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BEGINNER BANDOLERO

Rhyan Burke – #01

From Sherwood, the maternal granddaughter of the late former track owner, Merrill Cronin, began her racing career in 2023 after some substitute runs for the Doyles in 2022. Rhyan impressed everyone by finishing fourth in Beginner Bandolero points, scoring two heat wins, and consistently finishing inside the top five in features. To add to those accomplishments, she earned the Favourite Driver award at the season’s end.

According to the Burke family, Rhyan’s car is designed to be the “negative” version of Troy’s super late model. Rhyan has followed racing her whole life, was changing her mother’s tires at age eight, and is a multi-sport athlete (soccer, rugby, cross country, hockey). She recently won the Hockey P.E.I. U18 “AA” championship with the Central Storm, which is big momentum that she’ll certainly want to carry over to the racing side of her sporting career!

In her sophomore season, expect Rhyan to step things up with more podium finishes and maybe a few more wins! We might as well ask the man, the myth, the legend himself — Troy Burke, what must fans anticipate from the rising star?

Catch the #01 Bandolero at Oyster Bed Speedway all summer long!

Mason Gillis – #9

From Morell, Gillis’ interest in racing came at eight years old when at the track with his father. He hopped into a Bandolero for a few runs late in the 2022 season and eventually transitioned to full-time competition in 2023. It took some time for Gillis to get fast, and a few feature runs were rough, but by the time July came around, he was WICKED fast. Back-to-back feature wins and taking advantage of unfortunate luck for his championship competitors secured him the title by the championship finale. At the season’s end, he was given well-deserved Rookie of the Year honours.

When Gillis isn’t racing, you can find him at the hockey rink or the baseball field, or simply tinkering with any piece of equipment he can get his hands on. It’ll be a steering wheel very soon, and he’ll have his hands full this summer as the defending Beginner Bandolero champion.

With familiar competitors likely to return (and be much faster with valuable experience… watch out) and a plethora of rookies joining the Oyster Bed Speedway family, Gillis may feel pressure as a sophomore, but his intense and competitive racing style has been proven to be VERY challenging to go up against.

Plus, he’s recently been doing community work to raise money for car parts, and he has a fan club that sells tickets and will have a $500 cash prize! Follow Mason Gillis Racing on Facebook to learn more and stay updated.

Catch the #9 Bandolero at Oyster Bed Speedway all summer long!

Payton Gallant – #42

From Cornwall, the fourth-generation driver enters her second season at Oyster Bed Speedway driving what could be best described as a mini Mike Duskey car. The niece of the elite Street Stock veteran started her racing career in 2023 with help from her family and many sponsors, and what a debut it was.

Fifth in Beginner Bandolero points out of 14 drivers, three feature podium finishes, and a FEATURE WIN in September! She and her team’s efforts earned her a well-deserved Most Dedicated Driver award at the season’s end.

Heading into 2024, there’s no doubt Gallant will be seeking a higher finish in the standings and contending for wins every weekend!

Catch the #42 Bandolero at Oyster Bed Speedway all summer long!

Hudson Linzel-Waddell – #57

From Charlottetown, Linzel-Waddell began his Oyster Bed Speedway racing career last year and he made an immediate impact with a TRIPLE WIN on Victoria Day weekend. In the shiny blue and yellow #57 car, he added a Tim’s Corner Motorsports Bandolero September Shootout Beginner Feature victory on Labour Day to his resume whilst being a consistent top finisher every weekend.

Although the last couple of races brought misfortune and left him out of the running for the title, Linzel-Waddell finished the season strong with a podium finish in the season finale. Two feature wins and six feature podium finishes are not stats to be disappointed by! He earned a well-deserved Hard Charger award at the season’s end.

The Fair Isle Ford representative not only gained valuable experience on the island, but also on the mainland with runs at Scotia Speedworld, Petty International Raceway, and Shediac Centre for Speed. Off the track, you’ll find Linzel-Waddell playing golf in the summer and hockey in the winter and building trails and jumps for mountain biking.

His personality and driving abilities are well-beloved by everyone in the Oyster Bed Speedway family, and there’s no doubt he’ll continue to show them off with a stronger performance this season! If there’s any young driver who is guaranteed to step up this summer, it’s Hudson.

Catch the #57 Bandolero at Oyster Bed Speedway all summer long!

OUTLAW BANDOLERO

Hunter MacKinnon – #07

From Oyster Bed Speedway’s home, MacKinnon followed in his father’s footsteps in 2021, driving a familiarly numbered, but differently coloured #07 car in the Bandolero division. He finished sixth in points and earned Rookie of the Year honours. In 2022, he stepped things up by collecting his first career win and the Most Sportsmanlike Driver award at season’s end. Unfortunately, that was also the year when Hunter was diagnosed with a concussion after a bad wreck.

In 2023, he finished fourth in Outlaw Bandolero points and collected back-to-back Most Sportsmanlike Driver awards for his continued cleanliness and sportsmanship. Not only that, he built up a good resume of avoiding major incidents.

Hunter is due for a breakout season with a return to victory lane whilst continuing to become the next star of the MacKinnon family!

Catch the #07 Bandolero at Oyster Bed Speedway all summer long!

Cole Doyle – #12

From Stratford, Cole began his Oyster Bed Speedway career in 2021 alongside younger brother Simon, pulling off a third-place points finish in a division dominated by current Pro Stock and Legends driver Tanton Wooldridge. When things got more competitive in 2022, Cole held on for fourth in points.

2023 was his breakout season, which showed some struggles at the start, but that all changed come August 19. From that day till the September 24 season finale, he scored two TRIPLE WINS and two feature wins! Unfortunately, the late momentum wasn’t enough to deny eventual champion Landon Pierce, who won by 21 points. The bright red-and-yellow #12 Bandolero was on FIRE to conclude the summer, which made sense when it won the Best Appearing Car award at the season’s end. Cole also deservedly claimed Most Improved Driver honours.

Entering his fourth summer at the high-banked oval in Oyster Bed Bridge, Cole will no doubt be a popular pick by many to win a championship. It’ll be quite an exciting battle to witness between him, his brother Simon, Pierce, and others, which fans will NOT want to miss! Cole thanks his sponsors, ants, and grandfather Carl Craswell for the support to keep him on the track every race weekend.

Catch the #12 Bandolero at Oyster Bed Speedway all summer long!

Simon Doyle – #91

From Stratford, Simon began his Oyster Bed Speedway career in 2021 alongside older brother Cole and has pulled off consistent championship finishes ever since (plus four career wins), many coming against some of the most talented young racing prospects in Atlantic Canada.

Last year, he scored a heat win, finished third in points, and was awarded Favourite Driver honours. His passion for racing was passed down from grandfather Carl Craswell, and he loves spending time at the track with the ants and his race family.

2023 was a very consistent and clean year for Simon, and he’ll look to maintain a similar prowess going into the 2024 season. Considering his brother outnumbered him in the win category, watch out for Simon to start pushing the limits and equalling Cole’s statistics whilst chasing a championship!

Catch the #91 Bandolero at Oyster Bed Speedway all summer long!

MINI STOCK/FOUR-FUN

Ricky Bedell – #2

From Montague, the 33-year-old enters his third season at Oyster Bed Speedway intending to improve last season’s sixth-place points finish. His eyes are set on a top-5 finish… but could he be a sleeper pick for the championship?

“I started racing because of my father when he was in the hobby stock with the same number two. He raced for many years alongside Randy Millar. I loved watching them race and always told myself that I was going to be a race car driver when I grew up,” Bedell said.

His dream came true in 2022, as he bought a car and went on to finish seventh in the standings with a best finish of third. In 2023, he showed steady progression every weekend and slowly began contending for podium finishes while in a competitive field.

He finished the season strong by improving his points finish to sixth — but what caught everyone off guard was his performance on Labour Day Weekend. There was no better way for him to earn his first career win than by winning not one, not two, but ALL THREE races on that sunny September day! To cap it all off, his family flew in from Alberta and witnessed him achieve greatness. His efforts earned him the Improved Driver award at season’s end.

Despite all that, Bedell’s season ended on a sour note as he was involved in a crash at the Shediac Atlantic Championships, forcing him to retire his car and buy a new one. Fingers crossed, it’ll be faster and prove how talented he truly is! With several veterans leaving the division and a crop of freshmen arriving on the scene, Bedell has a big opportunity to step things up and take advantage of his experience.

“I’m excited for another season at Oyster Bed and I hope to get some more victories in this season to come,” Bedell said.

Catch the #2 Mini Stock at Oyster Bed Speedway all summer long!

Cash Bridges – #69

From Miscouche, the 18-year-old ran his first full-time season at Oyster Bed Speedway in 2023, finishing fifth in the standings with one semi win and three podium finishes, earning him Rookie of the Year honours. Racing became Cash’s childhood dream after watching track legend Randy Millar race in the old Modified and Late Model divisions. He first began racing in 2022 on a part-time schedule between August and September, collecting a semi win on Labour Day Weekend and eventually transitioning to full-time in 2023.

“We had a slow start to the 2023 season dealing with a new build and no other cars in the class to really go off of. Coming to the end of the season, we dealt with the loss of a few family members, one being Alvin Williams. He always had something to say at the fence to get me to push that car to its limits,” Bridges said.

One weekend after Williams’ passing, Cash won a semi race and had his best points night of the season. Coming off a rookie season that he considers great overall, he looks forward to gaining more experience in 2024.

“We’re hoping to hit the track faster and more competitive than we did last season. Our car is much better and I’ve had a lot more seat time, but we still have lots to learn. Also can’t wait to try out my first super series and just see how much more interesting this season will get with the addition of that,” Bridges said.

Along with those goals, he expects to make his Outlaw division debut on June 15, driving Gerald Gallant’s former #99 car. Cash loves making memories with the family and inspiring other kids to join the sport every summer, so making a run for the championship would CERTAINLY be both memorable and inspiring!

OUTLAW

Corey Bridges – #04

From Ellerslie, the 47-year-old ran in the Mini Stock division for three years, collecting multiple wins, three straight podium championship finishes, two championship runner-up finishes, and four awards. Corey entered the racing scene after several years of watching his brother Shane race, notably being part of his pit crew en route to a 2019 Mini Stock championship. When Shane took a break in 2020, Corey decided to give racing a shot, using Shane’s old Pontiac Sunfire.

The pandemic delayed his debut until 2021, a year when he recorded eight wins (one feature), won Rookie of the Year honours, and finished third in the standings.

In 2022, Corey built his own car thanks to assistance from Matthew Ford and MFRacing. Corey went on to collect more wins and podium finishes but fell 56 points short of the championship to rookie Tyler Doucette. He used the momentum from winning the Hard Charger and Most Improved Driver awards to go and finish fourth at the Shediac Atlantic Championships in October.

In 2023, Corey started the season strong with a close season-opener feature win against Jeff Bridges. From there, he remained a contender for the rest of the summer but couldn’t match the competition which featured Jeff, Brandon Forsyth, and Randy MacTavish. Yet again, he finished second in the standings, falling 26 points short of Jeff. He was awarded Favourite Driver honours, which, in Corey’s words, is his biggest racing accomplishment so far.

Corey will take his racing endeavours to the Outlaw division in 2024. After back-to-back seasons of finishing runner-up in the Mini Stock points, he will be hungry to accomplish more whilst taking on a new challenge, and finally hoist a championship trophy at season’s end.

Catch the #04 Outlaw at Oyster Bed Speedway all summer long!

STREET STOCK

Tyler Doucette – #24

From New London, the young phenom is exiting a roller coaster of a sophomore season at Oyster Bed Speedway. It started with the goal of defending the Mini Stock championship and ended with him driving a Street Stock in the annual Piston Cup race. Doucette was inspired to go racing after watching races as a child, beginning his journey as a crew member for a friend. Just before the 2022 season, he and his fiance Claya agreed to purchase a Mini Stock.

His first season was arguably the greatest ever by a rookie as he won the championship, earned both Rookie of the Year and Favourite Driver honours, and recorded 10 wins and two triple wins. The sophomore slump struck in 2023 as Doucette experienced issues in all sorts of different places; car setups, incidents, bad luck, etc.

In July, he decided to move on from the division and venture into Street Stocks, purchasing Ricky Myers’ old car. Although his transition was extremely turbulent, Doucette learned many valuable lessons and gained integral experience. He walked away with a semi win and Rookie of the Year honours.

Heading into 2024, there are high hopes for Doucette to bring a fast car and compete for the illustrious Street Stock championship. The black and pink #24 car will be back and ready to challenge the veteran icons of Oyster Bed Speedway’s headline division. When Tyler isn’t racing, he’s working at Island Ocean Forms, pursuing a degree at Holland College, counting down the days until his wedding, and assisting Super Late Model superstar Cory Hall.

Catch the #24 Street Stock at Oyster Bed Speedway all summer long!

Randy Snow – #26

From Oyster Bed Speedway’s home, the relative of former track champion Kenny Snow started his racing career in 2016, a season where he won a race and earned Rookie of the Year honours. Between 2017 and 2023, Snow ran on a part-time basis, collecting multiple podium finishes along the way.

This past year, he ran five rounds and continued to show decent speed, collecting top-five finishes in the season-opener feature and the Piston Cup. Fun fact, he finished sixth out of 12 cars in the August 19 feature while having no front end!

Those who were in the community in 2016 and still are today will be excited to learn that Snow plans to run FULL-TIME for the first time since his rookie season! With the help of people like Kenny Snow and reigning division champion Tyler Gauthier, Randy Snow will be ready to spread a flurry BLIZZARD (get it?… sorry) on the rest of the Street Stock field!

Catch the #26 Street Stock at Oyster Bed Speedway all summer long!

Brandon Albert – #37

From Linkletter, Albert has raced at Oyster Bed Speedway for over a decade. Since starting in 2013, he’s gradually become one of the more consistent winners in the Street Stock division and is always poised to end up on the season-end championship podium.

In 2021, he claimed his first feature win (which came with a triple win!) and finished third in points. In 2022, he took one step higher, collecting multiple wins and finishing second in points. Unfortunately, Albert was not able to run the entire 2023 season due to several circumstances. Regardless, he remained hot and picked up three feature wins, including a 50-lap race that awarded $500.

When Albert’s #37 car isn’t on track, you can catch him assisting his friend Tyler Doucette or planning a wedding with his fiance Madeline. If you make a trip to the mainland on an off-weekend and you happen to stop by Petty International Raceway, you may witness a familiar name and number in the Street Stock or Sportsman division — sometimes both!

If all goes according to plan this summer, Albert will be chasing after an illustrious Street Stock championship, and perhaps a Super Series championship too!

Catch the #37 Street Stock at Oyster Bed Speedway all summer long!

Randy Millar – #77

From Freeland, Millar has raced since 1993 and will be entering his 31st consecutive year of racing. The 55-year-old legend loves to recall the days of spending his childhood watching local talents Alan Vincent and Albert Gallant race at the defunct Freetown Speedway. After testing a six-cylinder and eventually buying a Ford Fairmont from a friend, he got hooked into racing — and what a ride it’s been ever since.

1997 Hobby Stock champion. 2008 Street Stock champion. 2009 and 2012 Modified champion. 16 Fan Favourite awards. Two Heart of a Champion, Myrna O’Connor, Best Appearing Car, and Most Dedicated Driver awards. The only driver to win back-to-back titles in two different divisions. Atlantic Canada’s Most Popular Driver in 2016. We could go on and on!

However, the past decade has been a turbulent run for Millar. He raced Pro Stocks for several years until financial and mechanical woes forced him to return back to Street Stocks. Petty Int’ Raceway owner Wayne Smith traded him a car in exchange for Millar’s Pro Stock, and ever since, Millar has consistently finished inside the top five in points but hasn’t visited victory lane much. Last year, he won a semi race and finished fourth in points after battling adversity the entire summer; incidents out of his control, car issues, and personal sorrow.

You’ll always hear Millar joke about his age but what he certainly won’t be joking about is gaining back the speed he once had years ago and contending for a third Street Stock championship. The iconic #77 car will be sporting green instead of orange in 2024 and will no doubt be an eye-catcher with plenty of support every race weekend!

Catch the #77 Street Stock at Oyster Bed Speedway all summer long!