DEI to switch to Ford?

Is it just me, or is DEI considering switching to Fords akin to the Pope pondering a switch to Islam? That sound you heard was Dale Earnhardt turning over in his grave.

From TSN:

Ford has confirmed it is in talks with Dale Earnhardt, Inc. about switching to its brand of race car for the 2008 NASCAR season.
"We definitely have been talking with DEI," said Kevin Kennedy in a statement released by Ford. "Truthfully, we've been having informal talks with them for several years. We have not yet made a formal offer to them, but we know that their GM contract is up at the end of the year. We had some discussions with them, and we've made it clear that we'd love to have them in our program."

... continued at the link above.

DELAWARE SPEEDWAY: Regular Racing Season Opener Tonight!

FRIDAY, MAY 4, 2007 - OPENING NIGHT! APC LATE MODELS, POWERADE MODIFIEDS, DELAWARE STREET STOCKS

Jesse's Journey Walk Across Canada in a Day: $5 Donation to walk a lap of the track before the race in support of the cause and add to the total kilometres!

Competitor Pit Gates open 5:00 PM // Spectator Gates open 6:00 PM // Walk Across Canada 7:00 PM // Green Flag at 8:00 PM

For more information, directions and admission prices check www.delawarespeedway.com

Forza 2 is coming...

Microsoft just sent us a few teaser shots and a quick video of its new racing game for the XBOX360, Forza Motorsport 2. We had great fun playing the original, and in some respects, we preferred it to our old standby, Sony's Gran Turismo series.

Look for it to hit store shelves May 29, 2007, and we'll hopefully have more insight into the gameplay soon after.

(After watching the video, was anyone else thinking last lap of Sebring '07? At least Bergmeister and Melo didn't hit the wall, though!)




Download the preview here.

DIRTcar: Johnson Captures ‘Super’ Advance Auto Parts Series Big-Block Debut At Virginia

Jamaica, VA – May 3, 2007 – Danny Johnson from Rochester, N.Y. held off a late race charge from Matt Sheppard to score a convincing victory in the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series debut Thursday night at Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway. Johnson pocketed $6,000 for his 62nd career Series win in the 60-lap Paul Sawyer Memorial presented by Thurston Spring Service, Inc. that was slowed by just four caution periods.

Dale Planck paced the 32-car field before fifth-place starter Johnson forged the final lead change on lap 14. Sheppard began 13th on the grid yet moved in to pressure Johnson with a third of the race scored. ‘Super’ Matt pulled alongside the ‘Doctor’ on lap 30 but the order remained the same throughout the second half of the race. Planck settled for third followed by current Advance Auto Parts SDS points leader Tim Fuller and Jimmy Phelps.

In three more weeks the ground-pounding Advance Auto Parts Big-Block Modifieds are back in action at DIRTcar Racing charter member Cayuga County Fair Speedway on Sunday, May 27 to conclude Hall of Fame Classic Weekend. Highlighted by special appearances from Cup drivers Carl Edwards and David Reutimann, along with Edwards’ car owner Jack Roush, the Memorial Day holiday is extended another four days as Orange County Fair Speedway hosts the AAP tour on Thursday, May 31 with a 75-lap title event paying $6,000 to win and offering points towards the overall Hoosier Tire-Sunoco Race Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Championship.

Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Race #2 – Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway, May 3, 2007 'Thursday Thunder' Paul Sawyer Memorial presented by Thurston Spring Service, Inc. Big-Block Modified Event Summary
FIN STR CAR# DRIVER
1 5 27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY ($6,000)
2 13 44s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
3 2 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
4 9 19 Tim Fuller/Edwards, NY
5 8 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
6 3 3 Justin Haers/Phelps,NY
7 22 14j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY
8 7 44 Frank Cozze/Wind Gap,PA
9 14 84 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY
10 6 1a Brian Weaver/Windsor,NY
11 15 7x Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY
12 11 83 Brian Swartzlander/Leechburg,PA
13 10 48too Dave Rauscher/Waterloo,NY
14 18 60 Kenny Stafford/Homer,NY
15 17 98 Kenny Wallace/St.Louis,MO
16 23 91d John Willman/Birdsboro,PA
17 16 32c Vic Coffey/Leicester,NY
18 19 49 Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY
19 21 Z Butch Tittle/Saylorsburg,PA
20 28 39w Chuck Tucker/Georgetown,DE
21 26 m40 Mark Forte,Jr./Blue Anchor,NJ
22 30 r2 Rusty Smith/Bethlehem,PA
23 29 1 Darwin Greene/Susquehanna,PA
24 4 55 Tim McCreadie/Watertown,NY
25 31 t21 Roger Chrysler/Lewiston,NY
26 25 15 Brett Tonkin/Carbondale,PA
27 33 37x Tom Scheetz/Boyertown,PA
28 24 66w Wallace Stacey/Kahnawake,QUE
29 20 45 Wayne Jelley/Pittsfield,MA
30 1 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
31 12 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
32 27 93 Ryan Bartlett/Adams,NY
DNS 32 14 Rick Laubach/Quakertown,PA
LAP LEADERS: Planck (1-13), D.Johnson (14-60).
CAUTIONS: 4 (lap 11, lap 16, lap 24, lap 51).
ECKERD 200 QUALIFIER: Danny Johnson(G).

By Tom Skibinski, Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series PR Director. Photo by Boris Rudzinski

SH Karting: Coupe de Montréal karting championship iset to open

Saint-Hilaire, Québec - The 2007 edition of the Coupe de Montréal karting championship is opening this Saturday, May 5, at the SH Karting track, and over 125 drivers are expected.

This now traditional karting series will be hosting 7 events in 2007, alternating between SH Karting in Mont-Saint-Hilaire and SRA Karting in Saint-Roch-de-l’Achigan. Judging by the number of drivers who have been practicing at SH Karting this past week, the first event of the series will be a great success.

A total of eight classes are scheduled, among them the Rotax trio : Rotax Max Junior and Senior and Rotax Mini-Max, which made its debut last year. Three Honda classes are also scheduled, Honda Junior, Senior and Lite. And let’s not forget the popular Cadet class for the 8 to 10 year-old drivers.

"People can’t wait to taste the excitement of competition after the long winter we’ve had," says Clem Duriez, who has been organizing races for three decades now. Bridgestone is the main sponsor of the series this year, and the only tires allowed will be Bridgestone except in the Rotax Max Junior and Senior classes.

Race Schedule ­ May 5: Practice and qualifying will be held on Saturday morning, while the pre-finals and finals will take place after lunch. More detailed information is available on SH Karting’s website at www.shkarting.com.

The Coupe de Montréal series is sanctioned by the Fédération de sport automobile du Québec.
2007 Calendar - Coupe de Montréal

Date Track

May 5 St-Hilaire

June 2 St-Roch-de-L’Achigan

June 16 St-Hilaire

July 7 St-Roch-de-L’Achigan

August 25 St-Hilaire

September 22 St-Hilaire

September 29 St-Roch de l’Achigan

From: SH Karting Inc.450-584-3843 // orders@shkarting.com // www.shkarting.com

Ashley Taws Announces Two-Car Racing Effort With Barbie

Courtesy Mark Jackson

Toronto, Ontario, May 3 2007 - Ashley Taws revealed two Barbie at Wal*Mart race cars today as she announced plans to compete in the Ontario Sportsman Series and selected Super Touring Car races. With backing from Barbie, Wal*Mart, Polly Pocket, Dare Bear Paws and several other sponsors, the 23-year-old from Newmarket, Ont., unveiled two pink cars: a Barbie at Wal*Mart Dodge Charger Stock Car and a Barbie at Wal*Mart BMW E30 Super Touring Car.

Taws is thrilled to be returning to competition and especially pleased to be returning with Barbie. Likewise, Barbie-maker, Mattel is happy to resume its association with Taws.

"It's a pleasure and an honour to once again provide support to a young lady who epitomizes the Barbie ideal to 'B Who U Wanna B' with young girls," said Nilo Del Bel, Senior National Account Manager at Mattel Canada Inc.

Racing stock cars will be a new world for the petite Taws. Having only raced once on an oval - almost 7 years ago in a tiny Formula 1200 car - adapting to a full-size stock car and competing against experienced oval racers is going to be a big challenge. With DJ Kennington working with her and his team, DJK Racing, preparing her car, Taws will have all she needs to learn and progress.

The Super Touring Car will feel more like the light, nimble formula cars she is used to. Although it began life as production car, the BMW has been transformed by Vertex Fabworx and is now a true race car -- light and fully race-prepped with performance and safety gear. Taws will likely feel quite at home pushing the Barbie BMW to its limits.

Taws will make her return to competition driving the Barbie Super Touring Car at Mosport International Raceway on May 19 in the USERA (United States Enduro Racing Association) Sundown GP, a three-hour endurance run which she'll co-drive with Vertex Fabworx drivers Jordan Marrison and Brock Gilboe. Her debut in the Barbie stock car will come on June 16 at Mosport Speedway.

The greatest impact in terms of attention is sure to come at the Grand Prix of Toronto, July 6-8, where Ashley will drive in the Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship Presented by Toyo. Ashley has raced the streets of Toronto twice in the past, endearing herself to fans and earning widespread media coverage for her on-track performance. Racing in the Canadian Formula Ford Championship, she took pole position and finished fourth in 2002, then finished fourth in 2003, her first race since being severely injured in an off-season highway accident. Sadly, a lack of endurance and legacy injuries kept the comeback short-lived.

Ashley and her Barbie at Wal*Mart Stock Car will make over thirty appearances at Wal*Mart stores across Ontario this year. Her popular website, www.ashleytaws.com, is back and is in the final stages of a complete rebuild.

For more information on the Ontario Sportsman Series (OSS) and the Castrol Canadian Touring Car Series visit ontariosportsmanseries.com and touringcar.ca.

NCATS: DJ Kennington signs with Castrol Canada. Set to commence 14th season in Castrol colours

“It’s a sponsorship that has outlived series and seen rivals come and go but continues to get better,” boasts DJ Kennington about this year’s sponsorship signing with Castrol Canada. DJ was a lad in high school when he and Castrol first hooked up so this year will represent the 14th season with Castrol colours on DJ’s hood.

This year, Kennington will run the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series and hopes to exceed his 2005 season when he won four features. (“I’d rather forget 2006,” DJ jokes.)

Marsha McLaughlin, Product Manager for Wakefield Canada Inc., the company that distributes Castrol lubricants in this country is counting on DJ to win this year’s title. “With the new series on the calendar, this would be a great year to aim for the top.”

In addition to competing in every event in Canada’s top stock car series, DJ will stay busy all summer competing at local events all over Ontario and running selected Busch events driving for Canadian, Randy Macdonald’s team.

PHOTO: Driver DJ Kennington and Wakefield Canada’s Marsha McLaughlin seal the deal.

From John Morris / Marcovitch PR

Talladega bans 14 for disorderly conduct... sort of.

In the wake of the shameful can-throwing spectacle following Sunday's Cup race at Talladega, the track has banned 14 individuals from buying tickets FROM the track... ever.

Mind you, the track concedes that they can't prevent these idiots from getting tickets to races at Talladega through a third party.

Apparently, it's going to have to take another post-race disgrace at Talladega... probably later this year (if Junior doesn't win)... before fans are prevented from carrying the weapons (a.k.a beer cans) in the front door with them.

Ashley Taws set for return to racing

Toronto, Ontario, May 1 2007 - Ashley Taws, the driver who became well known several years ago racing the "Be Anything With Barbie" race car, will return to competition this year along with her former sponsor, Barbie. At a news conference on Thursday, the 23-year-old from Newmarket, Ont., will announce her new racing programme and unveil her race cars.

Taws was a rising star who had established a new benchmark for female racers in Canada. In the 2002 Canadian Formula Ford Championship, she claimed pole position at the Toronto Indy, took three podium (top- three) finishes, tied for third in championship points and won the rookie-of-the-year award.

Popular with fans and well-respected in the racing community, Taws was focused on winning the 2003 Canadian Formula Ford Championship when an off-season traffic accident left her severely injured. A passenger in a car involved in a head-on, highway collision, she suffered a broken spine, crushed aortal artery and multiple abdominal injuries. A comeback just six months later was initially successful, but short-lived as limited endurance and nagging health problems became an issue.

Healthy again and ready to race, Taws is looking forward to competing in two racing series this year and is particularly excited about returning to race on the streets of Toronto in the Grand Prix of Toronto.

Media are invited to attend this announcement which will take place on May 3 at 11am in Porter Airlines hangar 5 at the Toronto City Centre Airport.

###
From Mark Jackson

"NAPA Auto Parts 200, Presented by Dodge" to run August 3-4 in Montreal

Montreal, April 30, 2007 — Stock-Car Montréal l.p., promoter of the NAPA Auto Parts 200, the first-ever NASCAR Busch Series race in Canada, is proud to announce today that Dodge will be the presenting sponsor of the August 3-4, 2007 race event at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. This sponsorship gives Dodge cars and trucks exclusive promotional presence at this milestone racing event, and makes Dodge the official supplier of the cars and trucks of the event.

Dodge has a long standing association with stock car racing in Canada. The Dodge Charger will return for another season of high-speed action and will be joined by the new Dodge Avenger. The all-new 2008 Dodge Avenger is in dealer showrooms now, bringing the Dodge Charger heritage to the mid-size segment. It features the signature Dodge crosshair grille, muscular rear shoulders and modern, yet menacing, quad headlamps embodying the Dodge brand attributes of bold, powerful and capable.

We are very happy to welcome Dodge as the presenting sponsor of the event,” said Martin Spalding, General Manager of Stock-Car Montreal. “This new partnership helps us achieve our sponsorship goals for the Montreal event and assure its timelessness to the benefit of all Canadian NASCAR fans. In Dodge, we renew with a partner with whom we have had a great and productive relationship during past events. We are very confident that the agreement announced today will be fruitful for both parties.”

“The Dodge commitment to stock car racing in Canada grows even stronger this year with our sponsorship of the Montreal Busch Series - Napa Auto Parts 200, Presented by Dodge,” said Judy Wheeler, Vice President – Marketing, DaimlerChrysler Canada. “With two distinct Dodge cars racing in 2007, we are supplying drivers with some of the best equipment available. Dodge Avenger and Charger position us well for a win on the track, which leads to a win in the marketplace!”

The race and the race weekend will be officially known as the NAPA Auto Parts 200, Presented by Dodge. In the coming weeks, Stock-Car Montreal and Dodge will unveil details on a joint promotion plan for the event. The NAPA Auto Parts 200, Presented by Dodge, round 23 of the NASCAR Busch Series, will be run on Saturday August 4, 2007 at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve. The weekend of activities will begin on Friday with Round 12 of the Grand-Am Rolex Series on Friday. Round 6 of the new NASCAR Canadian Series will also be held that weekend. To order tickets for the August 3-4 weekend, fans can call at 514-397-0007, seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. or order online anytime at http://www.circuitgillesvilleneuve.ca/.

-30-
Media Inquiries: Normand Prieur, Stock-Car Montreal l.p.

INSIDE TRACK: News & Notes for Monday

Jeff Gordon needed armour plating yesterday after winning at Talladega. Threats and requests from track officials weren't enough to deter some drunken morons from launching full beer cans from the stands, toward the racetrack. There's no word on how many of these weapons ended up hitting unsuspecting fans in the front rows in the backs of their heads.

These people are a black eye on the sport. NASCAR blames the situation on the actions of a few. Let's hope that's the case, but there were a lot of bombs flying out of the stands.

The next logical steps are to stop allowing people to bring their own closed containers (coolers, cans and bottles) into the stands - at least at Talladega - and to force people to buy drinks in soft cups that don't have the same risk of killing someone.

****
There was more fallout on the weekend from Tony Stewart's attack on the credibility of the sport. TV analyst Darrell Waltrip said that caution-causing debris should be put on display for all to see. NASCAR boss Mike Helton responded by saying that Waltrip used to throw stuff out of the window of his car to bring out cautions. Ouch.

****
Is Jeff Gordon reading the Inside Track Breaking News Blog? Last week, we said that Tony Stewart was turning into the Rosie O'Donnell of NASCAR. And this past weekend, Gordon was quoted as saying, "He's like the Rosie O'Donnell of NASCAR. Controversy is something that he's used to. To me, it brings a flavor to the sport."

****
Barrie Speedway will host a test session on Thursday (May 3).