Eastbound Speedway crowns 2017 champions

To say it was a banner year for four drivers at Eastbound International Speedway would be an understatement.

All their hard work came to fruition this past weekend as those drivers were crowned as the champions in their respective divisions for 2017 following a full schedule of entertaining racing at the 3/8 mile track located in Avondale, just 30 minutes from St. John’s.

Wayne Walsh’s bright yellow No. 99 car captured the top division of racing at the track, being crowned the NAPA Sportsman Division 1 NASCAR Whelen All-american Series champion, outlasting a host of tough competitors to win the points title.

Walsh claims the Eastbound International Speedway Track Championship, provincial championship and rookie of the year for the NASCAR Whelen All-american Series.

In the Atlantic Dodge Dealers Hobby Stock Champion - Division 2 NASCAR Whelen All-american Series, Shayne Petten’s No. 4 car emerged as the 2017 winner.

Lloyd Eason Jr.’s No. 117 car earned the title in the Hanlon Realty US Legends division.

The final championship handed out on Sunday went to the No. 9 car of Owen Groves in the Automotive Supplies Bandolero division.

“There are 60 tracks across North American that compete in this championship which is the heart and soul of NASCAR,’’ Mike James, event director at Eastbound Park said Friday.

“He (Walsh) was ranked 107th out of thousands of drivers in North America with only 12 national qualifying events, compared to the No. 1 seeded driver with 45 starts,’’ he added.

Walsh will be a part of the Night of Champions in November at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C. This event will host Xfinity, Camping World Trucks, Whelen Allamerican, Pinty’s, K&N East and West, Euro and Mexican Series participants and champions.

“The biggest players and names in the stock car racing world will be rubbing elbows with Wayne Walsh on the red carpet at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, as he becomes Newfoundland and Labrador’s 2nd NASCAR Champion,” James said.