NCATS: CHISHOLM READY TO RUMBLE AT RIVERSIDE - NASCAR STYLE

JAMES RIVER, NS (September 12, 2007) - Riverside International Speedway is the site of Saturday's Atlantic Dodge Dealer's 300, round 11 of 12 for the 2007 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Sirius Satellite Radio. The series is the elite stock car touring circuit in Canada, the only truly national series, and the only series in Canada sanctioned by the most popular motorsports brand in the world: NASCAR.

Antigonish's Donald Chisholm is the lone local racer entered in the event, and he is counting the minutes until the track opens the pit gate Saturday morning at 6:30. Chisholm's Nova Construction race team will field a brand new car for this event. The car will be No. 98 and sponsored by Nova Construction and Pioneer Coal.

"We had it (the car) out last week," said Chisholm. "It felt really good. I liked it, but we really have nothing to compare it with since the series hasn't been here before and the cars are so different from a late model. We're just as anxious as everyone else about Saturday. Getting through tech is probably our biggest concern. We can't afford to waste any time in there; we need to get on the track to see where we fit compared to the others."

Featuring competitors from all across Canada and from all racing genres, the series racers are eager to get to the famed high banks at Riverside with an equal amount of trepidation and anticipation. While the facilities fabulous reputation precedes it, there are just two one-hour practice sessions Saturday afternoon to determine set-ups for the evening race.

Chisholm probably has more laps on the "new" Riverside International Speedway than any other driver in the Maritimes, but doesn't really see that as a huge advantage in this event.

"There are so many unknown factors compared to what we're used to it's tough to imagine we'd have an advantage," said Chisholm. "The cars are completely different, the tech process is very detailed, we need to qualify on sticker (new) tires - all while enjoying the pomp and circumstance that is NASCAR."

The series has a seven-day rule that places an embargo on practice so Chisholm is unable to put in any more laps until Saturday. Until then it's "wait and see" for the Nova Construction team. Compared to what Chisholm and Maritime race fans are used to, the Canadian Tire Series cars and competition will more resemble the NASCAR style we see on TV every weekend.

"Compared to the late model, these cars are heavier, taller, have way more body roll, use a more conventional set-up, have a wider tire, a narrower wheel base, and lack the quick change rear end we're used to," said Chisholm. "And that's just the car. The owner, driver and crew members need NASCAR licenses, and we're mandated by the series to use certain safety devices in the car, as are our over-the-wall pit crew required to wear firesuits and in some cases a helmet."

Regardless of their lack of experience at Riverside, Chisholm expects the competition to be keen.

"Those guys are really good," said Chisholm. "I've raced a couple of them in Florida and they were tough there, and I've been watching their races on TSN this year - they run hard. I expect there will be at least a dozen cars that could win here Saturday."

Good indeed. Entries include current series point leader Andrew Ranger along with series 07 race winners Kerry Micks, D.J. Kennington, J.R. Fitzpatrick, Don Thomson Jr. and Derek Lynch. Lynch, along with Dave Whitlock, both with backgrounds in the former ACT late model division, are familiar names in regional racing circles. More than 20 teams are en route to Riverside from points as far west as British Columbia.

For Chisholm's NASCAR debut he's looking to qualify well and hoping to finish in the top 10. If all goes well, the team may look at running a few NASCAR Canadian Tire Series races in 2008.

The Atlantic Dodge Dealers 300 will see time trials determine the starting grid, with the race format being a straight 300 laps. Any pit stops required will need to be completed either under green flag conditions or during caution periods. Team work on pit road is just as important as moves on the race track. A mistake in the pits can cost positions just as easily, maybe moreso, than what the driver may or may not do on the race track. Since caution laps will count, laps can also be lost in the pits. So the pit crews must not only be good, but fast. A good pit stop can win a race. With the grandstands at Riverside International Speedway overlooking the entire pit road, fans won't miss a minute of the action - on or off the track.

Besides NASCAR Canadian Tire Series action, fans will be treated to support class racing in the popular Riverside Sportsman Super Series. The grandstand opens at 11 a.m. for advance ticket holders and the box office opens at Noon. Sportsman heat races go at 2 p.m.; NASCAR time trials are set for 3:30, to be followed by the sportsman feature race. The track will then close to prepare for Atlantic Dodge Dealers 300 pre-race festivities which will include a one hour autograph session at 5:30 and driver introductions at 7 p.m. The Atlantic Dodge Dealers is scheduled to go green at 7:30 p.m.

Plenty of general admission seating is still available for the Atlantic Dodge Dealers 300, as well as a limited number of reserved seats. Advance tickets can be purchased through Friday by calling 902.863.2410 between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. or between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. A convenient order form that can be faxed to the box office is available at http://www.riversidespeedway.ca/.
Race fans in the Antigonish area Friday are invited to stop by the Antigonish Mall between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. where they can see the cars and meet the stars of NASCAR's Canadian Tire Series.

For more information about Riverside Speedway, please visit www.riversidespeedway.ca or call 902.863.2410.

NCATS on TSN: Barrie Speedway

Watch all the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series action from Barrie Speedway in High Definition on TSN!

Premiere: Saturday, September 15 @ 11:30am
Repeat 1: Monday, September 17 @ 3pm
Repeat 2: Tuesday, September 18 @ 12:30am

ALL TIMES ARE in Eastern Standard Time

Rally of the Tall Pines Goes Green

It’s no secret that people are showing more concern and care for the environment these days than ever before.

Environmentally-aware behaviour is rapidly becoming an integral part of the simple decisions we make every day, from recycling paper products to turning off lights in the home. We all want to play a part in reducing consumption because it’s an important issue – now and for the future.

Of course, the automobile industry is not exempt from environmental concerns and neither is a motorsports event like the Rally of the Tall Pines. This is why the organizers are proud to announce that Tall Pines will be the first rally in Canada to implement a brand new Green Initiative.

In an effort to recognize the environmental impact the rally has on the local area, a portion of the entry fees paid by Tall Pines competitors will go towards a donation already made to the Bancroft Area Stewardship Council. The Council runs a Tree Planting program in the Bancroft area and the funds have been applied to this program. The rally organizers have also paid to off-set a portion of the total carbon dioxide emissions from the event. Through the website www.carbonfund.org, the Maple Leaf Rally Club/Rally of the Tall Pines registered for a small business carbon dioxide off-set commitment.

In addition, everyone affiliated with the rally we be making a conscious effort to reduce, reuse and recycle over the course of the weekend. This effort will be aided by the Town of Bancroft, which has committed to providing many more recycling receptacles for use by the rally. Also, as in previous years, competitors and fans will be encouraged to make every effort to clean up all garbage from the service and spectator areas after the event.

As the organizers of a long-standing Canadian motorsport event, it’s imperative that we take a leadership role in showing respect for the environment. Collectively, we have great passion for the sport of rallying; therefore, it’s our responsibility to demonstrate that we can pursue this passion, stage events such as the Rally of the Tall Pines and protect the environment at the same time.

We encourage all those associated with the sport of rallying – including competitors, fans, sponsors and volunteers – to join us in assuming this leadership role.

The Rally of the Tall Pines has been run every year since 1971 and is organized by the Maple Leaf Rally Club. For more information, visit http://www.tallpinesrally.com/ or contact one of the following event officials.

NCATS: NEWS & NOTES – ATLANTIC DODGE DEALERS 300

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Sept. 11, 2007) – No doubt about it; Canada covers quite a bit of territory and Jason White (No. 21 Timeless Developments/Powder Ventures Excavations/Zimmer-Wheaton GM Chevrolet) and his team will see much of it over a short three-week period.

The British Columbia-based race team is making a long 7,400-mile round trip to participate in the final two NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Sirius Satellite Radio races of the 2007 season – the Atlantic Dodge Dealers 300 at Riverside Speedway in Antigonish, Nova Scotia on Sept. 15 and the Dodge Dealers of Ontario Dodge Charger 250 at Kawartha Speedway in Fraserville, Ontario on Sept. 23.

It’s a tall and daunting task, to say the least. It’s one that could keep a team of psychologists working around the clock to answer that one burning question. Why?

"I don’t think it is crazy at all," said White. "Well, I guess it does sound a little nuts, but the reason is very simple. We want to race and we want to do it in Canada’s premier racing series – the Canadian Tire Series."

While many of the series’ competitors are gathering at Barrie (Ontario) Speedway for the Sept. 8 running of the ATTO 300, White’s hauler had already left home and was headed eastward for Nova Scotia.

The only real hurdle according to White was formulating the lengthy itinerary for team travel. Hotels and flights took more time and proved to be a little harder than originally thought.
While White, 34, does want to satisfy his racing itch, he has ulterior motives for this trans-Canadian trip.

"This is a national series not unlike the three national NASCAR series in the United States," White stated. "The (Canadian Tire Series) is off to a great start in its first year and we need to continue to grow it."

The Canadian Tire Series’ 12-race schedule includes races in five provinces, but nine of those events come in Ontario and Quebec. There is a two-race swing to the western provinces of Alberta and British Columbia and the one event in the maritime province of Nova Scotia.
"The bulk of the races happen in Ontario and most of the race teams are situated in that area. That’s fine," said White. "Once upon a time, much of the (NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series) was centralized in a relatively small portion of the U.S. It takes time."

At the end of the day, White sees his race team no differently than any of the others currently racing the full season.

"There was something like 25 teams that hauled cars from the east to race at the two tracks out here in the west this year," White said. "They did it, so why can’t we?"

The key to open that door of opportunity is sponsorship. The Canadian Tire Series has its share of large, multi-national sponsors with the likes of, Castrol, Dickies, Dodge and Milwaukee Electric Tools. White believes that is just the tip of the iceberg.

"Those guys went out and worked for their sponsorship. They earned it both on and off the track. It had little or nothing to do with where they lived or based their operation," said White.
The Sun Peaks, B.C., native is no stranger to making long trips to compete. He was a member of the Canadian National Speed Skiing Team for three that competed worldwide. Speed skiing is winter’s answer to drag racing – go as straight and as fast as possible. And he has discovered that the two sports share more than just speed.

"The high reliance on safety, the officials needing to keep the competitors on an even playing surface, so to speak, and the role of aerodynamics are some of the big ones," said White. "It’s uncanny how similar the two are."

Even though the voyage is long and the odds of everything falling into place, with no major glitches in the plan, are fairly steep, White, the eternal optimist, is eager to get underway and confident of success. Success, in this case, will be judged objectively.

"We’re not out there every race with these guys, so we’re a little behind the curve, but if we can finish both races and maybe pick up a top 10, then it’ll be a great trip," he said. "The most important thing is to get out there and compete. Get some exposure and tangible facts to present to sponsors so we can run them all next year."

The marketing-savvy White’s desire to compete and dedication to the series, as well as the sport, should not be treated as a novelty act, but rather as a rubric or pilot case for future Canadian Tire Series competitors.

ATTO 300 POST-RACE NOTES
Ø Kennington joins club … It took five races into the 2007 season to get a repeat winner in the Canadian Tire Series. Now, 10 races into the 12-race schedule, there are four two-time victors. D.J. Kennington (No. 17 Castrol/Krispy Kreme Dodge), with the ATTO 300 win, swept the two Barrie (Ontario) Speedway events and joined J.R. Fitzpatrick (No. 84 Milwaukee Electric Tools Chevrolet), Kerry Micks (No. 02 Beyond Digital Imaging Ford) and Don Thomson Jr. (No. 4 Home Hardware Chevrolet) as multi-race winners.

Ø Chevy continues to lead the way … Dodge picked up its third win of the season courtesy of Kennington, but Chevrolet continues to lead the Canadian Tire Series manufacturers’ standings. Chevy, with 68 points, has four wins in 10 events this season – two each by Fitzpatrick and Thomson. Derek Lynch (No. 77 Allied Steel Buildings/Canadian Shield) is the other Dodge driver with a triumph. Ford has three wins on the season as well at the hands of Micks and Andrew Ranger (No. 27 Wal-Mart/Tide Ford).

Ø Mobil 1 Oil "Command Performance of the Race" Award … As a reward for his NASCAR Canadian Tire Series victory at Barrie Speedway, Kennington collects his second $1,500 check from Mobil 1 for his effort.

Ø Mopar Fast Five … This program awards the top-five finishing Dodges in the race. In the ATTO 300, the Dodge of Kennington, obviously, was the top finisher and was awarded $2,000. Dave Whitlock (No. 39 Dickies/Hamilton Tiger-Cats Dodge) with his season-best second-place finish was the second-highest finishing Dodge and earned $1,250. Barrie resident John Gaunt (No. 12 Centennial Chrysler Dodge), who notched his first top-five finish of the season, collected $1,000 for finishing third among the Dodge entrants. The fourth-highest finishing Dodge was that of Lynch which netted him $500. Jason Hathaway (No. 3 Snap-on Tools/Super 8 Dodge) completed the Mopar Fast Five with his eighth-place finish and will receive $250.

Ø Ranger closing in … Ranger continues to close in on the first-ever Canadian Tire Series championship with just two races left on the slate. He was able to avoid trouble on the cozy 1/3-mile track to finish sixth, his ninth top-10 finish out of the 10 races, so far, this season. However, Kennington, with the win, was able to carve into the 122-point lead Ranger brought into the ATTO 300 and now trails by 87 points as the second-ranked competitor. Peter Gibbons (No. 1 Canadian Tire/Master Craft Chevrolet), in third, also was able to nudge closer to Ranger with his fourth-place effort at Barrie. Gibbons is now 144 points off Ranger’s pace.

Ø Standing room only … Barrie Speedway operator Brad Moran had to bring in additional seating to accommodate the ticket demand for the ATTO 300. Nearly 10,000 spectators jammed their way into the track that holds just over 4,000 fans for a standard Saturday night of racing action. The Canadian Tire Series has now raced in front of seven crowds at or in excess of capacity, including gatherings of more than 60,000 at both Edmonton and Montreal.

Ø In case you missed it … If you were not able to attend the ATTO 300 last Saturday evening, TSN and TSN HD will air coverage of the race on Saturday, Sept. 15 at 11:30 a.m. E.T.

ATLANTIC DODGE DEALERS 300 NOTES

Ø The race … This event is the 11th race for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Sirius Satellite Radio in 2007. It will mark the Canadian Tire Series’ first visit to Nova Scotia and the Maritime Provinces. It will also complete the five-province (Alberta, B.C., Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec) tour this season. Local racer Donald Chisholm will be making his series debut in the Atlantic Dodge Dealers 300.

Ø The track … Riverside Speedway originally opened in 1969 and was modeled after the legendary Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. In 2005, the track was completely demolished and rebuilt including a new racing surface, concrete walls, lighting, grandstands and control tower. Like its counterpart, Riverside features high-banked turns with the turns having 14 degrees of banking. The front stretch is 440-feet long with a banking of six degrees while the back stretch is also 440 feet but with a five-degree banking.

Ø Unknown quantity … None of the regular Canadian Tire Series competitors have in-depth knowledge of Riverside Speedway making the two early Saturday afternoon practices crucial. Additionally, the teams coming off last week’s ATTO 300 at Barrie Speedway will have to make any necessary repairs quickly before having to get the haulers on the road by midweek.

Ø Ticket information … For more information about tickets for the Atlantic Dodge Dealers 300, call the speedway at (902) 863-2410 or visit online at http://www.riversidespeedway.ca/.

Fast Facts
What: Atlantic Dodge Dealers 300,NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Race # 11.
Where: Riverside Speedway, Antigonish, Nova Scotia.
When: 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 15.
Track layout: 1/3-mile oval.
Distance: 300 Laps, 99.99 miles.
Posted Awards: $88,354 CAD
2006 winner: Inaugural event.
2006 polesitter: Inaugural event.
Records: To be established in inaugural event.
Pre-race schedule: Practice, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Qualifying, 3:30 p.m. Note: All times subject to change.

NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Top 10: 1. Andrew Ranger 1622; 2. D.J. Kennington 1535; 3. Peter Gibbons 1478; 4. Don Thomson, Jr. 1473; 5. Kerry Micks 1461; 6. J.R. Fitzpatrick 1441; 7. Derek Lynch 1388; 8. Mark Dilley 1371; 9. Jason Hathaway 1355; 10. Dave Whitlock 1309.

From Shon Sbarra, NASCAR Public Relations

CNN: F1's spygate saga heats up

CNN has a story on F1's 'spy scandal'

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Bosses -- and drivers -- at McLaren will be waiting nervously to hear the results of a hearing that threatens to jeopardize the team's triumphant 2007 season. The World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) of the FIA, motor sport's governing body, will reconvene in Paris on Thursday September 13 to deliberate on new evidence -- the latest twist in the spy scandal that has put a cloud over McLaren's return to winning ways.

... continued at the link above.

NCATS: KENNINGTON SCORES SECOND WIN OF THE SEASON IN CASTROL DODGE

DJ Kennington and the Castrol Dodge Team returned to Barrie Speedway for round ten of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series racing season seeking to make it a clean sweep at the 1/3 mile track. Kennington and the Castrol Crew would claim the win in story book fashion and also move into second spot in the overall championship.

DJ Kennington’s racing weekend began Friday running the Busch Series event at Richmond, Virginia scoring a 36th place finish. He then raced to catch a flight from Raleigh, North Carolina to Toronto and hustled to Barrie in time for the Drivers meeting. While Kennington made his way to the track, the rest of the Castrol team was preparing the car for technical inspection and qualifying.

Having won at Barrie earlier in the season gave them an excellent starting point. DJ would post the seventh quickest qualifying time and line up on the inside of row four. “The car was a little bit looser than I wanted during qualifying, but thought we’d be alright during the race” said the driver.

As the green waved on the 300 lap event Kennington maneuvered the Castrol Dodge to run among the leaders with a very consistent pace. That job became increasingly more difficult during the middle portion of the race.

As the laps ticked away Kennington noticed the gas peddle of the Castrol Dodge was not returning to its normal position when he left off the throttle and he was having to pull the pedal back with his foot. This was not a viable option for the duration of the race. During a caution period the team passed a bungee cord through the window to the driver who managed to loop it around the gas peddle and onto the steering wheel.
The makeshift repair created enough resistance that Kennington could now compete.

DJ would take the Castrol Dodge into the lead for the first time on lap 240. Though he would battle to maintain his lead on late restarts, Kennington would not be denied. With his improvised repairs holding, Kennington was able to hold off the competition and claim his second win of the season in the Castrol Dodge. “I just can’t thank my guys enough for this one, I wasn’t here for tech and they got the car ready. It’s just great for everybody that supports us, Castrol, and Dodge. I’m happy my dad is here for this one, I had to call him after I won earlier this year. I’m pretty tired but I feel pretty good getting this win”. With the victory Kennington leaps into second spot in the overall series championship with two events remaining.

You can watch DJ Kennington’s thrilling victory at Barrie Speedway this Saturday at 11:30AM Eastern time on TSN.

The next scheduled race for the NASCAR Canadian Tire series is the Atlantic Dodge Dealers 300 this coming Saturday night at Riverside Speedway in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. The twelve race NCATS schedule features events from coast to coast in Canada including stops at the best ovals in the Country along with temporary street circuits in Edmonton and Trois Rivieres. Look for more information all season at www.nascar.ca

This release prepared by TL Sports & Entertainment

Steelback Targa Newfoundland Leg 2: Competition heats up in Exploits region

Courtesy Dave Harty

ST JOHN’S (September 11, 2007) – It’s only the second day, and already the Steelback Targa Newfoundland taking its toll on competitors. Mechanical trouble claimed a number of contenders Tuesday as teams took to the Exploits region. The six-day schedule makes the Steelback Targa Newfoundland one of the most taxing automotive events on the continent. Targa Veterans know that both the teams and their competition vehicles must remain in top form throughout the contest in order to secure a strong finish.

“Today is only Tuesday,” noted five-time participant Glen Clarke during a mid-day lunch break at the scenic Ocean View Park near the village of Leading Tickles. “Anything can happen by Friday.”

Among the teams struggling on Tuesday were Dyrk Bolger and Terry Milnes of Manitoba. The duo suffered engine trouble in their 1963 Austin Mini and ended the day in a fight to return to the race. It was expected they could source a new engine from St. John’s overnight, but it was unclear how much of the contest they would miss before they could install it.

Also battling mechanical trouble were John and Clarke Paynter. The brothers are veteran Targa competitors for the factory Subaru Targa Rally Team Canada and pilot one of the top-spec vehicles in the contest, a crowd pleasing Subaru WRX STi. But an apparent manifold leak cost them precious seconds on Tuesday and, by day’s end, their crew of mechanics were working hard to return the car to fighting form.

The team of Ian Glyn-Jones and Emmett McKay-Lodge, meanwhile, just couldn’t seem to catch a break. After suffering trouble with a driveshaft during the Prologue stages in St. John’s on Sunday, they spent most of Monday sourcing and replacing the broken part. On Tuesday’s first stage in Glenwood, it happened again. A local machine shop was able to use a fencepost to fashion a temporary replacement driveshaft in order to get them through the day, but the duo were still under pressure to find a more permanent solution.

Despite all the trouble, however, there were plenty of competition cars on hand to give spectators in Gander a good show when the contest moved to the streets of that community Thursday evening. Local resident Sheila Sheppard said 2007 was her third year as a spectator and she, her son and his fiancée always enjoy watching the contest.

“It’s just great excitement,” she said Tuesday as a growling Porsche 911 sped past her carefully chosen vantage point on a neighbour’s front lawn. “It’s like something you see on TV, but now it’s here in real life. The kids just love it and it’s a good boost for the economy and good advertising for Newfoundland.”

And there was good news from at least one team. The 1983 BMW M3 campaigned by Dennis Pippy and Levi Pippy that was damaged after it spun off slick wooden bridge into a ditch in Gooseberry Cove on Monday is expected to return to the event on Wednesday. It appears that the incident was not enough to keep the American team away from the thrill of this automotive adventure.

Such are the ups and downs that make this contest so rewarding said Jim Kenzie, who has competed at every running of Targa Newfoundland. The driver of BMW Mini’s factory entry, a 2004 Mini John Cooper Works, he says he looks forward each year to the opportunity to explore Newfoundland ­ as well as the limits of his peppy competition car.

“You come into Leading Tickles and… Wow, look at it,” he said with an appreciative wave toward the dramatic rocky cliffs and serene cove beachfront that make up the picnic area of Ocean View Park. “It’s unbelievable.”

Kenzie, who hails from Milton, Ont., but travels the world for his work as an automotive journalist, added that he considers the scenic stops in Goosberry Cove, Harbour Mille and Burin (which he quips is like Monaco without the castles) among the highlights of the week.

By the end of Leg 2, not a single team remained penalty free. All had failed to meet their assigned target times ­ although Roy Hopkins and Adrienne Hughes they were barely short of their goal. By day’s end, preliminary results showed the duo in the colourfully sponge-painted 1969 BMW 2002 sitting in first-place overall, having taken only two seconds of penalty,
“It’s gotten a little more difficult every year,” noted Hughes, who hails from Spencerpoint, NY. “I’m just thrilled to death to be in this position right now.”

But, as Clarke noted, anything can happen in the three remaining days of competition. “Last year we won because other people made mistakes and we didn’t,” he said. “There is a lot of racing left.”

Clarke, who is the defending overall champion, suffered electrical trouble in his 1979 Porsche 911 that cost him some time during the first leg on Monday. After diagnosing the problem, he was able to return to the contest on Tuesday and he said he was still confident he could defend his 2006 overall win.

While there is no prize money, teams comprised of a driver and a navigator are competing for Targa plates, as well as class and divisional titles. All finishers receive a medallion. Entries are divided into categories ­ the faster-paced Targa category, where teams must achieve ambitious speed targets, and the more moderate Grand Touring division, which rewards precision driving. Teams may also pursue the automotive adventure in the Targa Tour category.

For a second day on Tuesday, crowds of local fans and autograph seekers crowded into the Gander Community Centre to get close to the cars and mingle with the drivers ­ and the NHL veterans who are traveling with the contest in 2007. Phil Esposito, Eddie Shack, Bill Derlaso and Johnny Bower are in Newfoundland this week to take in the Steelback Targa Newfoundland.
The Steelback Targa Newfoundland is the first and only event of its kind in North America. It is one of three internationally recognized Targa motorsports events in the world and is listed on the Federation International de l’Automobile (FIA) international calendar.

The sixth-annual running of the event starts and ends in St. John’s. It covers 2,200 kilometres of the challenging, twisty roads of the central and eastern portion of the island of Newfoundland.
On Sunday, the event began with a pair of preliminary stages -- known as Prologue stages -- in the communities of Flatrock and Torbay near St. John’s. On Monday, the event traveled to the North Avalon region. Day 2 featured six stages in the Exploits area, visiting Glenwood, Lewisporte, Point Leamington, Leading Tickles, and Appleton, before wrapping up in Gander for a second night in the row.

On Wednesday, the contest moves to the Kittiwake Coast as several weather systems converge on the province, bringing cold wet weather that could make traction a challenge for teams.

Duane LaFleur, Qualifies #1 at the 2007 U.S. Mac Tools U. S. Nationals with 9.900 E.T.

Lancaster, N.Y. (September 11, 2007)…The O’Reilly Raceway Park in Clemont, IN is home of the U.S. Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, an event that has the same stature as the Indy 500 in the world of drag racing. Jiffy-tite Motorsports sponsored driver, Duane LaFleur, a seasoned Super Gas competitor, is making gains this year posting a perfect 9.900 against 154 competitors during his first round of eliminations on Friday in his new 1968 Chevrolet Camaro roadster built by Race Tech Race Cars of Burlington, NC.

LaFleur’s new power plant is a 540ci Chevrolet big block built by Larry Sexton of White House, TN to make 925hp. It is backed by a two-speed Powerglide transmission, a Race Tech custom fabricated 9” with Moser Engineering 4.30 gear set and axels at the rear and plumbed with a complement of Jiffy-tite Quick Connect fluid fasteners.

Winners at this event in the Super Gas classification include: Andrew Thomas driving a Ford Roadster with an E.T. of 9.884 with a maximum of 149.63 mph, followed by second place finisher Brian Forrester driving a Chevy Corvette with an E.T. of 9.871 with an MPH of 163.59.

For more information, call Jiffy-tite Motorsports toll free at 888-605-7788, or visit online at www.jiffy-tite.com.

NCATS: CENTENNIAL CHRYSLER’S JOHN GAUNT FINISHES FIFTH AT BARRIE

BARRIE, ON – John Gaunt picked the right night for a great result. On Saturday evening at Barrie Speedway – in front of his sponsors, hometown fans and team owner – the driver of the #12 Centennial Chrysler-sponsored Dodge Avenger earned a fifth-place finish at his hometrack.

“It was a great night for us,” said Gaunt, who was clearly pleased to have done so well at the 1/3-mile tri-oval. “We qualified third in front of our hometown fans. We were really happy about that because it’s the best we’ve done all year. We ran up front and we were in third-place before we were spun by the #02 [Kerry Micks] again. We had a competitive car and we were able to fight back from that setback to come home fifth. All the guys on the team worked very hard and the changes they made to the car worked out tonight.”

Following 10 of 12 events on the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series schedule, the Barrie (ON) racer – who returned to Canada’s national stock car tour this season after several years racing at Barrie Speedway – says he and his team are starting to gel. “I feel like things are beginning to come around in our favour now; it’s starting to feel really good.”The #12 Centennial Chrysler / AKN Sikkens / Vital Signs / Mobil1 / Unitec / Plumbtech/Moen Dodge Avenger could have finished even higher but Gaunt actually had to overcome two setbacks during the race.

“After we were spun the first time, we ended up at the back and it took a toll on our tires trying to come back from that. We lost a lap, but we got it back. We eventually got new tires on, but we had one more adventure when we were ‘turned’ near the end of the race when we were racing for position. That spin hurt the rear tires and we were a little loose off the turns after that. But all in all, it was a good night.”

As mentioned, Gaunt was surrounded by many supporters at Barrie, including his team owner and sponsor, Gord Coates. “Mr. [Gord] Coates was here tonight and it means a lot that we were able to put on a good show for him. He’s a big racing fan and would have enjoyed the hard racing tonight. I’d also like to thank Plumbtech / Moen for being on our car for this race. They’re a Barrie company. So many of our sponsors are based in Barrie and they were all here at the track tonight, so it was good timing for us to have a solid run.”

NEXT RACE: RIVERSIDE SPEEDWAY: This coming Saturday, Canada’s NASCAR tour heads to Antigonish, Nova Scotia for its inaugural appearance at Riverside Speedway. “I’m really looking forward to going to Riverside,” said Gaunt. “I remember almost 25 years ago, Frank Fraser [a legend in Maritime stock car racing] telling me that it’s about the best racetrack in the world. They’ve done a lot of work on the place in the past few years, so it has to be even better now. I’ve heard it’s just an awesome place.”

BARRIE SUMMARY: Dodge driver DJ Kennington overcame a stuck throttle to win Saturday night’s 300-lap NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race at Barrie Speedway. The St. Thomas, ON racer came from seventh on the starting grid to complete the two-race sweep of Barrie’s NASCAR races in 2007. The veteran driver also went to victory lane at the 1/3-mile tri-oval following the Canada Day race on July 1. Second-place went to Dodge Avenger pilot Dave Whitlock who started 15th in the 20-car field. Don Thomson Jr. earned the final podium spot. Peter Gibbons and John Gaunt rounded out the top-five finishers. With two races remaining on the 2007 NCATS schedule, rookie Andrew Ranger leads Kennington by 87 points.

PHOTO by Dave Franks

Prepared by Inside Track Communications. For more information about John Gaunt and the #12 Centennial Chrysler Dodge Charger team, call (705) 726-0393 or visit www.centennialchrysler.ca. To learn more about the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, visit www.nascar.ca

ARCA: Chicagoland Proves To Be Excellent Learning Experience For Canada’s Pierre Bourque

JOLIET, Illinois (September 10, 2007) - - ARCA RE/MAX Series driver Pierre Bourque entered Saturday’s Chicagoland ARCA 200 looking to reel in a solid finish in his first start of the 2007 season.

The weekend started off on a brighter note after the trailer arrived at Chicagoland Speedway on Thursday night. As Bourque headed to Joliet last month for the open test he received a call from car owner Andy Hillenburg that his primary machine had been stolen from a local hotel, immediately causing the team to scramble and put together a competitive piece for the 20th event of the season.

Teaming up with Fast Track Racing and switching from Ford to Chevrolet carrying the No. 62, Bourque had confidence that his first top-10 ARCA finish could become a reality.

Before climbing into the cockpit, Bourque announced the signing of
La Raza as the primary sponsor of his entry for the 20th event of the 2007 schedule.

La Raza is the number one Spanish-language newspaper in Chicago with an audited weekly circulation of 196,594 according to Certified Audit Circulation. It is also among the largest Sunday Hispanic newspapers in the United States. La Raza has been recognized by the National Association of Hispanic Publications as the "Best Spanish Language Weekly" five times over the past decade and was named by Editor & Publisher as one of "Ten That Do It Right." La Raza and LaRaza.com are owned by ImpreMedia LLC.

“I’m very excited to have a new sponsor on board with us this weekend at Chicagoland,” said Bourque heading into practice. “Our goal is go out in practice and get some seat time and give us a good setup for the rest of the weekend activities.”

During the first practice, Bourque mounted the 36th fastest lap with a time of 32.654 seconds at 165.370 MPH. The Ottawa, Ontario native knew he only had to pick up two-tenths of a second heading into qualifying to securely lock him in the field.

“There’s room for improvement. The car is solid. We’ll make some adjustments before qualifying and they should work. This place is very fast, so concentration and a good car is everything. We’re very excited to have our new sponsor La Raza aboard and hope we can put ourselves in prime position for qualifying and the race.”

Bourque drew one of the early numbers for ARCA SIM Factory pole qualifying. During his first lap of qualifying, Bourque posted a lap of 32.496 seconds at 166.174 MPH, but as Bourque was completing his second lap, the No. 62 got loose and slammed into the outside wall causing severe damage to the rear of the La Raza automobile.

Despite posting the 36th fastest time, Bourque would be granted the final provisional for the Chicagoland ARCA 200 setting the No. 62 shot gun on the field.

“It’s very disappointing,” said Bourque. “I strongly believe that our second lap was going to be much quicker than our first lap, but we’ll never know. The car just came around. It’s a shame. We’ve pulled out a backup car and we’ll hope for a solid showing. Our primary car was a Ford and that was expected to be a great piece for this race. It’s a shame that we lost our second car, but hopefully we can expect a better outcome with our additional backup.”

At the start of the Chicagoland ARCA 200, Bourque held his own. Trying to maneuver through the field, the NASCAR Busch East Series and NASCAR Canadian Tire Series driver did a great job avoiding a stack of jiggered cars in turn one on the first lap.

Moving into the 35th position by the end of lap one, Bourque continued to hold his own in the rundown until the first caution flag waived on lap 11.

Setting himself comfortable in the field, Bourque knew he didn’t have a car capable of running in the top-15, but knew that if he stayed alert and in control, he could reel in a respectable finish.

During the caution filled race, Bourque would continue to move up the leader board.

Dealing with a tight-race car, the Fast Track Racing team would make adjustments during the last scheduled round of pit stops closing in on lap 70.

Throughout the final fifty circuits, Bourque would continue to utilize the Chicagoland ARCA 200 to gain laps and experience on a speedway. Moving up two positions inside those fifty laps awarded him with a 25th place effort.

“Our backup car was pretty good, we just didn’t have the horsepower that we needed on these big speedways. I learned an awful lot out there today. We wanted to have a good showing for La Raza and under the circumstances I’m happy with the outcome. I want to thank La Raza for their support and everyone on the Fast Track Racing team for all their hard work.”

Bourque continued, “We’re going to try and run Talladega. That’s an awesome facility and I know we’ll have a competitive car for the event. Hopefully we can announce something in the very immediate future.”

For more information on La Raza, please visit Laraza.com // For more on Pierre Bourque, please visit www.PierreBourque.net

From Chris Knight / Bourque Racing

NASCAR Canadian Tire Series: Barrie photo gallery by Dave Franks

Here are some of Dave Franks' photos from Saturday night's NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race at Barrie Speedway.

NCATS: KENNINGTON BATTLES FOR ATTO 300 VICTORY

BARRIE, Ontario (Sept. 8, 2007) – Everybody uses bungee chords for a variety of things around the house and garage. On Saturday night at Barrie Speedway in the ATTO 300 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race, D.J. Kennington (No. 17 Castrol/Krispy Kreme Dodge) used one to hold his gas pedal off the floor.

Kennington’s throttle return spring broke in the middle portion of the race and the team handed him a bungee chord to hook the throttle to the steering wheel. It was not the most glamorous of pit road adjustments but it was good enough to earn the St. Thomas, Ontario resident the win.

“The throttle return spring or something broke and I had to lift the pedal off the floor with my foot and that wasn’t going to work very well,” said the victorious Kennington. “Then I thought we could use a bungee chord to create some resistance.”

The throttle problem was not the only issue for Kennington on this night. He was also quite tired. He competed in the NASCAR Busch Series event at Richmond (Va.) International Speedway on Friday night and had to drive to Raleigh-Durham, N.C. to catch a morning flight to Toronto in order to make it to Barrie in time for the driver’s meeting.

“I’ve haven’t slept since Thursday night,” he said. “I’m pretty tired, but the win picked me up quite a bit.”

He also withstood several battles on late race re-starts from Dave Whitlock (No. 39 Dickies/Hamilton Tiger-Cats Dodge), who hung on for a second-place finish, a season-best.
“With the problems that we’ve had this year, I’ll take second,” Whitlock said. “I would have like to have won, but this will do. I’m very happy with it.”

Don Thomson Jr. (No. 4 Home Hardware Chevrolet) started on the outside pole and earned a third-place finish, his fifth top five of the year. Thomson was followed by Peter Gibbons (No. 1 Canadian Tire/Master Craft Chevrolet) and John Gaunt (No. 12 Centennial Chrysler Dodge) in fourth and fifth, respectively.

Andrew Ranger, Derek Lynch, Jason Hathaway, J.R. Fitzpatrick and Scott Steckly rounded out the top 10.

The race was slowed nine times for 67 laps. The lead changed hands 12 times with six different drivers out in front.

In the unofficial championship point standings, Ranger lost a little ground on Kennington, but still holds a 87-point advantage. Gibbons moved into third place, 144 points off the leader’s pace.

The Canadian Tire Series heads eastward for the Atlantic Dodge Dealers 300 on September 15 at Riverside Speedway in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. It is the first series visit to Nova Scotia and the high-banked 1/3-mile track modeled after the legendary Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.

NASCAR CANADIAN TIRE SERIES presented by SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO-ATTO 300 UNOFFICIAL Results
Saturday
At Barrie Speedway
Barrie, Ontario
Lap length: 0.333 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (7) D.J. Kennington, St. Thomas, Ontario, Dodge, 300 laps, 57.644 mph, $7,350.
2. (15) Dave Whitlock, Petrolia, Ontario, Dodge, 300, $4,430.
3. (2) Don Thomson, Jr., Ayr, Ontario, Chevrolet, 300, $2,780.
4. (10) Peter Gibbons, Stouffville, Ontario, Chevrolet, 300, $2,475.
5. (3) John Gaunt, Barrie, Ontario, Dodge, 300, $2,990.
6. (14) Andrew Ranger, Roxton Pond, Quebec, Ford, 300, $1,800.
7. (18) Derek Lynch, Warkworth, Ontario, Dodge, 300, $2,200.
8. (16) Jason Hathaway, Appin, Ontario, Dodge, 299, $1,915.
9. (12) J.R. Fitzpatrick, Cambridge, Ontario, Chevrolet, 298, $1,575.
10. (5) Scott Steckly, Milverton, Ontario, Dodge, 297, $1,525.
11. (11) Bob Merrifield, Belle River, Ontario, Dodge, 288, $1,300.
12. (6) Doug Brown, Brantford, Ontario, Dodge, 264, rear end, $1,225.
13. (8) Mark Dilley, Barrie, Ontario, Dodge, 261, $1,160.
14. (17) Ron Beauchamp, Jr., Windsor, Ontario, Dodge, 253, $1,130.
15. (13) Kent Nuhn, Williamsford, Ontario, Pontiac, 249, $1,075.
16. (9) Brad Graham, Glencoe, Ontario, Dodge, 240, $1,025.
17. (19) Joey McColm, Ajax, Ontario, Dodge, 210, suspension, $995.
18. (20) Trevor Monaghan, Hamilton, Ontario, Dodge, 191, clutch, $950.
19. (1) Kerry Micks, Mt. Albert, Ontario, Ford, 183, $2,420.
20. (4) Jim Lapcevich, Hamilton, Ontario, Chevrolet, 46, suspension, $880.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 1 hour 43 minutes 59 seconds
Margin of Victory: 1.453 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: Kerry Micks. (85.215 mph, 14.068 seconds)
Caution Flags: 9 for 67 laps.
Lead Changes: 12 among 6 drivers.
Lap Leaders: K.Micks 1-65; D.Thomson,Jr. 66-90; P.Gibbons 91-209; D.Thomson,Jr. 210; P.Gibbons 211-220; J.Fitzpatrick 221; P.Gibbons 222-231; D.Whitlock 232-233; P.Gibbons 234-238; D.Whitlock 239; D.Kennington 240-273; D.Whitlock 274; P.Gibbons 275-300.
Standings: 1. A.Ranger, 1622; 2. D.Kennington, 1535; 3. P.Gibbons, 1478; 4.
D.Thomson,Jr., 1473; 5. K.Micks, 1461; 6. J.Fitzpatrick, 1441; 7. D.Lynch, 1388; 8. M.Dilley, 1371; 9. J.Hathaway, 1355; 10. D.Whitlock, 1309.

From Shon Sbarra, NASCAR Public Relations