(CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – October 9, 2024) – A wild stock car racing season at Oyster Bed Speedway concluded on Sunday, October 6 with multiple drivers emerging as champions and others ending their campaigns on a high note throughout one of the longest race days in track history.
Originally slated for a 2 p.m. start, the event underwent several weather delays throughout the day, with a round of practices being cancelled and the start time being pushed back to about 4 p.m., giving fans a rare Sunday evening showdown.
The Gauthier’s Auto Repair Street Stock division had the best storylines going into their final race of the season, with 15 points separating four-time track champion Randy Millar (#77) and past championship runner-up Brandon Albert (#37). Unfortunately, mechanical gremlins in both of the division’s qualifying races caused Millar to lose significant points, but even after failing to finish both races, he still made it out to the 25-lap feature and salvaged a sixth-place finish in what may have been his final start at the high-banked oval; while what he encountered was frustrating and at the worst possible time, his determination and humble attitude was admired by his competitors and fans.
After dramatic races at every other event over the season, the Street Stock championship finale was surprisingly anticlimactic as there were zero incidents and not much battling aside from a three-wide close call on lap one. Two-time champion Tyler Gauthier (#30) made his third start of the season and led every lap en route to his first win since the 2023 season finale, holding off three-time champion Nick Chaisson (#27) and Albert, who clinched his first career championship in his last Street Stock start for the near future.
Kenny Snow (#26), substituting for brother Randy, brought his sibling’s car home in fourth while veteran Andrew Thompson (#4) rounded out the top five. Finishing behind Millar in sixth was former Outlaw champion Devin Gallant (#36), who made his Street Stock debut in a recently bought car.
Nine (9) Street Stocks were in attendance for three races with Gauthier collecting a triple win. Albert’s championship was the first in his family, which has raced at the high-banked oval for over 35 years, and his best championship finish since his runner-up result in 2022. The championship-winning car was, ironically, bought from Randy Millar several years ago.
In Reliable Motors Beginner Bandolero action, points leader Hudson Linzel-Waddell (#57) had the surge of a lifetime in the 15-lap feature, going from fifth to first and taking the lead with three laps remaining, which rewarded him with his fourth feature win of the season (including the TCM Shootout) and the division championship. After coming up short of the title in 2023, the young phenom had a dominant season where he led the points every weekend and won both the season-opener and the season finale.
The caution-free feature saw Juliana O’Connor (#10) start on the pole and lead every lap until a clutch problem forced her to the pits, giving Linzel-Waddell the lead. Oliver Rayner (#23) followed O’Connor during her whole lead until he spun exiting turn two around the halfway point, dropping him back to a fourth-place finish. Payton Gallant (#42) and Charlee Rayner (#24) remained patient as misfortune occurred to their competitors, coming home with podium finishes to wrap up their solid campaigns.
Seven (7) drivers participated across three races. O’Connor and Rayner earned heat and semi race wins.
The Reliable Motors Outlaw Bandolero division had a wonky night, and that’s an understatement for Nova Scotia’s Landon Pierce (#19), who walked away a two-time and back-to-back champion to wrap up the Bandolero portion of his career despite not competing in the 15-lap feature after a big crash during a qualifying race; however, the car did complete one lap with Drew Murphy behind the wheel. The crash saw Pierce spin on his own, get T-boned by fellow Nova Scotian Irelyn Rose (#47), and somewhat collect Andrew O’Connor (#63), who narrowly avoided a trip into the turn-two trees. Pierce and Rose were sore but walked away from the scary incident, and Rose managed to race in the feature.
O’Connor rebounded for the feature in brilliant fashion as, in a feature where anybody could’ve won, it was him, reigning Beginner Bandolero champion Mason Gillis (#9), and Wyatt Peters (#33) in a crazy dogfight for the win till the white flag, when Peters spun exiting turn four, resulting in a green-white-checkered finish. O’Connor held on for his second feature win of the season ahead of Gillis, Peters, Hunter MacKinnon (#07), Rhyan Burke (#91), and Austin Corrigan (#12); the latter two drivers substituted for Simon and Cole Doyle in the semi and feature races as the two drivers had to leave halfway through the event.
Eight (8) cars showed up for the division finale. Gillis won his heat and semi races while Pierce and Peters also took home preliminary race wins.
The Chris’s Bobcat Services Mini Stock division had everything imaginable happen in its final races; a crash on lap one in the heat race, a fire on the last lap of the heat race, multiple cars dealing with mechanical problems, a triple winner, and the eventual champion hang on for the ultimate crown despite finishing no better than fifth all night. 2023 Rookie of the Year Cash Bridges (#69) may have wished for better results to end his second full-time season, but regardless, he became the next driver of the Bridges family to enter the P.E.I. stock car racing history books as a champion.
The night started with rookies Austin Corrigan (#10) and Rosie Kitson (#13) colliding in the heat race, with only Corrigan able to complete the day while Kitson’s damage was too severe for her to continue. Then, Blaze Roberts’ (#6) car went up in flames at the white flag. Taking advantage of Corrigan’s problems was Campbell Stewart (#3), who stole Rookie of the Year honours with a dominating second triple win of the season. He entered the event five (5) points behind Corrigan.
Ricky Bedell (#2) ended his third season at the high-banked oval with a second-place feature finish and championship finish. While his early-season points lead was dashed by poor luck over the summer months, the campaign was still a massive improvement after back-to-back years of finishing outside the top five. He held off veteran Randy MacTavish (#76) in the feature, with Adam Holland (#01) finishing fourth in a fantastic ending to his season. Bridges and Corrigan rounded out the feature field.
Ten (10) cars were on the grounds but only six (6) completed the feature. Rookie Corbin MacAulay (#17) and two-time champion Jeff Bridges (#95) both had transmission issues that kept them from racing.
It was the LeClair show in the Moore Well Drilling Outlaw division, at least in the 20-lap feature, as Jordan LeClair (#47) held off brother Jessie LeClair (#46) for his second feature win of the season. Rookie sensation Brandon Forsyth (#3) secured the championship with finishes of fifth, third, and fourth throughout the night to conclude one of the most consistent campaigns in track history, which included just three (3) wins (one feature).
Jamie Cummings (#81) had a strong finish to his season with a feature podium finish and a heat race win. Bradley Richard (#49) rounded out the top five ahead of former champion Kendall Palmer (#45), who lost out on the opportunity for a podium finish after contact with fellow former track champion Matt Palmer (#5) in the closing laps, which resulted in a late-race restart.
Twelve (12) cars started the event and ten (10) made it to the checkered flag in the feature. Cummings, Jordan LeClair, and Matt Palmer (x2) were victorious in the qualifying races.
Two (2) divisions put on open races to continue their showcasing for a future year-long division. Jamie Ronaghan (#59) claimed a triple win in the Alvin’s Auto Sales + Repair Bomber division and Kate Bridges (#96) made her debut in her significant other’s championship-winning car while former Pro Stock champion Troy Burke (#01) went to victory lane twice in Legends competition ahead of Hunter MacKinnon (#07H) and Allison MacKinnon (#07A).
The final points standings have been updated on the website’s points page. Full race results from Sunday’s event are also available there.
The 2024 P.E.I. stock car racing season is now complete. Oyster Bed Speedway management would like to thank everybody who helped put on a show at each event and they hope for bigger and better things in 2025. Awards banquet details will be announced when finalized.
Reliable Motors Beginner Bandolero 15-Lap Feature Results
1. #57 Hudson Linzel-Waddell
2. #42 Payton Gallant
3. #24 Charlee Rayner
4. #23 Oliver Rayner
5. #32 Landon MacBeth
6. #34 Regan MacBeth
7. #10 Juliana O’Connor
Feature Polesitter – #10 Juliana O’Connor
Heat – #10 Juliana O’Connor
Semi – #23 Oliver Rayner
Champion – #57 Hudson Linzel-Waddell
Reliable Motors Outlaw Bandolero 15-Lap Feature Results
1. #63 Andrew O’Connor
2. #9 Mason Gillis
3. #33 Wyatt Peters
4. #07 Hunter MacKinnon
5. #91 Rhyan Burke
6. #47 Irelyn Rose
7. #12 Austin Corrigan
8. #19 Landon Pierce
Feature Polesitter – #07 Hunter MacKinnon
Heats – #9 Mason Gillis, #19 Landon Pierce
Semis – #9 Mason Gillis, #33 Wyatt Peters
Champion – #19 Landon Pierce
Chris’s Bobcat Services Mini Stock 20-Lap Feature Results
1. #3 Campbell Stewart
2. #2 Ricky Bedell
3. #76 Randy MacTavish
4. #01 Adam Holland
5. #69 Cash Bridges
6. #10 Austin Corrigan
DNS – #6 Blaze Roberts, #13 Rosie Kitson, #17 Corbin MacAulay, #95 Jeff Bridges
Feature Polesitter – #01 Adam Holland
Heat & Semi – #3 Campbell Stewart
Champion – #69 Cash Bridges
Moore Well Drilling Outlaw 20-Lap Feature Results
1. #47 Jordan LeClair
2. #46 Jessie LeClair
3. #81 Jamie Cummings
4. #3 Brandon Forsyth
5. #49 Bradley Richard
6. #45 Kendall Palmer
7. #7 Layton Delaney
8. #5 Matt Palmer
9. #78 Jonathan Fitzpatrick
10. #33 Dre Folland
DNF – #04 Corey Bridges
Feature Polesitter – #81 Jamie Cummings
Heats – #81 Jamie Cummings, #5 Matt Palmer
Semis – #47 Jordan LeClair, #5 Matt Palmer
Champion – #3 Brandon Forsyth
Gauthier’s Auto Repair Street Stock 25-Lap Feature Results
1. #30 Tyler Gauthier
2. #27 Nick Chaisson
3. #37 Brandon Albert
4. #26 Kenny Snow
5. #4 Andrew Thompson
6. #77 Randy Millar
7. #36 Devin Gallant
DNF – #001 Keaton Vessey, #03 Brian Arsenault
Feature Polesitter – #03 Brian Arsenault
Heat & Semi – #30 Tyler Gauthier
Champion – #37 Brandon Albert
Alvin’s Auto Sales + Repair Bomber 20-Lap Feature Results
1. #59 Jamie Ronaghan
2. #35 Spencer Paton
3. #5 Zach Chappell
4. #16 Caycie DesRoches
5. #96 Kate Bridges
Feature Polesitter – #59 Jamie Ronaghan
Heat & Semi – #59 Jamie Ronaghan
Legends 12-Lap Feature Results
1. #12 Troy Burke
2. #07H Hunter MacKinnon
3. #07A Allison MacKinnon
More Information:
Stay up-to-date on our website and social media pages for more breaking news and updates as they happen across the 2024 season and beyond.
Oyster Bed Speedway can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok at @oysterbedspeedway, and @obspeedwaypei on YouTube and X.
Merchandise is available at www.obsmerch.ca. Shop Samantha Busch merch is available.
About Oyster Bed Speedway:
Oyster Bed Speedway is Prince Edward Island’s premier auto racing facility and features fun and excitement with weekly stock car racing special events throughout the season. The 1/4 mile paved oval is located in Oyster Bed Bridge at the intersection of routes 6 and 7, halfway between Cavendish and Charlottetown on beautiful Prince Edward Island.
Website: www.oysterbedspeedwaypei.ca
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