By 
(CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – September 19, 2024) – The race to the finish in the 2024 Oyster Bed Speedway season starts this week with two events left to crown champions.
The penultimate event on the calendar, featuring five stock car racing classes and one final round of Power Wheels kid races, commences this Saturday, September 21 with a green flag time slated for 5 p.m. Originally, the races were supposed to happen on Sept. 7 but were postponed due to heavy rain.
This Saturday’s races will see three drivers etch their name into the P.E.I. stock car racing history books as champions at the high-banked oval, with two in Super Series competition and one in year-long points. The event will set the stage for the 2024 season finale, which still has an undetermined date due to multiple rainouts.
Event Information
Date: Saturday, September 21 at 5 pm
Gate Times: Pits and grandstands at 1 pm
Classes: Bandoleros, Four Fun Mini Stocks, 4-Cylinder Outlaws, Street Stocks, V6 Bombers
Power Wheels kid races will start the event at 5 pm!
Ticket Prices: Adults $20 | Youth (8-15) $10 | Children (7 and under) FREE | Pits $25 with ewaiver
Tickets can only be purchased at the gates on race day. Cash, credit, and debit are accepted.
EWaiver link: https://os.speedwaiver.com/
Rain Date: Sunday, September 22 at 2 pm
Past Street Stock Super Series winners in 2024: Randy Millar (#77), Matthew Ford (#86)
Past Mini Stock Super Series winners: Cash Bridges (#69, x2)
EVENT STORYLINES
Three Veterans, 50 Laps, One Champion in Street Stock Super Series
Talk about a hectic race day for the cars and stars of the Gauthier’s Auto Repair Street Stock division, because not only do they have their penultimate race on the year-long calendar to run, but a Super Series champion will be crowned in the third consecutive extended-distance feature within the division.
After a dramatic second round in late August which saw Matthew Ford (#86) claim his first Street Stock feature win in 14 years and multiple title contenders crash out, three of Oyster Bed Speedway’s most elite are within a four-point bubble for the top spot. An all-out war for the first Super Series title since 2021 is on the horizon, with two of the drivers being past champions and one being a multi-time championship runner-up.
Three-time champion and past Super Series winner Nick Chaisson (#27) took the points lead over four-time champion and round one winner Randy Millar (#77) after finishing second. Millar was in the running for back-to-back Super Series wins until a brake failure forced him to settle with a sixth-place result. There will be a lot of pressure on Millar as not only will he be going for a Super Series title, but he needs to make sure he either maintains or widens his 22-point lead in the year-long points ahead of the season finale.
Ironman Andrew Thompson (#4) is the dark horse of the three. The 2021 Super Series championship runner-up has collected multiple podium finishes and top-five finishes over the season, including third-place runs in both Super Series rounds and a top-10 result at the PiccottCare Piston Cup 100. He’s inched closer and closer to a win in every event and is well overdue to finally break a long winless curse.
Although Brandon Albert (#37) is likely out of contention for the Super Series championship, he’s got plenty of momentum backing him in his charge after Millar in year-long points, including a recent podium finish in the PiccottCare 100. Adding a third feature win to his 2024 results on Sunday could be the ultimate decider.
While all of that is going on at the front of the field, Randy Snow (#26) will be out of his car for the next two events. However, the car will still be at the race track as 2016 Street Stock champion and fan favourite Kenny Snow will return behind the wheel and make sure the #26 entry finishes high in points; a trip to Palmer Automotive & Truck Center victory lane would be one heck of a return; don’t count out a championship bid either.
Sarah Jay (#30) is back in action after her fiance and two-time champion Tyler Gauthier had a successful one-off return to racing in the couple’s car with a second-place finish at the PiccottCare 100.
Cash Bridges Eyes a Perfect Triple in Mini Stock Super Series Finale
Everyone knows what a triple win is at Oyster Bed Speedway – a driver wins their heat and semi races and the feature. But, fan favourite Cash Bridges (#69) might be on his way to pulling off another kind of triple win; one that hasn’t been achieved either ever or in a very long time.
Thanks to wins at both rounds one and two for the Chris’s Bobcat Services Mini Stock Super Series, Bridges has a 22-point lead over defending and two-time division champion Jeff Bridges (#95) and has a big opportunity to pull off a perfect triple with a championship as the icing on the cake.
Cash Bridges found himself in the right place at the right time on Labour Day, as he was initially en route to a runner-up finish until Blaze Roberts (#6), who was on his way to his first career feature win, had a flat tire on the final lap. While his year-long points lead is a more relaxing +36, a clean day along with some wins would give him a solid cushion going into the season finale. Roberts has gotten better and better in recent months and has a few more chances to rebound from his heartbreaking loss on Labour Day.
Jeff Bridges is not entirely out of Super Series contention just yet, but a post-race disqualification in late-August and a fifth-place finish on Labour Day hasn’t helped his case. Veteran Randy MacTavish (#76) could also have a shot at a big upset while 14 points behind the lead. There is a possibility that we could see rookie and fourth-place driver Corbin MacAulay (#17) return to the high-banked oval on Sunday in a new car.
Sitting in fifth in Super Series points but second in year-long points is Ricky Bedell (#2), who finally had a redemption arc on Labour Day after months of mediocre luck and falling out of the points lead. Heading into this Saturday with momentum from a runner-up finish in the last feature, Bedell could still pull off a comeback for the ages, and there’s one way that could be achieved based on experience; a triple win, which he earned in September of last year. The time to shine is now.
Rookie Austin Corrigan (#10) claimed his first top-five finish in some time on Labour Day after multiple races in a row finishing sixth or worse, and what boosted his confidence was hanging on over the division’s defending champion. Fellow newcomer Campbell Stewart (#3) went from the highest of highs in late August to the lowest of lows on Labour Day, as a motor failure killed his triple-win momentum, but he has shown countless times that he’s not ready to give up. Freshman Corbin MacAulay (#17) returns to the track with a blue, new-to-him car which has shown great promise.
Joining them with fierce dedication and always ready to take advantage of other’s misfortunes are Adam Holland (#01) and rookie Rosie Kitson (#13).
Two Events Left – Can Rookie Sensation Brandon Forsyth Hang On in Outlaws?
Brandon Forsyth (#3) continues to have a sensational transition from the Four Funs to the 4-Cylinders, although it hasn’t exactly been winning that’s gotten him to this point.
The former Mini Stock star has relied on consistency to remain atop of the Moore Well Drilling Outlaw standings, now with a 26-point lead over multi-time winner and fellow Alberton native Jordan LeClair (#47). He recently picked up his first win (including heats and semis) since the Victoria Day Weekend season opener feature on Labour Day (106-day difference!), winning his heat race and adding a podium finish in the feature. Now with two events left on the calendar, Forsyth is ready to add a second championship trophy to his cabinet after earning the Super Series title in late July.
LeClair is far from out but has been unable to be at or close to Forsyth’s level, recently finishing a best fifth on Labour Day in the feature. It should be noted that, in 2023, LeClair picked up his first win that year in September, so maybe he has something in the works for back-to-back years of being Mr. September.
10 points back of LeClair and 36 back of Forsyth is Layton Delaney (#7), who returned behind the wheel on Labour Day and finished eighth in the feature. It’s been a roller coaster of a campaign for the 2022 champion who has yet to return to his usual form. One point behind him is multi-time champion Kendall Palmer (#45), who has been on a hot streak recently after a rough stretch to start the summer. He finished second in the Labour Day feature.
Rookie and former Mini Stock talent Corey Bridges (#04), like Delaney and Palmer, has been through hell and back going through motor failure after motor failure but remains committed no matter what happens, and the persistence could reward him with a top-five, or even top-three, points finish at the end of the season. Past track champion Harley Cornish (#13) has also battled adversity and poor luck all season and has shown flashes of brilliance, including a podium finish in mid-July. He’ll be back to racing after Jonathan Kemp substituted for him on Labour Day.
Meanwhile, outside of the points, several other drivers have had their moments in the spotlight. Jonathan Fitzpatrick (#78) certainly wasn’t expecting Matt Palmer (#5) to have clutch problems after leading nearly every lap in the Labour Day feature, and that’s what it took for him to make his first trip to victory lane in several years. If it weren’t for the problems, Palmer would’ve had back-to-back feature finishes of third or higher. Bradley Richard (#49) claimed a win in his heat race but fell one spot short of a top-five finish in the feature.
Jessie LeClair (#46) has been solid in the last two events with one feature win and a fourth-place run on Labour Day. Dre Folland (#33) saw improvements in his speed while Ethan Albert (#11) returned to the track and finished seventh in the Monday feature. Jamie Cummings (#81) recently tested in a car formerly owned and won by Matt Palmer which could make things interesting to conclude the year.
Beginner & Outlaw Bandoleros Return to Points Racing
After a successful third-annual Tim’s Corner Motorsports Bandolero September Shootout, the young, rising stars of the Reliable Motors Beginner and Outlaw Bandolero divisions are set on a sprint to the finish with championship point racing this Saturday and in the eventual season finale.
In the Beginner class, Hudson Linzel-Waddell (#57) has had a near-perfect season in terms of points gained, as he’s only claimed less than 85 overall points once this year. With two points-paying wins, a 17-point lead going into Sunday, and a recent TCM Beginner Bandolero feature win, he’s got all of the momentum on his side to go and clinch the title.
However, Payton Gallant (#42) could very well make a run for his money and continue to show off her successful development in the class. With one win and a podium finish in all but one feature so far, it would be no surprise if she caught up to Linzel-Waddell and formed a championship battle for the ages heading into late September.
Oliver Rayner (#23) and Charlee Rayner (#24) continue to duke it out for third in points while also not being entirely out of the title race just yet. The brother enters Sunday having claimed his first career win plus a triple win in the last go-around in late August, while the sister has faced some struggles lately, including zero podium finishes since her first career feature win in June.
Juliana O’Connor (#10) has impressed this month both on and off the island, scoring a top-10 finish at the Tim’s Corner Motorsports Bandolero September Shootout and a podium finish at the Mike Stevens Memorial at Petty Raceway. Landon MacBeth (#32) and Regan MacBeth (#34) are expected to be back in action after missing the Labour Day races. Ashtyn Gariepy (#11) will be eager for a stronger performance this Saturday after a scary practice crash in late August.
In the Outlaw class, Nova Scotia’s Landon Pierce (#19) has made it his kingdom as he has won the last two points-paying features, the last six points-paying races he’s raced (including heats and semis), and the last eight overall races he’s raced (including heats, semis, and the TCM September Shootout). With triple wins and a TCM September Shootout sweep on Labour Day piled on to his resume as of recently, all Pierce needs to do to make sure he’s a back-to-back champion is simply show up and finish.
Simon Doyle (#91), Cole Doyle (#12), and Andrew O’Connor (#63) are left to battle for the rest of the podium spots. This Saturday will be interesting for the Doyle team as both drivers are unavailable to race, but both cars will still be at the track. Mini Stock driver Austin Corrigan will make his Bandolero debut in Cole’s car and last year’s Favourite Driver and daughter of two-time Pro Stock champion Troy Burke, Rhyan Burke (#01), will be behind the wheel of Simon’s car. O’Connor recently picked up a Mike Stevens Memorial Beginner feature win at Petty Raceway.
Hunter MacKinnon (#07) has shown underdog-like prowess in recent weeks with back-to-back top-five finishes in late August and race one of the September Shootout. Wyatt Peters (#33) finished fourth and 10th on Labour Day but did not compete in the last points-paying Oyster Bed feature.
The First Ever Bomber Champion To Be Crowned!
While it’s recently been confirmed that the Alvin’s Auto Sales + Repair Bomber division will have two more rounds in 2024, with the second one being an open race at the season finale, this Saturday’s races will determine who becomes the first V6 Bomber champion at Oyster Bed Speedway.
Ryan Cormier (#96) is well on his way to hoisting the championship trophy unless something catastrophic goes wrong, which is why Spencer Paton (#35) will be ready to pounce if he must. Caycie DesRoches (#16) is third in points while mid-July feature winner Zach Chappell (#44) is expected to get back in his Bomber after back-to-back weeks in a Street Stock. Reportedly, Jamie Ronaghan (#59) will have a substitute driver in his car for the Bomber points finale.
Power Wheels Kid Races To Add Further Entertainment on Saturday Night!
Along with the regular racing classes, the final round of Power Wheels kid races will be contested on Saturday night at the beginning of the event. No registration is required – simply show up with a car and park it in the grass patch beside the flag stand.
Rules
– 24 and 12-volt classes
– Kids from ages 3 to 6, as long as they can steer and fit in the car
– No brushless motors
– No motorcycles or bikes
– No boost buttons
12 volt stock
– Can be painted and have decals
– Stock battery or same stock replacement battery or it will run in 12-volt modified
– Stock body and chassis as it came in the box
– Stock wheels
– Must have Power Wheels gearboxes, no chain or belt-driven
– One 12-volt battery to power the car
One parent per child is permitted on the track during the races.
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
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