HOT WHEELS® ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH THE INDYCAR® SERIES, INDIANAPOLIS 500
Mattel and The Greatest Spectacle In Racing® Create a Winning Team for Fans Across the Globe
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (April 3, 2009) – Mattel, Inc. and the Indy Racing League®, the sanctioning body for the IndyCar® Series, announced an exclusive four-year licensing partnership that will bring racing fans authentic Hot Wheels® product featuring IndyCar® Series drivers and teams, the greatest race course in the world, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and the world's largest single-day sporting event, the Indianapolis 500.
The exclusive licensed product line will include highly detailed 1:64- and 1:24-scale Hot Wheels IndyCar Series assortment die-cast cars – showcasing many of the drivers and teams of the IndyCar Series ($4.99 and $24.99, respectively); kid-powered 1:12-scale Hot Wheels IndyCar Series Big Sounds cars with real racing sounds ($29.99); and the IndyCar Series 1:16-scale Tyco® R/C ($29.99). Product will be available at major retailers nationwide starting this month, trackside at all IndyCar Series races and online at indycar.com.
"Speed, power and performance is at the core of the Hot Wheels heritage, which aligns perfectly with the on-track excitement the IndyCar Series brings to racing fans,” said Tim Kilpin, GM for Girls, Boys & Games, Mattel. "Our partnership with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the IndyCar Series, including drivers and teams, allows us to connect Hot Wheels fans of all ages with a real-world racing experience.”
2009 begins the “Centennial Era” at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a three-year celebration marking the 100th anniversary of the Speedway in 2009 and the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500 in 2011.
“As we enter a significant period in the history of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, it is appropriate that two American icons have joined forces,” said Joie Chitwood, IMS president and COO. “We are excited to bring the rich history and heritage of the Brickyard and the excitement of IndyCar racing to millions of Hot Wheels collectors worldwide.”
The IndyCar Series season kicks off April 5 in St. Petersburg, Fla.
"We couldn't be happier with our new partnership with Mattel's Hot Wheels brand," said Terry Angstadt, president, commercial division for the Indy Racing League. "This is a wonderful opportunity for the IndyCar Series and its drivers and teams to have a major retail presence in front of consumers of all ages."
From John Griffin, Indy Racing League
Friday, April 03, 2009
Hot Wheels announces partnership with IndyCar Series and Indy 500
IHRA: River Cree Resort and Casino named title sponsor of Rocky Mountain Nationals
River Cree Resort and Casino named title sponsor of Rocky Mountain Nationals
IHRA has announced that the River Cree Resort and Casino has signed on as the title sponsor of the Rocky Mountain Nationals July 3-5 at Castrol Raceway in Edmonton, Alberta Canada.
Host to the biggest IHRA drag race in North America, the River Cree Resort and Casino will only add to the already sterling tradition that is the Rocky Mountain Nationals.
“This is a terrific partnership between River Cree, the IHRA and Castrol Raceway. Race fans want excitement and they will find it at both the Rocky Mountain Nationals and at the River Cree Resort and Casino – it is a dynamic matchup between three successful brand names,” said Michael Heeb, Vice-President and General Manager of River Cree Resort and Casino. “We are proud to support such a great event, especially one that is recognized as widely as the Rocky Mountain Nationals.”
In addition to the River Cree Resort and Casino’s title sponsorship, the Edmonton Marriott at River Cree Resort has been named the Official Host Hotel of the Rocky Mountain Nationals. The Edmonton Marriott will be offering special deals and packages in conjunction with the July race.
“We are thrilled to have the River Cree Resort and Casino join the IHRA and Castrol Raceway for one of the biggest events of the year. We look forward to a unique and valued partnership with the River Cree now and into the future,” said IHRA President Aaron Polburn.
Castrol Raceway will set the stage for the biggest IHRA race of the year as drivers from all over the world travel to Edmonton to try and master one of drag racing’s fastest and most exciting tracks.
“We are thrilled to have the River Cree on board. Just like Castrol Raceway, the River Cree Resort and Casino has so much to offer its customers and we hope this partnership will continue to grow into the future,” said Castrol Raceway owner Kimberly Reeves. “July will be here before you know it and I can’t wait to see all the racers and fans back here for the Rocky Mountain Nationals.”
The River Cree Resort and Casino Rocky Mountain Nationals will be the fifth of 10 races on the 2009 Nitro Jam tour. It will feature three professional classes of racing including Top Fuel, Pro Modified and Pro Stock along with hundreds of sportsman competitors capped off by the annual Saturday “Night of Fire.”
“We are pleased to be a part of such a big event and what will definitely be a fast-paced and entertaining weekend,” Heeb said. “Race fans are going to enjoy what River Cree will offer them during the Rocky Mountain Nationals.”
From Larry Crum / IHRA
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Hits Full Stride In April
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Hits Full Stride... 26 NASCAR ‘Home Tracks’ Across North America Open in April
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Apr. 2, 2009) – Twenty-six NASCAR Whelen All American Series tracks in 19 states and provinces across North America are scheduled to open in April.
Among them are three of NASCAR’s longest continuously-operated tracks.
The “granddaddy” of all NASCAR short tracks is Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C. The flat .250-mile paved oval echoes of NASCAR history on a weekly basis. The track’s rich tradition of Southern Modified racing is displayed every Saturday night; Bowman Gray’s 61st season starts April 25 and runs through Aug. 15.
Ardent fans and hot rivalries make Saturday nights a happening at “The Stadium.” But like its “granddaddy” superspeedway cousin, Darlington Raceway, the old place has received some makeovers over the years. Just like Darlington, the sense of tradition never changes, even with some of the modern era upgrades.
The stadium is owned by the City of Winston-Salem, which has admirably grown their jewel while three generations of the Hawkins-Pinilis family have stood steady at the wheel. In recent years, the city has assured the stadium’s future with major investments in a huge new ultra-modern tower featuring hospitality suites, a new pit-side field house where pit operations are run, a new video scoreboard and a recently extended 20-year lease with the Hawkins-Pinilis family.
Still, there are no cobwebs in the concrete horseshoe-shaped grandstands that can seat up to 17,000 fans who are treated weekly to Modifieds, Sportsman, Street Stocks and Stadium Stocks.
“We’re excited about our upcoming 61st season,” said track publicist Loren Pinilis, a member of the third generation track operators. “We’ve held the line on ticket prices ($10 for adults), our sponsors like to do giveaways for the fans and drivers and we’ve got some of the best racing in the south.”
Jonathan Hawkins serves as the track’s general manager, Gray and Pam Garrison are the promoters and the second generation of Dale and Johnny Pinilis are always around. The Hawkins family roots go back to Alvin and Elioise Hawkins, best friends of Bill France Sr. and his wife Anne B. Alvin was NASCAR’s original flagman starting on the original Daytona Beach road course.
Two other longtime tracks open on April 4: Old Dominion Speedway in Manassas, Va., and Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Speedway.
Old Dominion Speedway features Late Model Stock Cars, Mini Modifieds, U-Cars and Legends. The track, built on the site of the former Longview Speedway, opened as a paved .375-mile oval in 1952.
Myrtle Beach Speedway, originally known as Rambi Raceway, is a .538-mile paved oval, opened in 1958. Weekly divisions include Late Models, Super Trucks, Limiteds, Mini Stocks and Street Stocks.
All three tracks operate on Saturday nights and all three hosted the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in the series’ formative years.
Another track opening is Motor Mile Speedway, a .416-mile paved oval in Radford, Va., home to two-time series national champion Philip Morris. Motor Mile Speedway opens Saturday, April 4. Morris, 43, of Ruckersville, Va., has already posted his first win of the season at South Boston (Va.) Speedway in March.
The complete list of NASCAR-sanctioned short tracks opening in April:
· April 3: Kil-Kare Speedway, Xenia, Ohio; Motordrome Speedway, Smithton, Pa., and Tri-County Motor Speedway, Hudson, N.C.
· April 4: Colorado National Speedway, Dacono, Col.; Elko (Minn.) Speedway; Grandview Speedway, Bechtelsville, Pa.; Motor Mile Speedway; Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Speedway; and Old Dominion Speedway, Manassas, Va.
· April 5: Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway;
· April 10: Cedar Lake (Minn.) Speedway;
· April 11: Columbus (Ohio) Motor Speedway; Evergreen Speedway, Monroe, Wash.; Langley Speedway, Hampton, Va.; West Liberty (Ia.) Raceway;
· April 18: Junction Motor Speedway, McCool Junction, Neb.;
· April 25: Adams County Speedway, Corning, Ia.; Bowman Gray Stadium, Winston-Salem, N.C.; Delaware (Ont.) Speedway; Kalamazoo (Mich.) Speedway; LaCrosse (Wisc.) Fairgrounds Speedway; Monadnock Speedway, Winchester, N.H.; Park Jefferson Speedway, Jefferson, S.D.; Rockford (Ill.) Speedway; SunValley Speedway, Armstrong, B.C.; Thunder Raceway, Show Low, Ariz.;
· April 26: Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway.
Since the inception of the NASCAR Whelen all-American Series, NASCAR’s Home Tracks have served as a springboard in the careers of many eventual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers. Greg Biffle, Clint Bowyer, Jeff Burton, Kurt and Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, Kevin Harvick, Bobby Labonte, Jamie McMurray, Elliott Sadler, Martin Truex Jr. and Brian Vickers all began their NASCAR careers racing in one of the NASCAR Home Tracks’ series. More information on NASCAR Home Tracks is available at www.nascarhometracks.com.
From Jason Christley, NASCAR Public Relations
Loeb beaten -- by motocross champ!
The challenge of this duel of the titans was simple: who would climb the Geraardsbergen Wall in the shortest time, a Citroën C4 WRC car or a Red Bull KTM 450cc?
And the protagonists of the event: five times rally champion Sébastien Loeb and 10-time world motorcross champion Stefan Everts.
The result was a particularly exciting and unusual race between two heroes in their disciplines. Everts reached the top of the Wall first against all expectations. Loeb, who was one tenth of a second behind, had to acknowledge the superiority of his rival.
What started as an innocent competition between two top athletes turned into an exceptional duel. It was Everts who challenged Red Bull athlete Loeb a few weeks ago, but he could never have imagined that the cobblestones of the legendary Wall of Geraardsbergen would be so slippery smooth.
However this did not put him off and he succeeded in reaching the top first with a very tiny difference separating him from his opponent. His timing was 49:07 seconds compared to 49:17 for Loeb.
"I surprised myself at my win," Everts admitted. "It's probably the only time this year that Sébastien will be beaten by anyone!"
The loser of the duel had a great task awaiting him: he had to clean the vehicle of his opponent. Loeb put up no resistance at all to carrying out this fun assignment and showed no sign of disappointment afterwards: "I thought this duel was a tremendous idea and I have no problems with Stefan winning it. The difference is so small, it could have gone either way."
As general rule vehicles are not allowed on the Wall, but with the permission and co-operation of the town of Geraardsbergen and the police, everything ran seamlessly and safely.
HinchTown.Com 2.0 - New and Improved!
Toronto, Ontario (April 03, 2009) - Rome wasn't built in a day! The same goes for HinchTown.Com 2.0 - the official website of Firestone Indy Lights racer James Hinchcliffe.
After the previous HinchTown was demolished by a band of hungry property developers, a stunning new online metropolis has been built to promote the web-savvy Canadian who'll drive for Sam Schmidt Motorsports this season - starting with the opening two rounds hosted on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida this weekend.
Fans of 'Hinch' can expect the same vibrant content from the man himself as he races his way across North America in the official feeder category to the IndyCar Series - the pinnacle of open-wheel racing this side of the Atlantic and the home of Hinch's long-term racing ambitions.
"As the self-appointed Mayor of HinchTown 2.0 I'm looking forward to upholding my civic duty in providing some insightful moments into life competing in the Firestone Indy Lights Series," Hinchcliffe stated.
He continued, "The web offers such a fantastic platform for showcasing all that's great about motorsport and I fully intend to exploit it this season to provide visitors to HinchTown a unique perspective of racing complete with blogs, video clips, photos and of course, and to be serious for just a minute, actual news content!"
To take a wander through the streets of HinchTown, throw away your GPS system and simply log on to www.hinchtown.com
Additional sites of interest: www.indycar.com/indylights / www.samschmidtmotorsports.com / www.wmfc.ca
ATE PremiumOne® Rotors and Pads are Application-Matched for Vehicle Specific Requirements
Allentown, PA (March 2009) - Continental Commercial Vehicles & Aftermarket, a leading aftermarket supplier of OE-engineered aftermarket parts for HVAC and engine cooling, door systems, brake systems, tire pressure monitoring systems, engine management, fuel systems and instrumentation, has engineered its line of ATE PremiumOne Disc Brake Rotors and Pads to OE specifications for quality, fit and performance. They are application-matched to meet specific vehicle requirements. Instead of having to choose from a variety of grades and options, PremiumOne customers will receive the optimum rotor and pad replacement as specified by the original vehicle manufacturer.
To help technicians and customers identify the need for replacement, all ATE PremiumOne® Rotors feature a patented RotorLife® wear indicator that gives technicians a quick visual reference of rotor thickness. The wear indicator, which is created by elliptical grooves that are machined into both rotor surfaces, also helps to reduce brake fade and extend pad life by enhancing the dissipation of heat and gases. A MetaCote® protective coating is applied to help prevent rust and corrosion so the rotors maintain a clean appearance.
ATE PremiumOne Disc Brake Pads are formulated to restore original equipment performance, reduce wheel dusting and extend pad life. The pad’s under-layer design helps to reduce NVH and improve quietness. All pads include shims, slots and chamfers as well as the applicable OE accessories for the complete installation.
ATE is an aftermarket brand of Continental Corporation, one of the world's leading brake system manufacturers and suppliers. From the introduction of the first hydraulic brake system in 1926, to the development of the first antilock braking system prototype in 1967, the ATE brand has a rich history of innovation and experience.
For more information, please visit us on the web at http://www.ate-na.com/
The Automotive Group of Continental AG is one of the leading global automotive suppliers. With its three Divisions – Chassis & Safety, Powertrain and Interior – it achieved sales of approximately 15 billion € in 2008. The Automotive Group employs more than 80,000 people in more than 130 locations worldwide. As a partner of the automotive industry, the Automotive Group develops and produces innovative products and systems for a modern automotive future, in which a car accommodates individual mobility and driving pleasure to driving safety, environmental responsibility and cost-efficiency.
The Chassis & Safety Division (5.1 billion €, 27,000 employees) develops and produces electronic and hydraulic brake and chassis control systems, sensors, driver assistance systems, air bag control systems, occupant classification systems, washer systems as well as electronic air suspension systems. Its core competence is the integration of active and passive driving safety into the safety concept ContiGuard®. The Powertrain Division (4 billion €, 25,000 employees) integrates innovative and efficient system solutions for vehicle powertrains. These systems increase performance and driving comfort while at the same time lowering consumption and emissions. The comprehensive range of products includes gasoline and diesel injection systems, engine management, transmission control, including sensors and actuators, as well as fuel-supply systems and components and systems for hybrid drives. Information management is at the very heart of the Interior Division (5.8 billion €, 30,000 employees). The range of products includes instrument clusters and multifunctional displays, control units, electronic car-entry systems, tire-monitoring systems, radios, multimedia and navigation systems, climate control systems, telematics solutions as well as cockpit modules and systems. Additional products and services for commercial and special vehicles and spare parts for the independent aftermarket as well as original equipment services for a phased-out series production perfectly round off the portfolio.
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Shake 'n Bake at Talladega with Have Bus
Crane Lake Resort / Beyond Digital Imaging / Micks Motorsport Raise over $1,500.00 for the Sick Kids Foundation
UPS REVEALS NEW NASCAR AD CAMPAIGN
The four-spot series, which was produced by The Martin Agency, will feature Ragan competing with UPS drivers in various extreme physical challenges to determine who will earn the title of “Maximum Driver.” The first spot will be broadcast on FOX on Sunday, April 5, during the Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, but a special preview will be available on Friday afternoon, April 3, at www.racing.ups.com.
Ragan made his UPS Racing debut at the Daytona 500 in February, at which time a new television ad introducing him to the UPS team began running that featured Ragan driving his No. 6 Ford Fusion through UPS corporate headquarters. The “Maximum Driver” series will go beyond the introduction, with Ragan facing several unique and potentially harrowing challenges as he goes toe-to-toe with some of UPS’s elite delivery professionals.
The “Maximum Driver” campaign follows UPS’s immensely popular “Race the Truck” commercials featuring NASCAR legend Dale Jarrett, who represented UPS Racing for nearly eight years.
“That campaign became a favorite of NASCAR fans everywhere and it did a great deal to help us establish a strong presence in the sport,” said Ron Rogowski, UPS director of sponsorships. “This campaign is a fresh approach to promoting our NASCAR involvement and it has some creative marketing muscle behind it.”
After the Samsung 500, the three remaining spots will be revealed sequentially throughout the 2009 racing season. “I’m really excited about the new commercials and I think NASCAR fans are going to love them, too,” said Ragan. “The ads are extremely funny, but they still manage to convey UPS’s core strengths of service, dedication and reliability.”
Headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., UPS (NYSE: UPS) is the world’s largest package delivery company and a global leader in supply chain services. Each day, the UPS pit crew of more than 425,000 dedicated employees delivers to more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. In 2009, UPS begins its 10th year as the Official Express Delivery Company of NASCAR and its ninth consecutive year of primary sponsorship in the league’s top-ranked Sprint Cup Series. For more information, log onto racing.ups.com. To get UPS news direct, visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS.
David Reutimann to race at Riverside Speedway on July 18
JAMES RIVER, NS (April 1, 2009) – Riverside International Speedway has confirmed one of NASCAR’s top drivers as entering the 2009 edition of the IWK 250 Presented by Steve Lewis Auto Body on July 18. David Reutimann, currently 11th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver point standings, will pilot a car fielded by Antigonish’s Nova Racing as a teammate to regional racers Donald Chisholm and George Koszkulics.
While Reutimann has been a NASCAR Sprint Cup competitor since 2007 when he joined Michael Waltrip Racing, 2009 is his best season-to-date, scoring a career high fourth-place finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (NV) in early March - and an average finish of 15.7 in six starts.
Before joining the Sprint Cup ranks, Reutimann spent time in NASCAR’s Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series – where he was the ’04 Rookie of the Year while driving for former NASCAR champion and current television personality Darrell Waltrip (Michael’s brother.) All tolled Reutimann has 248 NASCAR starts (69 Sprint Cup, 103 Nationwide, 76 Camping World Truck) with two wins, one in ’07 on the Nationwide Series and one in ’05 on the Truck Series.
Before joining NASCAR, David Reutimann earned his stripes running short tracks in his home state of Florida and throughout the southeast, capturing the ’07 Slim Jim All Pro Series Rookie of the Year Award, and the Sportsman ship Award in the same series a year later. The Slim Jim All Pro Series featured late model cars similar to the one Reutimann will run at Riverside.
Riverside International Speedway track owner John Chisholm and president Donald Chisholm met Reutimann two weeks ago at Bristol Motor Speedway (TN) and were very pleased; coming away certain his personality and driving style will be a hit with Riverside fans, and vice versa.
The Chisholm’s remain in negotiation with Regan Smith, the ’08 winner of the event – also a NASCAR driver, and hope to have an announcement in the near future.
Reutimann is the fourth NASCAR driver the track has hosted in the last three years – starting with Regan Smith and Ricky Craven in ’07, and then Smith and Aric Almirola in ’08.
The IWK 250 is one of three “Triple Crown” super show events on the 2009 CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour so will attract a large field of the best short track racers from eastern Canada. Besides pitting their talents against those from NASCAR, the racers will vie for their share of the ’09 event purse – expected to exceed $100,000.
Since the inaugural IWK 250 in ’07, the event has raised more than $40,000 for the region’s largest children’s hospital. Plans are already underway to add to the total during the ’09 edition of the IWK 250.
The IWK 250 Presented by Steve Lewis Auto Body is set for July 18, with the weekend festivities starting Friday July 17 with the NAPA 100 Sportsman Super Series race and Maritime Legends Tour.
Ticket information and a detailed event schedule will be released as available.
About the IWK: The IWK Health Centre, while located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, is an essential resource for women, children, youth and families from across the Maritimes and beyond. Each year, thousands of Maritime children and women come to the IWK requiring emergency care, surgery for critical illnesses, and inpatient care for ongoing medical conditions.
About Steve Lewis Auto Body: Steve Lewis Auto Body is located on Beech Street in Sydney. The company is in their 33rd year of business and proud to support many community and charitable efforts, including a 15-year involvement with the IWK.
About Riverside Speedway: Riverside Speedway, a 1/3-mile high-banked asphalt oval, is located in James River between New Glasgow and Antigonish at exit 30 off Trans Canada Highway 104. Opened in 1969, the facility was totally rebuilt in 2006 to become a premiere motorsports site, compared to the best short tracks in Canada and the U.S. The 2009 schedule includes two CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour events on June 6 and August 22; the IWK 250 event on July 17-18, also sanctioned by the CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour; and the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series event on September 19. For more information about Riverside Speedway, please visit www.riversidespeedway.ca or call 902.863.2410.
From Paul McLean / Manager / Riverside Speedway/ Antigonish Mall
Sports Car Club of BC: April 2009 Pit Pass Newsletter
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
CANADIAN TIRE SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH 2008 NASCAR CHAMPION SCOTT STECKLY
CANADIAN TIRE SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH 2008 NASCAR CHAMPION SCOTT STECKLY
Toronto, ON (April 1, 2009) – Canadian Tire, the country’s leading retailer of automotive parts and products, announced today that it has signed an agreement with reigning NASCAR champion, Scott Steckly. Driving a newly built car, made to win with more than 350 top-of-the-line performance automotive parts from Canadian Tire, Steckly will hit the tracks this May for his third NASCAR season where he hopes to defend his 2008 championship title.
The agreement between Steckly and Canadian Tire is a one-year commitment with an option for two additional one-year agreements. With the goal of creating an even more exciting experience for NASCAR fans across the country, the partnership includes in-store appearances by Steckly and his team, as well as attendance at race day hospitality events. Steckly’s car will also be fitted with 350 performance parts and accessories, courtesy of Canadian Tire.
“Canadian Tire has a longstanding tradition of supporting motor sports in Canada and we are thrilled to be teaming up with Scott Steckly as we head into the 2009 racing season,” says Tony Kuczynski, vice president, automotive, Canadian Tire Retail. “An 18-year veteran of racing and passionate about motor sports, Scott is an excellent ambassador for Canadian Tire and we look forward to helping him reach the championship podium again this year.”
“22 Racing and Wide Open Motorsport Solutations are thrilled to have the opportunity to team up with Canadian Tire in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series in 2009,” said driver and team owner, Scott Steckly. “As an automotive technician myself, I can relate to Canadian Tire’s automotive customers and I look forward to the opportunities at the track and show events across Canada this year. We plan to do our best to get Canadian Tire on the podium at every race and contend for the 2009 Championship.”
Scott Steckly and his team will kick off the 2009 racing season on May 23rd at the Autodrome track in St. Eustache, Quebec. The 2009 NASCAR series consists of 13 scheduled events across six provinces and runs May through September.
About Canadian Tire: Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited (TSX: CTC.a, CTC) operates more than 1,200 general merchandise and apparel retail stores, gas bars and car washes in an inter-related network of businesses engaged in retail, financial services and petroleum. More than 57,000 Canadians work across the Canadian Tire organization from coast-to-coast. Canadian Tire Retail and its Associate Dealers together form one of Canada's best-known and most successful retailers with 475 stores in communities nationwide. Canadian Tire stores offer a unique mix of products and services through the leadership of three specialty stores under one roof - Automotive, Sports and Leisure, and Home Products.
For more information:
Lisa Gibson Linda Jones
Canadian Tire Inc. Wide Open Motorsport Solutions Inc.
416-544-7655 (705) 458-4044
Just say no.... to April Fool's jokes
INDYCAR: Northlands to sponsor Conquest Racing and driver Alex Tagliani at St. Petersburg
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INDIANAPOLIS (April 1, 2009) - Conquest Racing announced today that it has signed a partnership agreement with Northlands that will see the Edmonton-based organization and one of its signature events, the Rexall Edmonton Indy, become the primary sponsor of the #34 Conquest Racing car for this weekend’s season opening Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. The team also confirmed that Canadian fan favorite Alex Tagliani, will be back behind the wheel of the Conquest car for the first race of the 2009 season.
“Northlands is thrilled to be riding in the passenger seat beside Alex Tagliani as we kick off the 2009 IndyCar Series,” said Ken Knowles, Northlands President. “As one of Canada’s most successful open wheel drivers, we know that Alex and Conquest Racing will be a force to be reckoned with and an exciting addition to the Rexall Edmonton Indy from July 24-26.”
Conquest Racing Team Owner Eric Bachelart added: “We’re extremely pleased with the partnership that we have formed with Northlands and the Rexall Edmonton Indy. Northlands has done an amazing job with all their events in Edmonton, and we’re proud to be able to help them promote their race and to have them on board as we start the season.
“We’re also very excited to have Alex back in the car this weekend. He helped us demonstrate our potential at the end of last season, and we look to build on that this week. He’s a pleasure to work with and everyone on the team is happy to have him back. Alex is not only good with the racing side of the business, but he is also a great ambassador for any sponsor, and being the only Canadian in the Series, he is a perfect fit for an organization such as Northlands.”
While coming in at the last minute is not the ideal scenario, Alex Tagliani proved last season, when he joined Conquest Racing, that he was up to the task. In his first race aboard a Dallara Indy car at Detroit, he registered one of the fastest race laps and he followed that up by giving the team its best finish of the season with a fourth place at the non-points paying race at Surfers Paradise, Australia. Despite not having accumulated any testing miles during the off-season, the affable Canadian couldn’t be happier to find himself behind the wheel of the Conquest car again.
“It’s great to be going to the first race of the season,” said Tagliani. “I’d like to thank Eric for giving me the opportunity to come back with the team, and Ian McGillivray at Oomph! Events who has been helping the team and me with our sponsorship hunt. Of course, a big thank you goes out to Northlands for believing in and supporting our program which once finalized with other players will reinforce Edmonton, Alberta’s ties with racing. Northlands has put together a very successful race in Edmonton, and as a Canadian I’m honored to be able to help them promote their event and city, and what better way to do it than using the perfect plateau that is the IndyCar Series.
“It’s been a pretty crazy winter and I’m happy to be getting back behind the wheel of a race car this weekend. I had an excellent experience with the team last year and I’m looking forward to continue what we started last season.”
Conquest Racing will be on track Friday morning with the first practice session of the season at 10:45 a.m. Qualifications for the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg take place Saturday at 10:50 a.m. with the race going green Sunday, April 6 at 2:45 p.m. (all times eastern). The race will be broadcast live on Versus starting at 2:00 p.m. eastern time.
About Northlands: Northlands rocks Edmonton and Alberta with 2,500 events each year that attract over 4 million visitors to Alberta’s Capital City. Think Rexall Edmonton Indy, Canadian Finals Rodeo, Farmfair International, Capital EX, the best of horse racing, headliner concerts, international events and all the trade shows you can handle. Visit northlands.com to find out more.
From: Karina Redmond // Public Relations // Conquest Racing
And Darren Krill // Senior Communications Manager // Northlands
Photo by Perry Nelson.
OFFC: Brian Graham Racing / TLM Racing with Grote sign Stefan Rzadzinski
Brian Graham Racing/TLM Racing with Grote are pleased to announce the signing of Stefan Rzadzinski for the OFFC. The western Canadian ROK Cup Junior Champion has also competed in the world finals representing Canada as well as Stars of Karting. A resident of Edmonton, Stefan is currently enrolled in grade 11 at Archbishop MacDonald High School.
Stefan recently tested with PR1 Motorsports in the teams F2000 pro car and acquitted himself well.
"We are looking forward to getting Stefan in the car and getting to work. His karting background should serve him well."
The team is busy preparing the cars and is anxious to getting back to the track. Stefan is supported by The ABL Group Inc., a training company located in Kitchener Ontario, which offers various training workshops including Success Thinking, Speed Reading, and Polish Your Image (Business Etiquette). Watch for more news in the coming weeks about Stefan and his supporters as programs continue to develop.
From Brian Graham Racing
Spreading a viral ad... but it's cool anyway
Just a little too polished to be real... but a neat concept. It's actually Frank Williams' dream car.... he wouldn't even need to hire a driver.
(h/t David Swain for the heads up)
James Hinchcliffe to race to the front for charity
Hinchcliffe to Race to the Front for Charity
Toronto, Ontario (April 01, 2009) – Canada’s James Hinchcliffe will make his race debut in the Firestone Indy Lights Championship this weekend as the 2009 title-fight gets underway with a double-header opening round on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, Friday 3rd – Sunday 5th April.
The 22-year-old Ontario native, competing for three-time title winning outfit Sam Schmidt Motorsports, is no stranger to victory circle and the podium but now leading laps this season in Indy Lights will have an extra meaning for the Canadian.
Hinchcliffe announced today his alignment with the Waldenstroms Macroglobulinemia Foundation of Canada (WMFC) and pledges to donate five dollars for every lap the #7 Hinchtown.Com entry leads throughout his entire 2009 campaign. The selection of the WMFC was an easy one for Hinchcliffe as it holds special meaning for him.
“Waldenstroms Macroglobulinemia (WM) is a very rare blood cancer that my Grandfather passed away from over ten years ago. Being such a rare condition it doesn’t get a ton of attention and I have always wanted to do something to help the foundation raise money to find new treatments,” Hinchcliffe commented.
He will carry the WMFC logo on his Indy Lights car this season while including a link to a WMFC donation page on his website – the soon to be re-launched, www.hinchtown.com
When asked if the partnership will lead to fans donating, James said; “I certainly hope so! For me it was only ever the last lap that was important but now every other lap out front will mean something for everyone with WM. I wanted to do this, to give something to the Foundation and if anyone else ends up making a donation as a result, no matter how big or small, that would just be an incredible bonus.”
Further information on WM can be found on the Foundation’s website – www.wmfc.ca
Founded by Sam Schmidt in 2001, Sam Schmidt Motorsports has won more races in Firestone Indy Lights Championship history than anyone else, recording 26 victories and three driver championships.
The 2009 Indy Lights Championship will be broadcast on VERSUS. For a full broadcast schedule go to - www.indycar.com/indylights All the action from St. Petersburg will be aired on Monday 6th April starting at 6pm EST – www.versus.com
PHOTO – ‘James Hinchcliffe will make his Indy Lights debut this weekend in the US’ – Jakob Ebrey // For further information or interview requests please contact James Hinchcliffe: email: james@jameshinchcliffe.com / Cell: +1 416 522 7470
Chris Raabe To Defend Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Title With '09 Series Opener On Tap Saturday At Black Rock!
Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Series Opens At Black Rock On April 4; Reigning Points King Chris Raabe Back To Defend Championship In 2009
Weedsport, NY – March 31, 2009 - By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing Northeast PR Director // *Alex Bruce Photo Attachment
The 2009 Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Championship Series gets the initial green flag at Black Rock Speedway on April 4.
Rolling out the red carpet first for defending Mr. DIRTcar Chris Raabe, the popular Yates County 4/10-mile clay oval located on Route 14A just outside the village of Dundee, New York welcomes back the top DIRTcar Sportsman teams to wine country in the heart of the Finger Lakes Region for round one of the 20-race Championship tour.
The return to Black Rock is filled with mixed emotions for teenage sensation Raabe, a remnant of the strong 56-car turnout last spring that resulted in his only DNQ (did not qualify) during the entire 15-race tour. The Napanee, Ontario speedster went on to capture his first-ever Sportsman Series victory in the summer and register a tour-best seven top-five finishes, with Black Rock the only blemish on a career year that produced a DIRTcar division-high 19 feature wins.
“I really liked the track, it just wasn’t meant to be,” remarked Raabe, who turned 18 just last week, although already harboring four full seasons worth of experience in DIRTcar Northeast’s entry-level open-wheel class. “Like a lot of tracks last year, it was my first time there. Yet drawing 124 out of 125 when I signed in turned out to be too much to overcome that early in the year.”
This same time last year, the 50th Anniversary celebration of auto racing at Black Rock was about to get underway with a 50-lap finale being earmarked as the first-ever crate-only show in Sportsman Series history. Stakes are once again high this weekend as the winner of Saturday’s 75-lap main event will pocket a cool $2,000 and earn valuable points toward the overall Mr. DIRTcar crown.
“I’m a lot more comfortable coming to the track this year with a guaranteed starting spot in case we get any more bad luck or something breaks in qualifying,” noted Raabe, who is among the returning Top-12 series point-getters from a year ago that holds automatic starter status along with the front-five in Black Rock’s final 2008 standings. “Hopefully, we won’t need to fall back on it.”
“It would certainly be a huge accomplishment being able to repeat as champion, its such a prestigious title for me as well as the entire crew and everybody that’s put in their time along the way. Consistency is the key just like it’s always been, but you still want to pick up a win any time you can. We’re looking forward to running the series shows close to home at Brockville and Cornwall, and the four races in a row should be a lot of fun,” added Raabe, who looks to contend weekly in the states at Can-Am Motorsports Park (Fri.) and Thunder Alley Speedpark (Sat.), mixing in between all the specials at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park.
One of just seven high school students to receive the highest scholastic honor from Queen's University in Kingston Ontario where he will enroll at the end of summer in pursuit of a Mechanical Engineering degree, Raabe’s anticipated effort in NASCAR’s Canadian Tire Series with team owner Peter Gibbons may force him to miss a pair of series shows come autumn. However, with the large number of events making up the tour this season, drivers will be allowed to drop their two worst finishes through the end of September although all October races will count.
Scoring his first DIRTcar Sportsman victory in 2005 at Brockville Ontario Speedway at the tender age of 14, Raabe will be back in ’09 steering the potent black no. 01 Scott Industrial Services-Kingston RV Centre-Tyroute Communications/TEO entry for owner Garry McColman. The ’08 points champion at Brockville, Thunder Alley and Rolling Wheels will have to stave off returning veteran Greg Panunte (Mr. DIRTcar runner-up), Central New York standout Jeremy Pitcher (4th) and Canadian upstart Tyler McPherson (5th) if he hopes to secure a second straight title during the 2009 points chase.
With Mark D’Ilario (3rd Mr. DIRTcar points), Mat Williamson (6th), Mike Bowman (8th) and James Michael Friesen (10th) recently graduating into the Small-Block ranks, waiting anxiously to fill the void are returning Sportsman Series stars John Pietrowicz (7th), Justin Wright (9th), Eric Giguere (11th) and Dan Wiesner (12th), who will be aboard a brand new Troyer mount just in time for the Rock’s lid-lifter.
Headlining the list of home track entries is defending Black Rock champion Todd Henderson, who took six checkered flags last season en route to high point honors. After leading laps 18 to 48 in last year’s opening day heartbreaker, Henderson suffered a flat right rear tire under yellow to send him limping into the pits and afford then 15 year-old Larry Wight the biggest win of his career.
In preparation for this highly anticipated event, Black Rock will open for Sportsman practice on Friday, April 3 beginning at 6:00 p.m. Time trials will follow Saturday morning practice that runs from 10-11:30 a.m., with heat races scheduled to get underway at 1:00 p.m. Registration starts at 8 a.m. and the main grandstands open for seating at 11 a.m.
DRAG RACING: Spiering and Salemi team up with new cutting edge treat!
Goobers Chicken & Licorice Gourmet Ice Cream the choice of champions!
Jordan Station, Ontario (Wednesday, April 1, 2009) - The Canadian/American duo of Carl Spiering and Jon Salemi are at it again to prove their racing and entertainment efforts are not only in good taste, but their new effort tastes good.
Drag Racing and Goobers Chicken & Licorice Gourmet Ice Cream have come together in a delicious and highly innovative concept and partnership.
Spiering, one of Canada's most popular drag racers, and a driver who's never afraid to introduce new ideas and concepts to the sport of drag racing, along with Salemi, a ground-breaker in his own right, have teamed to take the Pro Modified drag racing and confectionary world by storm, and a whole new level.
The Goobers Chicken & Licorice Gourmet Ice Cream branding will be the primary sponsor on Spiering's Chevrolet Cobalt, powered by a 737-cubic inch powerplant built by ERD (Engine Research & Development), competing in the new Quick 32 Sportsman Series in 2009.
“Goobers Chicken & Licorice Gourmet Ice Cream is something that's totally different with its incredibly smooth texture and great flavor," said Spiering." It is one of those acquired tastes best described as foul that you've just got to snack on once in a while."
"It's quick and loud off the tongue just like our Cobalt, so it's a perfect fit!” Spiering continued.
Jon Salemi, a semi-retired rocker, and supercharger guru specialist for DMPE Inc. from Buffalo, New York (the original home of the renowned Buffalo Style Chicken Wing), is Co-Crew Chief with Jim Salemi on the new G-Force Race Cars' 1968 Pontiac Firebird powered by a Mike Stawicki 521-cubic inch Billet Brad Anderson (BAE) Supercharged Hemi, and driven by Mike Stawicki, in the Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA). These hot cars will carry the way-cool Goobers Chicken & Licorice Gourmet Ice Cream logo to further promote the brand.
"Licorice is one of America's favorite candies for its taste and nostalgic appeal." explained Jon Salemi. "And adding the blend of chicken delivers a flavor in a fun chewy form that you can play with while you eat!” Jon added. Salemi, a hardcore vegetarian puts his moral beliefs aside when snacking on “Goobers Chicken & Licorice Gourmet Ice Cream”. He states, “It’s like nothing you’ve ever experienced before. Being a vegetarian meat and poultry would normally upset my stomach……..but not here. After you break down its texture with your tongue it slides right down the hatch. It’s unbelievable. These guys really got it worked out”.
"I tried it, it took a minute or two to hit its stride, but once you let the chicken and licorice flavors kind of race together in your mouth, there's no way you can stop until you finish the entire carton!", revealed Raceline Radio Network anchor Erik Tomas.
“Something else? You can bang this stuff back as fast as you can and there's NO brain freeze! The first ice cream of its kind to let you do that! And I can tell you on those hot sticky days at the drag strip, fans are gonna fall over each other getting more! Carl and Jon are geniuses!" Tomas continued.
"The Goobers Chicken & Licorice Gourmet Ice Cream concept will be perfect for the PMRA and Quick 32 Series. Our venues will love the marketing revelations," explained PMRA Director of Operations Bruce Mehlenbacher. "At the tracks, men and women prefer gum, chocolate candy, fresh fruit, potato chips and breath mints for daily snacks, but I can see that quickly changing to Goobers Chicken & Licorice Gourmet Ice Cream."
Chicken & Licorice Gourmet Ice Cream is on the lookout for serious International Importers and Distributors Worldwide.
From Bruce F. Mehlenbacher Bruce@PMRA.ca
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Readers' Choice Awards voting closes tonight!
This is your last chance to cast your votes for the Inside Track Readers' Choice Awards. Polls close at 11:45 p.m. tonight.
This is your opportunity to register your choices for Canada's top current and future racing stars. Thanks to all those who have participated. The results will appear in Volume 13, Issue 3 of Inside Track Motorsport News.
Click here to cast your votes.
Brighton Speedway unveils 2009 schedule
BRIGHTON, ON - With the sun shining and spring just around the corner fans and drivers are starting to feel the itch. It is perfect timing for the management of Brighton Speedway to issue the 42nd edition on the annual schedule of events bringing excitement and entertainment to the Northumberland and Quinte areas!
“We are excited about the upcoming season as we feel it has something for everyone,” states track general manager Angie Rinaldi. And she is not far off with exciting racing for the local die-hards and family fun and theme nights for the casual fan looking for an enjoyable night out with the family.
It all gets started as the cars hit the track on Saturday May the 2nd when Coca Cola presents the Full Throttle Season Opener where it is just $2.00 admission for everyone who brings a food donation to the local food banks!
Hi-lighting the schedule is the return of the Southern Ontario Sprint Cars 6 times in 2009. The sprint cars will visit the 1/3rd mile oval once per month in May, June, July and August while returning for the annual double header Labour Day Classic brought to you by Lucas Oil, Ultramar, Rock 107, Custom Carts and Mystical Distributing which will see Sprint Car action on Saturday September 5th and Sunday September 6th.
In addition to Sprint Cars 2009 will see a variety of different acts take circle the clay of Brighton Speedway and it begins with the Fab Four! This is Brighton Speedways four main divisions that compete week in and week out putting on a FANtastic show for the spectators, they consist of the Bainer’s Radiators Canadian Modifieds, Brighton Automotive Pro Stocks, Bill’s Johns Comp 4 and Picture This Sign and Design Pure Stocks. Joining this classes on a semi regular basis will be the Quinte Towing Six Cylinder Stingers and the Gord’s Water Vantastics! Making a double header appearance in 2009 will be the ever popular Leon’s of Trenton School Busses. There will be two events for flat track four-wheelers, vintage cars, spectator 1 – on – 1 racing, the first ever Brighton Speedway FIGURE 8 race and Hotch’s Auto Parts Endurance Racing.
September ends on a very busy and exciting note as Kerr Construction presents the Ontario Dirt Late Models September 19th for some crazy super late model action! And the regular season comes to a close for the Annual Imagefactor.ca Applefest Shootout weekend. Friday night September 25th Smilies Independent Grocers and Holiday Inn present the Lucas Oil Sportsman Cup featuring the best DIRT Sportsman Modified Racers from all over Ontario and Up-State New York battle it out in Brighton. Then Saturday September 26th Benson Auto Parts presents the 358 Dirt Modified Shootout and the Lucas Oil Clash for Cash! This event which is the biggest paying event of the season and features the best racing talent in Ontario, Quebec and Up-State New York is a can’t miss event on the eve of the town of Brighton’s biggest festival.
Saturday October 4th will close out the Speedways 2009 schedule with the Annual Hotch’s Auto Parts Monster Enduro. The event which has become the mecca of excitement and fun for amateur racers attracts all types of new racers with its variety format. The Monster Enduro actually features 5 endurance races in one! A junior’s race for new racers under the age of 18, a ladies race for the women that want to get out and prove they are Queen of the hill, a 4 cylinder enduro for people with an affection for smaller cars, the Monster Enduro which is 150 laps of mayhem non-stop action and it is all capped off with the reverse race that will see anyone interested that still has a car left race 20 laps in reverse around the speedway! This fun format actually allows the same car to be used by multiple friend or family person in a variety of races.
The schedule is available on www.brightonspeedway.com or can be picked up in person at one of the many events coming up in the near future where Brighton Speedway staff, drivers and there cars will be on hand promoting the up-coming 2009 season.
* Fast and Furious Show, Cobourg - Saturday, April 4th - Sunday, April 5th
* Quinte Mall Car Show - Saturday, April 4th - Saturday, April 11th
* Northumberland Mall Car Show - Monday, April 13 - Sunday, April 19th
* Country Living Show in Brighton - Saturday, April 25 - Sunday, April 26
Additional information can be acquired through the speedway office by calling 1-866-681-1102 or emailing info@brightonspeedway.com.
A1GP Mexico City Confirmed as Season Finale
London, Great Britain – A1GP World Cup of Motorsport has been given FIA approval to hold A1GP Mexico City, Mexico on the weekend of the 22-24 May 2009, thus making this the eighth and final round of Season Four.
This popular event, which has been included on the A1GP calendar since Season Two, has never before been the series decider. After receiving the news A1GP CEO, Pete da Silva, said: “It is very important for the series to go back to Mexico City, especially as it won the award for being the best run event of Season Three. The fans have always given us a warm welcome, and it will be great to let them witness the finale of what has been a very exciting first season for the A1GP Powered by Ferrari cars.”
The approval is subject to the completion of FIA stipulated track changes that will allow the granting of the necessary licence. This work is due to start soon.
A1GP has visited Mexico every season with Fundidora Park in Monterrey being the track used in Season One and Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City in Seasons Two and Three.
Monday, March 30, 2009
NASCAR TRUCKS: Fitzpatrick Finishes 21st at Martinsville
From Kyle Chura / TRG
Martinsville, Virginia, (March 30, 2009) - John Ryan (J.R.) Fitzpatrick finished 21st in today's NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway. The race was run this afternoon due to rain on Saturday.
Fitzpatrick started the 250-lap race from his 28th place qualifying position. The TRG Motorsports team had a good handling No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado under the 20-year old Canadian from Cambridge, Ontario. The more laps Fitzpatrick put on the truck the faster he got. By lap 50 he had moved to 21st and by lap 71 he was headed for the top 10 in 11th. On lap 92 he had contact with the No. 4 truck in the center of turn one sending Fitzpatrick back 21st in the running order. The contact was just beginning. On lap 103 he got collected by the 11 truck which resulted in a bent wheel and a flat tire. The team made quick repairs but sent the truck down four laps to the leaders. The remainder of the race was spent logging laps and learning for the next short track race.
"We were up to 15th at the beginning and then the four truck body slammed me, which bent the toe of the truck a little bit," Fitzpatrick said. "It really didn't affect the handling that much. We fixed the little body damage and put tires on it and went back at it. I was able to run up 11th and then we split a lap truck and the 11 came down and tried to take off my left front. That resulted in the left front going flat. That screwed us up for the rest of the day.
"We had a wicked fast truck. There was no doubt we had a top 10 for sure. The team is working really well together. At the beginning we were behind from qualifying and we were able to work our way back towards the front. I am getting more comfortable in the trucks. The team is getting to know what I need from the truck and things are going good, we just need some luck."
TRG Motorsports team principal Kevin Buckler knows if the team keeps providing good equipment that the results will come.
"J.R. is doing the job behind the wheel," Buckler said. "He showed really good patience today at the beginning of the race working his way up to 11th. The communication with the spotter and team was right on and the day looked promising. Then a lap truck got in the way and the 11 came down on him, just tough racing luck. J.R. kept focused and was able to finish in 21st today. Some drivers would have hung their head and given up, but J.R. was running times that would have had him in the top 10. These short tracks are tough."
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series takes three weeks and will visit Kansas Motor Speedway on April 25th.
TRG Motorsports is based in Mooresville, North Carolina. Currently the team fields a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series entry as well as a Camping World Truck Series effort and an ARCA RE/MAX Series team. The Racer's Group was founded in 1993 and has been competing at the top level of sports car racing. TRG's Porsche sports car program is run out of the company's headquarters in Petaluma, California. The team has the most wins of any team in the Grand-Am Rolex Series with 26, including the 2005 and 2006 Rolex Series GT championship trophy to go along with wins in the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona (three) and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
For more information contact please contact Kyle Chura at (248) 821-0468 or chura@aol.com. Detailed team info can be viewed at www.trgmotorsports.com or www.theracersgroup.com.
DIRTcar 358-Modified Syracuse Qualifiers Help Fill Summer Slate
From Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing NorthEast Public Relations Director
Super DIRT Week XXXVIII 358-Modified Qualifying Schedule Kicks Off In April
Kicking off in April, the schedule of qualifying races leading up to the Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Championship on Oct. 10 of Super DIRT Week XXXVIII in Syracuse, New York has been set with 19 tracks currently hosting over 60 events in 2009.
The present-day format guarantees that automatic starting berths for the headline "Salute To The Troops" 150 will be earned by drivers competing only in DIRTcar-sanctioned events, while time trials on the Syracuse Mile will remain open to any driver issued a DIRTcar License.
Last season Billy Decker claimed his third career Syracuse SDW 358-Modified Championship in convincing fashion on Saturday afternoon at the New York State Fairgrounds. The Unadilla, New York standout survived a race-long battle with Vic Coffey to capture the coveted trophy for owners John and Laura Wight, leading the final 58 laps to collect a $20,000 winner’s share for the LJL Racing no. 91 Gypsum Wholesalers/Bicknell Race Team.
Qualifying procedures for the 30th Annual Syracuse 358-Modified Championship include time trials for all drivers including those already holding guaranteed starter status through the summer qualifying races plus the two DIRTcar 358-Modified Regional Championships. Preliminary clockings on Thursday, October 8 lock in the front three rows with the top-8 non-guaranteed drivers making Friday's Twin 20s starting grids.
The summer-long qualifying trail culminates with the 150-lap Salute To The Troops 358-Modified Championship held during the 38th edition of Super DIRT Week, October 6-11. Guaranteed starters will be added from Super DIRT Week qualifiers at Can-Am Motorsports Park (Oct. 7), Brewerton Speedway (Oct. 8) and Rolling Wheels Raceway Park (Oct. 9), with the current top-12 in overall Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified point standings and provisionals filling out the field. The Brewerton qualifier will be added to the Twin 20s line-up while Rolling Wheels qualifiers will be placed at the back of Saturday’s starting grid at Syracuse.
For additional information, please contact DIRTcar Racing Northeast Director of Competition & Track Sanctioning Cory Reed in the DIRTcar NE Office (315/834-6606) or via cell (315/224-9009) during normal business hours, or log into www.dirtcar.com anytime to find out more about the entire circuit.
2009 358-MODIFIED SYRACUSE CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS
(+)-denotes Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Championship Series event.
DAY-DATE TRACK LOCATION
Sat-Apr 18+ Can-Am Motorsports Park LaFargeville,NY
Sat-Apr 25+ Merrittville Speedway Thorold,ONT
Sun-Apr 26 Big Diamond Raceway Minersville,PA
Sat-May 2 Airborne Speedway Plattsburgh,NY
Sat-May 16 Brockville Ontario Speedway Brockville,ONT
Sun-May 17 Cornwall Motor Speedway Cornwall,ONT
Mon-May 18 Merrittville Speedway Thorold,ONT
Fri-May 22 Ransomville Speedway Ransomville,NY
Sat-May 16 Lebanon Valley Speedway West Lebanon,NY
Fri-May 29 Mohawk Int'l Raceway Hogansburg,NY
Fri-May 29 Autodrome Edelweiss Hull,QUE
Fri-May 29 Autodrome Granby Granby,QUE
Sun-Jun 7 Airborne Speedway Plattsburgh,NY
Sat-Jun 13 Lebanon Valley Speedway West Lebanon,NY
Wed-Jun 17 Orange County Fair Speedway Middletown,NY
Sun-Jun 21 Cornwall Motor Speedway Cornwall,ONT
Sat-Jun 27 Lebanon Valley Speedway West Lebanon,NY
Fri-Jul 3 Autodrome Edelweiss Hull,QUE
Fri-Jul 3 Ransomville Speedway Ransomville,NY
Sat-Jul 3 Can-Am Motorsports Park LaFargeville,NY
Sat-Jul 4 Fulton Speedway Fulton,NY
Sat-Jul 4 Autodrome Drummond Drummondville,QUE
Thr-Jul 9 Brockville Ontario Speedway Brockville,ONT
Fri-Jul 10 Autodrome Granby Granby,QUE
Sat-Jul 11 Autodrome Drummond Drummondville,QUE
Sat-Jul 11 Canandaigua Speedway Canandaigua,NY
Sun-Jul 12 Cornwall Motor Speedway Cornwall,ONT
Sun-Jul 12 Cayuga Co. Fair Speedway Weedsport,NY
Fri-Jul 17 Autodrome Granby Granby,QUE
Sat-Jul 18 Merrittville Speedway Thorold,ONT
Sat-Jul 18 Autodrome Drummond Drummondville,QUE
Sun-Jul 26 Lebanon Valley Speedway West Lebanon,NY
Thr-Jul 30 Mohawk Int'l Speedway Hogansburg,NY
Fri-Jul 31+ Ransomville Speedway Ransomville,NY
Fri-Jul 31 Autodrome Edelweiss Hull,QUE
Sat-Aug 1 Brockville Ontario Speedway Brockville,ONT
Sat-Aug 1 Humberstone Speedway Port Colborne,ONT
Sun-Aug 2 Cornwall Motor Speedway Cornwall,ONT
Mon-Aug 3 Merrittville Speedway Thorold,ONT
Fri-Aug 7 Brewerton Speedway Brewerton,NY
Sat-Aug 8 Lebanon Valley Speedway West Lebanon,NY
Sat-Aug 8 Autodrome Drummond Drummondville,QUE
Fri-Aug 21 Can-Am Motorsports Park LaFargeville,NY
Sun-Aug 23 Humberstone Speedway Port Colborne,ONT
Fri-Aug 28 Autodrome Granby Granby,QUE
Fri-Sep 4 Ransomville Speedway Ransomville,NY
Sat-Sep 5 Airborne Speedway Plattsburgh,NY
Sat-Sep 5 Merrittville Speedway Thorold,ONT
Sat-Sep 5 Autodrome Drummond Drummondville,QUE
Sat-Sep 5 Lebanon Valley Speedway(3) West Lebanon,NY
Sun-Sep 6+ Cornwall Motor Speedway Cornwall,ONT
Mon-Sep 7 Northern Region Champion DIRTcar Northeast
Mon-Sep 7 Western Region Champion DIRTcar Northeast
Fri-Sep 11+ Mohawk Int'l Raceway Hogansburg,NY
Sat-Sep 12+ Brockville Ontario Speedway Brockville,ONT
Sun-Sep 13+ Autodrome Granby(2) Granby,QUE
Sat-Sep 19+ Autodrome Drummond(2) Drummondville,QUE
Fri-Sep 25+ Rolling Wheels Raceway Elbridge,NY
Sat-Oct 3 Fulton Speedway Fulton,NY
Sat-Oct 3 Airborne Speedway Plattsburgh,NY
Wed-Oct 7+ Can-Am Motorsports Park LaFargeville,NY
Thr-Oct 8+ Brewerton Speedway Brewerton,NY
Fri-Oct 9+ Rolling Wheels Raceway Park Elbridge,NY
Sat-Oct 10+ New York State Fairgrounds Syracuse,NY
Is F1 using Montreal as leverage to light a fire under Abu Dhabi?
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