RIVERSIDE 250 RENAMED IWK 250

 

JAMES RIVER, NS (May 30, 2007) – An event with a long and storied history in Maritime stock car racing circles – the Riverside 250 – has been renamed. The IWK 250 Presented by Steve Lewis Auto Body and DuPont Refinish is set for July 21 at Riverside Speedway. The title change is the culmination of a partnership between the track, the IWK Health Centre Foundation, Steve Lewis Auto Body and DuPont Refinish.

A new logo has been designed for the event, including brand recognition for all the major partners of the event – which will not only feature the best stock racers from New England and eastern Canada – but will now become a catalyst for a cause near and dear to the hearts of most people: helping sick children and their families.

 

The new partnership and entitlement adds to the high profile already enjoyed by the race – because of its heritage – and because a NASCAR legend, 1998 Nextel Cup champion Bill Elliott – will enter the event. Local racecar drivers and those from New England's Pro All Stars Series (PASS), the sanctioning body, are eager to try their skills against Elliott in hopes of winning the lion's share of the event purse, expected to exceed $70,000.

 

"All of this can only make a great event even better," said Paul McLean, manager of Riverside Speedway. "We're so excited to be able to turn this historic event into something even more meaningful. To be able to showcase the talents of top local racers against a former NASCAR champion, in partnership with DuPont Refinish, the sponsor of another four-time NASCAR champ and current Nextel Cup points leader (Jeff Gordon), is a cool thing for racers and race fans. But to be able to do all that and at the same time raise awareness for the IWK, ultimately helping sick children and their families, is beyond our wildest imagination."

 

The IWK is equally impressed with the opportunities this landmark partnership offers the health care facility.

 

"Funds raised through the IWK 250 will help us to purchase new equipment, fund research and special programs," says Lynn Anne Hogan Development officer for Cape Breton & PE.  "This event really will make a difference in the lives of children in your own community. By supporting the IWK you help ensure that our researchers can continue to identify new ways of diagnosing and treating illnesses, that care teams have access to state-of-the-art equipment, and that special programs are available to patients and families providing extra comfort during difficult times."

 

To start the fundraiser ball rolling, Riverside Speedway has committed a portion of the proceeds from the event 50/50 draw to the IWK, amounting to 25% of the total 50/50 ticket sales. The winner will get the traditional 50% and the Antigonish Junior "B" will get the remaining 25%.

 

Steve Lewis Auto Body, a DuPont Refinish body shop, will donate 100% of the proceeds from the sale of 75 reserved ticket packages in the new licensed grandstand at the track. The tickets cost $100 each and include a reserved seat, souvenir hat and t-shirt, and two beverage tickets – for a total $7,500 donation – assuming all 75 packages are sold. To purchase these special packages, call Steve Lewis Auto Body directly at 902.539.2848.

 

As part of the pre-race festivities leading up to the IWK 250, fans will flock to the Antigonish Mall July 20 and 21 when DuPont Canada presents the Hendrick Motorsports Jeff Gordon showcar, bearing the familiar No. 24 DuPont paint scheme.

 

On the evening of Friday July 20 Boston Pizza, located at the Antigonish Mall, will host a pre-race pit party featuring the Gordon showcar as well as cars and stars of the PASS tour, top regional pro stock racers, the Riverside Sportsman Series and the Atlantic Open Wheel series.

 

More elements, including additional fundraisers for the IWK, will be announced as the IWK 250 draws closer.

 

Advance ticket requests for the IWK 250 can be made by emailing your name, phone number, address and quantity to paul.mclean@ns.sympatico.ca, faxing the same to 902.863.9244, or by calling the Riverside Speedway administration office at 902.863.2410. More than 2,600 tickets have already been requested for the event.

 

The initial offering of tickets to the IWK 250 will be June 9 at the Riverside Speedway 2007 season opener, the Pioneer Coal 100 for the CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour, also featuring the inaugural race for the Riverside Sportsman Series and the Atlantic Open Wheel series.

 

Advance ticket requests will be filled before June 9. On Monday June 11 tickets to the IWK 250 can be purchased through the Speedway ticket office, in person, by fax or email. The office is in the Antigonish Mall; MasterCard and Visa are accepted.

 

About the IWK

The IWK Health Centre, while located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, is an essential resource for women, children, youth and families from across the Maritimes and beyond. Each year, thousands of Maritime children and women come to the IWK requiring emergency care, surgery for critical illnesses, and inpatient care for ongoing medical conditions.