Friday, October 06, 2006
ARCA: Montoya qualifies on the outside of the front row for his ARCA debut, at Talladega
They qualified for the Food World 250 last night at Talladega. Pete Shepherd will line up 13th. Pierre Bourque missed making the competitive field, while former F1 racer Juan Pablo Montoya outqualified everyone but Bobby Gerhart and will start on the outside of the front row for tonight's race.
CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR FOR PIERRE BOURQUE AT TALLADEGA
TALLADEGA, Ala (Friday October 6, 2006) – Pierre Bourque's bid to make his ARCA RE/MAX Series restrictor plate debut came up short after the Ottawa, Ontario native was shoved out of the starting grid in one of the most competitive fields of the 2006 season.
Hopes were high for Bourque heading into the 2.666 newly repaved superspeedway. In the open test session last week, Bourque impressed many on the circuit with a 12th fastest effort. The plan was to back up his performance Thursday.
In the first and only practice of the day, bad luck struck the No. 1 Driving.Ca-Canada.com-Working.Com-Dose.Ca Ford. A rear tire on the machine blew sending Bourque for a 180 mph loop-de-loop between turns one and two. Bourque masterfully kept his machine off the wall, but the force of the blown tire caused damage to the quarter panel and wheel well.
Bourque ended up 38th on the sheets with a time of 52.144 seconds or 183.645 mph. The team had hoped to maneuver a fast lap in qualifying that would put them in the Food World 250. Unfortunately, Bourque could only post the 38th fastest time in time trials. With no provisionals to fall back on, Bourque had to put an early end to his week.
"It's a a shame that we won't be in the Food World 250," said a dejected Bourque. "I'm not really sure what happened from the test to this week, but we just didn't have the speed. On a track like Talladega, it's all about speed. I thank my Fast Track Racing team for putting a car together; we'll just pick up the pieces and prepare for the next race."
###
By Chris Knight, Bourque Racing
Hopes were high for Bourque heading into the 2.666 newly repaved superspeedway. In the open test session last week, Bourque impressed many on the circuit with a 12th fastest effort. The plan was to back up his performance Thursday.
In the first and only practice of the day, bad luck struck the No. 1 Driving.Ca-Canada.com-Working.Com-Dose.Ca Ford. A rear tire on the machine blew sending Bourque for a 180 mph loop-de-loop between turns one and two. Bourque masterfully kept his machine off the wall, but the force of the blown tire caused damage to the quarter panel and wheel well.
Bourque ended up 38th on the sheets with a time of 52.144 seconds or 183.645 mph. The team had hoped to maneuver a fast lap in qualifying that would put them in the Food World 250. Unfortunately, Bourque could only post the 38th fastest time in time trials. With no provisionals to fall back on, Bourque had to put an early end to his week.
"It's a a shame that we won't be in the Food World 250," said a dejected Bourque. "I'm not really sure what happened from the test to this week, but we just didn't have the speed. On a track like Talladega, it's all about speed. I thank my Fast Track Racing team for putting a car together; we'll just pick up the pieces and prepare for the next race."
###
By Chris Knight, Bourque Racing
ADVERTISER SPOTLIGHT: Competition Insurance
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STICKY POST: This will be the top post until Friday, October 6. Check below for current news.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
IHRA ANNOUNCES 2007 EMAX NITRO JAM™ DRAG RACING SERIES SCHEDULE
NORWALK, Ohio (October 5, 2006) – The International Hot Rod Association announced today the 2007 eMax Nitro Jam™ Drag Racing Series schedule. After 11 races in 2006, next year’s schedule creates a 12-event series throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Including new markets in Tulsa, Okla. and Mansfield, Ohio, the series will again kick-off March 23 – 25 at San Antonio Raceway with the Amalie Oil Texas Nationals and conclude October 19 – 21 at Rockingham (North Carolina) Dragway with the World Finals. Mansfield Motorsports Park will become the new host of the World Nationals on June 15 – 17, keeping the event in Ohio and in close proximity to the sanctioning body’s headquarters in Norwalk. The new event at Tulsa Raceway Park, the Skull Shine Sooner Nationals, will be held Memorial Day weekend, May 25 – 27.
“We’ve hosted extremely successful single-day shows in Tulsa, so the market is prime for an IHRA Nitro Jam event,” said IHRA President Aaron Polburn. “The dragstrip being constructed at Mansfield Motorsports Park already contains the infrastructure necessary for our race. The facility has the experience hosting major events with the NASCAR Craftsman Truck race and IHRA has such a strong fan and competitor-base in Ohio, we’ll without a doubt pack the place.”
The Amalie Oil North American Nationals at New England Dragway, Epping, N.H., which previously has been held in September, will move to July 20 – 22. The IHRA Canadian Nationals at Toronto Motorsports Park will move from July to September 7 – 9. Also, the Suzuki Motor City Nationals at Milan (Mich.) Dragway has been moved to August 24 – 26.
“The momentum we’ve experienced this season will carry into the 2007 IHRA eMax Nitro Jam,” said IHRA vice president of marketing Jim Marchyshyn. “We’ve had a record year. With new markets in Tulsa and Mansfield, Ohio, next year, as well as maintaining our other strong venues, IHRA will continue growing.”
If 2006 proved anything, IHRA demonstrated that by simply altering the elimination ladder, the level of competition, that’s grown drastically in the last five years, could be realized. The result was some of the tightest championship chases in drag racing history. In the past, most championships were already decided with two or three races remaining. However, by placing the No. 1 qualified car against the No. 5 car (in an eight-car field, 1 vs. 9 in a 16-car field), instead of No. 1 vs. the slowest qualified car, IHRA forced drivers to race competitively every round.
“By altering the elimination ladder, we’ve forced competitors to bring their best each time they stage the car,” said IHRA vice president of race operations Skooter Peaco. “Too often we had first round single runs. Not to mention, some cars just run quicker at certain tracks. The new system keeps the quicker cars from racing those that are much slower. The less predictable we make each race, the more exciting it will be for our fans.”
2007 IHRA EMAX NITRO JAM DRAG RACING SERIES NATIONAL EVENT SCHEDULE
March 23 – 25
Amalie Oil Texas Nationals
San Antonio Raceway
April 20 – 22
IHRA Spring Nationals Presented by Advance Auto Parts
Rockingham Dragway
May 25 – 27
Skull Shine Sooner Nationals
Tulsa Raceway Park
June 1 – 3
MOPAR Canadian Nationals Presented by Castrol
Grand Bend Motorplex
June 15 – 17
IHRA World Nationals
Mansfield Motorsports Park
July 6 – 8
CARS RV & Marine & Motorsports Rocky Mountain Nationals Presented by Torco Race Fuels
Castrol Raceway
July 20 – 22
Amalie Oil North American Nationals presented by New England Dodge Dealers
New England Dragway
August 3 – 5
Torco Racing Fuels Northern Nationals
US 131 Motorsports Park
August 24 – 26
Suzuki Motor City Nationals
Milan Dragway
September 7 – 9
IHRA Canadian Nationals
Toronto Motorsports Park
September 28 – 30
Torco Race Fuels President’s Cup Nationals
Maryland International Raceway
October 19 – 21
IHRA World Finals
Rockingham Dragway
Including new markets in Tulsa, Okla. and Mansfield, Ohio, the series will again kick-off March 23 – 25 at San Antonio Raceway with the Amalie Oil Texas Nationals and conclude October 19 – 21 at Rockingham (North Carolina) Dragway with the World Finals. Mansfield Motorsports Park will become the new host of the World Nationals on June 15 – 17, keeping the event in Ohio and in close proximity to the sanctioning body’s headquarters in Norwalk. The new event at Tulsa Raceway Park, the Skull Shine Sooner Nationals, will be held Memorial Day weekend, May 25 – 27.
“We’ve hosted extremely successful single-day shows in Tulsa, so the market is prime for an IHRA Nitro Jam event,” said IHRA President Aaron Polburn. “The dragstrip being constructed at Mansfield Motorsports Park already contains the infrastructure necessary for our race. The facility has the experience hosting major events with the NASCAR Craftsman Truck race and IHRA has such a strong fan and competitor-base in Ohio, we’ll without a doubt pack the place.”
The Amalie Oil North American Nationals at New England Dragway, Epping, N.H., which previously has been held in September, will move to July 20 – 22. The IHRA Canadian Nationals at Toronto Motorsports Park will move from July to September 7 – 9. Also, the Suzuki Motor City Nationals at Milan (Mich.) Dragway has been moved to August 24 – 26.
“The momentum we’ve experienced this season will carry into the 2007 IHRA eMax Nitro Jam,” said IHRA vice president of marketing Jim Marchyshyn. “We’ve had a record year. With new markets in Tulsa and Mansfield, Ohio, next year, as well as maintaining our other strong venues, IHRA will continue growing.”
If 2006 proved anything, IHRA demonstrated that by simply altering the elimination ladder, the level of competition, that’s grown drastically in the last five years, could be realized. The result was some of the tightest championship chases in drag racing history. In the past, most championships were already decided with two or three races remaining. However, by placing the No. 1 qualified car against the No. 5 car (in an eight-car field, 1 vs. 9 in a 16-car field), instead of No. 1 vs. the slowest qualified car, IHRA forced drivers to race competitively every round.
“By altering the elimination ladder, we’ve forced competitors to bring their best each time they stage the car,” said IHRA vice president of race operations Skooter Peaco. “Too often we had first round single runs. Not to mention, some cars just run quicker at certain tracks. The new system keeps the quicker cars from racing those that are much slower. The less predictable we make each race, the more exciting it will be for our fans.”
2007 IHRA EMAX NITRO JAM DRAG RACING SERIES NATIONAL EVENT SCHEDULE
March 23 – 25
Amalie Oil Texas Nationals
San Antonio Raceway
April 20 – 22
IHRA Spring Nationals Presented by Advance Auto Parts
Rockingham Dragway
May 25 – 27
Skull Shine Sooner Nationals
Tulsa Raceway Park
June 1 – 3
MOPAR Canadian Nationals Presented by Castrol
Grand Bend Motorplex
June 15 – 17
IHRA World Nationals
Mansfield Motorsports Park
July 6 – 8
CARS RV & Marine & Motorsports Rocky Mountain Nationals Presented by Torco Race Fuels
Castrol Raceway
July 20 – 22
Amalie Oil North American Nationals presented by New England Dodge Dealers
New England Dragway
August 3 – 5
Torco Racing Fuels Northern Nationals
US 131 Motorsports Park
August 24 – 26
Suzuki Motor City Nationals
Milan Dragway
September 7 – 9
IHRA Canadian Nationals
Toronto Motorsports Park
September 28 – 30
Torco Race Fuels President’s Cup Nationals
Maryland International Raceway
October 19 – 21
IHRA World Finals
Rockingham Dragway
HAMILTON SPEC: Tim Miller's take on NASCAR & CASCAR
Veteran motorsports writer Tim Miller has a piece in today's Hamilton Spectator, talking about the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series.
It kind of clouds the issue of what was 'bought' and 'sold' leading up to the Sept. 12 announcement in Toronto, but it's a convoluted concept to begin with.
It's my understanding that the deal is effective January 1, 2007. But that after tomorrow night's banquet in London, there will be no more mention of CASCAR. At that point, everything will be geared toward promoting the new entity (The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series).
Common sense would tell you that it's anything but ''clean' to purchase something as ambiguous and intangible as a sanctioning body. What is CASCAR? A name? A logo? A legacy? A rulebook? The assets and/or debts? Certainly it's not the tracks, teams, drivers or cars.
Therefore, the easiest way to go about it, I suspect, would be to have Tony Novotny agree to wind down CASCAR on his own. In return, he might receive a sum of money and possibly sign on as a paid consultant to the new series for a pre-determined period of time.
So while NASCAR may not have actually "bought" CASCAR, I suspect there is an agreement between the two parties that will see Tony Novotny compensated to co-operate in a transitional process that will result in a very CASCAR-like product on track next season, called the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series.
Further murkying the waters was the 'cease & desist' letter from NASCAR's legal dept. on Sept. 18, 2006, informing "CASCAR ONLINE" webmaster Evan Towle that "...you are using the CASCAR trademark, of which NASCAR is now the rightful owner..." So they obviously believe they own the logo.
However, while all of these things may appear to be a bit of a 'tangled web', the end result will be that CASCAR is heading into the history books and everyone is excited about the NASCAR-owned and operated "NASCAR Canadian Tire Series".
It kind of clouds the issue of what was 'bought' and 'sold' leading up to the Sept. 12 announcement in Toronto, but it's a convoluted concept to begin with.
It's my understanding that the deal is effective January 1, 2007. But that after tomorrow night's banquet in London, there will be no more mention of CASCAR. At that point, everything will be geared toward promoting the new entity (The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series).
Common sense would tell you that it's anything but ''clean' to purchase something as ambiguous and intangible as a sanctioning body. What is CASCAR? A name? A logo? A legacy? A rulebook? The assets and/or debts? Certainly it's not the tracks, teams, drivers or cars.
Therefore, the easiest way to go about it, I suspect, would be to have Tony Novotny agree to wind down CASCAR on his own. In return, he might receive a sum of money and possibly sign on as a paid consultant to the new series for a pre-determined period of time.
So while NASCAR may not have actually "bought" CASCAR, I suspect there is an agreement between the two parties that will see Tony Novotny compensated to co-operate in a transitional process that will result in a very CASCAR-like product on track next season, called the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series.
Further murkying the waters was the 'cease & desist' letter from NASCAR's legal dept. on Sept. 18, 2006, informing "CASCAR ONLINE" webmaster Evan Towle that "...you are using the CASCAR trademark, of which NASCAR is now the rightful owner..." So they obviously believe they own the logo.
However, while all of these things may appear to be a bit of a 'tangled web', the end result will be that CASCAR is heading into the history books and everyone is excited about the NASCAR-owned and operated "NASCAR Canadian Tire Series".
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Alonso whining his way to second place
You'd think Renault F1 would want to send Fernando Alonso off to Mclaren next year with a world title to drive home just how bone-headed a move it might be.
Not so, according to Alonso, who is quickly becoming the new Villeneuve of F1. One world title and years of whining afterwords.
Check the article on ITV's F1 site.
CASCAR TV: Dodge Dealers of Ontario Dodge Charger 250 presented by MOPAR from Kawartha Speedway
Watch the 90-minute broadcast of the Dodge Dealers of Ontario Dodge Charger 250 presented by MOPAR CASCAR Super Series season finale from Kawartha Speedway on SPORTSNET on:
EAST
SATURDAY OCT 7th @ 9:30AM EST
WEDNESDAY 11th@1:00PM EST
ONTARIO
SATURDAY OCT 7th @ 9:30AM EST
SUNDAY 15th@ 12:00PM EST
WEST
SATURDAY OCT 7th @ 9:30AM MST
THURSDAY 12th@1:00PM MST
PACIFIC
SATURDAY OCT 7th @ 8:30AM PST
SUNDAY 15th@ 10:00 AM PST
Click here for a full listing.
Villeneuve signs deal to drive in NASCAR for Roush???
A report on TSN quotes an Italian daily, saying that Canada's Jacques Villeneuve will drive in NASCAR for Jack Roush in 2007. If true, it would make him the second Canadian in the Roush stable, joining development program racer Pete Shepherd III.
Killer crash blamed on faulty safety belts
A story in today's Windsor Star regarding the death of teen jet dragster driver Kendall Hebert last weekend at Toronto Motorsport Park starts:
"Kendall Hebert's father said she'd still be alive if it wasn't for a faulty seatbelt that let her get thrown from her rocket car when it hit the wall."
The full text of the piece is here. (h/t SRAMA)
For a full listing of the Google News site about Kendall Hebert's death, click here.
"Kendall Hebert's father said she'd still be alive if it wasn't for a faulty seatbelt that let her get thrown from her rocket car when it hit the wall."
The full text of the piece is here. (h/t SRAMA)
For a full listing of the Google News site about Kendall Hebert's death, click here.
SUPER DIRT WEEK: Flooded Grounds Force Cancellation Action at Can-Am for October 4
LaFargeville, NY – Racing action for Can-Am Motorsports and Entertainment Park has been cancelled for October 4th. The facility is currently underwater due to recent rains in the upstate New York area and with the current forecast predicting strong thunderstorms and rain in the afternoon, management was forced to cancel the show.
“We hated to do it,” stated race director Chip Burdick. “Right now the whole track is flooded and if we get anymore rain then there is no chance we could get the show in. They have been predicting rain all week and with the price of gas and considering it’s just the start to Super DIRT Week, we didn’t want to start the week off with a long night of racing.”
Can-Am was to be the first of three nights of racing for the Mr. DIRT 358-Modified Series. Racing action remains scheduled for Brewerton Speedway and Rolling Wheels Raceway on Thursday, October 5 and Friday, October 6.
Can-Am’s gates will open again on October 14 as the track presents a fall enduro along with racing action for the IMCA and street stocks. There will also be a 4 wheeler drag and 4x4 truck mud runs. Currently Can-Am is also hosting a Fall Go-Kart series with racing action every Sunday at 2pm. Gates open at noon.
For more information on Super DIRT Week, contact their website at www.dirtmotorsports.com. Information on Can-Am Motorsports and Entertainment Parks up coming events and information on the Fall Enduro can be found at www.can-amspeedway.com or by contacting Chip Burdick at (315) 405-2559.
By Megan Rowe, Can-Am PR
PIERRE BOURQUE READIES TALLADEGA DEBUT
TALLADEGA, Ala (Tuesday October 3, 2006) – With a massive number of rookies attempting to make the Food World 250, the final superspeedway event of the season for the ARCA RE/MAX Series, rookie Pierre Bourque is excited to be among them.
Bourque, a native of Ottawa, Ontario will look to make his third RE/MAX Series start on Friday in an entry fielded by Fast Track Racing, the same team that steered Bourque to a 13th place finish at Winchester and a 21st place finish at Nashville earlier this season.
Fast Track Racing was one of over 30 race teams that elected to participate in the open test session for the ARCA RE/MAX Series last week and Bourque impressed, averaging a lap of 51.300 seconds at a fast speed of 186.667 mph, good enough for 12th fastest of 37 cars at the track that day.
“We had a great test,” Bourque said. “The car was awesome and we were fast and competitive. I’m really upbeat about Friday’s race and I think we have a good chance to do well.”
Talladega Superspeedway officials recently repaved the intimidating and breathtaking track and many expect to see one of the best ARCA RE/MAX Series races ever.
“The track is ultra-fast and ultra-smooth, like a baby's bottom,” he said. “The track looks brand new with the repaving. I expect a very fast pace. We weren’t really allowed to draft (at the test) and we were still posting very fast times. I think when we get a group of cars in the draft; we’ll have speeds well over 190 mph. It should be a great race for the fans.”
The Fast Track Racing team won’t be the only guidance that Bourque will have at his side this week. ARCA RE/MAX Series car owner Andy Belmont will also help guide the Canadian driver this week.
“Belmont is a great racer with a lot of heart,” Bourque said. “He's good friends with my car owner and mentor Andy Hillenburg and all those two want is the best for me. I’m very lucky to be working with guys that have so much experience and that will only help advance my career.”
DRIVING.CA, Canada’s No. 1 Automotive website is onside as primary sponsor this weekend.
In addition, CANADA.COM Canada's biggest online community, WORKING.COM, one of North America's top career sites, and DOSE.CA, a cool site that caters to hip Canadian urbanites coast-to-coast, will all serve as secondary sponsors on Bourque’s machine this weekend.
All four sponsors are part of CANWEST-GLOBAL, Canada's largest media company with interests in television, radio, newspapers and the internet.
FULL METAL MINERALS and POLLARA Strategic Public Opinion also join the team as associate sponsors for this weekend’s event.
“Man, this is a great race for our sponsors,” explained Bourque. “Talladega is one of the most viewed races for the ARCA RE/MAX Series and that is great news for our sponsors. We’re all pulling for a great run on Friday and I would like nothing more than to see our hot rod in contention for the win.”
The Food World 250 (94 laps/250 miles) is the 22nd of 23 events on the 2006 ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule. Practice begins Thursday, October 5th with a two hour thirty five minute (9:00am-11:35am EST) session. Pork Pole qualifying is set for that afternoon (3:30pm EST). The teams will receive a Happy Hour practice with limited adjustments on Friday, October 6th with the race set to take the green flag at 4:30pm. The race will be televised on SPEED on a same day tape-delay basis with airtime set for 8:00pm. Visit arcaracing.com for all the latest results from the track.
In addition to running the full 2006 NASCAR Busch East Series and limited starts in the ARCA RE/MAX Series, Bourque also made three CASCAR Series races with Wyoming, Ontario's Whitlock Motorsports.
For further insight on Canwest-Global and its associates please log onto Driving.Ca, Canada.com, Working.com, and Dose.Ca
For more information on Full Metals Minerals, please visit http://www.fullmetalminerals.com
For additional input on Pollara Strategic Public Opinion, please logon to http://www.pollara.ca
To learn more about Pierre Bourque please click onto http://www.pierrebourque.com
###
CONTACT: Chris Knight, Bourque Racing
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
LEAF Open House on Friday, October 20
LONDON, ON - Leaf Racewear is moving up its 22nd Open House with great savings to start on Friday, October 20th instead of Saturday! The event will continue through the end of October and feature great once-a-year discounts on everything in the catalog.
“We had such great response over the phone and the internet the last two weeks that we’re going to start a day early,” says Leaf Racewear President Colin Grandy.
Customers can shop online at www.leafracewear.com , over the telephone using the toll free 800-731-7735 number, fax (519) 453-5460 or in person at the London, Ontario, headquarters. The shop will open at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 21st, and remain open until 1:00 p.m. for racers to cash in on the savings. For those ordering online, the sale pricing will be listed on our homepage. Once an order is placed online, a sales agent will contact you with the sale total and for payment options.
The annual open house kicks off the Leaf Racewear sales team’s busy fall schedule. Among the trade shows where you can find us – National Parts Peddler show in Syracuse, the Dave Dayton show in Indianapolis followed by the Performance Racing Industry show in early December.
If you have any further questions, please write to adam@leafracewear.com , or phone 1-800-731-7735.
“We had such great response over the phone and the internet the last two weeks that we’re going to start a day early,” says Leaf Racewear President Colin Grandy.
Customers can shop online at www.leafracewear.com , over the telephone using the toll free 800-731-7735 number, fax (519) 453-5460 or in person at the London, Ontario, headquarters. The shop will open at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 21st, and remain open until 1:00 p.m. for racers to cash in on the savings. For those ordering online, the sale pricing will be listed on our homepage. Once an order is placed online, a sales agent will contact you with the sale total and for payment options.
The annual open house kicks off the Leaf Racewear sales team’s busy fall schedule. Among the trade shows where you can find us – National Parts Peddler show in Syracuse, the Dave Dayton show in Indianapolis followed by the Performance Racing Industry show in early December.
If you have any further questions, please write to adam@leafracewear.com , or phone 1-800-731-7735.
NASCAR: Busch Series at Circuit Gilles V.
NASCAR: Busch Series at Circuit Gilles V.
Busch Series
Canadian Press
10/2/2006 8:43:57 PM
MONTREAL (CP) - NASCAR confirmed Monday that it will hold a Busch Series race Aug. 4 at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve.
The stock car series announced last week that it would put the Montreal event on its 35-race 2007 schedule but organizers delayed the official announcement until all details were resolved.
NASCAR CEO Brian France confirmed the date with local promoters at a news conference.
"It's a great setting, well-organized, and we're excited to be here next August," said France. "getting everything right on both ends was difficult, but we got the right outcome."
The Busch Series cars, one level below the top-ranked Nextel Cup series, will race on the 4.361-kilometre road track that plays host to the hugely successful Canadian Grand Prix Formula One event.
It has knocked the Champ Car World Series off the track after five years in Montreal, through that circuit has already lined up the Circuit Mont-Tremblant in St-Jovite, Que., 140 kilometres north of Montreal, for a race on July 1.
NASCAR has eyed a move to Canada in recent years after having already staged Busch series events in Mexico.
"I'd expect the Canadian drivers to be better than the American drivers because the know the circuit," said Busch driver Kenny Wallace. ``When we went to Mexico, it was hard to keep up with the Mexican drivers, so I look forward to a Canadian driver winning, if I can't win."
The Busch Series often draws several drivers from the Nextel Cup to its events, but will be tougher for star drivers to make the trip next summer.
The Montreal race will be held one day before the Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway, more than 600 kilometres away in Long Pond, Pa.
France said he expects several star pilots to make the trip to help ensure its success and to experience a new race on an F1 track, which will need work to lengthen the paddock and pit lane to accommodate 43 Busch cars _ more than double the grid in Formula One.
There may be other familiar faces on the starting grid as well.
Former F1 star Juan Pablo Montoya has joined the Ganassi NASCAR team and former F1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve of Iberville, Que., is reportedly in negotiations to race stock cars for Ford. Villeneuve was recently dropped by the Sauber F1 team.
Normand Legault, promoter of the Canadian Grand Prix, hopes stock cars will be a better draw than Champ Car, whose attendance dwindled from 172,000 in its first race weekend in Montreal in 2002 to 93,755 in 2005, before rebounding to 110,030 this year.
The F1 race regularly draws more than 300,000 for three days of racing at much higher ticket prices.
In June, the municipal government gave Legault's company exclusive rights to hold two race weekends per year at the track. He elected to drop Champ Car for the Busch Series. He had already given up promoting the Champ Car event.
Only two events per year can be held at the track because it is in a busy city park close to downtown, and noise is a factor for nearby residents.
Montreal will replace a Busch race in Martinsville, Va.
Greasemonkey.
_________________
If you are going to spin,
do it coming out of the corner,
not going in
____________________________________
Check out Inside Track Motorsport News
http://www.insidetracknews.com/
Click the Breaking News button.
Busch Series
Canadian Press
10/2/2006 8:43:57 PM
MONTREAL (CP) - NASCAR confirmed Monday that it will hold a Busch Series race Aug. 4 at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve.
The stock car series announced last week that it would put the Montreal event on its 35-race 2007 schedule but organizers delayed the official announcement until all details were resolved.
NASCAR CEO Brian France confirmed the date with local promoters at a news conference.
"It's a great setting, well-organized, and we're excited to be here next August," said France. "getting everything right on both ends was difficult, but we got the right outcome."
The Busch Series cars, one level below the top-ranked Nextel Cup series, will race on the 4.361-kilometre road track that plays host to the hugely successful Canadian Grand Prix Formula One event.
It has knocked the Champ Car World Series off the track after five years in Montreal, through that circuit has already lined up the Circuit Mont-Tremblant in St-Jovite, Que., 140 kilometres north of Montreal, for a race on July 1.
NASCAR has eyed a move to Canada in recent years after having already staged Busch series events in Mexico.
"I'd expect the Canadian drivers to be better than the American drivers because the know the circuit," said Busch driver Kenny Wallace. ``When we went to Mexico, it was hard to keep up with the Mexican drivers, so I look forward to a Canadian driver winning, if I can't win."
The Busch Series often draws several drivers from the Nextel Cup to its events, but will be tougher for star drivers to make the trip next summer.
The Montreal race will be held one day before the Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway, more than 600 kilometres away in Long Pond, Pa.
France said he expects several star pilots to make the trip to help ensure its success and to experience a new race on an F1 track, which will need work to lengthen the paddock and pit lane to accommodate 43 Busch cars _ more than double the grid in Formula One.
There may be other familiar faces on the starting grid as well.
Former F1 star Juan Pablo Montoya has joined the Ganassi NASCAR team and former F1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve of Iberville, Que., is reportedly in negotiations to race stock cars for Ford. Villeneuve was recently dropped by the Sauber F1 team.
Normand Legault, promoter of the Canadian Grand Prix, hopes stock cars will be a better draw than Champ Car, whose attendance dwindled from 172,000 in its first race weekend in Montreal in 2002 to 93,755 in 2005, before rebounding to 110,030 this year.
The F1 race regularly draws more than 300,000 for three days of racing at much higher ticket prices.
In June, the municipal government gave Legault's company exclusive rights to hold two race weekends per year at the track. He elected to drop Champ Car for the Busch Series. He had already given up promoting the Champ Car event.
Only two events per year can be held at the track because it is in a busy city park close to downtown, and noise is a factor for nearby residents.
Montreal will replace a Busch race in Martinsville, Va.
Greasemonkey.
_________________
If you are going to spin,
do it coming out of the corner,
not going in
____________________________________
Check out Inside Track Motorsport News
http://www.insidetracknews.com/
Click the Breaking News button.
Monday, October 02, 2006
Montreal Busch Series announcement later today
This afternoon, NASCAR will announce a Busch Series race in Montreal for Saturday, August 4, 2007 at le Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
This press conference was supposedly going to take place last Tuesday. But that was before there was chatter out of Montreal about putting an IRL race on-track on the Sunday of the Busch Race race weekend.
I think I heard the screaming all the way from Daytona Beach when they caught wind of the plan to position the NASCAR Busch Series as a support class for the IRL.
So.... given that Roger Edmondson (Grand Am) will be at today's press conference, I would imagine that the issue of Sunday's race card has been resolved to NASCAR's liking.
*****************************
*** NASCAR Media Alert ***
WHAT: Details of a significant NASCAR Busch Series event in Canada
WHEN:Today, 5 p.m. ET
WHO:* Brian France, Chairman & CEO, NASCAR
* Martin Spaulding, General Manager, GMI (Groupe Motorise International)
* John Saunders, Executive Vice President & COO, International Speedway Corporation
* Roger Edmondson, President, Grand American Road Racing Association
* Other distinguished guests including drivers from the NASCAR Busch Series
WHERE: Fairmount Queen Elisabeth Hotel // Montreal, Quebec, Canada
This press conference was supposedly going to take place last Tuesday. But that was before there was chatter out of Montreal about putting an IRL race on-track on the Sunday of the Busch Race race weekend.
I think I heard the screaming all the way from Daytona Beach when they caught wind of the plan to position the NASCAR Busch Series as a support class for the IRL.
So.... given that Roger Edmondson (Grand Am) will be at today's press conference, I would imagine that the issue of Sunday's race card has been resolved to NASCAR's liking.
*****************************
*** NASCAR Media Alert ***
WHAT: Details of a significant NASCAR Busch Series event in Canada
WHEN:Today, 5 p.m. ET
WHO:* Brian France, Chairman & CEO, NASCAR
* Martin Spaulding, General Manager, GMI (Groupe Motorise International)
* John Saunders, Executive Vice President & COO, International Speedway Corporation
* Roger Edmondson, President, Grand American Road Racing Association
* Other distinguished guests including drivers from the NASCAR Busch Series
WHERE: Fairmount Queen Elisabeth Hotel // Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Sunset Speedway: Fall Flea Market
Sunset Speedway is hosting its 2nd Annual Fall Flea Market on Sunday, October 15 at the Speedway.The track is located south of Barrie, in Stroud, ON.
Sad News: Female teen killed in jet car crash at Toronto Motorsport Park
From the Toronto Sun
Ontario teen killed in 480-km/h crash
A teen drag racer died yesterday at the Toronto Motorsport Park track after she hit a wall in her jet-propelled dragster at more than 480 km/h.
Not only was 17-year-old Kendall Hebert's death witnessed by horrified spectators including members of her family, but the event was "carried live on the Internet," OPP spokesman Const. Mark Foster said.
"She was not competing, she was performing for the crowd," Foster said from the park in Cayuga, which is south of Hamilton.
... more at the link above.
Ontario teen killed in 480-km/h crash
A teen drag racer died yesterday at the Toronto Motorsport Park track after she hit a wall in her jet-propelled dragster at more than 480 km/h.
Not only was 17-year-old Kendall Hebert's death witnessed by horrified spectators including members of her family, but the event was "carried live on the Internet," OPP spokesman Const. Mark Foster said.
"She was not competing, she was performing for the crowd," Foster said from the park in Cayuga, which is south of Hamilton.
... more at the link above.
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