5 years ago today....

From CP:

The toughest man to ever climb into a stock car was gone, killed in a violent crash in the final turn of the last lap of the Daytona 500.

In the blink of an eye, NASCAR lost more than a just another driver. Dale Earnhardt was a friend, a father, a leader and an icon. There were seemingly too many voids to ever fill.

... more at the link above...

"Dirt from the Stands" by Greg Cybulski

Racing Bonanza in 2006

Well race fans, this may be your year to see the biggest variety of dirt track racing in our region in quite some time. Whether you are a fan of Motocross, Late Models, 360 sprints or 410 Outlaw sprints, it's all here for you in 2006 right in our own back yard. Let's check out some of the highlights...

The newly formed ASCS Northern Plains Region under the guidance of Chuck Zitterich will pay visits to North Central Speedway in Brainerd, Minnesota as well as Jamestown Speedway and Dacotah Speedway in North Dakota in 2006.

The balance of the 2006 regional schedule is south of the North Dakota - South Dakota line.

The biggest racing news in our region has to be the inclusion of Nodak Speedway as part of the ASCS National Tour Yes, this reporter's all-time favorite sprint car driver, Gary Wright and company will be invading Minot, ND. on June 10 and 11.

The Northern Outlaw Sprint Association has yet to release it's 2006 schedule at the time of this writing, however, an ambitious race schedule has been promised.

The World of Outlaws returns to Fargo, ND in June for two shows in conjunction with the Red River Valley Fair. The bigger news is that the Outlaws will be making a trip to Nodak Speedway in Minot on Saturday, August 19.

The folks in Minot must be feeling very proud, having signed two of the nation's biggest sprint car tours this season. The atmosphere at Nodak Speedway for these shows will be electric.

Finally, the newly formed National Sprint Tour under the guidance of Brownfield Promotions, Inc., will make an appearance at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, ND . Steve Kinser, Danny Lasoski and company will bring their high-flying 410 sprint show to the North Dakota bull ring on July 7 and 8
Victory Lane Speedway with Prairie Dirt website are pleased to present the 2nd Annual Mid-Canada Sprint Car Challenge set for Thursday, July 13.

Details will be released as they become available.

Speaking of Victory Lane Speedway, fans will have a real treat at the facility this season as the older wooden bleachers have been replaced with an all new grandstand seating for fan comfort. The parking lot space has been increased to accommodate a larger volume of traffic in 2006. Other upgrades will be made in time for the start of another exciting season of racing at Victory Lane Speedway.

The most noticeable difference will be the infield which is going to be used by the Manitoba Motocross Association for two big weekends in 2006. The dirt bikes will invade VLS on the weekends of June 10 & 11, and August 5 & 6.

The Northern Late Model Racing Association will visit Victory Lane three times in 2006. The dates are Thursday, June 15, Thursday, August 17 and Saturday, September 9. With all the specials this season, Winnipeg race fans will get their money's worth of entertainment at VLS.

Emo Speedway, ON. will once again be hosting the NOPA Super Trucks on Saturday, June 17. From the positive response of fans and the teams to last year's truck race, fans can expect another good show in 2006.
No matter what your car preference is, there will be plenty of racing to go around in 2006.

In my next column, I will have more information about the upcoming Mid-Canada Sprint Car Challenge including a preliminary list of participants for this year's event. As always, the kid saves a few aces up his sleeve for next time. I will talk about some exciting things happening out west in Saskatchewan and Alberta for 2006.

Until next time, take care and good racing,
Greg Cybulski
Prairie Dirt (2005)
http://ca.geocities.com/prairiedirt/home.html

Toronto Star: Norris McDonald writes about the first Canadian who ever competed in the Daytona 500

Richard “Dick” Foley of Baie D’Urfé, Que., ran in the Daytona Beach sands in 1957 and ’58 but hated that. When Bill France Sr., founder of NASCAR, opened the Daytona Speedway in 1959, the Montreal speedster ran the first race. He did beat none other than Richard Petty in the first Daytona 500, although Foley finished 32nd and Petty 57th.

... more at the link above ...

Jack n' Jill's has Yamaha G3 Aluminum boats!

From Jill Latondress // Jack n Jill's Motorsports and Marine.

MIDLAND, ON – Hi to all of the avid and weekend fishermen and fisherwomen! I wanted you to know that Jack n Jill's Motorsports and Marine are now dealers of the Yamaha G3 aluminium boats.

It is new to Canada. The best prices are now and we offer very competitive financing packages from one to twenty years.

If you are going to the Toronto Fishing Show, check them out at the Yamaha boothand email me or call 877-527-4386 and let your 5 star Yamaha dealership give you a quote.

We won't be at the show but we will be pricing them from here. A deposit holds your package at the special price until spring. We will be at the Toronto Sportsman show in March with our usual booth of ATVs and also at the Yamaha G3 boat booth.

For anyone looking for that perfect birthday present for me....

Ferrari to open driving school in Quebec

TORONTO -- Ferrari has announced plans to open a North-American driving school in Mont Tremblant, Quebec.

From Raceline.ca.... Erik Tomas' Update

From Raceline.ca

CASCAR was born at Delaware, but business is business. NASCAR isn’t buying CASCAR, so forget that fantasy. But if they’re supposed to be handling CASCAR’s marketing and promotion, their 2006 schedule should have been released months ago. I got a one-word response from NASCAR when I asked when the schedule would make an appearance. I was told, “Shortly”. How long is a piece of string?

In the meantime, Delaware had to move on and confirm dates. They also heard the complaints of expense, and gassed their Dodge Weekly Racing Series. They have a long-term investment in their local racers, and if the NASCAR programs and promotions don’t fit their business model, they have to cut them loose.
While we wait for a Busch race in Montreal or Toronto, and maybe a Truck race in Calgary, Delaware needed to protect its cubs.

Delaware is also initiating something similar to changes on the Southern Ontario DIRT Modified and Sportsman scene. Replacing costly travelling series with closer-to-home inter-track programs with common rules. Local tracks are learning to pool their strengths to survive.

It’s called living within your means. If NASCAR has big plans for Canada, and we believe they ultimately do, the local/regional tracks have to do what’s necessary to pay the bills now.

New Print From Draftsman Tony Cairoli Available

From Inside Track

Latest creation is the famous Tyrrell P34 six-wheel Formula 1 car.

Working from his Georgina, ON home, Tony Cairoli’s prints are found at motorsport specialty stores such as Mini Grid, DRB Motors, Collectors Studio, Car Buffs, Alex Read Motorsport in London, England, and Legacy Motors Automotive Art Gallery in Chicago, IL. To contact Cairoli directly, email cairoli97@hotmail.com.

For nine years, Cairoli has been researching and producing general arrangement technical drawings of major racecars. It takes six months from the start of his research to the finished product, which is a precisely drawn model.

Cairoli’s first drawing was the 1981 Formula 1 Ferrari of Gilles Villeneuve, and he has done the 1997 World Championship Williams F1 car of Jacques Villeneuve as well as a wide range of other cars.

Prices range from $50 to $69.95 for unframed prints – add $100 for framed editions.

MULTIMATIC CONFIRMS MILNER AS DRIVER FOR NO. 51 PANOZ ESPERANTE IN 2006 AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES

Courtesy Ryan Smith, ALMS

Braselton, Ga. - To no one's great surprise, Multimatic Motorsports Team Panoz announced today that it has signed American Tom Milner to pilot one of its Panoz Esperantes in the American Le Mans Series' GT2 class for the full 2006 season.

The 20-year-old former BMW Team PTG driver will join forces with fellow American young gun Gunnar Jeannette in the No. 51 Panoz Esperante GTLM. Renowned international sports car racer David Brabham, a former Panoz factory driver, and long-time Multimatic factory pilot Scott Maxwell are partnered in the No. 50 Panoz.

Milner drove full-time for BMW Team PTG in 2005 after making his sports car debut late in 2004 at Virginia International Raceway with the same squad. The son of PTG team President and namesake Tom Milner, the younger Milner drove with Jeannette in his maiden GT outing; now they are teammates at Panoz.

"Moving to Multimatic Motorsports Team Panoz offers a great opportunity to drive for a different team after two years with PTG," Milner said. "I am really looking forward to the challenge. For me it is a new car, a new series and a chance to experience a different approach to racing.

"It will be quite strange to drive against Dad's team, especially after testing both the Panoz and BMW at the recent Sebring test," he added. "The plan is certainly to give BMW, Porsche, Lexus and Ferrari all a hard time, and I am sure they will be doing the same in return, especially the PTG guys. I was very impressed with the Panoz at Sebring. It has excellent power and I can't wait to get back in the car and complete our preparations for Sebring."

Milner is also no stranger to the Multimatic team, having filled in for Scott Maxwell last year at Mosport aboard a Ford Mustang FR500C racer. While Maxwell was competing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans for Panoz, Milner stepped in and drove with James Gue to grab a podium finish.

Multimatic Vice President and Motorsports Technical Director Larry Holt believes his new 2006 Panoz squad has the perfect blend of youth and experience.

"We have worked very hard to bring together everything we need to challenge for the championship, and our outstanding driver lineup certainly fills me with confidence," Holt said. "Young Tom made a very big impression on our guys at Mosport last year and he continues to show exceptional raw speed. I believe he and Gunnar are two of the most talented young road racers in North America, and teaming them with Brabs and Scotty's experience is an ideal combination.

"The entire team is really looking forward to the opening round of the championship," Holt added. "We were delighted with the recent Sebring test because our main aim there was to ensure the car was reliable. Not only did it run flawlessly throughout the test but the car was also very fast. Speed wasn't our target but I'll always take a lap record. However, we are not about to rest on our laurels. The competition in the GT2 class this year is going to be fierce and we know we will have a big fight on our hands."

The American Le Mans Series begins its 2006 season with the 54th annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. The 12-hour endurance classic is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. EST on March 18 at Sebring International Raceway. It will be televised live on SPEED Channel in North America and MotorsTV in Europe. In addition, Greenlight Television will distribute the race worldwide to more than 510 million households.

American Le Mans Series Radio will have flag-to-flag coverage available at www.americanlemans.com, along with IMSA Live Timing & Scoring.

Boniferro heats up for 2006

Coleman Heating and Air Conditioning to help team as major associate sponsor

Courtesy Bruce F. Mehlenbacher

NIAGARA FALLS, ON (February 14, 2006) -- Pro Modified Racing Association, www.ProModifiedRacing.com, driver Joe Boniferro and the Smokin’ Joe’s Racing team plans to heat up its performance and cool the competition in the upcoming 2006 season with the help of Coleman Heating and Air Conditioning, a new major associate sponsor for 2006. With this additional support from Coleman along with the team’s other valuable sponsors, the Niagara Falls, ON. based squad will be able to continue to develop the promising new engine combination it is working on in conjunction with Mopar icon Dave Koffel of Koffel’s Place. With the anticipated performance increase, Boniferro fully intends to continue driving the “World’s Quickest Mopar Wedge-powered door slammer” for quite some time yet.

The season will start by debuting the team’s Dodge Avenger with Coleman sponsorship at Performance World Indoor Car Show in Toronto, ON in March. The racing season will see the team attend the Pro Modified Racing Association events in Ontario, Quebec and New York. A return to Luskville Dragway, PQ for the Supercharger Nationals is slated for July 1 and 2, and the team will attend the two IHRA events in Ontario as well as a few other selected IHRA National events.

Regaining his Frantic 4 crown at Norwalk Raceway’s Halloween Classic is also a high priority for the hard working Mopar team. Boniferro commented, “We missed the Classic last year and they had a new winner for the first time in three years, so we have to get our title back.”

“As for the deal with Coleman, we could not have completed this marketing agreement without the help of long time sponsor Rick Goosen from Goosen Heating and Air Conditioning, who is a proud supplier of the Coleman line. He is a great asset to this race team. For a little team like us to be associated with a quality company like Coleman is a dream come true. We are confident we can do them proud!”

Coleman®: A Name North Americans Trust. Their residential brand is now sold by YORK, a Johnson Controls Company. Coleman’s complete line of Heating and Air Conditioning products provide the rugged durability people have come to expect from the Coleman® name.

W.C. Coleman started the company in 1900 and sold lanterns to Kingfisher, OK merchants to pay for his final year of law school. His lanterns' popularity grew rapidly and by 1914, Coleman introduced the first 300 candlepower lantern. The product was credited with lighting up rural America. In 1996, Unitary Products Group of York bought the HVAC company and in 1999, they decided to market their products solely under the Coleman name.

To find out more about Coleman Heating and Air Conditioning visit them at http://www.colemanac.com/

The racecar is a 1999 Dodge Avenger, which features a Tim McAmis chassis assembled by Tom VanDerGeld of Lowdown Hot Rods. This car debuted in early 1999 and has been active on the Canadian drag racing scene since then. Boniferro’s Avenger is powered by a 510-cubic inch B-1 Koffel engine built by Ed Wiens and maintained by Joe. The engine is rated at 2200+ horsepower and utilizes a 14-71 Littlefield supercharger, spun at 39 percent. Power is applied through a three-speed Lenco transmission to a Ford nine-inch rear gear set. The car weighs in at 2600 lbs in legal IHRA Top Sportsman trim.

Joe Boniferro would like to thank his major sponsors, Koffel's Place, Coleman Heating and Air Conditioning, Pennzoil, and Joe's Transmission, along with associate sponsors Al's Radiator Services, HeadsUpRacer.com, Lowdown Hot Rods, Mickey Thompson Tires, NGK Spark Plugs, Pappa's Pizza and Subs, Manton Pushrods, Scott Jahren Paint, TechPower Developments Inc, Goosen Heating and Air Conditioning, Stradwick's Flooring, TT Fabricating, and The Balancing Act.

Up to date news and information about Joe Boniferro and the Smokin’ Joe’s ‘99 Dodge Avenger as well as all their sponsors can be found by visiting http://www.joestransmission.com/.

The PMRA has five events confirmed for the 2006 season, the KC Auto Parts Family Day Celebration at Toronto Motorsports Park in Cayuga, ON, Saturday, June 24, at Lancaster Raceway Park in Clarence, NY on September 15 and the Pro Modified Racing Association is pleased to be running inaugural events at St. Thomas Dragway in Sparta, ON, August 5 and 6, the Eaton PMRA Challenge at Sanair near Montreal scheduled for Saturday, August 19, and at the Grand Bend Motorplex, over the Labor Day weekend.

PMRA officials are in negotiations with several tracks at present for 2006, both eighth and quarter-mile tracks in Michigan, New York, and Ohio with the plan of presenting a six-event drag racing series in 2006.

Groundhog Day

Remember the movie "Groundhog Day" when Bill Murray would wake up every morning and nothing had changed. I can't help but think of that film with every passing day that the CASCAR Super Series schedule isn't announced.

Deadline after deadline has passed. The end of January was verging on 'too late' for some to sell sponsorship packages for 2006, but that's what we were told would happen. But it didn't.

And then it was a few days after that. And still nothing.

Then it was late last week. And that didn't happen.

Today, it's Wednesday, February 15. I spent my entire morning fielding phone calls from drivers and team owners who are bald because they've spent the past few months pulling their hair out over the lack of a schedule.

For many of them, it's simple. No schedule, no sponsor.

They are frustrated, confused and angry because no one is telling them anything. And what they have been told - in terms of dates for schedule announcements - has been wrong.

Some of them say that no matter what schedule is announced, it won't matter because it's already too late for them to sell their programs. Many budgets are now closed.

Others say they still have some leads, but their potential backers are on the verge of walking away because there is still no schedule. And some are throwing their hands up in despair, having run out of excuses and answers for what they've been told would happen by now, hasn't.

They are tired of passing on incorrect information to sponsors, only to have to face those people, after the fact, and attempt to explain something they themselves don't understand, and aren't responsible for.

Some are talking about putting everything up for sale, and getting out.

The vast majority of CASCAR teams live and die on their abilities to attract sponsorship for their programs.

No matter what is happening behind the scenes as CASCAR's management works to put together a schedule, the teams deserve to be treated like partners and not left in the lurch, without correct information, as they struggle to attract and maintain sponsors.

Selling sponsorships for this expensive sport is a difficult task at the best of times. Given what's happening now, it's become nearly impossible. The teams deserve better.

MOSPORT REVS UP FOR 45TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON AS TICKETS NOW ON SALE

BOWMANVILLE, ON (Feb. 15, 2006) – Mosport International Raceway is revving up for its 45th anniversary season with the announcement that tickets for the six-event schedule, featuring the only Canadian round in the prestigious American Le Mans Series for exotic prototype and GT sports cars (part of the Labour Day weekend event), are now on sale.

Prices for all of the three-day weekend SuperTickets and camping passes have been held at last year’s rates and can be purchased online at mosport.com or by calling the Mosport Ticket Hotline (1-800-866-1072).

The season kicks-off with a long-time Mosport tradition, the Victoria Day SpeedFest Weekend (May 19-21). Racing includes the thundering muscle cars of the American GT Series and the Sundown Grand Prix endurance race for Touring and GT cars. The Sundown was a popular Mosport event in the 1970s and it returned last season to rave reviews from fans and competitors. Joining them will be the new United States Endurance Racing Association (USERA) Spec Miata Endurance Championship. As the unofficial start to summer, the Victoria Day holiday is a big weekend for camping and fireworks. Both are an important part of Mosport’s SpeedFest.

Canada’s national stock car championship, the CASCAR Super Series, makes its first of two trips to Mosport on Father’s Day weekend (June 16-18) for a 200-km race at the road course. Joining the stock cars is the new Mazda MX-5 Cup, plus several support races.

Mosport takes a step back in time and celebrates the past with the 27th Annual International Vintage Racing Festival (June 23-25). Organized by the Vintage Automobile Racing Association of Canada (VARAC), this is Canada’s premier historic racing event and includes cars from Mosport’s storied past. A special highlight of this year’s Festival is a tribute to the popular Trans-Am Series, which marks its 40th anniversary in 2006. Mosport is an original Trans-Am circuit and cars from across North America are expected to compete.

Motorcycles take centre-stage, July 14-16, for the Canadian Superbike Doubleheader Weekend, as the country’s top riders and teams compete in the national championship’s only back-to-back rounds. In addition to factory-supported Superbikes from the likes of Suzuki and Yamaha, Canada’s biggest motorcycle race of the year includes the Pro 600 Sport Bikes and the fast-growing Canadian Thunder Series for Buell, BMW and Ducati production-based sport bikes.

The CASCAR Super Series returns for an August 12 date on Canada’s fastest ½ mile oval in the Mosport Speedway 200. This is CASCAR’s only Toronto-area oval event of the year.

The summer racing season wraps-up with the Labour Day Weekend Grand Prix of Mosport (Sept. 1-3). It’s one of the country’s largest annual motorsport events. Last year more than 70,000 enjoyed three exciting days of sports car and open wheel racing at a circuit that’s recognized by drivers as one of the finest and most challenging road courses in the world.

Canadians Ron Fellows (Corvette) and Scott Maxwell (Panoz) both have solid chances at winning their respective GT classes (GT1 and GT2) on home soil.

This weekend will mark the Canadian debut of several new American Le Mans Series teams, including factory-backed efforts from BMW and Lexus, plus the Penske Porsche RS Spyder prototype. Mosport fans should also get their first look at Audi’s new diesel-powered R10. The Audi R10 will debut at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in March and race in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June. Then, starting with the Grand Prix of Utah in mid-July, the car is expected to run the balance of the American Le Mans schedule, including Mosport’s race on the Sunday of Labour Day weekend.

In additional to the Le Mans Series race, the line-up includes the SPEED World Challenge GT and Touring Series, the IMSA GT3 Cup for Porsches and two North American open-wheel classes, the Star Mazda Series and Formula BMW.

“We’re excited about the upcoming schedule and the variety of racing that we’ve been able to put together for this special anniversary year at Mosport,” said Myles Brandt, president and general manager of Mosport International Raceway. “ We’ll be making more announcements in the future and our fans can expect plenty of entertainment, both on and off the track this season.”

Since 1961, Mosport International Raceway has been Canada’s Home of Motorsports. Located less than an hour east of downtown Toronto, this 750-acre, multi-purpose facility boasts a 4-kilometre road course, a 2.4 kilometre driver development centre with skid pad, a 1.4 km kart circuit and a half-mile paved oval. The four circuits play host to more than 400 events and close to 250,000 attendees a year.

From Glenn Butt // Mosport

2006 Mosport Pro Season Schedule


May 19-21 Victoria Day SpeedFest Weekend

American GT Challenge; Sundown Grand Prix ; USERA Spec Miata Endurance Championship; F1200 & Cup Lites


June 16-18 Mosport Father’s Day 200

CASCAR Super Series; Mazda MX-5 Cup; Ontario Formula Ford Challenge; Cup Lites


June 23-25 27th Int’l Vintage Racing Festival

40th Anniversary Trans-Am Series celebration; Ontario Formula Ford Challenge; Historic & Vintage Production; Sports Racers; Group 70+ and more


July 14-16 Canadian Superbike Doubleheader

Superbikes; 600 (Pro & Am); Canadian Thunder; Suzuki SV650; 125 & 250 Grand Prix


Aug. 12 CASCAR/Mosport Speedway 200 (on the oval)

CASCAR Super Series; Ontario Legends


Sept. 1-3 The Labour Day Grand Prix of Mosport

American Le Mans Series; SPEED World Challenge GT; SPEED World Challenge Touring; Star Mazda; Formula BMW; IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge

DIRT: Record Turnout Tuesday For Advance Auto Parts Modified Practice At Volusia

Barberville, FL – Feb. 14, 2006 – By Tom Skibinski, DIRT NorthEast PR Director

The 2006 edition of the Florida Tour officially kicked off Tuesday evening at Volusia Speedway Park with a record number of Advance Auto Parts Modified Super DIRT Series teams taking advantage of the optional practice sessions to dial in their open-wheel mounts. Two warm-up periods were afforded competitors in DIRT MotorSports NorthEast's premier division, with nearly 50 drivers taking part representing seven states plus the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec.

Still more race teams are expected to sign in on Wednesday for the big-block Modified opener as the 35th Annual Winternationals presented by Daytona Dodge Chrysler/Mopar Speed Shop & Valvoline, Inc. continues Race Weeks '06 in the Sunshine State. DIRT NE's 31st season of short-track racing is scheduled to begin down south on Feb. 15 with a full set of qualifiers followed by a 30-lap feature race paying $2,000 to win. Check out the complete program line-up by logging into www.dirtmotorsports.com on the internet.

Leading the Advance Auto Parts SDS contingent during hot lap sessions was New Yorker Dale Planck steering the no. 77x Quality Concrete-King Enterprises-Chiefs Tobacco & Gas/Troyer housing a Kevin Enders-prepared powerplant. Open-wheel veteran Danny Johnson and reigning Florida Tour points co-champion Andy Bachetti followed Planck in session one while Delaware invader Jamie Mills and third-generation Canadian standout Stewart Friesen trailed Planck in the nightcap.

It was Planck recording the fastest times in both practice attempts with the initial warm-up period including nearly every car while part two only attracted two-thirds of the field. The mighty DIRT Modifieds participated in those two sessions that were mixed in among UMP Late Model and UMP Open-Wheel Modified competition. In all, 204 DIRT MotorSports entries ---99 UMP LM, 56 UMP Mod, 49 big-block Mod--- jammed the VSP pit area that was spread out both in and around the spacious half-mile clay oval.

With Brett Hearn and Steve Hough electing to keep their cars loaded, the first group pulled out onto the track for the initial laps that were afforded at 7:30pm following Late Model hot laps. Planck (18.349 sec.) was one of eight drivers to break the 19-second bracket, turning in an average one-lap speed of 98.098 mph.

The second and final session arrived just prior to 11pm and before the UMP Late Model and Modified consolation rounds. This time it was Planck stopping the clocks at 19.325 sec. (93.144 mph) despite the smooth half-miler beginning to blacken and slick up as the program progressed.

SKIDMARKS
While the no. 20 Wentworth Custom Homes-Madsen Motorsports/TEO entry driven by Brett Hearn remained locked up during opening day practice, DIRT NorthEast's winningest driver still has more laps logged during the winter months than any of the opposition set to contend this week. Last week Hearn traveled to Carolina Speedway in Gastonia, NC where he circled the 4/10-mile clay oval no less than 300 times sharing duties between his new big-block DIRT Modified machine and the no. 57 ride of teammate Martin Roy, Jr. from Victoriaville, Quebec. The invitation was extended by track promoter David Ifft, the crew chief for his initial Grand National effortat Dover Downs (finished 10th) and also a former pit wrench for NASCAR legend David Pearson. "I had talked about practicing down here before but it just never happened," said Hearn, who described the Carolina oval as "kind of like Volusia with a broad turn three and tight turn four with nothing symmetric all the way around." Added Hearn, "Dave would really like to host an Advance Super DIRT Series race but its just too long a trip for most teams. It's a nice layout that also reminds me a little bit of Weedsport and seems like a real fat 3/8-miler. We probably won't ever run there but it's a great place to get some laps in before the season starts." Hearn is the winningest Advance Auto Parts SDS pilot in Florida with 15 big-block Modified victories to his credit.....

Also getting a head start on the field this week were defending overall Hoosier Tire-Sunoco Race Fuels Mr. DIRT Champion Tim Fuller (19) and past Eckerd 200 winners Billy Decker (91) and Vic Coffey (32c). Yet all three were in attendance this week parading around in full-fender Late Model machines. Fuller proved to be the most consistent, qualifying for three of his initial seven LM efforts with an 11th-place best scored at Oglethorpe Speedway Park in Savannah, Georgia. Decker placed seventh in his only start at Oglethorpe while Coffey reached the starting grid once in four tries and settled for 13th at East Bay Raceway in the Tampa suburb of Gibsonton. Jim Rasey will also be competing in the headline Modified and Late Model classes at Volusia during the week, although his no. 32 open-wheel machines will take priority, carrying sponsorship from Twin Oaks Services South-AKJ Industries-Alcon on both Troyer and Dirt Wheels entries .....

There were actually 50 cars, with Bobby Varin warming up a pair of no. 24 Liberty Rock Crushing/TEO mounts as teammate Chris Shultz wasn't expected to arrive until Wednesday. Likewise for Rick Grosso, Jr., who schedule his first visit for Thursday although Mark Blackwell from Grosso's sponsor Metal Fab Race Pro Shop climbed aboard to test the brand-new no. r24 Gross Trucking/Bicknell car on Tuesday. Varin, Shultz and Grosso join Frenchman Pierre Berthiaume, John Dixon, Steve Hulsizer, Martin Roy and Tim Sears as add-ons to the original pre-race roster while Ted DeGroat, Gary Hager, J.R. Heffner, Floridian Scott Kurtzner and Dave Schrader were no shows on practice day. So were Drew Ricco (car not yet ready), Vince Vitale (motor), and Rex, Russ and Rex King, Jr. as Rex Sr. is currently recovering from surgery that was undergone the second week in February. The 1 hour 45 minutes operation, which required fusion of two vertebrae, ended with a two-hour recovery period before Rex was released to return home from Cleveland.....

Tom 'Chic' Chandler and Ray Swinehart, both 53, and Joe Isabell, 16, are the bookends as the Winternationals Class of 2006 spans 37 years on the age chart. Pennsylvanian Swinehart has made the trek to VSP every year since DIRT return in 1998, finishing a fourth-place best in the 2002 finale in 26 feature race starts aboard his familiar no. 33 J&L Speed Supplies/Bicknell entry. Massachusetts veteran Chandler has been a Florida Tour fixture much of the new millennium, sitting out last year as he saved up for a new Mastin motor to power up his no. 27m New England Disposal Technologies-Atlantic Coast Trailer-Diversified Sign/Bicknell mount that he won from Andy's Speed Shop in Johnstown, N.Y. in '05. After competing in the DIRT Sportsman class last season at Fulton (NY) Speedway and contending in the Mod Lite division the two years prior, Central New York rookie Isabell made his big-block Modified debut Tuesday night in the no. 6j JIR Motorsports-A&D Structures/Bicknell machine; part of the five-car team that includes Joe's father Jeff (no. 7j), Tom Sears,Jr. (no. 8j), Danny Johnson (no. 27j) and Sean Beardsley (no. 18).....

Open-wheel mainstay J.R. Crouse, 46, last traveled to gator country in the winter of 1989, ranking 17th in the final points standings after recording a ninth-place feature race finish in the tour finale. After a 17-year absence the Nazareth, Pa. racer will be recognized aboard the no. 4BE Terry's Auto & Towing/Tauschman entry sporting a Wally Fiehl engine. The 'BE' nomenclature is in memory of late parents, Betty and Ed, with his father passing away just last June.....

While listed as a rookie on the Florida Tour this winter, second-generation driver Beau Wilkins, 23, is an experienced driver at Charlie Cathell's Delaware Int'l Speedway where he has competed for the past three summers. 2003 marked his first year at DIS and he finished runner-up on the big-block Modified points chart while last year he settled for third in the final standings. His father Bobby Wilkins, who was helping out pitside at VSP, owns 25 DIRT Modified feature wins, capturing two track points crowns two of the three years (1996 and '98) that Delaware was sanctioned by DIRT MotorSports.....

The DIRT track action at Volusia will be just as hot and heavy when some of the same Advance Auto Parts Modified Super DIRT Series big-block stars compete in the 'Kart Clash' at the refurbished go-kart track stationed next door. On Feb. 16 members of the media, sponsors and promoters are invited to meet and talk with many of the Advance Auto Parts Modified top drivers and check out the new Mobile Media Center. The informal pre-race gathering will begin at 3 p.m. in the Media/VIP Hospitality Tent at the west end of track. At 4:30 p.m. following the media event, fans are encouraged to work their way over to the hospitality area for a special Autograph Session. On Feb. 18, Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series and World of Outlaws Late Model Series touring teams, as well as DIRT Officials and members of the media, will contend in the unique 'Kart Clash' at the neighboring dirt track, where fans can hang out afterwards with their short-track heroes, collect autographs and take pictures. The racing and autograph session will run until 5 p.m. near the kart track.....

Team Cadillac to Field Four Champions in 2006 Pilgrim to Defend SCCA SPEED World Challenge GT Championship

Angelelli, Fellows and O'Connell Will Share Second Cadillac CTS-V

Courtesy General Motors

DETROIT - Team Cadillac will have an all-star driver lineup in 2006 with four championship-winning racers aiming for victories in the SCCA SPEED World Challenge Championship in Cadillac CTS-V race cars. Andy Pilgrim, the reigning SPEED GT champion, will contest the entire 10-race series in the No. 1 Cadillac CTS-V. Max Angelelli, Ron Fellows and Johnny O'Connell will share the No. 16 Cadillac CTS-V. All four of Team Cadillac's drivers have previously raced the black CTS-Vs.

"The Cadillac CTS-V is a world-class performance luxury sedan, and we are delighted to have four world-class race car drivers with Team Cadillac in 2006," said Jim Taylor, Cadillac general manager. "This formidable lineup of champions, combined with the capabilities of the production Cadillac CTS-V, will certainly put Team Cadillac in a strong position to win a second consecutive SPEED GT manufacturers championship. With drivers from the U.S., Canada and Europe, Team Cadillac's international roster of driving talent reflects Cadillac's stature as a truly global brand."

Since Team Cadillac's debut in March 2004, the black CTS-Vs have scored seven victories, six poles, and 21 podium finishes - highlighted by a 1-2-3 podium sweep at Road Atlanta in April 2005 and a sweep of the 2005 drivers and manufacturers championships.

Pilgrim, born in England and now a naturalized American citizen, has driven a Cadillac CTS-V race car since Cadillac finished first in the team's debut at Sebring in March 2004. Pilgrim's racing resume includes the 1996 IMSA Grand Sport Endurance Championship, the 1997-98 PSCR GT1 championships, five ALMS wins, and two Rolex 24 at Daytona victories, including an overall win in 2003.

"I've raced with Max, Ron and Johnny as teammates before, and I'm looking forward to having them as teammates again in 2006 at Team Cadillac," said Pilgrim. "Our focus will be on retaining the manufacturers championship, and I'll give it a 100 percent effort. 2006 will be an exciting year in the SPEED World Challenge with new venues such as Long Beach and Salt Lake City added to the schedule."

Fellows, a three-time American Le Mans Series GT1 champion (2002-04), 24 Hours of Le Mans class winner and overall winner in the Rolex 24 at Daytona with Corvette Racing, scored back-to-back SPEED GT victories for Team Cadillac at Mosport in 2004-05. The versatile racer from Mississauga, Ont., has won races in series that range from the NASCAR Craftsman Truck (two career victories) and NASCAR Busch Series (three wins) to the SCCA Trans-Am (19 victories).

"I've had a great time racing for Team Cadillac in the last two years, and I'm looking forward to doing more races with the CTS-V this season," said Fellows. "The World Challenge GT reminds me of the Golden Age of the Trans-Am series, with intense competition among race cars that are really based on what you drive on the street. It's racing that rewards smoothness and finesse, and it's great fun."

O'Connell, a resident of Flowery Branch, Ga., shared the ALMS GT1 title with Fellows in 2003-04. The pair teamed up to win their class in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and score an overall victory in the Rolex 24 at Daytona in 2001. He's won championships in the Formula Atlantic West, driven open-wheeled Indy cars, and tallied a record six class victories in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring endurance race. O'Connell's only previous appearance with Team Cadillac was at Road Atlanta in Sept. 2004.

"Racing with Team Cadillac and having Andy as a teammate is going to be a great experience," O'Connell said. "Based on the performance of the cars over the past two years, I'm confident we'll have good equipment. I've watched the close competition in the World Challenge as a television commentator, and I'm looking forward to being in the middle of the action as a driver. My job is to win races - that's the objective of everyone at Team Cadillac."

Angelelli, a resident of Monte Carlo, won the 1992 Italian F3 championship and was co-champion of the 2005 Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series in the Daytona Prototype class with teammate Wayne Taylor. He scored Team Cadillac's first win in Sebring, and subsequently posted victories in Road Atlanta (Sept. 2004) and Lime Rock Park (July 2005).

"Team Cadillac has an exceptional driver lineup in 2006, and they're backed by a group of very talented engineers and technicians," noted Dave Spitzer, Team Cadillac program manager. "The competition will certainly be intense, but Team Cadillac has the personnel, the equipment and the experience to achieve success again in 2006."

For additional information please visit the GM racing media site by clicking here.

Maxime Pelletier interview One on one, FBMW: Positive power!

By Russ Bond

Fifteen year old Quebec racer Maxime Pelletier is doing quite a bit of ‘homework’ over the winter. It is not his schooling that he’s putting all that overtime into, but his budding racing career. Pelletier has been doing a lot of testing with Gelles Racing since becoming the youngest driver to be awarded a 2006 F-BMW scholarship who he will run the 2006 Formula BMW USA championship with.

Pelletier is also one of the top drivers on the Cameron Motorsports ‘Elite’ team, moving up to the senior ranks, competing in the Florida Winter Tour.

"Maxime has really matured as a driver and a person," says Cameron Motorsports Team manager Trevor Wickens. "When he first joined us, he showed a lot of potential, and in the past 12 months, he has exceeded all our expectations."

Those expectations, combined with raw speed, and an abundance of talent have earned Pelletier a spot with Gelles Racing for 2006.

"Well since the beginning of January I have been testing already I have done seven days. I was already as fast as my teammate by the fifth day, which I was very happy about," Pelletier said after returning from his last test in Georgia.

"I am also really happy with the tests because I learn a lot about the car and driving these kind of cars. At our last test in Savannah, I was quite fast even faster than Kevin Lacroix’s time from last year."

Wickens says he’s seen the results of Pelletier’s testing show up on the karting weekends also. "I think he will do well in F-BMW, and in the testing he has done so far, he has really improved plus I can see the results in his karting also. It seems to be helping in both areas."

Pelletier also sees changes in his Cameron Motorsports team. "This year the Cameron Motorsports team has made some changes that will really help, like the addition of the way we record data, and the way we use that data as a team. In fact, our karting team works the same way as a car team would.”

While the teams work the same way, the personnel are different, and for anyone to succeed in any form of racing, the relationship between driver and the team is paramount. "Since the first day of testing with Gelles, team owner Bob Gelles has been trying a few different engineers to work with me," Pelletier said. "Last test I worked with a German engineer. We worked very well together and he gave me lots of good advice. He was very professional, and I would like to work more with him."

For Pelletier, the real test will come when the official series test days roll around, and he is confident he can run in the top five, but he also realizes that he must keep working hard to achieve that goal.

When the season gets going in earnest, for sure Pelletier will have the Montreal Grand Prix round circled on his calendar. "I expect the competition to be very high, with 30 to 35 drivers per race. I am really looking forward to Montreal, and my goal there is a podium. I know there will be a lot of people there to support me, and that alone I think will help me get a good result in Montreal. But first I have to focus on the first race, and take it one race at a time."

Ironically, the ‘BMW circle’ for Pelletier is quite small. You see, Trevor Wickens, the team manager for Cameron is Robert Wickens brother. Robert finished third last year in the series, and he is out to secure the championship this year. Wickens is also the teammate to Pelletier in the kart team, so it could be a bit of an issue, but neither of them think it will be. "Well Robbie helps me so much with the karting, like last week in Homestead. There he was able to help me, but in the cars it won’t be the same as we are both going for the same championship but I am sure we will stay friends like we are now," Pelletier said.

Those comments were echoed by Trevor Wickens. "That’s not a big deal, I can cheer for both. I want my brother to do good, but I want my driver to do good also."

This will be a critical year of development for the young Quebec driver, and the best way to keep up with his progress is to visit his website at www.maximepelletier.com.

ROYAL PRO XTREME TEAM takes 4 of 4 in Muskoka!

IAIN HAYDEN an Incredible 8 for 8 on Season!

Courtesy Mark Fries

The CSRA tour made its stop along HWY 11 this past weekend, for the Muskoka Pro Snowcross, just outside Bracebridge, ON.

The area had lots of fresh snow, and was cold and sunny, perfect winter conditions for a snowcross race! Many sledders came to the races on their sleds and the stage was set. The Royal Distributing / Factory Recreation Pro Xtreme Team was at it again, as Pro Iain Hayden on his #93 Rev's launched through all his heat races with wins on Saturday. Semi-Pro Joey Sagan and his #202 Rev's followed suit, with the black and yellow Royal Rev's running out front for 3 of 4 heat races also.

Sunday saw more of the same as Joey piloted his #202 to wins in both the Semi-Pro stock 440, and the Semi-Pro Open Mod finals. Iain also had to work hard this weekend as the holeshots were not always there, but used skill and speed to get out front and stay there as Iain won both the Pro Open Mod and Pro Stock 440 finals.

The team is staying focused and is not letting up at all, the competition in the CSRA is very close, and the hard work will continue.

Thanks to everyones dedication and hard work thus far. Next up is the CSRA national event in Valcourt, Quebec! This race is a WPSA national race as well and all the top competitors from all over the world will be showcased.

The event will also feature international television and media coverage. The team is riding high and very excited!

Thanks to Factory Recreation, FXR Racing clothing, Ski-Doo, Kimpex, CKX helmets, Ipone Lubricants, HMK boots, Studboy Traction, Spy eyewear, and TekVest. Special thanks to Jackie Legge for the great pictures attached!

Adversity won’t stop father and son team from returning to Targa

Courtesy Ruth Marks

February 13, 2006 – ST. JOHN’S – Never mind the broken bones and busted cars: Tony and Ryan Kloosterman are heading back to Targa Newfoundland.

After all, the father and son team from London, Ontario, feel they have some unfinished business with one of North America’s longest and toughest motorsport events.

“After our experience last year, there’s no way that we can’t come back,” said father and driver Tony. “We didn’t feel we had the opportunity to drive the car. When we return in 2006, we’ll have a greater respect for the road and the conditions. And I feel like I owe my son a decent ride!”

That’s a pretty optimistic attitude for a pair that endured a week of pain, hardship, disappointment, expense and, ultimately, redemption at Targa Newfoundland 2005.

The challenges the team faced in their first attempt at Targa reads like the script for a Hollywood movie. An off-road incident on Prologue Day injured Ryan’s arm and forced the competitors to make extensive overnight repairs to their Subaru. True to the spirit of the event, they were back competing the following morning, with Ryan navigating with his broken arm in a sling. The Prologue experience was to set the tone for their week, as a series of mechanical problems and adventures on the route seemed to add daily to the list of obstacles they faced. At almost every stop, from lunch breaks to arena car shows, the Kloostermans could be seen working on their car. A troublesome transmission threatened to end their rally several times.

“At a certain point, we knew that we just couldn’t give up,” said Tony. “It was powerful; we had gone so far and faced so much. If we had given up, we would have failed. We decided that as long as the car could go, we could go. When Ryan didn’t think we could make it, I encouraged him. And when I lost hope, he encouraged me. We worked quite hard and the only day we did not meet our target times was on Day 4, after we lost third gear. We only had first and fifth.”

Most days, Tony can be found working for Canada Post as the Director for South Western Ontario. However, he has been passionate about motorsports ever since he navigated his first rally with his father when he was 12. Tony competed in both the Ontario and Canadian Rally Championships before taking time off to raise a family. About four years ago, he returned to competition, focusing on solo events.

The motorsports bug bit son Ryan about two years ago, when he entered his first solo event. He has been hooked ever since.

“Rallying has always been in the family, but no event could have prepared me for Targa Newfoundland,” said Ryan. “It was something I did not expect. It exceeded my expectations. It was overwhelming and exhausting.”

Even with all the hardships they faced during the week, the Kloostermans kept a commitment they made to the Children’s Make A Wish Foundation before the rally began. On Saturday, September 17, they presented a driving suit donated by OMP to a young boy with cancer. They spent much of the day with him, including taking him for a few spins around Vinland Motorsports’ Charity Slalom.

It’s no wonder the other competitors voted for the Kloostermans for the Spirit of Targa award. This trophy is presented to the entry that, in the opinion of the rest of the competitors, best represents the perseverance, fortitude and determination necessary to succeed in the often-difficult world of motorsports. In the past, the Spirit of Targa award has been presented to teams who have undergone the most trials and tribulations to get to, or remain in, the competition. In the 2005 event, the tale of the Kloostermans set a new standard for perseverance.

Their 2002 Subaru WRX is undergoing some major upgrades for the 2006 event and will feature the team’s new name – Never Quit Racing. There will be an upgraded suspension, a new drive train and, of course, a new transmission. So what are the Kloostermans doing with the transmission that gave them so much trouble?

“A friend is actually turning our transmission from Targa 2005 into a coffee table,” laughed Tony.

The fifth annual Targa Newfoundland will start and end in St. John’s and will cover more than 2,100 kilometres of the challenging, twisty roads of the central and eastern portion of the island of Newfoundland over six days, including more than 500 kilometres of closed-road, flat-out Targa Stages. In addition to the two primary competitions for Targa and Grand Touring entries, a new category known as Targa Tour has been added for 2006. The latter gives motorsports enthusiasts and collectors of unique and rare vehicles the opportunity to enjoy all that Targa has to offer without the pressure of competition or the need for stringent vehicle preparation.

Targa Newfoundland is owned and organized by Newfoundland International Motorsports.

MY NEW FAVOURITE MOVIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Will Ferrell does NASCAR.

Click on the link above for a preview.

Every hilarious NASCAR stereotype in the book! Toooooo funny. I can't wait.

DIRT Hall of Famer John McArdell Honored With 'Saturday Night Hero' Award

From Tom Skibinski, DIRT NorthEast PR Director

Race Weeks in Florida is a time to break in the new year with the first motorsports events of the season. It is also an occasion to reminisce about many of the great races gone by and recognize some of the greatest individuals that helped lay the groundwork for what is now widely accepted as the most popular sport in the world today.

In 2006, DIRT MotorSports NorthEast Hall of Fame inductee John McArdell is among a select few that is being honored still one more time for his accomplishments in auto racing. Joining McArdell on the list of notable honorees are Bobby Johns (Distinguished Driver), Cotton Owens (Pioneer of Racing), Gary Nelson (Dedicated Service), Vicki Wood (Racing Woman of the Year), Jim Foster (Russ Moyer Media Award), Olin Hopes (Behind the Scenes/Nuts and Bolts Award) and Nichels Engineering (Allison Family Achievement).

"I can't say I feel like a legend, but I'm still living and certainly happy to be able to accept an award like this," said McArdell, 71, who resides in the Syracuse suburb of Baldwinsville, N.Y. He was a forerunner to the nationally renown DIRT MotorSports organization (est. 1976) and its charter member tracks, scoring 10 wins at Weedsport Speedway (1968-72), six victories at Rolling Wheels Raceway (1972-75) and one triumph at Canandaigua Speedway (1975). "There are so many great drivers that I had the privilege of racing with, I'll be representing them just as much when the award is handed out."

During the 14th Annual Living Legends of Auto Racing Reunion Banquet set for Wed., Feb. 15 at the Plaza Resort & Spa in Daytona Beach, McArdell will be in attendance to accept the 'Saturday Night Hero' award. The LLOAR is an organization that works to preserve the history of stock car racing and the greats of the sport. McArdell is a most deserving recipient and his success on the New York State racing circuit can be recalled for generations to come as he finds his place in the Living Legends Museum, now located inside the Sunshine Mall, 2400 South Ridgewood, South Daytona, Fla.

DIRT MotorSports NorthEast Hall of Fame – 1995 Inductee Review

Ask anyone who follows local New York State racing to name the dominant drivers from the 50's, 60's and 70's and one name that is bound to come up is John McArdell. One of four McArdell brothers to have raced, John drove stock cars for nearly a quarter of the century. His first ever competition was in a demolition derby when he was 16 years old. He won that derby, an outcome that ultimately launched his career as one of the top drivers in Central New York.

In 1952, John and his brother Gale bought their first stock car for $500. In the beginning they would take turns driving. Gale would drive the car at Brewerton and John would drive at Lafayette. Weedsport Speedway opened in 1955 and John added that track to his resume. His first feature victory came at the Waterloo Speedway driving car no. 00.

Although he drove and was successful in several cars throughout his career, the one stocker he is best known for steering is the "leanin' 11", owned by the late Dominic Tantello. His first night of racing the "leanin' 11" was also the first night he won a feature in that car --- opening night at Waterloo in 1960. He went on to win the "High Point Man" honors that same year.

Although he had many successful years of racing, probably his best was 1964 when he won 27 features. Besides the numerous awards he earned that year, he capped off the season with three wins on consecutive nights. On September 18th he captured a

50‑lap Championship race at Canandaigua, on September 19th he claimed a 100‑lap Championship at Waterloo and on September 20th he copped the NASCAR sponsored "Salt City 25" at the New York State Fairgrounds. A few weeks before the Syracuse event, during qualifications at the New York State Fair Labor Day Championships he proved to be the fastest qualifier among some of the top names in the sport at that time.

Always a popular driver with the fans and well respected among the drivers, John has won numerous "Most Popular Driver" and "Sportsman of the Year" awards at several speedways. He is also one of the few drivers that was able to remain competitive when

the sport changed from cars using "flathead" engines to V8 power. One of the most notable aspects of John's racing career was the fact that no matter what car he drove or who he drove for (including himself), he was always competitive. He is believed to be the only driver to have won point titles at Weedsport, Rolling Wheels, Canandaigua, Waterloo and Skyline speedways.

After another great year in 1975 with the Jim Sincerbeaux owned number 0 ride, which included a track championship at Rolling Wheels Raceway, John decided 1976 would be his last year racing. Except for a handful of races run in 1977, it was. In the end what John remains most remembered for aside from his countless victories, numerous track championships and post-season honors was his intense competitiveness on the track and easy going friendliness off it.

The PMRA returning to New York: September date confirmed for popular Lancaster Raceway Park

Courtesy Bruce F. Mehlenbacher

February 10, 2006 - CLARENCE, NY -- The Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA), www.ProModifiedRacing.com is pleased to announce the return to Western New York’s Lancaster Raceway Park September 15 as part of the PMRA 2006 six-event tour. Lancaster Raceway Park, situated in Clarence, New York, is a one-eighth mile drag strip operating under International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) sanctioning.

Many of the New York-based PMRA competitors consider Lancaster their home track, and have raced at the Niagara Frontier facility many times.

"This will be a terrific event for our fans," said Lancaster Raceway Park's Jim Reid. "We are always trying to bring in the best of shows, and believe the PMRA will offer top-notch racing. The PMRA will give our fans a chance to see local home track stars like Mike Stawicki and Mike Janis. We expect to see fans at Lancaster that we haven't seen there for years."

Lancaster has a long tradition in motorsports. With both a drag strip and a paved oval track, Lancaster has presented the best in racing to fans of Western New York and Southern Ontario. Joining the PMRA Pro Modifieds at Lancaster Raceway Park will be the Can-Am Stock/Super Stock Series. This popular grass roots drag series, which features competitors from Ontario and New York, was formed in 1996, and continues to grow each season. The participants, known for their awesome wheelies, are fan favorites wherever they appear.

For information about Lancaster Raceway Park call 1.716.759.6818 (Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET) or visit online at http://www.lancasterracing.com/

The PMRA has five events confirmed for the 2006 season, the KC Auto Parts Family Day Celebration at Toronto Motorsports Park in Cayuga, ON, Saturday, June 24, at Lancaster Raceway Park in Clarence, NY on September 15 and the Pro Modified Racing Association is pleased to be running inaugural events at St. Thomas Dragway in Sparta, ON, August 5 and 6, the Eaton PMRA Challenge at Sanair near Montreal scheduled for Saturday, August 19, and at the Grand Bend Motorplex, over the Labor Day weekend.

Busted! Knaus / Johson nailed for rear window shenanigans

From NASCAR.com

Knaus facing suspension after 48 fails inspection

Johnson, Terry Labonte have Daytona 500 qualifying times nixed

By David Newton, NASCAR.COMFebruary 12, 200610:47 PM EST (03:47 GMT)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Crew chief Chad Knaus faces possible suspension for altering the height of the rear window in driver Jimmie Johnson's car before Sunday's qualifying for the Daytona 500.

Johnson's qualifying speed that ranked fifth was disallowed, which will force him to start from the back in the first of Thursday's two Gatorade 150 qualifying races that set positions 3 through 43 in the 500.

Terry Labonte's car also had its qualifying run thrown out Sunday after the No. 96 Chevrolet failed inspection.

Labonte's car, with a Joe Gibbs Racing engine, was found to have illegal modifications to the carburetor. The two-time NASCAR champion is driving in the inaugural race for Hall of Fame Racing, the team owned by former NFL quarterbacks Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach.

"These were serious infractions," NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said. "I don't think we would disallow the times if this was not serious."

The biggest penalty could come as early as Monday against Knaus, according to a NASCAR source.

According to the source, an instrument was placed inside the car that raised the rear window after it went through pre-qualifying inspection to provide an aerodynamic advantage.

The height difference was discovered during a post-qualifying inspection and considered a flagrant attempt to gain a competitive advantage.

... more at NASCAR.com

Round 8 – A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Sentul, Indonesia Qualified: 8th / Sprint Race Finish: DNF / Feature Race Finish: 1st / Series standing: 10th

Courtesy Stuart Morrison Public Relations

12th February 2006 – A stunning flat-out performance from the back of the field today saw Sean McIntosh reward A1 Team Canada with their first ever A1 Grand Prix of Nations victory in Round 8 of the inaugural ‘World Cup of Motorsport’, hosted at the Sentul International Circuit in Indonesia.

The 20-year-old Vancouver racer, having retired on the opening lap of the Sprint event, bounced back in style in this afternoon’s Feature race, storming through the field from last on the grid, overcoming a drive through penalty in the process, to claim A1 Team Canada’s maiden A1GP win before a sell-out Indonesian crowd.

Sprint Race, 18-laps (Winner – A1 Team France, Nicolas Lapierre)
From eighth on the grid Sean sprinted off the line to snatch a couple of positions at the first corner. His race ended prematurely however just two turns later. Contact with the rear of A1 Team Malaysia’s entry, piloted by Alex Yoong, at the third turn broke the track rod and steering arm of the A1 Team Canada Lola-Zytek, the Canadian challenge ending in retirement on the first lap.

Feature Race, 36-laps (Winner – A1 Team Canada, Sean McIntosh)
Starting from the back of the grid courtesy of being first to retire in the Sprint race, Sean wasted little time in hustling the Canadian car back up the order. Sitting tenth after the opening lap he peeled off into the pits for his mandatory stop as the safety car deployed on lap two. No sooner was he back on track than he found himself back in pit-lane taking a drive through penalty having been squeezed over the exit line by A1 Team USA in the race to rejoin the action following the first stops. Bumped back down the field Sean set to work with one of the quickest cars on the track.

A gutsy series of lap-after-lap overtaking moves, passing the likes of the USA, Netherlands, Brazil, Switzerland and Australia lifted Sean back into the top-ten and hungry for more. Climbing to fourth at the half-way marker Sean darted by Tomas Enge in the Czech Republic car at the third re-start to take third overall but with Great Britain and South Africa ahead still to make their pit stops he effectively seized the lead of the race. With two laps remaining Sean officially assumed the lead and duly powered his way to the checkered flag to take A1 Team Canada’s maiden victory.

Sean McIntosh:
“This is unbelievable! It was an honor to be on the top step of the podium singing ‘Oh Canada’. The team did a great job and I want to thank them and Wade Cherwayko for the opportunity to race for A1 Team Canada. It certainly wasn’t an easy victory but it sure feels good! We made some changes to the car between races as we felt we had nothing to lose starting from the back. With Patrick Carpentier taking over for Canada in the next two rounds I wanted to leave with a strong performance. I’ve set the standard pretty high and hopefully the team can take this momentum forward to Mexico.”

Monterrey, Mexico hosts Round 9 of the A1 Grand Prix of Nations, 24-26 February 2006.

Standings: 1st France (132), 2nd Switzerland (104), 3rd Brazil (70), 4th Great Britain (68), 5th New Zealand (61), 6th Netherlands (53), 7th Ireland (50), 8th Portugal (50), 9th Malaysia (49), 10th Canada (42)

For more info visit http://www.a1teamcan.com/ or www.a1gp.com.

Qualifying, Round 8 – A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Sentul, Indonesia

Courtesy Stuart Morrison Public Relations

11th February 2006 – Sean McIntosh continued to maintain A1 Team Canada’s top-ten form ahead of tomorrow’s eighth round of the A1 Grand Prix of Nations at the Sentul International Circuit in Indonesia.

The 20-year- old from Vancouver captured eighth on the grid for Sunday’s Sprint race with an aggregate lap time of 2m35.685s in today’s qualifying sessions at the 3.96km permanent road course. With the luxury of a completely dry track for three out of the four timed-runs, McIntosh went straight out on new tires having run in the dry in Indonesia for the first time in this morning’s practice session, where he was ninth fastest.

A lap of 1m17.978s on his second qualifying run was then bettered with a fresh set of rubber for his third outing where he posted a 1m17.707s. Ultimately those two runs would set A1 Team Canada’s qualifying position as rain showers early in the fourth and final session hampered McIntosh’s efforts as he was one of the first drivers out on track. A1 Team Canada starts tomorrow’s opening Sprint race in eighth, the team’s ninth top-ten start of the season, while A1 Team Great Britain’s Robbie Kerr captured pole position ahead of A1 Team France.

Sean McIntosh: “Eighth place isn’t a bad grid slot but I’m a little frustrated as it’s not quite where we hoped to be. I was hoping we’d go quicker in the fourth session as the car was handling well and our third run was competitive but the rain denied us. We’ll see what improvements we can make before tomorrow’s Sprint and Feature races, we know we have a decent wet set-up and we’re comfortably in the top-ten in the dry. The weather could be the deciding factor but we’ll be going for it regardless!”

Qualifying – Aggregate times for two fastest sessions
1. Great Britain, Robbie Kerr, 2:34.257; 2. France, Nicolas Lapierre, 2:34.477; 3. Mexico, Salvador Duran, 2:34.544; 4. Switzerland, Neel Jani, 2:35.065 5; Japan, Hayanari Shimoda, 2:35.190; 6. Malaysia, Alex Yoong, 2:35.447; 7. Ireland, Ralph Firman, 2:35.670; 8. CANADA, SEAN MCINTOSH, 2:35.685; 9. South Africa, Stephen Simpson, 2:35.750; 10. New Zealand, Matt Haliday, 2:35.797.

Sunday’s races can be viewed live or on demand in Canada via www.a1gp.com while Team Canada’s Official A1 site can be viewed at www.a1teamcan.com.

Hanley un-retired?

A reader sent me a link to a website announcing that Canadian stock car legend Junior Hanley has ended his brief retirement and will be racing a limited schedule for Hight Motorsports in 2006 ....

"Throughout the fall and winter months many fans and friends of Hight Motorsports have asked the question of who will drive the car and where next year. Today we would like to announce that Junior Hanley will pilot the Hight Chevrolet Monte Carlo in 2006. As of right now the plan is only to run a few big races. You can expect to see the team at the TD Bank North Oxford 250 as well as the 300 lap Beech Ridge race. You may see the team participate in one or two other events but that will be determined later on. With this announcement the Hight Motorsports team is shifting back into high gear preparing for the 2006 race season. Next week the team will be hauling the car to Ontario to Junior Hanley’s race shop. Hanley will prepare the Hight Chevrolet Monte Carlo for another year of racing. The rear clip and fuel cell will be replaced as well as the interior. Then a new 2006 Monte Carlo ABC Five Star body will be installed. Finally a few other chassis and geometry adjustments will be made. "

Bud Shootout Results

NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Race

Budweiser Shootout
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona Beach, Fla.
Sunday, February 12, 2006
1. (15) Denny Hamlin #, Chevrolet, 72, $213,380. 2. (19) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 72, $113,377. 3. (3) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 72, $62,877. 4. (8) Scott Riggs, Dodge, 72, $52,877. 5. (2) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 72, $51,377. 6. (16) Matt Kenseth, Ford, 72, $48,377. 7. (13) Mark Martin, Ford, 72, $46,377. 8. (17) Jamie McMurray, Ford, 72, $45,377. 9. (4) Joe Nemechek, Chevrolet, 72, $44,377. 10. (9) Dale Jarrett, Ford, 72, $43,377. 11. (21) Michael Waltrip, Dodge, 72, $41,377. 12. (12) Bill Elliott, Chevrolet, 72, $40,377. 13. (6) Elliott Sadler, Ford, 72, $39,377. 14. (1) Ken Schrader, Ford, 72, $38,377. 15. (14) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet, 72, $37,377. 16. (11) Carl Edwards, Ford, 71, $36,377. 17. (7) Ryan Newman, Dodge, 68, accident, $35,377. 18. (5) Kasey Kahne, Dodge, 35, accident, $34,377. 19. (10) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 23, accident, $33,377. 20. (18) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 15, engine failure, $31,377. 21. (20) Brian Vickers, Chevrolet, 14, accident, $30,377.

Average Speed of Race Winner: 153.627 mph.Time of Race: 1 hour, 10 minutes, 18 seconds.Margin of Victory: 0.154 Seconds.Caution Flags: 3 for 13 laps.Lead Changes: 16 among 9 drivers.Lap Leaders: K. Schrader 1-12; J. Johnson 13-14; K. Schrader 15-20; J. Johnson 21-27; T. Stewart 28; J. Johnson 29-31; K. Busch 32-34; M. Waltrip 35-45; T. Stewart 46-47; J. McMurray 48; D. Earnhardt Jr. 49; S. Riggs 50-51; D. Hamlin # 52-62; K. Busch 63; D. Hamlin # 64-66; T. Stewart 67-70; D. Hamlin # 71-72.Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): Ken Schrader 2 times for 18 laps; Denny Hamlin # 3 times for 16 laps; Jimmie Johnson 3 times for 12 laps; Michael Waltrip 1 time for 11 laps; Tony Stewart 3 times for 7 laps; Kyle Busch 2 times for 4 laps; Scott Riggs 1 time for 2 laps; Jamie McMurray 1 time for 1 lap; Dale Earnhardt Jr. 1 time for 1 lap.

Wheels: Norris McDonald

Norris McDonald had a piece in yesterday's Wheels Section about NASCAR, CASCAR and the sale that hasn't happened.

McIntosh wins in Indonesia!!!

From Sportsnet.ca

A1 result for Canada

Sean McIntosh crashed on the sprint portion of the race, which meant he would start last in the grid for the main race.

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) -- Sean McIntosh of Coquitlam, B.C., worked his way from last on the grid Sunday to win the Indonesian A1 Grand Prix feature race....

... more at link above.