This past weekend Speedway 660 roared back to action after taking a break for the New Brunswick holiday weekend. As you know by now, Mike Stevens died after an accident, in the Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour race, at Oyster Bed Speedway on the long weekend. Many of our fans, race team members and employees were in Prince Edward Island for that race. Everyone in the Maritime racing community and beyond was shocked by this tragic accident.
A trust fund had been established for Mike’s two little boys, who are just nine months and two years old. Speedway 660 officials decided the proceeds from the 50/50 draws on the weekend would be sent to the trust fund. Then Heidi Cooper, who usually does her magic on the race track, announced at the driver’s meeting that she was going to give her winnings on Saturday night to the trust fund. It didn’t take long before all of the other drivers in our DMR Auto Sales & Service Street Stock Division agreed to do the same thing!
Several other drivers in our other divisions also followed Heidi’s example. And then Dave O’Blenis, Brent Roy and John Rankin, the podium finishers in the Firecracker 150 got into the act and put a big portion of their winnings into the trust fund. On Sunday, the Mercer Boys from down Sussex way, won the ENDURO 200 and turned the money back to Speedway 660 officials. They put their purse into the Stevens Trust Fund. The “Coca-Cola Crew” at Joyce’s Pit Stop even gave all of their tip money to the fund as well.
Heidi Cooper, who won a DMR Auto Sales & Service Street Stock feature back in June, initiated a fund raising effort for the Stevens Boys Trust Fund at Speedway 660 on Saturday night. Heidi, one of our most popular drivers, decided to give all of her winnings to the trust fund and all of the other Street Stock drivers followed her lead. Several other drivers in our other divisions did the same thing!
As a result of the kindness, compassion and generosity of the Speedway 660 fans, race teams and employees, a significant amount of money was raised for the Stevens Boys Trust Fund. A lot of race teams struggle to find corporate sponsors and every dollar they get, including their winnings, is put right back in their racing program. This weekend they stood up and followed the example of Heidi Cooper and did something positive in the face of tragedy.
The other amazing young lady I want to tell you about is not a driver, but she is part of our racing family and is New Brunswick’s latest “Golden Girl”. Elizabeth, better known as “Bee” Fagan, won a gold medal in wrestling at the Canada Summer Games. Bee’s Mom Lisa runs the Speedway 660 Kid Club and the Fagan’s have been coming to the track for years. Her Dad Shawn, one of her biggest supporters, is a member of the Canadian Forces.
Bee, who is 17 and getting ready to go back to Oromocto High for her senior year, took on the best from all across Canada and won! Usually New Brunswick and the other small Maritime provinces take a back seat to Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia. But not this time. Bee Fagan gained confidence, during her week at the Games and kept winning her matches. After giving up a point, early in the gold medal match, Bee gritted her teeth and quickly pinned her opponent from Quebec.
Bee Fagan got a ride out to the Speedway 660 front stretch with family friend Richard Atkinson. Bee recently won a Gold Medal in wrestling at the Canada Summer Games in Sherbrooke, Quebec. The 17 year old "Golden Girl" will soon be going to Serbia for the World Championships before returning home in time to go into grade 12 at Oromocto High School.
During our intermission on Saturday night, Richard Atkinson a Fagan family friend, brought Bee out on the track in his Sportsman car. I had the chance to interview Bee and see her gold medal. Our crowd went wild cheering for the teenager, showing appreciation for her accomplishment. Now Bee is off to Serbia in the next few days to represent Canada in the World Championships. We all wish her safe travels and good luck in the coming days.
So this has been the story of two amazing young ladies. One opened her heart in the face of tragedy and initiated an amazing act of kindness. Others followed her example and have helped make a difference. The other young lady had an amazing athletic accomplishment, putting New Brunswick on the map. They both are members of our Speedway 660 family, a proud family that stands up for each other.
Coming up this weekend we’ll see the second last point race of the season. With championships and rookie titles on the line as well as top fives and top tens, you are going to see great racing in the Geary Woods. This Saturday night’s results will set the stage for another awesome Fan Appreciation Night of Champions on Saturday, August 24th .
We’ll see you at the races!
