Millar and McKnight, but hasn’t been the most consistent driver. With three wins, he’s the driver to focus on when the #17 and #46m tangle.

Jessie, a multi-time race winner and the 2022 Fan Favorite, was fast in his heat and semi races last weekend. However, his feature run was left to be desired after a near crash on lap one slowed his momentum.

Other drivers to keep an eye on are Gerald Gallant (#99, 2022 Outlaw points runner-up), Harley Cornish (#13, 2015 Mini Stock Champion), and Shane Bridges (#4, 2019 Mini Stock champion).

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Central Engine Services Street Stock Division

We said the Mini Stocks were competitive — how about the Street Stocks?

It’s a three-car battle for the championship after three race weekends, beginning with 2010 Street Stock champion Tyler Gauthier (#11). His campaign has been wild thus far — seventh in points after May 28, third in points after June 17, and now, first in points. Out of the nine different winners this season, Gauthier has the most with three.

Behind him, only four points behind, is defending Street Stock champion Colton Ford (#35). With six podiums and six top-five finishes, Ford was having a solid previous weekend with a heat victory and semi runner-up finish before an early exit to the pits during the feature. Out of every division, Ford currently has the best chance of back-to-back titles. Out of every division, Ford currently has the best chance of back-to-back titles.

Seven-time award winner Jeff MacInnis (#29) is third in points, seven points behind. MacInnis, who finished third in last year’s Street Stock points, has been one of the quieter greats this season. With one win, five podiums, and  seven top-five finishes in eight starts, the #29 had an up-and-down performance on June 24, including a case of stuck cars with Randy Millar in their heat race.

Behind the three-man battle are drivers such as Andrew Thompson (#4), Brandon Albert (#37), and Brian Arsenault (#03). Albert stirred the pot on June 24 with a bump-and-run move for the win in his heat race, leading to a black flag (lost the win) and post-race tempers.

One noteworthy driver in a rather unfortunate spot is 2008 Street Stock champion and 21-time award winner Randy Millar (#77). Sitting seventh in points with one podium and four top-five finishes, Millar has faced consistent overheating issues with his car. Despite suffering heavy damage from a crash in his semi race last weekend, people rallied around Millar to keep his #77 racing, and he led multiple laps in the feature.

There are still another seven race weekends left for Millar to find redemption. Being 46 points behind is not catastrophic at this moment, but any further back after this upcoming weekend will be a different story.

Drivers such as Mike Duskey (#42), Mitchell Arsenault (#51), and Michael Cormier (#68) are expected to be at Speedway 660 in Geary, New Brunswick this weekend, so the local drivers have a great opportunity to gain points on Canada Day.

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We have not seen racing from the Toy Master RV Legends Division and A&S Scrap Metals Bomber Division just yet, so we’ll have to wait and see what to expect come race day.

Based on history, the Legends always put on a terrific show at the high-banked oval in Oyster Bed Bridge. With the Maritime League of Legends returning to OBS on July 29, we could see up to, best case scenario, 20 cars on the entry list! An excellent opportunity to get a preview of the final event of the month.

Lap sponsor board (as of June 29):

Image credit: Ryan McKnight

Race day format: pit gates, grandstand gates, and tech inspection all open at 2 PM. Rotating practices will run from 2:30-5 PM. The green flag for racing is at 6 PM.

Prices: Adults $20, Youth 8-15 $10, 7 and under FREE, pit admission $25.

For pit area access, you must fill out the online e-waiver form. Link: https://os.speedwaiver.com/dtopx

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