Catch J.R. Fitzpatrick in his NASCAR Busch Series debut this Sunday on TSN

Watch Canadians J.R. Fitzpatrick and Ron Fellows as they participate in the NASCAR Busch Series race in Mexico City (Mexico) this Sunday on TSN.

Schedule: Sunday, March 4:

1:30 p.m. ET – NASCAR Busch Series Telcel Motorola Mexico 200 (TSN HD and TSN alternate digital feed)

11:30 p.m. ET – Encore: NASCAR Busch Series Telcel Motorola Mexico 200 (TSN and TSN HD)

Live coverage of the NASCAR Busch Series Telcel Motorola Mexico 200 is available on TSN HD and can be found on TSN’s alternate digital feed on Bell ExpressVu on channel 402, Rogers Digital (Ontario and New Brunswick) on channels 204, 401 and 490, Star Choice on channel 401, and Access on digital channel 264.

For other participating digital television providers, viewers can check their electronic program guides for channel listings in their area or visit www.TSN.ca.

Happy Birthday to you.....

Don't let all that grey hair fool you.... Joel Robinson is just 36 today. Joel (and his father Jim) put together the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series TV (formerly CASCAR) shows for TSN.

Joel shares his big day (March 2) with motorsports marketing guru Jason Sharpe (37 today) and Canadian stock car racer Scott Steckly (now 35).

Finally, Happy Birthday Jeem Robinson (Joel's dad), who 'celebrates' his birthday... everyday.

ONTARIO SPORTSMAN SERIES: 2007 schedule released

Dave Connelly of the newly-created Ontario Sportsman Series (OSS) just called with the dates and tracks for the 2007 season. The six-race schedule will contest races at Mosport Speedway, Cayuga Speedway (2), Sauble Speedway, Peterborough Speedway and Sunset Speedway.

This series - which will feature cars and drivers of the defunct CASCAR Sportsman Series - went from the idea stage to a 'named' series with a published schedule in under a month. An impressive feat by any measure.

According to Connelly, this year's OSS will include just six races, with the goal of seven or eight for 2008.

Ontario Sportsman Series (OSS) // 2007 Schedule

DATE: TRACK

June 16: Mosport Speedway

June 23: Cayuga Speedway

June 30: Sauble Speedway

July 14: Cayuga Speedway

July 21: Peterborough Speedway

August 25: Sunset Speedway

CSC: SATURDAY MORNING ONLY... NO TAX ON IN-STOCK BELL HELMETS

NEWMARKET, ON - On Saturday, March 3 (only!) from 9 a.m. until noon, CSC Racing Products (click here for directions) will be selling all of their in-stock BELL helmets TAX FREE. According to Jenn at CSC, they have over 100 in stock and ready to try on.

In spite of the weather, racing season isn't that far away. This is a great chance to get a new helmet and save some money. CSC Racing Products Inc. is located at 125A Harry Walker Parkway in Newmarket.

Canadian Motorsports Expo: Fellows & Maxwell to appear

RON FELLOWS

COURTICE, ON – Canadian racing icon Ron Fellows to appear at Canadian Motorsports Expo meeting fans and signing autographs on the Celebrity Stage Friday, April 6 from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

Recognized around the world as one of the most accomplished sports car racers, Ron Fellows is a multi-time champion. Accomplishments span the globe with success at the 24hr of Le Mans, multiple championships with Corvette Racing in the American Le Mans Series , NASCAR success and certainly on Canadian soil in variety of cars including champion of the former Player’s / GM Challenge. And most recently, Chevrolet announced the special-edition Ron Fellows ALMS GT1 Champion Corvette Z06. This is the first signed special edition Corvette in the 54- year history of Corvette.

Ron’s passion for racing extends beyond driving. Developing future Canadian talent is vital for the sport. To this end, the Sunoco Ron Fellows Karting Championship was launched with great success in 2002, continuing to grow with each season. Fellows is hands on with ASN Canada FIA and his namesake series.

SCOTT MAXWELL

Toronto native Scott Maxwell will make two appearances at Canadian Motorsports Expo, meeting fans and signing autographs on the ‘Celebrity Stage’ Friday, April 6 and Saturday, April 7 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM.

Scott’s trophy shelf began filling up with championship hardware with the Canadian Automobile Sports Clubs – Ontario Region Formula Vee title in the early 80’s. His accomplishments are the envy of many a racer including first place in class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, (in the all-Canadian Multimatic Motorsports built entry), with fellow Canadians John Graham and Greg Wilkins. Scott and the Multimatic team added the inaugural Daytona Prototype race win, taking the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway sharing driving duties with fellow Canadian champion racer David Empringham and England’s own David Brabham.

Maxwell’s career has also seen him team-up with some other elite drivers such as Champ Car title holder Sebastien Bourdais in American Le Mans Series action and NASCAR stars Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle at the Rolex 24. Maxwell most recently has been a fixture in the American Le Mans Series and Grand Am KONI Challenge Series.

Covering all aspects and disciplines, Canadian Motorsports Expo has something for everyone. It is a one-stop shopping experience. Parts and accessories, safety equipment, collectibles, free ‘how to’ seminars, history, fan forums, celebrity appearances, autograph sessions and more wait all at Canadian Motorsports Expo.

Canadian Motorsports Expo runs April 6, 7 & 8 at the Toronto Congress Centre from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm Friday; 10:00 am to 9:00 pm Saturday; and 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Sunday. Admission is only $15. For Seniors and Youth (10 to 15 years old) $10 and free for Children under 10 years old. More information is available on the show website http://www.canadianmotorsportsexpo.com/. For exhibit space enquiries, logon to the website or call the show office at (905) 721-1762. You can also send an email to info@canadianmotorsportsexpo.com

Media contact: Glenn Butt, President – Canadian Motorsports Expo
Tel: (905) 721-1762 or email: glenn@canadianmotorsportsexpo.com

TV: Watch the last-ever CASCAR race....

Watch the DODGE CHARGER 250 CASCAR Super Series finale from Kawartha Speedway this Sunday (March 4) @ 2:00 P.M. EST on SPEEDTV.

Champ Car moves China race to the fall... no races in May

TSN has the story....

Canadian Pierre Bourque signs Busch Series / Busch East deal with Fitz Racing for '07

INSIDE TRACK EXCLUSIVE

MOORESVILLE, NC – Canadian racer / internet entrepreneur Pierre Bourque just sent Inside Track a note from North Carolina, in which he reports he has just signed a deal with Fitz Racing that will see him drive for the team for the entire BUSCH EAST schedule and as many as 10 NASCAR BUSCH SERIES races.

According to Bourque, his first Busch Series outing of the season is slated for the inagural NASCAR Busch Series race weekend, in early August, at Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

"I'm thrilled to be joining Armando Fitz's team for Busch East and Busch in 2007," said Bourque, of the news. "We'll be running Dodge Chargers and I fully expect that we will be a strong contender right out of the box."

The Ottawa, ON racer dove into stock car racing in a big way in 2006, and recently competed in the Rolex 24 sports car race at Daytona Int'l Speedway.

Bourque's sponsors for his Fitz Racing effort include: Canwest brands Driving.Ca, Canada.Com, Working.Com, and Dose.Ca, as well as Full Metal Minerals (a BC-based gold mining company), and Pollara, Canada's leading market research company. According to Bourque, additional sponsors will be announced in due course.

UPDATE (March 1, '07): Pierre just contacted me with some additional news about his upcoming season. He will be returning to the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series (formerly CASCAR) with a four-race deal with Whitlock Motorsports. As for Bourque's Busch East / Busch Series plans, he clarifies that if things go well with his Busch Series program (which starts in August in Montreal) he will focus on that effort in lieu of the latter portion of the Busch East schedule.

Home Hardware Takes the Lead with Renewed Commitment to Auto Racing

ST. JACOBS, ON – Home Hardware Stores Limited, Canada's largest independent home improvement retailer, confirmed its commitment to auto racing today with the announcement of two exciting sponsorships.

On Sunday, March 4th, viewers tuning into the NASCAR Busch Series race in Mexico City, Mexico will notice a distinctly Canadian addition. 2006 Canadian stock car Champion J.R. Fitzpatrick will be driving the #0 car sponsored by Home Hardware. Home Hardware will also be sponsoring Fitzpatrick s NASCAR Busch race in Montreal in August 2007 an important race that marks the first time NASCAR has brought a Busch Series race to Canada.

Watching one of our own compete in a race of this calibre is thrilling for Canadian fans, said Paul Straus, Vice-President and CEO, Home Hardware Stores Limited. You can be sure that Home Hardware Dealers and staff in more than 1,000 communities across Canada will be cheering J.R. on all the way to the finish line and hoping that he brings home the hardware.

Home Hardware also announced today that it is renewing its partnership with Don Thomson Jr. of Fitzpatrick Motorsports for the 2007 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series. Thomson, the record holder for most pole positions and the all-time winningest driver in Canadian motorsport history has been sponsored by Home Hardware since 1999. Thomson is also the only driver to win seven national championships back-to-back.

Don Thomson Jr. continues to lead the pack from beginning to end and provides his fans top quality entertainment throughout each race, said Straus. Just as the drivers we sponsor commit themselves to excellence on the track, Home Hardware is committed to delivering top quality products and services to our customers across the country.

About Home Hardware

Home Hardware Stores Limited is Canada's largest independent hardware, lumber and building materials and furniture retailer with more than 1,000 stores across Canada, under the Home Hardware, Home Building Centre, Home Hardware Building Centre and Home Furniture banners. Dealers have access to 100,000 quality brand name and private label products and the company has annual retail sales of $4.6 billion. The cooperative was founded on January 1, 1964 by 128 independent hardware Dealers.

- 30 -

By Meredith Sjögren // NATIONAL Public Relations

Former CASCAR Sportsman Series racers come together to form the Ontario Sportsman Series

INSIDE TRACK EXCLUSIVE

We’re going to have a full story on this in the next issue of Inside Track, but here is some information about some recent events involving the former CASCAR Sportsman Series.

When it was announced by NASCAR that there would be no equivalent of the former CASCAR Sportsman Series in 2007, many of the competitors felt they would be on the sidelines this season with equipment that didn’t conform to any existing division or series.

Faced with this, a group including Ron Lethbridge, his father (Ted) and Sunset Speedway owner/promoter Glenn Lloyd decided to test the waters to see if there was any interest in creating a new series to give these drivers and cars a place to race.

This past Saturday in Milton (ON) a group of racers met and formed the Ontario Sportsman Series (OSS). According to Ron Lethbridge, they already have several confirmed dates (Sunset, Mosport & Peterborough) and within days could be in a position to publish an eight-race schedule for 2007. Other facilities in the mix are reported to be: Cayuga, Sauble, Grand Bend, Varney, Delaware, Capital City and Barrie. Only Kawartha and Flamboro have outright declined (said Lethbridge).

The series’ rulebook will be based on the 2005 CASCAR Sportsman Series, omitting the 2006 additions (HANS device, firesuits for ‘over the wall’ crews, etc.). Lethbridge believes these rules were largely responsible for the decline in car counts in 2006.

The cars will race on the 8” Hoosier tires that are the tire of choice for most of the short tracks being considered.

Although the details haven’t been worked out, Lethbridge says it’s likely that NASCAR Canadian Tire Series cars will be able to participate in OSS races if they remove their 4-barrel carbs and replace them with the 2-barrel models used by the Sportsman division.

On the tone of the Milton meeting, Sunset’s Glenn Lloyd said, “Everyone was happy to pitch in. Everyone was co-operative. Most felt it could be a better series with them controlling their own destiny then when it was a ‘feeder’ series under the CASCAR banner. They’re the show now… The positive attitude and the determination to make it work has been great to see.”

The OSS will hold its next meeting on March 31 (details TBA), at which point they will elect an executive committee. The group is looking for a Tech Director and a Race Director.

Ron Lethbridge can be reached at (705) 739-4686. Ted Lethbridge’s cell # is (705) 321-1207.

Robin Miller on the state of Champ Car

SPEEDTV.COM has this column, by Robin Miller.

"The silence from the Champ Car office in Indianapolis isn't just deafening, it's in surround sound.

Six weeks before its season opener in Las Vegas, the series supposedly in its year of momentum is awash in questions, rumors and a serious lack of urgency, information, organization and cars.

Forget the fact only eight drivers have been confirmed for 2007, because there are more serious concerns that nobody wants to discuss...."

... more at the link above.

What! No Zipper?

By Speedracer

Honda unveiled their new livery this morning and have dispensed with corporate sponsorship to promote environmental causes through their "we are the world" themed motif.

Good luck to Honda. I tried the same thing in support of women in the sex trade and was told by authorities to repaint the nude viking woman wielding a sword on the hood of my Gremlin.

For more information on Honda's eco-friendly initiative check out www.myearthdream.com.

J.R. Fitzpatrick gearing up for this weekend's Busch Series race in Mexico

INSIDE TRACK EXCLUSIVE:

AYR, ON – J.R. Fitzpatrick is preparing for his NASCAR Busch Series debut this weekend in Mexico. The Ayr, ON resident is getting ready for the outing by playing a computer simulation game that features the 2.518-mile Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez road course.

Fitzpatrick is the reigning CASCAR Super Series (now NASCAR Canadian Tire Series) champion. In Mexico, he will drive the #0 Johnny Davis-owned Chevy, with sponsorship from longtime Fitzpatrick Motorsports backer Home Hardware. The company has, for years, been the primary sponsor of Fitzpatrick Motorsports' five-time champ Canadian National Don Thomson Jr.

Fitzpatrick told Inside Track that he just received his new Home Hardware racing suit, which he will wear in Mexico and at the inaugural NASCAR Busch Series race in Montreal. "I feel a bit like Don [Thomson] wearing the Home Hardware suit," joked Fitzpatrick. "But I'm really happy to have them as sponsor for Mexico and Montreal. They've been a big part of our team for a long time and we're looking to do well for them."

J.R. Fitzpatrick and several members of the Fitzpatrick Motorsports crew are leaving for Mexico on Thursday. "I still kind of don't believe this is really happening," continued Fitzpatrick. "It's going to be a long week waiting to get on the plane to go racing."

Magna weighing Chrysler bid?

The Toronto Star has a link to the Reuters story...

DETROIT – Canadian auto parts supplier Magna International Inc. has been "seriously considering the potential purchase" of Chrysler Group, an analyst for KeyBanc Capital Markets said, citing unnamed sources.

In a note for clients issued Monday, KeyBanc analyst Brett Hoselton said that he did not believe the two companies would ultimately merge despite the "substantial due diligence work on Chrysler" by Magna.

"We believe the merger strategy is risky and will confront resistance from numerous (Magna) and Chrysler stakeholders and that the ultimate combination of the two companies is a low-probability outcome," Hoselton said.

A spokesman for Magna was not immediately available for comment.

... more at the link above.

Tell 'em you're going to buy an ad in Inside Track and they'll....

Is another Canadian motorsports magazine hounding you for ads?

Did they quote you a monthly circulation of 50,000?

Are they promising you that they're going to cover 'your' series or track this year... for real this time?

Did they quote you $5,000 a page to appear in Canada's top racing magazine... even though they don't cover Canadian racing?

If that price is too rich for your blood, don't despair.

Tell them you're going to advertise in Inside Track Motorsport News and you'll immediately be offered a full page at less that one-tenth the originally quoted price. That's right, between $300 and $500 for a page if you tell them you're going with Inside Track.

Massive circulation... a supposedly popular magazine.... albeit with virtually no Canadian content... and ads that drop from $5,000 to $300 in the blink of an eye.

If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Buyer beware.