Ontario Pro Challenge: Hype Energy Drinks partners with Team Fletcher for 2009

MONTREAL, QC - HYPE Energy Drinks and SJF Motorsports, along with driver Scott Fletcher are teaming up once again as a part of the 2009 Ontario Pro Challenge Racing Series, the 13-race series which will be running at six different race tracks across Ontario this summer.

As the primary sponsor for the racing team, the #60 HYPE Energy Dodge Avenger will carry the stylish black and silver race-ready carbon fiber look already found on the cans of Hype MFP. The 2009 Ontario Pro Challenge car will also help introduce the newly released HYPE Energy Shots to the Ontario market.

HYPE Energy Drinks has had a long relationship with sponsoring Scott Fletcher, however this year mark’s the first time they will be Scott’s primary sponsor. Upon confirmation of the sponsorship agreement Scott Fletcher said, “I am really excited to be back working with HYPE Energy Drinks and Jon Silver. Being sponsored by a world-wide brand such as HYPE Energy and dealing with such a reputable group of individuals is something I take great pride in.”

HYPE Energy is made with the finest ingredients like real elderberry and cranberry juices, taurine, ginseng, guarana, and numerous vitamins as a part of its superior tasting formula. HYPE Energy Drinks are distributed across Canada by Les Aliments Unique Food, which is headquartered out of Montreal, Canada.

President of Les Aliments Unique Food, Jon Silver made the following statement after the partnership announcement was made official, “We were really pleased to team up with Scott Fletcher and SJF Motorsports as their primary sponsor for the 2009 season. Doing so is simply a great fit for us, as together we can give racing fans of all ages a chance to get to learn more about Scott and HYPE Energy Drinks at the same time.”

Along with being available on-site at official racing events, Scott Fletcher and SJF Motorsports will be attending joint promotional events with HYPE Energy across Ontario. The Ontario Pro Challenge series kicks off their 2009 season on May 9th, at Flamboro Speedway. For more information on The Ontario Pro Challenge Series and for the complete 2009 racing schedule, visit their website at http://www.prochallengeracing.com/.

Hype Energy™ was first launched in 1995 but was recharged with the purchase by a business group led by former Formula 1 racing driver and Le Mans winner, Bertrand Gachot, in 2000.

Since then, Hype has created its own subculture of music, entertainment, and performance based on four exciting product lines – Hype Energy MFP, Hype Energy, Hype Enlite, and the NEW HYPE 6-HOUR ENERGY SHOTS. Hype’s presence has electrified the global market and is currently sold in over 40 countries.

From SJF Motorsports

Merrittville Speedway: Countdown to the Spring Sizzler

THOROLD, ON (April 7) – In just 18 days, Merrittville Speedway’s 2nd annual Spring Sizzler 100 – will kick off the Thorold track’s 58th consecutive season - Saturday April 25th  in spite of today’s unfashionably late April Fool’s Snow Storm!

“This time of year – the weather can do anything … and it has,” storms (Merrittville Speedway GM) Erica Bicknell, “despite the overnight snow - we are in good shape – we have spent almost a full week back at the track and more then that on the grounds themselves …  everything is starting to come together nicely.”

With the big day getting that much closer – so too is practice day.

The evening session set for Saturday April 18th – 11 days away – may be one of the most important practices ever – with three divisions in big events right off the start – the following week.

While drivers representing the Original Pizza Logs Sportsman and Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinders will be looking for all important seat time in preparation for the Baron Roofing Windows and Doors hosting of the 58th Season Opener Saturday May 2nd – the balance of the Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Divisions get their start April 25th.

Up until last season – never before has such an event kicked off the season in the track’s 57 year history.

Merrittville’s own L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modifieds were up to the test with 7 of our home town heroes finishing in the top 10 at the end of the 100 lap event – led by eventual 2008 Point Champion Chad Brachmann, Pete Bicknell, Ken Cosgrove, Rick Richner, Larry Lampman Jr., Chris Steele and Scott Wood.

One of the largest influxes of rookies in recent years are expected to attempt to qualify in 2009 with Mark D’Ilario, Mat Williamson, Justin Sharp, 2008 Sportsman Champion Mike Bowman, and James Michael Friesen among the Rookie Crop.

Adding to the mix is veteran Rob Pietz who recently showed off this new car at the Seaway Mall. After a number of years in a Sprint Car – Pietz is returning to the 358 Modifieds this season.

Rounding out the 2nd Annual Spring Sizzler is a 25 lap Stars North Mod Lite Series Event in addition to the Hoosier Stocks.

While many will are counting down the days hours and minutes until they take to the track for the first time – several drivers have already seen action.

James Michael Friesen made his Big Block debut during the 38th Annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH at Volusia Speedway Park in Florida as did a large contingent of Modern Corporation Open Wheel Lites at the TUSA Winternationals at the East Bay Raceway including 2008 Champion Shawn Sliter, Paul Klager, Chris Steele, Adam Leslie, Jamie Gilbert, Josh Sliter, Wally Billing, Rick Brubacher and Scott Billing.

Since the mid-winter racing in the Sunshine State – a large contingent of Sportsman Race Teams took in this past weekend’s Rock Launcher Super DIRTcar Series Event at the Black Rock Speedway.

Mark D'Ilario made the most of his final Sportsman event – finishing 2nd to winner Sammy Reakes with Greg Panunte taking 7th spot. Rick Bellante (12th), Mark Chiddy, (13th), Tyler McPherson, (14th), Luke Carleton (18th) and Rob Knapp (25th) filled out the field while Brandon Easey, 2009 Rookie Cody McPherson, Brad Rouse, BJ Willard and Mark Dixon unfortunately failed to qualify.

Kevin Knapp also made the trip with his Hoosier Stock for the Street Stock portion of the Dundee NY Event and finished 11th out of the 37 cars that showed.

For further information on Practice Day, the 2nd Annual Spring Sizzler and the entire 58th Season at Merrittville Speedway – call 905-892-8266 or visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com.

From Jim Irvine / Merrittville Speedway

Innovators in the business of Amateur Racing - SPDA

The guys over at the SPDA, have developed an unheard of contingency package for their members.

PHOTO GALLERY: Inside Track at CSC Racing for the Solo Open House 2009

NEWMARKET, ONTARIO - On April 5, CSC Racing played host - once again - to the Solo Open House. For many years, CSC has welcome Inside Track to take part in this annual rite of spring and this year we had several team members on hand for the event.

Thank you to our friends at CSC and to those who took a moment to subscribe to the Official Publication of Canadian Motorsports.

Above is a photo gallery from the event, taken by Inside Track's Rob Morton.

Advertiser of the Day - CSC Racing

Jim's Journeys - Friday, March 27th to Sunday, April 5th

Jim’s Journeys – Friday, March 27th to Sunday, April 5th

By Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications

Friday, March 27th:  Kingston Area Racing Preview Show, Frontenac Mall.

While it’s not racing in the truest sense of the word, the mall and arena shows that kick-off each season is a great chance to see the newest colours.  The Kingston Racing Preview is also a good opportunity to do some bench racing.  The day I was there, I had the chance to snap a few pictures and swap some stories with some of the drivers.

‘Stock Car’ Steve Bilow, Todd Stewart and Andy Lloyd were all in attendance.  I’m not sure if I should include Mark Hitchcock in the ‘driver’ category since he retired his helmet and firesuit after the 2008 season, but ‘Hitch’ shared some classic memories from his career, including tales of the night NASCAR driver Kenny Schrader piloted one of his cars at Can Am Speedway.  While some of the tall tales have certainly gained some added height each time they’ve been told, it was a very entertaining afternoon.

Some of the cars on display included the 2009 DIRTcar small block modifieds of Bobby Herrington, Andy Lloyd, Todd Stewart and Tim O’Brien.  In addition to deigning and creating the graphics for his own #25 car, Herrington is also responsible for the design on the cars of Lloyd, Stewart and Todd Stewart’s 16 year-old nephew Lucas, who’ll make his maiden voyage in a sportsman modified at Brockville this season.

I also had the chance to visit with web designer Craig Revelle, who is responsible for the web-sites used to promote Todd Stewart, Chris Raabe and Mark Grier – as well as the racing history site www.speedwaynostalgia.com.  Rob Clark of Cameron, Ontario was also on hand to talk about the 3rd edition of the Kingston Speedway Reunion, scheduled for June 13th and 14th at the Odessa Fairgrounds. Details of this event can be found at www.carkatz.com.

Saturday and Sunday, April 4th & 5th:  Fast and Furious Motorsports Show, Cobourg Arena

For their second kick at the can, the folks at Northumberland News did a great job of putting together a motorsports focused event in an area without a dedicated motorsports facility.  I was on hand for both days of this year’s expo, representing Fraserville, Ontario’s Kawartha Speedway.  The 2008 championship winning thunder car of Willie Reyns from Port Hope, Ontario was part of our display.

Kawartha Speedway late model runner Norm Mayhew had his 2009 car on display in the booth of one his sponsors, Reflection Glass and Accessories.  The owner/operator of Mayhew Graphics said he has been so busy over the past few months; there wasn’t time to prepare his own racecar.  He used the time during the show to detail his machine, giving visitors a chance to see what goes into getting a car ready for action.

I wasn’t there, but:  Congratulations to a group of Brockville Speedway DIRTcar sportsman runners who turned-in a solid effort Sunday, April 5th at Black Rock Speedway in Dundee, New York.  Picton’s Adam Turner finished 4th, after starting 23rd.  Napanee’s Chris Raabe – the defending Mr. DIRTcar champion – used a guaranteed starter position, coming home 9th.  Brockville’s Matt Billings was 10th.  Shane Pecore and Luke Whitteker were among the 49 drivers in attendance, but failed to make the 31 car starting grid.

Coming up:  Tuesday, April 14th to Friday, April 17th I’ll be at Northumberland Mall in Cobourg, with racecars from Kawartha Speedway and Brighton Speedway Park.  Friday, April 17th and Saturday April 18th, I’ll head for the 2009 season openers at Can Am Speedway.

Photo attachments:  (by Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications)

#1).  16 year-old Luke Stewart will campaign his #19 DIRTcar sportsman at Brockville Speedway in 2009.  The Sydenham High School student purchased the TEO Pro Car on his own and recruited all the sponsors on the car.

#2 and #3).  Cobourg’s Norm Mayhew used his time at the Fast and Furious Show to detail his 2009 Kawartha Speedway late model.

Prepared by: Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications

Brighton Speedway Launches the 2009 Season with a New Look!

BRIGHTON, ON - Brighton Speedway is thrilled to be rolling out the season with a whole new look at the new and improved brightonspeedway.com.  The new website is full of useful information for fans and drivers as they gear up for the 2009 season. 

“The new web site has been up and running since March 30th, however we wanted a week to test it out and get the bugs worked” says track General Manager, Angela Rinaldi.  This new site is easy to navigate and features all the pertinent information every race fan and driver needs to know.  You’ll find the updated 2009 schedule, admission pricing for fans as well as a Special Events link detailing the numerous big event weekends held on the 1/3rd mile oval. This new site will provide all of the latest and greatest news updates coming out of Brighton Speedway head office.

The all new Drivers section is updated with the most recent driver’s news and information required for competing at the track including registration forms and waivers.  An updated photo gallery will allow fans and drivers to view the most recent photos and coming this summer you’ll be able to watch video clips of highlights from the last weeks race.

The kids club section has some great additions with a race car colouring page to provide kids with hours of colouring fun plus the opportunity to play Rory the Race Car game and encourage the children to enjoy some of their own racing.

The updated sponsor’s page will allow Brighton Speedway fans and drivers to access information on the companies that support our favorite sport.  You’ll find all of the details on how people can support those who support racing.

Updated links, directions and contact information all make it easier for fans to find out about their favorite place to be on a Saturday night.  “We hope people make good use of the new site to say up to date with all the exciting family fun at Brighton Speedway” states Brenda Whitehead, PR and Communications Manager for the track.

Visit brightonspeedway.com to see all the exciting changes today and find out what the exciting 2009 season has to offer as we roll into high gear on May 2nd with the Coca Cola Full Throttle season opener. Admission is only $2.00 for everyone with a donation to the food bank.  For information contact the Speedway office at 1-866-681-1102 or email info@brightonspeedway.com.

Your email address has been added to the Brighton Speedway Park (BSP) Insider List.  You will receive exclusive updates, notices and announcements from BSP as an Insider Member.  Please feel free to forward this to your family and friends.

Visit www.brightonspeedway.com for even more info!!

From Mark Rinaldi / Brighton Speedway

Kingston, Ontario contingent ready to tackle DIRTcar Tour opener

An age-old saying states there is strength in numbers.  A group of small block modified stock car drivers from Kingston, Ontario hope it’s true as the Super DIRTcar tour kicks-off the 2009 season Saturday, April 18th at Can Am Speedway in Lafargeville, New York.  As many as half a dozen runners from the Limestone City are expected to make the trek across the twin spans of the 1000 Islands bridge as the series makes an early season start at the northern New York half-mile oval.

Fans can expect to see top runners like Todd Stewart, Bobby Herrington, Dan, Tim (and possibly Pat) O’Brien and Andy Lloyd take on a healthy field including Billy Decker, Brett Hearn and other regulars.  For Stewart, the early season start is something he’s been looking forward to.

“We finished 2008 really well,” said Stewart over the phone from his Bath, Ontario home.  “To have an event of this status so close to home and so early in the season is very exciting.  I hope we can keep-up the momentum from ’08.  It was one of our best seasons in years and a strong run at Can Am would be terrific.”

Dan O’Brien, the middle of a trio of second generation racing brothers can’t wait to get back on the track.  The multi-time Brockville Ontario Speedway track champion signed a sponsorship deal with Global Warranty during the off-season and has been counting the days before getting his renumbered 7-Star 2009 Bicknell chassis into action.

“We’ve had the car displayed in a number of shows over the last month or so,” said O’Brien.  “The bench racing is fun, but nothing beats the real thing.  So many people have commented on how great the new car looks.  I’ve told them – if you think it looks good now, wait ‘til you see it at the front of the pack.  Every racecar looks better going fast.” 

The winter months were a time of change for a pair of Kingston area runners.  Harrowsmith, Ontario’s Andy Lloyd obtained a TEO Pro Car formerly campaigned by Pennsylvania’s Doug Manmiller.  Additional sponsorship support from Car Kingston could see the 3rd year pilot make selected tour starts.  Mark Hitchcock’s retirement at the end of the 2008 season allowed Tim O’Brien to move into the ride owned by Jim Primrose of Iroquois, Ontario.  The newly numbered #88 TEO team will call Brockville and Cornwall their home tracks, but some early season tour starts can’t be ruled-out.

Meanwhile, Bobby Herrington of Elginburg, Ontario – who just celebrated his 18th birthday – will get some early season seat time of his own.  The 3rd year small block chauffeur will spend Easter weekend at Merrittville Speedway, taking part in Pete Bicknell’s driving school before putting his newly-minted ’09 chassis through its paces on the half-mile layout at Can Am a week later.

Other Kingston area drivers including Chris King, ‘Stock Car’ Steve Bilow, Kurt Lee and Bryan Rodgers may also decide to take-in the opener at Can Am but its looking like the Limestone City lads could be formidable opposition when the 2009 Super DIRTcar small block tour takes the green flag Saturday, April 18th at Can Am Speedway.

For more details, see www.canammotorsports.com.

Photo attachments:  (by Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications)

#1).  The #72 TEO Pro Car of Bath, Ontario’s Todd Stewart was featured recently at the Kingston area racing preview show at Frontenac Mall.

#2).  Danny O’Brien has added backing from Global Warranty in his search for another Brockville Speedway track championship.

Prepared by:  Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications

James Hinchcliffe scores Indy Lights podium debut

Toronto, Canada (April 06, 2009) – The opening double-header round of the 2009 Firestone Indy Lights Series, held on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida at the weekend, 4th – 5th April, saw Canada’s James Hinchcliffe grace the podium courtesy of a third place finish in Sunday’s race meeting. 

Combined with a solid sixth place finish from Saturday’s first start, the 22-year-old Toronto rookie now sits third overall in the Driver Standings with 63 points heading to the next event in two weeks time on the famed streets of Long Beach, California.

Hinchcliffe was immediately amongst the front-runners from a packed 27-strong Indy Lights field when the new season finally kicked off.  With qualifying split into two groups, chosen from a random draw, due to the sheer number of entrants chasing the pole time on the 1.8-mile street circuit, Hinchcliffe set the third and fourth fastest lap times in his two group outings. 

This ultimately translated into a fifth place start for Saturday’s 40-lap race and seventh on the grid for Sunday’s outing with the weekend’s poles going to America’s J.R. Hildebrand and Colombia’s Sebastian Saavedra respectively.

Saturday’s race saw ‘Hinch’ combat a super slick race track, the Indy Lights race taking place in the aftermath of an American Le Mans Series event.  Slippery conditions added to a front-end problem, discovered after the race by his Sam Schmidt Motorsports crew, made for challenging conditions but the Canadian steered his way home to a respectable sixth place finish at the checkered in the #7 HinchTown.Com Dallara-Firestone entry.

Sunday’s 72-mile street sprint saw James behind the wheel of an improved race car but the tight confines of street racing didn’t make things any easier for the Canadian.  Successfully managing his tire-wear and biding his time, opportunities eventually presented themselves and soon Hinchcliffe rose through the front-order to take third and his maiden Indy Lights podium behind double race-winner and points leader, Holland’s Junior Strous, and second-placed Saavedra.

“We might not have had the quickest car today but we successfully steered clear of everyone else’s incidents,” remarked Hinchcliffe after his first podium appearance on Sunday.  “The whole team, not least my engineer and mechanics, put in a huge amount of work between races to improve the car so the podium was a just reward for all their efforts.  We were fast at the end there so hopefully we’ll show up at Long Beach with a quick car straight off the back of the trailer.  To the high standards set by Sam Schmidt Motorsports and myself, we had a below average weekend but to come away third in the points – we’ll take it and move on!”

All the action from St. Petersburg will be aired on VERSUS on Monday 6th April starting at 6pm EST – www.versus.com / www.indycar.com/indylights

Photo Credit – ‘Canada’s James Hinchcliffe sits third overall in the Indy Lights standings’ – Jakob Ebrey

From Stuart Morrison

Ohsweken Speedway confirms 2009 admission prices

OHSWEKEN, ON - With just a little over four weeks remaining until the sound of racing engines come to life at Ohsweken Speedway, officials have confirmed a fan friendly slate of admission prices and related discounts that will maintain “affordable weekly family entertainment” at “The Big O”. Sprint Cars will once again be the weekly headline attraction at the fast 3/8 mile clay oval.

Our BOMBER entry level class (formerly called Fun Stocks) will join the Corr/Pak Sprint Cars along with ESSO Thunder Stocks and ESSO Mini Stocks as the regular action packed Friday night program. Coupled with an attractive slate of “Special Events”, Ohsweken Speedway again offer 22 race dates for 2009 with something for everyone to satisfy their racing appetite.

A practice session that is open to all classes of cars who will compete at the speedway during 2009 takes place on Friday night, May 8th. While grandstand admission will be free, a $10 Pit Pass price will be in effect.

Pit Memberships will be on sale all season long for a $30 fee. Holders of these memberships will be granted access to the pit for $15 on any night their division is competing while non members will be required to pay a $25 entrance fee. Slightly higher Pit Pass admissions will be charged to non-members during the five nights of “Special Events” including the World of Outlaws Late Model and Sprint races along with the Canadian Sprint Car Nationals. Drivers who wish to compete for “Season Championship” points must have a Pit Membership to do so.

 “Friday Night Thunder” officially gets underway with the first night of “Action Packed Entertainment” on May 15th when Corr/Pak Merchandising presents the program. Normal low season admission prices will be in effect with adults (18 to 64) paying $10 while students (13 to 17) and seniors (65 and older) $8. Kids 12 and under are free.

Special admission prices will be in place when Arrow Express brings the World of Outlaws Late Model series to visits on Thursday Night, June 18. Adult Reserved seating will is available for $35 with Kids (12 and under) Reserved seating at $20. A quantity of General admission tickets will be available “Race Day Only” for $20 per adult and $10 for kids. No senior prices are available for the World of Outlaws Late Model event. Corr/Pak Sprints will be on the Thursday night program as the support division. Then on Friday, June 19th the UMP Modifieds will make their first ever start at Ohsweken as the Sprint cars take the night off. Joining the regular Friday Night Thunder Stock Car program, the UMP Modifieds will be competing in a back to back Summer Sizzler event with South Buxton Raceway.

The 2nd Annual “Northern Summer Nationals” presented by Corr/Pak Merchandising will take on a new look at the speedway Friday, July 3. Designed around the popular Canadian Sprint Car Nationals season closer, the program has been reconfigured to a one day show that will be joined by all three regular Ohsweken Stock Car classes. The Southern Ontario Sprints, ASCS Patriots and ASCS Sprints On Dirt will converge on the Speedway as affiliate sanctioning bodies, joining the host Corr/Pak Sprints in this unique program. Special admission pricing will be in effect with Adult admission being $15 with seniors and students at $8. Kids 12 and under are free.

The speedway will be dark on July 24th as preparations take place for the invasion of the World of Outlaw Sprint Car Series. July 28th and 29th will see Steve Kinser, Donny Schatz, Joey Saldana, Jason Sides, and the rest of the “Outlaws” return for the second running of the “Arrow Express - Six Nations Showdown”. After last years soaking, the Outlaw teams are anxious to return to the speedway where they were greeted by a standing room only crowd in their first appearance in 2007. Reserved seat tickets for each day are $40 for Adults while Kids 12 & under are $20. A full program of Time Trials, Heats, Dash, “B” Main and Feature are on tap each night.

Two day combo passes are available until July 27th at $70 per adult with kids 12 & under at $35. Again, a quantity of General admission tickets will be available each “Race Day Only” for $20 per adult and $15 for kids. No senior prices are available for the World of Outlaws Sprint events. Ohsweken Thunder Stocks will be on the program on July 28th while the Mini Stocks join the action on July 29th. Then on Friday, July 31st, the Corr/Pak Sprints take the night off as the UMP Late Models take to the track when the regular Friday Night Thunder program resumes. The UMP Late Models will be competing in “Round 2” of the back to back Summer Sizzler program with South Buxton Raceway.

The Canadian Sprint Car Nationals, Ohsweken’s “Flagship Event” presented by Arrow Express will once again close out the season on September 18th & 19th. Friday reserved seat prices are $15 for Adults while Kids 6 to 12 are $5 when the “Village Pizza – Ohsweken Shootout” and the “Dave MacLeod Memorial – Mr. Sprint Car” Challenge will be contested. Saturday prices are $35 per adult with kids 6 to 12 are again $5. Again this year a non-qualifiers “Little Feature” will be contested before the “A” Main to give the winner a “last chance” to join the 5th Annual Canadian Nationals feature field.
Two day Reserved Seat combo passes are available until September 17th at $35 per adult while kids 6 to 12 are $5. Again, a quantity of General admission tickets will be available for each “Race Day” for $10 per adult on Friday with kids 12 & under free and $20 per adult for Saturday with kids 6 to 12 at $5.  Kids 5 and under are free both days. No senior prices will be available for the Canadian Sprint Car Nationals.

Pit Upgrades are available on all spectator tickets for the difference in value between Spectator Admission costs and non-member Pit Admission pricing at each event. As these upgrades are not your primary ticket, they are non-refundable and are not valid in case of rain-out. No one under 13 years of age is admitted to the pits. All minors aged 13 to 17 must have proper insurance waivers signed by their guardian before being granted access to the pit.

All other special shows including the Empire Super Sprints on May 29th, ASCS Sprints On Dirt June 12th, and the ASCS Patriots August 14th will carry the $15 adult admission price. The Southern Ontario Sprints will join us for “Christmas In July” on July 17th with the same slightly higher admission price however, any adult bringing a new unwrapped toy will see a $5 reduction in admission cost.

Advanced reserved ticket sales at Ohsweken Speedway for the 2009 World of Outlaws Late Model and Sprint Car shows along with the 5th Annual Canadian Sprint Car Nationals continue daily. Plenty of choice seats remain but we urge you to act quickly to secure the best selection. Please call 1-888-720-7223 for further information. Anyone who has already purchased seats or took the “Roll Over” option after last years soaking can expect their tickets to arrive in their mail box by late May.

Meanwhile work continues toward opening day on May 15th when weekly Sprint Car racing will once again be the feature attraction presented by Corr/Pak Merchandising.

Pease keep logging onto the official speedway website at www.ohswekenspeedway.com  for all the latest track news. Any questions should be directed to Cheryl or Ken Pelkie at (1-888) 720-7223 or email pelkiekj@ebtech.net

From Ken Pelkie

Humberstone Speedway set for 50th season opener

New Humberstone Speedway (NHS) has been entertaining fans of southern Ontario and Western New York for 49 years. This year will mark the 50th season of operation for the Port Colborne Ontario facility, and it promises non-stop excitement.

It all starts Sunday April 26th at 6 00 pm, featuring NHS weekly racing series fan appreciation night with $5 admission. The 358 Modified’s will return to NHS on Sunday May 3rd along with a full card of racing. Mothers day, Sunday May 10th will see a preview of the year ending EVE OF DESTRUCTION when Tianna’s jewelry presents; Mother’s Day Madness featuring a 100 lap $1000 to win Enduro flag pole race and figure 8 championships all starting at 1pm.

The season will continue to be full of non stop action all season long, with events like mod-lite stars tour north happening on Sunday May 31st and July 19th.
Two fireworks displays are set for the Victoria Day weekend (May 17th) and the All-Canadian Civic weekend on August 2nd. The poplar micro-sprints are set for Saturday August 1st as part of night one of the two day All-Canadian championships and the Ontario Dirt Late models will also take part of day two of the championships. The ASCS patriot sprints will invade on Sunday August 30th, with a mix of our local drivers and out of town invaders.

For the crash enthusiasts, there is something for you all season long, starting off with the Mother’s Day Madness at 1pm. The crashing and smashing continues along on Sunday June 7th with the car long jump. Sunday July 5th METRO GROUP presents NHS weekly racing as well as the pure stocks, as well as the entertaining van demolition derby. All these events are just a sneak peak if what’s in store this season.
New this season, we will be having a two day All Canadian weekend. This will feature the biggest racing weekend ever in Southern Ontario, with plenty of free camping, mark this one your calendar.

Night one SATURDAY AUG 01, sponsored by BRIANS TIRE REPAIR will include Performance Manufacturing and RCM racing go karting starting off at 12pm. continuing on at 2pm come out and meet the drivers at the Molson stage including driver introductions and time trial draws. Racing gets underway at 5pm, with time trials and action packed racing at 7pm, with the 50 lap 358 modified Syracuse qualifiers and micro sprints, pro four trucks pure stocks and the fan favorite school bus race.

All Canadian night two on Sunday August 2nd, ECONOMY PAVING presents driver introductions and time trial draws at 2pm. racing gets underway at 5pm with time trials and features start up at 7pm featuring mini stocks, street stocks, 50 lap dirt car sportsman and the Ontario dirt late models.
Both nights will include live entertainment throughout both days both before and after the races.

New Humberstone Speedway has just completed installing the AMB-it automatic timing and scoring system. The System will be used for time trials and weekly for both the Dirt Car Sportsman, and 358 Modified classes. Also a huge paving project is slated to start once the weather allows crews to move in. NHS is also currently finalizing plans for a New "GREEN" environment friendly lighting system. 

So come on out to New Humberstone Speedway for Sunday Night Affordable Family Fun. Watch the best DIRT Track racers duel it out LIVE right in front you. If you've never been to a Dirt Track Stock Car race come check us out. Humberstone Speedway is located at 1716 Highway 3 EAST Port Colborne Ontario. For More info and the 2009 action packed schedule check out www.humberstonespeedway.com or call the race hotline 905 834 4002.

By Tom Beales, NHS PR Director

CCTC: JF Dumoulin joins the Wittmer brothers with Lombardi Honda Racing

Montreal, April 6th, 2009 – Tony Lombardi, president of Lombardi Honda Racing, announced today that race driver Jean-François Dumoulin will campaign one of his Honda Civics with Nick et Kuno Wittmer in the Castrol Canadian Touring Championship in the Super Touring class. Lombardi Honda Racing, one of the most victorious race teams in the country, will hand Nick Wittmer a new Civic sedan to contend for the driver title while Jean-François Dumoulin and Kuno Wittmer will share the second car. Because their respective schedules were conflicting – Grand-Am and SCCA World Challenge – neither one was available for the 15-round CCTCC schedule. Nick will be returning with his familiar #06 while Kuno will pilot the #44 and Jean-François #22.

"What an outstanding roster," declared Tony Lombardi. "We always had talented and skilled drivers throughout the years and this trio is no exception. The Wittmer brothers joined us last year and we were pretty successful in a very competitive league. This year, we are focusing on Nick who will get a brand new 4-door in order to contend for the driver title. Kuno was so sorry he couldn't enter all the rounds because of his SCCA commitment but I think we struck gold again with   Jean-François Dumoulin sharing the second car. JF comes with an impressive racing record in the last 15 years."

"The three guys are great to work with in the paddock but they are very aggressive when the green flag drops. On the other hand, they are all considered like gentlemen on the track. I am convinced Lombardi Honda Racing will top the chart again in 2009 and we can vie for the driver and the team titles." 

The three friends are happy to team up with Lombardi. At 24, Nick Wittmer is still a diamond in the rough that will improve with years: "The new car looks like a winner and I know the crew is working hard to make it the best on the track." A recent winner of the Bertrand-Fabi Trophy at the age of 26, Kuno's reputation already spreads across North America: "I like to work with the Lombardi team. It's always interesting to find the proper setup and improve the car every time we take to the track. I will be driving on two of my favorite tracks, Mosport and Toronto."

Finally, the arrival of Jean-François Dumoulin will send a message to all the drivers in the series. Dumoulin is the most versatile driver in North America, having raced in Daytona prototypes, Stock-car, Atlantic single seaters, GT cars and even the former Echo Cup. The Trois-Rivières native has a proven record and a few Rolex watches to prove it. He said of his new team: "The Wittmer brothers only had good words about this team. And I felt confortable with Tony (Lombardi) the moment I sat in his office. I will have a few rounds to stretch my legs with the #22 Civic before I enter my hometwon event, the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières."

Lombardi Honda Racing team is competing in the Canadian Touring championship for a fourth season. The 2009 schedule shows 15 rounds heading to six facilities, It will star twice on the new ICAR track in Mirabel and the most important double header of the summer will obviously be the GP3R." 

For more information, go to Lombardi Honda web sites at www.lombardihonda.com or www.lombardiracing.com. 

From Michel Poirier-Defoy

Engine Research, Inc. Backs the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints for 2009

SYRACUSE, NY – In another important sponsorship announcement for the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints (ESS) comes with the signing of Engine Research, Inc. from Cobden, Ont.  Mike Blok’s successful engine building business is a part of the new point fund program for the Northwood 2/LaSalle Motorsports Canadian Sprint Car Series.

In a new endeavor for ESS, a point fund for all events held north of the border has already exceeded $12,000 and Engine Research is proud to be part of the program.  Mike Blok might be new to ESS but he has built championship winning engines for over 25 years!  Probably his most famous client is the legendary Bob McCreadie but also names like Brian McDonald, Rick Wilson, Dale Planck, Danny O’Brien and many, many more has had Engine Research power plants under the hood as they took home championships from several different speedways in the US and Canada.

Engine Research is involved mainly in high performance and race application engines but can help you in street and stock engine areas.

The machine shop is well equipped to handle any job from antique engine restorations to all out race units. A great deal of time and effort goes into each and every job, be it a prototype cylinder head and piston or a simple machine operation. Every job gets priority treatment with personal interest to add.

Experience comes from all forms of racing, such as, drag, oval track, dirt, super modified, off-road, endurance, marine, home-built aircraft and motorcycle. As well as, diesel, heavy truck, tractor, and passenger car.

“I am very proud to be a part of ESS and look forward to helping them in any way.” noted Blok from his shop.  “I have been impressed already with the publicity they have given me so far and I like to help them in return with the sponsorship.  I have already done motor work for Brain McDonald and his sprint teams and will be happy to take on more sprint customers”

The new Canadian point fund program has already drawn attention from many teams on both sides of the border.  With the added dollars being offered tracks will see an increase in car counts as race teams from Canada are looking to hit all the events trying to take home a large part of the pie. Also, teams from the US will be heading North as the lucrative point fund is being offered for just 10 events.  It is open to any team whether they run the full ESS schedule or not.

For more information on Engine Research Inc. please log on to www.engineresearchinc.com or call Mike at (613) 646-7184.

From Dean Reynolds / ESS

The Delta Chelsea Hotel has been named the “Official Hotel of Toronto Honda Indy”

(July 10-12, 2009) Toronto - The Delta Chelsea Hotel has been named the “Official Hotel of Toronto Honda Indy” and is providing complimentary shuttle service from the hotel to the track to and from the race for guests. Race teams staying at the hotel will include Danica Patrick’s. Race-related events will be taking place a block away at Yonge and Dundas square.

For more information and to book rooms and buy tickets click here

http://www.deltahotels.com/chelsea/hondaindy/

Hot Wheels announces partnership with IndyCar Series and Indy 500

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

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!

From KTM Racing

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!

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

OE engineered to provide optimum rotor and pad replacement as specified by the original vehicle maker

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.

ATE offers a comprehensive line of premium brake system replacement parts, hydraulics, and service products for popular import, Asian and domestic applications.

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.

Shake 'n Bake at Talladega with Have Bus

Only 12 seats are still available on Have Bus Will Travel's upcoming Racing Tour to the legendary Talladega SuperSpeedway... Shake n' Bake!

Talladega Superspeedway is the Biggest, Fastest, & most Competitive Motorsport Facility in the World!

We still have seats for Dega, get on the Bus and leave the rest to us, all Racing Tours include: Transportainment, Accommodations with Breakfast, and Race tickets.

Talladega Superspeedway Video Here // Talladega Flyer Here

Don't forget about our Group Leader Program. Get a group of 20 together and you travel for free! Looking forward to taking you Racing!

Tara, Elaine & Doug

For trip info, call 1.888.HAVE.BUS 1.888.428.3287 or visit www.havebus.com

Crane Lake Resort / Beyond Digital Imaging / Micks Motorsport Raise over $1,500.00 for the Sick Kids Foundation

CRANE LAKE RESORT hosted a Dinner of Champions on Feb. 21. The dinner was the culmination of a weekend of activities featuring several NASCAR Canadian Tire Series racers and community members who took part in snowmobile runs in and around the Parry Sound (ON) snowmobile trail system. “The dinner was open to the public and also served as a charity event to raise funds for the Sick Kids’ Foundation. The silent auction raised a total of $1,500 from the 54 attendees.“The event can only get bigger and more successful,” said Crane Lake Resort GM John Baglieri. “This was our first attempt at getting Canadian NASCAR drivers together to enjoy a relaxing weekend in the great outdoors and it was a great success.”

UPS REVEALS NEW NASCAR AD CAMPAIGN

ATLANTA, April 2, 2009 – NASCAR rising star David Ragan won’t be racing the “big brown truck” this year, but he will be learning what it takes to be a UPS driver in a humorous new television advertising campaign UPS launches this weekend as part of its revamped racing program.

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

Once again, Peter Weedon has been kind enough to send along a link to the new Sports Car Club of BC Pit Pass newsletter. Click here or on the image at right to open the entire PDF of the April 2009 newsletter.

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

Every year, someone goes too far.

So far today, I've received press releases about turning Watkins Glen into an oval and an adult beverage company looking to sponsor the air in a racecar's tires. No harm, no foul.

That said, CarAndDriver.com is in full damage control mode after announcing in a news item that President Obama (who just ordered the CEO of General Motors out of his job, btw) had also ordered Chevy and Dodge to quit NASCAR. A real kneeslapper, all things considered.

The first rule of April Fool's jokes should be: If the premise is plausible and negative... it's not funny and is very likely to blow up in your face.

CarAndriver.com posted this: "Featured Item: Obama Orders Chevrolet and Dodge Out Of NASCAR"

And then this: "HAPPY APRIL FOOLS' DAY! THIS IS A JOKE. LIGHTEN UP, PEOPLE."

And finally this: "Sorry! - Car News April 2009 Car and Driver has a proud tradition of April Fools’ Day jokes stretching back 30 years. We regret if this year’s went too far."

Needless to say, I would not want to be their ad salesman in charge of the GM and Chrysler accounts this morning when these car companies found out about "THE JOKE."

Respected veteran PR man Denny Darnell, speaking on behalf of himself, circulated the following to all of his media contacts:

"This is the response to the story on Car and Driver.com and today's headline update trying to validate the atrocious feature that was posted last night.... I have been in this business more than 30 years and I have never seen a story so irresponsible. It cannot be passed off as a joke. Lighten up? There's a time for jokes. Not with the issues our country faces today. Serious damage was done here. The auto industry. NASCAR. Our profession...."

INDYCAR: Northlands to sponsor Conquest Racing and driver Alex Tagliani at St. Petersburg

Northlands To Sponsor Conquest Racing and Driver Alex Tagliani At IndyCar Series Race In St. Petersburg

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.