Talladega, Al - Dario Franchitti was both encouraged and disappointed with his 17th place finish in the ARCA RE/MAX 250 at Talladega Superspeedway.
Franchitti had problems adjusting to pit road procedures in the world of stock car racing, but stated he enjoyed his first start in a full-bodied race car.
"If I could go out there right now, knowing what I've learned, I know I could do a much better job," Franchitti said, an expression of desire coming across his face. "I would love to be out there racing tomorrow and Sunday.."
At this time Franchitti, scheduled for a full run in the Sprint Cup Series in 2008, is unsure just when his next start in a stock car will come. A team representative stated an announced should be coming next week.
Friday, October 05, 2007
NASCAR: VILLENEUVE FAST ENOUGH IN QUALIFYING
Working under the stock car microscope, Jacques Villeneuve, driving for Bill Davis Racing in the No. 27 unicef Toyota Camry, posted the fourth fastest time of those drivers who must qualifying for Sunday's UAW-Ford 500 based on time.
Villeneuve was 42nd fastest in the first practice session, posting a lap of 51.112 seconds, 187.353 mph. He picked up the pace by four tenths of a second, posting the 24th fastest time in the second and final practice before qualifying on Saturday.
Between the two practice sessions, Villeneuve qualified for the Craftsman Truck Series Mountain Dew 250 in 1oth.
"I've been working on my line quite a bit between the Truck Series and Cup Series," Villeneuve said when asked where his efforts hand concentrated. "It's important to find that last hundredth of a second, because that could be the difference between racing and going home. The truck and car definitely race a lot different than each other, but that one constant is the fastest line."
Asked about the difference between the two racing vehicles Villenueve said, "The truck moves around a little bit more in the draft than the car does. Racing at Las Vegas a couple weeks ago is obviously a lot different than coming here to Talladega, but I am still trying to get as much information as I can."
Qualifying for the UAW-Ford 500 is tomorrow at 11:15 am Central time followed by the Craftsman Truck Series race at 3 on SPEED.
Villeneuve was 42nd fastest in the first practice session, posting a lap of 51.112 seconds, 187.353 mph. He picked up the pace by four tenths of a second, posting the 24th fastest time in the second and final practice before qualifying on Saturday.
Between the two practice sessions, Villeneuve qualified for the Craftsman Truck Series Mountain Dew 250 in 1oth.
"I've been working on my line quite a bit between the Truck Series and Cup Series," Villeneuve said when asked where his efforts hand concentrated. "It's important to find that last hundredth of a second, because that could be the difference between racing and going home. The truck and car definitely race a lot different than each other, but that one constant is the fastest line."
Asked about the difference between the two racing vehicles Villenueve said, "The truck moves around a little bit more in the draft than the car does. Racing at Las Vegas a couple weeks ago is obviously a lot different than coming here to Talladega, but I am still trying to get as much information as I can."
Qualifying for the UAW-Ford 500 is tomorrow at 11:15 am Central time followed by the Craftsman Truck Series race at 3 on SPEED.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving to all our Canadian friends!
I've asked Stan Creekmore to post from the infield at Talladega so that there will be some news while the rest of us are eating turkey (Go Jacques!).
Peterborough Speedway is holding its Autumn Colours Classic this weekend (Sat. & Sun.) and it looks like the weather is going to be perfect. Same for Super DIRT Week in Syracuse.
Might see some of you at Peterborough on Sunday.
Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by.
Greg.
CCTCC: Hard-fought finish for Twofast Racing at Mosport
This final meeting was a reflection of how the Twofast Racing Team's season has gone -- experiencing both the highs and lows that go with this sport. Starting from the outside of row seven, driver Christian Raymond took the green and immediately gain five positions heading into turn two. Surprised by the situation, Raymond battled rattling off consecutive fast race laps that had him in seventh place by the final lap.
"To finish seventh at the end of this ultra competitive year, is very uplifting," Raymond said of the team's finish. "We said at the beginning of weekend, 'if we could finish in the top ten that would be an awesome result.' And, that is what we achieved."
"It was a really crazy race, with 5 full-course yellows," team co-owner and driver Christian Raymond said. "We didn't have a good two days leading up to qualifying. But, we put it together in the race. To finish seventh, considering our car was good but not quite as quick as the cars that won, we'll take it. But, we've got to get to work for next year. I hope it will start and continue in same way this one ended," concluded Christian Raymond.
Éric LeBlanc's weekend finished early as he blew his engine in qualifying Saturday.
"I wish I could have finished the season on a higher note, but that's racing I guess. The team undoubtedly did a great job all year by providing me with the best possible car and the confidence to pursue excellent results with 5 podiums. We have proven the potential seen this season and it has been a great end to a great season. I am especially happy because we showed we can be very competitive against experienced drivers, we expect to come back real hard next year. " concluded an enthusiastic Éric LeBlanc.
Twofast Racing closes out the 2007 season with one second place, four third places, 7 top-fives and 16 top-10s. Éric and Christian ends respectively 8th and 9th in the standings.
Announcements regarding Twofast's 2008 racing program will be forthcoming.
The Canadian Touring Car Championship is a sportscar racing Championship based on three distinct, yet synergistic classes of competition which are all on track at the same time and features Canada's best drivers racing today's hottest sportscars.
Twofast would also like to thank all of its partners for their support: Rythme Urbain, Rack 'N' Roll, Mazdaspeed, Mazda Canada, International Allstars, Twofast Performance, InMotion, MOTUL, Bocké, AWR, COBB Tuning, Rire en Cœur, Rêves d'enfants, mazdatuning.com.
Visit Twofast Racing online at www.twofast.ca
Twofast Racing: G-nius Communication: 1-800-99G-NIUS
Erik Darnell on Villeneuve racing at Talladega
(NOTE: Jacques Villeneuve appears to be the main topic of discussion this weekend at Talladega. Ford Truck driver Erik Darnell gets into the act, discussing the former FORMULA 1 WORLD CHAMPION's lack of superspeedway experience..... gm)
*****
FORD RACING NOTES AND QUOTES: Mountain Dew 250 Qualifying // October 5, 2007 Talladega Superspeedway
Erik Darnell, driver of the No. 99 Northern Tool + Equipment Ford F-150, qualified third for tomorrow's Mountain Dew 250 at Talladega Superspeedway. He spoke about his run and other issues in the infield media center.
ERIK DARNELL – No. 99 Northern Tool + Equipment Ford F-150 – "I think we knew from practice yesterday that we were gonna have a pretty decent run in qualifying. We focused primarily on getting the truck to run well in the draft yesterday, which I think we accomplished. I really thought we'd run a little bit faster today than what we did based on what we did yesterday in practice, but it's still a pretty good lap and we'll be starting up toward the front and, hopefully, will be able to stay up there for the whole race."
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON JACQUES VILLENEUVE AND THE OTHER ROOKIES IN THIS RACE TOMORROW? "Just like a lot of those drivers who haven't competed here before, they did get to compete at Daytona, so they've got an idea of how the draft works and how these trucks work in the draft. I know there are some of the guys out there that haven't, but going off practice yesterday, a lot of those guys got a feel for it. It'll be a little more intense in the race. It's gonna be pretty wild out there, I think, but going off of practice and what these got to run earlier this year, I think they'll be alright."
IF YOU WERE MAKING YOUR FIRST CUP START, WOULD YOU PREFER TO DO IT ON A SHORT TRACK, INTERMEDIATE TRACK OR SUPERSPEEDWAY LIKE THIS? "I'd probably do a short track, especially for someone like myself who comes from a short-track racing background doing late models. It would just be something I'd be a lot more comfortable with. Not having a feel for those cars, not knowing what they're gonna do – the horsepower and all that – I'd rather go to a short-track before I came to some place like this. Even after the short-track, I'd probably rather go to a mile track or an intermediate before I had to come here. This is a totally different type of thing. My second truck series start ever was at Daytona and I ended up finishing sixth. It was a good run for us, but I definitely would like to have some more experience on the short tracks before I jumped in to do this kind of thing."
*****
FORD RACING NOTES AND QUOTES: Mountain Dew 250 Qualifying // October 5, 2007 Talladega Superspeedway
Erik Darnell, driver of the No. 99 Northern Tool + Equipment Ford F-150, qualified third for tomorrow's Mountain Dew 250 at Talladega Superspeedway. He spoke about his run and other issues in the infield media center.
ERIK DARNELL – No. 99 Northern Tool + Equipment Ford F-150 – "I think we knew from practice yesterday that we were gonna have a pretty decent run in qualifying. We focused primarily on getting the truck to run well in the draft yesterday, which I think we accomplished. I really thought we'd run a little bit faster today than what we did based on what we did yesterday in practice, but it's still a pretty good lap and we'll be starting up toward the front and, hopefully, will be able to stay up there for the whole race."
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON JACQUES VILLENEUVE AND THE OTHER ROOKIES IN THIS RACE TOMORROW? "Just like a lot of those drivers who haven't competed here before, they did get to compete at Daytona, so they've got an idea of how the draft works and how these trucks work in the draft. I know there are some of the guys out there that haven't, but going off practice yesterday, a lot of those guys got a feel for it. It'll be a little more intense in the race. It's gonna be pretty wild out there, I think, but going off of practice and what these got to run earlier this year, I think they'll be alright."
IF YOU WERE MAKING YOUR FIRST CUP START, WOULD YOU PREFER TO DO IT ON A SHORT TRACK, INTERMEDIATE TRACK OR SUPERSPEEDWAY LIKE THIS? "I'd probably do a short track, especially for someone like myself who comes from a short-track racing background doing late models. It would just be something I'd be a lot more comfortable with. Not having a feel for those cars, not knowing what they're gonna do – the horsepower and all that – I'd rather go to a short-track before I came to some place like this. Even after the short-track, I'd probably rather go to a mile track or an intermediate before I had to come here. This is a totally different type of thing. My second truck series start ever was at Daytona and I ended up finishing sixth. It was a good run for us, but I definitely would like to have some more experience on the short tracks before I jumped in to do this kind of thing."
NASCAR: More Dodge Quotes from Talladega
More NASCAR Nextel Cup quotes from Dodge, from Talladega, including several racers talking about Jacques Villeneuve
Juan Montoya (No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge Avenger) YOU WERE IN THE SAME POSITION LAST YEAR AS FRANCHITTI IS NOW, WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM HIM? �He has to get used to the car, how much sliding it is going to do. How much it is going to move around from what he is used to. The brakes and coming into the pits there is no pit limiter. He is used to pressing a button and you don�t worry about it, now you have to do it yourself. That is kind of hard at the beginning.�
DO YOU FEEL VILLENEUVE WILL FACE THE SAME CONCERNS THAT YOU DID FROM OTHER DRIVERS LAST YEAR? �No, I think what they are talking about with Jacques is that he has only done one race. One stock car race and going and spreading to a Cup race. I think he will be fine but that is where people are concerned.�
WHY ARE INTERNATIONAL DRIVERS NOW ATTRACED TO NASCAR? �I think they have always been attracted to NASCAR. I think the hard thing about it is that it was seen as a very American sport. If you were American you were in if you were not American you were not. Some people tried it but nobody every committed full time to it, so I did. When I came and I committed and things panned out pretty good I think people thought this is great. What Chip said is true, Dario was meant to be driving this car this year. �The biggest auto racing series there is in America is this (NASCAR). If you want to make it big this is where you want to be.�
YOU HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL NOT EVERYONE CAN COME OVER AND BE SUCCESSFUL IN NASCAR �Well I think it is great that people think that. I have been able to drive a lot of different cars and be successful but at the same time Dario has done that as well. Dario drove GPM (Grand Prix Masters) for a couple years he was fast there.�
WHAT IS THE ADVICE YOU GAVE HIM? �So far we talked a little bit especially about Talladega and what he can expect. The things that really shocked me in the whole train of cars they are so that you can�t see the corners. You have to get used to peeking down and see where the corner is.�
DO YOU THINK OTHER DRIVERS WOULD OF MADE THE JUMP TO NASCAR IF YOU HADN�T STARTED IT? �Dario would of. I think Dario had the deal done when I talked to Chip. I didn�t even know about it. I found out afterwards that I was taking Dario�s seat. We are very good friends and I didn�t want to take his place but I really wanted to do this with Chip.�
Chip Ganassi (team owner of Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates) YOU NOW HAVE THE MOST INTERNATIONAL DRIVER LINEUP OF ANYBODY WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FROM A SPONSOR STANDPOINT? �I think it certainly opens up opportunities not only for us but for the entire sport. In any major corporation at the top levels of it, it is international. Whether it is management or product or the company itself. The world multi-national company is in everybody�s language today. Sports are international whether it�s the NFL, baseball or hockey or some of the things that NASCAR gets compared to from time to time. I think it opens up some opportunities. There certainly some interest from companies that have a global audience and that is a great thing. But that is for other people to talk about. I�m in charge of the drivers.�
Dario Franchitti (2008 driver of the No. 40 Dodge Avenger) ON PREPARING FOR NASCAR �I�m just going to ask a lot of questions. One of the first times I sat in a stock car was yesterday. I got in the thing and got my seat fit. �I did a couple years of racing over in Germany. So I�ve driven with a roof over my head before. I�m just going to be around asking questions. I�m going to be asking Reed (Sorenson), Juan (Montoya), all the crew chiefs and all the guys at the shop. These guys have been through this before with Juan. I think that is really a big help to me because they have been through those growing pains last year. That was another big reason I came to this team because I knew it was done before.
�I�ve been intrigued by the challenge of NASCAR for quite a while. Winning the Indy 500 and the Championship made that decision easier because I had achieved what I wanted to achieve. It was time to move on and jump into this new world.�
ON GOALS FOR SUCCESS �Right now we are just taking it week by week with this program that Chip has to introduce me to stock car racing with ARCA and Busch. We really haven�t spoke that much about the right away (goals) yet.�
WAS THE DECISION TO COME TO NASCAR MADE BEFORE YOU WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP? �My mind was made up before that. That was just icing on the cake from a terrific season. It felt really, really good to be able to get that victory (Indy 500) and that Championship. To win those together was special.�
ON RACING WITH NEW DRIVERS IN NASCAR �That is all part of the learning process. They have to build up that trust with me. I just have to learn. I�ve been doing open wheel for so long that you know exactly how one driver is going to react opposed to another. I look forward to racing these great drivers.�
WHAT WAS YOUR ATTRACTION TO NASCAR �It was the racing and I keep talking about this new challenge. But I�ve been doing open wheel racing for so long that I was anxious to try something else. NASCAR intrigued me, the competitiveness of the series all those things that go into it. I love the competition of it and just learning something completely different. At this point I have no clue. But going from a position of team leader to a rookie, it�s different.�
DID YOU EVER PICTURE YOURSELF AS TEAMMATES WITH MONTOYA? � I think it is really good to have him here. It is good because you can relate to him. That is really going to help. Reed as well, he has been really cool about it. I�ll just be asking a lot of questions. Juan and I were teammates for one race in GPM in 1996 so we�ve done this before but I�m looking forward to working with him. It is going to be fun.�
From Clear!Blue
Juan Montoya (No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge Avenger) YOU WERE IN THE SAME POSITION LAST YEAR AS FRANCHITTI IS NOW, WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM HIM? �He has to get used to the car, how much sliding it is going to do. How much it is going to move around from what he is used to. The brakes and coming into the pits there is no pit limiter. He is used to pressing a button and you don�t worry about it, now you have to do it yourself. That is kind of hard at the beginning.�
DO YOU FEEL VILLENEUVE WILL FACE THE SAME CONCERNS THAT YOU DID FROM OTHER DRIVERS LAST YEAR? �No, I think what they are talking about with Jacques is that he has only done one race. One stock car race and going and spreading to a Cup race. I think he will be fine but that is where people are concerned.�
WHY ARE INTERNATIONAL DRIVERS NOW ATTRACED TO NASCAR? �I think they have always been attracted to NASCAR. I think the hard thing about it is that it was seen as a very American sport. If you were American you were in if you were not American you were not. Some people tried it but nobody every committed full time to it, so I did. When I came and I committed and things panned out pretty good I think people thought this is great. What Chip said is true, Dario was meant to be driving this car this year. �The biggest auto racing series there is in America is this (NASCAR). If you want to make it big this is where you want to be.�
YOU HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL NOT EVERYONE CAN COME OVER AND BE SUCCESSFUL IN NASCAR �Well I think it is great that people think that. I have been able to drive a lot of different cars and be successful but at the same time Dario has done that as well. Dario drove GPM (Grand Prix Masters) for a couple years he was fast there.�
WHAT IS THE ADVICE YOU GAVE HIM? �So far we talked a little bit especially about Talladega and what he can expect. The things that really shocked me in the whole train of cars they are so that you can�t see the corners. You have to get used to peeking down and see where the corner is.�
DO YOU THINK OTHER DRIVERS WOULD OF MADE THE JUMP TO NASCAR IF YOU HADN�T STARTED IT? �Dario would of. I think Dario had the deal done when I talked to Chip. I didn�t even know about it. I found out afterwards that I was taking Dario�s seat. We are very good friends and I didn�t want to take his place but I really wanted to do this with Chip.�
Chip Ganassi (team owner of Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates) YOU NOW HAVE THE MOST INTERNATIONAL DRIVER LINEUP OF ANYBODY WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FROM A SPONSOR STANDPOINT? �I think it certainly opens up opportunities not only for us but for the entire sport. In any major corporation at the top levels of it, it is international. Whether it is management or product or the company itself. The world multi-national company is in everybody�s language today. Sports are international whether it�s the NFL, baseball or hockey or some of the things that NASCAR gets compared to from time to time. I think it opens up some opportunities. There certainly some interest from companies that have a global audience and that is a great thing. But that is for other people to talk about. I�m in charge of the drivers.�
Dario Franchitti (2008 driver of the No. 40 Dodge Avenger) ON PREPARING FOR NASCAR �I�m just going to ask a lot of questions. One of the first times I sat in a stock car was yesterday. I got in the thing and got my seat fit. �I did a couple years of racing over in Germany. So I�ve driven with a roof over my head before. I�m just going to be around asking questions. I�m going to be asking Reed (Sorenson), Juan (Montoya), all the crew chiefs and all the guys at the shop. These guys have been through this before with Juan. I think that is really a big help to me because they have been through those growing pains last year. That was another big reason I came to this team because I knew it was done before.
�I�ve been intrigued by the challenge of NASCAR for quite a while. Winning the Indy 500 and the Championship made that decision easier because I had achieved what I wanted to achieve. It was time to move on and jump into this new world.�
ON GOALS FOR SUCCESS �Right now we are just taking it week by week with this program that Chip has to introduce me to stock car racing with ARCA and Busch. We really haven�t spoke that much about the right away (goals) yet.�
WAS THE DECISION TO COME TO NASCAR MADE BEFORE YOU WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP? �My mind was made up before that. That was just icing on the cake from a terrific season. It felt really, really good to be able to get that victory (Indy 500) and that Championship. To win those together was special.�
ON RACING WITH NEW DRIVERS IN NASCAR �That is all part of the learning process. They have to build up that trust with me. I just have to learn. I�ve been doing open wheel for so long that you know exactly how one driver is going to react opposed to another. I look forward to racing these great drivers.�
WHAT WAS YOUR ATTRACTION TO NASCAR �It was the racing and I keep talking about this new challenge. But I�ve been doing open wheel racing for so long that I was anxious to try something else. NASCAR intrigued me, the competitiveness of the series all those things that go into it. I love the competition of it and just learning something completely different. At this point I have no clue. But going from a position of team leader to a rookie, it�s different.�
DID YOU EVER PICTURE YOURSELF AS TEAMMATES WITH MONTOYA? � I think it is really good to have him here. It is good because you can relate to him. That is really going to help. Reed as well, he has been really cool about it. I�ll just be asking a lot of questions. Juan and I were teammates for one race in GPM in 1996 so we�ve done this before but I�m looking forward to working with him. It is going to be fun.�
From Clear!Blue
GT Racing wins final race and Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship
St-Eustache (October 5, 2007)-- The GT Racing Team capped off a successful 2007 racing season by winning the last round, and the championship. In winning the final round of the season last Sunday, Charles-André Bilodeau captured his sixth race win, and became the Canadian Touring Champion. Team mate Borgeat secured a third place overall.
The pair finished respectively fifth and tenth in the first race of the weekend (Saturday). Sunday, Charles-André Bilodeau took the lead late in the race and pushed all the way to the finish, scoring his sixth win and tenth podium of the season.
Unfortunately, one bad race can cost you and that’s exactly what happened to Borgeat in the last round. Second in points, he only had to score a minimum of points to remain in position, but got pushed out by a fellow competitor on the first lap of the race. The following contender scored enough points and grabbed the second spot to Étienne. “I wish I could have finished behind Charles-André, but we showed everyone that we were very fast by winning eight races. 50% of all races!. ”said Étienne Borgeat. “We had a great year and winning the championship at Mosport is a great accomplishment for GT Racing.”
In 16 rounds, GT Racing won 8 races and finished more than 17 times on the podium. An unbelievable performance from the St-Eustache (Québec) based team.
“What a year for the GT Racing Team,” exclaimed team co-owner, Charles-André Bilodeau. “The whole team worked so hard throughout the year and they deserve to win a championship. Winning the championship is an end to an excellent season and I want to thank Éric Côté, the entire team staff and our sponsors for the effort they put into our program. If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be celebrating like this.”
“It was a great year,” commented team manager, Éric Côté. “We met and exceeded the team goals that we had set at the beginning of the year and it was all because of the hard work and determination of everyone involved with the team; drivers, crew and sponsors. I would like to congratulate Charles-André and Étienne on their seasons. I would also like to thank John Bondar and his team who made this season possible.”
“Of course we will be back to defend our title in 2008, but look out for a big announcement shortly,” concluded Charles-André.
The team would like to thank Ultramar, idCAD, Pavnat, Motul, Sequoia Travel, Provan, SKF and Base.
THE 2007 SEASON IN NUMBERS
Number of events: 16
Wins : 8
Second places : 5
Third places : 4
Podiums : 17
Top 5 finishes : 23
For more information about the team, please contact Charles-Andre Bilodeau at 514.469.0751 or email charles@gt-racing.ca.
The pair finished respectively fifth and tenth in the first race of the weekend (Saturday). Sunday, Charles-André Bilodeau took the lead late in the race and pushed all the way to the finish, scoring his sixth win and tenth podium of the season.
Unfortunately, one bad race can cost you and that’s exactly what happened to Borgeat in the last round. Second in points, he only had to score a minimum of points to remain in position, but got pushed out by a fellow competitor on the first lap of the race. The following contender scored enough points and grabbed the second spot to Étienne. “I wish I could have finished behind Charles-André, but we showed everyone that we were very fast by winning eight races. 50% of all races!. ”said Étienne Borgeat. “We had a great year and winning the championship at Mosport is a great accomplishment for GT Racing.”
In 16 rounds, GT Racing won 8 races and finished more than 17 times on the podium. An unbelievable performance from the St-Eustache (Québec) based team.
“What a year for the GT Racing Team,” exclaimed team co-owner, Charles-André Bilodeau. “The whole team worked so hard throughout the year and they deserve to win a championship. Winning the championship is an end to an excellent season and I want to thank Éric Côté, the entire team staff and our sponsors for the effort they put into our program. If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be celebrating like this.”
“It was a great year,” commented team manager, Éric Côté. “We met and exceeded the team goals that we had set at the beginning of the year and it was all because of the hard work and determination of everyone involved with the team; drivers, crew and sponsors. I would like to congratulate Charles-André and Étienne on their seasons. I would also like to thank John Bondar and his team who made this season possible.”
“Of course we will be back to defend our title in 2008, but look out for a big announcement shortly,” concluded Charles-André.
The team would like to thank Ultramar, idCAD, Pavnat, Motul, Sequoia Travel, Provan, SKF and Base.
THE 2007 SEASON IN NUMBERS
Number of events: 16
Wins : 8
Second places : 5
Third places : 4
Podiums : 17
Top 5 finishes : 23
For more information about the team, please contact Charles-Andre Bilodeau at 514.469.0751 or email charles@gt-racing.ca.
ALMS: Riley Technologies announces new GT2 Corvette
Brassleton, GA (5 October 2007) - Riley Technologies will open a new chapter in its history with Le Mans, as the famed constructor announced the availability of the Riley Technologies Chevrolet Corvette GT2. American Le Mans Series C.E.O. Scott Atherton confirmed the entry in his annual �State of the Series� speech Friday as he welcomed the Chevrolet Corvette into GT2 competition.
�Our fans are going to relish seeing the Corvette name join the GT2 category and going up against the best in the world,� said Atherton. �GT2 has shown itself to be a fiercely competitive class, and with Riley bringing this Corvette into the field, it will only become more so.�
The Chevrolet Corvette has long captured the imagination of teams and fans alike across the globe. That world wide passion will spread once again with the GT2, as the Riley machine will work on being accepted for competition in a wide variety of series in addition to the American Le Mans Series, including FIA GT2, the ACO 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the Europe-based Le Mans Series.
Riley Technologies, which celebrated victories from Japan to Daytona during the 2007 season, brings the highest level of engineering excellence to their products, and is looking forward to not only entering the fray Stateside, but also to the wide market the new Corvette can compete in.
The design process for the Corvette used Riley Technologies in-house engineering tools to maximum effect, utilizing the latest in leading-edge design methods including Computational Fluid Dynamics.
�We are really excited to be making this announcement and have a lot of confidence about this Corvette,� said Riley. �We expect to be competitive-not just on the track, but also in the global marketplace, given the current currency fluctuations. We have used every tool we have to make this package as competitive as possible, and are looking forward to seeing it in action at Sebring.�
The GT2 Corvette V8 powerplant will be built by CRD, a leading GM engine builder.
American Le Mans fans will not have to wait long to see the exciting new entry in action, as at least one team is planning on debuting the entry in the 2008 Sebring 12 Hours with a two-car team.
In addition to their involvement with the American Le Mans Series, Riley Technologies also build cars for the Rolex Sports Car Series, the USAC Silver Crown Series, and the Japanese GT Championship Series.
From Matt Cleary, Sunday Group Management
�Our fans are going to relish seeing the Corvette name join the GT2 category and going up against the best in the world,� said Atherton. �GT2 has shown itself to be a fiercely competitive class, and with Riley bringing this Corvette into the field, it will only become more so.�
The Chevrolet Corvette has long captured the imagination of teams and fans alike across the globe. That world wide passion will spread once again with the GT2, as the Riley machine will work on being accepted for competition in a wide variety of series in addition to the American Le Mans Series, including FIA GT2, the ACO 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the Europe-based Le Mans Series.
Riley Technologies, which celebrated victories from Japan to Daytona during the 2007 season, brings the highest level of engineering excellence to their products, and is looking forward to not only entering the fray Stateside, but also to the wide market the new Corvette can compete in.
The design process for the Corvette used Riley Technologies in-house engineering tools to maximum effect, utilizing the latest in leading-edge design methods including Computational Fluid Dynamics.
�We are really excited to be making this announcement and have a lot of confidence about this Corvette,� said Riley. �We expect to be competitive-not just on the track, but also in the global marketplace, given the current currency fluctuations. We have used every tool we have to make this package as competitive as possible, and are looking forward to seeing it in action at Sebring.�
The GT2 Corvette V8 powerplant will be built by CRD, a leading GM engine builder.
American Le Mans fans will not have to wait long to see the exciting new entry in action, as at least one team is planning on debuting the entry in the 2008 Sebring 12 Hours with a two-car team.
In addition to their involvement with the American Le Mans Series, Riley Technologies also build cars for the Rolex Sports Car Series, the USAC Silver Crown Series, and the Japanese GT Championship Series.
From Matt Cleary, Sunday Group Management
Dodge Motorsports Notes & Quotes Talladega Friday Morning
Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge Avenger) ON BRINGING THE COT TO TALLADEGA "There is going to be quite a few unknowns throughout the weekend. It is going to be difficult to get the car exactly perfect because it is a new car and nobody knows exactly what to expect. I think it will be more of the same but different, if that makes any sense; how the cars will draft and how easy it seems to lose that draft. It will be interesting. The cars do have a more comfortable feel out on the superspeedway. I think what it is going to come down to is pit strategy. Do you have enough fuel to run a couple laps further than other cars? If you have a slightly slower pit stop than the pack that you pitted with are you going to lose the draft after you go back out there? I think the team that stays on their toes and is able to adapt the best to all the changing conditions will have good run this weekend. I enjoy the restrictor plate racing and maybe one of these times we will be able to crack into victory lane."
WILL BUMP DRAFTING HERE BE DIFFERENT WITH THE SPLITTERS "It will be interesting to see how the side drafting comes in to play. The cars really line up well nose to tail, you can bump draft really easily. Yet NASCAR has the "no zones" through the corners and through the tri-oval. So you don't want to be bump drafting in that area. With the old car side drafting was really important. You could dump a lot of air on somebody's rear spoiler and slow that car down and actually allow your car to pass another one side by side. It will be interesting to see how the wing reacts to that. Are we going to be dumping all that same air onto a wing and getting the same effect? Those unknowns are there. It is just a matter of going through practice motions."
ARE THERE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE WAY RYAN NEWMAN RACES YOU WITH YOU RUNNING FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP? "No everything has stayed the same. We're relatively under the same influence that we always are with the way you race your own race. You know you have a teammate out there and a guy that you can trust to bail you out. Let's just say we're going four wide and I get kicked out of the lead and going backwards in a hurry he might be the first one to stick his nose out there and gather me back up so that we are able to maintain the draft together. I would do the same thing for him if that happened. You always build your relationships at restrictor plate races and to have a teammate out there like Ryan and my little brother, you always count on a few guys to help you out. Whether you are in the Chase or not it still seems like the same scenario where every man is for himself when it comes down for the win."
IS THERE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF FEAR OF BEING IN THE BIG ONE HERE AT TALLADEGA? "There is the risk that you always take when you jump into a race car and go 200 mph. Whether it is at a short track or intermediate or here at a superspeedway there is always that danger. The level is heightened here at Talladega and Daytona just because the cars are in a pack. They are always drafting and one little slip from one guy can collect 15 different cars. You hope that you're in front of the big one or you're far enough behind it to stay out of it. I would like to say that we have run really well here in the past and we've been able to finish good because we haven't been in the big one. It is a fear that you know is there but you don't think about it all that often unless you see things getting anxious. When drivers are making very aggressive moves you start to sense that it is getting exciting and you start to bail out so you don't get caught up in it. There is a lot of things that you can't control out there and that is part of restrictor plate racing in this era."
ON LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY "They started a cycle at Lowe's Motor Speedway that will take a few years to really play out. They ground the track the first time and then they ground it a second time and then they had to repave it. When you repave a racetrack the asphalt is fresh, fast and at the same time very slick. You hope that it matures as quick as it can. Right now Goodyear brings a conservative tire for us at Charlotte and it makes it difficult to get the car dialed in. It is a very tough track. It seems like cars that were good there before still are good and the guys that struggle are still struggling. That race for us will probably be the toughest one for us in the Chase just because I don't do all that well at Charlotte."
ON VILLENEUVE TRYING TO QUALIFY HERE "I remember the procedure and the thought process when I first came in. Do I have enough experience? Do I have the credentials to be able to race at a restrictor plate race? It seems like he's got those credentials and that access very easy compared to what some other drivers have done in the past. They have to have short track race usually. Then you graduate to a mile race track. Once you do that then you bring an ARCA car to Daytona or Talladega. That would have been the right way to do it if I was Bill Davis Racing. But they threw him right in the fire. That is how Jack Roush did it with me when I first started. That is what Jacques is going to have as far as his atmosphere around NASCAR. We will see how he does. There is so many elements here that are out of your control I don't think throwing in another rookie has anything to do with it."
HOW FITTING IS IT THAT TALLADEGA IS PART OF THE CHASE? "It definitely has been exciting the way that the Chase format has developed over the years and to have 10 races in the Chase. Those 10 races have a different magnitude and the excitement level is just through the roof. You through in Talladega where it was already a prestigious race and the excitement level was through the roof. It really builds. This race is very important. To have a good race in the Chase as well as a prestigious race to win. Anytime you get a chance to win at Talladega it's very important."
From ClearBlue
WILL BUMP DRAFTING HERE BE DIFFERENT WITH THE SPLITTERS "It will be interesting to see how the side drafting comes in to play. The cars really line up well nose to tail, you can bump draft really easily. Yet NASCAR has the "no zones" through the corners and through the tri-oval. So you don't want to be bump drafting in that area. With the old car side drafting was really important. You could dump a lot of air on somebody's rear spoiler and slow that car down and actually allow your car to pass another one side by side. It will be interesting to see how the wing reacts to that. Are we going to be dumping all that same air onto a wing and getting the same effect? Those unknowns are there. It is just a matter of going through practice motions."
ARE THERE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE WAY RYAN NEWMAN RACES YOU WITH YOU RUNNING FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP? "No everything has stayed the same. We're relatively under the same influence that we always are with the way you race your own race. You know you have a teammate out there and a guy that you can trust to bail you out. Let's just say we're going four wide and I get kicked out of the lead and going backwards in a hurry he might be the first one to stick his nose out there and gather me back up so that we are able to maintain the draft together. I would do the same thing for him if that happened. You always build your relationships at restrictor plate races and to have a teammate out there like Ryan and my little brother, you always count on a few guys to help you out. Whether you are in the Chase or not it still seems like the same scenario where every man is for himself when it comes down for the win."
IS THERE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF FEAR OF BEING IN THE BIG ONE HERE AT TALLADEGA? "There is the risk that you always take when you jump into a race car and go 200 mph. Whether it is at a short track or intermediate or here at a superspeedway there is always that danger. The level is heightened here at Talladega and Daytona just because the cars are in a pack. They are always drafting and one little slip from one guy can collect 15 different cars. You hope that you're in front of the big one or you're far enough behind it to stay out of it. I would like to say that we have run really well here in the past and we've been able to finish good because we haven't been in the big one. It is a fear that you know is there but you don't think about it all that often unless you see things getting anxious. When drivers are making very aggressive moves you start to sense that it is getting exciting and you start to bail out so you don't get caught up in it. There is a lot of things that you can't control out there and that is part of restrictor plate racing in this era."
ON LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY "They started a cycle at Lowe's Motor Speedway that will take a few years to really play out. They ground the track the first time and then they ground it a second time and then they had to repave it. When you repave a racetrack the asphalt is fresh, fast and at the same time very slick. You hope that it matures as quick as it can. Right now Goodyear brings a conservative tire for us at Charlotte and it makes it difficult to get the car dialed in. It is a very tough track. It seems like cars that were good there before still are good and the guys that struggle are still struggling. That race for us will probably be the toughest one for us in the Chase just because I don't do all that well at Charlotte."
ON VILLENEUVE TRYING TO QUALIFY HERE "I remember the procedure and the thought process when I first came in. Do I have enough experience? Do I have the credentials to be able to race at a restrictor plate race? It seems like he's got those credentials and that access very easy compared to what some other drivers have done in the past. They have to have short track race usually. Then you graduate to a mile race track. Once you do that then you bring an ARCA car to Daytona or Talladega. That would have been the right way to do it if I was Bill Davis Racing. But they threw him right in the fire. That is how Jack Roush did it with me when I first started. That is what Jacques is going to have as far as his atmosphere around NASCAR. We will see how he does. There is so many elements here that are out of your control I don't think throwing in another rookie has anything to do with it."
HOW FITTING IS IT THAT TALLADEGA IS PART OF THE CHASE? "It definitely has been exciting the way that the Chase format has developed over the years and to have 10 races in the Chase. Those 10 races have a different magnitude and the excitement level is just through the roof. You through in Talladega where it was already a prestigious race and the excitement level was through the roof. It really builds. This race is very important. To have a good race in the Chase as well as a prestigious race to win. Anytime you get a chance to win at Talladega it's very important."
From ClearBlue
SDW: Hearn Scores Super DIRT Week Satellite Win At Brewerton!
Brewerton, NY - October 4, 2007 - By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing NorthEast PR Director
SYRACUSE, NY - Super DIRT Week race action continued away from the New York State Fairgrounds on Thursday night and it was Brett Hearn feeling right at home with a command performance in the headline Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Series 'Leaf Racewear 75' at Brewerton Speedway. Hearn's fifth career Small-Block feature win at Brewerton was his first in 10 years at the D-shaped DIRT Demon and earned DIRTcar NorthEast's all-time winner a cool $3 grand.
"Brewerton is always challenging as its racy with multi-grooves and the guys that run here all the time really know how to get around," said Hearn, who scored his last 358-Modified victory at Brewerton during Super DIRT Week '97. The following year he posted his lone Big-Block win in Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series competition. "We've been close a couple times here lately but its definitely been awhile since we put it all together over here."
Chasing Hearn across the stripe was current Advance Auto Parts Series Big-Block points leader Tim Fuller, Todd Burley, Stewart Friesen and Pete Bicknell.
A banner field of 48 DIRTcar 358-Modified entries filed in for the annual Super DIRT Week special at the popular route 11 oval, requiring five heats and three consolation races to determine the 31-car starting line-up. Canadian invader Friesen jumped out early from outside of the front row with veteran Alan Johnson in tow during the early stages of the 75-lap main.
Fourth-place starter Hearn moved into second with a handful of laps complete and took advantage of a lap eight restart to speed by Friesen for first using the top side of the tacky third-miler. Fuller began right behind the 'Jet' on the outside of row three yet needed 44 laps to chase down runner-up Friesen and set his sights on the Four Star/TEO machine of Hearn.
"Its always tough in traffic out here, I just would've liked to have made a race out of it," said Fuller, fresh off his Mr. DIRTcar 358 series victory the night before at Can-Am Motorsports Park. "A caution at the end would've been nice, I don't think I could've caught Brett but at least have kept him in sight."
While eight caution periods slowed the event, the biggest crash of the night required a red flag as a half-dozen cars blocked the track in turn one to freeze the field with 13 laps complete. The incident ignited on the front stretch when Fred Carleton got loose and was steam-rolled by the oncoming pack which resulted in one car after another piling in. Roy Tarbell sustained the most cosmetic damage while Steve Planck and Mark Smoke joined Carleton and Tarbell in the pits for the rest of the show.
Racing in the Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Series resumes for the third successive night of extra-distance activity during the annual Super DIRT Week extravaganza in the Salt City. The rare quadrupleheader carries on Friday, October 5 at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park before closing out with the headline ITT Corporation-Goulds Pumps 150-lap 'Salute to the Troops' Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Series Championship race Oct. 6 on the Syracuse Mile.
Hoosier Tire-Sunoco Race Fuels Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Championship Series Race #10 – Brewerton Speedway, October 4, 2007 Leaf Racewear 75 Event Summary
FIN STR CAR# DRIVER
1 4 4* Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ($3,000)
2 6 19 Tim Fuller/Edwards,NY
3 1 5 Todd Burley/Spencerport,NY
4 2 ofp1 Stewart Friesen/Niagara-o-t-Lake,ONT
5 8 42 Pete Bicknell/St.Catharines,ONT
6 11 99j Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
7 3 Deuce Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY
8 7 2 Ronnie Johnson/Duanesburg,NY
9 5 28 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
10 13 21k Randy Chrysler/Lewiston,NY
11 23 7 Scott Kerwin/Newfane,NY
12 14 7j Jeff Isabell/Pennellville,NY
13 12 rp23 Larry Lampman Jr./Port Colborne,ONT
14 18 L82 Ted Lamb Jr./Clay,NY
15 19 16 Lance Willix II/Theresa,NY
16 17 17d Danny O'Brien/Kingston,ONT
17 10 94 Ray Hoard/Granville,NY
18 15 22 Mario Clair/St-Edmond,QUE
19 22 66x Carey Terrance/Hogansburg,NY
20 9 99 Mike Adderley/Watertown,NY
21 16 16x Danny Creeden/Middletown,NY
22 21 17 Ryan Grim/Laurys Station,PA
23 28 124 Pierre DagenaisGatineau,QUE
24 30 77g Robbie Grant/Malone,NY
25 26 1f Fred Carleton/St.Catharines,ONT
26 24 77x Steve Planck/Cortland,NY
27 27 007 Roy Tarbell/Hogansburg,NY
28 29 9 Mark Smoke/Akwesasne,NY
29 20 37 Kyle Jacobs/Hogansburg,NY
30 25 111 Kevin Wills/Ransomville,NY
31 31 m16 Kevin Bates/Lake Ariel,PA
GATER NEWS LAP LEADERS: Friesen (1-7), Hearn (8-75).
CAUTIONS: 8; 1 RED FLAG (lap 14).
SYRACUSE ITT CORP./GOULDS PUMPS 150 QUALIFIER: Billy Decker.
SYRACUSE, NY - Super DIRT Week race action continued away from the New York State Fairgrounds on Thursday night and it was Brett Hearn feeling right at home with a command performance in the headline Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Series 'Leaf Racewear 75' at Brewerton Speedway. Hearn's fifth career Small-Block feature win at Brewerton was his first in 10 years at the D-shaped DIRT Demon and earned DIRTcar NorthEast's all-time winner a cool $3 grand.
"Brewerton is always challenging as its racy with multi-grooves and the guys that run here all the time really know how to get around," said Hearn, who scored his last 358-Modified victory at Brewerton during Super DIRT Week '97. The following year he posted his lone Big-Block win in Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series competition. "We've been close a couple times here lately but its definitely been awhile since we put it all together over here."
Chasing Hearn across the stripe was current Advance Auto Parts Series Big-Block points leader Tim Fuller, Todd Burley, Stewart Friesen and Pete Bicknell.
A banner field of 48 DIRTcar 358-Modified entries filed in for the annual Super DIRT Week special at the popular route 11 oval, requiring five heats and three consolation races to determine the 31-car starting line-up. Canadian invader Friesen jumped out early from outside of the front row with veteran Alan Johnson in tow during the early stages of the 75-lap main.
Fourth-place starter Hearn moved into second with a handful of laps complete and took advantage of a lap eight restart to speed by Friesen for first using the top side of the tacky third-miler. Fuller began right behind the 'Jet' on the outside of row three yet needed 44 laps to chase down runner-up Friesen and set his sights on the Four Star/TEO machine of Hearn.
"Its always tough in traffic out here, I just would've liked to have made a race out of it," said Fuller, fresh off his Mr. DIRTcar 358 series victory the night before at Can-Am Motorsports Park. "A caution at the end would've been nice, I don't think I could've caught Brett but at least have kept him in sight."
While eight caution periods slowed the event, the biggest crash of the night required a red flag as a half-dozen cars blocked the track in turn one to freeze the field with 13 laps complete. The incident ignited on the front stretch when Fred Carleton got loose and was steam-rolled by the oncoming pack which resulted in one car after another piling in. Roy Tarbell sustained the most cosmetic damage while Steve Planck and Mark Smoke joined Carleton and Tarbell in the pits for the rest of the show.
Racing in the Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Series resumes for the third successive night of extra-distance activity during the annual Super DIRT Week extravaganza in the Salt City. The rare quadrupleheader carries on Friday, October 5 at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park before closing out with the headline ITT Corporation-Goulds Pumps 150-lap 'Salute to the Troops' Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Series Championship race Oct. 6 on the Syracuse Mile.
Hoosier Tire-Sunoco Race Fuels Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Championship Series Race #10 – Brewerton Speedway, October 4, 2007 Leaf Racewear 75 Event Summary
FIN STR CAR# DRIVER
1 4 4* Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ($3,000)
2 6 19 Tim Fuller/Edwards,NY
3 1 5 Todd Burley/Spencerport,NY
4 2 ofp1 Stewart Friesen/Niagara-o-t-Lake,ONT
5 8 42 Pete Bicknell/St.Catharines,ONT
6 11 99j Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
7 3 Deuce Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY
8 7 2 Ronnie Johnson/Duanesburg,NY
9 5 28 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
10 13 21k Randy Chrysler/Lewiston,NY
11 23 7 Scott Kerwin/Newfane,NY
12 14 7j Jeff Isabell/Pennellville,NY
13 12 rp23 Larry Lampman Jr./Port Colborne,ONT
14 18 L82 Ted Lamb Jr./Clay,NY
15 19 16 Lance Willix II/Theresa,NY
16 17 17d Danny O'Brien/Kingston,ONT
17 10 94 Ray Hoard/Granville,NY
18 15 22 Mario Clair/St-Edmond,QUE
19 22 66x Carey Terrance/Hogansburg,NY
20 9 99 Mike Adderley/Watertown,NY
21 16 16x Danny Creeden/Middletown,NY
22 21 17 Ryan Grim/Laurys Station,PA
23 28 124 Pierre DagenaisGatineau,QUE
24 30 77g Robbie Grant/Malone,NY
25 26 1f Fred Carleton/St.Catharines,ONT
26 24 77x Steve Planck/Cortland,NY
27 27 007 Roy Tarbell/Hogansburg,NY
28 29 9 Mark Smoke/Akwesasne,NY
29 20 37 Kyle Jacobs/Hogansburg,NY
30 25 111 Kevin Wills/Ransomville,NY
31 31 m16 Kevin Bates/Lake Ariel,PA
GATER NEWS LAP LEADERS: Friesen (1-7), Hearn (8-75).
CAUTIONS: 8; 1 RED FLAG (lap 14).
SYRACUSE ITT CORP./GOULDS PUMPS 150 QUALIFIER: Billy Decker.
Rally of the Tall Pines VIP Packages Now on Sale!
Attention: All Rally Fans!The 2007 Rally of the Tall Pines is fast approaching. The organizers are ready. The competitors are ready. So the only question remaining is: Are you ready?
The weekend of November 23-24 will again see the country’s top rally teams battling it out for supremacy in the final round of the Canadian Rally Championship. For the avid rally fan, there are many great viewing areas, but only one sure way to take maximum advantage of all of them: the Tall Pines VIP Package.
Once again this year, the VIP Package will be filled with exclusive features designed to get you get closer to the action. You will receive:
• A full day of rally excitement from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
• Transportation to and from our famous spectator areas (Iron Bridge and Castledine’s Corner) in a luxury coach bus
• Access to the heated VIP tent and hot chocolate, coffee and donuts provided by Bancroft Tim Horton’s at our famous Iron Bridge spectator area
• Complimentary lunch provided by Pizza Pizza
• Snacks and refreshments throughout the day
• Official Rally of The Tall Pines clothing
• Spectator Guide and Rally Information sheets
• Complimentary hot dinner at River’s Edge Golf Course
• Free admission to the Post Rally Party and Beer Tent at Rally Headquarters on Saturday evening
• Complimentary beverage ticket for the Post Rally Party
And as the event draws closer, many more special surprises.
The VIP Package is now available for the low price of $145 + GST per person. Space is limited and demand is high. To avoid disappointment, reserve your spot NOW for another year of fun and excitement as you go behind the scenes at one of North America’s most exciting rallies.
For more details on the VIP Package and to book online, visit us at: http://www.tallpinesrally.com/ and click “Spectate” at the top and choose VIP Program.
We’re looking forward to another amazing year at the Rally of the Tall Pines – with YOU!
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.
Coordinator: Donna Castledine Phone: (905) 851-6983 Email: donna@tallpinesrally.com
Assistant Coordinator: Alan Ockwell Phone: (416) 200-3152 Email: alan@tallpinesrally.com
Marketing Manager: Donna Huber Phone: (416) 441-0416 Email: marketing@tallpinesrally.com
Bicknell & Ward Share ITT-Goulds Pumps 358 Front Row For 2nd Straight Year!
Syracuse, NY - October 4, 2007 - By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing NorthEast PR Director
For the second straight year Pete Bicknell and Pat Ward will make up the front row to begin the ITT Corporation-Goulds Pumps Salute to Troops 150 on Saturday afternoon. This year, however, it will be Mr. Small-Block Bicknell starting from the pole while Ward will be stationed outside the front row when Super DIRT Week XXXVI showcases the top 358-Modified teams at the New York State Fairgrounds for the 28th consecutive season in the Salt City.
Bicknell and Ward set fast times in 358-Modified qualifying on Thursday afternoon from a pool of 42 drivers running under the clocks, with five-time ITT/Goulds Pumps 150 Champion Bicknell pocketing $1,000 for winning the Thompson Motorsports Pole Award and Ward collecting $500 for winning the Thompson Motorsports Outside Pole Award.
�Its great to be back here, we�ve always been fast on the Syracuse Mile,� said Bicknell, who last topped the list of Super DIRT Week Small-Block time trailers in 2001 and also in 1999, capitalizing only in �99 to take home the prestigious championship. �Congratulations to Pat as well, after we did the same thing here last year. I think we�ll see some record lap times later on with the Big-Blocks when more rubber gets laid down. The laps will be fast but a lot of tire wear will result. Hopefully, the track groove will widen up and give us a chance to race a little more when the weekend arrives.�
Ward was the 16th car to tour the Moody Mile on Wednesday while Bicknell came out 27th, yet similar times were the end result for both seasoned veterans on the Syracuse Mile. Far off Brett Hearn�s Small-Block track record of 29.104 seconds (123.694 mph) set in 2004, Bicknell stopped the clocks at 30.504 sec. while Ward posted a mark of 30.566 sec. at the fairgrounds.
�42s are good numbers to start up front,� added Ward, driver of the LJL Racing no. 42P Gypsum Express machine while Bicknell is most recognizable in the no. 42 Chevron-Texaco-Merrittville Speedway-Bicknell Race Products entry. �I�m already looking forward to the race on Saturday. With the track tightening up you can run the car pretty hard. It should be pretty quick on the weekend if we don�t get any rain mixed in between.�
Thursday time trials locked in the first three rows for Saturday�s 150-mile main. The fastest 10 drivers qualified from the Pullen Truck Center Twin 20 heat races scheduled Friday afternoon add 20 more to the starting grid while the final guaranteed driver from Friday's 358-Mod Super DIRTcar Series race at Rolling Wheels Raceway will be added to the back of Saturday's headline ITT Industries/Gould Pumps 'Salute to the Troops' 358-Modified Championship line-up.
Andy Bachetti (30.670 sec.) was third quick yet his time was disallowed due to an engine head infraction. Tim Fuller (30.691 sec.) was fourth fastest, while 2007 Brewerton Speedway Big-Block Points Champion Willy Decker (30.722), Matt Sheppard (30.846) and Vic Coffey (30.911) filled out the revised top-six.
Super DIRT Week XXXVI action continues on Friday with the Advance Auto Parts Big-Block Modified Triple 20s and Pullen�s Truck Center 358-Modified Twin 20s taking center stage on the NYS Fairgrounds oval. P & M Fabrication and MSS Sportsman Time Trials follow in the afternoon with Thompson Motorsports reviving the popular Modified Pit Stop Competition to conclude the fourth day of activity. But that�s not all as the action then moves over to Rolling Wheels Raceway Park for a 358-Modified/Sportsman Mr. DIRTcar Series doubleheader while Cayuga County hosts round no. 11 of the 12-race Caprara Bros. Outdoor Toy Store Mr. DIRTcar Street Stock Super Series, with Mod Lites and NY Modified Midgets making up the three-star attraction.
SUPER DIRT WEEK XXXVI 358-MODIFIED TIME TRIALS, NYS Fairgrounds, Oct. 4
FAST AVE
TIME MPH CAR# DRIVER
1 30.504 118.017 42 Pete Bicknell / St.Catharines,ONT
*$1,000-Thompson Motorsports Pole Award
2 30.566 117.778 42P Pat Ward / Genoa,NY
*$500-Thompson Motorsports Outside Pole Award
3 30.670 117.379 4 Andy Bachetti / Sheffield,MA
4 30.691 117.298 19 Tim Fuller / Edwards,NY
5 30.722 117.180 1X Willy Decker / Vernon,NY
6 30.846 116.709 44S Matt Sheppard / Waterloo,NY
7 30.911 116.463 32C Vic Coffey / Leicester,NY
8 30.941 116.350 5 J.R. Heffner / Pittsfield,MA
9 30.945 116.335 22C Mario Clair / St-Edmond,QUE
10 30.954 116.302 91 Billy Decker / Unadilla,NY
11 30.962 116.272 14 Rick Laubach / Quakertown,PA
12 30.964 116.264 4* Brett Hearn / Sussex,NJ
13 30.986 116.182 17 Jerry Higbie / Slate Hill,NY
14 31.105 115.737 M96 Brian McDonald / Cornwall,ONT
15 31.162 115.525 93X Craig Mitchell / Wappingers Falls,NY
16 31.204 115.370 115 Kenny Tremont / West Sand Lake,NY
17 31.205 115.366 12 Ric Hill / Lafayette,NJ
18 31.285 115.071 3B Chad Brachmann / Sanborn,NY
19 31.319 114.946 55 Mitch Gibbs / North Norwich,NY
20 31.351 114.829 24 Chris Shultz / Pawling,NY
21 31.390 114.686 M40 Mark Forte Jr. / Blue Anchor,NJ
22 31.427 114.551 76A Jack Johnson / Duanesburg,NY
23 31.517 114.224 66X Carey Terrance / Hogansburg,NY
24 31.529 114.181 959 Brett Graham / Kerhonkson,NY
25 31.604 113.910 90 Martin Roy / Napierville,QUE
26 31.614 113.874 16 Lance Willix II / Theresa,NY
27 31.664 113.694 00 Doug Manmiller / Shoemakersville,PA
28 31.667 113.683 24D Patrick Dupree / Saranac Lake,NY
29 31.667 113.683 80 Jeff Marshall / Fort Covington,NY
30 31.711 113.525 145 Roy Bridge / Castleton,NY
31 31.771 113.311 22B Mike Bruno / Castleton,VT
32 31.827 113.112 007 Roy Tarbell / Hogansburg,NY
33 32.324 111.372 28 Jimmy Phelps / Baldwinsville,NY
34 32.380 111.180 45 Wayne Jelley / Pittsfield,MA
35 32.401 111.108 19K Paul Kinney / Vernon,NY
36 32.608 110.402 37X Tom Scheetz Jr. / Boyertown,PA
37 32.718 110.031 19H Chris Higgins / Syracuse,NY
38 33.177 108.509 17D Danny O'Brien / Kingston,ONT
39 33.203 108.424 55P Perry Francis / Akwesasne,NY
40 33.436 107.668 22G Eric Gauvreau / Chelsea,QUE
41 34.030 105.789 9 Mark Smoke / Akwesasne,NY
42 34.384 104.700 77G Robbie Grant / Malone,NY
43 -NT- ----- 1T Danny Johnson / Rochester,NY
44 -NT- ----- 4S Brad Shova / North Bangor,NY
45 -NT- ----- 28P Eldon Payne,Jr. / Hopewell,NY
46 -NT- ----- 84 Gary Tomkins / Clifton Springs,NY
*Top-6 locked into front three rows; 46 Entries.
For the second straight year Pete Bicknell and Pat Ward will make up the front row to begin the ITT Corporation-Goulds Pumps Salute to Troops 150 on Saturday afternoon. This year, however, it will be Mr. Small-Block Bicknell starting from the pole while Ward will be stationed outside the front row when Super DIRT Week XXXVI showcases the top 358-Modified teams at the New York State Fairgrounds for the 28th consecutive season in the Salt City.
Bicknell and Ward set fast times in 358-Modified qualifying on Thursday afternoon from a pool of 42 drivers running under the clocks, with five-time ITT/Goulds Pumps 150 Champion Bicknell pocketing $1,000 for winning the Thompson Motorsports Pole Award and Ward collecting $500 for winning the Thompson Motorsports Outside Pole Award.
�Its great to be back here, we�ve always been fast on the Syracuse Mile,� said Bicknell, who last topped the list of Super DIRT Week Small-Block time trailers in 2001 and also in 1999, capitalizing only in �99 to take home the prestigious championship. �Congratulations to Pat as well, after we did the same thing here last year. I think we�ll see some record lap times later on with the Big-Blocks when more rubber gets laid down. The laps will be fast but a lot of tire wear will result. Hopefully, the track groove will widen up and give us a chance to race a little more when the weekend arrives.�
Ward was the 16th car to tour the Moody Mile on Wednesday while Bicknell came out 27th, yet similar times were the end result for both seasoned veterans on the Syracuse Mile. Far off Brett Hearn�s Small-Block track record of 29.104 seconds (123.694 mph) set in 2004, Bicknell stopped the clocks at 30.504 sec. while Ward posted a mark of 30.566 sec. at the fairgrounds.
�42s are good numbers to start up front,� added Ward, driver of the LJL Racing no. 42P Gypsum Express machine while Bicknell is most recognizable in the no. 42 Chevron-Texaco-Merrittville Speedway-Bicknell Race Products entry. �I�m already looking forward to the race on Saturday. With the track tightening up you can run the car pretty hard. It should be pretty quick on the weekend if we don�t get any rain mixed in between.�
Thursday time trials locked in the first three rows for Saturday�s 150-mile main. The fastest 10 drivers qualified from the Pullen Truck Center Twin 20 heat races scheduled Friday afternoon add 20 more to the starting grid while the final guaranteed driver from Friday's 358-Mod Super DIRTcar Series race at Rolling Wheels Raceway will be added to the back of Saturday's headline ITT Industries/Gould Pumps 'Salute to the Troops' 358-Modified Championship line-up.
Andy Bachetti (30.670 sec.) was third quick yet his time was disallowed due to an engine head infraction. Tim Fuller (30.691 sec.) was fourth fastest, while 2007 Brewerton Speedway Big-Block Points Champion Willy Decker (30.722), Matt Sheppard (30.846) and Vic Coffey (30.911) filled out the revised top-six.
Super DIRT Week XXXVI action continues on Friday with the Advance Auto Parts Big-Block Modified Triple 20s and Pullen�s Truck Center 358-Modified Twin 20s taking center stage on the NYS Fairgrounds oval. P & M Fabrication and MSS Sportsman Time Trials follow in the afternoon with Thompson Motorsports reviving the popular Modified Pit Stop Competition to conclude the fourth day of activity. But that�s not all as the action then moves over to Rolling Wheels Raceway Park for a 358-Modified/Sportsman Mr. DIRTcar Series doubleheader while Cayuga County hosts round no. 11 of the 12-race Caprara Bros. Outdoor Toy Store Mr. DIRTcar Street Stock Super Series, with Mod Lites and NY Modified Midgets making up the three-star attraction.
SUPER DIRT WEEK XXXVI 358-MODIFIED TIME TRIALS, NYS Fairgrounds, Oct. 4
FAST AVE
TIME MPH CAR# DRIVER
1 30.504 118.017 42 Pete Bicknell / St.Catharines,ONT
*$1,000-Thompson Motorsports Pole Award
2 30.566 117.778 42P Pat Ward / Genoa,NY
*$500-Thompson Motorsports Outside Pole Award
3 30.670 117.379 4 Andy Bachetti / Sheffield,MA
4 30.691 117.298 19 Tim Fuller / Edwards,NY
5 30.722 117.180 1X Willy Decker / Vernon,NY
6 30.846 116.709 44S Matt Sheppard / Waterloo,NY
7 30.911 116.463 32C Vic Coffey / Leicester,NY
8 30.941 116.350 5 J.R. Heffner / Pittsfield,MA
9 30.945 116.335 22C Mario Clair / St-Edmond,QUE
10 30.954 116.302 91 Billy Decker / Unadilla,NY
11 30.962 116.272 14 Rick Laubach / Quakertown,PA
12 30.964 116.264 4* Brett Hearn / Sussex,NJ
13 30.986 116.182 17 Jerry Higbie / Slate Hill,NY
14 31.105 115.737 M96 Brian McDonald / Cornwall,ONT
15 31.162 115.525 93X Craig Mitchell / Wappingers Falls,NY
16 31.204 115.370 115 Kenny Tremont / West Sand Lake,NY
17 31.205 115.366 12 Ric Hill / Lafayette,NJ
18 31.285 115.071 3B Chad Brachmann / Sanborn,NY
19 31.319 114.946 55 Mitch Gibbs / North Norwich,NY
20 31.351 114.829 24 Chris Shultz / Pawling,NY
21 31.390 114.686 M40 Mark Forte Jr. / Blue Anchor,NJ
22 31.427 114.551 76A Jack Johnson / Duanesburg,NY
23 31.517 114.224 66X Carey Terrance / Hogansburg,NY
24 31.529 114.181 959 Brett Graham / Kerhonkson,NY
25 31.604 113.910 90 Martin Roy / Napierville,QUE
26 31.614 113.874 16 Lance Willix II / Theresa,NY
27 31.664 113.694 00 Doug Manmiller / Shoemakersville,PA
28 31.667 113.683 24D Patrick Dupree / Saranac Lake,NY
29 31.667 113.683 80 Jeff Marshall / Fort Covington,NY
30 31.711 113.525 145 Roy Bridge / Castleton,NY
31 31.771 113.311 22B Mike Bruno / Castleton,VT
32 31.827 113.112 007 Roy Tarbell / Hogansburg,NY
33 32.324 111.372 28 Jimmy Phelps / Baldwinsville,NY
34 32.380 111.180 45 Wayne Jelley / Pittsfield,MA
35 32.401 111.108 19K Paul Kinney / Vernon,NY
36 32.608 110.402 37X Tom Scheetz Jr. / Boyertown,PA
37 32.718 110.031 19H Chris Higgins / Syracuse,NY
38 33.177 108.509 17D Danny O'Brien / Kingston,ONT
39 33.203 108.424 55P Perry Francis / Akwesasne,NY
40 33.436 107.668 22G Eric Gauvreau / Chelsea,QUE
41 34.030 105.789 9 Mark Smoke / Akwesasne,NY
42 34.384 104.700 77G Robbie Grant / Malone,NY
43 -NT- ----- 1T Danny Johnson / Rochester,NY
44 -NT- ----- 4S Brad Shova / North Bangor,NY
45 -NT- ----- 28P Eldon Payne,Jr. / Hopewell,NY
46 -NT- ----- 84 Gary Tomkins / Clifton Springs,NY
*Top-6 locked into front three rows; 46 Entries.
Rally of the Tall Pines VIP Packages Now on Sale!
Attention: All Rally Fans!
The 2007 Rally of the Tall Pines is fast approaching. The organizers are ready. The competitors are ready. So the only question remaining is: Are you ready?
The weekend of November 23-24 will again see the country’s top rally teams battling it out for supremacy in the final round of the Canadian Rally Championship. For the avid rally fan, there are many great viewing areas, but only one sure way to take maximum advantage of all of them: the Tall Pines VIP Package.
Once again this year, the VIP Package will be filled with exclusive features designed to get you get closer to the action. You will receive:
• A full day of rally excitement from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
• Transportation to and from our famous spectator areas (Iron Bridge and Castledine’s Corner) in a luxury coach bus
• Access to the heated VIP tent and hot chocolate, coffee and donuts provided by Bancroft Tim Horton’s at our famous Iron Bridge spectator area
• Complimentary lunch provided by Pizza Pizza
• Snacks and refreshments throughout the day
• Official Rally of The Tall Pines clothing
• Spectator Guide and Rally Information sheets
• Complimentary hot dinner at River’s Edge Golf Course
• Free admission to the Post Rally Party and Beer Tent at Rally Headquarters on Saturday evening
• Complimentary beverage ticket for the Post Rally Party
And as the event draws closer, many more special surprises.
The VIP Package is now available for the low price of $145 + GST per person. Space is limited and demand is high. To avoid disappointment, reserve your spot NOW for another year of fun and excitement as you go behind the scenes at one of North America’s most exciting rallies.
For more details on the VIP Package and to book online, visit us at: http://www.tallpinesrally.com and click "Spectate" at the top and choose VIP Program.
We’re looking forward to another amazing year at the Rally of the Tall Pines – with YOU!
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 www.tallpinesrally.com or contact one of the following event officials.
The 2007 Rally of the Tall Pines is fast approaching. The organizers are ready. The competitors are ready. So the only question remaining is: Are you ready?
The weekend of November 23-24 will again see the country’s top rally teams battling it out for supremacy in the final round of the Canadian Rally Championship. For the avid rally fan, there are many great viewing areas, but only one sure way to take maximum advantage of all of them: the Tall Pines VIP Package.
Once again this year, the VIP Package will be filled with exclusive features designed to get you get closer to the action. You will receive:
• A full day of rally excitement from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
• Transportation to and from our famous spectator areas (Iron Bridge and Castledine’s Corner) in a luxury coach bus
• Access to the heated VIP tent and hot chocolate, coffee and donuts provided by Bancroft Tim Horton’s at our famous Iron Bridge spectator area
• Complimentary lunch provided by Pizza Pizza
• Snacks and refreshments throughout the day
• Official Rally of The Tall Pines clothing
• Spectator Guide and Rally Information sheets
• Complimentary hot dinner at River’s Edge Golf Course
• Free admission to the Post Rally Party and Beer Tent at Rally Headquarters on Saturday evening
• Complimentary beverage ticket for the Post Rally Party
And as the event draws closer, many more special surprises.
The VIP Package is now available for the low price of $145 + GST per person. Space is limited and demand is high. To avoid disappointment, reserve your spot NOW for another year of fun and excitement as you go behind the scenes at one of North America’s most exciting rallies.
For more details on the VIP Package and to book online, visit us at: http://www.tallpinesrally.com and click "Spectate" at the top and choose VIP Program.
We’re looking forward to another amazing year at the Rally of the Tall Pines – with YOU!
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 www.tallpinesrally.com or contact one of the following event officials.
Phelps Takes Rite Aid 200 Pole In Super DIRT Week Big-Block Qualifying!
Phelps Saves Best For Last To Set Fast Time For Sunday�s Rite Aid 200
Syracuse, NY - October 4, 2007 - By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing NorthEast PR Director
Team Troyer driver Jimmy Phelps continued his climb up the DIRTcar Racing ladder as he bested a stellar field of 70 Big-Block Modifieds under the clocks to earn the pole-position start for the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Rite Aid 200 scheduled for Sunday at the New York State Fairgrounds. Phelps was the third from last driver to take time and he made the best of the late afternoon assignment, winning the $2,500 Wingfoot Commercial Tire Systems Pole Award after touring the historic Syracuse Mile in a one-lap clocking of 28.365 sec. (126.917 mph).
�These guys brought two awesome cars here this week and we made the best of it,� said Phelps, who time trialed sixth quickest in 2005, improved to third fastest last October before taking top honors yesterday on a sun-drenched day on the Moody Mile. �We just did what we had to do today to set up for the week and that definitely takes some pressure off the rest of the way.�
Capturing three consecutive pole awards from 2003-05, four-time Rite Aid 200 Champion Billy Decker went out just ahead of Phelps and stopped the clocks at 28.615 seconds to collect the $1,500 TEO Pro Car Outside Pole Award. Last year�s fast timer Tim Fuller (28.714) was the 34th car out of the gates and held the top spot until dropping to third on the final chart while Decker�s Gypsum Express teammate Pat Ward (28.953), recently crowned Lebanon Valley Speedway points champion J.R. Heffner (28.986) and Phelps (28.987) in his back-up car filled out the top-six.
With the six fastest cars locked into the front three rows and Phelps putting a pair in this elite group, second-generation standout Ronnie Johnson was next in Iine to fill the position and will start outside row three on Sunday. Tenth fastest time trialer Brett Hearn will start seventh in DIRTcar racing NorthEast's signature race on Sunday by virtue of his victory in the Lebanon Valley 200 in mid-September.
�When I first went out I thought I�d be in the top-six with the second car. After the first lap I knew there was a little work left to do so I took it in a little deeper the second time around and the car just stuck. Other than scuffing the tires we really didn�t do too much to the car today. Its great to be starting up front but we�ll have a bigger smile if we can stay there on Sunday,� said Phelps, who will be chasing the lucrative $50,000 first-place prize aboard the H&H Motorsports no. 98H Virginia Motor Speedway-Mohawk Northeast New England Race Fuels/Troyer entry to close out the 36th edition of Super DIRT Week in the Salt City.
Eighth-fastest in last year�s opening day trials, Decker improved a half-dozen spots to share the front row with Phelps on Sunday. �This is a testament to the crew as we haven�t really changed a thing since we unloaded the car for inspection on Tuesday,� said Decker, who led a race record 160 of the 200-lap distance en route to his latest victory in 2005. Decker still owns the track record for Big-Block Modifieds at Syracuse, running the Moody Mile in a time of 28.348 seconds (126.993 mph). �I�ve been hearing all the weatherman calling for a great week but being around here so long I find it hard to believe we won�t some kind of wet stuff at least one of the days. We�ll just have to play it by ear, you just never know what to expect from day to day around here. But that�s what makes it Super DIRT Week, there�s a lot going on and even more can happen.�
Despite starting on the pole last autumn, Fuller is looking to improve on his seventh-place finish after pacing the field the initial 45 laps one year ago. �This is pretty much all we can really ask for,� said Fuller, after putting his JL Motorsports no. 19 Street Wise Fighting Gear/TEO machine to begin Sunday�s show inside the second row. �I know it was really fast out there today and my hat�s off to those guys for running it a little harder than we did. We�re pretty satisfied where we are right now and we�ll just have to wait to see how everything pans out over the weekend.�
The remainder of the Rite Aid 200 field will come from Friday�s Modified Triple 20�s and the 'Dig Safely New York Shootout' last-chance qualifier on Sunday, with the 2nd Annual Pullen�s Truck Center �Win And You�re In Twins� Big-Block/Small-Block Super Shootout at Cayuga County Fair Speedway giving the driver with the best combined finish in a pair of 25-lap features the 45th starting spot in this year�s Rite Aid 200.
Super DIRT Week XXXVI action continues on Friday with the Advance Auto Parts Big-Block Modified Triple 20s and Pullen�s Truck Center 358-Modified Twin 20s taking center stage on the NYS Fairgrounds oval. P & M Fabrication and MSS Sportsman Time Trials follow in the afternoon with Thompson Motorsports reviving the popular Modified Pit Stop Competition to conclude the fourth day of activity. But that�s not all as the action then moves over to Rolling Wheels Raceway Park for a 358-Modified/Sportsman Mr. DIRTcar Series doubleheader while Cayuga County hosts round no. 11 of the 12-race Caprara Bros. Outdoor Toy Store Mr. DIRTcar Street Stock Super Series, with Mod Lites and NY Modified Midgets making up the three-star attraction.
SUPER DIRT WEEK XXXVI MODIFIED TIME TRIALS, NYS Fairgrounds, Oct. 4
FAST AVE
TIME MPH CAR# DRIVER
1 28.365 126.917 98H Jimmy Phelps / Baldwinsville,NY
2 28.615 125.808 91 Billy Decker / Unadilla,NY
3 28.714 125.374 19 Tim Fuller / Edwards,NY
4 28.953 124.339 42P Pat Ward / Genoa,NY
5 28.986 124.198 88 J.R. Heffner / Pittsfield,MA
6 28.987 124.194 98Hx Jimmy Phelps / Baldwinsville,NY
7 29.043 123.954 2 Ronnie Johnson / Duanesburg,NY
8 29.105 123.690 98 Eddie Marshall / Ridgefield,CT
9 29.117 123.639 35B Jason Barney / Constantia,NY
10 29.151 123.495 20H Brett Hearn / Sussex,NJ
11 29.182 123.364 26 Ryan Godown / Ringoes,NJ
12 29.232 123.153 14 Rick Laubach / Quakertown,PA
13 29.282 122.942 88H Steve Hulsizer / Bridgeport,NY
14 29.293 122.896 115 Kenny Tremont / West Sand Lake,NY
15 29.323 122.771 1H David Hebert / St. Damase,QUE
16 29.325 122.762 USA1x Richie Tobias,Jr. / Annville,PA
17 29.337 122.712 44S Matt Sheppard / Waterloo,NY
18 29.363 122.603 27J Danny Johnson / Rochester,NY
19 29.513 121.980 19B Kenny Brightbill / Sinking Spring,PA
20 29.537 121.881 7X Steve Paine / Waterloo,NY
21 29.569 121.749 55 Mitch Gibbs / North Norwich,NY
22 29.581 121.700 21J Jeff Trombley / Altamont,NY
29.581 121.700 32Cx Vic Coffey / Leicester,NY
24 29.665 121.355 47 Jerry Higbie / Slate Hill,NY
25 29.672 121.327 93X Craig Mitchell / Wappingers Falls,NY
26 29.677 121.306 77X Dale Planck / Cortland,NY
27 29.788 120.854 45 Wayne Jelley / Pittsfield,MA
28 29.842 120.635 24 Chris Shultz / Pawling,NY
29 29.854 120.587 49 Billy Dunn / Watertown,NY
30 29.861 120.559 34 Andy Bachetti / Sheffield,MA
31 29.889 120.446 84 Gary Tomkins / Clifton Springs,NY
32 29.893 120.430 3B Chad Brachmann / Sanborn,NY
33 29.948 120.208 42 Jimmy Horton / Neshanic Station,NJ
34 29.965 120.140 35 Mike Perrotte / Elizabethtown,NY
35 30.005 119.980 1H Tim Hindley / Monticello,NY
36 30.007 119.972 1J Bobby Varin / Sharon Springs,NY
37 30.048 119.808 62R Ron Smoker / Hamburg,NY
38 30.069 119.725 3 Justin Haers / Phelps,NY
39 30.076 119.697 99B Chuck Bower / Lansing,NY
40 30.140 119.443 12A Jack Johnson / Duanesburg,NY
41 30.170 119.324 32C Vic Coffey / Leicester,NY
42 30.183 119.272 43 Keith Flach / Ravena,NY
43 30.187 119.257 44 Frank Cozze / Wind Gap, PA
44 30.200 119.205 56 Vince Vitale Jr./ Phoenix,NY
45 30.299 118.816 OB's Scott Flammer / Milford,NJ
46 30.319 118.737 21 Donnie Corellis / Averill Park,NY
47 30.352 118.608 21M Bob McGannon / Garnerville,NY
48 30.381 118.495 62Rx Ron Smoker / Hamburg,NY
49 30.426 118.320 41x Shawn Reimert / Oley,PA
50 30.464 118.172 USA1 Richie Tobias,Jr. / Annville,PA
51 30.707 117.237 M96 Brian McDonald / Cornwall,ONT
52 30.806 116.860 37 Jason Herrington / Troy,NY
53 30.880 116.580 6N Eric Palmer / Cresco,PA
54 30.907 116.478 14B Rick Laubach / Quakertown,PA
55 30.916 116.445 41 Shawn Reimert / Oley,PA
56 30.945 116.335 56 Russell King / Bristolville,OH
57 30.972 116.234 65 Rex King Sr. / Bristolville,OH
58 30.993 116.155 99 Ryan Phelps / Fulton,NY
59 30.995 116.148 49K Kenny Stafford / Homer,NY
60 31.126 115.659 76 Brett Graham / Kerhonkson,NY
61 31.157 115.544 66 Vince Gagliardo Jr. / Kenhorst,PA
62 31.188 115.429 16 Mike Bowman / Baldwinsville,NY
63 31.190 115.422 83 Tom Sears Jr. / Clay,NY
64 31.212 115.340 24D Patrick Dupree / Saranac Lake,NY
31.212 115.340 M40 Mark Forte Jr. / Blue Anchor,NJ
66 31.350 114.833 00 Doug Manmiller / Shoemakersville,PA
67 31.569 114.036 165 Rex King Jr. / Bristolville,OH
68 31.669 113.676 80 Jeff Marshall / Fort Covington,NY
69 31.830 113.101 18 Sean Beardsley / Central Square,NY
70 31.838 113.072 48too Dave Rauscher / Waterloo,NY
71 -NT- ----- 1 Sean Gallivan / Troy,NY
72 -NT- ----- 2x Ronnie Johnson / Duanesburg,NY
73 -NT- ----- 11 Scott Armbruster Jr. / Monroeville,NJ
74 -NT- ----- 14J Alan Johnson / Middlesex,NY
75 -NT- ----- 20 Brett Hearn / Sussex,NJ
76 -NT- ----- 22 Mike Bruno / Castleton,VT
77 -NT- ----- 26x Ryan Godown / Ringoes,NJ
78 -NT- ----- 37X Tom Scheetz Jr. / Boyertown,PA
79 -NT- ----- 42 Pete Bicknell / St.Catharines,ONT
80 -NT- ----- 47x Jerry Higbie / Slate Hill,NY
81 -NT- ----- 66X Carey Terrance / Hogansburg,NY
*Top-6 locked into front three rows.
- 81 Cars Entered
SUPER DIRT WEEK XXXVI EVENTS SCHEDULE: Oct. 3 - Oct. 7, 2007
*All tmes and events subject to change.
DAY-DATE TIME EVENT
Fri-10/5 8am Pit Gates Open, Town mechanical, Inc. Sportsman Inspection Open
10am Grandstands Open, Gould�s Pumps/ITT 358-Modified Practice
10:45am Advance Auto Parts Rite Aid 200 Modified practice
11:30am Town Mechanical, Inc. Sportsman Practice
12noon Pullen�s Truck Center 358-Modified Twin 20s (10 non-qualified cars advance from each);
1:30pm Advance Auto Parts Modified Triple 20s (10 non-qualified cars advance from each)
2:45pm P & M Fabrication and MSS Sportsman Time Trials (2-laps, Top-24 Qualify)
3:30pm Thompson Motorsports Modified Pit Stop Competition
10pm Pit Area Closed
7pm Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified & Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Series at Rolling Wheels Raceway.
7:30pm Caprara Bros. Outdoor Toy Store Mr. DIRTcar Street Stock Series, Mod Lite SDW Championship and NY Modified Midgets at Cayuga County Fair Speedway
Sat-10/6 8am Pit Gates Open, Pro Stock Inspection Open
9:00am Gould�s Pumps/ITT 358-Modified Championship Driver and Crew Chief Meeting
(in pit building)
9:20pm Town Mechanical, Inc. Sportsman Driver's Meeting (in pit building)
9:30am Grandstands Open, Track open for Gould�s Pumps/ITT 358-Modified Final Practice
10:15am Town Mechanical, Inc. Sportsman Final Practice
11:15am BNC Motorsports Pro Stock Practice
11:45am Dig Safely NY Sportsman Last Chance Qualifier
12:15pm Terrell�s Potato Chips Pro Stock Time Trials (2-laps, Top-24 Qualify)
1:30pm Gould�s Pumps/ITT 358-Modified Championship Pre-Race ceremonies
2pm Gould�s Pumps/ITT 358-Modified Championship (150 laps, 40 cars to start)
4pm Town Mechanical, Inc. Sportsman Championship (30 laps, 30 cars to start)
7pm ESS/URC/ASCS PSG Sprint Challenge at Rolling Wheels Raceway
7:30pm "Win and You're In" Big-Block/Small-Block Twin 25's
plus BRP CanAm Late Model Series at Cayuga County Fair Speedway
(Mod Overall Winner Earns 45th starting spot in Rite Aid 200)
Sun-10/7 8am Pit Gates Open
9:15am BNC Motorsports Pro Stock Driver's Meeting (in pit building)
9:30am AAP Rite Aid 200 Modified Driver and Crew Chief Meeting (in pit building)
10am Grandstands Open, Track Open For BNC Motorsports Pro Stock Final Practice
10:20am AAP Rite Aid 200 Final practice
10:45am BNC Motorsports Pro Stock Last Chance Qualifier
11:15am Dig Safely NY Modified Last Chance Qualifier
11:45am Advance Auto Parts Modified Top-30 Autograph Signing under grandstand
(Top 30 in Thu. Time Trials)
12:00pm BNC Motorsports Pro Stock Championship (25 laps, 30 cars to start)
12:45-1:45pm Rite-Aid Cold Pit Tour of Pit Row
1:30pm SDW Parade of Champions
1:45pm Rite Aid 200 Modified Championship Pre-race ceremonies
2:15pm Rite Aid 200 Modified Championship (200 laps, 44 cars to start)
Mon-10/8 -TBA- Rain Date For Saturday or Sunday events
The Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series for Big-Block Modifieds is brought to fans across the Northeast by several sponsors and partners, including series sponsors Advance Auto Parts, Hoosier Racing Tire and Sunoco Race Fuels. Promotional partners include AMB i.t., F.X. Caprara Car Companies, Rite Aid Corporation and the University of Northwestern Ohio and the contingency sponsors are Bert Transmission, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Integra Shocks, MSD Ignitions, Miller Electric Manufacturing Company, Motorsports Safety Systems, Penske Shocks and Wrisco Industries.
Syracuse, NY - October 4, 2007 - By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing NorthEast PR Director
Team Troyer driver Jimmy Phelps continued his climb up the DIRTcar Racing ladder as he bested a stellar field of 70 Big-Block Modifieds under the clocks to earn the pole-position start for the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Rite Aid 200 scheduled for Sunday at the New York State Fairgrounds. Phelps was the third from last driver to take time and he made the best of the late afternoon assignment, winning the $2,500 Wingfoot Commercial Tire Systems Pole Award after touring the historic Syracuse Mile in a one-lap clocking of 28.365 sec. (126.917 mph).
�These guys brought two awesome cars here this week and we made the best of it,� said Phelps, who time trialed sixth quickest in 2005, improved to third fastest last October before taking top honors yesterday on a sun-drenched day on the Moody Mile. �We just did what we had to do today to set up for the week and that definitely takes some pressure off the rest of the way.�
Capturing three consecutive pole awards from 2003-05, four-time Rite Aid 200 Champion Billy Decker went out just ahead of Phelps and stopped the clocks at 28.615 seconds to collect the $1,500 TEO Pro Car Outside Pole Award. Last year�s fast timer Tim Fuller (28.714) was the 34th car out of the gates and held the top spot until dropping to third on the final chart while Decker�s Gypsum Express teammate Pat Ward (28.953), recently crowned Lebanon Valley Speedway points champion J.R. Heffner (28.986) and Phelps (28.987) in his back-up car filled out the top-six.
With the six fastest cars locked into the front three rows and Phelps putting a pair in this elite group, second-generation standout Ronnie Johnson was next in Iine to fill the position and will start outside row three on Sunday. Tenth fastest time trialer Brett Hearn will start seventh in DIRTcar racing NorthEast's signature race on Sunday by virtue of his victory in the Lebanon Valley 200 in mid-September.
�When I first went out I thought I�d be in the top-six with the second car. After the first lap I knew there was a little work left to do so I took it in a little deeper the second time around and the car just stuck. Other than scuffing the tires we really didn�t do too much to the car today. Its great to be starting up front but we�ll have a bigger smile if we can stay there on Sunday,� said Phelps, who will be chasing the lucrative $50,000 first-place prize aboard the H&H Motorsports no. 98H Virginia Motor Speedway-Mohawk Northeast New England Race Fuels/Troyer entry to close out the 36th edition of Super DIRT Week in the Salt City.
Eighth-fastest in last year�s opening day trials, Decker improved a half-dozen spots to share the front row with Phelps on Sunday. �This is a testament to the crew as we haven�t really changed a thing since we unloaded the car for inspection on Tuesday,� said Decker, who led a race record 160 of the 200-lap distance en route to his latest victory in 2005. Decker still owns the track record for Big-Block Modifieds at Syracuse, running the Moody Mile in a time of 28.348 seconds (126.993 mph). �I�ve been hearing all the weatherman calling for a great week but being around here so long I find it hard to believe we won�t some kind of wet stuff at least one of the days. We�ll just have to play it by ear, you just never know what to expect from day to day around here. But that�s what makes it Super DIRT Week, there�s a lot going on and even more can happen.�
Despite starting on the pole last autumn, Fuller is looking to improve on his seventh-place finish after pacing the field the initial 45 laps one year ago. �This is pretty much all we can really ask for,� said Fuller, after putting his JL Motorsports no. 19 Street Wise Fighting Gear/TEO machine to begin Sunday�s show inside the second row. �I know it was really fast out there today and my hat�s off to those guys for running it a little harder than we did. We�re pretty satisfied where we are right now and we�ll just have to wait to see how everything pans out over the weekend.�
The remainder of the Rite Aid 200 field will come from Friday�s Modified Triple 20�s and the 'Dig Safely New York Shootout' last-chance qualifier on Sunday, with the 2nd Annual Pullen�s Truck Center �Win And You�re In Twins� Big-Block/Small-Block Super Shootout at Cayuga County Fair Speedway giving the driver with the best combined finish in a pair of 25-lap features the 45th starting spot in this year�s Rite Aid 200.
Super DIRT Week XXXVI action continues on Friday with the Advance Auto Parts Big-Block Modified Triple 20s and Pullen�s Truck Center 358-Modified Twin 20s taking center stage on the NYS Fairgrounds oval. P & M Fabrication and MSS Sportsman Time Trials follow in the afternoon with Thompson Motorsports reviving the popular Modified Pit Stop Competition to conclude the fourth day of activity. But that�s not all as the action then moves over to Rolling Wheels Raceway Park for a 358-Modified/Sportsman Mr. DIRTcar Series doubleheader while Cayuga County hosts round no. 11 of the 12-race Caprara Bros. Outdoor Toy Store Mr. DIRTcar Street Stock Super Series, with Mod Lites and NY Modified Midgets making up the three-star attraction.
SUPER DIRT WEEK XXXVI MODIFIED TIME TRIALS, NYS Fairgrounds, Oct. 4
FAST AVE
TIME MPH CAR# DRIVER
1 28.365 126.917 98H Jimmy Phelps / Baldwinsville,NY
2 28.615 125.808 91 Billy Decker / Unadilla,NY
3 28.714 125.374 19 Tim Fuller / Edwards,NY
4 28.953 124.339 42P Pat Ward / Genoa,NY
5 28.986 124.198 88 J.R. Heffner / Pittsfield,MA
6 28.987 124.194 98Hx Jimmy Phelps / Baldwinsville,NY
7 29.043 123.954 2 Ronnie Johnson / Duanesburg,NY
8 29.105 123.690 98 Eddie Marshall / Ridgefield,CT
9 29.117 123.639 35B Jason Barney / Constantia,NY
10 29.151 123.495 20H Brett Hearn / Sussex,NJ
11 29.182 123.364 26 Ryan Godown / Ringoes,NJ
12 29.232 123.153 14 Rick Laubach / Quakertown,PA
13 29.282 122.942 88H Steve Hulsizer / Bridgeport,NY
14 29.293 122.896 115 Kenny Tremont / West Sand Lake,NY
15 29.323 122.771 1H David Hebert / St. Damase,QUE
16 29.325 122.762 USA1x Richie Tobias,Jr. / Annville,PA
17 29.337 122.712 44S Matt Sheppard / Waterloo,NY
18 29.363 122.603 27J Danny Johnson / Rochester,NY
19 29.513 121.980 19B Kenny Brightbill / Sinking Spring,PA
20 29.537 121.881 7X Steve Paine / Waterloo,NY
21 29.569 121.749 55 Mitch Gibbs / North Norwich,NY
22 29.581 121.700 21J Jeff Trombley / Altamont,NY
29.581 121.700 32Cx Vic Coffey / Leicester,NY
24 29.665 121.355 47 Jerry Higbie / Slate Hill,NY
25 29.672 121.327 93X Craig Mitchell / Wappingers Falls,NY
26 29.677 121.306 77X Dale Planck / Cortland,NY
27 29.788 120.854 45 Wayne Jelley / Pittsfield,MA
28 29.842 120.635 24 Chris Shultz / Pawling,NY
29 29.854 120.587 49 Billy Dunn / Watertown,NY
30 29.861 120.559 34 Andy Bachetti / Sheffield,MA
31 29.889 120.446 84 Gary Tomkins / Clifton Springs,NY
32 29.893 120.430 3B Chad Brachmann / Sanborn,NY
33 29.948 120.208 42 Jimmy Horton / Neshanic Station,NJ
34 29.965 120.140 35 Mike Perrotte / Elizabethtown,NY
35 30.005 119.980 1H Tim Hindley / Monticello,NY
36 30.007 119.972 1J Bobby Varin / Sharon Springs,NY
37 30.048 119.808 62R Ron Smoker / Hamburg,NY
38 30.069 119.725 3 Justin Haers / Phelps,NY
39 30.076 119.697 99B Chuck Bower / Lansing,NY
40 30.140 119.443 12A Jack Johnson / Duanesburg,NY
41 30.170 119.324 32C Vic Coffey / Leicester,NY
42 30.183 119.272 43 Keith Flach / Ravena,NY
43 30.187 119.257 44 Frank Cozze / Wind Gap, PA
44 30.200 119.205 56 Vince Vitale Jr./ Phoenix,NY
45 30.299 118.816 OB's Scott Flammer / Milford,NJ
46 30.319 118.737 21 Donnie Corellis / Averill Park,NY
47 30.352 118.608 21M Bob McGannon / Garnerville,NY
48 30.381 118.495 62Rx Ron Smoker / Hamburg,NY
49 30.426 118.320 41x Shawn Reimert / Oley,PA
50 30.464 118.172 USA1 Richie Tobias,Jr. / Annville,PA
51 30.707 117.237 M96 Brian McDonald / Cornwall,ONT
52 30.806 116.860 37 Jason Herrington / Troy,NY
53 30.880 116.580 6N Eric Palmer / Cresco,PA
54 30.907 116.478 14B Rick Laubach / Quakertown,PA
55 30.916 116.445 41 Shawn Reimert / Oley,PA
56 30.945 116.335 56 Russell King / Bristolville,OH
57 30.972 116.234 65 Rex King Sr. / Bristolville,OH
58 30.993 116.155 99 Ryan Phelps / Fulton,NY
59 30.995 116.148 49K Kenny Stafford / Homer,NY
60 31.126 115.659 76 Brett Graham / Kerhonkson,NY
61 31.157 115.544 66 Vince Gagliardo Jr. / Kenhorst,PA
62 31.188 115.429 16 Mike Bowman / Baldwinsville,NY
63 31.190 115.422 83 Tom Sears Jr. / Clay,NY
64 31.212 115.340 24D Patrick Dupree / Saranac Lake,NY
31.212 115.340 M40 Mark Forte Jr. / Blue Anchor,NJ
66 31.350 114.833 00 Doug Manmiller / Shoemakersville,PA
67 31.569 114.036 165 Rex King Jr. / Bristolville,OH
68 31.669 113.676 80 Jeff Marshall / Fort Covington,NY
69 31.830 113.101 18 Sean Beardsley / Central Square,NY
70 31.838 113.072 48too Dave Rauscher / Waterloo,NY
71 -NT- ----- 1 Sean Gallivan / Troy,NY
72 -NT- ----- 2x Ronnie Johnson / Duanesburg,NY
73 -NT- ----- 11 Scott Armbruster Jr. / Monroeville,NJ
74 -NT- ----- 14J Alan Johnson / Middlesex,NY
75 -NT- ----- 20 Brett Hearn / Sussex,NJ
76 -NT- ----- 22 Mike Bruno / Castleton,VT
77 -NT- ----- 26x Ryan Godown / Ringoes,NJ
78 -NT- ----- 37X Tom Scheetz Jr. / Boyertown,PA
79 -NT- ----- 42 Pete Bicknell / St.Catharines,ONT
80 -NT- ----- 47x Jerry Higbie / Slate Hill,NY
81 -NT- ----- 66X Carey Terrance / Hogansburg,NY
*Top-6 locked into front three rows.
- 81 Cars Entered
SUPER DIRT WEEK XXXVI EVENTS SCHEDULE: Oct. 3 - Oct. 7, 2007
*All tmes and events subject to change.
DAY-DATE TIME EVENT
Fri-10/5 8am Pit Gates Open, Town mechanical, Inc. Sportsman Inspection Open
10am Grandstands Open, Gould�s Pumps/ITT 358-Modified Practice
10:45am Advance Auto Parts Rite Aid 200 Modified practice
11:30am Town Mechanical, Inc. Sportsman Practice
12noon Pullen�s Truck Center 358-Modified Twin 20s (10 non-qualified cars advance from each);
1:30pm Advance Auto Parts Modified Triple 20s (10 non-qualified cars advance from each)
2:45pm P & M Fabrication and MSS Sportsman Time Trials (2-laps, Top-24 Qualify)
3:30pm Thompson Motorsports Modified Pit Stop Competition
10pm Pit Area Closed
7pm Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified & Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Series at Rolling Wheels Raceway.
7:30pm Caprara Bros. Outdoor Toy Store Mr. DIRTcar Street Stock Series, Mod Lite SDW Championship and NY Modified Midgets at Cayuga County Fair Speedway
Sat-10/6 8am Pit Gates Open, Pro Stock Inspection Open
9:00am Gould�s Pumps/ITT 358-Modified Championship Driver and Crew Chief Meeting
(in pit building)
9:20pm Town Mechanical, Inc. Sportsman Driver's Meeting (in pit building)
9:30am Grandstands Open, Track open for Gould�s Pumps/ITT 358-Modified Final Practice
10:15am Town Mechanical, Inc. Sportsman Final Practice
11:15am BNC Motorsports Pro Stock Practice
11:45am Dig Safely NY Sportsman Last Chance Qualifier
12:15pm Terrell�s Potato Chips Pro Stock Time Trials (2-laps, Top-24 Qualify)
1:30pm Gould�s Pumps/ITT 358-Modified Championship Pre-Race ceremonies
2pm Gould�s Pumps/ITT 358-Modified Championship (150 laps, 40 cars to start)
4pm Town Mechanical, Inc. Sportsman Championship (30 laps, 30 cars to start)
7pm ESS/URC/ASCS PSG Sprint Challenge at Rolling Wheels Raceway
7:30pm "Win and You're In" Big-Block/Small-Block Twin 25's
plus BRP CanAm Late Model Series at Cayuga County Fair Speedway
(Mod Overall Winner Earns 45th starting spot in Rite Aid 200)
Sun-10/7 8am Pit Gates Open
9:15am BNC Motorsports Pro Stock Driver's Meeting (in pit building)
9:30am AAP Rite Aid 200 Modified Driver and Crew Chief Meeting (in pit building)
10am Grandstands Open, Track Open For BNC Motorsports Pro Stock Final Practice
10:20am AAP Rite Aid 200 Final practice
10:45am BNC Motorsports Pro Stock Last Chance Qualifier
11:15am Dig Safely NY Modified Last Chance Qualifier
11:45am Advance Auto Parts Modified Top-30 Autograph Signing under grandstand
(Top 30 in Thu. Time Trials)
12:00pm BNC Motorsports Pro Stock Championship (25 laps, 30 cars to start)
12:45-1:45pm Rite-Aid Cold Pit Tour of Pit Row
1:30pm SDW Parade of Champions
1:45pm Rite Aid 200 Modified Championship Pre-race ceremonies
2:15pm Rite Aid 200 Modified Championship (200 laps, 44 cars to start)
Mon-10/8 -TBA- Rain Date For Saturday or Sunday events
The Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series for Big-Block Modifieds is brought to fans across the Northeast by several sponsors and partners, including series sponsors Advance Auto Parts, Hoosier Racing Tire and Sunoco Race Fuels. Promotional partners include AMB i.t., F.X. Caprara Car Companies, Rite Aid Corporation and the University of Northwestern Ohio and the contingency sponsors are Bert Transmission, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Integra Shocks, MSD Ignitions, Miller Electric Manufacturing Company, Motorsports Safety Systems, Penske Shocks and Wrisco Industries.
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