Photo by WingNut Productions
(BEDFORD, NS – September 21st, 2023) – The Cross Roads Maritime League of Legends Tour will crown their 2023 champion this Saturday, September 23rd at Scotia Speedworld. The 3/10-mile oval will host the CKG Elevator 50, Round Nine of the 2023 season. Over two dozen Legend cars are expected to be in attendance to battle for the final checkered flag of the season in Legends Tour competition in Halifax for the 2023 season. The CKG Elevator 50 is a part of the Tirecraft 200 Season Finale weekend for the East Coast International Pro Stock Tour. Qualifying begins at 4pm on Saturday at the Enfield, Nova Scotia track.
With the rainout and subsequent postponement of the September 16th event at Petty International Raceway past the season finale, only one point race remains on the schedule for the Cross Roads Maritime League of Legends Tour. Gage Gilby (Enfield, NS) enters his home track with a 37 point lead, which means if the No. 25 CKG Elevator Legend finishes anywhere within the top 19, he would clinch the Series title for the first time in his career. Gilby won the season opening MacDonald Automotive 50 at Scotia Speedworld and has not finished any worse than 10th in the eight races leading to this point in the year. Josh Langille (Coldbrook, NS), in the midst of his best Legend car season, is second in the standings as tries to chase down Gilby in the season standings.
Gilby and Langille have never won a Cross Roads Maritime League of Legends Tour title, meaning a new champion for the Series will be crowned on Saturday at Scotia Speedworld. When the green flag flies, barring any extraordinary circumstances, Gilby and Langille will be the only drivers mathematically able to capture the top spot in the standings.
The elder Langille brother has a 20 point advantage on the four way battle for third in the standings heading into the final point race. Nathan Blackburn (Timberlea, NS) has a ten point advantage on teammate Ayden Christensen (Windsor Junction, NS) with rookie Chase MacKay (Bear Cove, NS) and sophomore Tanton Wooldridge (Summerside, PE) sandwiched in the middle. Blackburn has earned third on the strength of consistency from seven straight top ten finishes dating back to July. MacKay, Wooldridge and Christensen all had high and low notes from the SpeedWeekend Double Header at Speedway 660 in September, creating a battle for the final podium position in points with one race remaining.
With the top ten drivers in the championship being honored with awards and cash prizes at the Series’ year end Awards Banquet in Truro, Nova Scotia in November, there is plenty to fight for throughout the field Saturday in the CKG Elevator 50. A span of 50 points separates seventh place driver Dawson Noble (Upper Nine Mile River, NS) and sixteenth place driver Brayden Wadden (Hammonds Plains, NS). A good race from a driver outside the top ten could catapult them into the end of season money while a misstep from someone within the top ten could put them on the outside looking in.
While MacKay and Christensen battle for third in the overall standings, they are also fighting for top honors when it comes to the Cross Roads Rookie of the Year Award. The battle comes down to six points with MacKay having the edge heading into the season finale. Both drivers cut their teeth at Scotia Speedworld, have had success in Bandolero competition and will hope to be crowned the top freshman driver after 50-laps on Saturday.
Tickets for the Tirecraft 200 Season Finale event, which includes the Cross Roads Maritime League of Legends Tour’s CKG Elevator 50, are on sale now at ScotiaSpeedworld.ca in advance and will be available at the gate on race day. Pit gates opens at 11:30am, grandstand gates open at 1pm with qualifying beginning at 4pm. For complete event and venue information, please visit ScotiaSpeedworld.ca.
The point championship chase will be coming to a close on Saturday, but the Cross Roads Maritime League of Legends Tour will be contesting a non-points race at Petty International Raceway to close the 2023 season. The Excel Property Services Fun Run will be a 44-lap exhibition event with cash on the line during the Mike Stevens Memorial Weekend on Sunday, October 8th.
For up-to-date information on the Cross Roads Maritime League of Legends Tour, please visit MaritimeLegends.ca or follow the Series on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MaritimeLegends.
About Cross Roads Cycle:
Cross Roads Cycle is located in Pugwash, Nova Scotia and offers a wide variety of motorcycles, recreational vehicles, trailers, power equipment and all the accessories, support and service that go with. Financing and international shipping is available. You can check out their entire inventory by visiting them online 24/7 at CrossRoadsCycle.net, give them a call at (902) 667-0917 or visit them at 11103 Highway 6 in Pugwash, Nova Scotia.
About The Maritime League of Legends:
The Maritime League of Legends Association was formed in 2005 by a group of racers wanting to grow the Legends Cars division in the Maritime Provinces of Canada. The popular touring series visits several venues throughout Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. For more information on the Maritime League of Legends, please visit www.maritimelegends.ca.