Super Late Model Series Starts With Speedsport Spotlight!

(April 19th, 2023) - Maritime motorsports fans proclaim it as the “unofficial kick-off” to race season, but the 49th Annual Radical Speedsport show at the Moncton Coliseum - running from April 21st - 23rd, 2023 - is shaping up to be one of the most memorable ever for stock car racing enthusiasts, serving as the kick-off for the regions new Super Late Model Series!

Plenty of attention has been focused on the start-up series, and Speedsport will be the first introduction to the tens of thousands of automotive enthusiasts who attend the show at the Moncton Coliseum. The annual motorsports extravaganza fittingly will happen with just three weeks left on the calendar until the green flag for round one on May 13th at Speedway 660, giving teams the opportunity to show off their shiny new vinyl and a winter’s worth of hard work before the first battle scars show from the track.

Seven Super Late Model teams are slated to partake in Speedsport - with six of those cars being part of the Super Late Model Series booth, and an additional entry being part of the Petty International Raceway booth.

With the seven entries, all three host tracks for the Super Late Model Series will have local drivers partaking in the show. Prince Edward Island and Oyster Bed Speedway will be represented by two standout drivers - former Oyster Bed Speedway champion Dylan Gosbee (#16) and his Kent Livingston Racing team, and the defending IWK 250 champion Greg Proude (#29), and his Greg Proude Racing entry will both make the haul across the Confederation Bridge to be part of Speedsport.

A trio of drivers who call Speedway 660 home will be representing the Super Late Model Series as well. Multi-time Pro Stock 250 winner Lonnie Sommerville (#23) - who was unveiled as the latest full-time driver to fans earlier this week - will have his Lonnie Sommerville Racing entry alongside a multi-time Pro Stock 250 podium finisher in Steve Halpin (#03) of Steve Halpin Racing. The 2018 Pro Stock 250 champion from Harvey, New Brunswick, Ryan Messer (#1) will showcase his 2023 Ryan Motorsports as the third entry from the western half of New Brunswick.

Petty International Raceway will have their own full display setup as part of Speedsport - which you will certainly want to stop by and check out after the Super Late Model Series booth! One of the drivers representing the River Glade, New Brunswick track will be former track champion - and Super Late Model rookie for 2023 - Kenny MacKenzie Jr (#85). Fans were given a glimpse of MacKenzie’s ride earlier in the winter and will get their first chance to see it in person this weekend.

Also lined up to be part of the show is one driver who was yet to be introduced to fans. A star who is no stranger throughout the region - and who will be spotlighted Thursday on the Super Late Model Series Facebook page - Boundary Creek, New Brunswick’s Dave O’Blenis (#48) will enter his O’Blenis Motorsports ride into the Radical Speedsport show. The six-time Speedway 660 Pro Stock champion throws his hat into the ring as the twenty first full-time driver to be announced and is sure to be a title contender.

There will be plenty of excitement throughout the weekend at the show - with hundreds of entries including a strong contingent of stock cars. An autograph session will be held on Saturday afternoon from 3pm to 5pm at the Petty International Raceway display, with many drivers - including some Super Late Model Series superstars - expected to attend.

Organizers of Speedsport have some special guests lined up for the show - for kids, Buzz Lightyear will be in attendance from 11-12pm and 3-4pm on Saturday, and from 11-12pm and 2-3pm on Sunday. Jeff Lutz and Billy Gunn will make special appearances as part of the festivities, and The Sheriff Monster Truck will also be on display. Automotive enthusiasts will also be treated to the hundreds of vehicle entries and many vendors on site as well. The full special guest lineup can be viewed on the official website for Radical Speedsport at radicalspeedsport.com.

The 49th Annual Radical Speedsport runs from April 21st-23rd at the Moncton Coliseum in Moncton, New Brunswick. The show kicks off on Friday April 21st at 2pm and runs through to 10pm. Saturday April 22nd is a busy day with the show running from 10am to 10pm, and it all wraps up Sunday April 23rd with the show running from 10am to 6pm.

Admission to the Radical Speedsport is $17 for adults, $13 for seniors and military, $6 for children aged 6 to 12 years, and free for all kids 5 and under. You can get more information on Speedsport via their website at radicalspeedsport.com, or their Facebook page at Radical Speedsport Fanpage.

Photo credit to Grizzly Photography.