Friday, July 27, 2007

ACT ST-EUSTACHE: Stock Car Racers Searching for First Victory of Season

ST-EUSTACHE, QC – Top American-Canadian Tour (ACT) stock car drivers Jean-Paul Cyr and Patrick Laperle are each in search of their first main event victory of the season, and will be taken to task at the $43,000+ ACTion Super Series 200 at Autodrome St-Eustache on Saturday night at 5:30pm. The flat 4/10-mile race track, located just 10 minutes from Montréal, is expected to draw more than 40 teams from the United States and Canada to the $6,000-to-win combination event for the ACT Late Model Tour and the Série ACT Castrol.

Milton, VT driver Cyr leads the ACT Late Model Tour point standings entering Autodrome St-Eustache. Despite a string of five-straight podium finishes to open the season, he has yet to win a race.

“We should have had three or four (wins) by now,” said the six-time ACT Late Model Tour Champion. “We’ve been running well, but we just haven’t been lucky enough to win yet.” Cyr was the runner-up at the New England Dodge Dealers 150 at Maine’s Oxford Plains Speedway in April, and has since turned in four consecutive third-place finishes.

Like most of the American drivers entered in the ACTion Super Series 200, Cyr has never raced at Autodrome St-Eustache. “I’ve never even seen the place,” he admitted. “I have a plan in my head on how to attack the race track, but we could get there and have to scrub the whole thing. It’s a situation where you have to think a lot.”

Laperle is now focusing his efforts on the Série ACT Castrol title chase in his native Canada, and currently ranks fourth overall on the strength of six top-ten finishes. The St-Denis, QC racer was within 15 laps of winning an event at Autodrome St-Eustache in May before he crashed with Sylvain Lacombe.

“I think our car will be in better shape for the 200 this weekend than it was in the spring,” Laperle said. “We could have won the last time we raced at St-Eustache, but now the car is performing the best it has been all year.”

Cyr and Laperle share a common goal in aiming at the $6,000 top prize in the ACTion Super Series 200. “The money in the Super Series races is always good,” said Cyr. “It’s nice to win any race, but Super Series wins are a better reward for all of the hard work the team puts in on the car.”

Laperle agreed, saying, “I won a Super Series race (2005 Vermont Milk Bowl at Thunder Road), and the money is good for a small family team like mine. I hope I do well in front of my home crowd at St-Eustache and win that money.”

Cyr and Laperle will square off against each other and the likes of Lacombe brothers Sylvain and Martin of Terrebonne, QC, Brent Dragon and Scott Payea of Milton, VT, Donald Theetge of Boischatel, QC, and Groveton, NH’s Randy Potter. Also gunning for the win will be “Rocket” Roger Brown of Lancaster, NH, winner of the TD Banknorth 250 at Oxford Plains last Sunday.

Qualifying events for the ACTion Super Series 200 are scheduled to begin at 5:30pm. Autodrome St-Eustache is located on Boulevard Arthur-Sauvé in St-Eustache, QC, just outside of Montréal and Laval. More information, call (802) 244-6963 or visit www.acttour.com .
-30-

From ACT / Justin St. Louis

NASCAR: ROBERT YATES RACING AND NEWMAN/HAAS/LANIGAN RACING JOIN FORCES

INDIANAPOLIS (July 27, 2007) --- Robert Yates Racing (RYR) and Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing (NHLR) have entered into a letter of intent for a partnership in NASCAR’s Nextel Cup and Busch Series. The team will be named Yates/Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing effective immediately.

“This is a wonderful partnership,” said Robert Yates, founder of Robert Yates Racing. “This gives us a clear vision how to get to the top. It is our goal to continue to build so this team will be better positioned to contend for the championship.”

“I am very proud of our accomplishments in the Champ Car World Series and hope we can have the same success in NASCAR,” added Carl A. Haas, who has been a team owner in NASCAR’s Cup series on two previous occasions. “We have been looking to add other forms of racing to our Champ Car program and when the opportunity came along to work with Robert Yates Racing, a team that shares the same drive for success that we do, it was too good of an opportunity to pass up. I think that the NASCAR and Champ Car programs can learn something from each other and only enhance the championship level that Robert Yates Racing and Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing have competed at in previous years.”

“We have always been an engineering driven team,” said Paul Newman, a partner in Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing. “We think we have something special to add to the benefit of both. This in no way lessens our commitment to open wheel racing -- we want to broaden our horizons.”

“The opportunity of joining Robert and Doug Yates is an opportunity of a lifetime,” added Michael Lanigan, a new partner in Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing. “The Yates family has been competing against the best and winning for many years. We look forward to a long and productive association.”

Since Robert Yates Racing was formed in 1988, the now two-car team has posted 57 victories and 48 poles in addition to winning the 1999 NASCAR championship with Dale Jarrett. Current Nextel Cup drivers Ricky Rudd and David Gilliland pilot the No. 88 and No. 38 Ford Fusion’s, respectively. The agreement also includes RYR’s Busch program with Stephen Leicht, driver of the No. 90 Ford Fusion. Drivers such as Davey Allison, Ernie Irvan, Dale Jarrett, Ricky Rudd, Kenny Irwin, Elliott Sadler and David Gilliland have driven for RYR.

RYR and NHR/NHLR have had close ties with Ford Motor Company for many years. RYR has been powered by Ford all 20 seasons. Of NHR/NHLR’s 101 wins and 103 poles, 55 of each have been earned with Ford power. In addition, four of their seven titles were powered by Ford (1993 – Nigel Mansell; 2004-2006 – Sebastien Bourdais).

“NASCAR Nextel Cup racing is rapidly moving, technology-wise, to engineering areas that Newman/Haas/Lanigan has years of experience with already,” said Dan Davis, director of Ford Racing Technology. “And Robert Yates Racing brings years of engine development and race craft in the sport that is invaluable to this operation. Put that expertise together, along with joint ownership that is clearly committed to winning, and we have a Ford program that will be a contender for years to come."

About Robert Yates Racing …
Robert Yates Racing was formed in 1988 by Robert Yates and the team is in their 20th season. In the premier series, they have won 57 races, 48 poles and one championship with Dale Jarrett (1999). Drivers such as Davey Allison, Ernie Irvan, Dale Jarrett, Ricky Rudd, Kenny Irwin, Elliott Sadler and David Gilliland have competed for the team. The team added a Busch Series program in 2002 and recently earned their first win with driver Stephen Leicht in June 2007. For more information log on to
www.RYR.com.

About Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing…
Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing LLC (NHLR), owned by actor/race car driver Paul Newman, racing entrepreneur Carl A. Haas and businessman Michael Lanigan is the most successful team competing in the Champ Car World Series and one of the most successful overall competing today. The Lincolnshire, Ill.-based team began their 25th season of Champ Car competition in 2007 and has earned seven championships, 101 wins and 103 pole positions to date. Sebastien Bourdais and Graham Rahal were preceded at the team by Mario and Michael Andretti, Nigel Mansell, Paul Tracy, Christian Fittipaldi, Cristiano da Matta, Bruno Junqueira and Oriol Servia. For more information log onto
www.newmanhaaslanigan.com.

QUOTES FROM KEY INDIVIDUALS

Robert Yates, founder of Robert Yates Racing…“This is a wonderful partnership. This gives us a clear vision how to get to the top. It is our goal to continue to build so this team will be better positioned to contend for the championship.”

Doug Yates, president of Roush-Yates Racing Engines…“What they do well complements us and what we do well complements them. This new venture is exciting to me in a lot ways. Incorporating their engineering program will prepare us for future competition. We look forward to sharing much success and getting our teams among the NASCAR elite.”

Carl A. Haas, co-founder of Newman/Haas Racing and co-owner of Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing…
“I am very proud of the hard work that went into our accomplishments in the Champ Car World Series and hope we can have the same success in NASCAR. We have been looking to add other forms of racing to our Champ Car program and when the opportunity came along to work with Robert Yates Racing, a team that shares the same drive for success that we do, it was too good of an opportunity to pass up. I think that the NASCAR and Champ Car programs can learn something from each other and only enhance the championship level that Robert Yates Racing and Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing have competed at in previous years.”

Paul Newman, co-founder of Newman/Haas Racing and co-owner of Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing…
“We have always been an engineering driven team. We think we have something special to add to the benefit of both. This in no way lessens our commitment to open wheel racing - - - we want to broaden our horizons.”

Michael Lanigan, co-owner of Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing and Carl A. Haas Motorsports…“The opportunity of joining Robert and Doug Yates is an opportunity of a lifetime. The Yates family has been competing against the best and winning for many years. We look forward to a long and productive association.”

Dan Davis, director, Ford Racing Technology…“I'm very excited at the prospect of putting these two Ford championship-winning teams together. We have had an outstanding relationship with both teams over the years, and we believe their individual strengths compliment each other extremely well. NASCAR Nextel Cup racing is rapidly moving, technology-wise, to engineering areas that Newman/Haas/Lanigan has years of experience with already. And Robert Yates Racing brings years of engine development and race craft in the sport that is invaluable to this operation. Put that expertise together, along with joint ownership that is clearly committed to winning, and we have a Ford program that will be a contender for years to come.”

Edsel B. Ford II, board member, Ford Motor Company…“We're excited about this new partnership between two teams that have already won championships for Ford in motor racing. We've had a long, successful relationship with both of these organizations. Now, going forward, they each will be able to take their specific expertise and help us create a stronger overall Ford program in NASCAR.”

Ricky Rudd, driver of the No. 88 Ford Fusion…“I am so excited for Robert and Doug – Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing is at the top of their game in the Champ Car World Series. Their history certainly complements the history of Robert Yates Racing.”

David Gilliland, driver of the No. 33 Ford Fusion…“Joining forces with Robert Yates Racing was a dream come true for me. Adding the resources of an organization like Newman/Haas/Lanigan to the mix only makes things better. I look forward to a long and successful career with the Yates/Newman/Haas/Lanigan team.”

Stephen Leicht, driver of the No. 90 Ford Fusion Busch car…“I am just proud to be a part of the Yates Family. And look forward to watching our organization continue to grow.”

Kyle Krisiloff, driver of the No. 14 Lilly/Walgreens Ford Fusion…“I am really honored to be part of this new organization and proud of Carl, Paul and Mike for taking this step to make sure our team has all the tools necessary to win races and contend for championships. It’s really exciting to be a part of Robert Yates Racing because they have always been a leading team in NASCAR and for Ford Racing. I know this new partnership will benefit Lilly and Walgreens as we continue to grow the program.”

Sebastien Bourdais, three-time reigning Champ Car champion and driver of the No. 1 McDonald’s Champ Car for NHLR…“It’s obviously a great opportunity for Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing to be able to expand and to show our engineering capabilities. NASCAR is a very competitive series and this will be a new challenge for the team.”

From: Kathi Lauterbach / Director of Public Relations // Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing

NPP Late Model Series: News and Notes


RACIN’ IN RIMBEY THIS WEEKEND
EDMONTON, AB – The last half of the season begins this weekend for race teams of the Northern Provincial Pipelines Ltd. Late Model Series. It’s also the only race of the season which starts in the afternoon and finishes in the early evening hours. “Reacting to changing track conditions will be crucial for race teams this Saturday,” indicates N.P.P. Series announcer Gord Craig, “drivers that adapt the quickest will be at the front when the checkered flag waves.” Adding to the pressure is the fact that this will be the final race of the season that all drivers in the points chase have a mathematical chance at winning the 2007 N.P.P. Series Championship. Defending Series Champion Dwight Kennedy (Edson, Alberta) knows he’s got to shine this weekend. “We had a tough weekend in Southern Alberta with a flat tire last Friday and a transmission going Saturday. We were leading both races when this happened.” Kennedy, who now sits fifth in the standings, had won two of three race events before the southern Alberta swing. Rookie driver Curtis Moore is looking forward to the race in Rimbey and the run for rookie of the year honors. “Time is running out for us to get back into the top ten,” says the Sherwood Park, Alberta driver, “we have had a little bit of problems here and there and that has allowed Rod Wilde and Paul Grundberg to sneak a head of us in the rookie race. We’ve got the car to do it and a good set up crew we intend to be there at the end.”

POINT LEADER BEAULIEU TO MISS RIMBEY RACE
EDMONTON, AB – The current N.P.P. Late Model Series point leader will not be racing at Central Alberta Raceway in Rimbey, Alberta this weekend. However, the All Weather Windows sponsored #46 which Jason Beaulieu normally drives will be on the track. “It was a tough decision,” indicates Beaulieu, “but I am racing my first ever dirt Modified Nationals event in Elma Washington this weekend. Brad Purdey will be filling in for me.” Purdey is an accomplished dirt racer from Port McNeill, BC but a little known driver to other N.P.P. Series race teams. “I wouldn’t put just anyone in my car,” says Beaulieu, “I don’t consider this a risk to my point lead at all. In fact it wouldn’t surprise me if he finished in the top five on Saturday night." Purdey is not taking this weekend’s race lightly. “Jason’s basically handed me the keys to his race car and the point lead and is saying go have some fun in my place. I know I will."

From Gord Craig

MERRITTVILLE: 4 MORE FINALISTS TO BE PICKED AS COUNTDOWN CONTINUES TO MERRITTVILLE’S BIGGEST EVENT OF THE SEASON

THOROLD, ON - Just ask Devin Habiult what an experience he had being Merrittville Speedway’s Grand Marshall when the Advance Auto Parts Big Block Super DIRTcar Series made it’s return to the Thorold D shaped oval last season.

If the Thorold resident has his way – you may be able to ask him how it went this year as well as Merrittville Speedway’s biggest event of the season is now 10 days away.

The former winner was one of the first eligible finalists picked back on CMH Leasing Night July 7th.

That’s if it isn’t Rie Hojo, Jason Blais, Bonney Davis, Keith Porter, Ashley Perrotti, Shani Bleich, the Petris Family or one of the final group of four that are selected during the excitement-laden Modern Corporation Night Saturday July 28th.

All 16 of the names will be entered into the draw to pick one name who will then become the 2007 Grand Marshall.

All through-out the month of July, Merrittville Speedway has conducted a search for the next Grand Marshall and the entry rules have been pretty simple – there’s no singing or dancing required … the finalists don’t get shipped off to some remote tropical island or anything like you see on TV – all you have to do is fill out a ballot that you will get at the Grandstand Ticket Office and put your completed ballot in the Novelty Trailer located just inside the front gate on Saturday July 28th.

Like those before them – the four finalists picked on the 28th will be given gift certificates redeemable for complimentary 2007 Merrittville Speedway T Shirts.

The final four will join the 12 earlier selected Merrittville Fans in a draw for a Dream Package that includes – 2 Tickets to the Toolneeds Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series 100 lap Trevor Wilkens Memorial Monday August 6th and 2 tickets to the best deal on Dirt – the Club Castropignano Pasta Dinner served up prior to race time behind the Turn 1 Grandstands.

And it doesn’t stop there – after dinner – Merrittville Speedway’s Grand Marshall will be outfitted in a Texaco Havoline Official Shirt for the night to get ready for the race night to come.

The Grand Marshall will assist in the front stretch activities including the draws for both the Hoosier Stock Duel on the Dirt Event as well as the Big block Redraw.

When the field is set and the capacity crowd is on the edge of their seats anticipating the 100 lap Main Event – it will be the Merrittville Speedway Grand Marshall that releases every race fan’s favorite words – GENTLEMEN START YOUR ENGINES!

Throughout the night, the Grand Marshall will also assist in Victory Lane Ceremonies and will be provided photos of the experience.

And it gets even better as once again, DIRT Motorsports will provide Merrittville Speedway’s Grand Marshall with 2 General Admission Combo Tickets for the biggest event of the season after Monday August 6th – Super DIRT week 2007 at the New York State Fairgrounds in October.

Merrittville Speedway’s Grand Marshall can look forward to enjoying the same Big Block Modifieds in the Rite Aid 200, the 150 lap 358 Modified Event and more.

So join us Saturday July 28th for your last chance to be Merrittville Speedway’s Big Block Grand Marshall – with Modern’s Truck Show ‘n Shine, the rescheduled Lucas Oil 358 Modified Shootout Jerry Winger Memorial, the Ed MacPherson Construction Philbrick Farm & Garden Equipment Cub Cadet Clash, the L. St. Amand Enterprises Merrittville Speedway Reunion Committee Wall of Fame Inductions, Vintage Cars and much more.

For Immediate Release - July 27, 2007 - From Jim Irvine - Merrittville Public Relations - 905-892-8266

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Pierre Bourque Preps For NASCAR Truck Series Debut

Busch East Driver Will Enter Friday’s Event at O’Reilly Raceway Park

CONCORD, NC (July 26, 2007) – Pierre Bourque will take another step in his racing career this weekend when he enters his first career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race. Bourque will drive the Andy Hillenburg-owned Fast Track Racing entry on Friday night at O’Reilly Raceway Park, in the shadows of Indianapolis, Indiana.

"I am absolutely thrilled to be attempting my NASCAR Craftsman debut this weekend at Indianapolis,” said Bourque. “I'm a huge fan of the series and I am really looking forward to the experience

"My sponsors DRIVING.CA, CANADA.COM, WORKING.COM, and DOSE.CA are on board and we are very much intrigued by where this Craftsman Truck race may lead us to next. The parent company CANWEST-GLOBAL, Canada's biggest media company, is very much interested in NASCAR and I am very proud to be working with them on this second season of our program."

The team that Bourque will drive for this weekend is a familar one to him.

"I am very happy to be racing with Andy Hillenburg's Fast Track team again. We did a lot of work together last year in the Busch East and ARCA series. We had a chance to shake down the truck this week and I expect us to qualify and make the most of the opportunity during the race."

Bourque will also have support from several other companies this weekend at ORP.

"We also have support this weekend from, IMMUNOTEC, makers of world-renowned health-promoting products. (http://www.immunotec.com, SONOMAX, a Canadian leader in the research, development, and manufacturing of intra-ear technologies, (http://www.sonomax.com) and Full Metal Minerals, one of Canada's most important junior minerals mining companies (http://www.fullmetalminerals.com)."

Race fans will now have a new tool to keep up with Bourque’s busy racing schedule. His new website, www.pierrebourque.net has been launched. The site features all kinds of news, results and background information on the Canadian race driver, as well as a number of multimedia goodies for race fans. Be sure to check Bourque’s new site out, as well as his primary sponsor’s website, Driving.ca.

“I am as passionate about motorsports as my primary sponsor Driving.ca is about motoring. Driving.ca is a fantastic website for people looking to research a new vehicle purchase, learn about the latest industry developments, or follow the very latest in racing. We're both all about passion, which makes Driving.ca and perfect match for me."

For more information on Pierre Bourque, please contact Mike Twist at (207) 590-1786 or (207) 499-2565 and be sure to check out the all-new PierreBourque.net

STOLEN: Ron Easton's Trailer and Canadian Vintage Modified racecar

From Mike Morrison:

"Ron Easton's trailer was stolen from his work's compound on Sunday night July 22/07. It is a 20 foot black enclosed trailer, checkered floor and a very large dent on the right side of the exterior! If you see it please call Ron at Home # 905-257-9479 Work # 905-469-8939."

Flashback Foto....

I guess one of the best things about being a national stock car champion and winning NASCAR races is that people will post old pictures of you when they come across them.... or not.


This picture was taken (by Dave Franks) on September 6, 1998 at Delaware Speedway Park .... back when the 'kid'... who is still a 'kid'... was really just a kid.

SUPPORT DIVISIONS HUGE PART IN BIGGEST EVENT OF YEAR AT MERRITTVILLE

Thorold, Ontario (July 26) There’s just 11 days now to Merrittville Speedway’s biggest event of the season Monday August 6th and like the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Race Teams and the hometown hero L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modifieds – the Thorold track’s Hoosier Stocks and Lucas Oil Open Wheel Lites are also getting ready for the big show.

“Week in and week out,” relates (Merrittville GM) Erica Bicknell, “drivers from both of these divisions put on some great racing for the fans … and for the Hoosier Stocks – their event sets the stage for the combined Duel on the Dirt Events later this season.”

The Duel on the Dirt is a unique two track Mini-series involving the Merrittville Speedway Hoosier Stocks and the Brighton Speedway Brighton Automotive Pro Stocks in home track and combined events.

Launching in 2005 with just a single event at each track it grew last season to include two ‘hometrack’ events prior to the two combined fall events and that format will continue this season.

Rob Murray led Team Merrittville to the second straight victory as well as the individual championship last season and currently leads the Merrittville Home Track Points leading up to August 6th’s 25 lap Event. Mike Dooley was the Inaugural Duel on the Dirt Title in 2005 as did Team Merrittville.

The three star holiday racing spectacular also includes the Lucas Oil Open Wheel Lites and most nights the big time racing these small in stature cars put on is worth the price of admission alone.

“You wouldn’t think that a motorcycle engine could put so much power to the track,” adds Bicknell, “but with the track conditions as they are some nights – the open Wheel Lites are just as fast as our Sportsmen … August 6th’s show definitely will have something for everyone.”

Of course the main event will be the 100 lap Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Event for the Big Block Modifieds.

Your local Dirt Track is where it’s at and it’s at Merrittville Speedway Monday August 6th. The star studded Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Big Blocks are set to challenge our home town heroes in the 100 lap Trevor Wilkens Memorial presented by Toolneeds. With plenty of free camping, the Club Castropignano Pasta Dinner and much more – it’s puts Merrittville Speedway on the map as a must see event. It’s been a Holiday Tradition since 1972 – make it yours in 2007! To learn more call 905-892-8266 or visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com.

From Jim Irvine - Merrittville Public Relations

World of Outlaws at Ohsweken: Sides wins in front of a jam-packed crowd



It was an incredible night on Wednesday at Ohsweken Speedway when the World of Outlaws paid their inaugural visit to the Brantford, ON-area dirt track for their first-ever visit... but you can bet it won't be their last.

In spite of installing tons of new seating for the event, it was a standing-room-only crowd who saw great racing and some fun laser and fireworks shows at Glenn Styres' facility. In its entirety, it has to go down as one of the most memorable racing shows in Ontario short track history.

Thanks to Glenn and his staff for their hospitality. At our booth behind the main grandstands, we sold more subscriptions on this night than during the entire recent Toronto Grand Prix race weekend.

I've put together a photo gallery made up of some photos taken by myself and Dave Franks. Thanks to Dave for putting them on the FTP late last night! I didn't get a chance to say 'hi', but I saw Derek Smith on the infield, so his racepulse site will no doubt be full of shots at some point soon.

Glenn and his family dug deep to bring the Outlaws to their track and dug even deeper to upgrade their facility. And they were rewarded with a full house and a night that won't soon be forgotten by anyone who was there. Congratulations all around. See below for the official WoW report from Tony Veneziano.

*******

By Tony Veneziano, World of Outlaws PR Director
Ohsweken, ON — Jason Sides had been close to winning on several occasions this season with the World of Outlaws. He finished second at New Egypt Speedway in May in the closest event of the season, coming just 0.028 seconds short of the win. In June at Tri-City Speedway in Illinois, he had a sizeable lead and appeared to be well on his way to a victory when he had a tire go flat.
On Wednesday night in the World of Outlaws inaugural visit to Ohsweken Speedway in Canada, he would not be denied, as he picked up his first A-Feature win of the season with the series and the second of his career, holding off a furious charge by Jac Haudenschild and Donny Schatz.
“Coming here for the first time and winning is great,” said Sides, driver of the Wetherington Tractor Service Maxim. “Winning the first race in Canada in a long time is special as well. Winning period is great for us this year. To get a win for all of the sponsors that we have that put so much into this is worth it.”
The race began with Sam Hafertepe Jr. leading into the first turn and Sides quickly taking the second spot from Joey Saldana, with Schatz the pole sitter falling back to fourth.
Hafertepe, a contender for the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award would lead the first 13 laps, before Sides would take the lead on the 14th circuit. The pair was closing in on traffic, when Sides went to the low side of the second turn to make the pass for the lead and ultimately the win.
Late in the race, Sides had Jac Haudenschild and Donny Schatz right on him as the trio negotiated lapped traffic. He held off several attempts by Haudenschild to take the lead and then charged under guest flagman Roger Slack’s checkered flag with Schatz just less than a half-second behind him. Sides had raced once in Canada previously, in the mid-1990’s.
“I approached the track like it was Sharon (Speedway in Ohio) or somewhere else that we have been and compare it to that,” explained the winner. “We got a good start here and it seemed to go our way.”
Sides thrilled the record setting crowd at Ohsweken Speedway by turning three separate sets of donuts down the front straightaway as well as the first and second turns as he celebrated his first win with the series since the 2004 Kings Royal.
“I learned to do donuts like that from TK (Tim Kaeding),” smiled Sides. “Dennis Moore and him are the kings of doing 360’s. I’ve watched them and I’ve only gotten to do them one other time, and this seemed like a good time to do it for the Canadian fans. I hope they enjoyed it.”
With the inaugural event at Ohsweken being the sixth race in a nine-day period, Sides was very happy to get the win for his crew who along with himself has been putting in countless hours working on the car and also endured some bad luck last weekend.
“The crew has been working their tails off,” he noted. “It’s been one extreme to the other. We blew up at Williams Grove and didn’t make the dash and then we missed the show at Lebanon Valley. Winning certainly makes up for that.”
Schatz won his series leading eighth Crane Cams Dash to earn the pole position and fell back three spots on the opening lap, before moving into third on the 14th lap getting around Hafertepe. For the next 14 laps he would stage an epic battle with Steve Kinser. On the final lap of the race, Schatz took the second spot from Haudenschild and nearly edged Sides as they charged down the front straightaway. The runner-up finish was his 46th Top-10 finish of the season.
“We were there at the end, but we were not very good at the beginning,” said Schatz, driver of the ParkerStore J&J. “I gave my guys some bad information after the dash about what the car was doing. We used that information to make the changes to the car and I learned from my mistake and now we can go back and fix it tomorrow.”
While he was disappointed he did not, Schatz was one of the first people to congratulate Sides in the winner’s circle. With his strong run, Schatz extended his point lead on Joey Saldana, as the pair continues to battle for the World of Outlaws championship.
“We had a legitimate shot to win,” said the reigning World of Outlaws champion and current point leader. “If it would have been 40 laps, I think it would have been a different show. I’m glad for Jason (Sides). He needed the win. He’s had some good runs and we feel like we need the wins, but he needed one more.”
While he had raced in Canada in the past, Schatz like the rest of the World of Outlaws drivers had never been to Ohsweken Speedway. He was very pleased with how the evening went and was very complimentary of track owner Glenn Styres and his entire staff.
“It’s a unique place,” noted the native of Fargo, North Dakota. “They put a lot of work into this. It’s kind of like racing in your own backyard at home, with him (Styres) living right here. It goes to show how much hard work he has put in and it’s pretty gratifying for him. It’s a really neat set-up and they thought of a lot of things that other places don’t have.”
Haudenschild started the 30-lap A-Feature in the sixth spot. He got around Schatz and Saldana on the opening lap to move into third. He passed Hafertepe on the 14th lap to move into the runner-up spot. He shadowed Sides for most of the rest of the race, closing to within inches of the leader in traffic on several occasions. He repeatedly tried the way side of turn two to find away around Sides. After Schatz slipped by him on the last lap, Haudenschild finished third to earn his 10th Top-Five finish of the season.
“We are pretty happy,” said Haudenschild, driver of the Wright One Construction Maxim. “The car has been running strong the last couple of races and the guys have been working hard on it. We’ve been right there. Hopefully we can keep running up front.”
The veteran driver tried a few different lines during the race and settled into one that saw him use both the high and low side of the track as he tracked down Sides and tried to pass him.
“The high side was fastest off (turns) one and two and the low side was fastest off (turns) three and four,” said the native of Wooster, Ohio. “It’s a nice wide race track and a nice place. I enjoyed coming here.”
Steve Kinser finished fourth in the Q Oil Maxim, in his first race in Canada in 25 years. The 20-time series champion is the only driver that has competed in all five Canadian events in the series history. He waged several entertaining battles during the 30-lap event first with Joey Saldana and then Donny Schatz en route to earning his 24th Top-Five finish of the season.
Danny Lasoski began the night by setting a new track record aboard the Roth Motorsports JEI. Trouble in his heat forced him into the B-Main which he won handily to earn the 11th starting spot in the A-Feature. He passed Tony Bruce Jr. on the opening lap before getting around Justin Henderson around the halfway point of the race. He battled Craig Dollansky for several laps and moved into the fifth spot, where he would finish, with just six laps to go.
Joey Saldana was sixth in the Open Joist Mopar-powered JEI, with Craig Dollansky in the Karavan Trailers Maxim in seventh. Justin Henderson was eighth in the Jolt Energy Gum Rocket. Daryn Pittman started 20th and finished ninth to earn the KSE Race Products Hard Charger Award aboard the Titan Garages Maxim. Paul McMahan rounded out the Top-10 in the Bass Pro Shops Eagle.
The World of Outlaws return to action on Friday, July 27 at I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa, Michigan.


World of Outlaws Statistical Report; Ohsweken Speedway; Ohsweken, ON; July 25, 2007

Qualifying
1) 83-Danny Lasoski 12.944
2) 11-Steve Kinser 12.947
3) 9-Joey Saldana 12.970
4) 20-Paul McMahan 13.019
5) 15-Donny Schatz 13.031
6) 7-Craig Dollansky 13.075
7) 8K-Chad Kemenah 13.077
8) R19-Jason Solwold 13.079
9) 7S-Jason Sides 13.095
10) 18T-Tony Bruce Jr. 13.123
11) 14-Jason Meyers 13.148
12) 35-Jac Haudenschild 13.189
13) 10C-Jeremy Campbell 13.200
14) 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr. 13.227
15) D1-Justin Henderson 13.231
16) 2M-Dustin Daggett 13.239
17) 11H-Kerry Madsen 13.259
18) 6-Tim Shaffer 13.265
19) 1X-Randy Hannagan 13.267
20) 18-Brian Carlson 13.295
21) 21-Daryn Pittman 13.320
22) 9B-Bobby Breen 13.328
23) 1Z-Jessica Zemken 13.344
24) 4-Danny Smith 13.401
25) 24-Terry McCarl 13.425
26) 5C-Chad Hillier 13.434
27) 3T-John Schuyler 13.480
28) 36-Jason Martin 13.638
29) 12C-Fred Cade 13.639
30) 8-Blake Breen 13.727
31) O-James Porter 14.012
32) 27H-Tom Huppunen 14.025
33) 42-Kyle Patrick 14.027
34) 5-Keith Dempster 14.239
35) F37-Jamie Collard 14.331
36) 69-Rob Pietz 14.367
37) 38-Brad Knab 14.538

Heat 1 (8 Laps, top 5 finishers transferred to A-feature)
1) 15-Donny Schatz
2) 7S-Jason Sides
3) 21-Daryn Pittman
4) 11H-Kerry Madsen
5) 10C-Jeremy Campbell
6) 24-Terry McCarl
7) 83-Danny Lasoski
8) 42-Kyle Patrick
9) 12C-Fred Cade
10) 38-Brad Knab

Heat 2 (8 Laps, top 5 finishers transferred to A-feature)
1) 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr.
2) 18T-Tony Bruce Jr.
3) 11-Steve Kinser
4) 7-Craig Dollansky
5) 6-Tim Shaffer
6) 5C-Chad Hillier
7) 8-Blake Breen
8) 9B-Bobby Breen
9) 5-Keith Dempster

Heat 3 (8 Laps, top 5 finishers transferred to A-feature)
1) 9-Joey Saldana
2) D1-Justin Henderson
3) 14-Jason Meyers
4) 1X-Randy Hannagan
5) 8K-Chad Kemenah
6) 1Z-Jessica Zemken
7) O-James Porter
8) F37-Jamie Collard
9) 3T-John Schuyler

Heat 4 (8 Laps, top 5 finishers transferred to A-feature)
1) 2M-Dustin Daggett
2) 35-Jac Haudenschild
3) R19-Jason Solwold
4) 20-Paul McMahan
5) 4-Danny Smith
6) 36-Jason Martin
7) 18-Brian Carlson
8) 69-Rob Pietz
9) 27H-Tom Huppunen

Crane Cams Dash (6 laps, finishing order determined first 10 starting positions of A-feature)
1) 15-Donny Schatz
2) 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr.
3) 9-Joey Saldana
4) 7S-Jason Sides
5) 20-Paul McMahan
6) 35-Jac Haudenschild
7) 11-Steve Kinser
8) D1-Justin Henderson
9) 18T-Tony Bruce Jr.
10) 2M-Dustin Daggett

B-main (12 laps, top 4 finishers transferred to A-feature)
1) 83-Danny Lasoski
2) 5C-Chad Hillier
3) 24-Terry McCarl
4) 1Z-Jessica Zemken
5) 9B-Bobby Breen [$200]
6) 18-Brian Carlson [$180]
7) 8-Blake Breen [$175]
8) 27H-Tom Huppunen [$160]
9) 42-Kyle Patrick [$150]
10) 69-Rob Pietz [$150]
11) F37-Jamie Collard [$150]
12) 12C-Fred Cade [$150]
13) O-James Porter [$150]
14) 36-Jason Martin [$150]
15) 5-Keith Dempster [$150]
16) 38-Brad Knab [$150]
17) 3T-John Schuyler [$150]

A-main (30 laps) - Starting Position [#]
1) 7S-Jason Sides[4] [$10,000]
2) 15-Donny Schatz[1] [$5,500]
3) 35-Jac Haudenschild[6] [$3,200]
4) 11-Steve Kinser[7] [$2,800]
5) 83-Danny Lasoski[11] [$2,500]
6) 9-Joey Saldana[3] [$2,300]
7) 7-Craig Dollansky[12] [$2,200]
8) D1-Justin Henderson[8] [$2,100]
9) 21-Daryn Pittman[20] [$2,050]
10) 20-Paul McMahan[5] [$2,000]
11) 11H-Kerry Madsen[17] [$1,500]
12) 18T-Tony Bruce Jr.[9] [$1,200]
13) 6-Tim Shaffer[18] [$1,100]
14) 10C-Jeremy Campbell[16] [$1,050]
15) 1X-Randy Hannagan[19] [$1,000]
16) 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr.[2] [$900]
17) 24-Terry McCarl[23] [$800]
18) 8K-Chad Kemenah[13] [$800]
19) 4-Danny Smith[22] [$800]
20) R19-Jason Solwold[14] [$800]
21) 2M-Dustin Daggett[10] [$800]
22) 1Z-Jessica Zemken[21] [$800]
23) 5C-Chad Hillier[24] [$800]
24) 14-Jason Meyers[15] [$800]

Lap Leaders: Sam Hafertepe Jr. 1-13, Jason Sides 14-30
KSE Hard Charger: Daryn Pittman

NASCAR Canadian Tire Series on TSN: Sun Valley Speedway race


Watch the B.C. Dodge Dealers DODGE AVENGER 300 presented by OAL NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race from Vernon, BC's Sun Valley Speedway in High Definition starting this Sunday (July 29) on TSN.

Premiere: Sunday, July 29 @ noon

Repeat 1: Monday, July 30 @ 3pm

Repeat 2: Tuesday, July 31 @ 1am

Round four of the Sunoco Ron Fellows Karting Championship presented by Toronto Star Wheels this weekend at Mosport

TORONTO, ONTARIO - The second half of the 2007 Sunoco Ron Fellows Karting Championship presented by Toronto Star Wheels will happen this weekend at the Mosport Karting Complex. There are close battles in all the classes, and drivers know that now is the time to make that championship run.
After the last event at Barrie a few weeks ago, drivers and teams have had time to prepare for the second half of the season that will take the drivers to Mosport this weekend, then back at Mosport on the DDT for round five before finishing up at Goodwood Kartways on September 14-16th.
Before the teams reach Goodwood, there is a lot of racing to be done, and those at or near the top of the championship in their class are trying to gain every point possible.
Rotax by far has the biggest number of drivers in the SRFKC, and in the headline Rotax DD2 Shifter, Vincec has a comfortable lead over Eric Gerrits. Vincec is on 323 points, to Gerrits with 222. Jason France is third with 184. Rotax Junior is very close with David Ostella having 293 points to Kevin Monteith’s 264. Jonathon Treadwell has 219.Pearce Herder is holding down the point lead in Rotax Senior with 230 points, Vincec is second with 207, then Marco Di Leo who missed Barrie with 180.
The Formula Senior battle sees Mike Vincec at the top with 309 points, then Curtis Fox with 289, and Michael Di Meo at 198.
In Canada Junior Heavy the top three are; Kevin Monteith with 304 points. Second is Gary Klutt with 289, then Jonathon Treadwell with 206. In Canada Junior Light, Austin Milwain holds the top spot with 216 points. Then it is Artem Korolev with 184, then Giovanni Pizzale-Rhead with 183.
Canada Senior is always a close knit affair, and Evan Hayden leads heading into this weekend with 289 points. Darryl Timmers is second with 226, then Greg Rempel with 190. In F1K 60 cc, Garett Grist has a solid 309 points to hold the top spot. Korolev is second with 256, then Kenneth O”Keefe with 232. In F1K Junior, Jeff May has 291 points, while Vincent Rago sits at 276, and David Ostella at 254. The final F1K class, F1K Senior sees Mike Lennie at the top with 292 points. Richard Hibbs is second with 233, then Jesse Chaisson with 220.
None of the classes are decided yet, but this weekend at Mosport will give some drivers a much needed boost. The question is, who? You can see for yourself this weekend by heading out to Mosport (www.mosport.com) and seeing tomorrow’s stars of motorsport today. Admission is free. Practice starts on Friday, with five classes running on Saturday, then five running on Sunday. Visit www.asncanada.com for a complete class schedule.

The objective of the SRFKC is to help foster a professional environment for kart drivers; help create a positive attitude towards appearance, conduct and discipline; help foster the employment of the best practices for the safe and fair running of competitions; and help kart drivers to move up the racing ladder to automobile racing.

Release prepared by Russ Bond Agency (www.russbondagency.com)

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

DRIVERS TO SHARE $50,000 IN PRIZE MONEY FROM NASCAR CANADIAN TIRE SERIES BONUS PROGRAM

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 25, 2007) – Twenty drivers of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Sirius Satellite Radio are receiving a combined $50,000 in prize money for the first portion of the leader bonus program for this season.

The prize money, part of the overall $260,810 point fund award for 2007, is being distributed based on the championship standings after the first four races.

Andrew Ranger (No. 27 Wal-Mart/Tide Ford), of Roxton Pond, Quebec, tops the standings after four events with 638 points and will net the biggest amount, receiving $10,000. He has piloted the Dave Jacombs-owned entry to a win and a top-10 finish in all four races in the segment.

The win came on the road course at Mosport International Raceway near Bowmanville, Ontario. It came in just his third start in a stock car. Ranger made the move to NASCAR this season after finishing seventh in last year’s CHAMP Car World Series standings.

Second in the standings with 626 points is Peter Gibbons (No. 1 Canadian Tire/Mastercraft Chevrolet) of Stouffville, Ontario. He will receive $5,000. Gibbons has a pair of third-place efforts this year at Cayuga Speedway Park in Hamilton, Ontario, and at Sunvalley Speedway in Vernon, B.C.

Mark Dilley (No. 9 Dodge/Leland Industries Dodge) of Barrie, Ontario, is third in the standings with 623 points and will receive $4,500. He opened the season with a runner-up finish at Cayuga and equaled that at his home track of Barrie (Ontario) Speedway.

Receiving $4,000 for being fourth in the standings with 599 points is D.J. Kennington (No. 17 Castrol Dodge) of St. Thomas, Ontario. The last champion of the former CASCAR Super Series J.R. Fitzpatrick (No. 84 Milwaukee Electric Tools Chevrolet) of Cambridge, Ontario, is fifth in the standings with 598 points and will receive $3,500.

Receiving $3,000 for sixth, with 585 points, is Don Thomson Jr. (No. 4 Home Hardware Chevrolet) of Ayr, Ontario. Ron Beauchamp Jr. (No. 60 Mopar/Mobil 1 Dodge) of Windsor, Ontario, is tied with John Gaunt (No. 12 Centennial Chrysler Dodge), of Barrie, Ontario, at 570 points, but Beauchamp’s third-place finish at Mosport gave him the edge for seventh place and $2,500 while Gaunt earned $2,000. Receiving $1,750 for ninth is Kerry Micks (No. 02 Beyond Digital Imaging Ford) of Mount Albert, Ontario, with 564 points. Jason Hathaway (No. 3 Snap-on Tools Dodge) of Appin, Ontario, receives $1,500 for being 10th with 540 points.

Drivers 11th through 15th include Derek Lynch (No. 77 Canadian Shield Dodge), $1,450; Scott Steckly (No. 22 Erb Group Dodge), $1,400; Dave Whitlock (No. 39 Dickies/Hamilton Tiger-Cats Dodge), $1,350; Brad Graham (No. 19 Full Throttle/Challenger Dodge), $1,300 and Doug Brown (No. 10 Haldex/NAPA Dodge), $1,250.

The drivers ranked 16th through 20th wrap up this portion of the bonus program payout. They include Joey McColm (No. 50 ATTO Insurance Dodge), $1,200; Kent Nuhn (No. 09 Fuel Genie/Nuhn’s Auto Recyclers Pontiac), $1,150; Jim Lapcevich (No. 25 EMCEA Transport/Tim Hortons Chevrolet), $1,100; Ron Van Es (No. 11 Van Es Racing Chevrolet), $1,050 and Jeff Lapcevich (No. 23 Tim Hortons/EMCEA Transport Chevrolet), $1,000.

A second round of payouts will come following the eighth race on the 2007 schedule which will be the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres on August 19. Once again, 20 drivers will share $50,000. The bulk of the overall point fund will be distributed at the end of the season, based on the final championship standings.

From NASCAR

NCATS: Steckly Slowed by Electrical Problems in Edmonton

Edmonton, AB. Scott Steckly and the Erb Group #22 Dodge Charger race team wrapped up their two race western trip at the Grand Prix Edmonton this past Saturday July 21. The team was looking to build momentum from last weekends second place finish at Sun Valley Speedway, which saw Steckly come up mere inches away from notching his second career win. An excellent road racer, Steckly managed to qualify his Charger in fifth position.

Scott was able to remain in fifth place until lap eight when, an electrical problem began to slow the car. During some of the longer straight-aways at the 14 turn street course in Edmonton, the car was unable to generate very high RPM. As a result, Scott’s car began losing positions in a hurry. The team remained out on the track until the first caution and then went to the garage to check what was going wrong with the car. After trying to fix the car for 3 laps the pit crew could not figure out what was causing the lack of power. Rather than continue to look at the car, Scott returned to the track for the remainder of the race. He was underpowered, but did not loose any more laps. Steckly brought the Erb Group Dodge home in 27th place.

Scott said he was “excited to continue the success at Sun Valley Speedway from the previous week, but frustrated another problem occurred to the car. We qualified well again; unfortunately we could not do anything with it”.

The next race in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race is at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal on August 4. This race is part of the NASCAR Busch Series debut in Canada.

In the drive for the 2007 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Championship, Scott Steckly currently sits in 15th place.

The 22 Racing team is proudly sponsored by: Erb Group of Companies, AW Millwrights, International Dealers: Diamond International (Edmonton, AB), Sommers Motor Generator Sales, D.H. Jutzi Limited, Groeneveld, Thermo King of Eastern Canada, Twin City Graphics, Chris Root Precision Machine, Stratford Motor Products, Generation Filtration, Mr. Transmission (Guelph), Commercial Babcock, Classy Collectibles, Glasvan Great Dane, Motorsport Design, Milverton Garage.

For more information on the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series visit NASCAR.ca or contact kyle_erb@sympatico.ca for information on the 22 Racing team.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Outlaw Sightings!!!

Many of the World of Outlaw competitors have already made their way across the border for Wednesday nights race at Ohsweken Speedway. With border crossing a concern for many of the teams it appears most have made it with no problems.

Teams staying in Brantford: Steve Kinser, Joey Saldana, Kerry Madsen, Danny Lasoski, Jason Meyers, Paul McMahon, Jason Soldwold, Daryn Pittman, Donny Schatz and Jason Sides.

Brantford photo gallery: http://www.imagefactor.ca/WoO2007

Teams staying in Niagara: Tony Bruce, Randy Hannagan, Craig Dollansky and Jac Haudenschild as well as four other unnamed teams.

Niagara photo gallery: http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=18883

Pit gates open at the Ohsweken Speedway Wednesday afternoon at 2pm. Spectator gates open at 4pm with an autograph session at 4:30pm. Racing begins at 7:45pm. A number of seats are still available at the gate.

Pete Shepherd O'Reilly Raceway Park Preview

Peter Shepherd returns to the seat of the No. 50 Northern Tool + Equipment Ford this weekend at O’Reilly Raceway Park.

Shepherd will make his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start at ORP in Friday night’s Power Stroke Diesel 200 Presented by Ford and International.

The No. 50 will once again carry the colors of Northern Tool + Equipment this weekend, in a reverse scheme of teammate Erik Darnell’s No. 99 Ford.

The No. 50 team is bringing chassis RK240-34 to ORP. This chassis last raced at Milwaukee, where Shepherd started 18th and finished 32nd.

Shepherd finished 32nd at Kentucky last week after being involved in an early accident.

PETER SHEPHERD ON O’REILLY RACEWAY PARK. . .
“I’ve never raced here, so I’ll be relying pretty heavily on my crew and teammates to help me get dialed in. I was here at the track last year for the truck and Silver Crown races, and I think I learned some things in watching those races that will help me. We had a pretty disappointing race at Kentucky, so we’re looking to rebound from that this week in Indy.”

MATT PUCCIA ON O’REILLY RACEWAY PARK. . .
“We’ve got a lot of confidence in our short track program, we feel that this is Peter’s best chance to show what he’s got. He feels most comfortable at these smaller tracks, that’s what really suits him. We’ve got a great truck that we’re bringing this week, so we’re expecting a strong result.”

From Rory W. Connellan // Roush Fenway Racing

NCATS: Top ten finish for Jim Lapcevich at Edmonton... “The car worked well and was strong all day”

EDMONTON, ALBERTA (July 22, 2007) – Driving the EMCEA Transport - Tim Hortons Fastline Motorsports entry, Jim Lapcevich finished sixth at the Rexall Grand Prix Edmonton in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series over the weekend.

“I’m satisfied with a sixth place finish after starting 15th,” said a pleased Lapcevich after the race. “The #25 Chevrolet Monte Carlo worked well and was strong all day.”

The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series event took place on the 14-turn road course at the City Center Airport in Edmonton, Alberta, in a race that saw one lead change times between two drivers.

“We’ll go back to our shop in Hamilton and get the cars ready for Montreal in two weeks,” added the 35-year old driver from Hamilton, Ontario and driver of the #25 EMCEA Transport – Tim Hortons Fastline Motorsports Chevrolet Monte Carlo.

For the second consecutive race, J.R. Fitzpatrick used a last lap pass to win a race. Andrew Ranger was second followed by Robin Buck in third. Jim’s teammate, brother Jeff Lapcevich did not compete in Edmonton.

The next event for Team Fastline will be race six in the 12-race NASCAR Canadian Tire Series at Montreal’s famed Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Quebec on the 2.71 mile permanent road course on August 3-4.

Tim Hortons, EMCEA Transport, Springer’s Meats, Troy Cove Marine, Mr. Lube, and B & J Electric sponsor Team Fastline, www.FastlineMotorsports.ca

From Bruce Mehlenbacher

NCATS: McColm Strong in Second Road Course Start in Edmonton

(Edmonton, Alberta) – Round five of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Sirius was run last weekend in Edmonton, Alberta, and Joey McColm, of Ajax, Ontario and his Team ATTO / Lang Michener / Dodge Charger were ready for the challenge. For McColm, it would be his second career road course start, as the Late Models took to the Edmonton Airport course as part of the Rexall Grand Prix of Edmonton.

The weekend started with a practice session and McColm concentrated on learning the track. His times dropped as he put laps down, but with the Canadian Tire Series playing the support role, their track time was limited. McColm explained, “We were so much closer to the leaders in times than we were at Mosport. I was only a couple seconds a lap slower than Andrew Ranger, and he’s been racing on road courses all his life – this was my second time ever.”

The final practice session finished with McColm up to 12th fastest overall. That would put Joey in the fastest qualifying session.

McColm rolled out for qualifying, and with a car that was much more balanced than at Mosport, ran a number of solid laps. “Being so fast in practice, it was kind of neat, because I got to go out right behind Peter Gibbons. I tried to follow him the best I could. We were in good shape, until late when a bunch of guys put in some bonzai laps.”

The teams took to the track for the 32-lap feature with Joey rolling from the inside of the ninth row. When the green dropped, McColm went on the hunt, picking them up and laying them down as he started to move through the field. After gaining a pair of positions, he tried to put the shuffle on Peter Gibbons, but got into a chicane a little too hard, sending him into the grass, “I just got in a bit too deep, and lost a couple of spots that I had gained.”

Again Joey got up on the wheel and worked his way forward, he picked off a number of cars as the raced worked into the middle stages. Joey climbed to 11th and was going for a position on Kevin Dowler when he made his second mistake of the afternoon, kicking him out of the groove and sending him back to a respectable 16th-place showing. “We had a great run, and our finish doesn’t represent how well we ran. This was my second road course race, and the only thing that went wrong for us was the driver making a couple mistakes behind the wheel that cost us a top-ten finish. The guys had my car so much better than it was at Mosport, and I have more laps now. I just need some more experience, and the results will keep getting better on the road courses.”

For the second time in as many weeks, J.R. Fitzpatrick used a last lap pass to capture a Canadian Tire Series feature. Andrew Ranger started on the pole and led the first 31 circuits, but on the final lap, Fitzpatrick was able to avenge an earlier season road course defeat at the stock car rookie’s hand.

1. Fitzpatrick, 2. Ranger, 3. Robin Buck, 4. D.J. Kennington, 5. Don Thomson Jr., 16. Joey McColm.

The next event for Team ATTO will be Saturday, August 4th as the undercard for the NASCAR Busch Series NAPA 200 at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. McColm is excited about another trip to a road course saying, “I think we can do a few things to the car before that race to make it even better. Plus, I’ll get some more experience, and that’s goal number one.”

From Jamie Maudsley

DIRTcar: Hearn Leads Border Patrol With Advance Auto Parts Series Win At Drummond

By Tom Skibinski, Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series PR Director

DRUMMONDVILLE, QC - All-time Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series winner Brett Hearn continued to add to the record as he dominated the 30th Annual Hyundai 100 on Monday night at Autodrome Drummond. Hearn’s tour best third victory of the season gave him his first points lead of the summer, one that Tim Fuller (7th) had held since the beginning of June.

Super DIRT Week Rite Aid 200 Championship preferred starter Steve Paine slipped under Danny Johnson on the final lap to secure second-place while the race’s only other leader Frank Cozze and Gary Tomkins rounded out the front-five.

Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series action comes back stateside to open the new month as Brewerton Speedway hosts the ‘Fernandez Auto Mall 100’ on Friday, August 3. The 100-lap main event at the D-Shaped DIRT Demon pays out $6,000 to the winner plus offers valuable points towards the overall Hoosier-Sunoco Mr. DIRTcar Championship for Big-Block Modifieds.plus a guaranteed starting spot in the recently renamed Rite Aid 200 at Syracuse during Super DIRT Week XXXVI on Oct. 7.

Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Race #11 – Autodrome Drummond, July 23, 2007 30th Annual Hyundai 100 Big-Block Modified Event Summary
FIN STR CAR# DRIVER
1 1 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ ($6,000)
2 9 7x Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY
3 5 27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
4 2 44 Frank Cozze/Wind Gap,PA
5 13 84 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY
6 3 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
7 11 19 Tim Fuller/Edwards,NY
8 4 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
9 7 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
10 16 22 Mario Clair/St-Edmond,QUE
11 15 46 Kayle Robidoux/St-Constant,QUE
12 22 2 Michel Dusseault/Victoriaville,QUE
13 8 49 Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY
14 27 172 Andre Gauthier/Granby,QUE
15 14 23 Dany Bilodeau/Victoriaville,QUE
16 12 21 Yan Bussiere/Drummondville,QUE
17 10 14j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY
18 21 48 Patrick Picotin/Drummondville,QUE
19 24 96 Gino Clair/St-Edmond,QUE
20 20 44g Sebastien Gougeon/Drummondville,QUE
21 25 81 Eric Landry/Trois-Rivieres,QUE
22 19 66 Frederic Gamache/Granby,QUE
23 23 7 Patrice Demers/St. Magorique,QUE
24 28 66w Wallace Stacey/Kahnawake,QUE
25 29 29 Gilles Bessette/Drummondville,QUE
26 17 39 Clement Therrien/Victoriaville,QUE
27 18 1 David Hebert/St. Damase,QUE
28 6 44s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
29 26 2b Steve Bernard/St Paul Abbotsford,QUE
DNS 30 90 Martin Roy/Napierville,QUE
DNS DNQ 19p Michel Pelletier/Ste-Anne de Sorel,QUE
GATER NEWS LAP LEADERS: Hearn (1-29), Cozze (30-45), Hearn (46-100).
CAUTIONS: 5 for 6 laps
RITE AID 200 QUALIFIER: Steve Paine (P).
BERT HARD CHARGER: Andre Gauthier.

NCATS: TRG Enters NASCAR Busch Series... Lally to Drive No. 47 Clorox Ford At Montreal and The Glen

Petaluma, California -- TRG (The Racer’s Group) announced today that it will enter two NASCAR Busch Series road course events beginning with the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve road course in Montreal, Canada on August 4, followed by the ZIPPO 200 at Watkins Glen on August 11.

Kevin Buckler, TRG owner, will partner with the Wood Brothers/JTG Racing to field the No. 47 Clorox/TRG Ford Fusion. The crew chief on the car will be Scott Zippadelli.

TRG was founded by Kevin and Debra Buckler in 1993 and has been competing at the top level of sports car racing ever since. TRG has the most wins of any team in Grand-Am history with 22, including the 2005 and 2006 Rolex Series GT championship trophy to go along with wins at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 24 Hours or Le Mans.

“We will be running the next two road course races at Montreal and Watkins Glen in the Busch series,” Buckler announced. “In our 13 year sports car history, we have had the benefit of working with some top level people and brands. Many of the conversations regarding motorsports marketing, sponsorships and long term business goals, always seem to lead to NASCAR. We decided that it was time to take our racing partnerships to the next level. We have a strong association with Porsche and the Grand-Am Series, and this endeavor will only benefit our multiple Porsche programs and our presence in the Rolex Series. The Rolex Series has been good to us and has served as the entree to NASCAR.”

Buckler and the TRG group have been planning this step for the last three years. After several trips to Charlotte to visit with top teams, as well as taking advice from fellow team owners, friends, and partners, the group felt the timing was right for its entry into the Busch Series.

“After meeting with numerous teams and discussing many possible scenarios, I was most impressed with this opportunity to join forces with Tad Geschickter from Wood Brothers/JTG,” Buckler said. “They have a terrific program and an inviting atmosphere within the team.

“There are a lot of similarities on the way they do things and how we operate TRG. Assembling a top team in anything we do has always been one of our secrets and we are bringing along a group of partners and friends from the racing and business world to be a part of our journey into NASCAR. These guys are at the top or their game in everything they do and will be valuable resources and partners in the long term building of our NASCAR team.

“With our success in sports cars, we consider ourselves road course specialists. We believe that this is the most logical path for us to start out at Montreal and Watkins Glen. These are hallowed grounds we are about to enter and we are heading into NASCAR with our heads down with the utmost respect for the series and everyone involved. We are going at it with our usual work ethic and professional approach. It will be a big learning process. We will be on an aggressive testing schedule and if all goes well we are considering adding a couple of ovals to our schedule toward the end of the season.”

Kevin Buckler and his driver, Lally, have been a fixture in sports car racing. The Lally/ Buckler combination has resulted in two championships and 14 race wins to date. Dacula, Georgia resident Andy Lally will drive the Clorox TRG Busch Series entry. Lally and Buckler have been a fixture on the racing scene since 2004. Lally is entrenched in the TRG racing business as lead driver and driver coach to TRG’s list of loyal customers.

“Of all the drivers that I have seen, driven against and worked with Andy is the most complete package,” Buckler said. “He is steadfast with his goals and he has always had his sights set on NASCAR. Since joining us three-years ago, it has been a magical relationship. He is a team player and knows how to drive and how to win. In addition, he has a strong understanding of the value of marketing and sponsor relationships. I have a lot of confidence in Andy and his ability to learn and adapt to the NASCAR philosophies - we are betting on him.”

“I am as excited for this opportunity as I have ever been in my racing career," Lally said. "Growing up, the first kind of racing I was exposed to was NASCAR and those guys were my early role models and heroes.

“We have set reasonable goals for our first race at Montreal and want to run from green to checker with as few errors as possible. Of course as a racer I want to do well but Scott and I are taking a measured approach. It would be nice to elevate those expectations for the next race at Watkins Glen. I know I have a lot to learn and will be trying to absorb every bit of information that I can and completely immerse myself so that I can learn as much as possible. Kevin has done a great job putting this deal together and has assembled a great group of guys to help us achieve our goals.”

TRG will partner with the Wood Brothers/JTG Racing who will supply Ford cars and crew for the upcoming two race effort. Glen Wood founded the famous racing team some 57 years ago, making the team synonymous with fast pits stops and speedy race cars. Since that time, the team has been a fixture on the Busch and NASCAR scene fielding drivers such as Ricky Rudd, Neil Bonnet and David Pearson.

- From TRG

NCATS: BROWN TURNS FRUSTRATION TO OPTIMISM WITH EDMONTON RESULTS

EDMONTON, AB - Doug Brown and his Haldex-sponsored Dodge team’s run at Edmonton was recorded as a fifteenth place finish on Saturday but given the events of the day, the Brantford racing veteran was both frustrated and surprisingly positive with his performance.

With only two laps under the clock on the fast 1.973-mile road course on Saturday morning, the veteran driver was forced to the pits early in his group’s qualifying session when an oil pump seized on his DJ Kennington-prepared car forcing the combined teams to make an engine change prior to the main event.

Although his two laps of qualifying had the driver listed 24th in the starting order, the engine swap meant he had to start the race at the tail end of the 30-car starting field.

With the drop of the green flag in the late afternoon feature, Brown steadily began moving his way forward through the field but 3 caution flags totalling 12 laps impeded his further progress beyond 15th-place in the 32-lap NASCAR Canadian Tire Series event.

“It’s maddening to have a problem like that (engine) develop but given the fact the car was flying through the field once the race was underway, we should have grabbed a top-ten or better finish”, Doug remarked when assessing his efforts. “Unfortunately, the caution laps also cost us a lot of forward momentum. Under those circumstances, we just couldn’t get enough laps together under green to catch and pass a few others.”

“We’ll just have to put this one in the books as a valiant effort and move on to Montreal and prove we can do better,” he added as the team begins preparations for the special weekend doubleheader with NASCAR’s Busch Series teams on August 4th.

Over 60,000 fans watched the event staged on the temporary road course at Edmonton’s City Centre Airport.

After five races in the 12 race series, Brown remains 15th in the point standings but continues to be upbeat knowing he and the team are capable of better results.

JR Fitzpatrick of Cambridge, Ontario made a daring move to past Andrew Ranger of Roxton Pond, Quebec on the 12th turn on the final lap of the 14-turn circuit to win the Edmonton race with Ontario drivers Robin Buck (Campbellville), DJ Kennington (St. Thomas) and Don Thomson Jr. (Ayr, Ontario) rounding out the top-five finishers.

Ranger continues to lead the series points’ standings but with his victory on Saturday, Fitzpatrick has moved past Stouffville’s Peter Gibbons for second place overall.

HB Motorsports is pleased to have Haldex Limited as its Title Sponsor with NAPA Autopro supporting team programs through its role of Major Associate Sponsor role. Bicknell Racing Products; World of Graphics; HurryPrint Imaging Centre; WIX Filters; KWIC Internet; Gates Canada; BOC Gases; Brochures etc; Leitch Performance Engines; Strodes BBQ & Deli; and BrentZone Graphics are also valued members of our Associate Sponsorship Marketing team

Prepared by: Ken Spencer // Marketing and Media Relations // HB Motorsports

NCATS: Whitlock eighth in Edmonton

EDMONTON, AB - Dave Whitlock driver of the #39 Dickies/Hamilton Tiger-Cats/NMT Dodge Charger finished up the western swing with another top ten finish in Edmonton by crossing the finish line in eighth.

Whitlock who fielded a three car team this weekend in Edmonton as Pierre Bourque driver of the #29 Conservative Party Dodge Charger joined him and regular teammate Mark Dilley, qualified his Charger in fourth spot for Saturday's Edmonton 100. Dilley would start in tenth and Bourque would line up 25th.

Whitlock took the green flag in the Edmonton 100 on Saturday in front of full house of enthusiastic race fans. He settled into fourth for the first few laps then fell back a few positions. With some bumping and banging the #39 driver found himself shuffled back to eighth where he would cross the finish line.

"The car was good but I had a slight problem with braking going into corner one and that is where the other cars were overtaking us," said Whitlock after the race. "Overall it was a good western swing for us."

Finish 1. #84 J.R. Fitzpatrick, 2 #27 Andrew Ranger 3. #88 Robin Buck 4. #17 D.J. Kennington 5. #4 Don Thomson Jr.

The #39 Dickies/Hamilton Tiger-Cats/NMT Dodge Charger team now find themselves moved into the top ten in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series point standings as they head home to prepare for the trek to Montreal where they will be a companion event to the NASCAR Busch Series race on August 3rd and 4th.

Williamson-Dickie Canada Co. is a subsidiary of Williamson-Dickie Manufacturing Company of Fort Worth, Texas. Since its beginnings in Forth Worth, Texas in 1922, the Williamson-Dickie Manufacturing Company has grown from a humble manufacturer of bib overalls into a global brand powerhouse, with Dickies work pants, shirts, denim, outerwear, school uniforms, outdoor gear, medical and chefs apparel and an extensive licensing program offering sturdy head-to-toe clothing options for hardworking men and women of all ages, professions, regions and interests. Williamson-Dickie operates through subsidiaries in North America, Canada and Europe as well as exclusive distributorship around the world. Dickies products are available at select retailers across Canada and the Dickies Factory Outlet store in Hanover, Ont. For more information please visit www.dickiescanada.com

Whitlock Motorsports is a professional racing business located in Wyoming, ON just outside of Sarnia. The 5,000 square foot dedicated motorsports facility houses up to eight race cars, a chassis dyno and all the necessary tools to field a competitive two car race team. Dave Whitlock boasts three National CASCAR Championships, 1991, 1997 and 1998 along with several top three National Championship finishes, while teammate Mark Dilley has one National CASCAR Championship to his credit in 1994. Both teams have consistently posted finishes in the Top Six in the National Point Standings since Dilley joined the Whitlock team in 1999.
www.whitlockmotorsports.com

From Linda Jones

NCATS: Disappointing finish in Edmonton for Micks... “We had a great shot at winning this deal”

EDMONTON, ALBERTA (July 22, 2007) – It was a very disappointing finish for Kerry Micks at the Rexall Grand Prix of Edmonton in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series. “Our BDI Ford ran with the leaders all day, and had moved into second place and everything was going as planned when we had the problem,” stated Micks. “We had a great shot at winning this deal.”

Micks placed 29th in the Beyond Digital Imaging Ford Taurus after starting third on the 1.96 mile, 14-turn road course at the City Center Airport several laps down with a suspension failure.
“I feel bad for my team, but this will make us stronger for the next event in Montreal,” added Micks.

J.R. Fitzpatrick used a last lap pass to win a race for the second consecutive race. Andrew Ranger was second followed by Robin Buck in third. The next event for Micks Motorsports will be race six in the 12-race NASCAR Canadian Tire Series at Montreal’s famed Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Quebec on the 2.71 mile permanent road course on August 3-4.

Beyond Digital Imaging Inc. (BDI), Canadian Detailing Services, Cathcart Trucking and APX Racing Gear and Incentives Inc., Nur America, and HP Canada are sponsors of Micks Motorsports.

For more information, contact Bruce F. Mehlenbacher Bruce@JAJEntertainment.com

Heading Home: Four World of Outlaws Crew Members Hail From Canada

Ohsweken, ON—July 24, 2007--By: Tony Veneziano, World of Outlaws PR Director

While there are no World of Outlaws drivers that hail from Canada, there are four crew members that call the Great White North home, and Wednesday will be a homecoming of sorts for them, as the series makes their long awaited inaugural visit to the high-banked 3/8-mile Ohsweken Speedway in Ontario.

Jimmy Carr, Marie Lapointe, Kevin Loveys and Steve Moulton all hail from the north of the border and with the demanding schedule of the World of Outlaws, keeping them on the road for nine-plus months of the year, they are excited to return to Canada and visit family and friends that they normally do get to see during the racing season, which stretches from early February until early November.

Carr, the crew chief for Paul McMahan on the No. 20 car, who hails from Maple Ridge, British Columbia, will be visiting Ohsweken Speedway for the first time. The 1991 World of Outlaws Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year has been around sprint car racing since 1982, the last time the World of Outlaws visited Canada. The last time he was in the country was back in 1990 and the last time he drove was in 2000.

“It’s a long ways from where I was born and raised, but it will be nice to get back up there and see some people,” said Carr. “A lot of people I know live on the east side of the country so it will be great to get home.”

Carr and the Tony Stewart Racing team with McMahan behind the wheel are currently eighth in both driver and team points. After a very busy stretch of races that began last Tuesday at Lernerville Speedway and was expanded a day due to a rainout, Carr and his crew planned to take advantage of the two days away from the track before the event at Ohsweken Speedway on Wednesday, July 25.

“We were on a six day in-a-row stretch last week and if we had to do that every week it would be pretty bad,” he explained. “Normally we can sneak in a day to get caught up on the work on the car and do laundry and get the driving out of the way. It’s tough a lot of the time living out a suitcase and motels, going to restaurants every day and not having any home cooking.”

Marie Lapointe, a crew member on the No. R19 of Jason Solwold, hails from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and is excited to head back to her native land to race. Though she hails from Canada’s capital city, it will be here first ever visit to a race track in her home country. She will get to see many family and friends before and after the race.

“It’s going to be pretty cool,” said Lapointe. “My sister will be there with her kids so she will get to see us for the first time. She will get to see me in action as well, and I can’t wait to see that happen.”

Lapointe, who began working for the team last season, is the only female crew member on a World of Outlaws team. While she is still knew to racing, she has learned the ropes quickly and is ready to be part of one of the most anticipated events in Canadian racing history.

“I was never really involved in racing in Canada, so I don’t know exactly what the fans are like,” she said. “What my sister told me was that she was not going to come to the race and people at her work said she had to go, that it was the big thing. They are really thrilled and excited to know that the Outlaws are coming.”

Kevin Loveys, the crew for Jeremy Campbell has raced at Ohsweken Speedway in the past and also has worked for track owner and 360-sprint car driver Glenn Styres as well. Loveys who has been involved in racing for 12 years, drove Styres back-up car in a few times and in his first outing drove from 20th to sixth. He also earned a Top-Five finish at the Canadian Sprint Car Nationals, which are annually held at Ohsweken Speedway.

“I’ve been looking forward to going home for a while now,” said Loveys. “I think everyone will be impressed with Ohsweken, it’s an awesome race track. It should be one good race.”

Loveys admits that the fans have been waiting a long time for the World of Outlaws to come to town. Many of the Canadian fans have never seen a 410-sprint car in action and he knows they will be thrilled with the blistering speeds the cars will turn on the high-banked 3/8-mile oval, with the track record expected to quickly fall in time trials. He has received indication that fans from far and wide will be heading to Ohsweken for the event.

“There really is not a whole lot of professional racing going on in Southern Ontario and you have to have to drive quite a distance to see an Outlaw race or other professional race, probably six or eight hours,” he noted. “Most of the tickets are already sold and they added more seats, that is how excited the fans are.”

With a couple of days off before the event, Loveys will have a chance to visit with family and friends that he rarely sees during the course of the always demanding World of Outlaws season.

“I’m going to get to have dinner with my grandma and my mom and everybody,” said Loeveys. “I haven’t seen then for probably five or six month, so I am looking forward to going home for a day.”

Steve Moulton, one of Randy Hannagan’s crew members hails from Toronto. He has been involved in racing for over 30 years and has helped turn the wrenches on a number of 360-sprint cars in Canada over the years.

“I’m excited to head up there,” said Moulton. “I have helped guys in the past there and can’t wait to get back. The fans are really pumped and I heard the place is sold out already. We’re looking forward to it.”

Moulton puts in countless hours each day to make sure that Hannagan has a fast car on the track, and is looking forward to having a day away from the track in Canada to relax and get caught up on things.

“It’s a lot of work out here,” he said. “We raced six nights in-a-row last week, but we get a couple of days off before Ohsweken. That will help us get all rested up.”

On Wednesday, July 25 at Ohsweken Speedway tickets for those ages 13-over will be $40, with tickets for those 12-under $25. Visit http://www.ohswekenspeedway.com for more information.

World of Outlaws Set for Inaugural Visit to Ohsweken Speedway

Ohsweken, ON—July 23, 2007--By: Tony Veneziano, World of Outlaws PR Director

Sprint car fans in Canada have been waiting a long time for the World of Outlaws, 25 years to be exact. That wait will come to an end on Wednesday, July 25 as the best sprint car drivers in the world will invade the high-banked 3/8-mile Ohsweken Speedway for their inaugural event.

This will mark the first time since 1982 that the series has competed north of the border and the fifth time overall. In the prior four events that were all held at Winnipeg Speedway, three-time World of Outlaws champion Sammy Swindell was the victor.

Donny Schatz leads the way with 13 A-Feature wins, along with 45 Top-10 finishes. He is on top of the championship standings as he chases his second straight title. The reigning World of Outlaws champion earned over $100,000 for his last four wins and has nearly won $300,000 on the season. He won the Kings Royal at Eldora Speedway on July 14 and followed that up with a victory in the Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup at Lernerville Speedway. In the Summer Nationals at Williams Grove Speedway, he was victorious twice, including in the finale. He carries a 119 point leader over Joey Saldana into action on July 25.

Joey Saldana has nine A-Feature wins this season and is solidly in the second spot in points. He leads the series with seven fast time honors and also has led over 250 laps on the year. In his second season driving for Kasey Kahne Racing, Saldana has 16 total wins for the team. He earned his 40th Top-10 finish of the season on Sunday night at Lebanon Valley Speedway, as he continues to chase his first series title.

Danny Lasoski will head to Canada third in championship points. The 2001 World of Outlaws champion has three A-Feature wins on the season, along with 35 Top-10 finishes. He has three wins in the Crane Cams Dash which has earned him the same number of pole positions.

Jason Meyers used his fourth A-Feature win of the season on Sunday at Lebanon Valley Speedway to move back into the fourth spot in points. The native of Clovis, California has won twice this season on 3/8-mile tracks. He has 32 Top-10 finishes on the season, with 21 of those being in the Top-Five.

Daryn Pittman will make his first trip north of the border fifth in points. The native of Owasso, Oklahoma has three A-Feature wins on the season to go along with 33 Top-10 finishes. He is a former champion of the World of Outlaws Gumout Series.

Steve Kinser competed in the prior four events in Canada and will be the only series driver in attendance that took part in those races at Winnipeg Speedway. The 20-time World of Outlaws champion has eight A-Feature wins this season and is sixth in points. He has 31 Top-10 finishes and has won the Crane Cams Dash four times.

Craig Dollansky moved back into seventh in points after Sunday’s event at Lebanon Valley Speedway. The native of Elk River, Minnesota won earlier this season at Lake Ozark Speedway in Missouri. He heads to Canada with 30 Top-10 finishes on the season.

Paul McMahan has won twice this season driving for two-time NASCAR Champion Tony Stewart’s team. McMahan won at Eldora Speedway which is owned by Stewart, as well as at Cedar Lake Speedway in Wisconsin. He finished in the Top-Five in all three nights of the Summer Nationals at Williams Grove Speedway last week, with 50-plus cars in attendance each night.

Jason Solwold finished fifth on Sunday night at Lebanon Valley Speedway to earn his 27th Top-10 finish of the season. He also has set fast time three times this season and has one Crane Cams Dash win to his credit.

Jac Haudenschild will head north with two A-Feature wins on the season. He has picked up victories at Red River Valley Speedway and Limaland Motorsports Park. The native of Wooster, Ohio is 10th in the championship points on the strength of 22 Top-10 finishes.

Tim Shaffer is just outside the Top-10 in points. The native of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania has 22 Top-10 finishes on the season, with 12 of those being in the Top-Five. He set fast time on Sunday night at Lebanon Valley Speedway. It was the third time this season he has been fastest in time trials.

Terry McCarl won his first event of the season last month at the famed Knoxville Raceway, where he is a six-time track champion. The native of Altoona, Iowa has 22 Top-10 finishes as he heads to Canada for the first time.

Jason Sides has 16 Top-10 finishes on the season and earned a season best second-place finish at New Egypt Speedway during the first East Coast swing of the season for the World of Outlaws. The 2003 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year has won the Crane Cams Dash four times to earn the same number of pole positions.

Kerry Madsen continues to lead the standings in the battle for the Kevin Gobecht Rookie of the Year Award. The native of St. Mary’s, NSW, Australia won earlier this season at Volusia Speedway Park in Florida.

Randy Hannagan is solidly in the Top-15 in championship points as the series makes their long awaited return to Canada. He has five Top-10 finishes on the season, including a season-best runner-up performance at Knoxville Raceway last month where he led a number of laps.

Justin Henderson will make his first start in Canada as he continues his second full season on the road with the series. The native of Sioux Falls, South Dakota and former Huset’s Speedway track champion has nine Top-10 finishes this season.

Chad Kemenah, the reigning Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year has eight Top-10 finishes on the season. He recently joined Hard 8 Racing and earned his first Top-10 with the team at Eldora Speedway in the Kings Royal.

Chad Hillier continues his first season with the World of Outlaws and is second in rookie points. He raced in the past in a 360-sprint car in the Western part of Canada. Jeremy Campbell will make the trip north from Monroe, Michigan for the event at Ohsweken. The second year driver has three Top-10 finishes on the season.

Sam Hafertepe Jr. another of the contenders for the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award recently moved into the Top-20 in championship points and is third in rookie points. He has two Top-Five finishes on the season.

Tony Bruce Jr. will make his first trip to Canada on Wednesday, July 25. The rookie from Liberal, Kansas has two Top-Five finishes on the season as well.

Jason Martin, who also hails from Liberal, Kansas will head north of the border, fresh off a strong Top-10 finish on the second night of the Summer Nationals at Williams Grove Speedway.
Brian Carlson picked up an A-Feature finish on Sunday night at Lebanon Valley Speedway and will compete for the first time in his career in Canada on Wednesday.

Rookie Zach Chappell will miss the event after having surgery today on his left knee.
On Wednesday, July 25 at Ohsweken Speedway tickets for those ages 13-over will be $40, with tickets for those 12-under $25. Visit http://www.ohswekenspeedway.com for more information.

Monday, July 23, 2007

NCATS EDMONTON: BUCK ON PODIUM

EDMONTON, AB – Robin Buck driver of the #88 Jacombs Racing prepared Wix Ford Fusion, finished third to round out the podium on Saturday in the Edmonton 100.

Robin Buck who is driving in all four road course events for Jacombs Racing this year spent Friday's practice and qualifying sessions working out a braking problem on the #88 Fusion. Buck's qualifying didn't go quite as they had hoped as he timed in with an 82.482, ninth fastest of the thirty cars attempting to qualify. "It will be tough to get to the front from ninth," stated Buck after qualifying. "The leaders have a clean track and can pull away from the rest of the field."

The Edmonton 100 on Saturday was the feature event of the day, with the Champ Car teams running their main event on Sunday. In front of a very large crowd the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series teams took the green flag. Buck immediately started making his way to the front. By lap ten the #88 Fusion was in fifth place and with the help of some caution periods which closed up the field, Buck was able to work his way to third by the final lap.

"I had a great car and motor all day," said a happy Buck after the race. "When the last caution came out I had just passed the #4 car for third place. NASCAR rules state that you go back to the last completed lap for the re-start lineup. That meant I had to go back to fourth behind the #4 car again. Had I been able to line up behind Fitzpatrick & Ranger I really think I had something for them. The car was just that good."

J.R. Fitzpatrick took the win on a last lap pass when Ranger's #27 Ford Fusion slipped up the track. D. J. Kennington and Don Thomson Jr. rounded out the top five.

Buck will again be behind the wheel of a Jacombs Racing prepared Taurus when they head to Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve for the Busch Series race weekend on August 3rd and 4th.

For more information on Jacombs Racing please visit www.jacombsracing.ca or contact:

From Linda Jones // LJM Marketing

NCATS: Hathaway Finishes Western Swing in Top 10

EDMONTON, AB - Team 3 Red/EHR finished up their 2 event western swing on the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series with a great finish and making huge strides in the driver points standings.

With Jason Hathaway behind the wheel of the #3 Snap on Tools Dodge, Team 3 Red/EHR competed in the Canadian Tire 100 this past Saturday afternoon at the Rexall Grand Prix Edmonton. The Team did however have a tough start to the weekend with a disappointing qualifying effort on Friday of 18th place in the 30 car field.

Under the direction of Crew Chief Giulio Montanari, the Team worked to make adjustments on their car after qualifying, including a rear gear change to improve their chances for a top 10 finish in the 32 lap event.

After qualifying on Friday afternoon Hathaway summed up their plan for the rest of the weekend. "This is a great track to run at and a lot of fun. We made some changes this afternoon and they will definitely help up in tomorrows race."

With speeds of up to 138 mph, Saturday afternoon's Canadian Tire 100 really started to come to Hathaway around lap 22 when he was able to make some great passes going into the torturous corner 1 on the 14 turn, 1.973 mile airport road course. Hathaway was also able to utilize each of the 3 caution flag restarts to get his #3 Snap on Tools Dodge into position to move up in the running order.

The last restart of the race was Hathaway's biggest position advancement using the corner 1 & 2 combination to move around 3 cars and pull into 10th place in the running order. After some jockeying around to keep his position, Hathaway rounded the final corner with no pressure from the cars behind and finished 10th.

Giulio Montanari was pleased with the day's results. "We are so happy that we were able to put a great finish up today for our sponsors and our Team owner. This Team works hard and the changes that we made really helped us out there today to get this top 10 finish. I'm proud of Jason and the Team that we have."

The 10th place finish in Edmonton paired with their 7th place finish at Sun Valley Speedway the weekend before, catapulted Hathaway and his Team into 8th place in driver point standings, only 2 points back of 7th place. Team 3 Red/EHR's next event will be the third of four road course races on the 2007 schedule taking place at the Circuit de Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, August 3rd and 4th along side the NASCAR Busch Series.

Team 3 Red/EHR is proud to be associated with their great sponsors and supporters. Team 3 Red/EHR thanks Snap-on Tools, Super 8 Motels, Advantex Freight Forwarders, Fast Eddie Racewear and Choko Motorsports, Briggs & Stratton, Castrol, Napoleon Fireplaces & Barbeques, Xilarate Sports Fluid and The Busted Knuckle Garage. For more information on our sponsors please visit our website at www.team3red.com.
###
From Jamie Hakonson // Team 3 Red/Ed Hakonson Racing

Sauble Speedway release: July 23 2007

From Sauble Speedway

NCATS EDMONTON: BRAD GRAHAM AND THE FULL THROTTLE TEAM


EDMONTON, AB – Brad Graham and the Full Throttle Fury/Challenger Motor Freight/Logel’s Auto Parts team returned to action for the second half of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series western run on the very tough to handle temporary circuit at Edmonton City Centre Airport and showed their speed all weekend long.

Right from the first practice session on Friday the Full Throttle Fury Car was performing well. “It was really a good start for us to run pretty quick right off the truck on Friday,” said driver Brad Graham. With limited track time this really gave us a boost.

Graham would continue to show well all through the first day of action and post a solid qualifying effort during the afternoon session lining up the Full Throttle Fury Dodge seventh on the starting grid for the main event.

As the race began Graham took a cautious approach to the 14 turn course made up of airport taxiways and runways. “Knowing we had a good car the last thing I wanted to do was get too aggressive too early” said Graham.

Maintaining a solid top-ten position Brad looked to post consistent lap after lap times to keep the Full Throttle Fury Dodge in touch with the lead group. Unfortunately the conditions during Saturday afternoon’s race were a little different than the qualifying session the day before.

As the race progressed Graham was having more and more difficulty maintaining his expected race pace. “We missed the set up on the car” said disappointed driver afterwards. “It became very difficult to handle the car through some of the corners”

Graham would use all his skills to bring the Full Throttle Fury Dodge home with a ninth place finish with significant championship points. “While I’m happy we finished this tough race I can’t help but be a bit disappointed with the result. We had a fast car all weekend and being off just a little with the set up on the car hurt us or we could have finished even higher. Top-five was definitely possible”.

Brad Graham and the Full Throttle/Challenger Motor Freight/Logel’s Auto Parts Team return to action this coming weekend as the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series takes off for the airport runways as part of the Edmonton Grand Prix weekend on July 21st. For more information about the series log onto www.nascar.ca and for more news information about the team go to www.bradgraham.ca All 12 races this season will also be broadcast on TSN.

This release prepared by TL Sports & Entertainment

NCATS: MECHANICAL PROBLEMS ROB MOBIL 1 / MOPAR TEAM OF STRONG FINISH IN EDMONTON

EDMONTON, AB - Ron Beauchamp Jr. and the Mobil 1/Mopar Parts Team were looking to bounce back from a disappointing start to the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series swing through Western Canada. Beauchamp has run extremely well in the past at the very tough 14 turn road course that is set up on the Edmonton City Centre Airport but one mechanical problem would steal away a great finish from the team.

Things did not start out well for the Mobil 1/Mopar Parts Team in Edmonton. Throughout the practice and qualifying sessions the team was struggling with the handling of the car. “We just seemed to miss it for some reason said Crew Chief Chris Couvillion”. Ron Beauchamp Jr. was equally frustrated with his teams performance early in the weekend. “Normally we run much better on the road courses than we’ve shown, we’re really fighting it this weekend.

The Mobil 1/Mopar Parts team made changes to the car prior to the start of the race and those changes had a dramatic effect on the performance. “The weight of the car was shifting properly but once we made the change the car was remarkably better” said the driver. Ron Beauchamp Jr. made the most of his opportunity and gained five spots on the opening lap of the race.

As the laps ticked away Beauchamp continued to move the Mobil 1/Mopar Parts Dodge through the field. Quickly into the top-ten he soon neared the top-five. “That was the kind of performance we expected all weekend” he stated. However fortunes would again go sour for the Mobil 1/Mopar Parts Dodge team following caution period. On the race re start Beauchamp knew immediately something had gone seriously wrong. “The car was almost impossible to drive” he said. The team had no choice but to make a green flag pit stop.

After a look underneath it was found that a broken mount for the trailing arm was the culprit and their day was over. “It’s been pretty frustrating out here” said Beauchamp of the western swing. “But I know that we can bounce back in the next event. This Mobil 1/Mopar Parts Team is more determined than ever after this kind of frustration” he added.

Competition resumes for Team Mopar in The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal on August 4th. The 12 race schedule will take the teams from coast to coast and will consist of ovals, road courses and temporary street circuits. For the complete schedule, results and other information log onto www.nascar.ca You will also be able to watch all twelve races this season on TSN.

This release prepared by, TL Sports & Entertainment,