Wild & Crazy Crash for Cash Saturday in Miramichi!
Speedway Miramichi races into the second half of what has already been a memorable 2021 season on Saturday night, as Northern New Brunswick’s Home for Motorsports gets loud with the running of the Crash for Cash Demolition! It’s been a year to remember in Canada’s Demolition Capital, with large car counts and no shortage of wild action. Upwards of 40 entries are anticipated for the Crash for Cash, with thirty-four drivers confirming their attendance as of press time. With a tight points battle, big trophies, and big stakes on the line – not to mention the return of the bag race, and maybe a spoonful of tension between some drivers - it’s promises to be a thrilling event!
Excitement commences with the first green flag being thrown at 4pm, with grassroots stock car racing kicking off the show. Three divisions will take to the track with some great action. Mini Stocks will be the spotlight division with a 50-lap main event and the winner walking away with a big trophy! A great field of cars is expected to duel for the win. Joining the Mini Stocks will be the thunder of the Atlantic Modified Tour, and the homegrown “rock ‘em, sock ‘em, travelling sideways thrill show,” the Bomber division!
While the Crash for Cash is certain to provide many thrills and spills, drivers must first survive to get there. With thirty to forty cars anticipated to partake (another excellent field which is deep in talent and is sure to entertain), drivers must first fight to survive and qualify through a minimum of three of five preliminary events. A returning challenge will be the Bag Race – the first Bag Race contested since 2019. Drivers must put a bag over their head and drive with the guidance of a passenger! This will be held in addition to the popular Dash for Cash, Back-Up, and Figure 8 races, all of which are staples in Miramichi. The fifth preliminary race is the popular and growing Powder Puff race.
Each event provides a risk versus reward scenario, where drivers must balance the risk of getting eliminated prematurely with the reward of winning and the associated points bonuses. Speaking of points, one point separates the two top drivers in standings – both of whom are looking for their first titles. Figure 8 Trailer Race winner Riley Harris (#1) shows the way over The Day of 8’s Demolition winner Marc-Andre Benoit (#81). Fans can be ensured these drivers will battle hard to try and stay at the top. But being at the top often results in a target being put on drivers backs. As alluded to, preliminary wrecks can have devastating consequences. Defending champion Mitch Brideau (#22) learned that at the Firecracker Demo, after his night ended in a hard crash during the Back-Up race. While he lost some ground, he managed to hang on to third in points.
With the quality and competitiveness that the Speedway Miramichi Demolition field presents, there is opportunity for virtually any driver to breakthrough and leap into the points lead. Some to watch include Tyler Chamberlain (#24), who sits fourth in points, quietly and consistently staying in the hunt. Chamberlain earned a runner-up finish at Petty International Raceway’s Night of Destruction a few weeks ago. Norm Robichaud (#666) has emerged as a threat after a strong night in July that vaulted him to fifth in points. Mr. Back Up King himself, Dawson Cripps (#25) has climbed the standings after a slow start, pushed by his multiple wins in the Back-Up race. Each of this trio has proven they are rising stars in Demolition competition, and there is no better way to solidify stardom than winning a championship.
The quality of the field will be immense, with many of the best partaking. Firecracker Demolition winner Gary Caissie (#28) will return to try and defend his title and go for two in a row, while Easter Bunny Bash winner Billy Pelletier (#333) will look to rekindle some magic after a podium finish in July. Two-time champion Jean-Francois Basque (#21) is sure to be hungry for more hardware, while Matthew Sullivan had a multi-race Demolition podium streak end in July – and he will look to work his way back to the top with one of the longest running returning Demolition cars. Dylan Storey (#85) and Mathieu Brideau (#99) are sure to be contenders. Trenton Silliker (#69) promises to be a driver to watch – Silliker’s last race was the Halloween Spooktacular in October 2020, one where he went to victory lane over 61 cars. His massive car is sure to be tough to beat.
As of press time, thirty-four entries have officially been filed, with more expected. Forty plus cars are expected, which would see a $2000 payday for the winner. Should the field exceed sixty cars, that jumps to $3000 to the winner! A preview of the current expected entry list can be seen below. Please note, the entry list is subject to change.
Crash for Cash Expected Entries
#010 – Remi Rouselle #019 – Marc Pinet #02 – Dylan Doucet #031 – Gab Jones #1 – Riley Harris #5 – Dakota Wray #6 – Brandon Dickson #10 – Jonathan Leclair #11 – Jeremy Faulds #14 – Dylan Harris #18 – Matthew Sullivan #19 – Steven Gorwill #21 – Jean-Francois Basque #24 – Tyler Chamberlain #28 – Gary Caissie #32 – Dylan Phillips #33 – Tommy Morel #43 – Mike Walsh #52 – Terry Thurston #57 – Shawn Mazerolle #69 – Trenton Silliker #81 – Marc-Andre Benoit #85 – Dylan Storey #99 – Mathieu Brideau #140 – Jean-Rene Duguay-McGraw #181 – Brandon Duguay #333 – Billy Pelletier #506 – Colby Walsh #666 – Norm Robichaud #718 – Greg Curtis #764 – Ricky Boudreau #995 – Corey Barton TBA – Cody Verburgh TBA – Logan Hughes
Mini Stock drivers will get the spotlight on Saturday with a 50-lap feature - with a 4-foot trophy on the line for the winner! Everyone will be chasing JR Lawson (#81), who has won in his last thirteen Miramichi starts. Lawson has been unstoppable lately, but the competition gets closer every race. Neil Miousse (#71) captured victories when Lawson was trapped by border issues and is hanging on to the points lead in what is an intriguing battle, with 2018 Champion Rob Poirier (#0) close in tow just two points back. Poirier has wheeled to a podium each race thus far but has yet to score a win. Another driver searching for a win is Mathieu Mallet (#80), who finds himself third in points after a strong second place run in July. Mallet has notched seven podiums over the past two years but is looking to break through with a win.
There’s a long list of drivers looking for a breakthrough victory in addition to Mallet, led by Guy Basque (#27), Mitchell Poirier (#28) and Chantel Ackles (#30), all of whom have finished just shy of the podium in races so far in 2021. Conrad Murphy (#89) had a solid performance in July, and he almost scored a podium during the big race last year, and he may shine during the big race. Several drivers have been working to improve their performance, and there is no better time to spotlight gains than during a big race. Watch for drivers such as Calvin McLeod (#00), Tyler Lannan-McLeod (#24) and Grayson Dutcher (#55) to be in the mix. Jamie Turner (#26) is coming off a respectable debut in July and will be looking forward to fifty laps of action. A rookie driver will be in the field making their debut as well, with Alysha Landry (#22) taking to the track!
Pre-race driver introductions will be held, weather permitting, as the Mini Stock drivers contest one of their bigger races of the summer! It promises to be a fantastic show!
Fresh off the inaugural Firecracker 50, the Bomber division resumes their 2021 campaign with the fourth of six points races on the calendar. On top there is a tie in the points standings, with Mark Kingston (#97) and Tyson Donovan (#63) sitting locked in a heated points battle. Kingston was the winner of the Firecracker 50 over Donovan, and coupled with his win in May, he has the tie breaker. In a plot twist, Donovan will not be in attendance this weekend, but he will have former Mini Stock champion Bob Hallihan jumping behind the wheel as he hopes to stay in the championship mix!
Plenty of drivers are eager to get back near the top during the Bomber races on Saturday. Johnathan Dickson (#3) enters riding a streak of consecutive podiums, but he finds himself sixth in points. Also finishing on the podium this has been Jacob Smith (#29), Timmy Blakely (#69) and defending champion Adam Plourde (#11), and they sit third, fourth, and fifth in points. These drivers will look to reel in the two leaders during the 30-lap feature on Saturday.
A full field will also be ready to do battle, including Samantha Blakely (#96), Casey Munn (#07), Riley Harris (#1) and Jordan Campbell (#68). Justin Munn (#88) will be ready to bounce back following a hard hit at the Firecracker 50. Rookie contenders Dylan Doucet (#02), Billy Pelletier (#18), Kevin Kinney (#81) have been making improvements and could be poised to breakthrough. A rookie driver is set to make his debut, Dan Dionne (#55) will take to the track behind the wheel of a Bomber car for the first time during the 30-lap feature!
The Atlantic Modified Tour rumbles back into Speedway Miramichi Saturday night for the Blackville Auto Value & JBS Towing 35, and what a clash it is shaping up to be! So far in 2021, the classes of the field have been Miramichi locals Chris Wilson (#2W) and Travis Conroy (#7). This pair of drivers finished 1-2 respectively last race in Miramichi – a result duplicated last Saturday night at Speedway 660 after an intense battle! Wilson earned both victories, but Conroy is on a hot streak of his own with three consecutive runner-up finishes - and he is as hungry as ever to return to victory lane and score his first hometown Modified win. Expect to see another chapter of the 2021 season written at the Crash for Cash event as these two battle alongside the rest of the hungry Atlantic Modified Tour field in what is shaping up to be an epic showdown!
Wilson shows the way leading the points in the Miramichi Modified Mini Championship, while the eighteen-year-old Conroy is on top of the overall Atlantic Modified Tour point standings and sits third in Miramichi points. Doug Matchett (#75) holds down the second spot in Miramichi points, being the “rose between two thorns” between Wilson and Conroy in Miramichi points. Matchett sits just one point out of the lead in the Miramichi points having captured three checkered flags at his home track this year. Not far behind is Joe Hoyt (#17) who is riding momentum of winning the most recent AMT race at Speedway 660, and Steven Curtis (#12), whose consistent start to 2021 sees him fifth in Miramichi points so far.
Defending Atlantic Modified Tour champion and former Miramichi Sportsman Champion Yves McCray (#58) is looking to turn his home track luck around. McCray has struggled in Miramichi so far in 2021 but finds himself second in overall AMT points. McCray is joined by fellow Sportsman veterans Zean Dutcher (#55) and Kim Hallihan (#97) in looking to find some magic at the track where they all have struck gold many times. A driver to watch will be Braxton Stafford (#91) who was on the podium in Miramichi in July! These are just some of the storylines to watch, along with a great rookie battle between Michael Savoie (#00) and Brody Levesque (#05), drivers making their return to the track, and more!
Thus far in 2021, Powder Puff excitement has been among the top storylines, with three great races that have produced three different winners so far. Monique Benoit, Tania Jean, and Leanne Caron all notched victories so far – with each driver earning their first wins in 2021. Jean leads the way in points with a tiebreaker with Alexandra Chiasson. Chiasson has earned a pair of podiums so far and will look to capitalize on starting at the front of the field for the first time this season! Podium finishers must start at the back of the next race, meaning July’s winner Caron, third place in points Sam Jardine, and rising star Katie Barton will all have to start at the rear of the field on Saturday during the 10-lap race.
As always, a burnout competition will be held during the Demolition events! After a banshee was deemed the winner in July, it will be intriguing to see what rolls into the pits to partake this time!
Pits open at 12:00pm on race day for stock car drivers and teams, with pit gates opening to everyone at 2:00pm. Grandstands will also open at 1:00pm, with action slated to get underway at 4:00pm. Grandstand admission is $20 for adults, $10 for youth ages 8 to 17 years old and seniors over the age of 65, while kids 7 and under are free. Pit passes are $25 and pit access is restricted to those over the age of 18, and those aged 8 to 17 with proper parental waiver forms. Tickets can be purchased at the gate on race day only. All fans are advised to arrive early to avoid lines!
A crew from Tim’s Corner Motorsports producing a LIVE Broadcast from Speedway Miramichi. The racing action and the TimsCorner.tv (TCMtv) live broadcast begins at 4:00pm when the action gets underway with heat racing for the stock car divisions. A portion of sales go back to support Speedway Miramichi and the race tracks the TCMtv crew visits. Please note, all pass prices will be listed in USD. TimsCorner.tv is a member of the Speed Sport TV network.
A note on COVID-19 – with the province of New Brunswick transitioning to the green phase of recovery, there will be no capacity restrictions or mandatory rules at Speedway Miramichi. However, fans are encouraged to remain within their comfort zone, with mask use, physical distancing, and frequent sanitization being recommended. For those who wish to sit alone, it is recommended you bring a lawn chair and sit in the turn 1 lawn chair section.
For more information, stay tuned to Speedway Miramichi’s social platforms, “Speedway Miramichi Inc.” on Facebook, “speedway.miramichi” on Instagram, and our website at speedwaymiramichi.com.
