Photo by Ernest Pothier
(CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – July 11, 2024) – Oyster Bed Speedway is set to commence its first of two Saturday night shows in July on Saturday, July 13 with its fifth round of championship point racing in 2024.
On the race card for this weekend will be six classes ready to do battle at the high-banked oval. The Chris’s Bobcat Services Four-Fun Mini Stock division are in the spotlight as it hosts a Super Series race, the first of three extended-distance features on the calendar. Joining them will be the Reliable Motors Beginner and Outlaw Bandoleros, Alvin’s Auto Sales and Repair Bombers, Moore Well Drilling Outlaws, and Gauthier’s Auto Repair Street Stocks.
The young stars of Oyster Bed Speedway will also take to the track, as Power Wheels competition is on the race card for the second of three times in 2024. There will be no better place to be on Prince Edward Island on Saturday than at the race track witnessing some ongoing, thrilling championship battles.
Four-Fun Mini Stock Stars Ready to Duel for 30 Laps
The cars and stars of the Chris’s Bobcat Services Mini Stock division will compete in their first of three extended-distance features across the 2024 calendar. With points for two different championships on the line for the first time, this Saturday will be crucial in the chase for a title.
Ricky Bedell (#2) currently leads the year-long points with one feature win and three consecutive feature podium finishes. The Montague native has relied on consistency and drama avoidance to contend for a championship in his third year at Oyster Bed Speedway. He is the most recent feature winner, having won on RE/MAX Rumble night (June 29) in a dead-heat photo finish against veteran Randy MacTavish (#76), who won the season-opening feature in May.
Cash Bridges (#69) was well on his way to taking the points lead on June 29 until a series of controversial incidents during the event led him to an eventual disqualification in the feature. The Miscouche native has yet to win a feature and has been long overdue to emerge victorious; he does carry several wins in heat and semi action. Two-time and reigning champion Jeff Bridges (#95) has one win in two starts and will undoubtedly be in line to go for a Super Series championship.
Rookies Campbell Stewart (#3) and Austin Corrigan (#10) have made terrific progress after three rounds. Stewart proved to be an immediate contender at the season opener but has experienced severely poor luck in every feature so far. Corrigan has one podium finish and a top-5 finish in all features and has built more confidence and speed in every race.
Fellow newcomer Corbin MacAulay (#17) will add depth to the field, hoping to finally make his long-awaited debut after a blown motor ended his chances before Fan Appreciation Night action on June 1. Souris’ Adam Holland (#01) impressed during the RE/MAX Rumble event with a fourth-place finish.
Tight Battles Set to Continue in Beginner and Outlaw Bandoleros
The hot-shot prospects of the Reliable Motors Beginner and Outlaw Bandoleros are set to reach the halfway mark of their calendars on Saturday amid crazy championship battles. After three rounds, there have been first-time winners, triple winners, and a ton of parity across both fields.
Hudson Linzel-Waddell (#57) leads the Beginner class points with one feature win and a podium finish in every feature so far. Heading into the Canada Day Weekend, he was tied with rookie Charlee Rayner (#24), who won on Fan Appreciation Night on June 1, but the two-horse battle became a three-headed war thanks to Payton Gallant (#42) scoring her first feature win of the season. Just like in 2023, three drivers are in the mix to make things interesting in the division’s only races in July.
Not lurking far behind, however, is rookie Oliver Rayner (#23), who has two podium finishes so far. His speed has yet to match the top three, but the built-up experience could do wonders if trouble strikes within the title battle. Juliana O’Connor (#10) and Ashtyn Gariepy (#11) had strong runs on June 29, although Gariepy missed the feature due to a semi race accident that kept her away from victory lane. Landon (#32) and Regan MacBeth (#34) continue to show steady progression, especially the latter, who won in dramatic semi action in the last event.
In the Outlaw class, defending champion Landon Pierce (#19) continues to pioneer the experienced young guns. Although a feature win hasn’t reached his grasp just yet, his consistency currently, and so far, has him on his way to back-to-back championships.
The group behind him has been very back-and-forth with results but is far from out. Cole Doyle (#12) picked up a triple win on Canada Day Weekend but is mired back in sixth in points, 41 behind Pierce due to missing the Fan Appreciation Night feature. Rookie Andrew O’Connor (#63) and Simon Doyle (#91) sit 17 and 18 points behind Pierce, respectively, with both drivers having feature wins this year. Wyatt Peters (#33) has quietly climbed up the standings, which was further helped by a runner-up finish on RE/MAX Rumble night.
Rookie and last year’s Beginner division champion Mason Gillis (#9) has had a roller coaster of a campaign and currently sits fifth in points. Rhyan Burke (#01) and Hunter MacKinnon (#07) continue to make strides in every race.
Wild RE/MAX Rumble Sets Stage for Outlaw War to Intensify
After a climactic RE/MAX Rumble Twin 40s event on Canada Day Weekend, the island ironmen of the Moore Well Drilling Outlaw division are ready to keep the momentum going and fire the intensity up once more this Saturday.
Brandon Forsyth (#3) has led the year-long points for four straight events and it doesn’t look like he’s going to stop any time soon. The Alberton native has had a strong transition from Mini Stocks to Outlaws, currently having one feature win and recently coming off a top-5 finish in twin one of the RE/MAX Rumble.
Jordan LeClair (#47) is not too far behind in second place at 13 points back. along with 2022 champion Layton Delaney (#7) in third place at 22 points back. A midpack melee is ongoing from fourth through seventh place with four veterans within a five-point bubble, including Jamie Cummings (#81), Harley Cornish (#13), multi-time champion Kendall Palmer (#45), and first-year Outlaw driver Corey Bridges (#04).
Jessie LeClair (#46) is on a mission to shoot up the standings after a technical inspection failure and mechanical issues plagued him at the first two races. With seven rounds remaining, he currently sits 12th in points, 103 behind Forsyth, having recorded one feature win, his first since 2019. Shane Bridges (#4) will have a ton of momentum going into the weekend after showing pace inside the top-10 at the RE/MAX Rumble.
Dramatic Finishes Dominate Street Stock Storylines
Every single Gauthier’s Auto Repair Street Stock feature finish has had some sort of drama in 2024. From last-lap passes to a driver earning their first feature win in over a decade, the exciting action of Oyster Bed Speedway’s top division will entertain fans once more with another round this Saturday.
One of the features went in favour of current points leader and multi-time champion Randy Millar (#77), who has been experiencing his most stellar season in years with one feature win and a plethora of podium finishes and heat and semi race wins. Millar is 17 points ahead of fellow multi-time champion Nick Chiasson (#27), who has been in the running for a win in every feature but has had something go wrong in the closing laps every time.
Third in points is Randy Snow (#26), who has picked up more and more speed in every race in his first full-time campaign since 2016. He was in the running for a triple win in a crazy battle on RE/MAX Rumble night until contact coming to the white flag mired him back to third.
It’s been troubling times for Brandon Albert (#37), whose season has been riddled with incidents and mechanical woes. The three-time feature winner in 2023 seeks a redemption arc while being 37 points behind Millar. Veteran Andrew Thompson (#4) and young gun Tyler Doucette (#24) seek rebounds after crashes in semi action on Canada Day Weekend.
Bombers Back at It for Round Two
The Alvin’s Auto Sales and Repair Bombers will make their second run around the high-banked oval in 2024 this Saturday. Ryan Cormier (#96) currently leads the points but there is speculation that Kate Bridges could be in the car for round two. Pending overall attendance, look out for Spencer Paton (#35) and Zach Chappell (#44) to contend once again after collecting victories on RE/MAX Rumble night.
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 1/3 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
Race Day Format
Event Information
Ticket Prices: Adults $20 | Youth (8-15) $10 | Children (7 and under) FREE | Pits $25 with ewaiver
EWaiver link: https://os.speedwaiver.com/
Rain Date: To be determined for the fall
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