In case you were still thinking it was a "merger"...

From TSN

"The Champ Car World Series has filed for bankruptcy in the United States.
Ironically, the filing was made in the same branch of Federal Bankruptcy Court in Indianapolis where only four years ago Judge Frank J. Otte rejected Tony George's bid for the then CART assets, awarding them instead to a group formed by Kevin Kalkhoven and Gerald Forsythe.
According to ESPN.com, documents filed Wednesday by Champ Car World Series LLC listed debts of almost $10-million with Cosworth Inc. the largest creditor, owed more than $1.8-million. Champ Car valued its assets at between $10- and $50-million.
The documents also revealed a few more details about the unification with the IRL last month.
Gene Cottingham, the vice president and CFO of CCWS LLC states that Kalkhoven, Forsythe, Paul Gentilozzi and Dan Pettit determined that it was no longer economically feasible to sustain an open-wheel series and that Champ Car did not have the funds to operate in 2008...."

The story goes on to say that Gerald Forsythe's announcement that he would not field a team in the IRL may have already violated a contract that would pay him $2 million to "show commitment and support of the IRL."

T-Mobile Cup, anyone? NASCAR must cry every time it thinks of losing Winston

From the Kansas City Star:

"Analysts say T-Mobile may acquire Sprint.... Sprint Nextel may be a takeover target, according to one of the nation’s largest investment banking firms.
Deutsche Telekom, owner of T-Mobile and the world’s sixth largest phone company, may consider acquiring Overland Park-based Sprint to block a price war in the mobile phone industry, analysts for Merrill Lynch said today.
The Wall Street firm said Sprint’s operational problems and shaky position in the U.S. wireless industry may force the company to cut prices even further to attract customers.
“In such a price war scenario, we think T-Mobile would face the most pressure, and Deutshe Telecom would see the increased urgency to drive market repair,” according to the firm’s report...."

Continued at the link above.

POLL: How long before alltel gets its turn in the name game of NASCAR 'Cup Series musical chairs?

(h/t Greg Calnan)

Dance partners announced: IndyCar Series community helps 'new' teams transition to the sport

From IndyCar....

INDIANAPOLIS, Thursday, March 6, 2008 - The clock is ticking for teams preparing for the 2008 IndyCar Series season that begins on March 29 under the lights at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

No teams are feeling the deadline as much as the teams from the Champ Car World Series that will be joining the IndyCar Series following the recent announcement of unification. To facilitate a smooth transition, the IndyCar Series has paired existing teams with the former Champ Car World Series teams to provide technical and logistical support.

"The difficulty for any new team to come along at this point, so late in the game, is information or lack of information," said Tony Cotman, vice president of competition for the Indy Racing League, sanctioning body for the IndyCar Series. "If we can give them a starting point, whether it be on a speedway, short oval or road course, just a basic starting point, as a series it's so much better for us because we have less of a split in the field as far as the haves and have nots. In the long run, it's best for us. We'd like to see the whole field within a second. If we can help them get to a point to do that by sharing information through partnering teams, that's what we'll do. The current IndyCar Series teams have been very good about giving the teams information to get them going."

The present pairings*, based on factors such as previous relationships, geographical proximity and similar team size, are:

• Andretti Green Racing-Dale Coyne Racing
• Target Chip Ganassi Racing-KV Racing
• Rahal Letterman Racing-Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing
• Vision Racing-Conquest Racing
• A.J. Foyt Racing-Pacific Coast Motorsports
• Team Penske-Walker Racing
• Roth Racing-Team Minardi.

*Note: Not all former CCWS teams listed have committed to the IndyCar Series. When they do commit, this will be their partner team.

"We're working with KV Racing, and that's been a great relationship," Target Chip Ganassi Racing managing director Mike Hull said. "Certainly a lot of it had to do originally with (KV Racing co-owner) Jimmy Vasser, because (he) has a great history with Chip Ganassi Racing. We won a lot of races together, we won a championship together. We remained friends over the years, so it's a pleasure to work with those guys. That organization is a quality organization, so it blends well for both of us.

"It's tough to define proprietary versus standard information whenever you do anything. We worked with them on delivering a car, building a car to a Ganassi spec to begin to with, and our guys have sat down with their guys on the management level and the engineering level to try to define for them a direction, to help them at Sebring, for the test that they're going to have as well as for the race at Homestead, we'll help to support and answer their questions all the way through the process."

Teams transitioning to the IndyCar Series will test at Sebring International Raceway on March 19-20 and on the Homestead-Miami Speedway under the lights March 24-25.

From John Griffin, Indy Racing League

Formula BMW: Canadian David Ostella signs with Eurointernational for rookie season

ONTARIO (CANADA) - David Ostella announced today he is officially off to open-wheel car racing as he has signed with Eurointernational to contest the 2008 Formula BMW Americas Championship. "I'm very excited to get the deal done," Ostella said in releasing the news this morning. "Now I can't wait for the team test in South Carolina, which comes the first weekend after the end of the Florida Winter Tour at Ocala."

After completing his junior karting career in the fall and taking part in a number of shoot-outs, Ostella tested for three days in Italy last December, turning laps in a Eurointernational FBMW car at the Circuito Valle dei Templi, in Sicily. The 16-year-old handled both wet and dry conditions very well, and negotiations began for the coming season.

"David was in a FBMW car for the first time following the school in Valencia and he progressed, getting better and better, especially on the final day with the rain," said Antonio Ferrari, Eurointernational owner. "His learning curve was very good, and I think after our tests in March he will be ready for the first collective test at VIR."

Eurointernational has the most wins in the history of Formula BMW USA from only three years of participation. It has produced 35 podiums from 40 starts, including 15 wins, 17 fastest laps, 11 poles and 7 track records. It has scored back-to-back Team and Driver Championships - a fact well known to Ostella and fellow Canadians as they came at the hands of Robert Wickens and Daniel Morad during rounds at Mosport International Raceway.

Upon learning of the announcement, Morad was thrilled to know his young colleague will be joining him at Eurointernational.

"I was very happy to hear David had signed with Eurointernational for 2008," Morad said. "It was a great choice on his part because Antonio Ferrari runs one of the most professional and most competitive operations in the paddock." Morad remains with the team as well, contesting the Atlantic Championship, and will be working with Ostella in the year ahead. "In addition to driving duties I will be helping with coaching and the FBMW team," he said early Thursday morning. "I'm looking forward to working with David and helping him be as successful as possible in his learning year of Formula BMW."

Ostella and the full Eurointernational Formula BMW Americas driver lineup will work with Technical Director Nicola Sgotto and a team of engineers. Prior to the first Official test of the season March 5/6, the team will test at Carolina Motorsport Park, Virginia International Raceway and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. A 14-round championship follows, highlighted by support races at both the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal and the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos.

Ostella begins his race season March 16 at Laguna Seca Raceway. David races FBMW with support from Global Precast Motorsports and Alpinestars. For the latest news and information visit http://www.davidostella.com/ , http://www.eurointernationalgroup.com/ , or www.formulabmwusa.com

Release prepared by: RACEPR Holland Race Media
Photo Credit: http://www.davidostella.com/ // Photo Cutline: David is set for his rookie FBMW campaign with Eurointernational.

NASCAR: Edwards keeps Vegas win but NASCAR imposes heavy penalties for "rule infractions"

From NASCAR PR

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 5, 2008) – NASCAR has issued penalties and fines to the No. 99 team that competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, as a result of rule infractions found last Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

The No. 99 car driven by Carl Edwards was found to be in violation of Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used do not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20-2.1J (any device or duct work that permits air to pass from one area of the interior of the car to another, or to the outside of the car, will not be permitted.

This includes, but is not limited to, the inside of the car to the trunk area, or the floors, firewalls, crush panels and wheel wells passing air into or out of the car) of the 2008 NASCAR rule book. The violations were found during post-race inspection at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 2.

As a result, Edwards and car owner Jack Roush have been penalized 100 championship driver and 100 championship owner points, respectively. In the event the 99 team qualifies for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, the team will not receive the 10 bonus points for the UAW-Dodge 400 victory used for determining the Chase seeding order.

Crew chief Bob Osborne has been fined $100,000, suspended from the next six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events, suspended from NASCAR until April 30 and placed on probation until Dec. 31

It's official... Grand Prix of Toronto cancelled for 2008

Toronto, Wednesday, March 5, 2008 - While the majority of motorsports enthusiasts continue to celebrate the unification of North American open-wheel racing under the Indy Racing League (IRL) banner, Toronto fans and businesses have much less to cheer about.

Grand Prix of Toronto CEO Charlie Johnstone confirmed today the 23rd edition of the race has been cancelled and that he now faces a critical period of negotiations to secure the event’s future in Toronto.

“We received an impressive show of support from IRL, Exhibition Place, drivers, local leaders such as Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone and numerous partners,” said Mr. Johnstone.

“Unfortunately, we ran out of options and time for 2008. That doesn’t mean the future is bleak, but we’ll need concrete actions from our partners to solidify the event’s foundation and status as a marquee event in North American open-wheel racing.”

Johnstone now begins a critical phase of renewing contracts with the City of Toronto, IRL, sponsors and partners. While impressed by the broad-based support for the race, especially among the business and tourism industries, Johnstone acknowledges that’s not enough.

“We deeply appreciate the groundswell of support shown in recent weeks. Having a Toronto race is clearly important to numerous groups; but we must now coordinate our efforts with the city, province, IRL, sponsors and partners, sooner rather than later.”

Held annually since 1986, the Grand Prix of Toronto has become Ontario’s largest annual sporting event, attracting an average of 160,000 spectators on race weekend. The economic impact of the Grand Prix and the weeklong festivities surrounding it is a reported $50 million. More than $40 million of these expenditures are the result of initial attendance and Grand Prix operating expenses.

From Torchia Comm.

Damon Hill wants the FIA to urge Bernie Ecclestone to give Silverstone a 'heritage discount' on its F1 contract

From TSN

"Damon Hill says FIA should step in and guarantee the future of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. As well, the former world champion says Silverstone and other traditional European circuits should qualify for a "heritage discount" when it comes time to renew their F1 deals.... Hill, the president of the British Racing Drivers' Club which owns Silverstone, is currently in talks with F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone about extending the Grand Prix deal beyond 2009.

BRIGHTON SPEEDWAY: Lucas Oil Sportsman Shoot Out Series Heads East

BRIGHTON, ON - In a show of continued support of  DIRT Modified style racing in Ontario, Quebec and Upstate New York, Lucas Oil Canada is adding a fourth competitive mini series. Steve Snowden is proud to announce the addition of the Lucas Oil Sportsman Shootout East.

In addition to this fourth series, Lucas Oil will welcome an additional two track to the current eleven tracks that take part in these great series.  The series will see DIRT Sportsman Drivers from Eastern Ontario and Northern New York compete in a four race series held at Brighton Speedway, Brockville Speedway, Can Am Speedway and Thunder Alley Speedway.

"Last season it was identified that this was one group of racers that fit the mold but were left out in the cold, so to speak, and we decided to change that" announced Lucas Oil's Steve Snowden!  "It is great to see that between everybody we will now have Lucas Oil events at thirteen great facilities and some of the best racing anywhere" Steve went on to say.

The Lucas Oil Sportsman Shootout East! will kick of at the Can Am Speedway on Saturday, July 5th where drivers from Can Am, Thunder Alley and Brockville will do battle at the ½ mile oval track.  On July 18th drivers will head west down the 401 to the tight bull-ring known as Brighton Speedway.  The series wraps up with a double shot for the August Long weekend, Friday, August 1st at Thunder Alley and Saturday, August 2nd the Sportsman Shootout East! joins the Lucas Oil 358 Canadian series as they share the lime light at the Brockville Motor Speedway. 

Drivers who participate in the series will share in a generous $5,000.00 points fund established by Lucas Oil.  This points fund will be similar to that of its sister series, the Lucas Oil Shoot Out Series from South-Western Ontario and Upstate New York.

In addition, each of the four races will also be qualifiers for the year end Lucas Oil Sportsman Challenge Cup Event to be held on Friday, September 26th at the Brighton Speedway.  Winners of the four events will be guaranteed starters for the $1,500.00 to-win event that will pit the best from the East! against the top drivers from the Lucas Oil Sportsman Shoot Out from the West.

In its second season, the Lucas Oil Sportsman Challenge Cup will see the winner take home the massive Lucas Cup Trophy and cool $1,500 cash!  In a change from its 2007 format, the event will see drivers that win an event in the east and drivers that can win qualifying events at South-Western Ontario and Upstate New York racing facilities of Merrittville Speedway, Ohsweken Speedway, Humberstone Speedway, Ransomville Speedway and Genesee Speedway as the guaranteed starters.  Additional qualifying events may be added in the near future.

The challenge will not only be for the cars, but the nine home tracks of the Lucas Oil Shootout Series will also have something at stake as well.  Steve Snowden of Lucas Oil Canada explains "Every driver competing at Brighton will have to declare a home track from one of the nine series tracks.  The winning driver on Friday, September 26th will then represent the winning track, who will get to display the Lucas Cup for the 2009 season, and also receive a lucrative event sponsorship package for the 2009 season".  

In an added twist Lucas Oil is prompting promoters to win the fans over.  This season each one of the Lucas Oil Challenge Cup qualifier races will be posted on dirttrackdigest.com where the fans will vote on their favorite Lucas Oil Sportsman event of the 2008 season that will once again be worth cash to the winning track!

Lucas Oil will continue to have Dirt Sportsman teams talking for the entire 2008 season leading up to Friday, September 26th, where not only a winning driver will be crowned but a winning track as well.  Look for more upcoming and exciting news about this great series and the 2008 addition of the Lucas Oil Challenge Cup. For information regarding this event in the near future visit your local track web site or email info@brightonspeedway.com.

From Angela Rinaldi / Brighton Speedway

Mosport Year In Review, from Lee Bailie

(Editor's note: Thanks to Mosport's Lee Bailie for preparing and forwarding this piece. Watch the next issue of Inside Track for Lee's look ahead to what's going on at Mosport in 2008.)

2007 Mosport Year In Review
Mosport's 2007 season featured many memorable highlights including a new overall lap record, a dramatic finish to the American Le Mans Series race (that saw one of the circuit's all-time favourites - Ron Fellows - race an Arctic White Signature Series Corvette bearing his name), and the start of a new chapter in Canadian stock car racing with the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series.

Along the way, fans were treated to a 40th anniversary reunion of Mosport's first F1 race, some exciting wheel-to-wheel motorcycle action, plus some great performances by Canadian racers at Canada's Home of Motorsports. Let's take a brief look back.

Victoria Day SpeedFest - May 18-20

Mosport International Raceway kicked the 2007 major event season off with the Victoria Day SpeedFest. The weekend featured the American GT Inter-Americas Challenge and the Sundown Grand Prix.

It was a good weekend for Edison Lluch Jr., as he won both American GT races. The San Juan, Puerto Rico native powered his Coors Light #1 Corvette to two close wins over Charlie Webster (CJ Webster Ltd #95 Corvette) of Dundas, Ontario.

The three-hour Sundown Grand Prix featured lots of great nose-to-tail racing and jockeying for position. Andrew Danyliw and co-driver Gunter Schmidt (both of Toronto) emerged from this endurance event victorious behind the wheel of the #38 Schmidt Racing Honda Civic.

Father's Day Doubleheader - June 15-17

The Father's Doubleheader featured exciting wheel-to-wheel action and thrilling finishes as the new NASCAR Canadian Tire Series and the Grand Am KONI Challenge took centre stage on Mosport's challenging road course.

In the NASCAR race, Andrew Ranger survived an early miscue to collect his first Series win in the Dickies 200 presented by Canadian Shield Anticrime Response Corporation. The victory helped the Roxton Pond, Quebec native establish an early lead in the points standings that he held throughout the rest of the season on the way to winning his first Series championship.

As the pole sitter, he jumped the start of the race and was penalized with a pass-through penalty which sent him back to the middle of the pack. Despite the setback, Ranger worked his way through the field and took the lead for good on lap 43, just eight laps from the finish. It was a lead that he had to wrestle away from second-place finisher J.R. Fitzpatrick of Cambridge, Ontario. After flirting with a nearly three second lead, Ranger beat Fitzpatrick to the line by 1.694 seconds. Windsor, Ontario's Ron Beauchamp finished third.

On the other half of the twinbill, the Grand Am KONI Challenge served up plenty of close competitive action with Canadians finishing at the top of the podium in both events.

In the Grand Sport (GS) event, Scott Maxwell of Toronto scored a home-track victory, co-driving with Joe Foster in the No. 55 Hyper Sport Supercuts Ford Mustang GT.
Maxwell led the final 15 laps of the two-and-a-half hour race, as the field finished under yellow during the day's only caution period.

A Canadian also made it to the top of the podium in the Street Tuner (ST) race as Billy Johnson passed Trevor Hopwood on the final lap, earning himself and co-driver Karl Thomson of Toronto a victory for Kensai Racing. The final circuit was the only lap Johnson or Thomson led during the 89-lap, two-and-a-half hour race in their No. 76 Compass360.com/Skunk2/Hawk Brakes Acura TSX.

28th Annual International Vintage Racing Festival - June 22-24

The 28th Annual International Vintage Racing Festival, organized by the Vintage Automobile Racing Association of Canada (VARAC) visited Mosport's famed road course last June 22-24 for a weekend of racing that featured road racing classics from the past 50 years, including vintage production sports and GT cars, all the way up to 1960s and 70s muscle cars and roadsters such as MGs.

The headliner class this year was Formula 1 to mark the 40th anniversary of the first Canadian Formula 1 Grand Prix held in 1967 at Mosport as part of the country's centennial celebration.

Among the F1 drivers who enjoyed a successful weekend at Mosport was Peter Gulick, as the McLean, Virginia racer drove his 1982 Williams FW10 to two victories. In the first race on Saturday, he took the checkered flag by a healthy margin, finishing more than a minute ahead of the 1977 McLaren M26 piloted by Jeff Lewis of Newport Beach, California and the Wolf F1 WR3 of Major General Lewis MacKenzie (ret.) of Ottawa, who placed second and third respectively.

In the Sunday feature race, Gulick returned to the top of the podium with a strong performance that saw him cross the finish line more than 15 seconds ahead of Davina Galica of New Milford, Connecticut who came second in a 1972 Brabham BT37. MacKenzie was next as he captured his second third-place result of the weekend.

Parts Canada Superbike Championship Doubleheader - July 13-15

The two most successful riders in Canadian Superbike history, Jordan Szoke and Steve Crevier traded wins during the Parts Canada Superbike Doubleheader Weekend at Mosport International Raceway, last July 13-15.

After Brantford, Ont.'s Szoke took his Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-10R to victory in the Sunday morning race, held under sunny skies, Maple Ridge, B.C. native Crevier replied with the win in the wet afternoon race on the Team Toyota Yamaha / Fast Company Yamaha YZF-R1.

The Sunday morning race was rescheduled from Saturday afternoon after weather conditions and time constraints forced series officials to postpone it. Szoke actually finished second on the road to the Suzuki Acceleration Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000 of Clint McBain but inherited the victory when the Cochrane, Alta. racer was penalized four positions for a jump start.

Crevier finished second, just .085 seconds behind the Kawasaki rider.

The back end of the doubleheader started in heavy rain and featured a spectacular lead battle between Crevier and the Team Suzuki / Blackfoot / Picotte Performance Suzuki GSX-R1000 of Francis Martin. Martin crashed just a few corners from the finish and Crevier picked up the win.

Granby, Que.'s Pascal Picotte placed second on his Team Suzuki / Blackfoot / Picotte Performance Suzuki GSX-R1000, edging the Team Toyota Yamaha / Brooklin Cycle Yamaha YZF-R1 of Kevin Lacombe at the line.

In the Thunder twin races, BMW Motorrad Canada rider Michael Taylor of Toronto took the win in wet conditions on Saturday on his BMW R1200S, while Michael Leon of Beaconsfield, Que. took the victory on his Buell XB9R under sunny skies.

Full Throttle Energy Drink 200 presented by Canadian Shield - August 11

Don Thomson Jr. notched his fifth career stock car win at and second NASCAR Canadian Tire Series victory, as he edged out Mark Dilley by 0.703 seconds in the Full Throttle Energy Drink 200 presented by Canadian Shield Anticrime Response Corporation last August 11 at Mosport Speedway.

Thomson, racing out of Ayr, Ont., started the race in the third position, but took the lead for the first time on lap 10 when he worked past teammate and polesitter J.R. Fitzpatrick. He lost the lead only for brief spans the rest of the way, running first for 181 of the race's 209 laps.

His dominating performance kicked into high gear after a pitstop during the third caution period on lap 89. The car responded to the new right-side tires installed during that stop. Thomson felt the car really changed for the better at that point and became what he expected after he posted the top time in both practice sessions earlier in the day.

Kerry Micks fresh off his win in the previous race in Montreal finished third, while Jason Hathaway and Derek Lynch rounded out the top five.

The Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport - August 23-26

The Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport last August 23-26 featured both wet and dry race conditions, a new outright lap record and another overall win for Penske Motorsports in round nine of the American Le Mans Series.

Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas led the way for Penske, which claimed its second straight LMP2 team championship. Bernhard took the lead with only three minutes left in his Porsche RS Spyder as Allan McNish's Audi R10 TDI became stuck in gear.

McNish and Dindo Capello finished first in LMP1 for the seventh time this season and clinched the P1 team championship for Audi Sport North America. Capello's trip to Mosport became even more noteworthy after he reset the outright lap record by nearly two seconds to 1:05.829 in Saturday qualifying. The old mark, 1:07.169 was set by Frank Biela in an Audi R8 in August 2002.

Ryan Briscoe and Sascha Maassen finished third overall and second in P2 in the other Penske Porsche, followed by the second diesel-powered Audi of Emanuele Pirro and Marco Werner. Fifth overall and third in P2 was Andretti Green Racing's Acura ARX of Bryan Herta and Marino Franchitti. The top five cars finished on the lead lap.

In GT1, Corvette Racing's Johnny O'Connell and Jan Magnussen took their second victory of the season. Hometown favourite Ron Fellows and co-driver Andy Pilgrim finished third. It wasn't the storybook finish for Fellows that fans were hoping for, but the sight of the Mississauga racer zipping around Mosport in his Signature Series Arctic White Corvette C6-R is sure to be a fond memory for his legions of fans, in what might have been his final ALMS race at his home track.

Jaime Melo and Mika Salo took advantage of their track position before the race's first caution period into a one-lap GT2 victory in their No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari F430 GT.

In SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge action, Eric Curran captured his fourth GT win of 2007. Lawson Aschenbach and Michael Galati rounded out the top three, finishing second and third respectively. In the Touring Car race on Sunday, Adam Pecorari led all but the first lap from the pole to take his first-career Touring Car win at Mosport. Teammate Chip Herr was second and Pierre Kleinubing crossed the line in third.

In the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear event, Australian racer James Davison took advantage of the confusion resulting from pit stops and tire changes caused by a brief early-race downpour to take his first victory of the season. Vancouver native Lorenzo Mandarino finished second while eventual series champion leader Dane Cameron filled out the podium.

Markham Ontario's Daniel Morad ended the 2007 Formula BMW USA season as he began it – a winner. After clinching the overall title on Saturday, with a fourth-place finish in Round 13, the 17-year old added a record sixth win on Sunday.

The curtain rises on Mosport's 2008 season with Victoria Day SpeedFest, May 16-18, 2008.

All Photos credit peterbrand .ca except for the NCATS / Ranger shot, taken by Chris Coughlin (NASCAR)

Not racing, but I have to say it....

I hate Al Gore.



It's March 5 in Toronto. It's snowing like a (an?) SOB and there's more on the way on Friday.


The Polar Bears are fine. The Arctic ice has returned to the highest level in 15 years. And the founder of the Weather Channel is threatening a class action lawsuit against those selling 'carbon credits' - including Al Gore - to "finally put some light on the fraud of global warming.


Speaking of Gore? Where is he? He's been awfully quiet this winter.... this cold, endless winter. Funny that.


Delaware Speedway is scheduled to have its first practice session in one month and seven days.

Note to self... Do NOT walk under the Allison Grandstand at Talladega....

Talladega Superspeedway Announces All-You-Can-Eat Package

TALLADEGA, ALA. - Talladega Superspeedway officials announced today that they are offering an all-you-can-eat package for the Allison Grandstand. The $80 package includes a reserved seat in the Allison Grandstand for the Aaron’s 312 NASCAR Nationwide Series race and Aaron’s 499 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race with all-you-can-eat vouchers for both days!

"We are always looking for opportunities to enhance our guests’ experience,” said Talladega Superspeedway President Rick Humphrey. “The all-you-can-eat package is a great value for families and race fans on a budget. For only $80 a fan can watch NASCAR’s two premier series race at NASCAR’s Most Competitive Track with meals included. That’s a great deal."

The all-you-can-eat voucher is valid from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Each trip to the concession stand allows a voucher holder to receive a maximum of 2 sandwiches (2 hotdogs or 2 hamburgers or 1 of each), 2 bags of chips and 2 soft drinks....

From TSS

Patrick Carpentier Atlanta Preview

ATLANTA, GA - Patrick Carpentier will make his fifth career start this weekend driving the No. 10 Cintas Dodge at Atlanta Motor Speedway for Gillett Evernham Motorsports. Carpentier made his first start of the 2008 season Sunday finishing 40th at Las Vegas Motor Speedway after qualifying 12th then enduring a hard hit on the backstretch after making contact with another driver.

Carpentier once again faces the daunting challenge of making the 43-car field solely on his qualifying time. He is 47th in car owner points.

DRIVE PATRICK CARPENTIER QUOTES:

OUTLOOK FOR THE NO. 10 TEAM: "We knew this wasn't going to be easy. But the great thing about Gillett Evernham Motorsports is that we have everyone behind us. This is such a great team. Everyone is doing their best. I've had great guidance from my team director, Mike [Shiplett] as well as my teammates. Elliott Sadler has been really helpful to me. He has gone out of his way to talk to me about the tracks we've been racing at. He was great help at Daytona in learning the draft and last week at Las Vegas he gave me some good pointers. All the pieces are here to get the Cintas Dodge Charger in the top-35 we just need to put them together each week."

LOOKING AHEAD TO ATLANTA: "Atlanta is the first track on the schedule that we haven't tested at. This is going to be a challenging weekend for us. But we're ready for it. I know it's a driver friendly racetrack. You can use the multi grooves through the corners to find where your car works the best. It's also one of the fastest tracks we go to so I'm excited. This is also the first week I'm bringing my whole family with me to the track. Both my wife and my two children will be in Atlanta this weekend. So that will make the weekend a little more comfortable for me. Having my family there is special."

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO GET LAPS IN THE DODGE CHARGER: "It is. I mean, at Vegas, the way I used the brakes and the throttle and the way I drive the car in the corner was much better at the end of the race than it was at the beginning. That's why it's important to make these races, you know, and I was a lot smoother going into one and two and three and four and I was keeping the car under me more. Unlike at the beginning when I was really coming off both brake and throttle. It was good. The car got better, everything got better, but we just needed the points. About midway through the race at Vegas we were consistently running the same lap times at the guys in the top-10. So we're getting there. I just need as much seat time as possible."

CINTAS: "We are excited about having Cintas joins us this year. It might be a bit hard for fans and media to tell our car but hopefully we will be out front and easy to see for everyone."

From Heath White // Team Communications // Gillett Evernham Motorsports
Photo by Greg MacPherson / Inside Track Motorsport News

Allmendinger benched in favour of Skinner... or, as our James Neilson said, "Red Bull did not give HIM wings."

Red Bull Racing Team has confirmed that veteran NASCAR driver Mike Skinner will temporarily replace AJ Allmendinger in the No. 84 Red Bull Camry in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series effective this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Skinner, a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion, currently races full-time in the No. 5 Toyota Tundra.

"We’re at a crossroads where we need to make a change that will elevate the No. 84 team to success,” said VP and General Manager Jay Frye. “AJ’s our guy and he’s a talented driver, but there’s a lot being asked of him. In order for him to be successful, we have to get this team pointed in the right direction. We hope we can do that with the help of a veteran driver.”

Skinner’s history with Red Bull Racing Team dates back to 2006 when he served as a test driver for the team. Skinner’s history with Allmendinger also dates back to 2006, when he mentored teammate Allmendinger during the rookie’s part-time ride with Bill Davis Racing NCTS team.

Frye hopes with the help of Skinner, that RBRT will have the program turned around and the ride returned to Allmendinger in no time.

AJ Allmendinger, No. 84 Red Bull Driver: “Let’s not kid ourselves; I’m a racer and I want to be racing, but I get the big picture here and obviously we need to improve our program. Do I want to be out of the car? No. But, I know Skinner can help both me and my team. All I can say is he better be prepared for me to eat, drink, and sleep with him. Ok, well maybe not the sleeping part, but I’m ready to attach myself to him and learn everything I can.”

From Red Bull Racing USA

The Sports Car Club of BC (SCCBC) Newsletter

Click here for the March edition of the Sports Car Club of BC 'Pit Pass' newsletter (download is a 2.5 Mb PDF file). Thanks to the club's Peter Weedon for sending it along.

Nice shot of DJ Kennington in Vegas

Canadian photographer Perry Nelson was in Las Vegas this past weekend and caught this nice shot of our own DJ Kennington in NASCAR Nationwide Series action. Kennington, from St. Thomas, ON, started 34th and finished 29th in Saturday's Sam's Town 300.

Aprilia USA Wins SunTrust MOTO-ST Series Season Opener at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - Aprilia USA/Lloyd Brothers Motorsports remains the team to beat in the SunTrust MOTO-ST Series following their second straight victory in the Daytona 300 at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday.

Ty Howard of Weatherford, Tex. and Mike Himmelsbach of Quakertown, Penn. rode the No. 1 Aprilia Tuono 1000R to a 4.573-second victory over the No. 75 Touring Sport Ducati 848 of Camarillo, Calif.'s Doug Polen and Columbia, S.C. racer Peter Friedland in the 108-lap race around Daytona's 2.90-mile road course.

The Aprilia USA/Lloyd Brothers Motorsports team won the Buell Motorcycle Company SuperSport Twins (SST) Team championship in last year's SunTrust MOTO-ST Series. Although the team also won the Daytona season opener, Howard was not part of the winning crew.

"I've been here so many years and it seems I've always been the fastest guy, but I never seem to finish up front," Howard said. "It's great to finally be here in victory lane."

The No. 4 BMW Motorcycles of Atlanta BMW R1200 of Englishman Richard Cooper and Marietta, Ga.'s Nate Kern finished third overall and in SST.

Howard took the lead on lap 96 when Polen had to make a final stop for fuel with the Ducati. He then cruised to the finish, easing up in the final laps as he tried to conserve gas.

"We were more or less out of gas on the stop before, so I backed it down at the finish just to be safe," Howard added. "With that sort of lead there was no sense in pushing it."

The No. 75 Ducati ran near the front all race with Polen doing most of the riding. But teammate Friedland, making his debut in the SST class, couldn�t match the pace of the former World Superbike Champion.

Polen didn't push it in his final stint, hopeful that the leading Aprilia would have to make a final stop for a splash of fuel.

"I didn't know how far they could go," he said, "so I just ran the same sort of lap times I had been doing all race."

Polen did set the fastest lap of the race at one minute, 45.350 seconds, earning the No. 75 Ducati team the Performance Under Gear Performer of the Race Award.

Cooper grabbed third on the BMW in the waning laps when the No. 6 Aprilia USA/Lloyd Brothers Motorsports Aprilia 1000R ridden by Henry Wiles ran into fuel trouble. Cooper and Kern were riding a back-up R1200 after their primary bike was destroyed in a crash on Saturday morning.

"As soon as I had him [Wiles] in my sights, that was it," Cooper said. "I think I could have caught him anyway. The bike was faultless."

Wiles and teammate Zac Chapman of Weatherford, Tex. salvaged fourth place.

Fifth went to the No. 18 Roadracingworld.com Suzuki SV1000S of Chris Ulrich of Lake Elsinore, Calif., Cory West of Vista, Calif. and Boca Raton, Fla.'s Michael Barnes. The team had to make an extra pit stop early in the race due to a brake lever problem.

The sister No. 3 Roadracingworld.com Suzuki crashed out of the race on lap 30 in the most serious incident of the afternoon. Rider Robertino Pietri of Caracas, Venezuela suffered a broken scaphoid on his left hand in the incident.

The No. 20 Wagner Motorsports Racing Ducati 1000 SS shared by Mark Reynolds of Woodstock, Conn. and Boston's Gus Holcomb won the BMW GrandSport Twins (GST) class after the top two finishers on the road were penalized for exceeding the class horsepower limit of 90 hp.

The No. 70 James Gang Racing/Hoban Brothers Buell XB12R of Minneapolis rider Jeff Johnson and Paul James of Waukesha, Wis. claimed the runner-up position and third went to the No. 7 Richie Morris Racing Buell XB12R of Elkhart Lake, Wis. racer Clint Brotz and Tripp Nobles of Macon, Ga.

The No. 43 Cycle Dynamics Kawasaki EX650 of James Rispoli of Attica, N.Y. and Atlanta's Ted Cobb claimed the Sport Twins win after a good battle most of the way with the defending champion No. 9 Pair-A-Nines Kawasaki EX650.

The win was an emotional one for Rispoli, whose mother died recently.

"I want to dedicate this race to my mom," he said. "She was always there for me. She'd love to be here, she was so into the racing."

Jay Springsteen of Lapeer, Mich. and Modesto, Calif.'s Jimmy Filice finished second on the No. 9 Kawasaki, 19.460 seconds behind the No. 43 Cycle Dynamics bike.

Third in class was the No. 66 M4 Avteq Racing Suzuki SV650 ridden by Russ Wikle of Huntsville, Ala. and Dallas rider Ryan O'Donnell.

Contingency awards also went to the No. 8 Bruce Rossmeyer's Daytona Racing Buell team, which picked up $250 from Roaring Toyz for having the best looking team, and the No. 86 SpeedWerks.com Suzuki squad, which won the Lucky 13 from Czaia & Gallagher, P.A. for finishing 13th in the overall results.

The No. 17 Mid-Illini Motorsports/Repsol Suzuki won $250 from PIAA for gaining the most positions during the course of the race.

The SunTrust MOTO-ST Series continues with the VIR 500k at Virginia International Raceway on April 27.

The SunTrust MOTO-ST Series is organized and sanctioned by Professional Motorsports Productions (PMP) of Toronto, Ontario, Canada and the Grand American Road Racing Association, based in Daytona Beach, Fla., provides the series with administrative and commercial support. Learn more about MOTO-ST at http://www.moto-st.com/.

From Penny Nicolai, SunTrust MOTO-ST Series Public Relations & Gene Crouch, Grand-Am Internet and Communications Services Coordinator

Merrittville Speedway: 55 days until the green

Thorold, Ontario (March 2) - Merrittville Speedway's 2008 Season Opener is 55 Days away and counting down and one L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modified Rookie will be looking to draw on his team-mates and family for success in his #55.
 
Todd Kendrick is part of a three car team owned by his family – his brother Darren and their father Wayne - who are no strangers to the Southern Ontario and Western New York Racing scene.
 
Neither are his team-mates as Scott George scored an impressive win last season at Merrittville after returning to a Kendrick-owned car and Tim Jones - another 2007 Feature winner in his own car when the Lucas Oil Shootout visited Genesee Speedway. Jones also won the Jeno Begolo - Ivan Little Award as Most Improved Driver last season at the Saturday Night show place capping off an impressive season.
 
"With our family's racing over the years I've enjoyed many visits to Victory Lane as a crew member," cherishes Todd, "but for the first time as a driver 2 years ago … it's something I'll never forget."
 
For the last few seasons Kendrick has competed in the Lucas Oil Open Wheel Lite Division along with his brother-in-law Lorne Collings and earned a Feature win in 2006. Last season's efforts however were stalled when as a result of an on track incident, the London firefighter suffered a broken arm.
 
"We've been trying to put the pieces together for a few seasons," relates Kendrick, adding, "thanks to Global Warranty Corporation and Strickland Automart … each of the cars are brand new 2008 Bicknell Racing Products Chassis'."
 
Kendrick will be going to school literally as he learns the new division and that will start with the Bicknell Racing Products Chassis Seminar and Pete Bicknell Driving School.
 
"I'm getting a little anxious," said Kendrick while traveling to Niagara to attend the Wedding reception of (Lucas Oil Open Wheel Lite Driver) Adam and Lisa Murphy, "and so are my two boys - they can't wait for the season to start either!"
 
As the Count Down to green continues and Kendrick gets some all important 'seat time' through the school and practice day – not to mention the Baron Roofing Spring Sizzler 100 - we will learn more about his experience as the new and expanded Kendrick Race Team and Merrittville Speedway prepare to welcome Global Warranty Corporation to the first 5 Division Dirt Weekly Race Series Card of the new year - Saturday May 3rd.
 
Your local Dirt Track is where it's at and it's at Merrittville Speedway in just 55 Days - Saturday April 26th.
 
The star studded 358 Modified Super DIRTcar Series Stars are set to challenge our home town heroes in the Spring Sizzler 100 presented by Baron Roofing.
 
With plenty of free camping - it puts Merrittville Speedway on the map as a must see event and it's just the start of 2008 – you won't want to miss a single event all season!
 
To learn more call 905-685-7223 until April 1st or visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com.

From Jim Irvine - Merrittville Speedway Public Relations - 905-685-7223 - Winter Office

Paul Tracy on Wind Tunnel... hoping that Forsythe changes his mind

On Sunday evening, Paul Tracy went on Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain to discuss his future in the wake of Gerry Forsythe's decision not to move his team in IndyCar in 2008.

PT said he is under contract to Forsythe regardless and it's his hope that Forsythe changes his mind and decides to go racing this season. If that doesn't work out, he hopes to explore other options. Tracy noted that Forsythe has a history of reversing his decisions, although he moves at his own pace and can't be pushed.

PT said he's spoken with Forsythe since he made his announcement and he appears optimistic / hopeful that the decision not to move to IndyCar isn't set in stone.