Riverside International Speedway

Riverside International Speedway is a 1/3 mile, high banked, asphalt short track located in James River, Nova Scotia, Canada, about ten kilometres southwest of the town of Antigonish.

Not to be confused with Riverside International Raceway in California, or Riverside International Speedway (West Memphis, Arkansas).
Riverside International Speedway
Riverside's 45th Anniversary Logo
LocationJames River at exit 30 off Trans Canada Highway 104, Nova Scotia, Canada
Time zoneGMT-5
Capacity12,000
OwnerThe Chisholm Family
OperatorThe Chisholm Family
OpenedMay 18, 1969
Major events
Oval
SurfaceAsphalt
Length.333 mi (.536 km)
Turns4
Banking14° Turns
5° Front straightaway
5° Back straightaway
Race lap record14.429 (D.J. Kennington, D.J. Kennington Racing, 2015, NPS)
Websitewww.riversidespeedway.ca

Track history

Riverside International Speedway started out as a dream Antigonish businessman John Chisholm, who was an avid racing fan and was determined to advance his favourite sport in his home province. In 1967 Chisholm flew down to Bristol Motor Speedway and met with NASCAR co-founder Bill France, Sr., who gave him permission to model the track after a scaled-down version of Bristol. Chisholm and his team began construction on the speedway in 1968 in James River, Nova Scotia. The pro just was completed a year later and opened its doors for the first time on May 18, 1969.[1]

In 1975 Riverside played host to its first celebrity driver when Benny Parsons visited the track to compete in the NASCAR Canada series race, just a few months removed from his Daytona 500 win. This was the first time that a major stock car driver visited the region to compete in a race. The race also featured a purse of $7500, the largest in the region at that time.[2][3]

In 1977, under new track promoters Jerry Lawrence and Ron King, Riverside hosted its first 250 lap race, a staple that soon became an annual tradition.[4]

Chisholm sold the track to local resident Erik Edward Vandaalen in 1989. Vandaalen owned the track until his unexpected death on Dec 25th 2005, at which point John Chisholm subsequently bought it back in 2006.[5] Upon regaining ownership of the track, Chisholm began a major renovation project. The renovation consisted of repaving the entire track, replacing the metal guardrails with concrete walls, rebuilding and enlarging the grandstands, and constructing a new press box with VIP seating. The restroom facilities were completely rebuilt, the sound and lighting systems were replaced, an electronic scoreboard was installed, and the parking and campground capacity was increased.

In 2007 Riverside became the only Canadian racetrack East of Quebec to be sanctioned by NASCAR when it was named to the schedule of the newly formed NASCAR Canadian Tire Series. The first Canadian Tire Series race was held on September 16, 2007. Peter Gibbons dominated the race, sitting on the pole and leading 201 laps before a rear end problem forced him to the garage. This set the stage for Mark Dilley to take home the checkered flag for his first career Canadian Tire Series win.[6]

Riverside played host to the Richard Petty Driving Experience as the final stop on their first ever Canadian Summer Tour on July 24, 2011. Two of the programs three experiences were available to fans at the track, including their signature 12-lap “Rookie Experience,” and the “High-Speed Ride-Along”, which simulates a qualifying run with a professional instructor.[7] The track hosted the Richard Petty Driving Experience on their second Canadian Summer Tour in 2012, once again offering the “Rookie Experience,” and the “High-Speed Ride-Along”.[8]

The decal commemorating the life of John Chisholm that was on all the cars during the 2014 IWK 250

On August 18, 2012, Mike Stevens drove his #4 R Stevens Mechanical Chevrolet Impala to victory lane in dominating fashion at the 2012 Lucas Oil 100. Stevens started the race from the pole position, putting up a qualifying time of 14.336 seconds, and led all 100 laps in the caution free race. The win was his second of the Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour season, both coming at Riverside.[9] The win turned out to be the final win of Stevens' career as less than a year later, on August 3, 2013, Stevens would succumb to injuries sustained in a crash at Oyster Bed Speedway.[10]

From left to right: IWK 250 3rd Place Trophy, John W. Chisholm Memorial Cup, IWK 250 Trophy Presented by Steve Lewis Auto Body, IWK 250 2nd Place Trophy

Track owner John Chisholm died on July 4, 2014 at the age of 68 years. Ownership of the track was transferred to his family. The 2014 IWK 250 was dedicated in Chisholm's honour, with all the cars in the race carrying a special decal commemorating his life and saying thanks.[11]

On August 16, 2014, Donald Chisholm, just two months following the death of his father, took home an emotional victory in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Wilson Equipment 300. The victory was a first for Chisholm in the series, who also earned his first career pole in the event.[12]

Prior to the 2015 IWK 250 Riverside unveiled the John W. Chisholm Memorial Cup. Past 250 winners such as John Flemming, Rollie MacDonald, and Kent Vincent, along with the Chisholm Family attended the unveiling. The Cup is a handmade silver cup that not only recognizes future and past winners of the IWK 250 but also recognizes the winners of the annual Riverside 250 from 1977 to 2006 with plaques on the base. The traditional IWK 250 Trophy Presented by Steve Lewis Auto Body will continue to be awarded alongside the John W. Chisholm Memorial Cup.[13]

IWK 250
See: IWK 250
Regan Smith on the backstretch during practice for the 2007 IWK 250

The primer event at Riverside is the IWK 250. In 2007 the annual 250 mile race at the track was repurposed to raise money and garner support for the IWK Health Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It has since become one of the primer Pro Stock races in North America, attracting national attention, as well as some of the sports top drivers, including NASCAR Champions Brad Keselowski and Matt Crafton, V8 Supercars Champion Marcos Ambrose, and Daytona 500 winner Joey Logano.

Track design

Riverside International Speedway is designed as a scaled-down version of the famed Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee.

In 1967 track builder John Chisholm called up NASCAR co-founder Bill France, Sr. and told him about his intentions of building a half mile racetrack in Nova Scotia. Big Bill told Chisholm that a half mile track would be too hard on the engines, cars, tires and engines and invited him and his surveyors down to Bristol to get the dimensions of the track and then shrink them down. Chisholm and his crew did just that and started construction of Riverside in 1968.[14]

The track is designed as an asphalt oval that is .333 miles (.536 km) in length with 14° banking in the turns, and 5° banking on both straightaways.

Races

Current

NASCAR Pinty's Series

Bumper to Bumper 300 (2007−present)

Maritime Pro Stock Tour (2001–present)

IWK 250 Presented by Steve Lewis Auto Body (2008-Present)
Ron MacGillivray Chev Buick GMC 150
Lucas Oil 150

Napa Sportsman Series (2006–present)

Highland Home Building Centre 50
Highland Home Building Centres 100 (1)
Highland Home Building Centres 100 (2)
Napa Sportsman Series 50

Maritime League of Legends (2005–present)

Maritime Legends Challenge

Former

American Canadian Tour (1991-1992)

Atlantic Open Wheel (2006-2008)

MASCAR (1983-2000)

NASCAR North Tour (1981 & 1985)

NASCAR Canada series (1975)

North Eastern Midget Association (1970)

Pro All Stars Series (2006-2007)

Notable drivers

Here are a list of notable drivers who have found success in NASCAR's top tier series who have raced at Riverside Speedway

Matt Crafton signing autographs at the 2014 IWK 250

Notable race results

Bumper to Bumper 300 results

Records

NASCAR Pinty's Series Records

(As of 14/10/17)

Most Wins2Scott Steckly
D.J. Kennington
Most Top 5s8Mark Dilley
Most Top 10s11Mark Dilley
Starts11Mark Dilley
D.J. Kennington
Donald Chisholm
Poles3Scott Steckly
Most Laps Completed3291Mark Dilley
Most Laps Led722Scott Steckly
Avg. Start*3.9D.J. Kennington
Avg. Finish*4.8Mark Dilley

* from minimum 3 starts

References
  1. "REMEMBERING JOHN CHISHOLM". Riverside International Speedway. Retrieved 2015-09-03.
  2. "John Chisholm - The Man That Made Riverside International Speedway" (PDF). Riverside International Speedway. Retrieved 2015-03-01.
  3. "46 YEARS. AND COUNTING". Riverside International Speedway. Retrieved 2015-09-03.
  4. "46 YEARS. AND COUNTING". Riverside International Speedway. Retrieved 2015-09-03.
  5. "Thomson, Chisholm and Tagliani among new inductees to Cdn. Motorsport Hall of Fame". Inside Track News. Retrieved 2015-09-03.
  6. "2007 Atlantic Dodge Dealers 300". Racing Reference.
  7. "RICHARD PETTY DRIVING EXPERIENCE ANNOUNCES FIRST-EVER "CANADIAN SUMMER TOUR"". Dive Petty. Archived from the original on 2015-09-05. Retrieved 2015-09-03.
  8. "RICHARD PETTY DRIVING EXPERIENCE ANNOUNCES "2012 CANADIAN SUMMER TOUR"". Drive Petty. Archived from the original on 2015-09-05. Retrieved 2015-09-03.
  9. "STEVENS SCHOOLS FIELD IN SPEEDY LUCAS OIL 100". Maritime Pro Stock Tour. Retrieved 2015-09-03.
  10. "MEMORIAL INFORMATION FOR MIKE STEVENS". Maritime Pro Stock Tour. Retrieved 2015-09-03.
  11. "John Chisholm passes away". NG News. Retrieved 2015-09-03.
  12. "Chisholm Rolls To First Canadian Tire Win". NASCAR Home Tracks. Archived from the original on 2015-08-01. Retrieved 2015-09-03.
  13. "John W. Chisholm Memorial Cup to be Unveiled at IWK 250". Riverside International Speedway. Retrieved 2015-09-04.
  14. "Riverside Speedway racetrack in N.S. does it right". Wheels. Retrieved 2015-09-03.
  15. "2007 Atlantic Dodge Dealers 300". Racing Reference.
  16. "2008 Atlantic Dodge Dealers 300". Racing Reference.
  17. "2009 Komatsu 300". Racing Reference.
  18. "2010 Komatsu 300 Presented by Wilson Equipment". Racing Reference.
  19. "2011 Komatsu 300 Presented by Wilson Equipment". Racing Reference.
  20. "2012 Wilson Equipment 300". Racing Reference.
  21. "2013 Wilson Equipment 300". Racing Reference.
  22. "2014 Wilson Equipment 300". Racing Reference.
  23. "2015 Wounded Warriors Canada 300". Racing Reference.
  24. "2016 Bumper to Bumper 300". Racing Reference.
  25. "2017 Bumper to Bumper 300". Racing Reference.

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