Big Bandolero Night on Tap Friday

Once again, FanFest at Scotia Speedworld can be considered a success.

For the fifth season, the track offered free admission to the grandstands with a ticket from a participating sponsor location. No other race track in Atlantic Canada offers a promotion quite like this. It is an idea that Chris Johnston, Steve and Tracey Burns executed for several seasons during their tenure of ownership at Speedway 660 and is a promotion that has worked for the management at Scotia Speedworld. The fans got treated to an autograph session, some great racing and we even got to give away some passes to the next two Pro Stock Tour races among the prizes throughout the evening. Thanks to all that came out and enjoyed a good night at the race and we hope to see you some more over the Summer!

The focus this week is on the Hydraulics Plus Bandolero divisions with this being Hydraulics Plus Night. We have some great racing through our five unique oval track classes, but the kids in the Bandolero division have really stepped their game up this year.

Where do you start when you talk about these classes? I guess the easiest starting point would be the Outlaws. The drivers aged 12 and up have produced four different winners in four races and have put on an excellent display of short track racing every time out. I don’t think this division is done producing new winners on the year, I think drivers like Nate Singer and Dylan Dowe have shown the speed needed to win, but how do you go against the quartet that has won the races so far? Owen Mahar was spot on during those late race restarts with Sam Rogers on Friday night. Colton Noble and Danny Chisholm are both really good race car drivers but found a bit of misfortune on Friday. Nathan Langille hasn’t technically been on track since he won a couple weeks back with Rogers in his car last week but you best believe that kid is determined to back up his win.

After technical inspection, Austin Tanner grabbed a podium finish. Dylan MacMillan has been gaining on his race car every single week and Nyk Pothier is on the cusp of a breakthrough. It’s hard to say this because we’ve had some great Bandolero fields in the past, especially in the early years of the Butcher, Blenkhorn, Eddy, Meehan, Baker, Casey (etc.) era, but I think this Outlaw division has the makings of the best all around field we’ve had in quite some time. These kids are the future of the sport, I’d almost say there’s at least one Pro Stock Tour champion, if not more, in this group. Take this in while you can, because these “kids” will soon be the next generation to shape our sport from the driver’s seat.

The kids in the Bandit class are no slouches either.

Yes, on paper, Gage Gilby has been the best Bandit driver this year. Three wins, including one big come from a lap down victory on Toursec Night, are beside his name under the win column. In fact, he’s only had one race (the heat on Toursec Night) where he’s finished worse than second. It doesn’t mean he hasn’t had competition though. Chase MacKay has been the most consistent besides Gilby, which shows because he’s second in points (thanks Captain Obvious). Beisdes the season opener, he has three podium finishes in features, one behind Gilby in the category and one more than Brooke Dowe. Ayden Christensen, who won on Week Two, Dawson Noble and Campbell Delaney each have a podium finish as well this season with Morgan Mosher coming close with a strong run on Toursec Night.

Like their Outlaw peers, the Bandits are so close that one slip sends you from the lead to the back. It is great racing to watch, though the Beginners have been putting on an excellent show of their own.

In a Beginner division, stats are not as important as getting seat time, gaining confidence and being able to eventually move on into the Bandit or Outlaw class based on their age. We mentioned about the Bandolero class producing the next crop of short track stars, all you need to do is look at this class and see last names like Tufts, Chisholm, MacMillan and Livingston and see the stock car history.

The Beginner class has produced three different winners in four races though but could have easily gone either way with the way the racing has played out. Drivers like Miles MacKenzie, Emily Chisholm and Emma MacMillan have continued to show improvement over their rookie seasons/ Caden Tufts and Campbell Delaney both seem to have found their footing in the class as well.

I’ve said it on the call on Friday nights and I’ll say it here, I am really impressed with the speed both Brett Pashkoski and Chase Livingston have had out of the gate. Now, on paper, both have had different seasons with Chase not having the luck he might want to have, but the No. 39 has shown speed and it is wonderful to see Sandy and family back in the pit area.

Pashkoski, what can you say about this kid? He’s got some great teachers in Brian and Megan Parrott, the kid has had some great finishes this year and I think is going to do great things in a racecar. It’s really early to tell, but he’s almost got the same knack that drivers like Cory Hall and Sam Rogers had when they got into a racecar. They picked up on the Bandolero quite quickly and turned heads. I see the same thing in Brett in his first four races and I think once that first win comes, the others will continue to flow.

While the Hydraulics Plus Bandoleros will be the focus on Friday night, we have some great racing action in the Late Model Sportsman, Strictly Hydraulics Legends and Toursec Thunder to enjoy as well. Can the FZ09 motors continue their win streak in the Legends division? Will we see a third different feature winner in as many races in the Sportsman class? Can Darren Flemming rebound after an off week to return to Toursec Thunder victory lane? These questions, and more, will be answered on Friday!

It'll be a great evening of racing and we sure hope you can join us!

Until then, keep the hammer down and we’ll see you at the track!