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“Dynamite”
Dave Dion Enters Irving Oil 250 Legendary
New England Driver will be at NBIS on September 4th
August 18th, 2005 - Fredericton, NB – The Irving Oil 250 keeps on growing. Dave Dion, the legendary northeastern United States driver, has confirmed that he will be making the trip to New Brunswick International Speedway to compete in the September 4th event. Graham Motorsports, Corey Ford of Woodstock, Tucker Racing Products, Dion Brothers Racing Team, and City Motel and Lobster Hut played an integral role in bringing a legend to the Sept 4th event. Dion is a former Busch Grand National North Series champion, NASCAR North Series Champion and 3-time Oxford 250 winner. Dion
is not the first high profile driver to add his name to the Irving Oil 250
roster. Earlier this summer NASCAR Veteran Johnny Benson announced that he was
teaming with Irving Oil and Ultimate Motorsports to enter the event. Although
the Irving Oil 250 is only five years old, the region’s top pro stock drivers
regard the race as the premier stock car event of the season. While
Benson’s name is familiar with anyone who has watched NASCAR in the past few
years, Dion’s name will resonate with anyone who has followed racing in the
northeastern United States for the past two decades. Part of the famous Dion
Brothers Racing Team, “Dynamite” Dave Dion began racing in 1964 and has had
an illustrious career distinguished by three Oxford 250 wins (1975, 1985, 1992),
a Busch North Championship in 1996, and NASCAR North Championship in 1976. He
competed in the NASCAR North Series from 1972-77, Nextel Cup on a limited basis
from 1978-83, and the American Canadian Tour (A.C.T) from 1984-90 before moving
to the Busch North Series where he currently races. The Dion Brothers Racing
Team is also the track record champion at Lee, Beechridge, and Loudon and
remains the only Ford to have won a NASCR Busch North Series Championship. “We
are ecstatic to have a legend like Dave Dion drive in an already great field of
competitors for this year’s Irving Oil 250,” said NBIS co-owner Steven
Burns. “We couldn’t be happier with the support from the fans, sponsors, and
teams. This just confirms the determination of all involved to make this
event a great success for years and years to come”, added Burns.
Dion
is the long time driver of the Berlin City Ford owned by Danny and Elaine
Degasses, but for the Irving Oil 250 he will be piloting a pro stock familiar to
NBIS fans. Dion will be sliding behind the wheel of the #54 Pro Stock owned by
Graham Motorsports and most recently seen in the CARQUEST Pro Stock Division at
NBIS. Located in Centreville, NB. Graham Motorsports is owned and operated by
brothers Ben and Andy Graham who are long time supporters of New Brunswick
International Speedway. “We
are very excited to have a legend like Dave Dion in the #54 Graham Motorsports
car for the Irving Oil 250. We would like to thank Corey Ford, Tucker Racing
Products, City Motel and Lobster, and DC Racing Engines for helping us pull this
together,” said Andy Graham. “Also special thanks to Woody Milbury for his
efforts and numerous phone calls behind the scenes.” Tucker
Racing Products is owned and operated by last year’s Irving Oil 250 winner
Shawn Tucker and fabricates stock cars as well as selling racing gear. Corey
Ford is the new Ford dealership in Woodstock formerly known as Fox Ford. The
City Motel and Lobster Hut is located in Fredericton and is a long time sponsor
of the #54 Pro Stock Team. DC Racing Engines is located in Houlton, ME and
is owned and operated by Dean Fitzpatrick.
Please
contact Gord Curran at New Brunswick International Speedway (506-455-3181 or gord.curran@nbisonline.com)
if you have any questions.
Dave
Dion List
of Achievements:
More
information about Dave Dion can be found at http://www.bnsracing.com/drivers/dion.html
or at http://www.dion-bros-racing.com/ The
Irving Oil 250 The
2005 Irving Oil 250 will take place on Sunday, September 4th, 2005 and will be
the highlight of the fourth annual Speedweekend. The event will showcase the
NBIS CARQUEST Pro Stocks against the best of the Eastern Canada and New England.
The purse for 2005 will be over $60,000 with a guaranteed $15,000 to the event
winner and possible winner’s cheque of $27,500. Two years ago, the late Scott
Fraser took home a record $25,400 including lap money. Only five years old, the
event as grown in crowd, atmosphere, and car count every year since its
inception. Over 7,000 people attended the 2004 event to break attendance records
at Canada’s Fastest Short Track. A record 36 pro stock cars, including several
Maine drivers, attempted to qualify for 28 spots on the starting grid.
Speedweekend
Just
like the Irving Oil 250, Speedweekend continues to grow every year with over
12,000 people attending the weekend in 2004. The four-day stock car fest is
scheduled for September 2nd-5th, 2005 and includes a corn boil on Friday night,
Sportsman 150 race on Saturday night, the Irving Oil 250 on Sunday, and finishes
up with an Enduro 200 on Monday. While the Irving Oil 250 is the highlight of
the racing events, the weekend has developed into an event on its own with over
300 campers turning NBIS into a small town over the weekend. It has become the
destination of choice for the region’s stock car fans.
New
Brunswick International Speedway New
Brunswick International Speedway is Canada’s Fastest Short Track. The 1/3 of a
mile high-banked paved oval features three classes of racing on a weekly basis:
CARQUEST Pro Stocks, Martin’s Home Heating, and Coast Tire Street Stocks. Over
60,000 people are expected to attend over 25 events during the 2005 season. NBIS
is located off Highway 7 on Route 660 in Geary, NB, and is within minutes of
Saint John and Fredericton. NBIS can be found online at www.nbisonline.com.
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