The St. Thomas, ON racer was involved in a late-race incident with then leader Don Thomson, whose car was wrecked in the process.
Ron Beauchamp Jr. finished second, ahead of reigning series champ Scott Steckly.
Saturday, June 06, 2009
NCATS Delaware... Kennington wins
LONDON, ON - DJ Kennington won Saturday night's NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race at Delaware Speedway.
NCATS Delaware ... Lap 64
Running order at lap 64
Mark Dilley , Ro Beauchamp , John Gaunt, Don Thomson , Jason White, Nik Lapcevich.
Mark Dilley , Ro Beauchamp , John Gaunt, Don Thomson , Jason White, Nik Lapcevich.
Friday, June 05, 2009
IndyCar at Texas: Bonbardier Learjet 550K starting lineup
FORT WORTH, Texas - Qualifying Friday for the Bombardier Learjet 550K IndyCar Series event on the 1.5-mile Texas Motor Speedway, with starting position, car number in parentheses, driver, chassis-engine and speed:
1. (10) Dario Franchitti, Dallara-Honda, 214.513
2. (6) Ryan Briscoe, Dallara-Honda, 214.413
3. (9) Scott Dixon, Dallara-Honda, 214.296
4. (3) Helio Castroneves, Dallara-Honda, 214.228
5. (7) Danica Patrick, Dallara-Honda, 213.929
6. (5) Mario Moraes, Dallara-Honda, 213.717
7. (4) Dan Wheldon, Dallara-Honda, 213.596
8. (26) Marco Andretti, Dallara-Honda, 213.540
9. (06) Robert Doornbos, Dallara-Honda, 213.479
10. (20) Ed Carpenter, Dallara-Honda, 213.435
11. (27) Hideki Mutoh, Dallara-Honda, 213.327
12. (02) Graham Rahal, Dallara-Honda, 213.178
13. (34) Alex Tagliani, Dallara-Honda, 213.173
14. (67) Sarah Fisher, Dallara-Honda, 212.554
15. (2) Raphael Matos, Dallara-Honda, 212.137
16. (11) Tony Kanaan, Dallara-Honda, 212.108
17. (18) Justin Wilson, Dallara-Honda, 212.021
18. (43) Tomas Scheckter, Dallara-Honda, 211.741
19. (24) Mike Conway, Dallara-Honda, 211.686
20. (23) Milka Duno, Dallara-Honda, 211.601
21. (13) E.J. Viso, Dallara-Honda, 211.553
22. (14) A.J. Foyt IV, Dallara-Honda, 211.454
23. (21) Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dallara-Honda, 210.532
24. (98) Jaques Lazier, Dallara-Honda, 209.329
INDYCAR: Strong Qualifying Run Places Conquest Racing's Tagliani 13th on the Grid
FORT WORTH, Texas (Friday, June 5, 2009) – Despite missing out on valuable track time yesterday due to an issue with the engine, Conquest Racing’s Alex Tagliani put in a solid qualifying run aboard his #34 Rexall Edmonton Indy car Friday evening, once again showing Conquest’s true potential. The Canadian driver, who is taking part in only his second oval event of the season, posted a four lap average speed of 213.173 mph placing him 13th on the starting grid for Saturday’s Bombardier Learjet 550k at Texas Motor Speedway.
The 2009 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year put in his fastest lap times of the weekend when it counted most and initially took over 12th spot following his run. Tag was later bumped to 13th when Helio Castroneves completed his run in fourth position. Tagliani’s qualifying result ties Conquest’s best start on a superspeedway since the team made the transition to the IndyCar Series last season. Franck Perera had started 13th at the season opener in Homestead in 2008.
Round six of 17 is set to go green Saturday, June 6 at 9:45 ET and will be broadcast live on Versus starting at 9:00 p.m. ET with the pre-race show. Canadian viewers can follow the race live on TSN2 starting at 9:00 p.m. ET.
13th - Alex Tagliani, #34 Rexall Edmonton Indy Dallara/Honda/Firestone
Lap 1: 24.5976 seconds / 212.948 mph
Lap 2: 24.5605 seconds / 213.269 mph
Lap 3: 24.5576 seconds / 213.294 mph
Lap 4: 24.5705 seconds / 213.182 mph
Total time: 1:38.2862
Average Speed: 213.173 mph
ALEX TAGLIANI: “It’s fantastic. I have to take my hat off to the guys. They did an absolutely incredible job with the car. We didn’t have a lot of track time with the issue we had yesterday and we didn’t really have time to practice in qualifying trim before going out for my qualifying run today. They gave me a car with pretty much a perfect set-up. The Rexall Edmonton Indy car was on the edge and fast. It was great. It’s a great qualifying result for the team, we haven’t tested on an oval track this year and it’s only our second oval event of the season. I think it’s a great testament to how good this team is. Now I can’t wait until the race tomorrow night.”
Eric Bachelart, Team Owner
“I’m really happy with our qualifying effort. We had little time to prepare with the engine trouble we had yesterday and I think it’s quite impressive what we were capable of doing. It definitely says a lot about the team and we’ve really progressed from last year. Everyone is happy and looking forward to the race tomorrow night. Alex ran well in race trim earlier today in practice and it’s encouraging heading into what will be only our second oval race of the season.”
NPP rained out this weekend at Castrol Raceway
NPP RACE WEEKEND RAINED OUT EDMONTON, AB (June 5) - Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series race
teams will have to wait a few more weeks before racing on their home track.
Rain and poor weather conditions have forced Castrol Raceway officials to cancel this weekend's action at the track.
teams will have to wait a few more weeks before racing on their home track.
Rain and poor weather conditions have forced Castrol Raceway officials to cancel this weekend's action at the track.
GRAND-AM: AIM Autosport Watkins Glen Qualifying
AIM Autosport Watkins Glen Qualifying: No 61 Ford Riley will line up seventh on the starting grid for Sahlen's Six Hour race
(2009.06.05) With Mark Wilkins at the wheel, the AIM Autosport No 61 Ford Riley rolled to the grid for qualifying this afternoon after the crew made some setup changes following this morning's practice. With only fifteen minutes for qualifying, the focus is to get some heat in the tires quickly and find a gap on the track to get a clean run. Mark's times improved with each lap and the gap to first seemed to close until the eventual pole sitter put in one very quick lap and put a large gap over the field. Mark had closed up on traffic and was hanging back to create a gap for another clean run when the session ended. Mark's final time was a 1:41.930 at 120.082 mph.
"The car was quick and the changes we made from this morning gave us much better balance." commented Wilkins after the session. "We are pretty close to the cars ahead of us - just four tenths out of second but the guy on pole was just that much quicker than the rest of us. It is a long race tomorrow and we definitely have a good car for the race. The goal is to be at the front around 8:15 on Saturday night."
"I like to look at it that we are only four tenths off the DP2 pole" laughed team principal Ian Willis. "Seriously though, from second place down to us the times are really close and we are happy with the changes we made to the car. As Mark said, we have a good car for the race and a lot can happen over six hours. The plan is to be at the front for the end."
The Rolex Series has a 30 minute warm up Saturday morning with the green flag for the race coming at 2:15 p.m. ET. The race will be broadcast live on SPEED TV is two segments. The first show is from 2:00-4:00 p.m. with the final two and a half hours of the race being broadcast live at 6:00 p.m.
AIM Autosport Facts: Established in 1995, AIM Autosport’s mandate is to identify, train and manage emerging motorsport talent. AIM has provided many young drivers with a solid foundation on which to build a career in professional racing. The success of the AIM driver development programs has been achieved through the dedication of our employees and the ongoing support of our commercial and technical partners. Away from the track, AIM Autosport serves the needs of the racing community with a purpose-built preparation shop situated in the Toronto suburb of Woodbridge, Ontario. AIM fields the No. 61 Ford Riley with drivers Mark Wilkins and Burt Frisselle in the Rolex Grand Am series. The team also competes in the Star Madza Championship presented by Goodyear. AIM won the 2008 Championship with driver John Edwards.
From Chris Jameson / Level Ten Communications
NASCAR CANADIAN TIRE SERIES: Don Thomson, Jr. Delaware 200 Advance
DON THOMSON JR
#4 HOME HARDWARE CHEVROLET IMPALA SS
DELAWARE 200 PRE-RACE REPORT
NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Race 2 of 13 – Delaware Speedway (Ont)
Don Thomson Jr Looks To Rebound From Rough Start To Season
DELAWARE, ON (June 5, 2009) – Don Thomson, Jr. is looking forward to returning to the London area to compete in this weekend's Delaware 200. Thomson has had many epic battles on the Soutern Ontario speedway's half mile oval and plans on re-asserting his pre-season testing form.
"I can't wait to get back to Delaware this weekend," stated the 5 time National Champion. "Delaware is a track that's great for the fans and for the longest time was the centre of stock car racing in Canada. I have won here before and I can tell you it's a very special place."
Thomson's season has started off a little rougher than he would have liked. In the Tufoil 250 at St. Eustache two weeks ago, round one on the calendar. He was running competitively in 2nd place and looking forward to a strong start to the season before being unceremoniously bumped and spun into the wall with 15 laps to go. The ensuing damage relegated Thomson to a 9th place finish and two solid weeks of repairs to the Home Hardware car.
"We had quite a bit of damage to the Home Hardware Chevy but managed to get it all done and ready for this weekend, which is a testament to how hard the guys in the shop here work. We're ready to go," he added.
Thomson will take to the track on Saturday, June 6, for the Delaware 200.
For regular updates and results log on to www.nascar.ca.
Track Delaware Speedway
Size ½ Mile Paved Oval
Length 200 Laps
Start 8:30 pm
TV TSN June 14, 2009 – 11:30 AM EST
PHOTO GALLERY: Flamboro Speedway - May 30, 2009 - DaveFranksPhotos.com
This is a photo gallery from Flamboro Speedway on Saturday, May 30, 2009. Thanks to Dave Franks for sharing his work. You can see Dave's website here.
ACT: Ford crate motor accepted in American-Canadian Tour rulebook
Waterbury, VT – The American Canadian Tour (ACT) announced today that the Ford S347JR crate engine has been approved for competition starting immediately.
For the past eighteen months the engineers from Ford Racing in Dearborn, Michigan have been working in conjunction with ACT motor builders Butler & MacMaster of Hallowell, Maine on the research and development of a Ford crate engine that will be compatible with the GM ZZ4 crate engine.
"It has taken a little longer than we had anticipated, but we wanted to make certain that the Ford program is going to fit our business model", said Tom Curley, President of the American Canadian Tour. "The important thing here was to make sure that the Ford and GM motors match up without one having an advantage over the other. It was just as important to have each motor capable of winning on our weekly tracks or at Tour events. I think we have accomplished that after several changes over the past few months. I can't say enough about the cooperation we have had from Ford, Dave MacMaster and especially Kendell Legendre and Cris Michaud who have spent many hours preparing the car, and then have tested no less than seven or eight times to help bring this project to fruition", continued Curley.
Ford has shown a serious interest in getting back into grass roots racing at the local and regional level. The ACT business model, which puts a priority on weekly racing with select regional touring events in New England and the provinces of Quebec and Ontario, was tailor-made for the Ford crate engine program. Mike Delahanty, Program Manager Sportsman Circle Track Racing for Ford said. "All of us at Ford Racing are excited to have the S347JR engine now approved to compete in one of the premier racing series in North America, ACT. This has been one of the most rigorous approval processes yet for the Ford crate engines, and we expect to see Ford contending for ACT wins before the 2009 season is done. Special thanks to the team of Cris Michaud and Kendell Legendre for their tireless efforts in testing and development."
The Michaud team has also competed in three ACT Tour events this season, while working to develop the Ford crate engine. The first event at the 4/10th oval at Lee USA in New Hampshire in April resulted in a 15th place first time effort in a field of 30 cars. The Merchants Bank team then headed to their home track, a ¼ mile bullring nicknamed the 'Site of Excitement', Thunder Road. The three-time King of the Road, Michaud, finished a respectable, but uncharacteristic, 16th, in the 30-car field. More testing was conducted at the super-fast, reconfigured, ½ mile Airborne Speedway in Plattsburgh, NY. In a head-to-head test with veteran Airborne Champion Brent Dragon, and with input from both Michaud and Dragon, it was clear that some additional work needed to be done on the Ford project.
Enter Dave MacMaster, who worked with Ford Racing engineers to bring the compression up to exact tolerance levels. More testing took place at White Mountain Motorsports Park and Thunder Road. Finally, at the Thunder Road Memorial Day Classic ACT Tour event, Michaud raced his Ford from a 26th starting spot to a 4th place finish as many Thunder Road fans have become used to seeing over the past ten years. Michaud was a serious contender to win, but got stalled behind a set of double file racing and just plain ran out of laps in the 100-lap event as he made his charge to the front.
"I first have to thank Kendell Legendre for all the work he put into getting our car converted to be able to handle the Ford engine. I also want to thank Ford Racing, Dave MacMaster and ACT for finally getting Ford into the game. I am especially pleased that Tom (Curley) asked me to test this new crate program for Ford. I remember 10 years ago when I was out of motors and ready to hang things up, Tom asked me to be the first to test the original GM crate. I feel like we have come full circle. Now I need to get Ford its first win in ACT racing, and a 4th Thunder Road King of the Road title in a Ford would really be sweet, especially during this 50th season celebration", said Michaud.
The first chance for Ford to officially enter the ACT Winner's Circle will be opening night at Thunder Road, June 11, 2009. Thunder Road will open for the 50th season of Thursday night racing with the Ferguson Waterworks trophy dashes. Gates will open at 5:00 and post time is 6:30. Admission is only $9.50 for adults and a family of two adults and two kids 6-12 can enter for only $20.
For additional information contact the Thunder Road office at 802.244.6963 or media@acttour.com.
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship confirmed at the Honda Indy Toronto
TORONTO, ON - The Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship Presented By Toyo Tires (CCTCC) has confirmed that it will be on the card for this summer's Honda Indy Toronto. The CCTCC will be featured with two events, billed as the 'Acura Sports Car Challenge.' As many as 50 cars are expected to compete in the two CCTCC races on the temporary street circuit on Toronto's lakeshore.
The CCTCC races will be run at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 11 and at 10 a.m. on Sunday, July 12. CCTCC qualifying is set to take place on Friday, July 10. The Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship Presented By Toyo Tires is Canada's top road racing series and is comprised of two classes of race cars. The Touring Class features cars with only minimal modifications and engines up to 2.0 litres in size. The Super Touring Class is comprised of more powerful race cars with larger engines and more aerodynamic enhancements.
Both classes compete simultaneously and challenge for supremacy in their respective classes. The CCTCC runs May to September and in addition to the Honda Indy Toronto, will also appear at major road racing events and venues throughout Ontario and Quebec.
“The Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship Presented By Toyo Tires is very excited to partner with the Honda Indy Toronto for the next three years,” said John Bondar, CCTCC President. “Toronto has always been one of the best events in North America and we look forward to being part of this fabulous show. Our inclusion in the Honda Indy Toronto confirms the Championship as Canada’s premiere Touring Car championship.”
For more info visit www.touringcar.ca
With files from the Honda Indy Toronto
The CCTCC races will be run at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 11 and at 10 a.m. on Sunday, July 12. CCTCC qualifying is set to take place on Friday, July 10. The Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship Presented By Toyo Tires is Canada's top road racing series and is comprised of two classes of race cars. The Touring Class features cars with only minimal modifications and engines up to 2.0 litres in size. The Super Touring Class is comprised of more powerful race cars with larger engines and more aerodynamic enhancements.
Both classes compete simultaneously and challenge for supremacy in their respective classes. The CCTCC runs May to September and in addition to the Honda Indy Toronto, will also appear at major road racing events and venues throughout Ontario and Quebec.
“The Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship Presented By Toyo Tires is very excited to partner with the Honda Indy Toronto for the next three years,” said John Bondar, CCTCC President. “Toronto has always been one of the best events in North America and we look forward to being part of this fabulous show. Our inclusion in the Honda Indy Toronto confirms the Championship as Canada’s premiere Touring Car championship.”
For more info visit www.touringcar.ca
With files from the Honda Indy Toronto
NASCAR @ DELAWARE SPEEDWAY: Pre-Race Party tonight at Crabby Joe's in Strathroy
Fans can meet NASCAR Canadian Tire Series drivers Kennington, Whitlock, Hathaway and Hanssen
London, ON - With the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series set to make its debut at Delaware Speedway on Saturday, June 6th, the track is inviting fans to a free pre-race party at Crabby Joe’s in Strathroy on Thursday, June 4th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
NASCAR Canadian Tire Series drivers confirmed to attend include last week’s race winner in Quebec, Dave Whitlock, along with DJ Kennington, Joey Hanssen and Jason Hathaway. Kennington and Hanssen’s cars will be on display. Race fans are welcome to stop by, visit with the drivers, collect autographs and take photos.
MyFM Radio (105.7 FM in Strathroy) will also be at Crabby Joe’s for the event. MyFM is also giving away tickets to listeners in the days leading up to the race on June 6th.
Crabby Joe’s Strathroy is the sponsor of the newly refurbished Crabby Joe’s Patio at Delaware Speedway. The restaurant is located at 323 Caradoc Street in Strathroy.
The NASCAR Canadian Tires Series will race at Delaware Speedway on Saturday, June 6th. Spectator Gates open at 4:00 p.m. More information is available at www.delawarespeedway.com.
London, ON - With the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series set to make its debut at Delaware Speedway on Saturday, June 6th, the track is inviting fans to a free pre-race party at Crabby Joe’s in Strathroy on Thursday, June 4th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
NASCAR Canadian Tire Series drivers confirmed to attend include last week’s race winner in Quebec, Dave Whitlock, along with DJ Kennington, Joey Hanssen and Jason Hathaway. Kennington and Hanssen’s cars will be on display. Race fans are welcome to stop by, visit with the drivers, collect autographs and take photos.
MyFM Radio (105.7 FM in Strathroy) will also be at Crabby Joe’s for the event. MyFM is also giving away tickets to listeners in the days leading up to the race on June 6th.
Crabby Joe’s Strathroy is the sponsor of the newly refurbished Crabby Joe’s Patio at Delaware Speedway. The restaurant is located at 323 Caradoc Street in Strathroy.
The NASCAR Canadian Tires Series will race at Delaware Speedway on Saturday, June 6th. Spectator Gates open at 4:00 p.m. More information is available at www.delawarespeedway.com.
NASCAR @ DELAWARE SPEEDWAY: NASCAR Midway & displays set for NCATS race on June 5-6
London, ON (May 26, 2009): A wide variety of interactive displays and vendors will be on site at Delaware Speedway for the upcoming NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race weekend, June 5th and 6th. In addition to a first-class race lineup (the winged Auto Value Super Sprints on June 5th and the track’s inaugural NASCAR Canadian Tire Series event June 6th), race fans will enjoy the NASCAR midway and display area.
Vendors and displays confirmed to be on site on Saturday, June 6th include:
· NASCAR souvenir trailer that includes both NASCAR Canadian Tire Series and popular NASCAR Sprint Cup Series merchandise
· A 50-foot by 50-foot NASCAR display area that includes information and interaction from a variety of series supporters
· NASCAR’s Canadian Tire “Fast Track Tour” trailer
· Dickie’s “Canadian Worker of the Year” display trailer
· BX 93 Radio’s Summer Fun Torrent powered by Dale Downie (Summer Cruiser)
· Napolean Grills sampling display
· Inside Track Motorsport News
· London’s Best Rock FM 96 Summer Cruiser
· 103.9 “The Hawk” Summer Cruiser
· Carling Race Team Display area
· Have Bus Will Travel Racing Tours SuperCoach
· Racing Radios
· Red Beard’s Sports
Many of the vendors will be on site for the Auto Value Super Sprint race on Friday June 5th.
Have Bus Will Travel Racing Tours will be giving away a Racing Tour for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Race Weekend, August 15th and 16th at Michigan International Speedway (“NASCAR Canada Day @ MIS”).
Former Delaware Speedway Super Stock champion and APC Late Model Rookie of the Year and current NASCAR Canadian Tire Series driver, Jason Hathaway is scheduled to sign autographs at the Napolean Grills display on the Friday night.
More information about the event is available at www.delawarespeedway.com.
Vendors and displays confirmed to be on site on Saturday, June 6th include:
· NASCAR souvenir trailer that includes both NASCAR Canadian Tire Series and popular NASCAR Sprint Cup Series merchandise
· A 50-foot by 50-foot NASCAR display area that includes information and interaction from a variety of series supporters
· NASCAR’s Canadian Tire “Fast Track Tour” trailer
· Dickie’s “Canadian Worker of the Year” display trailer
· BX 93 Radio’s Summer Fun Torrent powered by Dale Downie (Summer Cruiser)
· Napolean Grills sampling display
· Inside Track Motorsport News
· London’s Best Rock FM 96 Summer Cruiser
· 103.9 “The Hawk” Summer Cruiser
· Carling Race Team Display area
· Have Bus Will Travel Racing Tours SuperCoach
· Racing Radios
· Red Beard’s Sports
Many of the vendors will be on site for the Auto Value Super Sprint race on Friday June 5th.
Have Bus Will Travel Racing Tours will be giving away a Racing Tour for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Race Weekend, August 15th and 16th at Michigan International Speedway (“NASCAR Canada Day @ MIS”).
Former Delaware Speedway Super Stock champion and APC Late Model Rookie of the Year and current NASCAR Canadian Tire Series driver, Jason Hathaway is scheduled to sign autographs at the Napolean Grills display on the Friday night.
More information about the event is available at www.delawarespeedway.com.
NASCAR @ DELAWARE SPEEDWAY: "Ted Reader Tailgate Zone" added to NCATS event on June 6
Free area for race fans to be located in tent overlooking Turn 1
London, ON (May 29, 2009): The official team known for working with award-winning chef and food entertainer, Ted Reader, will be at Delaware Speedway for its inaugural NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race on Saturday, June 6th. Though Reader himself will not be on hand, his barbecue team equipped with Ted’s brand of fun and flavour, will be holding court in the “Ted Reader Tailgate Zone” the day of the race.
Reader and his team have parlayed a passion for food into a culinary tour de force that includes more than a dozen cook books, shelves of food products, live culinary performances, TV and radio cooking shows and appearances as well as culinary demonstrations, a catering company and teaching. Reader’s latest book, “Napolean’s Everyday Gourmet Grilling” was released last month.
At Delaware Speedway, Reader’s team will use his trademark barbecue rig to “Tedify” the track’s standard menu for guests in the licensed “Ted Reader Tailgate Zone,” which will be located on the turn one hill, overlooking the front straightaway. The area will also feature live music from the band “Black Belt Jones” and is free with race admission (Age of majority required).
More information about Reader, his books, recipes and food products is available online at www.tedreader.com.
The appearance is being made possible through an association with Napolean Grills, who will also have a taste-test display in the NASCAR Midway area both Friday, June 5th and Saturday, June 6th. Napolean-sponsored driver, Jason Hathaway, will be signing autographs at the Napolean Grills display on the Friday night. Hathaway, a former Delaware Speedway Street Stock champion and APC Late Model Rookie of the Year, will compete in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race on the Saturday night (June 6th).
Spectator gates will open at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, June 5, with racing set to start at 8:00 p.m. The program for that evening features the only 2009 appearance of the wildly popular winged Auto Value Super Sprints, along with Delaware Speedway’s Demar Aggregates Trucks and POWERADE Modifeds, both of which are part of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series (i.e., weekly racing).
On Saturday (June 6), spectator gates will open at 4:00 p.m. Pre-race activities include a 50-lap Delaware Super Stock race and a NASCAR Canadian Tire Series driver autograph session. The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series “Delaware 200” is schedule to take the green flag shortly after 8:00 p.m.
From Delaware Speedway
NASCAR Canadian Tire Series: John Fletcher returns to action at Delaware
MILTON, ON - John Fletcher will be making a return to the track this weekend driving the LUCAS OIL/JBM Leasing #49 Dodge in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series' Delaware 200. This is the team’s first outing in 2009 as the series first stop was in St-Eustache, QC, and only plan to do the Ontario NASCAR events. Fletcher and the LUCAS OIL/JBM Leasing # 49 Dodge will be carrying additional support from B&B Decals, Trailers By Jim Bray, Bray Auto/Truck Recyclers, Stratafax Calgary, Little Blessing’s and HYPE Energy Drinks.
The expected crowd of 10,000 people will witness more than 20 of Canada’s best teams compete in the only national stock car touring series as it makes its first stop at the NASCAR-sanctioned speedway. Although John has not been in the car since last season's NCATS race at Cayuga Speedway, he will not be waiting that long again.
John and the LUCAS Oil/JBM Leasing Team will also run Mosport International Speedway Dickies 200 event at the famed 2.459 Road Course June 13-14, but also a return to OSCAAR on Saturday June 13 at the 1/3 mile Barrie Speedway, double duty in two different style cars on two extreme different tracks. What a way to get the 2009 season underway! The roar of the #61 JBM Leasing OSCAAR and perennial favourite to win has not been heard in the series since 2007 and the 2006 series champion is looking forward to the return at a track he has won three in a row.
More information on John Fletcher can be found at www.fletchjr61.com, for information on the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series visit www.nascar.ca.
Ohsweken Speedway: Lone Wolf Pit Stop presents Friday Night Thunder this week
By Tommy Goudge (June 4, 2009) – After Mother Nature decided to give Ohsweken Speedway the night off last week, Friday Night Thunder kicks back into high gear this week as Lone Wolf Pit Stop presents the action. The Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Cars will be back in action, while the ESSO Thunder Stocks, ESSO Mini Stocks, and Bombers will also join in on the fun!
After two rounds of Corr/Pak Sprint Car action, Tom Huppunen leads the points standings on the strength of a win and a runner-up finish in the first two weeks. Huppunen and Dain Naida dueled for the win in round two, with Naida coming out the victor at the end of the hard-fought twenty lap feature. Meanwhile Ryan Hunsinger, Glenn Styres, Kevin Job, and Brad Malloy have had strong starts to their seasons and round out the top five in points.
The ESSO Thunder Stocks get back to action on Friday night, after a scintillating feature two weeks ago. With the checkered flag in sight, Jamie Cox was able to power his way to victory around week one winner Shayne Pierce. Pierce did hold onto the runner-up spot and holds the points lead by seventeen markers over Jeremy Bean, who has had a strong start to his ’09 season. Glen Leinen, Lee Winger, and Cox round out the current top five in the championship standings heading into this Friday’s event.
The ESSO Mini Stocks competitors are all chasing young Mitchell Brown these days. The third-generation driver from Brantford has won both of the first two rounds of the Mini Stocks season, but with success comes increased difficulty, as the frequent front-runners will start deeper in the pack with each passing week. Abel Castelein and Kevin Hilborn have both looked strong early on this season, and will be looking to stop Mitch’s streak on Friday night. Those two drivers are currently second and third in points, while Mike Evers and Chase Hess round out the top five.
In Bomber action, a new winner visited victory lane in the last event as Jesse McDonald dominated the feature. It is opening night winner Karl Sault who leads the points, however, followed by Dale Cooke, Kacey Huffman, McDonald, and Brad Hill.
Advanced reserved seat tickets for the World of Outlaws Late Models June 18 featuring guest star Ken Schrader, World of Outlaws Sprint Cars July 28 and 29, and Canadian Sprint Car Nationals September 18 and 19 are on sale now. Please visit www.OhswekenSpeedway and call 1-888-720-RACE to order yours today!
Ohsweken Speedway's Friday Night Thunder returns this Friday, June 5 when Lone Wolf Pit Stop presents the Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Cars, ESSO Thunder Stocks, ESSO Mini-Stocks, and Bombers. Friday Night Thunder at Ohsweken offers an affordable, fast-paced, and exciting evening of family entertainment just a short drive away from most Mid-Western Ontario locations. Adult general admission is just $10, while Seniors and Students are $8, and Kids age 12 and under are FREE! Please visit www.OhswekenSpeedway.com for more information. Spectator gates open @ 6:00p.m., with the first race taking the green flag at 7:45p.m. this Friday, June 5!
Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprint Stars Head to Autodrome Granby and Drummond
By Dean Reynolds
SYRACUSE, NY – Each year one of the look forward to trips on the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints (ESS) tour is the weekend visits to the Autodromes of Granby and Drummond. This weekend will be the first of three of those trips and with last weekend’s wash out it will kick off the Northwood 2 Construction/LaSalle Motorsports Canadian Sprint Car Series.
Granby and Drummond produce the largest purse for a full point show on the entire Lucas Oil tour with each event paying $2,000 to win with $450 just to take the green. With the added dollars the Quebec fans will see a great battle among their fellow Canadian sprint car drivers vs. the drivers from the United States for bragging rights.
Current ESS point leader Lance Yonge will lead the brigade up to Quebec. As a matter of fact, the top seven drivers in points are from the states and all seven will be towing North which include Doug Emery, Justin Barger, Chuck Hebing, Tim Kelly, Tommy Wickham and Jessica Zemken.
While they had a slow early start, the Canadian faithful will be out in full force looking to improve their point status. Defending champion Steve Poirier, Michael Parent, Brian McDonald, Lee Ladouceur, Alain Bergeron, Daniel Lampron, Normand Beaudreault, Sylvain Ericksen and others will be hoping to give the expected big crowds something to cheer about.
Throw in Jeff Cook, Anthony Cain, Cory Sparks, Jim Porter, James Hanson and possibly a modified driver or two fans will have a pit full of winged wonders.
The Northwood 2 Construction/LaSalle Motorsports Canadian Sprint Car Series brought to you by 730 Truck Stop and Genesis Shocks in an association with Mohawk Racing Parts, Engine Research and Coffrage Daniel Lampron is a series within a series on the Lucas Oil Tour. More than $12,000 is set up for the special 10 race series North of the border. With the rain out events at Ohsweken and Merrittville, Granby and Drummond will now kick off that tour.
Autodromes Granby and Drummond…the stars and cars from the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints. On June 5 and 6 it will be a tradition that has carried on for over 26 years and that is excitement guaranteed!!
Southern Ontario Sprints tour heads back to Brighton for June 6 date
By Tommy Goudge (June 4, 2009) – The Southern Ontario Sprints tour is back in action at Brighton Speedway this Saturday, June 6 for the third round of the championship series with defending champion Glenn Styres leading the way.
Styres followed up a season-opening victory at Brighton with a runner-up finish at South Buxton on May 23. Chasing Styres for the points lead on Saturday are Warren Mahoney, Justin Martin, Ryan Hunsinger, Adam West, and Bob Crawford, to name just a few. Meanwhile Rick Wilson isn’t chasing points, but he is chasing the feature win at Brighton this weekend, as he tries to add to his lead atop the all-time SOS feature wins list.
All of the drivers will also be looking to take the early lead in the Riverside Bar and Grill mini-series points fund, which encompasses the remaining five events at Brighton for the Southern Ontario Sprints this season, starting with Saturday night’s event.
Don’t miss the third round of the Southern Ontario Sprints season on Saturday, June 6! Vanderlaan’s Building Supplies will present the evening’s activities, featuring the third round of the SOS season presented by Holiday Inn of Trenton, along with Brighton’s popular Pro Stocks, Comp 4’s, Pure Stocks, and Stingers. Make sure to come early and catch Brighton’s pre-race show, the Lucas Oil Hot Seat, LIVE in the courtyard starting at 6:20 p.m.!
WHAT:
Southern Ontario Sprints 2009 Season, Round #3
www.SouthernOntarioSprints.com
WHERE:
Brighton Speedway
775 County Road 64
Brighton, Ontario
K0K 1H0
Phone: (613)-475-1102 or toll free 1-(866)-681-1102
e-mail: info@brightonspeedway.com
On the Web: www.brightonspeedway.com
WHEN:
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Pit Gates open @ 3:00p.m., Spectator Gates Open @ 5:30p.m., Sprint Car Hot Laps @ 5:50p.m., Racing @ 7:00p.m.
Tickets: $18 Adults, $14 Youth and Seniors, $4 Children Ages 7-12, FREE Children Ages 6 and Under, $45 Family Pass
** Advance ticket sales are available for all SOS events at Brighton Speedway in 2009. Visit www.BrightonSpeedway.com for details. **
Please visit www.SouthernOntarioSprints.com for more news and information about the Southern Ontario Sprints. 2009 marks the fourteenth year of operation for the Southern Ontario Sprints. Nine Championship Points events are on the schedule this season, plus five special non-points events. Together they create the fourteen race 2009 schedule, brought to you by Wiseco Performance, ASi Racewear, BS&B Radiator, Fatheadz Eyewear, Triple X Race Co., Kenetic Photos, and www.ImageFactor.ca.
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
NASCAR Canadian Tire Series News And Notes - Delaware
NASCAR Canadian Tire Series News & Notes - Delaware
* Delaware 200 Notebook
* Tufoil 250 Post-Race Notebook
* Delaware Rejoins NASCAR Family
Beauchamp Back In A Better State Of Mind
The reasons are many and varied, but Ron Beauchamp Jr. is tired of talking and hearing about hard-luck races.
Just like any sport, racing is a game of inches. The difference between standing on the podium and loading a wrecked race car into the hauler can be too close to measure. Over the last two seasons for Beauchamp (No. 60 Mopar/Mobil 1/Exide Batteries Dodge), though, it might as well been measured with a yardstick. Regardless of the steps that he or his team took for the sake of improvement, very little worked.
“It’s been a rough couple of years. We kept looking to catch a break, but never could,” said Beauchamp.
With a 13-race schedule, playing catch up is not the place to be. In the 2008 season opener, the No. 60 Dodge finished third, but NASCAR officials found an impropriety at the post-race technical inspection. As a result, Beauchamp was relegated down to a last-place finish.
“We thought we had a great start to the year after a nightmare in 2007, but it didn’t turn out that way,” he said. “We got behind and got in a hole. We just never could get in front of it.”
Even though the hole, seemingly surrounded in sand, kept sliding in on them, the return of Chris Couvillion as crew chief raised the morale at the shop and the game at the track.
“It got to be a drag at the shop. I needed a jumpstart,” explained Beauchamp. “The shop is my happy place and it wasn’t for a while.”
Couvillion left Beauchamp in 2007 for another job in the racing industry, but his heart was at the track. With the way things had been going, it didn’t take long for the Beauchamp team to welcome him back with open arms.
“I think at the time his decision to leave was that it was for a better offer, but, I guess it didn’t turn out to be that way. It’s definitely our gain,” Beauchamp said.
After finishing outside the top 10 in eight of the first nine races in 2008, the return of Couvillion manifested itself in three top-five finishes in the final four races of the year.
The 2009 season opened with another top five—a third-place effort in St. Eustache—giving him three consecutive finishes in third dating back to last year. He led the race on four separate occasions for a total of 19 laps.
On the horizon for Beauchamp is the debut of a brand new car built over the off-season. Surprisingly, he is not at all hesitant to christen the new car with the season underway.
“I’m really not worried about it. Maybe I would, but the geometry and construction of this car is perfect,” he said. “I’m done with excuses. It’s time for results.”
Fast Facts
The Race: Delaware 200 presented by Belfor Restoration Services
The Place: Delaware (Ont.) Speedway
The Date: Saturday, June 6
The Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
TV Schedule: TSN, June 14, 11:30 a.m. ET
Track Layout: Half-mile paved oval
Race Purse: $85,298 CAD
2008 Winner: Event Not Held
2008 Pole: Event Not Held
Schedule: Practice 1-2:30 p.m.;Time Trials 5:15 p.m.
Track Contact: John Houghton, (519) 652-5068, ext. 201, info@delawarespeedway.com
NASCAR Contact: Shon Sbarra, (704) 309-5493, ssbarra@nascar.com
2009 DRIVER STANDINGS
1. Dave Whitlock 185
2. Kerry Micks 175
3. Ron Beauchamp Jr. 170
4. Scott Steckly 165
5. Andrew Ranger 160
6. Mark Dilley 155
7. Jason White 151
8. Don Thomson Jr. 143
9. Jason Hathaway 142
10. Miguel Duhamel 134
11. Derek White 130
12. Kent Nuhn 127
Micks Taking Full Advantage Of Spec Engine Program
When word reached NASCAR Canadian Tire Series teams over the winter that NASCAR’s spec engine program was going to be an option in 2009, several teams had questions, but not Kerry Micks (No. 02 Beyond Digital Imaging Ford). He only wanted to know where to sign and how to get started.
The lower cost alternative for powering the car is perfect for Micks, a true tactician always looking for an edge over his competition, in this age of increasing costs.
“Once I was reasonably sure it would be competitive, it made perfect sense for us,” he said. “We were at a bit of a crossroads with our engine program and the chance to put a competitive car on the track for less money than we had been spending was a pretty simple choice.”
In the season opener, Micks, racing out of Mt. Albert, Ont., logged a runner-up finish, and led 28 laps along the way, proving the engine could stand up to the custom-built motors in many of the other cars.
“It was a great start, but there is a lot of racing left. My whole team pours their heart and soul into this program just like I do,” Micks said. “We’re going to keep our head down and do whatever we can do to win the championship. That’s our goal.”
Last year, Matt Kobyluck (East) and Eric Holmes (West) won NASCAR Camping World Series titles with spec engines under the hood.
News & Notes
The Race: This event is the second of 13 races on the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series schedule. It is the series’ first visit to the track.
The Procedure: The starting field is 24 cars, including provisionals. The first 21 cars will be determined from two-lap time trials. The remaining three spots will be awarded through the provisional process. The race will be 200 laps (100 miles).
The Track: Delaware Speedway is a half-mile, paved stock-car track located just west of London, Ontario. For more than 55 years, Delaware Speedway has been the home to some of the finest stock car racing in Canada. Its unique natural amphitheatre-like setting allows maximum enjoyment for the fans. The track has undergone extensive remodeling over the past several months under the ownership of Arlen Scherba.
First-time Visit: This will be the first time the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series has competed at the facility. Many competitors are already familiar with the surroundings. The track was a stalwart of the CASCAR Super Series. In fact, it was considered to be the ‘Home of CASCAR.’
For Real This Time: Several teams had the opportunity to test at the track five weeks ago. In a May 2 test session, Kerry Micks (No. 02 Beyond Digital Imaging Ford) registered the quickest lap at 19.028 seconds (94.597 mph). Defending series champion Scott Steckly (No. 22 Canadian Tire/Tow Truck in a Box Dodge) was just off that pace at 19.030 seconds (94.587 mph).
Also On Tap: It’s a full weekend of racing action at Delaware Speedway. On Friday evening, the Auto-Value Super Sprints will compete in an 8 p.m. ET feature. Joining the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series on Saturday will be the Delaware Super Stock division as they compete for honors in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.
Full Circle: After beginning his racing career at Delaware Speedway in the street stock division, Dave Whitlock (No. 39 Dickies/NMT Dodge), who will retire as a driver at the close of the 2009 season, looks to extend his winning streak to two races after winning the season opener at Autodrome St. Eustache.
NCATS Notebook: Tufoil 250 Post-Race
Done At 25: With his Tufoil 250 win at Autodrome St. Eustache, Dave Whitlock (No. 39 Dickies/NMT Dodge) ended his NASCAR Canadian Tire Series winless streak at 25. He has competed in every event since the series’ inception in 2007.
A Matter of Time: Dating back to last season, Andrew Ranger (No. 27 Wal-Mart/Tide Ford) has been inching closer and closer to his first oval-track win in the series. At St. Eustache, he led a race-high 144 laps before settling for a finish in sixth place. For his career, the 22-year-old former open-wheel competitor still has less than 30 starts in a stock car on ovals.
High-Water Marks: World-class motorcycle racer Miguel Duhamel (No. 7 Jacombs Racing Ford) finished 10th and posted his first series career top-10 finish in just his third start. Jason White (No. 21 A&W/Zimmer-Wheaton GMC Chevrolet) equaled his series career-best finish of seventh, previously accomplished on two occasions.
Loosened Grip: By earning his first series career pole position on an oval track, Scott Steckly (No. 22 Canadian Tire/Tow Truck in a Box Dodge) snapped Fitzpatrick Motorsports’ string of eight consecutive poles on ovals. Last season, Don Thomson Jr. (No. 4 Home Hardware Chevrolet) picked up seven of those while teammate JR Fitzpatrick (No. 84 Fitzpatrick Motorsports Chevrolet) collected one.
Mobil 1 Command Performance of the Race Award: As a reward for his NASCAR Canadian Tire Series victory at Autodrome St. Eustache, Whitlock collects $1,500 from Mobil 1 for his effort. It was his first series win.
Mopar Quick Three: This program awards the top three finishing Dodges in the race. In the Tufoil 250, the victorious Whitlock was the highest-finishing Dodge and thus earned a $2,000 bonus. Third-place finisher Ron Beauchamp Jr. (No. 60 Mopar/Mobil 1/Exide Dodge) was the second-highest finishing Dodge, which earned him $1,000. Picking up $500 for finishing as the third-highest Dodge was Steckly.
Coca-Cola Move of the Race Award: Improving his position the most over the course of the race was Whitlock. After starting 11th on the grid, he bided his time before working his way forward for the win. As a result, he earned the $1,000 award from POWERade.
MAHLE Clevite Engine Builder of the Race Award: In a new program for 2009, the driver who compiles the most points in a specialized system involving qualifying, race finish and leading laps collects the $1,000 award. In the Tufoil 250, Steckly with his start on the pole and fourth-place finish edged Ranger for the honor.
Home Tracks Update: Delaware Speedway Returns To NASCAR Family Of Tracks
For the staff and management of Delaware (Ont.) Speedway, the beginning of the race season signals a couple of things—the dawn of a new ear and a chance to catch their breath.
In late January, track officials announced that Arlen Scherba had bought out his partners and became the sole owner of the facility. He promptly declared that the half-mile track would rejoin the NASCAR family.
Delaware Speedway became the first Canadian track to hoist the NASCAR banner for its weekly racing program in 2004, but the relationship came to an end following the 2005 season.
With Scherba’s focus and commitment, the track began an unprecedented phase of renovations.
Pit road was completely demolished and new concrete was poured. The frontstretch, which had become a handful for the drivers over the years, has a brand new coat of asphalt. And several fan areas have been improved to add to their enjoyment of the racing action.
“We are very pleased to have Delaware return to the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series,” said George Silbermann, NASCAR Managing Director of Racing Operations. “Canada is home to very passionate NASCAR fans and Delaware is another great example of the exciting short-track racing that is the foundation of NASCAR.”
On the track, the season is still quite young. Ron Sheridan has a win and a slim two-point advantage over Jesse Kennedy, who also earned a victory, in the standings after just two outings, so far. The two Delaware drivers also sit atop the Ontario provincial standings in the latest NASCAR Whelen All-American Series points update.
Drivers from both Delaware and Barrie (Ont.) Speedway will battle all season long for the coveted Ontario provincial championship. National and state, or province, champions in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series are determined by drivers’ highest 18 finishes at NASCAR-sanctioned tracks within a state or province.
Kawartha Speedway's Vic Parsons ... A veteran racer in the truest sense
By Jim Clarke, Kawartha Speedway PR/Clarke Motorsports PR
With young racers getting the lion’s share of the headlines at so many different tracks, it could be easy for the more experienced runners to find themselves lost in the shuffle. Luckily, the on-track performance by some of the veteran drivers means they’ll still get their time in the spotlight.
One look at his resume will tell you that when it comes to driving stock cars, Vic Parsons has been there and done that. During the 1960’s, he made selected starts at invitational events in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. The 69 year-old from Hawkstone, Ontario – who goes by the handle “Quick Vic” – has a background that also includes races in what is now known as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, dating back to the 1972 and 1973 seasons. In that time frame, Parsons participated in 19 NASCAR events, racing against legends like Richard Petty, David Pearson and Bobby Allison and recorded 6 top 10 finishes – including 7th place runs at Bristol Motor Speedway and Darlington Raceway. Fans of the popular ‘Back in the Day’ show on SPEED-TV would likely have heard Parsons’ name mentioned in coverage from those tracks, as well as Martinsville.
Vic Parsons currently competes in the headline Late Model division at Kawartha Speedway. While some drivers may find their skills and performance deteriorate as their years advance, Parsons is just the opposite. While running Kawartha’s Limited Late Model division during the 2008 campaign, the driver of the #1 Jackson’s Toyota/JLS Value-Plus Consulting/Ontario Steel Sales/Moore Packaging/South Barrie Collision/Advantage Door Systems Toyota was in the running for the season point’s title until mechanical gremlins sidelined his efforts on the final night of the season.
“It was great to be still in the fight for the championship right up ‘til the end,” said Parsons. “It just goes to show you that anything can happen. We ran neck and neck with Walters (eventual champion Tom Walters) all year long, so we have nothing to be ashamed of. If anything, it was exciting to see a couple of old guys running so well against the kids.”
Although he stepped away from the sport for about 15 years, Parsons has been a fixture at Kawartha Speedway for the last 6 seasons. During the winter, there were rumours making the rounds that he was ready to hang-up his helmet. When asked what brought him back to the track, his answer is simple.
“We didn’t sell the car over the winter, so we had to come back,” said the short-track legend. ‘Of course, we didn’t advertise it for sale anywhere so that could have made a difference. Sometimes I think there are other things I’d like to do during the race season – then we get to the track on the first night of the year and I quickly learn that all I want to do is race.”
2009 is “Quick Vic’s” first season in Kawartha Speedway’s Late Model division and just for fun; the team is considering putting a yellow stripe (used to indicate a ‘rookie’ racer) on the back bumper of his #1 Toyota. You might need to check his identification to find out, but ‘experience’ could very well be Vic Parsons’ middle name. He started driving racecars at the age of 18 – which seems almost ancient by today’s youthful standards – and still enjoys the competition. Ask where he ran his first ever race and a thoughtful look will come over the wily veteran’s face. He’ll rub his chin, roll his eyes around for a few minutes before saying....’I don’t know’.
He may not remember the site of his first race, but its almost a sure bet that Vic Parsons’ next win will come during the 2009 season at Kawartha Speedway.
Photo attachments: (Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications)
#1). Vic Parsons poses with his #1 Kawartha Speedway late model racer.
#2). ‘Quick Vic’ on the backstretch at Kawartha Speedway.
Ohsweken Speedway: "Canadian Sprint Car Nationals" Preparation In High Gear
For Immediate Release – Ken Pelkie, OHSWEKEN Speedway
"Canadian Sprint Car Nationals" Preparation In High Gear
It seems hard to believe but the fifth edition of the "Canadian Sprint Car Nationals" presented by Arrow Express is scheduled to take place at the Styres family owned three-eight mile clay oval just outside Brantford, Ontario on Saturday, September 19. Ohsweken Speedway has undergone expansive transformation since the inaugural event took place in 2005 when Kenny Jacobs in a Mike Woodring car emerged as the winner. As pre entries open and begin to file in, early indications are encouraging as five regional sanctioning groups have once again cast their support behind the fall "must see" event. The Alberta sprint car scene also expects representation as Gord Kynoch has indicated he has the date circled on his sprint car racing calendar.
And the sponsorship package continues to grow as a recent agreement with Inside Track Motorsport News has offered up a substantial cash award to the highest finishing Canadian in the 30 lap main event Saturday night.
In conjunction with the "Arrow Express РCanadian Sprint Car Nationals" running on September 19, "Village Pizza; Village Caf̩; and Sit-N-Bull Construction" will host "The Night Before the Nationals" on Friday, September 18. The Friday portion of the weekend will feature the fifth running of the "Village Pizza РOhsweken Shootout" along with a pair of 15 lap "A" Main's that will guarantee the winners a position in the Saturday feature starting grid. The Dave MacLeod Memorial "Mr. Sprint Car" Challenge will also be contested with the winner set to collect a cool $1,000 in the elimination style event. Also on the card will be a full program of Mini Stocks, Thunder Stocks and Bombers with a series of sprint heats lined up by a random draw.
The fifth annual "Arrow Express - Canadian Sprint Car Nationals" will retain a one day format that has been so successful since it's inception.. Time trials will once again set the starting line-ups for the heat races with six cars being inverted in each heat. The winners of the heats will transfer directly to the "A" Main and be lined up according to their time trial results in inverted order. Three "B" Mains will then be run and a non-Qualifier "Little Feature" will be utilized to complete the 28 car starting field. In keeping with the initial goal of adding to the purse each year and building the event into the premier sprint car race in the north-east, the "A" Main winner will collect $9,000 for their efforts, up from $5,000 in inaugural event with the final position collecting $650. Again in 2009, all prize money will be paid out in U.S. currency. The Saturday show will see the Mod Lite Championship Tour North join the program this year as the support class.
And to add to the fall extravaganza, the Empire Super Sprints will return on Thursday, September 17 to make up the program that fell to rain on May 29. With many competitors expected over the weekend and the open draw format now used by ESS, the field promises to be the largest of the season for an ESS sanction program.
Don't delay - make your plans now to join us at Ohsweken Speedway on September 17, 18 & 19, 2009 for the "Arrow Express - Canadian Sprint Car Nationals" weekend. Advanced Reserved Seat tickets are now on sale at 1-888-720-7223. Be sure to watch for more race information and sponsorship news as plans are finalized. Log on to the official website of Ohsweken Speedway at www.ohswekenspeedway.com and click on the "Canadian Sprint Car Nationals" ad on the left side of the home page for rules and entry forms.
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
SST Racing Series cancels events at Cayuga Motor Speedway
JUNE 2, 2009: Cancellation of SST - Cayuga Motor Speedway Events
SST Racing Series: With quite a bit of excitement surrounding the SST Modified Series visiting Cayuga Motor Speedway during the 2009 season, we are disappointed to report the cancellation of both modified events. Due to unfortunate complications with the Canadian facility, SST management wishes CMS track president Jerry Santucci the best of luck and still looks forward to visiting the historic motor sport complex in the future.
The SST Racing Series invites friends and fans to visit short track facilities across the region supporting the teams that entertain us week after week. The SST Modified and SST SuperStock Tour schedule can be found on retail counters throughout western NY and on line at www.sstracingseries.com.
From: SST Racing Series // PO Box 203 - Perry, NY 14530 // Track (585) 237-2510 - Office (585) 237-2580 // www.wyomingcountyinternationalspeedway.com
Rick Young's 'Rick at the Races' May 29-31, 2009
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PIC 1 Thunder Car action at Friday nights 'rain free' Capital City Speedway
PIC 2 Dave Riopelle, winner of the thrilling Capital City Speedway Legend Car feature
PIC 3 The pits begin to fill up at Saturdays Brockville Ontario Speedway event.
PIC 4 Danny O'Brien # 7x dices with Mitch Jock # 14 and Ryan Poole # 76at Brockville
PIC 5 Danny O'Brien celebrates his Brockville feature win with 'Tucker'
PIC 6 A 'career first' SPORTSMAN feature win for young Dylan Evoy # 83
PIC 7 to 11 Scenes from the Long Sault Regatta
PIC 12 UK Sprint car driver Roy Thompson (DAVE SMITH PHOTO)
PIC 13 The Reliant Robins were racing at ARENA ESSEX (UK) on Saturday (DAVE SMITH PHOTO)
PIC 14 to 16 Scenes from Vighizzola D'Est (ITALY) (RANDY LEWIS PHOTOS)
- Capital City Speedway
- Brockville Ontario Speedway
- Long Sault Regatta
After many Fridays of finishing work late, I finally got lucky this past weekend and was all done by 2-00pm. It had been raining all of the week and much of Friday was the same until lunchtime when it stopped. Finishing this early gave me time to return home and check on the status of all my local tracks before setting off for the races.
The websites for Autodrome Edelweiss ( Cantley, Que) and the Can Am Speedway (Lafargeville NY) had already got cancellation notices and a phone call to my buddy Mike Watts , the MIR track photographer confirmed the same for Mohawk International Raceway's ( Hogansburg NY) season opener. Hopes were still positive, of getting the show in, at my intended destination of the Capital City Speedway (Ottawa, Ont) so that's where I headed.
Being a paved track, it had the advantage over dirt surfaces by drying quicker. The rain that had fallen in Stittsville earlier in afternoon had now dried out on the asphalt, and providing there was no more to come, we were in business to go racing. Of course the recent diabolical weather and the doubt in peoples minds kept crowd numbers down, but the car count was only slightly effected. Just on cue , as the first heat took to the track the cloudy skies dissapeared and a strange yellow thing appeared on the horizon ( I believe it was called 'the sun')
The Late Models were taking a night off and the Legends took star billing. Their feature turned out to be one of the best races, I've seen anywhere this year. The top three guys, Dave Riopelle, Chad Windsor and Kevin Foisy had a race-long battle up front with Riopelle hanging on to take the checkers.
Saturday was a rain-free day in my area and I was looking forward to visiting the Brockville Ontario Speedway. The weather stayed dry and a good field of Dirt Modifieds and Sportsman lined the pits. Numbers were boosted by the rained-out races at Autodrome Drummond in Quebec. Once again Kingston's Danny O'Brien showed that he's the man to beat after overhauling Todd Stewart and Kyle Dingwall in the Modified feature.
Young Dylan Evoy took the honors in the Sportsman feature, the first in his short career. Even though the night was dry, it was still a bit too chilly for my liking and I'm sure most people welcomed the earlier than normal finish to the program.
My plans to attend the Cornwall Motor Speedway on Sunday evening came to an abrupt halt soon after lunch when my area of the Seaway Valley received another liberal serving of H20. I live ten minutes away from the track and it was no surprise when I heard that the nights races had been canceled. With the decision being made early I had the chance to make other plans. There was plenty of time to get to the Devils Bowl Speedway in Vermont or the Cayuga County Fair Speedway New York, but with the 'iffy' weather everywhere I chose to stay local.
I live in Long Sault, Ontario which lies on the banks of the St Lawrence and this weekend our small town was hosting it's own racing event. Not for auto racing, but for Hydroplanes. The event was taking place at Mille Roches beach just a short drive from my home.
This is one type of event that can't be effected by wet weather ! so I decided to have my first taste of Hydroplane racing. I normally have no interest in any form of racing that doesn't run on wheels, but hey ! 'any port in a storm' as the saying goes.
Five minutes after leaving home, I was on the Long Sault Parkway where Miles Roche Beach is located.
Let me digress for a moment... Mille Roches was one of the 'Lost Villages' of the St Lawrence. The Seaway project in the 1950's, which was a scheme to allow ocean going ships access to the Great Lakes and industrial cities like Chicago and Detroit claimed a whole community. Several villages had to be relocated when the land was purposely dammed and flooded. More about this project and the Lost Villages can be learned at www.lostvillages.ca
Back to the racing !
It was still raining when I arrived at the beach and as I looked out on the water the racing was already taking place. Most of the commentary was in French and I soon discovered that this event involved the same group of racers that compete in the annual Valleyfield (Quebec) Regatta. There were about half a dozen hydroplane's out on a course marked out with buoys. It was a bad day to take photos but in order to get some kind of visual record, I held my camera beneath my umbrella !
After watching this race I wandered in to the 'pits' located further up the shore . There I found two large mobile construction cranes that were used to hoist the boats in and out of the water between races. There were quite a few assembled on the grassy banks which varied in size. I guess they are separated into divisions, much the same as we do in auto racing. I spoke to one guy who told me his was Toyota Corolla powered. This kind of thing was all new to me, but I imagine it's quite an enjoyable pass time on a sunny day.
OTHER STUFF
While we in the North East (Canada and the USA) were bailing out under monsoon conditions, my friends in the UK were basking in a heat wave. My buddy Dave 'Smiffyman' Smith was at the Rolling Thunder Show at Arena Essex this weekend and sent me some photos. One of the pictures shows Roy Thompson one of the UK Sprint Car drivers I met up with during my winter racing tour of Florida. He along with promoter Vince O'Connor were in our 'gang' that shared the Parkway Hotel in Orlando.
Regular readers will know that I'm one of the 'minor- league' players in the world of TRACKCHASING. At the other end of the spectrum, there's Randy Lewis from San Clemente in Southern California (the worlds leading TRACKCHASER) who has visited over 1400 different race tracks. Randy sent me a report this week which grabbed my interest. He recently visited the Vighizzola d'Este Stock Car track in Italy.
After checking out the photos on his website www.ranlayracing.com I could not help having memories of some of the early Dutch racing I've witnessed. Instead of armored up VW beetle's like I saw in the Netherlands and Germany they were Italian Fiat 500's. The racing looks like a lot of fun and I wish I'd know about this track when I lived in Europe. The web site is Www.stockcarcross.it
Unfortunately internet wasn't available back then and the information highway consisted of 'word of mouth' or by reading magazine articles.
I did visit Italy once in the 1980's during a family holiday to Antibes in the South of France. I remember us taking a day trip to Monaco, where I drove our Vauxhall Cavalier around the 'Casino Bend', part of the famous Grand Prix Circuit, before heading off to a nearby Italian beach in the afternoon. If there was one particular race I'd like to visit, it's the Monaco Grand Prix. I keep buying lottery tickets, so who knows one day it might happen!
Subaru Canada's Richard Dominates Rally and Claims Championship Lead
Calgary, AB, JUNE 1, 2009 - Subaru Rally Team Canada driver Patrick Richard led from the start at the Rocky Mountain Rally held this past weekend near Calgary, AB, to claim his first victory of the season and the overall lead in the 2009 Canadian Rally Championship.
Winning all but one of the event's 13 scheduled stages, Squamish, BC based Richard and his co-driver Alan Ockwell, of Toronto, ON, cruised to the win in their Subaru WRX STi with a stunning margin of over six minutes to their nearest competitor, Andrew Comrie-Picard of Toronto, ON.
"This is a great way to rebound after our last event," explained Richard, referring the previous round of the championship where the team had a win snatched from their grasp when they were forced to retire with just two stages remaining. "This puts the team in a great position for the rest of the season."
Richard's victory this weekend puts him and his co-driver at the top of the Canadian Rally Championship overall standings, tied with Antoine L'Estage and Nathalie Richard, both of St-Jean sur Richelieu, QC. For the majority of the event, this Quebec based duo fought hard to keep up with Richard and Ockwell. "With the championship lead on the line, we knew Antoine wanted to win," explained Ockwell. "He kept us honest until he slowed with mechanical problems." L'Estage, driving a Mitsubishi Evo X, was over a minute behind Richard when he eventually failed to finish the event with differential failure.
"The car ran flawlessly and I have to credit both Subaru Canada, all of our associate sponsors Motul Lubricants, Vision-X Lighting, Crawford Performance and ACT, and our Squamish, BC-based Rocket Rally crew,"exclaimed Richard.
Rocket Rally Racing is based in Squamish, BC, Canada and operates the Subaru Rally Team Canada on behalf of Subaru Canada, with associate sponsors Motul Lubricants, Vision-X Lighting, Crawford Performance and ACT providing product support for the 2009 championship campaign. "Everything ran perfectly and I can't wait for the rest of the season." Richard is looking to add the 2009 Canadian Rally Championship title to his CV, and add that to his multiple American, Canadian and North American overall rally championship titles.
All rounds of the Canadian Rally Championship are televised nationally on TSN, TSN2 and RDS, and internationally. For television times, please check your local listings.
More information about the Canadian Rally Championship can be found at the Canadian Association of Rallysport's website http://www.carsrally.ca/.
Photos, videos and more information about the team can be found at the team's website http://www.blogger.com/www.rocketrally.com
Winning all but one of the event's 13 scheduled stages, Squamish, BC based Richard and his co-driver Alan Ockwell, of Toronto, ON, cruised to the win in their Subaru WRX STi with a stunning margin of over six minutes to their nearest competitor, Andrew Comrie-Picard of Toronto, ON.
"This is a great way to rebound after our last event," explained Richard, referring the previous round of the championship where the team had a win snatched from their grasp when they were forced to retire with just two stages remaining. "This puts the team in a great position for the rest of the season."
Richard's victory this weekend puts him and his co-driver at the top of the Canadian Rally Championship overall standings, tied with Antoine L'Estage and Nathalie Richard, both of St-Jean sur Richelieu, QC. For the majority of the event, this Quebec based duo fought hard to keep up with Richard and Ockwell. "With the championship lead on the line, we knew Antoine wanted to win," explained Ockwell. "He kept us honest until he slowed with mechanical problems." L'Estage, driving a Mitsubishi Evo X, was over a minute behind Richard when he eventually failed to finish the event with differential failure.
"The car ran flawlessly and I have to credit both Subaru Canada, all of our associate sponsors Motul Lubricants, Vision-X Lighting, Crawford Performance and ACT, and our Squamish, BC-based Rocket Rally crew,"exclaimed Richard.
Rocket Rally Racing is based in Squamish, BC, Canada and operates the Subaru Rally Team Canada on behalf of Subaru Canada, with associate sponsors Motul Lubricants, Vision-X Lighting, Crawford Performance and ACT providing product support for the 2009 championship campaign. "Everything ran perfectly and I can't wait for the rest of the season." Richard is looking to add the 2009 Canadian Rally Championship title to his CV, and add that to his multiple American, Canadian and North American overall rally championship titles.
All rounds of the Canadian Rally Championship are televised nationally on TSN, TSN2 and RDS, and internationally. For television times, please check your local listings.
More information about the Canadian Rally Championship can be found at the Canadian Association of Rallysport's website http://www.carsrally.ca/.
Photos, videos and more information about the team can be found at the team's website http://www.blogger.com/www.rocketrally.com
Monday, June 01, 2009
TOURING CARS TAME MOTHER NATURE
June 1, 2009 - Shannonville Ontario - Once again the Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship presented by Toyo Tires was the premiere “show” at the Deutscher Automobil Club Trillium Trophy Races at Shannonville Motorsports Park this past weekend. 40 drivers came to strut their stuff and did so in first class fashion.
Lombardi Honda based out of Montreal Quebec brought their two very powerful Honda Civic SIs as did Fix Auto sponsored Eric & Stephen Laporte. The GT Racing squad came fully prepared to make a run for Super Touring Class podium honours with their four-car BMW contingent.
Ontario's own father & son Blanchet Racing two-car team effort and Kars, Ontario Andrew Bearss Dow Honda brought their two Honda Civics hoping to top the Touring Class podium. All of the teams have stepped up to the plate and brought the best of the best in racing hardware. The fans were entertained to some of the hottest & exciting on-track action during Saturdays practice, qualifying and 20-minute heat race in both classes.
The series was very happy to see Andrew Wojteczko back in Super Touring Class action with his Lexus IS300 after he was sidelined in round one with a motor that wasn't up to race condition. Roger Bowes and his Acura Integra from Kingston was back after having to replace a blown engine at Mosport just two short weeks ago and Mont St-Gregoire’s Jocelyn Facteau finally sorted out his Toyota Corrolla electrical gremlins for this weekends race.
Saturdays race was run under sunny cool conditions providing a clean dry track where the competitors could really put the power down on Shannonville’s "Full Track" configuration. From the pole Super Touring Class Wojteczko took a demanding early lead and never really looked back. Try as they may Lombardi Honda’s Nick Wittmer, Jean Francois Dumoulin & Mathieu Audette in his Acura RSX had their work cut out for them and try as they may they never could reel him in. Wittmer finished a distant second place 12 seconds back with Audette 22 seconds behind the leader.
The top five Touring Class drivers diced amongst themselves for the entire 20 minute race as Anthony Rapone piloting his Honda Civic SI held MINI Cooper driver, Alain Lauziere, at bay until Lauziere's clutch malfunctioned sidelining him with only 4 laps to go. Nigel Heron put his Acura Integra in the second spot securing him an outside pole start for Sundays 40-minute feature race. Farther back in the pack the battles were intense as Paris Ontario resident Aldo Lombardi, Roger Bowes & Honda Civic driver Tom Kwok battled for position the entire race. The high level of competition is fierce through the entire field this year have to work hard to get and keep every position they earn. Saturday’s podium results were 1st place going once again to Anthony Rapone, 2nd place Nigel Heron and 16 seconds back for third spot Aldo Lombardi.
Sunday morning the drivers took to the track for a brief 15-minute warm up session to work out any last minute set-up changes for the afternoon 40-minute race. 36 cars made their way to the grid for what was to be a cruel joke by Mother Nature. As the drivers made their way to the front straight of the track for pre race gridding procedures a light rain began to fall that quickly turned to hail then snow followed by freezing rain. Not what the drivers & crews were expecting for an end of May. With the drivers already committed to running their dry "slicks" it was obvious that the race was going to be intense to say the least.
Pole sitter Andrew Wojteczko led the field for the two customary pace laps to the green flag start. Lombardi Honda driver Nick Wittmer jumped to an early lead going into turn one followed closely by with Wojteczko (Lexus), Mathieu Audette (Acura), Jean Francois Dumolin (Honda) and Etienne Borgeat (BMW). Borgeat’s race was cut short on the very first lap as three cars came together just exiting the hairpin. Fast Wheels driver Lee Chaplin and his Hyundai Tiburon, Borgeat were done for the day when both cars experienced heavy crash damage. This incident brought out a 2 lap full course yellow that allowed cleanup crews to remove the damaged cars as 1st place Wojteczko crossed the start/finish line. Wittmer held the lead for the first lap only to be overtaken by Wojteczko exiting the Carousel Corner.
Nigel Krikorian driving his Can Jam/Versace sponsored Subaru WRX STi, 2008 ST Class champion used his all wheel drive to fight his way up from his 9th place starting position to second place overall in 4 short laps after dueling with Audette and Wittmer as the track quickly went from dry to slick. From his 6th place starting position Greg Pootmans had his hands full dealing with Honda driver Gary Kwok and Jean Francois Dumolin for a few laps before securing third place for the balance of the 14 laps.
Vaudreuil, Quebec’s and 2007 Touring Class champion, Alain Lauziere was a man on a mission. After being sidelined after seven laps during Saturdays race with a clutch slave cylinder failure in his MINI Cooper. Being true to his form he came from the back of the 36 car field to not only challenge and pass all 12 Touring Class drivers but to take the lead away from class leading Anthony Rapone with two laps to go. Andrew Bearss (Honda) and Nigel Heron (Acura) diced back and forth for 11 laps when Heron lost control exiting the carousel turn allowing Bearrs to relax a little and secure his third place finish 30 seconds back from class winner Lauziere. Unfortunately for Bearss the third place finish was awarded to Heron after he was penalized one lap for a pass under yellow flag infraction.
Fantastic drives to be noted were from Ottawa driver Alex Healy (Acura RSX) who was battling cooling problems, came from 34th place to finish 11th overall and Nicolas Krikorian (Subaru) from the 38th spot to 18th overall.The teams now have two short weeks to get their cars ready to compete in Round three of the 8 event championship where they will be returning to Mosport International Raceway for the Mosport High Octane Weekend June 13-14 2009.
For further information, check out http://www.touringcar.ca/ for the latest championship news.- -The Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship Presented By Toyo Tires is Canada's Premiere Touring Car Series and features Canada's Best Drivers Racing Today's Hottest Touring Cars. The Championship is showcased at eight event weekends in Quebec and Ontario with marquee events at Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres and Honda Indy Toronto.
For more information on Toyo Tires, please visit http://www.toyotires.ca/. Toyo manufactures and distributes a complete line of replacement tires for high performance cars, luxury vehicles, light trucks and SUVs as well as tires for commercial trucks, buses and off-road and construction applications.
Lombardi Honda based out of Montreal Quebec brought their two very powerful Honda Civic SIs as did Fix Auto sponsored Eric & Stephen Laporte. The GT Racing squad came fully prepared to make a run for Super Touring Class podium honours with their four-car BMW contingent.
Ontario's own father & son Blanchet Racing two-car team effort and Kars, Ontario Andrew Bearss Dow Honda brought their two Honda Civics hoping to top the Touring Class podium. All of the teams have stepped up to the plate and brought the best of the best in racing hardware. The fans were entertained to some of the hottest & exciting on-track action during Saturdays practice, qualifying and 20-minute heat race in both classes.
The series was very happy to see Andrew Wojteczko back in Super Touring Class action with his Lexus IS300 after he was sidelined in round one with a motor that wasn't up to race condition. Roger Bowes and his Acura Integra from Kingston was back after having to replace a blown engine at Mosport just two short weeks ago and Mont St-Gregoire’s Jocelyn Facteau finally sorted out his Toyota Corrolla electrical gremlins for this weekends race.
Saturdays race was run under sunny cool conditions providing a clean dry track where the competitors could really put the power down on Shannonville’s "Full Track" configuration. From the pole Super Touring Class Wojteczko took a demanding early lead and never really looked back. Try as they may Lombardi Honda’s Nick Wittmer, Jean Francois Dumoulin & Mathieu Audette in his Acura RSX had their work cut out for them and try as they may they never could reel him in. Wittmer finished a distant second place 12 seconds back with Audette 22 seconds behind the leader.
The top five Touring Class drivers diced amongst themselves for the entire 20 minute race as Anthony Rapone piloting his Honda Civic SI held MINI Cooper driver, Alain Lauziere, at bay until Lauziere's clutch malfunctioned sidelining him with only 4 laps to go. Nigel Heron put his Acura Integra in the second spot securing him an outside pole start for Sundays 40-minute feature race. Farther back in the pack the battles were intense as Paris Ontario resident Aldo Lombardi, Roger Bowes & Honda Civic driver Tom Kwok battled for position the entire race. The high level of competition is fierce through the entire field this year have to work hard to get and keep every position they earn. Saturday’s podium results were 1st place going once again to Anthony Rapone, 2nd place Nigel Heron and 16 seconds back for third spot Aldo Lombardi.
Sunday morning the drivers took to the track for a brief 15-minute warm up session to work out any last minute set-up changes for the afternoon 40-minute race. 36 cars made their way to the grid for what was to be a cruel joke by Mother Nature. As the drivers made their way to the front straight of the track for pre race gridding procedures a light rain began to fall that quickly turned to hail then snow followed by freezing rain. Not what the drivers & crews were expecting for an end of May. With the drivers already committed to running their dry "slicks" it was obvious that the race was going to be intense to say the least.
Pole sitter Andrew Wojteczko led the field for the two customary pace laps to the green flag start. Lombardi Honda driver Nick Wittmer jumped to an early lead going into turn one followed closely by with Wojteczko (Lexus), Mathieu Audette (Acura), Jean Francois Dumolin (Honda) and Etienne Borgeat (BMW). Borgeat’s race was cut short on the very first lap as three cars came together just exiting the hairpin. Fast Wheels driver Lee Chaplin and his Hyundai Tiburon, Borgeat were done for the day when both cars experienced heavy crash damage. This incident brought out a 2 lap full course yellow that allowed cleanup crews to remove the damaged cars as 1st place Wojteczko crossed the start/finish line. Wittmer held the lead for the first lap only to be overtaken by Wojteczko exiting the Carousel Corner.
Nigel Krikorian driving his Can Jam/Versace sponsored Subaru WRX STi, 2008 ST Class champion used his all wheel drive to fight his way up from his 9th place starting position to second place overall in 4 short laps after dueling with Audette and Wittmer as the track quickly went from dry to slick. From his 6th place starting position Greg Pootmans had his hands full dealing with Honda driver Gary Kwok and Jean Francois Dumolin for a few laps before securing third place for the balance of the 14 laps.
Vaudreuil, Quebec’s and 2007 Touring Class champion, Alain Lauziere was a man on a mission. After being sidelined after seven laps during Saturdays race with a clutch slave cylinder failure in his MINI Cooper. Being true to his form he came from the back of the 36 car field to not only challenge and pass all 12 Touring Class drivers but to take the lead away from class leading Anthony Rapone with two laps to go. Andrew Bearss (Honda) and Nigel Heron (Acura) diced back and forth for 11 laps when Heron lost control exiting the carousel turn allowing Bearrs to relax a little and secure his third place finish 30 seconds back from class winner Lauziere. Unfortunately for Bearss the third place finish was awarded to Heron after he was penalized one lap for a pass under yellow flag infraction.
Fantastic drives to be noted were from Ottawa driver Alex Healy (Acura RSX) who was battling cooling problems, came from 34th place to finish 11th overall and Nicolas Krikorian (Subaru) from the 38th spot to 18th overall.The teams now have two short weeks to get their cars ready to compete in Round three of the 8 event championship where they will be returning to Mosport International Raceway for the Mosport High Octane Weekend June 13-14 2009.
For further information, check out http://www.touringcar.ca/ for the latest championship news.- -The Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship Presented By Toyo Tires is Canada's Premiere Touring Car Series and features Canada's Best Drivers Racing Today's Hottest Touring Cars. The Championship is showcased at eight event weekends in Quebec and Ontario with marquee events at Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres and Honda Indy Toronto.
For more information on Toyo Tires, please visit http://www.toyotires.ca/. Toyo manufactures and distributes a complete line of replacement tires for high performance cars, luxury vehicles, light trucks and SUVs as well as tires for commercial trucks, buses and off-road and construction applications.
NASCAR: J.R. Fitzpatrick Dover (Del.) International Speedway Post-race Report 5.31.2009
J.R. Fitzpatrick: No. 4 Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevrolet Silverado
AAA Insurance 200 Post-Race Report
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race 7 of 25 — Dover (Del.) International Speedway
Fitzpatrick Rallies From Early-Race Spin; Finishes 11th at Dover
DOVER, Del. (May 31, 2009) – J.R. Fitzpatrick was able to overcome an early-race spin and climbed as high as eighth before finishing 11th in the AAA Insurance 200 at Dover (Del.) International Speedway in his first start behind the wheel of the Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) No. 4 Chevrolet Silverado.
“I don’t really know what happened there (on the lap three spin), it just happened so quickly,” said Fitzpatrick. “We came back and were comfortably sitting around the 15th position all day just trying to save our right-front tires because there were so many guys having right-front tire troubles. When it was time to go, we drove up into the top 10 and I was running 10th on that last restart. It was a great experience for me and I brought the truck back in one piece. It’s a little damaged, but it’s in one piece. I guess that’s why they call Dover the ‘Monster Mile.’”
After starting the race from the 16th position, Fitzpatrick spun while exiting turn two on the third lap and made contact with the inside retaining wall, damaging the front and rear fenders on the left side of his No. 4 KHI Chevrolet Silverado. The crew made repairs to the truck on the next two laps and was able to keep Fitzpatrick on the lead lap.
Fitzpatrick was running in the 28th position when NASCAR officials called a competition caution on lap 47. Having taken four tires 10 laps earlier, crew chief John Monsam decided to only take fuel, which put Fitzpatrick inside the top 20. He restarted from the 17th position on lap 51.
When the caution came out just past the half-way point of the race on lap 102 for an accident in turn four involving James Buescher, Monsam called Fitzpatrick down pit road for the crew to give him four tires and take a spring-rubber out the left-rear before taking fuel on the next lap. He restarted 14th on lap 106.
Fitzpatrick found himself inside the top 10 on lap 138 when he restarted from the eighth spot after taking right-side tires and fuel on his next cycle of pit stops after the caution came out for debris on lap 134. After settling into the 13th spot on lap 170, Fitzpatrick was called down pit road for his final pit stop on lap 185 after the caution came out for an accident in turn two involving Kyle Busch and Colin Braun. Again, Fitzpatrick took right-side tires and fuel, putting him in the 10th position for the final restart on lap 190. He held onto the 11th spot on the final lap for his second top-15 finish in his fifth start of the 2009 season.
Brian Scott scored his first-career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory by winning the race. Rounding out the top five were Dennis Setzer, David Starr, Jason White and Johnny Sauter. The series continues next Friday, June 5, at Texas Motor Speedway for the Winstar World 400, with Ricky Carmichael returning to the driver’s seat of the No. 4 Chevrolet Silverado.
Media Contact: Tyler Patterson | Kevin Harvick Inc.
CCTCC: Nick Wittmer now 2nd in Touring standings with Lombardi Honda Racing
JF Dumoulin, a pair of 4th places ... Nick Wittmer now 2nd in CTCC standings with Lombardi Honda Racing
Shannonville, Ontario, June 1st, 2009 – The second double header of the Canadian Touring Car Championship was held this weekend on the twisty Shannonville racetrack near Belleville and Montrealer Nick Wittmer earned a well deserved second place Saturday for the first round and settled for 6th place on Sunday with his new Honda Civic. The 23-year old driver started from third row on the first-round grid and carved his way up to second within a few laps.
He then tried to pass for the lead but ran out of laps. By virtue of the series ruling, he started from the front row for the Sunday round but experienced a power steering problem on the pace lap: he had to muscle his steering for the entire race and finally ended up in sixth overall. Meanwhile, new team-mate Jean-François Dumoulin took Lombardi Honda Racing second entry to a pair of fourth places in his maiden weekend with his new team. After four races, Wittmer now sits in second place in the series standings.
"We knew our cars had a better handling on such a twisty racetrack" commented a smiling Nick Wittmer. "Shannonville is the kind of track that forgives a lack of power and our Civics do rather well for atmospheric engines. I thought I had victory in sight on Sunday but understood my luck had turned when I felt the steering so hard. I was loosing all precision entering a corner and decided to nurse my car to the chequered flag. I think I will retain second place in the standings after the weekend but Lombardi is the best team overall."
"My car was well balanced", added Dumoulin who hails out of Trois-Rivières. "And the crew at Lombardi is so much fun to work with. I think I got the best out of my car with these fourth places and I hope we can improve for the next program at Mosport. This is the kind of track where you can challenge heavier and more powerful cars."
Back to Mosport in two weeks
CTCC series will head back to Mosport on June 13 and 14 for another double header. Lombardi Honda Racing will have again Wittmer (06) and Dumoulin (22) driving its Civics. "I met Jean-François Dumoulin on many occasions in Grand-Am weekends", mentioned Nick. "We get along very well and I must say he is as much fun to work with as my brother Kuno."
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.
For more information : Michel Poirier-Defoy : 514 – 942 – 8463
FW: Delaware Speedway PR: DELAWARE SPEEDWAY GEARING UP FOR THE WEEKEND AHEAD
From John Houghton / Delaware Speedway PR
(DELAWARE, ON) Preparations are well underway at Canada’s Finest Short Track for an exciting weekend of racing. After weeks of renovations at the historic speedway, the track is ready to play host to two great events. First up on Friday, June 5 are the winged Auto-Value Bumper to Bumper Super Sprints. Then, Saturday evening will be highlighted with the historic running of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Delaware 200 presented by Belfor.
Advanced tickets remain available for both events. These tickets have been selling at a rapid pace through the speedway’s new online ticket system. The reserved seating section has already sold out for Saturday’s NASCAR Canadian Tire Series event, but General Admission tickets are still available for both Friday and Saturday’s events. Advanced discount ticket pricing will end on Tuesday at midnight. Children 12 & under are free to all events on the weekend.
Up first on Friday, the American-based Auto-Value Super Sprints are some of the fastest cars to visit Delaware Speedway each season. Billed as “The World’s Fastest Short Track Cars”, these winged warriors always put on an excellent event when they come to Delaware. Hometown favorite Ryan Litt (#07) of Lyons will be looking for redemption after last season where he blew a tire while leading the feature. Also racing on Friday evening are the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series weekly divisions of the Demar Aggregates Trucks and POWERADE Open-Wheel Modifieds. Friday’s event is presented by Auto-Trim Design of London.
Saturday is the main event, marking the inaugural NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race at Delaware Speedway. While the event is the first time the series has raced at the track under the NASCAR banner, the precursor to the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, known then as the CASCAR Super Series, raced at the track continuously from 1986 through 2005. Since that time, many fans have eagerly awaited the Delaware homecoming of the series. Gates on Saturday open at 1:00 pm for practice with time trials for the Delaware Speedway Super Stocks set for 4:30 pm. The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series time trials are at 5:15 pm, 6:00 pm is a special $1,000 to win 50-Lap Delaware Super Stock race. At 7:00 pm there is an autograph session for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series drivers, with the green flag for the Delaware 200 presented by Belfor scheduled for 8:30 pm.
A wide variety of interactive displays and vendors will be on site at Delaware Speedway for the upcoming NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race event. In addition to a first-class race lineup, race fans will enjoy the NASCAR midway and display area. Highlights in the display area include a NASCAR souvenir trailer that includes both NASCAR Canadian Tire Series and popular NASCAR Sprint Cup Series merchandise, a 50-foot by 50-foot NASCAR display area that includes information and interaction from a variety of series supporters, and NASCAR’s Canadian Tire “Fast Track Tour” trailer. Many of the vendors will also be on site for the Auto Value Super Sprint race on Friday June 5th.
There are also two other events occurring during the week leading up to the big races this weekend:
On Wednesday, June 3, the young drivers in the Krown Body Maintenance Junior Racing League (JRL) will have the honour of running the first racing event of the week. The drivers of the Krown JRL will take the green flag in their season opener just after 6:30 pm. A record thirty-six drivers have registered to compete in the 2009 racing season, the largest pre-season registration in Krown JRL history. Admission to the Krown JRL event is $5 for spectators, children 12 and under are free.
On Thursday, June 4, the track is inviting fans to a free pre-race party at Crabby Joe’s in Strathroy from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. NASCAR Canadian Tire Series drivers confirmed to attend include last week’s race winner in Quebec, Dave Whitlock, along with DJ Kennington, Joey Hanssen and Jason Hathaway. Kennington and Hanssen’s cars will be on display. Race fans are welcome to stop by, visit with the drivers, collect autographs and take photos. MyFM Radio (105.7 FM in Strathroy) will also be at Crabby Joe’s for the event. MyFM is also giving away tickets to listeners in the days leading up to the race on June 6th. Crabby Joe’s Strathroy is the sponsor of the newly refurbished Crabby Joe’s Patio at Delaware Speedway. The restaurant is located at 323 Caradoc Street in Strathroy.
Free Camping is available on a first come first served bases for the weekend. The campground will open early in the week and remain open throughout the weekend. The Delaware Speedway campground is located behind the backstretch.
For more information on all the events occurring at Delaware Speedway, fans can visit the track’s webpage www.delawarespeedway.com. A special mini-website has been prepared which holds all the information fans would need for the weekend, including online ticket purchase information.
Rocky Mountain Rally: L'Estage still on top of the Canadian Championship
Calgary (Alberta), June 1st 2009.РQuebec driver Antoine L'Estage and co-driver Nathalie Richard, both of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu (Qu̩bec), participated in this past weekend's Rocky Mountain Rally, the second of six rounds in the 2009 Canadian Rally Championship. Overall leaders after the first rally of the season, the duo was unable to complete Calgary's event due to mechanical problems. Their performance prior to stopping was confirmation of their competitiveness, despite competing on gravel for the first time in the new Rockstar Royal Group Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X.
Often contested in winter-like weather conditions, the 2009 Rocky Mountain Rally was blessed with sunny skies and mid-summer temperatures. Antoine and Nathalie started the rally as first car on the road, forcing them to "sweep" the thin layer of gravel coating the competition roads, much to the advantage of their adversaries. « We knew we would drop some time on the first couple of stages but our Yokohama tires allowed us to excel under these conditions » explains Antoine. « This is also the first time I drove my new Rockstar Royal Group Evo X on gravel and to see that were we mere seconds – or tenths of seconds - off the pace confirms our competitiveness and is reassuring for the future. » he adds.
Under blue skies the following morning, the L'Estage/Richard team closed the gap to within four seconds of eventual winners Pat Richard/Alan Ockwell. Everything came to halt after the fourth stage of the day, during which the team's rear differential broke, causing them to drop a minute off the lead. « Our mechanics attempted repairs during the service break but on the penultimate stage of the rally, we were sidelined in spite of our minute and a half lead ahead of third place. It's disappointing because our objective was to earn valuable championship points but now I leave Calgary tied for the championship lead with Pat. The good news is that I learned a lot about the car and how it handles and I'm really looking forward to the rest of the season. » concludes L'Estage.
Before heading to Rallye Baie-des-Chaleurs later this month, Antoine L'Estage and Nathalie Richard will compete in round 5 of the Rally America series, Pennsylvania's Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally (STPR). L'Estage and Richard won this rally in 2008 and commencing Friday, June 5th, they will attempt to defend that victory amongst a talented field of US and international drivers.
Antoine L'Estage and Nathalie Richard participate in the 2009 Canadian Rally Championship with the proud support of Rockstar Energy Drink, Royal Group, Mitsubishi Canada, Yokohama Tires, Mobil, Energie Cardio, Libra Racing, OMP Racewear, and MBF Racing. For more details on the team or general rally information, please visit the Coyote Rallye Website www.coyoterallye.com.
Source : Coyote Rallye media services (514) 825 - 4332
Indy Lights: Hinchcliffe Holds Sixth with Milwaukee Finish
Toronto, Canada (June 01, 2009) – James Hinchcliffe’s oval education continued at the weekend with the Canadian claiming his best finish to-date in the discipline courtesy of a seventh place finish in Sunday’s sixth round of the 2009 Firestone Indy Lights Series hosted at The Milwaukee Mile, Wisconsin.
As a result the Sam Schmidt Motorsports rookie holds onto his sixth place standing in the title fight having collected 26 more points to add to his season’s tally in Milwaukee. The 22-year-old, already with two podium finishes to his credit this year, bounced back from a disappointing retirement at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway the previous week to put himself back in the mix in IndyCar’s official feeder series.
A solid practice form around the one-mile oval didn’t quite translate come qualifying on Saturday afternoon. The luck of the draw saw the Toronto-native’s name pulled out first to set a qualifying time – a less than ideal scenario but one which had to be dealt with despite the disadvantages of being first on-track.
While ‘Hinch’ ended up with the tenth fastest time from the session, a slight ‘moment’ at Turn 2 effectively ended his crack at a pole-challenging time. Confident that he had a faster car than showed on paper, Sunday’s race start allowed James to move up the order, immediately gaining two spots as the green-flag waived.
An intense battle with his team-mate, and former Indy Lights Champion, Wade Cunningham followed. The pair diced for much of the race with the Kiwi racer edging his Canadian rival to hold his spot. Struggling for grip in the later stages of proceedings, Hinchcliffe wasn’t as fast as he’d have liked but he remained comfortably locked inside the top-ten, taking seventh at the checkered and his best oval finish to-date. Brazil’s Mario Romancini claimed the win after 100-laps ahead of series points leader, America’s J.R. Hildebrand and Colombia’s Sebastian Saavedra.
“It’s good to get a decent oval finish under my belt but we need to start doing better,” stated Hinchcliffe. “The points leaders were all up there in the race which makes it a bit harder to gain ground but hopefully another strong finish in Iowa will get me back into the top-five. I’d like to end this oval stretch with another decent result then we get back to road-course racing which will be a lot of fun, not least as we’re heading to Canada, home turf for me, with races in Toronto and Edmonton!”
Round 7 of the 2009 Firestone Indy Lights Series sees the field head to the Iowa Speedway, Iowa for the fourth straight oval event on Saturday 20th June.
Top-6 Indy Lights Drivers – R6/15: 1st Hildebrand 198pts, 2nd Saavedra (COL) 188pts, 3rd Romancini (BRA) 179pts, 4th Cunningham (NZ) 163pts, 5th Summerton (USA) 162pts, 6th HINCHCLIFFE (CAN) 156pts - www.indycar.com/indylights
ENDS – www.hinchtown.com
Photo Credit – James Hinchcliffe holds sixth overall in the Firestone Indy Lights Standings – Mike Levitt, LAT // For further information or interview requests please contact James Hinchcliffe:
Email: james@jameshinchcliffe.com
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