Raceway Park kicked off its 2012 drag racing season over the long weekend with a Test and Tune/Bracket Race attended by over 75 race cars.

The surprise of the weekend was an unusually high number of Motorcycles and Snowmobiles in attendance. Usually on a Bracket weekend the bikes and sleds run with the cars, but with 27 entries ready to race, the officials decided to run a Bike/Sled class by themselves. In the final run Joey MacInnis from Springvale drove his big Suzuki to victory over Amherst, Nova Scotia’s Andy Embree. Charles Coughlin from Wellington was third on his 2002 SkiDoo.

In the Electronic Class, veteran Ray Roach from Saint John once again emerged victorious with a final round victory over Summerside’s Hal Schurman in his 2005 Dragster. Charlottetown’s Dave Constable finished third in the class when he lost out to arch-rival Roach in a very close semi-final run.

Thirty-six cars entered the Non-Electronic Division which was high-lighted by numerous upsets. Charlottetown’s Matt Clow put such notables as Bruce Howatt, Travis Livingstone and Chad Ramsay on the trailer before losing in the final round to the 1974 Plymouth of Summerside’s Shawn Livingstone. Robert Gallant from St. Nicholas finished third when he lost to Clow in the semi-final.

J.C. Creamer from Mt. Stewart won the Junior Class with a final round win over Benjamin Gallant from Miscouche. Daniel Collister from Toronto, PEI was third in the division.

The Duck Race for first round losers was captured by Chuck Williams from Saint John,NB on his 2001 Susuki Hayabusa when he defeated Wellington’s Josh Goodwin in his 1967 Camaro.

On Saturday the Electronic Gambler’s Race saw Ray Roach win the first of his two weekend victories when he ousted Summerside’s Clayton Howatt in the class final. Dave MacKinnon from New Perth was third.

Charlottetown’s Bruce Howatt won the Non-Electronic side of the Gambler’s Race on Saturday with a win over Joey MacInnis Jr. from Mt. Stewart in the class final. Ernest Newcombe from Tyne Valley was third.

Saturday’s Junior Division was captured by Briann Toombs, with Daniel Collister second and Briann’s older brother, Dawson, in third place.

Next action at the local track will be the first points event on June 9/10. Meanwhile the popular Tuesday night street drags begin June 5th.