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Riverside International Speedway is a 1/3 mile, high banked, asphalt short track located in James River, Nova Scotia, Canada, about ten kilometres southwest of the town of Antigonish. ==Track history== Riverside International Speedway started out as a dream Antigonish businessman John Chisholm, who was an avid racing fan and was determined to advance his favourite sport in his home province. In 1967 Chisholm flew down to Bristol Motor Speedway and met with NASCAR co-founder Bill France, Sr., who gave him permission to model the track after a scaled down version of Bristol. Chisholm and his team began construction on the speedway in 1968 in James River, Nova Scotia. The pro just was completed a year later and opened its doors for the first time on May 18, 1969.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://riversidespeedway.ca/about/#post-3420 )〕 In 1975 Riverside played host to its first celebrity driver when Benny Parsons visited the track to compete in the NASCAR Canada series race, just a few months removed from his Daytona 500 win. This was the first time that a major stock car driver visited the region to compete in a race. The race also featured a purse of $7500, the largest in the region at that time.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://riversidespeedway.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/tribute201372dpi.pdf )〕〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://riversidespeedway.ca/about/#post-739 )〕 In 1977, under new track promoters Jerry Lawrence and Ron King, Riverside hosted its first 250 lap race, a staple that soon became an annual tradition.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://riversidespeedway.ca/about/#post-739 )〕 Chisholm sold the track to local resident Derek Vandalin in the 1989. Vandalin owned the track until his death in 2005, at which point John Chisholm subsequently bought it back in 2006.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.insidetracknews.com/news/breaking-news/item/4899-thomson-chisholm-and-tagliani-among-new-inductees-to-cdn-motorsport-hall-of-fame.html )〕 Upon regaining ownership of the track, Chisholm began a major renovation project. The renovation consisted of repaving the entire track, replacing the metal guardrails with concrete walls, rebuilding and enlarging the grandstands, and constructing a new press box with VIP seating. The restroom facilities were completely rebuilt, the sound and lighting systems were replaced, an electronic scoreboard was installed, and the parking and campground capacity was increased. In 2007 Riverside became the only Canadian racetrack East of Quebec to be sanctioned by NASCAR when it was named to the schedule of the newly formed NASCAR Canadian Tire Series. The first Canadian Tire Series race was held on September 16, 2007. Peter Gibbons dominated the race, sitting on the pole and leading 201 laps before a rear end problem forced him to the garage. This set the stage for Mark Dilley to take home the checkered flag for his first career Canadian Tire Series win.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.racing-reference.info/race/2007_Atlantic_Dodge_Dealers_300/T )〕 Riverside played host to the Richard Petty Driving Experience as the final stop on their first ever Canadian Summer Tour on July 24, 2011. Two of the programs three experiences were available to fans at the track, including their signature 12-lap “Rookie Experience,” and the “High-Speed Ride-Along”, which simulates a qualifying run with a professional instructor.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.drivepetty.com/media-center/press-release/richard-petty-driving-experience-announces-first-ever-canadian-summer-tour )〕 The track hosted the Richard Petty Driving Experience on their second Canadian Summer Tour in 2012, once again offering the “Rookie Experience,” and the “High-Speed Ride-Along”.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.drivepetty.com/media-center/press-release/richard-petty-driving-experience-announces-“2012-canadian-summer-tour” )〕 On August 18, 2012, Mike Stevens drove his #4 R Stevens Mechanical Chevrolet Impala to victory lane in dominating fashion at the 2012 Lucas Oil 100. Stevens started the race from the pole position, putting up a qualifying time of 14.336 seconds, and led all 100 laps in the caution free race. The win was his second of the Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour season, both coming at Riverside.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.maritimeprostocktour.com/news/2012/aug18.html )〕 The win turned out to be the final win of Stevens' career as less than a year later, on August 3, 2013, Stevens would succumb to injuries sustained in a crash at Oyster Bed Speedway.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.maritimeprostocktour.com/news/2013/aug8.html )〕 Track owner John Chisholm passed away on July 4, 2014 at the age of 68 years old, transferring ownership of the track over to his family. The 2014 IWK 250 was dedicated in Chisholm's honour, with all the cars in the race carrying a special decal commemorating his life and saying thanks.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.ngnews.ca/News/Local/2014-07-04/article-3787861/John-Chisholm-passes-away/1 )〕 On August 16, 2014, Donald Chisholm, just two months following the passing of his father, took home an emotional victory in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Wilson Equipment 300. The victory was a first for Chisholm in the series, who also earned his first career pole in the event.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://hometracks.nascar.com/ncats_recap_081614_Donald-Chisholm_Rolls_To_First_Win )〕 Prior to the 2015 IWK 250 Riverside unveiled the John W. Chisholm Memorial Cup. Past 250 winners such as John Flemming, Rollie MacDonald, and Kent Vincent, along with the Chisholm Family attended the unveiling. The Cup is a handmade silver cup that not only recognizes future and past winners of the IWK 250 but also recognizes the they winners of the annual Riverside 250 from 1977 to 2006 with plaques on the base. The traditional IWK 250 Trophy Presented by Steve Lewis Auto Body will continue to be awarded alongside the John W. Chisholm Memorial Cup.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://riversidespeedway.ca/john-w-chisholm-memorial-cup-to-be-unveiled-at-iwk-250/ )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Riverside International Speedway」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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