CARPENTIER CLAIMS FIRST NASCAR POLE

PATRICK CARPENTIER IN THE No. 10 BERLIN CITY AUTO GROUP DODGE WON THE POLE FOR THE LENOX INDUSTRIAL TOOLS 301.

· Carpentier won his first Coors Light Pole in his 17^th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start. His best previous start was fourth at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway (race No. 10).

· DID YOU KNOW? Prior to this afternoon, the most recent Raybestos Rookie to win a pole position in the Sprint Cup Series is Denny Hamlin. Hamlin captured the top starting spot for the 2006 Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond (62 races).

· The best previous start by a Raybestos Rookie here at New Hampshire was Jeff Gordon (third in 1993).

CARPENTIER: “It’s amazing. There’s going to be a busload of people coming to watch this one from up north this weekend. It’s great. I love this sport and I love driving these cars and I want to do it for many years. I was just happy when it was raining. It was like ‘Oh we’re going to make the race. We’re going to be in’ and it got even better. That was just really hooked up, similar to what we had at Richmond. After the first lap we’re on it so I’m pretty happy.”

WHAT WILL YOUR THOUGHTS BE ON HOW YOU RUN THIS THING? “For us, we’ve got to finish every race in the top-20. We need to put the car back in the top-35. I’m going to lead these guys on the green flag and hopefully I get to stay there for a while. We’ll go back and forth in the race but the important thing for us is to finish this race and get some points and get that car closer to the top-35.”

COMMENT ON YOUR LAP. “It was great. It was good this morning in practice and we made a few changes for this afternoon and I mean the car was hooked up in three and four, just brake in the corner and got right back on the throttle and stayed wide-open all the way to the start finish line. I starting the second lap and I was like ‘Oh this one is going to be good' and he said ‘Shut ‘er down, shut ‘er down, that’s good enough!’ I’m pretty happy.”

HOW DOES WINNING THE POLE TODAY STACK UP TO YOUR OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN RACING? “It’s the biggest thing in my career by far. I want to stay here. I lived in the U.S. for a long time and my kids are born here and we go back and forth from Montreal to the U.S. and this is what I want to do. I’ve always enjoyed it and since I’ve been here I love driving these cars and I realized I never really enjoyed the other things I did before. For me, that’s where I want to be and to get a pole today is the biggest thing in my career because I enjoy driving these things so that’s great.”

THIS TRACK IS JUST FOUR HOURS FROM HOME. THERE ARE A LOT OF PATRICK CARPENTIER SUPPORTERS IN THE STANDS. “That’s going to be great. We need to bring more fans, new fans, to racing and if it fills it up on Sunday you’re going to see busloads of people coming down. That’s what we want to see. We want to keep growing NASCAR. It’s a great sport and hopefully we keep doing that.”

CARPENTIER PRESS CONFERENCE

“I was going for the second lap and I was hoping this was going to be a little bit better and I was hoping I was going to be in the race and he said ‘Shut 'er down, shut 'er down you’re in. You’re on the pole. That was great. We’ve got a local sponsor this weekend with Berlin City Auto Group. They’ got dealerships here in New Hampshire and Vermont so it’s great. It’s a good thing. I’ve got also thank Dodge because we have a good engine and they give me good engines to qualify to make sure that we made the show and this weekend we’ve got a really good one. That’s what I told them this morning. I said this weekend has got a good one in there so I’ve got to thank these guys and everybody, Valvoline and LifeLock that’s been on the car this year because without them I wouldn’t be here. I want to be here for a while so this pole position is great.”

DID YOU WAIT ON PURPOSE TO WIN A POLE SO CLOSE TO YOUR HOME? “It’s amazing. It’s really amazing to be close to home. There going to be busloads of people coming down here and that’s what the objective is, to grow the fan base of NASCAR here and to bring more people in. A lot of people in Canada are starting to be fans so hopefully on Sunday I get to stay there for a while but that’s going to be the hard part. I’m enjoying this today. It’s great. I have one story that I have to say. We came here a couple of years ago because I wanted to race NASCAR and had been trying for a while, been trying to get in the Gong Show and it didn’t work out. We came here with absolutely nothing and we started talking to the NASCAR people and Robert [his agent] organized me a press conference. I said ‘What are you organizing that for? I have nothing to say.’ Anyway we did the press conference here and there was a lot of people actually. It came out pretty good and that’s what got us started and got us started on sponsorship for the Montreal race and that’s what started it all, actually, was right here

that press conference on the other side. It’s the first time it went out and that was two years ago. If you would have told me in two years, I remember we were by the fence down at the back and I was holding the fence watching Tony Stewart race the late model on Saturday or something like that. I was like ‘Man that would be fun to do. These guys, they race anything, any series and I want to be here. And if you would have told me we got a pole here I wouldn’t have believed you but it’s great.”

HOW MEANINGFUL IS IT TO BE ON THE POLE HERE TWO YEARS LATER AND TO BOLSTER THIS SEASON THAT YOU’RE HAVING? “Honestly, I would have liked a pole last week on the road course. I wouldn’t have been as happy as what I am now. I mean, to me NASCAR is all ovals. I’ve always loved ovals and always wanted to race on the ovals and when they told me if you want to make a good impression go on the road course in Montreal. I said ‘Are they going to label me as a road course guy? I want to do ovals.’ And this is what I like, what I really like so to get a pole on the oval is unbelievable. I’m really happy. Hopefully it helps for me to stick around for a few years because I enjoy the sport. I was at the exit of corner two looking at the races and practice and stuff and we were like man, that would be great to be driving one of these and we’re here now so that’s good.”

CAN YOU PINPOINT WHERE THE PROGRESS HAS BEEN FOR DODGE THIS YEAR? “It’s been amazing. We tested all winter, tested really hard and Kasey and Elliott did a lot of things to the car and it’s teamwork. Ray has organized the team and put some people in place and with Mr. Gillett buying the team and focusing on the sponsorship side of it and having some guys on the technical side of it everybody kind of does his job more than having…it was a lot. For Ray to do everything with sponsors and this and that, the sport has grown too much to do that and now Ray comes in and helps and gives me some tips and different things. And Kasey and Elliott really work together well. These guys, as soon as I find something on the car that’s good I give it to them. But I’ll be honest with you, more often it’s them that’s giving it to me for now. But in the future we hope to give them some more. It’s been amazing. Like from last year for me when I came in at Phoenix there was not that much communication with the team. It was like three single-car teams in one three-car team. This year it’s really truly starting to be a three-car team and they’re really working for the guys and we’ll get meetings together and everything. The team is just coming together. It’s been fun to watch. I mean, I came in at the right time last year. Everybody struggled and they picked me up and the team is coming back up. I’m really fortunate.”

COMPARE THE POLE HERE VERSUS THE POLE AT MONTREAL. “For me the answer is that Montreal wasn’t as exciting as this one because if I would have qualified sixth at Montreal you would have ne ver seen me in a Sprint Cup car later on so that pole meant a lot to us when you had to run top-two or top three to make a good impression there. By getting that pole at Montreal we knew we had part of it done so we’re really excited about this one here and Montreal. Both of them were very exciting because it’s my first one on ovals here. It’s pretty amazing. And the one in Montreal was the first one I was hoping of many. Both of them were good.”

COMMENT ON QUALIFYING AFTER THE RAIN DELAY. HOW MUCH DID THE TRACK CHANGE? “It has nothing to do with the track [laughs]. I’m joking. The track came in and we kind of knew it. My chief mechanic actually said that ‘You know the track is going to be really sticky, so if we play our cards right you’re going to have a good car and it’s going to be hooked up.’ But for us it doesn’t really matter because the go-or-go-homers are all at the same time so you’ve still got to beat these guys out. I never thought the track would be as good as running up front and it definitely had more grips. The rain cools it down very quickly and it was about 105 [degrees] in the afternoon, something like that, and it was probably down to 70 degrees later so that gives us a lot of grip. But don’t talk about that, it’s just between you and me [laughs].”

DID YOU FEEL A SENSE OF URGENCY TODAY WITH THE RAIN OR WERE YOU CONFIDENT? “We were talking with these guys earlier on that if it rains, you’re in, so for us the first objective is to be in the race. I never thought today we’d be so far ahead up front. I like to qualify. I always have and I like to qualify on the oval but it’s so risky if you are a go-or-go-homer. If you make a mistake on that lap you’re going home so it’s a lot of pressure. And when you have to qualify it’s a lot more pressure. I was like ‘We’re in the race so we’re good. We’re going to be here in the show on Sunday.’ But I never it would be that much up front. I was trying to focus on the lap and the process. I sit in the car early and do the lap in my mind and try to improve it from practice and try to do that lap in qualifying. But it qualifying I had in my mind a 29.7 so I was off a little bit but usually I’m pretty close. I always try to get the lap I need to make the show but the track helped us, too.”

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO HOLD THE LEAD ONCE THE RACE STARTS? “Somebody asked me ‘Are you going to lead to the green flag?’ I said ‘You bet I’m going to lead the green flag.’ I don’t know how long I’m going to stay there but I’ll cross start finish at least I hope. It’s going to be tough. It was like Richmond. We qualified out the front and then we start moving back so we’re going to work on the race setup tomorrow and I think we’ve still got some new tires to work with so that should help for the race setup. We’ve been working on it. It takes some time. These guys, they’ve been doing it for many, many years and it usually takes me a little bit to get the track in race mode and how the car needs to be driven, which line and where with the traffic and stuff. We have the intention of staying there more, fighting it a little bit more. Tony Stewart came a couple of weeks ago in the trailer and gave me a bunch of tricks for the restarts and talked to me for a while there. So I’ve had a lot of help since Richmond so hopefully it pays off. The main objective is to finish top-15, top-20. If we do that we move on to the next one, we got closer to the top-35 so I still got to keep that in mind. It’s not like staying up front at all costs. If we’re good enough to do it we’ll stay there. If not, we need the points.”

Tonight's races at Saskatoon's Auto Clearing Motor Speedway cancelled... rescheduled to Saturday

CANCELLATION OF TONIGHTS RACE AT AUTO CLEARING MOTOR SPEEDWAY (in Saskatoon, SK)

Do to the heavy rain and the predicted forecast, Auto Clearing Motor Speedway is canceling tonight's race.
It will run tomorrow, Saturday, June 28 at 7:00 PM with all 4 divisions running. (Gates will open at 6 PM)

Ø Lucas Oil Super Late Models
Ø Hertz Equipment Rental Thunder Stocks
Ø NAPA Auto Parts Pro Trucks
Ø PartSource Sport Compact Mini Stocks

Advance tickets available at all Mac's convenience stores in Saskatoon and PA.
From: Herm Hordal // Business Development // Auto Clearing Motor Speedway

Open House Celebration with John Massingberd

Last night, the family and friends of John Massingberd got together - with John - at the Promark Motorsport offices in Burlington (ON) to "reminisce over the good old days." A few months ago, John was diagnosed with A.L.S. (aka Lou Gehrig's Disease).

There were a lot of stories passed around, and the offices were filled with laughter and smiles. Thanks to John, Kitty and everyone at Promark (Snowtrax, Dirt Trax and Raceline) for a great evening.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the ALS Society in honour of John Massingberd can download this form.

NCATS: Tight Barrie oval next stop for Team Fastline's Jim Lapcevich

"We plan to be right in the thick of things"

HAMILTON, ONTARIO (June 27, 2008) – Team Fastline driver Jim Lapcevich is hoping for a good showing at the upcoming NASCAR Canadian Tire Series event, the A&W 300 at Barrie Speedway.

"Barrie is a tight oval, and there's always a lot of paint-swapping there," said Lapcevich, who placed ninth in last year's race. "I enjoy racing there and mixing it up with the rest of the cars. We plan to be right in the thick of things."

The Barrie oval is a one-third mile oval built in a tri-oval configuration. The Saturday night race is the third in the series' 13-race 2008 schedule, and will feature 24 starters in the 100-mile event.

The 36-year old Hamilton driver of the Tim Hortons Monte Carlo is presently 19th in the standings after two starts. His best finish in 2007 was a fifth at Trois-Rivières, and he posted two top-ten finishes last season.

"I've raced Barrie many times," added Lapcevich. "With the right set up and a little luck, I plan on being up front when the checkered flag drops."

Teammate Jeff Lapcevich will not be competing.

Barrie Speedway is located on the 8th Line of Oro-Medonte between Barrie and Orillia, Ontario just off Highway 11, 10 minutes north of Barrie and 10 minutes south of Orillia.

For information about Barrie Speedway tickets and camping, call (705) 487-0279 or visit online at www.barriespeedway.com

Team Fastline, www.fastlinemotorsports.ca is sponsored by Tim Hortons, Springer's Meats, Troy Cove Marine, Cathcart Trucking, Wix Filters and B & J Electric.

About Fastline Motorsports: The Fastline Motorsports, www.FastlineMotorsports.ca team cars are based on the 2008 Chevrolet Monte Carlo body with a 107.5-inch wheelbase, which sits on top of a McColl Racing Enterprises chassis. The 355-cubic inch small-block Chevrolet engine from AP Racing Engines produces over 500 horsepower, and this power is transferred to the car's rear wheels by a four-speed transmission. Headed by father Joe Lapcevich, and with an experienced and devoted crew of 12 others, this two-car team demonstrates the professionalism, ability, and confidence to represent this exciting sport both on and off the track.

About Jeff Lapcevich: Jeff Lapcevich ran a limited schedule in the 2007 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series and finished with two top-ten finishes. Jeff Lapcevich began his career on road circuits, and the experience acquired in this form of motorsport has developed into a successful career on the CASCAR tour, as he has won six road course events in the past four years in CASCAR.

About Jim Lapcevich: In 2007, Jim Lapcevich captured seven top-ten finishes in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series and one top-five finish, narrowly missing the winner's podium on several occasions. With a strong background in oval track events, Jim Lapcevich has progressed from the Saturday night "bull-rings" to become one of the top drivers in CASCAR, with several victories in this national series. With a strong competitive desire, Jim will always be in the hunt vying for that checkered flag.

About NASCAR: The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) has a broad reach with 1,300 racing events at 95 tracks in the United States, Canada, and Mexico in several racing series. Among major professional sports, NASCAR ranks number one in corporate involvement and per-event attendance, and number two in television viewership. This sanctioning body for stock car racing is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in New York City (Corporate Marketing), Los Angeles (Broadcasting Media and Entertainment), Charlotte, North Carolina (Licensing and Aftermarket), Concord, North Carolina (Research and Development Center), Mexico City, and Toronto, Ontario.

The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series will be presented across Canada in a 13-race schedule for 2008.

From Bruce F. Mehlenbacher // Director of Public Relations

OHSWEKEN Speedway: WoO "Six Nations Showdown" advance tix still available

OHSWEKEN, ON - ADVANCED TICKET SALES for the July 22nd and 23rd “Six Nations Showdown” at Ohsweken Speedway presented by ARROW EXPRESS featuring the World of Outlaw Sprints continues at a brisk pace. With the excitement growing and a little over three weeks remaining until the green flag drops, approximately 3,000 Reserved Seat tickets remain for sale.

Ticket requests continue to be taken daily by phone only (1-888-720-7223), and will continue to be sold in advance until July 18th. Credit card payment in full is required at the time of purchase however other arrangements for payment can be made. Tickets will be mailed from the Sarnia Ticket Office directly to your home until July 10th. After July 10th, tickets will be available at a “Will Call Area” in the ticket booth at the track on race day only. Approximately 950 General Admission tickets will also be available on each race day only. Adult Reserved Seat tickets may be upgraded on race day for $5.00 to include a Pit Pass however General Admission tickets can not be upgraded.

NO TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE TRACK UNTIL RACE DAY.

NO ONE UNDER 13 WILL BE ADMITTED INTO THE PITS.

“An extensive renovation project is being completed which will see the spectator seating increased to 8,000 on the front stretch” stated an excited promoter Glenn Styres. “We have also finished installation of the new Musco Lighting system in time as “Speed Channel” will be in attendance taping both days of the event” Styres concluded. The much anticipated return of the Outlaws will include all of the stars and cars of the premier Sprint Car series headquartered in the United States featuring Joey Saldana, Donny Schatz, Craig Dollansky, Terry McCarl, Steve Kinser and Danny Lasoski.

Both shows for the series are scheduled to get underway with the usual 7:45 PM start. Pit Gates will open at 2:00 PM each day with spectator gates opening at 4:00. Thunder Stocks will provide entertainment as the support class on Tuesday while Wednesday will feature the Mini Stocks in a support role. As an added incentive, Corr/Pak Merchandising has stepped up and is offering $100 to any 360 Sprint Car who attempts to qualify either day. If they are successful in making the “A” Main, the $100 will be increased to $250 on either night.

Be sure to keep up on all the latest news from Ohsweken Speedway by logging on to the official website at www.ohswekenspeedway.com .

From Ohsweken Speedway

NCATS: Micks ready for NASCAR Canadian Tire Series at Barrie

MT. ALBERT, ONTARIO (June 27, 2008) – After an equipment failure at the previous NASCAR Canadian Tire Series event, Kerry Micks has plans to return to his quest in capturing the 2008 championship.

"We had some problems at Mosport, but we've regrouped and will be right in there for the Barrie race," said Micks, who drives the Beyond Digital Imaging Ford Fusion. "I've raced at Barrie for many years, and know the track well."

Micks, of Mount Albert, will be competing in round three of the 2008 NCTS, the A&W 300 at Barrie Speedway this Saturday night.

The former CASCAR Super Series champ came a close second in the opening round of the 2008 series with a second-place at Cayuga, and was in the hunt on the Mosport road course race but suspension woes kept him out of contention.

Micks placed seventh in last year's season, with strong victories at Montreal and Trois-Rivières. He took the pole in last year's September race at Barrie, and placed fourth in the July 1 Barrie race after starting in 17th position. He is presently sixth in the division standings.

Micks will be one of 24 starters for the A&W 300, a 300-lap event on the third-mile Barrie oval.

And he says he is ready.

"Running at Barrie can be a wild experience," he explained. "It's a tight track, and traffic can be heavy at any time. But we'll be in the hunt, and hopefully come away victorious."

Barrie Speedway is located on the 8th Line of Oro-Medonte between Barrie and Orillia, Ontario just off Highway 11, 10 minutes north of Barrie and 10 minutes south of Orillia.

For information about Barrie Speedway tickets and camping, call (705) 487-0279 or visit online at www.barriespeedway.com .

Beyond Digital Imaging Inc. (BDI), Canadian Detailing Services, Crane Lake Resort, HP Canada, Ultraflex, Cathcart Trucking, Castrol and NGK Spark Plugs are sponsors of Micks Motorsports, www.micksmotorsports.com .

About Kerry Micks: Kerry Micks, the 1993 CASCAR Super Series National Champion is the driver of the #02 Micks Motorsports 2008 Ford Fusion in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series. Micks of Mount Albert, Ontario finished the 2007 season in seventh position in the championship point standings with three top-three podium finishes, and seven top-ten finishes including a win at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in downtown Montreal and the Grand-Prix de Trois-Rivières. Micks collected one pole in 2007 at Barrie Speedway and had a third place finishes at Mosport Speedway.

Kerry has been driving Ford products since 1995 when Ford of Canada came on board with Micks Motorsports, and it continues to support Ford and retain close relationships with all involved.

About NASCAR: The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) has a broad reach with 1,300 racing events at 95 tracks in the United States, Canada, and Mexico in several racing series. Among major professional sports, NASCAR ranks number one in corporate involvement and per-event attendance, and number two in television viewership. This sanctioning body for stock car racing is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in New York City (Corporate Marketing), Los Angeles (Broadcasting Media and Entertainment), Charlotte, North Carolina (Licensing and Aftermarket), Concord, North Carolina (Research and Development Center), Mexico City, and Toronto, Ontario.

The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series will be presented across Canada in a 13-race schedule for 2008.

From Bruce F. Mehlenbacher // Director of Public Relations

WATKINS GLEN INT'L: Experience the arts and Finger Lakes

Finger Lakes Wine Experience and Artists’ Tent Added to The Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen Weekend

Watkins Glen, NY (June 26, 2008) – Fans that attend the Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen, July 4-6, can take in the Finger Lakes’ culture through an afternoon of wine tasting and art browsing in the Turn 10 Village. Fans can begin with tasting the creations of local vineyards and wineries at the Finger Lakes Wine Experience. The artists’ tent next door will allow fans to embrace the local racing heritage with the work of local racing and automotive painters, photographers, and sculptors.

In the Finger Lakes Wine Experience exhibit, fans can sip the afternoon away with wine from local wineries and vineyards. Yancey Fancy will also have its artisan cheeses on hand for sampling and purchase. The experience will be open Saturday, July 5, and Sunday, July 6, from 12-4 PM in the Turn 10 Village. Admission to the tent is $3, and only fans ages 21 and older may enter. Customers are welcome to enjoy their wine in a private tent while listening to live music from a variety of bands. Additional seating will also be available in a fenced-in courtyard adjacent to the Red Cat Summer Stage.

Several New York wineries will be on hand in the Finger Lakes Wine Experience. Wineries that will have wines available to taste or purchase, include: Wagner Vineyards, Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards and Winery, Lakewood Vineyards, Fulkerson Winery, Glenora Wine Cellars, Knapp Vineyards, Shaw Vineyards, Atwater Estates Vineyards and Pleasant Valley Winery.

To further experience the culture of the Finger Lakes, stop by the artists’ tent next door to the Finger Lakes Wine Experience exhibit. The artists’ tent will feature the work of national automotive and racing artists, and art will be available for fans to admire or purchase. Some of the sport’s top artists are scheduled to attend, including: Robert Gillespie, Craig Booth, Scott Schleh, Newlin Keen and James Ahmay. Admission to the tent is free of charge, and will be open for fans to visit all day Saturday and Sunday.

If you enjoy all of the local culture during the Camping World Grand Prix, you may also enjoy the Finger Lakes Wine Festival only two weeks after the 4th of July race weekend. The Finger Lakes Wine Festival presented by Yancey’s Fancy New York Artisan Cheese will feature over 500 different wines from over 80 New York State wineries and vineyards. In addition to wine tasting, patrons can watch cooking demos, take culinary classes, attend wine seminars and listen to live music. The festival will take place at Watkins Glen International, July 18-20. For tickets and more information please visit www.FLWineFest.com or call 866-461-7223.

Tickets for the historic 60th Anniversary of racing in Watkins Glen are on-sale now! Open-wheel racing returns for the 4th of July weekend during the Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen, July 4-6. General admission tickets for Kids 12 and under are FREE during the Camping World Grand Prix weekend when accompanied by an adult. The action continues with the Centurion Boats at The Glen NASCAR Sprint Cup and Zippo 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series weekend, August 7-10. For tickets and more information, please contact the Watkins Glen International ticket office at 866-461-RACE or log on to the official website www.TheGlen.com.

From WGI

Merrittville Speedway: Celebrate the holidays in style

For Immediate Release - June 26, 2007 - From Jim Irvine - Merrittville Public Relations - 905-892-8266

Thorold, Ontario (June 26) School is out for the Summer!
Canada Day will soon be here and for our American friends … the 4th of July!
Celebrate them all in what is becoming quite a tradition at Merrittville Speedway – Saturday June 28th.

Boltworks will present $1.00 Pillers Hot Dogs all night long in the grandstand while on the track - racing action will feature all 5 Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Divisions plus Round Two of the Konzelmann Estate Winery Enduro Qualifiers accelerated by Niagara College.

The last event of June will also be highlighted by a Firemaster Productions Fireworks Display.

With the recent announcement of the partnership between Niagara College and the Enduro Qualifiers leading up to the 100, comes news that Don Tremblay is at it again as well.

A terrific fan of racing, Don has recently posted considerable bonuses for the L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modifieds, Original Pizza Logs Sportsman, Hoosier Stocks, Lucas Oil Open Wheel Lites and the Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinders this Saturday

An extra $1100 will be available courtesy of Mr. Tremblay. Race teams

The Enduro winner will become the second driver to qualify for a potential $200 Bonus if he or she can win the September 7th Konzelmann Estate Winery 100 lap Enduro.  Of course the outside pole position starting spot for the 100 will also go the June 28th winner.

“We’re happy to celebrate the end of school and Canada’s Birthday with the mid season Fan Appreciation Special,” reveals GM Erica Bicknell, “6 divisions of racing … $1.00 Hot Dogs all night and FIREWORKS … there’s definitely something for everyone.”

Younger race fans can also get a great start to the summer after stopping by the Lucas Oil #17 Hoosier Stock of Rob Disher who will be giving away a girls bike and a boys bike. Stop by and check out his car and get a ticket.

Boltworks have been long time supporters of Merrittville Speedway. Owners Sandy Howe and Ross Trout of Boltworks each have more than 20 years of experience each in the fastener industry with vast product knowledge that you won’t find just anywhere. Sandy and Ross know the nuts and bolts of nuts and bolts and their Eastchester Avenue East location has a complete supply of industrial fasteners – bolts, screws, nuts, washers, threaded rod, rivets, pins, drills, bits, taps, driver bits, hex keys, tools, industrial sprays and more.

Enduro Racing at Merrittville Speedway is enjoying a resurgence over the last couple seasons – all leading to the season-ending Konzelmann Estate Winery 100 lap event accelerated by Niagara College.

Enduro Racing is something that just about anyone can get on track with. Just find yourself a car and with some safety modifications – you’re in the show. Depending on the outcome of each qualifier, a driver could run the same car through-out the summer and then again in the Fall Main Event.

“Our Enduros attract all kinds,” relates (GM) Erica Bicknell, “ drivers with no experience … some that have run this type of event before and even some of our regular Saturday Night competitors … but in the end it’s more survival than experience that counts.”

For Enduro Rules and Specifications – visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com. Rules are also available from the Speedway Office during the season and the Novelty Trailer on race nights.

Individuals considering re-training for a new career are encouraged to take a serious look at the many programs and opportunities available at Niagara College.

For further information on technology, apprenticeship and skills training visit niagaracollege.ca and accelerate your career.

Show Time is 7:00 PM with the grandstand gates opening at 5:30.

Join us this season on a Saturday Night for a LUCAS OIL WEEKLY RACING SERIES EVENT - FIVE Divisions featuring local heroes and up-coming new stars or one of our many special events! .

Your Local Dirt Track is where it's at!! Merrittville Speedway "The Best Family Entertainment in Niagara"

MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY SPONSORS: The 2008 Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series for Merrittville Speedway’s 5 Divisions is brought to fans by partners including Boltworks, Pillers and Niagara College in addition to contingency sponsors Bilstein Shock Absorbers, Hoosier Tire Canada, Inside Track Motorsport News, Intercomp, ISC Racer’s Tape, Jaz Products, Kirkey Racing Fabrication, Motorsports Safety Systems, Port City Racing, R.J.S. Racing Equipment, Sway-A-Way, Ultra Shield Race Products, Outerwears and XRP, Inc.
Lucas Oil Products is one of the fastest growing additive lines in the consumer automotive industry featuring a premium line of oils, greases and problem-solving additives.
Through innovative product research and development, along with aggressive marketing programs, Lucas Oil Products has established itself as the top selling additive in the industry.
Race fans can look for Lucas Oil Products at their favorite automotive retailer including the St. Catharines and Niagara Falls PartSource locations, Drummond Home Hardware in Niagara Falls and through RCM Racing Equipment.

From Erica Bicknell / Merrittville Speedway

NCATS: Andrew Ranger and Alex Tagliani back on oval track on June 28th

Montreal, June 26th, 2008: After an exciting race on the road course at Mosport International Raceway on June 15th, Quebec-born drivers Andrew Ranger and Alex Tagliani will take on the Barrie Speedway this coming weekend with determination and confidence for the third round of the 2008 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series championship.

Respectively ranked 9th and 10th in the overall drivers' standings after only 2 events, Ranger and Tagliani will be back in action on the tricky oval track at Barrie Speedway for the A&W 300. Last year, in his rookie season, Andrew Ranger qualified a mere 16th but drove like a veteran to finish the event in 5th place. "The Tide-Wal-Mart car is very reliable and the whole team is really motivated. I plan to put all those elements to good use to fight for the win and climb the championship standings quickly, especially since last year we had a really good race at Barrie," commented Andrew Ranger.

For Alex Tagliani, driver of the Ubisoft-Wal-Mart car, leader of the rookie of the year standings, this event will again be treated as a learning experience, most notably on how the race car behaves on oval tracks. Having been unable to complete the first race of the season at Cayuga in May due to mechanical issues, Tagliani views the challenge of the A&W 300 as a full scale test of his ability to adapt to fendered cars. "I know I can do well at Barrie. I understand the car more and more and I can adapt my driving style accordingly too. After all, I did manage to be second quickest at St-Eustache before the rain ruined everything," expressed Alex Tagliani.

With a team determined to climb the championship ladder and two drivers ready to show their immense talent: Andrew Ranger as reigning series champion and Alex Tagliani as an experienced open-wheel veteran racer, the A&W 300 is truly an event to be seen.

Make sure to book Saturday, June 28th for the A&W 300 at Barrie Speedway for another exciting round of the 2008 NASCAR Canadian Tire series championship.

The Victory Lap Charity Program: The Victory Lap Charity Program, affiliated to Opération Enfant-Soleil in Quebec and to Children's Miracle Network in the rest of Canada, aims to raise funds to help sick children across the country. Since the program's inception in 2003, over $700,000 have been raised for 14 children's hospitals in Canada.

In 2008, the Victory Lap takes an even bigger leap forward and plans to break the $1,000,000 mark in donations since 2003. To do so, the program counts on the support of Wal-Mart stores in Canada, the participation of numerous partner brands and on the generous input from Andrew Ranger and Alex Tagliani as program ambassadors.

-30-

Source: Professional Sports Management // Audrey Choquette

Inside Track Motorsport News: Volume 12, Issue 5

Celebrating Canadian motorsports on almost every page. Click here to subscribe.

NCATS: Dilley Returns Home to Barrie Speedway this Weekend

BARRIE, ON, Thursday June 26, 2008: Home track advantage? Mark Dilley driver of the No. 9 Dodge Avenger in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series says, “There may be a slight edge for me at Barrie Speedway, but not much. Most of the guys have run here long enough now that they have it figured out.” Dilley will return to his home track Barrie Speedway this Saturday night for the running of the A&W 300, round three of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series tour, a tour that will see them race in 13 events across the country.

After a tough outing in the second event at Mosport International Raceway, the world renowned 2.459 mile road course on Fathers Day, Dilley is looking to rebound and come out of Barrie with a solid finish and move up in the Championship points. “We had a rocket for a race car at Mosport but the clutch broke on the first lap and we didn’t get a chance to see what the No. 9 Avenger could really do,” said Dilley.

Last year in the inaugural season of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, the driver of the No. 9 Avenger sat on the pole and finished second in the Canada Day weekend event at Barrie, but had tough luck on their return in September. “This track is fun to race but everything happens real fast out there,” stated Dilley. “You can get caught up in someone else’s wreck real easy but I am looking forward to running in front of my hometown fans – it should be exciting.”

Dilley also has one win here in the former CASCAR Super Series in 2005, so he knows his way around the newly configured 1/3 mile tri-oval. The track is under new management and they have been working around the clock to get everything in top shape for the weekends events.

Spectator gates open at 2 p.m., NASCAR Canadian Tire Series time trials take place at 4 p.m. and the green flag will wave for the start of the A&W 300 at 8:05 p.m. Also on the racing grid will be Barrie Speedway regular classes of Pure Stocks, Chargers and Thunder Cars.

Weekend event tickets can be purchased online at www.barriespeedway.com. Please also visit the website for more information on camping and a full event schedule.

For more information on Mark Dilley please visit www.whitlockmotorsports.com or contact:

From Linda Jones // Wide Open Motorsport Solutions

Rookie Stenhouse Leads ARCA RE/MAX Series Parade to Cayuga

NELLES CORNERS ON (6-26-08) – Olive Branch, Mississippi’s Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. leads the parade of ARCA RE/MAX Series warriors marching north of the border to compete in this Sunday’s inaugural Cayuga ARCA RE/MAX 250 at Cayuga Motor Speedway.

The 20-year-old Roush Fenway Racing development driver is, not only the SunTrust Rookie of the Year leader, he’s also the championship point leader headed to Cayuga. If that’s not enough, Stenhouse, after nine events in 2008, is the only repeat winner so far among eight different winners.

And if he can hang on, he’ll be the first driver to unseat nine-time series champion Frank Kimmel from the championship throne since Bill Baird pulled it off back in 1999.

“I am kind of surprised (to be leading the championship points),” said Stenhouse. “For me, not having the experience in a stock car, it is a little surprising that I've been running so well. However, I have the best team and best cars out there so in that respect I'm not so surprised."

Prior to the 2008 season, Stenhouse, an open-wheeler by trade, had never raced stock cars on pavement, or on dirt, for that matter. Yet, in one of the most competitive seasons on record, he’s the guy everyone’s chasing.

"I think it goes back to the last answer. I didn't have much pavement experience coming into this deal but I've been working really hard and everyone at Roush Fenway Racing has given me the tools to succeed. We've done a lot of testing; I've been watching videos and I have my teammates, crew chiefs and engineers to talk to. Take that and the fact that Lumpy (crew chief Jeff Campey) and all the guys on the No. 99 team work really hard to build fast race cars, it's not terribly surprising."

Still yet, even with the expertise of a well-oiled team, Stenhouse has never even seen most of the tracks he’s competing on this year, including Cayuga.

"I've never even raced in Canada but I'm looking forward to this weekend. Any weekend that I'm racing is a good weekend. Wish I had more time to look around up there, but we don't really have time. We’re flying into Buffalo late Friday afternoon and driving over so I guess I'll get to enjoy the scenery from Buffalo to Cayuga."

As it turns out, Stenhouse is enjoying a lot of scenery this year. With some time away from the ARCA RE/MAX Series world last weekend, Stenhouse buckled up in a midget at Knoxville Raceway where he finished third in the Knoxville Midget Nationals. Stenhouse won the event in 2007.

Stenhouse cut his teeth in the open-wheel divisions in the south before he caught a break from Tony Stewart, who, after seeing Stenhouse race, offered him a ride in his USAC Sprint and Silver Crown cars. Stenhouse made good use of the opportunity earning a Silver Crown win on the Springfield mile-dirt and finishing second at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds.

"Tony (Stewart) is definitely a mentor. He gave me the chance to drive for him last year in USAC and from there it's kind of just taken off. 

"I think he wants to see the guys do well that came from where he did. I talk to him quite a bit and I know I can always call him for advice or when I have a question. He's come to a few of my ARCA races and it's a big help having him there, giving me pointers on how to get around the track better. I really can't thank him enough and one day I hope to be in his shoes so I can help the next batch of drivers coming up from USAC."

Stenhouse also has plans to do double duty this year at Springfield and DuQuoin where the ARCA RE/MAX Series runs in companion with the USAC Silver Crown Series every year.

"I can't wait to run the dirt tracks. I'm anxious to see how the stock cars will react on dirt; I'm sure it will be a lot different than a sprint car. Last year I won at Springfield in a USAC Silver Crown car and ran second at DuQuoin in a Silver Crown car. This year I plan to race Carl Edwards’s Silver Crown car at both tracks prior to the ARCA RE/MAX races, which I'm looking forward to. I think we have a pretty good shot at winning those races."

But whether it’s in an open-wheel car or a 3,400 lb. stock car, winning races has certainly not been an issue for Stenhouse. Stenhouse won in only his sixth start in the ARCA RE/MAX Series at Kentucky Speedway back in early May. Two races later, he won at Pocono, thus becoming the only driver in 2008 to repeat in the win column.

"Kentucky was my first ARCA RE/MAX Series win in the No. 99 Ford and my first stock car win so that was pretty big. After that win, Jack (Roush) asked if I could do it again and then we went back out and won Pocono. That was cool. I felt like that win was big too because it showed that we could consistently run up front and win. We weren't just lucky in Kentucky."

But as competitive as the ARCA RE/MAX Series has become over the years, there is, indeed, much more to winning races than luck. Stenhouse is fully aware of the expertise, work ethic and knowledge that surround him under the Roush Fenway Racing banner.

"I don't think there's just one person. This is a team sport so it really takes the entire team. Everyone back at the shop from the chassis guys, to engineers, to body hangers and the couple of guys we have that stay in the shop while we're on the road. Then you have the guys that travel each week and even the marketing people because without sponsors we can't do this. Everyone has their job and when they do their job I can do mine. Everyone from Jack on down has been very helpful to me and I'm lucky to have this opportunity.

Every Tuesday Jack comes to Concord and Mooresville for team meetings and as long as we're in town and not testing somewhere I'm in the meeting."

Like most all up and coming drivers, Stenhouse comes from the short-tracks, which is why Cayuga may fit right in.

"I actually really like the speedways, but if I had to pick between short tracks and superspeedways, I would say short tracks because the driver has more input and they are more challenging."

Stenhouse’s next challenge is in the form of a five-eighths mile flat short-track in Nelles Corners, Ontario this Sunday afternoon.

In addition to this Sunday afternoon’s Cayuga ARCA RE/MAX 250, the ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series will join the ARCA RE/MAX Series for an ARCA double-header weekend at Cayuga kicking off with the ARCA Lincoln Welders 50 Saturday afternoon, June 28th.

Practice for the ARCA RE/MAX Series is scheduled for Saturday, June 28th from 12:30-2:00 PM followed by SIM Factory Pole Qualifying at 3:30. The ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series race follows ARCA RE/MAX Series qualifying Saturday afternoon. The Cayuga ARCA RE/MAX 250 is set for 1:30 PM Sunday afternoon, June 29th.

For ticket and general information, visit http://www.cayugamotorspeedway.com.

From: ARCA Communications // http://www.arcaracing.com

 

I think my wife just became the permanent designated driver

(ITMN: If this comes to Canada anytime soon... it will be responsible for the sale of at least one car!)

... Mopar® Launches Industry-first – uconnect web™ Bringing Wireless Internet Connectivity to Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge Consumers

PHOTO: Chrysler LLC's Keefe Leung, Manager - Advanced Connectivity Strategies, demonstrates uconnect Internet

Auburn Hills, Mich., Jun 26, 2008 - Mopar® announced today that it will launch uconnect web™, Chrysler LLC’s in-vehicle wireless Internet connectivity for Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge consumers in the U.S. uconnect web, powered by Autonet Mobile, delivers continuous Internet connectivity to all vehicle passengers for entertainment and real-time information access on the go. uconnect web will be available in August as a dealer-installed Mopar Accessory. Mopar is Chrysler LLC’s original equipment parts manufacturer and distributor.

The industry-first technology provides high-speed data transfer, combining WiFi and 3G connectivity. uconnect web transforms the vehicle into a mobile “hot spot,” delivering unlimited, reliable and uninterrupted Internet connectivity for all passengers in and around the vehicle. The “hot spot” connection radius is approximately 100 feet—making it convenient to access the Internet at a soccer field or family picnic.

Wherever cellular service is available, uconnect web enables all vehicle passengers to simultaneously connect with WiFi-enabled devices like a laptop, iPhone, Sony Playstation (PSP), PDA and more to:

- access the Internet for e-mail, chat and IM

- view streaming movies or television shows

- download music and download/upload images

- play online games

“Mopar’s uconnect web brings a new level of convenience and technology to our Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles,” said Rob Richard, Director – Mopar Part Sales and Service Marketing, Chrysler LLC. “With uconnect web, all passengers in or near the vehicle are continuously connected to the Internet. They can make dinner reservations, check directions or weather, make online purchases, surf Facebook, MySpace, Disney or Webkinz, watch the latest YouTube videos, upload photos to a Flickr account—all at the same time.”

“uconnect web goes beyond today’s DVD and GPS solutions, letting passengers extend their Internet lifestyle to the car,” said Sterling Pratz, CEO of San Francisco-based Autonet Mobile. “The Internet is the future of in-car entertainment. We’re delighted to be working with Chrysler LLC to deliver the first WiFi Internet access that lets families, business and leisure travelers stay connected.”

The U.S. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the router module is $449. Dealer installation is estimated at approximately $35-50. Autonet Mobile offers wireless Internet account service at $29 a month, available in 12-, 24- and 36-month service plans. There is a one-time $35 service activation fee. Customer support assistance for hardware and service is available.

Run over integrated 3G and 2.5G (EVDO, 1xRTT) cellular data networks, the router module with antenna hard-mounts in any vehicle. High-speed Internet access ranges from 400-800 Kbps/sec., with upload speeds averaging 400 Kbps/sec. The WiFi connection is secured with WEP encryption, MAC address restriction or WAN port restriction. Compatible with all operating systems supporting WiFi including Windows, Mac, Linux and Solaris, no special software is required.

About Autonet Mobile Autonet Mobile is the first wireless Internet service provider for vehicles. Founded by a corporate executive and former race car driver and a leading network architect and designer, the company is dedicated to enhancing the in-car experience, by bringing the power of the Internet to the 200+ million cars on the road in the U.S. Autonet Mobile currently provides Avis Rent a Car with the Avis Connect service and is used by Storm Chasers, NASCAR and others. For more information about Autonet Mobile visit http://www.autonetmobile.com/.

70 Years of Mopar When Chrysler bought Dodge in 1928, the need for a dedicated parts manufacturer, supplier and distribution system to support the growing enterprise led to the formation of the Chrysler Motor Parts Corporation (CMPC) in 1929.

Originally used in the 1920s, Mopar (a simple contraction of the words MOtor and PARts) was trademarked for a line of antifreeze products in 1937. It was also widely used as a moniker for the CMPC. The Mopar brand made its mark in the 1960s—the muscle car era. The Chrysler Corporation built race-ready Dodge and Plymouth “package cars” equipped with special high-performance parts. Mopar carried a line of “Special Parts” for super stock drag racers and developed its racing parts division called Mopar Performance Parts to enhance speed and handling for both road and racing use.

Today, Chrysler LLC’s Global Service & Parts division is responsible for the manufacturing and distribution of nearly 250,000 authentic Mopar replacement parts, components, restoration parts, accessories and performance parts for Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles sold around the world. To assure quality, reliability and durability, all Mopar parts and accessories are designed in strict adherence to Chrysler engineering standards.

From Chrysler

OHSWEKEN: Sportsman Racers Return Friday Night

By Tommy Goudge (June 25, 2008) – Some familiar faces will be in the pits this Friday night at Ohsweken Speedway when the Sportsman Modifieds return for a special open $1,000 to win event. Joining the Sportsman for Friday Night Thunder will be the ESSO Thunder Stocks, ESSO Mini-Stocks, and Friday Night Fun Stocks, while the Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Car division takes the evening off after 6 weeks of intense weekly racing.

Many present day Corr/Pak Sprint Car competitors at Ohsweken used the Sportsman division as a stepping stone to sprint cars, including drivers like Nick Cupolo, who won 2 Sportsman features last season on his way to the Ohsweken track championship, and Dave Dykstra who also won 2 Sportsman features at Ohsweken last season. 2006 track champion Rob Pratt of Batavia, NY has already announced his intentions to shoot for the $1,000 winner’s cheque this Friday, along with former Southern Ontario Sprints competitor Joe Middlemiss of St. Catharines, Ontario, who currently sits 2nd in Merrittville Speedway Sportsman division points, just 8 markers out of the lead. Local favourites such as Caledonia residents Robbie Rounce and Lee Winger are also expected to be on hand.

The ESSO Thunder Stocks division has been dominated so far this season by young Cody McPherson. The St. Catharines resident has won 4 out of the 5 features run this season, but a pack of hungry drivers is eager to knock McPherson off his perch. The consistency of Ryan Dinning has him in 2nd place in the points, 52 back of McPherson, as Dinning has 3 top 5 finishes this season, and has finished no worse than 7th. Terry Osmond interrupted McPherson’s win streak during week 3, and charged all the way from 15th on the grid to finish 7th last Friday.

Osmond’s result on Friday moved him into a 3rd place tie in the points standings with Glenn Leinen, who came home 11th on Friday and out of the top 10 for the first time all season. Both Leinen and Osmond are just 2 points behind Dinning for 2nd. After some hard luck to start the season, 2007 Thunder Stock track champ Brad Bacher finally had things go his way last week as he came home with a solid 2nd place finish, and looks to keep the momentum going this Friday.

Bacher is currently 5th in the standings, but is just 17 points away from 2nd place Dinning. Dave Bailey and newcomer Russ Davidson showed they will be contenders as the season moves along by taking home solid 3rd and 4th place finishes on Friday. Bailey’s run all the way from 18th on the grid was his best performance of the season.

The unpredictable ESSO Mini-Stock division saw yet another new face in victory lane last week as Ohsweken’s own Brent Hill took home the feature win. In the points standings however, consistent finishes – not wins – are the key to success. Points leader Abel Castelein is the only driver currently ranked in the top 5 who has a feature win to his credit this season, which he accomplished in week #1. Consistent top 10 finishes for Castelein are the reasons he has remained at the top of the standings since then. Mark Thorne and Rick Emberson have both been consistent front-runners this season as well, and find themselves tied for 2nd in points, just 14 points behind Castelein.

The #88 shared by the team of Kelly and Marc Hallett is ranked 4th, 19 points behind Thorne and Emberson, while Dan Stewart rounds out the top 5, just 10 points behind the Halletts. A hard crash in heat race #1 involving the #40 of Jim Swing and the #77x of Ethan Martin on Friday night unfortunately heavily damaged both cars, and dropped Swing from the top 5 to 7th in the standings. Thankfully neither driver was hurt in the incident.

The Friday Night Fun Stock division also had another new winner last week as Steven Hils took home a well-deserved win, followed by week 2 feature winner Lee Hils, and new entry Kacey Huffman. A season high 8 cars took the green flag for 25 laps of Fun on the infield oval on Friday night, and the division continues to grow as the weeks go by, a process which is sure to accelerate on July 5th when a special race for the Fun Stocks will pay $250 to the winner!

Week 4 feature winner Chris Hils leads the Fun Stock points over Lee Hils heading into this Friday. Coming up in 2 weeks is another doubleheader weekend at Ohsweken Speedway, this time featuring the American Sprint Car Series. Mark July 4th and 5th on your calendar as all the stars from the ASCS Sprints on Dirt series and ASCS Patriot region converge on Ohsweken to battle the local favourites from Ohsweken’s Corr/Pak Merchandising sprint car division in the “ASCS Northern Summer Nationals”.

With two nights of racing on tap, and a $3,000 prize awaiting the winner on July 5, the pits are sure to be jammed with Sprint Cars. Joining the Sprint Cars on Friday, July 4 will be all of Ohsweken’s regular divisions, including the ESSO Thunder Stocks, ESSO Mini Stocks, and Friday Night Fun Stocks, while Saturday, July 5 will offer the Sprint Cars, plus a $250 to win Friday Night Fun Stock race, and “Box Car” Races for kids ages 6-12 (log on to www.OhswekenSpeedway.com for details). On top of all the racing action, Dick Mahoney will be bringing Jack Hewitt’s 2-seater sprint car back to Ohsweken for more laps on the fast 3/8’s mile clay oval with passengers along for the ride!

Coming up on Tuesday, July 22 and Wednesday, July 23 are 2 more dates that fans all over the province have circled on their calendars, as all the stars of the World of Outlaws Sprint Car series return to Ohsweken for 2 separate full points-paying race nights, culminating in the 2nd Annual 6 Nations Showdown on Wednesday, July 23. The broadcast crew from Speed Channel will be on hand each night to record every lap for broadcast on the following 2 weekends. Advanced reserved seat tickets for each night remain available. Visit www.OhswekenSpeedway.com and call 1-888-720-RACE to reserve your seat!

Friday Night Thunder at Ohsweken Speedway offers affordable family entertainment just a short drive away from most mid-western Ontario locations. Adult General Admission is $10, Seniors & Students 13 - 17 are $8, and Kids 12 and under are FREE! Please visit www.OhswekenSpeedway.com for more information. Gates open at 6:00p.m. with the first race taking the green flag at 7:45p.m. this Friday, June 27th!

chagAutosport: Charles Hammer competing in both XTrême Touring and Toyota Cup events

Montreal, June 26, 2008.- This Saturday, Charles Hammer, a Beaconsfield resident, will be taking part in two races which are part of the Quebec Road Racing Championship. In the XTreme Touring class Hammer will be driving a substantially modified Volvo S60 GT, and he will also be driving a Toyota Echo in the one make Toyota Pirelli Cup. Both cars are prepared and entered by his motorsport preparation shop chagAutosport.

Hammer, an enthusiast who has competed with success in Canadian and Provincial Rally Championships, as well as in Provincial Ice Racing Championships, has decided to try his hand at road racing after being a volunteer performance driving instructor in the last 10 years with the BMW and Ferrari clubs. " This weekend's double header at the new ICAR facility will be the first night race ever held in the Quebec Road Racing Series. I'm very excited about it, and hopefully doing the two series will help to give me an advantage in these unfamiliar conditions." explained Hammer.

The chagAutosport team's objective in the XTreme Touring series will be to finish in the top 3 in the GT class. " The Volvo S60 GT is a fantastic car to drive, and I believe we have a package which should allow us to get on the podium, hopefully ahead of the Corvette GT1 which beat us in the opening two races last month at Sanair." added Hammer.

In the Toyota Pirelli Cup, Hammer will be rediscovering a series which he knows well, having competed in 5 of its 7 races last year. With his best result last year being a 12th place, he will be looking to improve his performance and regularly get into the top10.

The Charles Hammer Automotive Group, otherwise identified by the acronym "CHAG", consists of four automobile dealerships, namely Uptown Volvo, Volvo Pointe Claire, Volkswagen des Sources, and Suzuki Mont Royal, as wellas the motorsport preparation shop known as chagAutosport. Employing 150 people, they sell and service approximately 2000 new and used cars each year, with an annual turnover of about $120,000,000 per year. Hammer's motorsport activities over the past 25 years have provided a unique training opportunity for his employees allowing them to develop skills in a high pressure environment which can later be successfully used in their everyday work environment.

- 30 -

From ChagAutosport, (514) 736-3404

Surprise Dodge driver heading to Barrie?

At the recent NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race at Mosport International Raceway, veteran driver Peter Gibbons parked his Chevrolet Monte Carlo and showed up with a Ford Fusion, which he plans to use at the NCATS road course races this season. Until the rain started, it looked like a winning move.

It seems another longtime Chevy driver is set to quit the fold. Don't be surprised when a former CASCAR Super Series champ shows up for this weekend's race at Barrie Speedway with a Dodge. Apparently, he did the math on how much MOPAR contingency money he would have won so far in NCATS action (two wins in '07 and one so far in '08... hint hint) ... and is making the switch.

Frankly, it's been a mystery why any of the Chevy racing guys stayed loyal this long, given that GM's main Canadian sales tool is a hockey player who retired more than 30 years ago. The automaker has ignored Canadian stock car racing for almost a decade and the market appears to be taking notice.

Anyway, getting back to the 'new' Dodge driver, if he wins this Saturday, it will be the car's third consecutive trip to victory lane at Barrie Speedway.... hint hint.

Cayuga ARCA RE/MAX 250 Marks Debut of ARCA Racing Radio Network

TOLEDO OH (6-25-08)--Live, streaming audio will be broadcast from Cayuga Motor Speedway this Sunday as the ARCA Racing Radio Network debuts on www.arcaracing.com.

Officials from ARCA and ACME Branding Company have jointly announced that the Cayuga ARCA RE/MAX 250 will mark the first of seven events webcast on arcaracing.com. Live streaming audio coverage of the Cayuga ARCA RE/MAX 250 is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Eastern on Sunday afternoon, June 29th. Content includes a 30 minute pre-race show followed by a live audio broadcast of the race, which marks the series’ first appearance to Canada in 16 years and the 10th of 21 events on the 2008 series schedule.

“We have decided to test live audio at the seven remaining events that will not be broadcast live on national television,” said Mark Gundrum, VP of Marketing and Communications for ARCA. “We believe that the combination of live timing and scoring and an audio webcast will provide comprehensive coverage of ARCA Racing, second only to live TV.”

Team Glock Racing, primary sponsor of the No. 37 Spraker Racing Chevrolet driven by Dexter Bean, has entered into a multi-faceted agreement including title sponsorship of live-to-web timing and scoring, presenting sponsorship of live race audio and presenting sponsorship of ARCA’s weekly “Inside ARCA” radio broadcast, which streams live on arcaracing.com Tuesday nights from 7-8:30 p.m.  Each of these arcaracing.com enhancements is free to website visitors.

The live audio call of ARCA RE/MAX Series race events will serve as an enhancement to the live-to-web arcaracing.com timing and scoring feature that debuted at the 2008 ARCA 200 at Daytona in February. Plans call for audio broadcasts from ARCA RE/MAX Series races at Cayuga (6/29), Berlin (7/26), Pocono (8/2), Springfield (8/17), DuQuoin (9/1), Salem (9/13) and New Jersey Motorsports Park (9/28).

For more information on the ARCA RE/MAX Series, visit www.arcaracing.com.

From ARCA PR/Media

PHOTO GALLERY: Flamboro Speedway - June 21, 2008 by Dave Franks

This is a 149-photo gallery from Flamboro Speedway on Saturday, June 21, 2008. Thanks to Dave Franks for sharing. Dave's website is located here.

PHOTO GALLERY: Sunset Speedway June 14, 2008 including OSCAAR... by Dave Franks

This is a 71-photo gallery from Sunset Speedway on Saturday, June 14, 2008. The OSCAAR Outlaw Super Late Models were in attendance. Thanks to Dave Franks for sending this along for your viewing pleasure. Dave's website is located here.

ACT/Thunder Road release: Tripleheader Week on Tap for ACT Late Models

WATERBURY, VT - The American-Canadian Tour (ACT) Late Model division has a busy tripleheader on tap for this week, beginning with Thursday's (June 26) CARQUEST Vermont Governor's Cup 100 at Barre, VT's Thunder Road.

The Governor's Cup is the biggest and longest-distance weekly championship event for the Late Models at Thunder Road in 2008, and will likely see a mix of regular Thursday-night competitors and invaders from the traveling ACT Late Model Tour.

Eric Williams of Hyde Park, VT will try to hold off Northfield, VT's Cris Michaud for his third consecutive CARQUEST Vermont Governor's Cup 100 victory. Michaud has finished second to Williams in the race two years running, but held Williams off for a 50-lap victory at Thunder Road one week ago. Other drivers tackling the Governor's Cup race include former Thunder Road champions Dave Pembroke, Phil Scott, Jamie Fisher, Pete Fecteau, and Dave Whitcomb, and ACT Late Model Tour drivers Scott Payea, the current point leader, and top rookie Nick Sweet. Also on the card are championship events for the NAPA Tiger Sportsman, Allen Lumber Street Stock, and Power Shift Online Junkyard Warrior divisions. Post time is 6:00pm.

The ACT Late Model Tour is in action on Saturday (June 28) at White Mountain Motorsports Park in North Woodstock, NH for the White Mountain 150. The picturesque, high-banked, 1/4-mile oval routinely produces some of the best racing of the season, and is expected to draw more than 40 race cars, including the stars of ACT and the hometown heroes of White Mountain Motorsports Park. ACT's Brent Dragon won the race last year, and will be joined by seven-time ACT champion Jean-Paul Cyr, Canadian champions Patrick Laperle and Donald Theetge, Maine drivers Glen Luce and Ron Henry, and New Hampshire's own Randy Potter and Joey "Pole" Polewarczyk, Jr., the most recent ACT winner at Oxford Plains (ME) Speedway. White Mountain regulars expected to enter include Stacy Cahoon, Quinny Welch, Dan Colby, and young guns Cody Bodwell, Steven Legendre, and Brett Clairmont. Racing action begins at 5:00pm.

On Sunday (June 29), the Canadian Série ACT Castrol heads north to Autodrome Montmagny Speedway in Montmagny, QC for the previously rained-out Montmagny 100. The race will be run Monza-style in two 50-lap segments will a full-field inversion after the first segment. Drivers expected to contend for the victory include Série ACT Castrol point leader Karl Allard, top drivers Jean-François Déry, Alexandre Gingras, and Dany Ouellet, veterans Yvon Bédard and Claude Leclerc, and rookies Patrick Hamel and Spencer MacPherson. Qualifying for the Montmagny 100 begins at 1:00pm.

For more information, call (802) 244-6963, or visit the official websites of ACT and Thunder Road at www.thunderroadspeedbowl.com, www.acttour.com, and www.laserieactcastrol.com.

ATTACHED PHOTOS:
1. Eric Williams is going for his third-straight CARQUEST Vermont Governor's Cup 100 at Thunder Road on Thursday (Dave Heath photo) 2. Late Model stars Dave Pembroke (#44VT) and Scott Payea (#89) will duke it out with many others this week (Eric LaFleche photo) 3. Série ACT Castrol point leader Karl Allard will look for his first win of the year at Autodrome Montmagny Speedway on Sunday (Stephane Lazare photo)

From: Justin St. Louis // ACT Tour

AIM Autosport - Mid Ohio Race Report

AIM Autosport records best Grand Am result : Exchange Traded Gold No. 61 Ford Riley is fourth at Mid-Ohio
 

Lexington, Ohio June 22, 2008: It’s hard to call a race that ran almost half the time under caution exciting, but in the end, with some daring passes on a wet track, The AIM Autosport Exchange Traded Gold No. 61 Ford Riley would come across the finish line fourth, the best result so far this season for the team. It has moved the team up in the overall series championship to seventh.

 

Mark Wilkins would start the car from the inside of row two and as the cars came to the grid, dark clouds moved in. Mark would fall from third to fifth at the start when the pole sitter did not get a good start which allowed the outside line of cars to get ahead in the first two corners. Mark would make a charge and on lap five, set fastest lap of the race at 1:21.426 moving to fourth. Two laps later heavy rain started to fall and the first of eight full course cautions brought the field to a virtual standstill. Mark brought the car in for the mandatory stop to switch to rain tires and top up the fuel.

 

This caution would last thirteen laps with cars - including the race leader, continuing to spin off course behind the safety car delaying the restart. With heavy rain still falling and the field bunched up, Mark would have a brief off-course excursion while challenging the No. 10 Sun Trust car  for second place off the difficult left-hand turn leading to The Carousel. Getting the car pointed in the right direction, Mark would fight back for position and turn some very fast race laps in the wet. After an hour and a half of some intense driving punctuated by a series of yellow flag periods caused by cars spinning off or crashing, Mark would pit the #61 Ford Riley from fourth to take on fuel and hand the wheel over to Brian Frisselle.

 

Brian would come back on track tenth in class with a few GT cars to get around. The rain and the cautions had mixed up the field and the #61 was actually seventeenth overall. It did not take Brian long to clear the GT traffic and he had good track position in DP. He would soon be sitting sixth in class and closing on the cars ahead. While there appeared to be a dry line forming in some areas, it was still pretty wet around most of the circuit. Choosing the right line worked to Brian’s advantage and helped save the tires while picking up time on the leaders.

 

The last hour of the race saw a bit more rain, plenty of cautions and Brian moving forward setting a very quick pace.  With eighteen minutes to go, Brian made an exciting pass up the inside of the 60 car at turn thirteen to take fourth place. He was closing in on the last podium spot at almost a second a lap and would soon pass the 10 car, powering past him down the front straight into turn one. By now though, the track had a discernible dry line and tire management was becoming an issue. He was closing on second place when he got caught out in a traffic jam of six GT cars. The Brumos cars with smaller displacement engines and less torque certainly had better tires at the end of the race and were closing fast. The 58 car would slide past Brian in the traffic and take away the spot. Almost immediately, the last caution of the day flew for an accident on the front straight. The race ended under the yellow at the two hour, forty-five minute time limit. The AIM Autosport Exchange Traded Gold No. 61 Ford Riley would record its best finish in two years of the Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16. The team would also be credited with the fastest race lap. Brian would also make the SPEED TV replay highlights with some of his exciting passes in some unlikely spots.

 

At  the end of the day, everyone on the crew was happy with the result and are now convinced, more than ever, that the podium they desire is attainable. The drivers and managers had this to say after the race:

 

Mark Wilkins: “We proved again that the Ford Riley is fast off the trailer. We lead the practice sessions in the dry and certainly had the speed in the wet. It was a bit hairy being on slicks when the rains came and even on the wets. There were some spots that if you put the power down too quickly, you were going for a ride in the grass. Just don’t ask me how I know that.” He continued, “Brian did a great job to keep us in it and I felt pretty good about handing him the car in fourth place. This is a great result for the team and we are moving forward each race.”

 

Brian Frisselle: “What a great result in a difficult race. The rain tires were becoming quite a handful at the end and it was a lot of work to keep the car from coming around on me. But we kept it on track  and had some battles going on toward the end. Had a bit of a moment when my brother tried to pass me, but we were having none of that. The AIM Autosport crew did a great job and Ian (Willis) and Jim (Malicki) made the right calls on strategy. We’ll be really pumped for the next race at Daytona after this weekend.”

 

Ian Willis: “The boys did a terrific job staying out of trouble and dealing with the vastly changing conditions. At the same time they both showed maturity and speed by being one of the fastest cars in any conditions. They deserve a huge amount of credit for our best series finish to date.”

 

The team remained at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for a full day of practice on Monday in preparation for the next event at Daytona International Speedway next week. The race takes place on Thursday, July 3rd. It will be broadcast live starting at 8:00 p.m. (ET) on SPEED TV.

 

AIM Autosport Facts: Established in 1995, AIM Autosport  has a mandate to identify, train and manage emerging motorsport talent. AIM has provided many young drivers with a solid foundation on which to build a career in professional racing. The success of the AIM driver development programs has been achieved through the dedication of our employees and the ongoing support of our commercial and technical partners. Away from the track, AIM Autosport serves the needs of the racing community with a purpose-built preparation shop situated in the Toronto suburb of Woodbridge, Ontario. AIM also fields the Exchange Traded Gold #61 Ford-Riley Daytona Prototype in the Rolex Grand Am series with drivers Mark Wilkins and Brian Frisselle.

 

Photo credit: Caitlin Fell

From: Chris Jameson // Level Ten Communications

PHOTO GALLERY: Kawartha Speedway - June 20 2008 by Dave Franks

This is a 202-photo gallery from Kawartha Speedway on Friday, June 20, 2008. Pete Shepherd took part in the race; his first on Canadian soil in quite some time. Thanks to Dave Franks for sending this gallery along for your viewing pleasure. Dave's website is located here.

PHOTO GALLERY: Dale Jr. wins at Michigan, by Dave Franks

I'm playing a bit of catch-up on posting photos. This eight-photo gallery is from Father's Day at Michigan Int'l Speedway. Dale Jr. won his first points race driving for Hendrick Motorsports. Click here to visit Dave Franks' homepage.

NHRA: A statement on the passing of Scott Kalitta from Kalitta Motorsports

A statement on the passing of Scott Kalitta from Kalitta Motorsports

June 25, 2008

Scott Kalitta was our champion, our hero and our friend. He was a son, a father, a husband, a cousin, a friend, and a racer. He, along with his father, Connie, and cousin, Doug, was a cornerstone of Kalitta Motorsports that cannot be replaced. His passing last Saturday has left not only our team but the entire NHRA drag racing community reeling. The outpouring of support from our competitors, friends, and race fans has been immeasurable and for that we are tremendously grateful.

Scott’s legendary career on the race tracks throughout the world proved that he was unequalled as a racer, but his magnanimous personality is his most endearing legacy. He was tough as nails, but with a heart of gold.

Kalitta Motorsports will carry on and continue to race because that’s what we do, and we feel certain Scott would want us too, but we obviously will never be the same, nor should we be.

Scott will always be with us in everything we do as a team and as individuals. His spirit shall forever remain indelible and untarnished.

“Having the last name Kalitta didn’t make me a racer, but it definitely makes me want to be a winner.” – Scott Kalitta

Notable quotes

Connie Kalitta, Scott’s father, drag racing legend and team owner –

“I certainly appreciate everyone’s thoughts, prayers and support in this most difficult time. Losing a family member is always tough, but losing my son has been incredibly hard. Scott was a great racer and a great son, but most importantly, he was a great husband to his wife, Kathy, and a wonderful father to his boys, Corey and Colin. Scott died doing what he loved to do, and I am very proud of what we accomplished together both on the track and off.”

Doug Kalitta, Scott’s cousin and driver of the Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster –

“Words just don’t seem to do Scott justice. He was so much bigger than life, and we all thought he was invincible. He loved being in a race car, and he was a great driver. We grew up together, and I really can’t imagine my life without him in it, but we will come together as a family and as a team and carry on in his honor.”

Hillary Will, driver of the KB Racing, LLC Top Fuel dragster –

“Scott was like a big brother to me. I feel very fortunate to have known him and have him in my life both as a friend and as a mentor. He was always very supportive and encouraging to me as a person and as a Top Fuel driver. I’m so glad now that our team got our first win a couple of weeks ago and Scott was in the winner’s circle with us. We will always miss him.”

Dave Grubnic, driver of the DHL Top Fuel dragster –

“Scott was more than just my teammate. He was always there for me whenever I had a problem, regardless of the nature. He was a great racer and a champion, and I was proud to be his teammate. Scott Kalitta was my friend, and he will be deeply missed. My sincere and heartfelt condolences go out to Scott's wife Kathy, his sons Corey and Colin, Connie, Doug, and the entire Kalitta family.”

Kalitta, a two-time former NHRA Top Fuel champion and one of just 14 drivers to have won in both of NHRA's nitro categories, died June 21, 2008, as the result of multiple injuries suffered in a qualifying accident at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J., during the running of the Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNationals. He was 46.

Scott is survived by his wife, Kathy; sons Corey, 14, and Colin, 8; and his father, Connie.

FW: NASCAR Canadian Tire Series News and Notes - Barrie Speedway

NASCAR Canadian Tire Series: A&W 300 Notebook
NASCAR Home Tracks Spotlight: Barrie Speedway
Dickies 200 Presented By Lucas Oil Post-Race Notes

Kennington Logs Miles On And Off The Track

Traveling from track to track and series to series has garnered much attention this season thanks to the exploits of Kyle Busch, who has used helicopters and jets to work his way between tracks to compete in NASCAR’s top three series.

The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Sirius Satellite Radio has its own version of Busch in D.J. Kennington (No. 17 Castrol/NPP Dodge). Kennington’s travels from the NASCAR Nationwide Series to the Canadian Tire Series, however, come via cars and pick-up trucks.

Weekend before last, Kennington competed in the NASCAR Nationwide Series event at Kentucky Speedway before making the nine-hour drive north to Mosport International Raceway near Bowmanville, Ontario. Awaiting him there was a start at the rear of the field since he was not present on Saturday to qualify his machine. Seemingly working on adrenaline only, he stormed forward and was on the cusp of the top 10 after just eight laps on the 2.459-mile road course.

After cracking the top 10 following green flag pit stops, it apparently wasn’t going to get much better for the 2007 championship point standings runner-up. However, an unlikely break was coming his way. Rain began to fall on the track with just a little over 10 laps remaining and during a caution period, the St. Thomas, Ontario native ducked on to pit road and made the switch to grooved rain tires. When everything shook out, Kennington found himself running second to J.R. Fitzpatrick (No. 84 Fitzpatrick Motorsports Chevrolet) at the finish line.

It was a long and exhaustive couple of days, but he is committed to both programs and will do everything in his power to see both succeed.

“I’d like not to make a habit of this kind of travel, but it’s worth it on both sides,” he said.
His Castrol-sponsored Canadian Tire Series car is his bread and butter but, at the same time, he cannot forgo the opportunity to compete in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

“I can’t pass up the chance to race down there, but Castrol and I have been together for a long time and I need to do this, too,” he said.

Kennington has a pair of Canadian Tire Series victories to his credit, both coming last season at Barrie (Ont.) Speedway, a bullring of a track at which survival, more than anything else, is the name of the game. Oddly enough, he credits his experiences in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for his success at Barrie.

“Down there, they race hard every second of every race. There is no letting up — ever. There’s no settling into the middle part of the race,” he said. “And that is how it is getting up here. We’ve always raced hard, but the competition is so tight now that you have to be up on the wheel from start to finish.”

Driving hard and the tight competition tends to lead to impatience, but the slightest amount of indecision is the difference in winning and not.

“Barrie demands that you be patient because it is so small, but you can’t let any opportunity to make a move pass by or it’s gone forever and who knows if another chance will come,” he said. “The slightest hesitation is costly there. There is a fine line between aggression and patience and you have to be right on that line at Barrie. If you’re not, then that could be the difference between winning and 15th place.”

Beauchamp Closing The Door On Difficult 2007 Season

There was a question hovering in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Sirius Satellite Radio garage area in 2007. Most treated it like an elephant sitting in the corner and let it be, but everyone wondered what was going on with Ron Beauchamp Jr. (No. 60 Mopar/Mobil 1 Dodge). Included in that group was the Beauchamp camp itself.

Last season was a monument to Murphy’s Law for the team. They found their way into other people’s accidents, had little things — like differentials — and big things — like blown motors — knock them out of races.

“I’m just glad it’s over,” said Beauchamp of the 2007 season. “So little went right for us. It was actually kind of amazing.”

The last time out at Mosport International Raceway, Beauchamp had his Dodge Avenger in the lead for five laps and after the field cycled through green flag pit stops, he settled into third place with an eye toward his first Canadian Tire Series victory. However, when the rain began to fall, he was caught between surrendering valuable track position and stopping for rain tires.

“We were in third place, so we decided to stay out and hang on, but I spun and ended up in the gravel. I just wanted to stay on the track and get all that I could. The car was great, though,” he said.

Despite the 17th-place finish, the performance prior to the weather is what is expected from the multi-time CASCAR Super Series winner.

The first Barrie race last season was one of the few that Beauchamp did not have major problems and finished sixth.

News & Notes

The Race: This event is the third of 13 races on the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Sirius Satellite Radio schedule. Overall, it is the third visit to the track for the Canadian Tire Series.

The Procedure: The starting field is 24 cars, including provisionals. The first 21 cars will qualify through two-lap time trials. The remaining three spots will be awarded through the provisional process. The race will be 300 laps covering 99.99 miles.

The Track: Barrie Speedway opened in 1965 and has made substantial improvements since 1999. At that time, the track was widened and lengthened from a .25-mile oval to its current unique .333-mile tri-oval configuration. The tri-oval and pit road are situated on the backstretch.

The Records: Mark Dilley holds the qualifying record for Barrie Speedway with a lap time of 13.969 seconds (85.819 mph) on June 30, 2007. The 300-lap race record is held by D.J. Kennington. He completed the race on Sept. 8, 2007 in 1 hour, 43 minutes and 59 seconds for an average speed of 57.644 mph.

Two And Counting: D.J. Kennington won both events at Barrie Speedway in 2007. He started second in the July race and came from the seventh position in the September event. In the September race, he was forced to work the throttle with a bungee cable attached to the steering wheel after the recoil spring on the pedal failed.

NASCAR Legend To Be On Hand: Bobby Allison, 1983 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion and three-time Daytona 500 winner, will serve as the event’s grand marshal. The legendary driver will be available for autographs Saturday afternoon as he celebrates the 25th anniversary of his 1983 title.

Dickies 200 Post-Race Notebook

Alone At The Top, For Now: With his win at Mosport, J.R. Fitzpatrick (No. 84 Fitzpatrick Motorsports Chevrolet) holds the record for most wins in the series’ brief history at three, breaking a tie with three other drivers.

Gibbons Switches Gears: Having no financial alliance with General Motors, Peter Gibbons (No. 1 Canadian Tire/Mobil Super) took to the track at Mosport in a Ford as opposed to his normal Chevy. He noted that three of the four road course races in 2007 were won by Fords and decided to make the switch in 2008 for the four non-oval events. Had the rain not started to fall, the switch may have resulted in a win. Leading the race at the time the weather came, Gibbons opted not to forfeit his track position by pitting for rain tires. In the virtual no-win scenario, he was a sitting duck for the cars on grooved tires and had to settle for a ninth-place finish.

High Water Marks: Piloting a stock car for just the fourth time, Alex Tagliani (No. 7 Wal-Mart/Ubisoft Ford), a former open-wheel standout, notched his first Canadian Tire Series top five with a finish in fifth. Peter Klutt (No. 42 Legendary Motorcar Pontiac) scored a NASCAR career-best finish of eighth. And Pierre Bourque (No. 29 Whitlock Motorsports Dodge) equaled his best series finish of seventh established last season in Trois-Rivieres.

Road Course Ringers: Robin Buck (No. 88 Active Green+Ross Ford) and Trevor Seibert (No. 69 Lake Excavating Ford) had podium finishes a season ago in road races. This time around, though, both had to retire early with mechanical problems.

Mobil 1 Command Performance of the Race Award: As a reward for his NASCAR Canadian Tire Series victory at Mosport, Fitzpatrick collects $1,500 from Mobil 1 for his effort. He also has wins at SunValley Speedway and Grand Prix Edmonton to his credit.

Mopar Fast Five: This program awards the top five finishing Dodges in the race. In the Dickies 200, D.J. Kennington (No. 17 Castrol/NPP Dodge) finished second and thus earned a $2,000 bonus as the top-finishing Dodge. Scott Steckly (No. 22 Tow Truck in a Box/Erb Group Dodge) finished fourth overall and was the second-highest finishing Dodge, which earned him $1,250. Picking up $1,000 for finishing as the third-highest Dodge was Bourque. Collecting $500 for placing fourth among the Dodge entrants was Doug Brown (No. 10 Haldex Dodge). Rounding out the top five Dodges was Derek Lynch (No. 77 Allied Steel Buildings/Canadian Shield Dodge), which pays him $250.

POWERade Power Move: Kennington improved his position the most over the course of the event. After starting 27th on the grid, he charged through the field en route to his runner-up finish. As a result, he earned a $1,000 award.

Tow Truck in a Box Free Pass Award: In a new program in 2008, the driver who receives a free pass during the event and has the highest finish earns $1,000. Bourque was caught a lap down early in the event, but rebounded for a top-10 finish.

NASCAR Home Tracks: Late Models Rule The Roost At Barrie

Barrie Speedway, in its second season as part of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, has long been a proving ground for late model racing in Ontario.

The Classic Pro Tube Late Models are the premier division. Barrie’s current .333-mile tri-oval configuration provides the heart-pounding door-to-door racing fans crave and the opportunity to race hard the competitors love.

The 2007 track and Ontario provincial champion, Dwayne Baker, held off Keith McLeod for the title. The two battled all season long, but Baker was able to claim a slim 18-point advantage at season’s end.

This season has been more of the same in the late model division. The lead has gone back and forth with Baker currently out front by 21 points. Both have a pair of early season wins, but McLeod holds an edge in top-five and top-10 finishes.

They are not alone atop the standings, though. Gord Shepherd and Dave Lewis are well within striking distance of the 2008 prize and a trip to Las Vegas in November for the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series banquet, at which all state and provincial champions will be honored.

Current NASCAR Canadian Tire Series standouts Mark Dilley and John Gaunt both have Barrie Speedway titles on their resume.

The track also races Thunder Car, Pure Stock and Charger classifications under the NASCAR banner.

The NASCAR Whelen All-American Series serves as the foundation of NASCAR – grassroots racing across the United States and Canada. Whelen Engineering, a leading manufacturer of automotive, aviation, industrial and emergency vehicle lighting, is the series sponsor. More than 10,000 drivers compete at NASCAR-sanctioned short tracks throughout both countries.

The short-track racing program in NASCAR was founded in 1982. Since its inception, the series has been a successful starting point for the careers of many top drivers. NASCAR stars Greg Biffle, Bowyer, Jeff Burton, Kurt and Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Travis Kvapil, Bobby Labonte, Jamie McMurray and Brian Vickers all began their careers in this series.

For more information, contact: Shon Sbarra, NASCAR Public Relations, (704) 309-5493 or ssbarra@nascar.com