Newfoundland & Labrador Champ To Be Crowned For First Time
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — In the two years since purchasing the old Avondale Raceway, the Eastbound Park group has made extensive renovations and expansions to the facility with an eye on the future.
Tuesday, NASCAR and track officials helped usher in the new era at the track as Eastbound International Speedway in Avondale, Newfoundland & Labrador, celebrated becoming part of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.
“This is a huge day for the track, our competitors and our fans,” said Michael James, Eastbound International Speedway director of events. “Eastbound Park has worked towards this goal from the beginning. With the arrival of NASCAR All-American Whelen Series to Eastbound International Speedway, racers in the province can now compete on an international level against racers across North America.”
Eastbound is the first racetrack in Newfoundland & Labrador to become a NASCAR Home Track. It is the fourth Canadian track in NASCAR’s grassroots, short-track series joining Sunset Speedway in Ontario, Autodrome St-Eustache in Quebec and Edmonton International Raceway in Alberta.
“NASCAR is very excited to welcome Eastbound International Speedway to our NASCAR Whelen All-American Series,” said Kevin Nevalainen, NASCAR director of weekly racing operations. “They have built a top-notch facility and this is a tremendous opportunity to reach our NASCAR fans in eastern Canada. We are already looking forward to their inaugural season in NASCAR and some great racing action.”
Officially named Eastbound International Speedway and Concert Park, the track is located just off Exit 34 on the Trans-Canada Highway.
The grounds consist of a .375-mile oval asphalt track with 18 degree banking in the turns, along with a .125-mile drag strip and a state-of-the-art concert facility. Reserved seating in the grandstands has the capacity to hold 4,500 fans, and the track said it will continue to expand with growth.
The NAPA Auto Parts Sportsman will be the track’s Division I, while the Atlantic Dodge Dealers Hobby Stock will be Division II.
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Division I drivers are ranked by their best 18 NASCAR points finishes in series-sanctioned events. Drivers receive two points for every car they finish ahead of – up to 18 cars – and three points for a win, with an addition two points available if the driver starts 10th or lower. U.S. state and Canadian province titles are determined by the driver’s best 18 finishes within the state or province.
Established in 1982, the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series is NASCAR’s national championship program for weekly short track auto racing with paved and dirt tracks throughout the United States and Canada.
Connecticut-based Whelen Engineering is the series’ title sponsor. Whelen Engineering is a leading manufacturer of automotive, aviation, industrial and emergency vehicle lighting. NASCAR tracks and pace cars across North American are among many showcases for Whelen products.
