One of the most infamous car builder and driver to ever come out of Atlantic Canada, Edward James Hanley Jr., will be at Raceway Park on June 14 and 15, 1996. The park will be holding a weekend full of activities and races, which will end with the MASCAR 100 Race on Saturday, June 15, with drivers from around the Maritimes competing against Junior Hanley.
The event came about in response to the recently released Five-year Tourism Action Plan which recommended diversifying PEI's tourism product and building shoulder season activity throughout all regions of the province. Through the "Summer Starters Initiative," Tourism PEI proposes to concentrate on three weekends of exciting, action-packed activities beginning with the MASCAR 100 on June 15. The events are being promoted through a radio and direct mail campaign which began on June 1 and will be assessed for their economic impact.
"This is an excellent opportunity to extend tourism visitation during the shoulder season," said Robert Morrissey, Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. "The Summer Starters Initiative consists of good quality events in different locations across the province. Raceway Park is only one of our locations."
"Raceway Park will be kicking off its first MASCAR 100 with all the hype we can," said Kevin Power, owner/operator, Raceway Park. "Having Junior Hanley at the event is sure to be a big draw — we are expecting more than 5,000 people to attend."
Other events over the weekend include a Pit Stop Challenge at Walter Piccott Chevrolet on Friday, June 14; a social extravaganza with a band in the indoor showroom following the challenge; a MASCAR display; an autograph signing session with Junior Hanley; and the main event on Saturday, June 15.
For more information, contact Jill Richardson, Economic Development & Tourism, 368-5508.