Spin 2 Win Racing Returns to the Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship presented by Toyo Tires

Spin2Win Racing will be back in the Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship presented by Toyo Tires for the 2008 season. Owner/Driver Rob McAuley announced today that he will be campaigning his BMW E36 3-series coupe. Codriver Dave Ciekiewicz will be returning to share the driving duties, and Techmax is back on board for technical support.

McAuley/Ciekiewicz participated in the 2007 CCTCC series where they were running in third place in the GT class after podium finishes at Mosport and The Steelback Gran Prix of Toronto. However, a shunt during practice at the Calabogie Motorsport Park terminated their season prematurely.

Said McAuley, "The crash looked worse than it was. We were able to move the go-fast parts from last year's chassis to a new lighter shell, so the new car should run even better than we had been." He continued, "With the elimination of the GT class, Techmax has had to build a Frankenstein power-plant, melding parts from our well tuned M3 engine with a 2.8L block." The Spin2Win BMW will be running in the ultracompetitive Super Touring class.

Cieciewicz added, "Rob and the Techmax team are building a great car, and we've got a great race support crew again this year. I'm looking forward to some close racing and more podium finishes."

Team co-owner Sue McAuley donated Spin2Win Racing Canadian Touring Car Championship weekend VIP packages to the Bank of Montreal Charity Auction, raising hundreds of dollars. Ms. McAuley exclaimed, "We had 3 people frantically bidding on these packages. We'll be bringing some real race fans to the track to be part of the excitement!" Watch for our special guests visiting the paddock at various events through the season!

Contact: rob@spin2winracing.ca // www.spin2winracing.ca // www.techmax.ca

A1GP: Canadian Racers Kick Start Regular Season

Montréal, Canada (April 21, 2008) – While the 2007-08 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport draws to a close at Brands Hatch in the United Kingdom in a couple of weekends, Friday 2nd – Sunday 4th May, for most racers the regular season is in the process of kicking off around the world and A1 Team Canada's drivers have either begun or are away to begin their quests for 2008 titles.
 
Italy's famed Monza circuit plays host to the opening round of the 2008 World Series by Renault this weekend with Robert Wickens looking to translate his form from an outstanding rookie year in A1GP over the winter into his new ride with Carlin Motorsport.  The 19-year-old Toronto-resident, who became an A1GP race winner with A1 Team Canada in just his ninth start this season in South Africa, has already impressed in pre-season testing, powering his way to the top of the timesheets on the final day of World Series by Renault running at Spain's Circuit de Catalunya two weeks ago.
 
With back-to-back race weekends in Monza and Belgium's Spa-Francorchamps circuit, Robert's season starts with a double punch but success in the World Series by Renault is usually rewarded with the likes of Sebastian Vettel (Toro Rosso), Robert Kubica (BMW-Sauber) and Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren-Mercedes) all graduating to Formula One having showcased their talents in the series against some of the finest up-and-coming racing prospects.
 
Having proved himself in A1GP with one win, five podiums and two pole positions, Wickens will no doubt continue to shine this season in the European-based championship – the teenager the first Canadian to race in the World Series since countryman and fellow A1 Team Canada race winner Sean McIntosh, from British Columbia, claimed a sixth place championship finish in 2006.
 
Elsewhere James Hinchcliffe and Daniel Morad have already enjoyed their first taste of 2008 race action with the Canadian stand-outs opening their respective campaigns in the 11-round Atlantic Championship at the weekend in Long Beach, California. 
 
Hinchcliffe, who has 18-race starts for A1 Team Canada under his belt, including the opening two rounds of the 2007-08 season, enters his third year in Atlantics with the 21-year-old from Toronto returning to Forsythe Pettit Racing - the team he debuted with in 2006.  Markham's Daniel Morad arrives in Atlantics as the reigning Formula BMW USA Champion and he graduates with Eurointernational who ran him to his 2007 title.  The 18-year-old currently has three A1GP events to his credit participating in the 'Rookie-Only' sessions for A1 Team Canada in 2008.
 
'Hinch' set the pace in Friday's opening practice, pacing the 23-car field around the 1.968-mile temporary street circuit in Long Beach.  Final qualifying on Saturday saw Morad and Hinchcliffe share the fifth row of the grid in ninth and tenth respectively.  Sunday's 50-minute race was a fairly static affair although Daniel was one of the few to improve his position claiming sixth at the checkered while James crossed the line tenth.  Quebec's Kevin Lacroix represented Canada on the Atlantic podium claiming third for Walker Racing – Lacroix another competitor with A1GP experience having represented A1 Team Canada in four events last season in the 'Rookie-Only' sessions.
 
A1 Team Canada will look to cement a second top-ten finish in the A1GP Nations Standings in three seasons at the final round of the 2007-08 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport on Sunday 4th May at Brands Hatch – Canada currently ninth overall on 75 points.  Driver confirmation for Round 10 will be announced shortly.
 
ENDS – www.a1teamcan.com
 
Photo Credit – 'A1 Team Canada's Class of 2007-08 – Wickens, Hinchcliffe and Morad' – Jakob Ebrey Photography // Copyright-free A1 Team Canada images are available for download at www.a1gp-photo.com/can // From A1 Team Canada Relations: Stuart Morrison – PR & Media Manager

NASCAR CANADIAN TIRE SERIES: WESTERN SWING DATE CHANGES ANNOUNCED

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 18, 2008) – Both western events on the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Sirius Satellite Radio schedule will move forward one week due to the change of dates for the Rexall Edmonton Indy weekend.

The race at SunValley Speedway in Vernon, B.C. is now scheduled for Saturday, July 19 and the new Edmonton dates have qualifying on Friday, July 25 and the race on the 1.973-mile temporary road course at Edmonton’s City Centre Airport will be held on Saturday, July 26.

A season ago in the Canadian Tire Series’ first year capacity crowds at both venues saw J.R. Fitzpatrick take both ends of the western Canadian swing.

From Shon Sbarra, NASCAR Public Relations

DIRTcar NE: Decker Out Duels Sheppard In Canandaigua Opener!

Weedsport, NY – April 19, 2008 – By Dan Kapuscinski, Canandaigua Speedway PR and Promotions Coordinator

Billy Decker already had one feature victory on the weekend heading into the 45th season opener at Canandaigua Speedway on Saturday, April 19. By night’s end, Decker would visit victory lane for two consecutive events after disposing of Matt Sheppard on lap-31 of the Sunoco Race Fuels 35 at the ‘Land of Legends.’

Decker, driving his Gypsum Wholesalers no. 91, started the event in 15th but found himself in the top5 by lap-12. Sheppard took the green flag from outside row one, and lead every circuit until Decker found more bite on the low side in turn four on the 31st lap and sped away to victory.

“The track was a little rough tonight, but I think we had a little more shock than Matt (Sheppard) did, and that helped us tonight,” said 16-time Canandaigua feature winner, Decker. “I owe this one to the Gypsum crew, the field was tough but they really gave me a great car.”

Gary Tomkins, Todd Burley, and Steve Paine rounded out the top5 finishers.

In the DIRTcar Sportsman Modified feature event it was Eric Giguere grabbing the checkered flag behind the wheel of the Advanced Safety Solutions no. 67g. Giguere found his way past Anthony Rizzardo on lap-6 on his way to victory. Loren Lincoln, Kevin Ridley, Jipp Ortiz, and Steve Gray finished the fast five.

The UMP Street Stocks feature started close, but finished with Adam Depuy checking out to victory. Depuy and his Heluva Good Cheese no. 99 swapped the top spot with Chris Fisher before taking the lead for good on lap-6 and leading the final 14 circuits. Fisher pulled pit side on lap-12, leaving the top5 to Andy Fisk, Leroy Lewis, Mike Minutolo, and Mike Rasbeck.

Jim Cronin ran away to victory in the PureStox finale by over a straight away advantage. Bryan Faulkner, George LaVare Jr., Roger Bush, and Marc Minutolo completed the top5.

Feature Results
DIRTcar Big-Block Modifieds
Sunoco Race Fuels 35: 1) 91d- BILLY DECKER, 2) 9s- Matt Sheppard, 3) 84- Gary Tomkins, 4) 89b- Todd Burley, 5) 7x- Steve Paine, 6) 56- Vinnie Vitale, 7) 29B- Jeff Brownell Jr., 8) 42B- Kevin Bates, 9) 28P- Eldon Payne Jr., 10) 48T- Dave Rauscher, 11) T21- Roger Chrysler, 12) 22- Gil Tegg Jr., 13) 37C- Eric Fisher, 14) 17d- Danny O’Brien, 15) 54J- Dave Just, 16) 14J- Alan Johnson, 17) 99- Charlie Donk, 18) 3- Justin Haers, 19) 99b- Chuck Bower, 20) 99L- Larry Wight, 21) 25- Paul Habeck, 22) 2B- Ron Cartwright Jr., 23) 21- Derrick Podsiadlo, 24) 45m- Mike Ward, 25) 44v- Phil Vigneri, 26) 50- Don Slover, 27) 91h- Chad Homan
GYPSUM WHOLESALERS $100 BONUS: Paul Habeck

DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds
Ferris Mowers 25: 1) 67g- ERIC GIGUERE, 2) 2L- Loren Lincoln, 3) 20x- Kevin Ridley, 4) 0- Jipp Ortiz, 5) 29G- Steve Gray, 6) 10- Tim Currier, 7) 24A- AJ Lewis, 8) 54J- Scott Just, 9) 99$- Anthony Rizzardo, 10) 17- Marcus Dinkins, 11) 8- Joe Cook Jr., 12) 18H- Todd Henderson, 13) 93- Rob Richmond Jr., 14) 21H- James Henry, 15) 00- Amos Andrews, 16) 25G- Nick Guererri, 17) 4- Darryl Hilkert, 18) 17d- Tom Juhl, 19) 52- Jim Hull, 20) 54- Mark Chiddy, 21) 88- Kyle LaVare, 22) M1- Dave Marcuccilli, 23) 90- Nate Peckham, 24) 76- Rob Bussey, 25) 8L- Phil LaVare, 26) 66- Dan Wiesner, 27) 1s- Greg Hixson
CURRIER PLASTICS $50 BONUS: Tim Currier

UMP Street Stocks
Coke 20: 1) 99- ADAM DEPUY, 2) 33- Andy Fisk, 3) 07- Leroy Lewis, 4) 52b- Mike Minutolo, 5) 00R- Mike Rasbeck, 6) 37- Chris Fisher, 7) 00- Mike Welch, 8) 62J- Chris Kolosek, 9) 115- Nick Rizzo, 10) 3d- Doug Smith
LABATTS BEER $25 BONUS: Chris Fisher

PureStox
LaBatts 12: 1) 3c- JIM CRONIN, 2) 83- Bryan Faulkner, 3) 6- George LaVare Jr., 4) 9R- Roger Bush, 5) 25b- Marc Minutolo, 6) 22t- Eric Chapman, 7) CJ1- CJ Guererri, 8) 9F- Floyd Bush, 9) 17J- Karl Wilkins

PATRICK WINS INDY JAPAN 300 AT TWIN RING MOTEGI

MOTEGI, Japan, Sunday, April 20, 2008 - Since exploding into the consciousness of an international audience at the 2005 Indianapolis 500, Danica Patrick has faced questions of when she would win an IndyCar Series race.

She answered with a flurry of a finish at Twin Ring Motegi, becoming the first female to win a major auto racing event. Patrick, who turned 26 three weeks ago, won in her 50th IndyCar Series start.

"Finally," Patrick said in victory lane. "This is a long time coming. It was a fuel strategy race, but my team called it perfectly for me. I know I was on the same strategy at Helio (Castroneves) and when I passed him for the lead, I couldn't believe it. This is fabulous."

Helio Castroneves, making his 100th IndyCar Series start, finished 5.8594 second behind and Scott Dixon was third. Dixon's Target Chip Ganassi Racing teammate, Dan Wheldon, finished fourth and Tony Kanaan was fifth.

With six laps remaining, Dixon had a 3.6-second lead over Dixon. But the leader had to pit for a splash of fuel on Lap 195. Wheldon and Kanaan had to follow suit on Lap 196. That left the door open for Patrick and Castroneves, whose last pit stop came on Lap 148.
 
INDY JAPAN 300 POST-RACE NOTES:

·         This is Danica Patrick's first IndyCar Series victory. Her previous best finish was second at Detroit in September 2007.

·         Patrick is the first female driver to win an Indy Racing League event. She previously shared the record with Sarah Fisher, who finished second at Miami in 2001.

·         Helio Castroneves finished second, his third-consecutive top-five finish and second-straight runner-up finish.

·         Scott Dixon finished third, his second podium finish of the season.

·         Dan Wheldon finished fourth, the first time he finished outside the top-two at Motegi since 2003.

·         Ed Carpenter finished sixth, his best finish at Motegi in five starts.
           
INDY JAPAN 300 POST-RACE QUOTES:
 

DANICA PATRICK (No. 7 Motorola Dallara/Honda/Firestone, winner Indy Japan 300): "Finally! This is a long time coming. It was a fuel strategy race, but my team called it perfectly for me. I know I was on the same strategy at Helio and when I passed him for the lead, I couldn't believe it. This is fabulous."
 

MICHAEL ANDRETTI (Team co-owner, Andretti Green Racing): "I think Danica is such a fantastic person and I'm thrilled for her that the monkey is finally off of her back.  We have all believed in her and she proved today that she is a winner.  Frankly, I think this is the first of many.
 

HELIO CASTRONEVES (No. 3 Team Penske Dallara/Honda/Firestone, finished second): "I'm again part of history. The car was really good in the beginning, then we started picking up a vibration. It looks like we pitted a little bit long. We were having problem in the pits. I'm disappointed with that, With five laps to go, I was saving fuel. When Danica passed me, I realized she was the leader. She did a great job, passed me fair and square and that shows you how competitive our series is.''
 

SCOTT DIXON (No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone, finished third): "It's just one of those races where anything you tried, you didn't know exactly what to do. You had people in the back who were pitting and taking fuel under yellows. If we had had a yellow, we would have been stuck back there. But it worked out perfectly for the guys who made it a fuel race. Really frustrating because we had the car to beat, but I guess that's the way it goes."
 

DAN WHELDON (No. 10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara/honda/Firestone, finished fourth): "It became a fuel mileage race, and we had a really good car. To be quite honest, we have some work to do on our pit stops. It was a good day for Target Chip Ganassi Racing, but not what we wanted."
 

TONY KANAAN (No. 11 Team 7-Eleven Dallara/Honda/Firestone, finished fifth): "The Team 7-Eleven car was good today but we seemed to miss on the strategy.  It's pretty frustrating but it is what it is."
 
***

From John Griffin, Indy Racing League