Castrol Canadian Touring Cars 'land' at Mirabel ICAR

Mirabel, Quebec  - Round four of the Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship presented by Toyo Tires will be held this weekend at the Jacques Villeneuve Mirabel Grand Prix at Circuit ICAR just north of Montreal on the Mirabel Airport facility’s technical 3km tarmac road course. Currently 35+ drivers are slated to be on hand this weekend racing in two extremely competitive car classes.

Watch for hometown favourites, Nick Wittmer & Jean Francois Dumolin driving for Lombardi Honda in the Super Touring Class as well as GT Racing’s Etienne Borgeat and David Bensadoun in their extremely competitive BMW’s. Local Touring Class stars include Alain Lauziere in his potent Octane Motorsports MINI Cooper & Verdun native Nigel Heron in his Acura Integra. Although they may be local favourites to win, the large contingent of Ontario based drivers such as Andre Rapone, Scott Nicol, Frank Blanchet and Steve Greiner will be doing their best to bring championship podiums back home with them.

Canada's Best Racers Racing Today's Hottest Touring Cars will be going door to door in what fans can expect to be some of the season hottest action. Brands being showcased by the competitors this weekend include Acura, BMW, Saab, Nissan, Honda, Hyundai, Chevrolet, Mazda, Toyota and Subaru.

The CCTCC will be the feature race series this weekend with a full 30-minute practice session, a 30-minute qualifying session and a thrilling 30-minute race on Saturday as well as a 20 minute warm up and capping off the weekend with a 30 minute feature race on Sunday.

Tickets for this exciting event are available at http://www.circuiticar.com.

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 will marquee events at Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres and Honda Indy Toronto.

For further information check out www.touringcar.ca for the latest championship news.

For more information on Toyo Tires, please visit 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.

From Perry Iannuzzi  / Communications Director  / www.touringcar.ca

Ohsweken Speedway: Grand River Electronics and BS&B Radiator present Friday Night Thunder on June 26

By Tommy Goudge (June 25, 2009) – An action-packed night of racing with something for everyone takes to the track this week at Ohsweken Speedway when Grand River Electronics and BS&B Radiator present the seventh round of Friday Night Thunder on June 26.  The ESSO Thunder Stocks take centre stage as they will contest twin fifteen lap features, while the Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Cars return to Friday Night Thunder after a rare Thursday appearance last week.  The ESSO Mini Stocks and Bombers complete the regular racing card, but the fun doesn’t stop there…Also featured on Friday night are the popular kids Box Car Races, plus a Mini-Van Figure Eight race and Demolition Derby!

The Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Cars get back to action with Tom Huppunen of Fenwick, Ontario still the driver to beat.  Huppunen again came out the winner in a dramatic race to the finish last Thursday night, passing Glenn Styres in the last corner of the last lap for his third Corr/Pak division victory of the season.   Huppunen, Styres, and other favourites such as Jared Zimbardi, Mikey Kruchka, Kevin Job, and many more will be in action this Friday night as the sprint car stars get one final tune-up before the second annual Northern Summer 360 Nationals, coming up Friday, July 3.

The ESSO Thunder Stocks division has been exciting and competitive all season, with only one repeat winner in five nights thus far.  Billy Bleich, Jr. became the fourth different feature winner in the division already this season after out-dueling Shayne Pierce for the feature win last Friday night.  Bleich and Pierce are just two of many drivers expected in action on Friday night as the division contests the annual twin features night.  Bleich was the star of last season’s edition of the double feature night, as he passed a combined thirty-seven cars in the two races, claiming a second place and a feature win after starting twenty-third and eighteenth, respectively.  Jamie Cox and Brad Herron both had strong runs in last year’s event, and are consistent front-runners again who have both claimed feature wins this season.

In ESSO Mini-Stocks competition, everybody is chasing Mitchell Brown, who claimed his fourth feature win of the season in dominating fashion last Friday.  Kevin Hilborn, defending division champion Abel Castelein, and Ethan Martin are just a few of the drivers looking to keep Brown out of victory lane this week.

The racers in the Bomber division are never sure what is in store for them, and that was proved again last week as the division ran their feature race clockwise around the infield oval for the first time this season.  Despite the change, Jesse McDonald was still able to claim feature win honours, while Karl Sault and Dale Cooke will try for feature wins of their own on Friday.

The first edition of Box Car Races were held at Ohsweken last year in what was a favourite moment of the season for many fans.  The popular event returns for the first of three editions on Friday night, as kids ages six to twelve and their creatively designed “Box Car Racers” take to the track.  Also hitting the track on Friday night are Mini-Van Figure Eight races and – if there are any vans left running after that wild event – a demolition derby!

Advanced reserved seat tickets for the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars “Six Nations Showdown” 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! 

Friday Night Thunder resumes on Friday, June 19 when Grand River Electronics and BS&B Radiator present Twin 15’s for the ESSO Thunder Stocks, plus the return of the Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Cars, ESSO Mini-Stocks, Bombers, Kids Box Car races, Mini-Van Figure 8 Racing, and a Demolition Derby! Friday Night Thunder at Ohsweken Speedway offers affordable family entertainment just a short drive away from most mid-western Ontario locations. Friday Night Thunder Adult General Admission is just $10, while Seniors and Students are $8, and kids 12 and under are FREE! Please visit www.OhswekenSpeedway.com for more information. On Friday night, gates open at 6:00p.m., with the first race at 7:45p.m.

Pinecrest Speedway / Speedway Park Reunion: Historic cars on display July 11 at the Pinecrest Restaurant

From Dave Boon

The Pinecrest Speedway / Speedway Park reunion, scheduled for 12 noon Saturday, July 11 at the racer-friendly Pinecrest Restaurant (2661 Highway 7 in Concord, Ontario) will have on display the legendary and faithfully restored Lloyd Shaw #3, brought to the reunion from Dunnville, Ontario by John Smith and Daryl Bray.

This historic dirt track sprint car was built circa 1952 by Hall Of Fame and pre-war and post war stock car and sprint car veteran Lloyd Shaw. The #3 was raced on the Speedway Park 1/2 mile dirt oval by him and other top drivers of the era, including as Ted Race.

For info on this event, contact Dave Boon at daveboon@rogers.com

FW: Merrittville Speedway Press Release

Thorold, Ontario (June 25) Merrittville Speedway invites its fans to get involved in many aspects of the Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series!

The Enduro Qualifiers for example … the next one goes June 27th … now is the time to start on your car for August 8th and then the 100 in September. If the on track stuff isn’t for you however – you can still start a race.

Be picked as Merrittville Speedway’s Grand Marshall for the Toolneeds presentation of the Trevor Wilkens Memorial when the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series comes to town – Monday August 3rd.

All you have to do is say ‘Gentleman Start Your Engines’ and the 30 car starting field of Big Block Modifieds will be unleashed for 100 thrilling laps of heart-pounding, high-powered, pedal-mashing entertainment.

It will all start next weekend when RK Shaver Chartered Accountants and presents the 5 division Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Program and the rain-delayed Seaway Hose & Hydraulics Autograph Night.

The first event of July is a presentation of the Chartered Accountancy firm of R.K. Shaver, which is located at 1 Church Street in St. Catharines.

Specializing in providing professional Tax advice and planning for small business and individuals. In addition to Personal and corporate Income Tax, they can provide Financial Planning, Cash Flows and Projections, Tax Planning, Estates and Trusts, Computer Consulting and Accounting and Auditing Services.

R,K, Shaver professionals can be reached at 905-641-0846 or on line at www.rkshaver.com.

All through-out July, Merrittville Speedway will conduct a search for the next Grand Marshall and the entry rules are pretty simple.

There’s no singing or dancing required and you don’t get shipped off to some remote tropical island or anything like you see on TV – all you have to do is fill out a ballot that you will get at the Grandstand Ticket Office with your admission ticket and put your completed ballot in the bin located at the Novelty Trailer.

A second chance will be available to enter Saturday July 11th when Modern Corporation presents it’s Truck Show and Shine.

Lucas Oil and the Merrittville Speedway Reunion Committee present the 50 lap Jerry Winger Memorial for the 358 Modifieds in addition to the L. St. Amand Enterprises Wall of Fame Inductions Saturday July 18th with another chance to fill out your ballots.

One last time to enter your ballots is Saturday July 25th when Hingston Metal Fabricators presents a Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Program featuring the rain-delayed Lucas Oil Shoot Out by dirttrackdigest.com for the Sportsman.

On the 25th – one name and one name only will be picked via a draw for a Dream Package that includes – 2 Tickets to the Toolneeds Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series 100 lap Trevor Wilkens Memorial Monday August 3rd and 2 tickets to the best deal on Dirt – the Club Castropignano Pasta Dinner served up prior to race time behind the Turn 1 Grandstands.

And it doesn’t stop there – after dinner – Merrittville Speedway’s Grand Marshall will be outfitted in a Lucas Oil Official Shirt for the night to get ready for the race night to come.

The Grand Marshall will assist in the front stretch activities including the draws for both the Hoosier Stock Duel on the Dirt Event as well as the Big Block Redraw.

When the field is set and the capacity crowd is on the edge of their seats anticipating the 100 lap Main Event – it will be the Merrittville Speedway Grand Marshall that releases every race fan’s favorite words – GENTLEMEN START YOUR ENGINES!

Throughout the night, the Grand Marshall will also assist in Victory Lane Ceremonies and will be provided photos of the experience.

Show Time July 4th is 7:00 PM with the grandstand gates opening at 5:30.

STOCKS: Centre For Speed hosts 'Double Header' stock car racing event on June 28

The Centre for Speed (CFS) is set to host a 200-lap 'Double Header' stock car racing event this Sunday afternoon with the first Maritime Super Series for Sportsman 100 event of the season as well as the Schneiders Mini Stock 50 as part of the rescheduled PEPSI School's Out Celebration.

(Shediac, N.B.)  -- The Centre for Speed, Atlantic Canada’s Super Speedway and “Metro Moncton’s Playground of Power”, will host a ‘double header’ event with 200 feature laps of stock car racing action on June 28 at 2:00 p.m. with the rescheduled Pepsi Maritime Super Series for Sportsman 100 along with the Schneiders Mini Stock 50.

As a result of last weekend’s rain cancellation, the CFS has rescheduled the first Maritime Super Series for Sportsman 100 of the 2009 season, featuring top Sportsman drivers from throughout New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, in addition to this weekend’s scheduled Schneiders Mini Stock 50 along with regular South East Challenge Series points racing in Streetstock and Four Fun divisions.

All school-aged children who are accompanied by an adult will be admitted FREE of charge to this Sunday’s action packed stock-car racing program featuring 200 laps of feature action on top of the various heats and semifinals for all divisions. Front gates and grandstand will open at 1:00 p.m. while pit gates will open at 10:30 a.m.

A number of prizes will awarded during Sunday’s event to children and fathers in attendance as part of the ‘School Out’ and Fathers’ Day celebrations, as well as a special ‘Red Fisher Go Till Ya Blow’ burnout event during the intermission.

During the first stock car racing event of the season on June 14, a total of 47 competitors were on hand for the first event of the South East Challenge Series, a partnership between the CFS and Riverglade Speedway where drivers in all four regular divisions of Sportsman, Street Stock, Mini Stocks and Four Fun race cars will compete at both tracks for the overall 2009 points championships in their respective divisions.

This action packed ‘double header’ event gets underway on Sunday, June 28th at 2:00 p.m. with admission of $15 for adults and FREE admission for school-aged children.

Full schedule details are available at www.centreforspeed.com.

About CFS: The CENTRE for Speed, built in 1996, is home to the Atlantic region’s largest and fastest paved 3/8 of a mile stock car oval as its centerpiece. The CENTRE overlooks the Northumberland Strait and is located 5 kilometers east of Shediac’s Parlee Beach on Route #133 in the village of Grand Barachois.

From Tim Wile and Richard Gauther / CENTRE for Speed (CFS)

Globe & Mail: Jeff Pappone on F1 and Montreal

Jeff Pappone has a piece in today's Globe & Mail on how Montreal could be the winner in the internal dispute that threatened to split F1.

Click here to see the full story.

F1: Max Mosley won't stand for re-election

In a move aimed to avoid the break-up of Formula 1, FIA President Max Mosley announced he will not stand for re-election.

PitPass.com has the story here.

Thumbs up for MOPAR.ca

MOPAR Canada's mainpage is highlighting NASCAR Canadian Tire Series points leader Ron Beauchamp Jr.

Nice to see when a company involved in Canadian racing promotes their involvement in the sport.

NHRA/IHRA Driver Dale Creasy Jr. returns from injury

300 mph Medicine: Dale Creasy Jr. ready to put accident behind him and return to track

It is often said that laughter is the best form of medicine.

That isn’t necessarily the case for Dale Creasy Jr.

Instead, Creasy prefers the smell of nitro and the rush of 300 miles per hour in less than five seconds as his medicine – and so far it is working wonders for the 50-year-old Nitro Funny Car driver from Beecher, Illinois.

Having sat out the past year with a broken leg and multiple fractures in the lower portion of his body, Creasy is ready to put the accident that resulted in over a dozen surgeries and the loss of a potential championship season behind him and return to the track where it all happened later this month – Castrol Raceway in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

“The hairs are standing up on my arm just thinking about it. I am so ready to get back in that car and hit the gas,” Creasy said. “It is going to be a little nerve-racking, but after that many laps you don’t forget.”

Creasy will actually make his return to drag racing this weekend at the IHRA Nitro Nationals at Rocky Mountain Raceways in Salt Lake City, but it is his return to Castrol Raceway in a little over two weeks that has everyone talking.

“I look forward to getting this off my back. That track got me and I know it is not the tracks fault, it is nobody's fault really, I just have to get back out there so I can tell the track I win,” Creasy said.

And for Creasy, getting back in a racecar and returning to the track where it all went down was all the motivation he needed to fight through the pain and the surgeries of the past year.

“That was the driving force because it was one of those things where you can’t let it beat you,” Creasy said. “You have to get back out there and you have to try it and see what happens. It may take a while to get used to the routine again because I haven’t done it in so long, but you don’t forget.”

Creasy, a two-time IHRA world champion in Nitro Funny Car was well on his way to his third straight title when the accident occurred during the fifth race of the 2008 Nitro Jam season at Castrol Raceway in Canada.

Creasy had just completed a semifinal run against Grant Downing when the transmission broke off of the bell housing and began spinning around inside the car, hitting Creasy in the leg nearly two dozen times.

“It began pulling the right leg over to the left side and started pulling it under the transmission,” Creasy said. “I didn’t know it was that bad because I couldn’t see with my helmet on. It took everything out of the cockpit. Every part, wire, cable and hose – everything was twisted around.”

By the time the car came to a stop Creasy was left with a crushed tibia, broken ankle and broken big toe on his left leg and multiple fractures in his right leg.

“I have never even heard of anything like this happening before,” Creasy recalled. “I have heard of the thing breaking and people getting hurt, but nowhere near this extreme.”

Following the accident Creasy had to undergo over a dozen surgeries and has spent countless hours learning to walk and reuse his left leg. And while he still has trouble walking and has a ways to go before he is fully recovered, Creasy said he is more than ready to get back in a racecar and continues to use that as motivation to keep fighting through any obstacles that comes his way.

“I just go through my routine every morning that I got from rehab and just keep working these legs,” Creasy said. “It is going to take a while to get back to where I was, but it is getting better. I can get in the car and I can push the clutch down. It seems the biggest problem I have is just walking, but I am ready.

“I got in it and warmed it up the other day and it all started coming back to me. I know I haven’t done it in a while and it will take some time to catch up, but I can’t wait. I think it will be a blast.”

Creasy will make his very first competitive pass of 2009 against the man who stole the title from him last season, 2008 NFC champ Terry Haddock. The two will face off at the first-ever Nitro Nationals at Rocky Mountain Raceways in Salt Lake City this weekend.

Immediately following this weekend’s event, the two Nitro Funny Car competitors will continue their grudge match as they head north for another showdown at the River Cree Resort and Casino Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by Paradise RV July 3-5 at Castrol Raceway.

While Creasy admits that the trip back to Edmonton will be a bit nerve-racking, he has plans to give the track a proper salute following his first pass of the weekend.

“I told my brother that we are going to make a run in the same lane that got us and then I am going to get out and give that lane the bird. I want the track to know that I win,” Creasy said with a laugh.

While the IHRA was very disappointed to have to cut Nitro Funny Cars from the fulltime schedule in 2009, the sanctioning body is very pleased to welcome Creasy back to competition at its next two national events.

“This is truly one of the best ‘feel good’ stories in the history of the IHRA,” said IHRA President Aaron Polburn. “Dale is the poster child for never give up. The cars performance is secondary.

“Dale’s performance over the past year has been an inspiration to all of us. I can not wait to see him behind the wheel again.”

Now all that is left is for Creasy to shake off the cobwebs and jump back into the sport which has provided him the strength to get through the past few excruciating months.

“We have all the protective gear and the car is as safe as it can possibly be,” Creasy said. “I am not worried about it, we just have to get a few things sorted out and once we get those things worked out we will be fine.

“This is something that less than 50 people in the world get to do and I truly feel lucky to be a part of that group. It is a feeling that is hard to explain, but I will tell you, it doesn’t get any better than this.”

From Larry Crum / IHRA - Feld Motor Sports

Kawartha Speedway: Bryan Mercer gets by with a little help from his friends

By Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications

Rubbing is racing.

It was one of the best known lines from the movie ‘Days of Thunder.’

Bryan Mercer has seen enough rubbing over the last 2 events to last an entire season.  The veteran racer – who competes in the NAPA Auto Parts Late Model division at Kawartha Speedway – brought out a newly designed, bright red Chevrolet Monte Carlo at the start of the season and since then, nearly every corner of the car has sustained some sort of damage.

“It's just part of the game,” said the Port Hope, Ontario driver.  “We’re all racing hard out there and everyone is trying to gain a position or 2, whether it’s in a heat race, the semi feature or main event.  Sometimes, we try to stick the car in a hole that isn’t really there – or sometimes, a spot we think is there can close up in a hurry.”

The evening didn’t get off to a bad start for the driver of the #81 Sine’s Flooring/Quantrill Chevrolet-Cadillac machine.  From a starting spot of 9th in the night’s second qualifying heat, his 5th place run put him into the semi-feature.  That was where Bryan Mercer’s promising night turned bad.  Nick Sinopoli and Ryan Kimball came together in the middle of turns 3 and 4 and left Mercer with no place to go.  His car was then hit by the #8 of Mike Sinopoli and forced into the #7 car, resulting in some serious right-side damage.

“I guess we were the meat in the sandwich,” observed Mercer while the crew started repairs.  “It’s a real shame because the car worked really well during the qualifying heat and I was hopeful for a strong finish in the 100 lapper.  We’ll just have to lick our wounds and hope for the best.”

Bryan Mercer’s crew attacked the damaged racer and received help from some expected sources.  Dan McHattie, the current point leader in the late model division pitched-in and helped the team remove the crumpled front fender and hammer it back into shape.  When it was noticed the contact had also damaged a spindle, a bystander who’d been watching the repairs mentioned that he had one in his trunk, then rushed-off to retrieve the needed part.

“That’s what makes racers such wonderful people,” said Mercer.  Guys like McHattie will battle you with all they’ve got on the track – but they’ll be first in line to help when things go wrong.  My guys would be over there in a heartbeat too – no matter who it was that needed a hand.  It’s a brotherhood and none of us have a problem helping each other.”

Mercer took the green flag for the 100 lap main event from the outside of the front row.  Even though he was hoping for the best, he knew it might be some tough sledding.  The #81 ran with the leaders for the first portion of the race, but when the car developed a vibration, Bryan Mercer started racing with his head instead of his right foot.  Dropping back through the pack, but keeping the car on the track seemed like a better idea than fighting an ill-handling machine.  He was able to stay on the lead lap until the late stages of the event, but bringing a battered and bruised Chevy across the line with a top 10 finish is nothing to be ashamed of.

“We’ll spend some extra hours in the shop this week,” said Mercer.  There’ll be more pieces to straighten and parts to check over before the next race.  It’s a long season and we have to tell ourselves to stay focused on the big picture.”

Photo attachments:  (Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications)
#1).  Bryan Mercer shows his strength during the NAPA Auto Parts Late Model qualifying heat at Kawartha Speedway.
#2).  A 4 car crash in turns 3 and 4 during the June 19th semi feature at Kawartha Speedway will mean some extra hours in the shop for Bryan Mercer’s team.

Kawartha Speedway: Brandon Watson charges to his second 2009 victory

By Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications

He’s a very quiet young man – until you get him behind the wheel of a racecar.  At just 16 years of age, Brandon Watson is talking loud and drawing a crowd in Kawartha Speedway’s NAPA Auto Parts Late Model division.  The Fraserville, Ontario raceway hosted a 100 lap invitational event for their headline class Friday, June 19th and even though the deck may have been stacked against him, the talented teen from Stayner, Ontario managed to record his second consecutive win.

After winning the night’s first qualifying heat from an outside front row starting spot, the 10th grader at Stayner Collegiate advanced to the semi feature where he’d not only gain some extra track time, but also earn valuable points in the championship chase.  Starting 9th in the ‘semi’ allowed the young hot-shoe to miss a 4 car wreck in turns 3 and 4.  Watson and Dan McHattie each arrived on the scene late and managed to slow-down in time to avoid the mishap.  He finished 5th in the semi feature and gave the crew some much needed feedback following the extra session.

“We’ve noticed that the car changes as the night goes on,” said Watson’s father, car owner and crew chief, Tim.  “For someone his age, Brandon gives us some excellent information where set-up is concerned.  The things he told us after the heat race gave us some ideas and we adjusted air pressure to give the car a bit different feel.  There were more changes before the feature too – but they were a bit of a gamble because the 100 lap distance is a long run to know what the car will need.”

The feature event took the green flag with Tom Walters and Bryan Mercer on the front row, but ran just 1 lap before the yellow flag was displayed for a front-stretch wreck involving John Bryan and Rino Martenari.  On the re-start, both Dan McHattie and Brandon Watson started to march to the front.  The duo seemed to be following each other.  Watson took the #9 McColl Racing Enterprises-Shear Metal Products-Ken MacKinnon Construction-Plumtech Plumbing-W.

Gethons Pumping-Simcoe Building Centre-LaFarge Concrete-Clearview Custom and Collision-AKN Automotive-Torbram Electric Supply Chevrolet into the lead with less than 40 laps in the books, but surrendered the top spot to McHattie just 3 laps later.  With 50 complete, the top 5 was McHattie, Watson, Chris Morrow, Walters and Dwight Brown.

When the crossed-flags – signifying the race’s halfway point – were displayed, it was like someone lit a fuse under Brandon Watson.  The youngster set his Chevy on ‘kill’ and ran the second stage of the event with his right foot firmly planted to the firewall.  His yellow, red and blue rocket sliced its way through traffic like a hot knife through butter.

Using the high line on one lap – and the low line the next, he not only gained track position – he put some serious distance between himself and rival Dan McHattie.  At the checkered flag, Watson had a 12 car length advantage over the #71 machine.  Chris Morrow, Tom Walters and Dwight Brown completed the top 5.

“I really couldn’t think about things too much,” said Watson in victory lane.  “When Dan McHattie is running second, you need to do everything you can to put some space between the 2 cars.  The lapped cars were racing for spots too, so you have to figure out where you’ll catch them and do your best to work your way past.”

Showing he’s still just a kid at heart, Brandon Watson finished his victory lane interview by thanking the fans, his sponsors, crew, family members...and his dog.

Photo attachments:  (Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications)
#1).  Brandon Watson gets in some track time at Kawartha Speedway.
#2).  The kid is hot!  16 year-old Brandon Watson picked-up another qualifying event victory in the NAPA Auto Parts Late Model division at Kawartha Speedway.

Rick Young's 'Rick at the Races' June 19-21, 2009

PIC 1 to 4  The WoO teams take time out at the Irving TruckStop in Cornwall , Ont
PIC  5   Randy Gaudet, the Dirt Sportsman winner at the Brockville Ontario Speedway
PIC  6   LtoR , Danny (second) , Pat (winner) and Tim O'Brien (third) at the BOS
PIC  7  Cornwall promoter Ron Morin and Brian Carter of the World Racing Group
PIC  8  Josh Richards in action at Cornwall
PIC 9  LtoR, WoO Late Model drivers Shane Clanton,Tim McCreadie,Steve Francis, Josh  Richards at Cornwall
PIC 10  LtoR First three in the WoO at Cornwall, Tim McCreadie, Josh Richards, Darrell Lanigan
PIC 11  SPEEDSTER winner at Cornwall, Dominic Beaulac
PIC 12  358 Dirt Modified winner at Cornwall, Joel Doiron.

From Rick Young... www.rickattheraces.com

- 19 June   The Irving Truck Stop (HWY 401. Cornwall, Ont)
- 20  June   Brockville Ontario Speedway
- 21  June  Cornwall Motor Speedway (Ont)  WORLD OF OUTLAW LATE MODELS

Another hectic weekend has just passed and there's still no sign of things slowing up for me. Last October I sold my house in Maxville, Ontario and moved to nearby Long Sault. I didn't want to buy another place straight away so since then I've been living in rented accommodation. Now, more than six months later with bank interest rates at an all time low and plenty of property bargains to be had, I've been looking around for a new pad.

Last week I put an offer in for a place in Cornwall (Ont) so between races and work, I've been doing a lot of chasing around. Work commitments and stuff connected to the house purchase, put a stop to any Friday night racing, but I did find time to attend the Brockville Ontario Speedway on Saturday and Sundays WORLD OF OUTLAW Late Model Show at the Cornwall Motor Speedway.

After finishing work on Friday evening, I got an added bonus, that race fans can only dream about. I'm sure just about everyone in Canada, with the slightest bit of auto racing knowledge will be aware, that the WORLD OF OUTLAWS Late Models have been on their Great Northern Tour of Ontario, Quebec and up-state New York.

On Thursday night they raced at the Oshweken Speedway in South Western Ontario before their Saturday night date, some eight hours away at the Autdorome Drummond in Quebec. On my way home from work on Friday night I was passing the Irving Truck Stop on Hwy 401 in Cornwall , when I spotted something different. Not a bunch of regular transport trucks but a parking lot full of fancy race haulers.

The WORLD OF OUTLAWS 'traveling road show' had chosen this spot to do their repairs and bide their time until the Montreal rush hour was over. More than half of the large parking lot was taken up with 14 race teams and the place was a hive of activity. I pulled in with my car, and as usual I had my camera ready for action.

After spending more of my time on Saturday with the proposed house purchase I set off after lunch for a regular weekly show at Brockville, but not before checking out the internet. It was an overcast day in Eastern Ontario and rain had been forecast throughout the North East. By mid afternoon, already most of the racing north of New York City had been canceled, including the Outlaw show at Drummondville. Brockville was still on, so that's where I was bound.

On arrival a big black cloud was on the horizon which looked very threatening. It seamed to get closer as the night went on, but luckily it never reached us. Considering the gloomy weather forecast, the turn out was good for both fans and race cars.

Randy Gaudet clinched the Dirt Sportsman feature, in another typical multi-caution race for this division.

The Modified feature produced a result, which I doubt I will see again. All three O'Brien brothers of Kingston (Ont) were in this one, and they all followed each other across the line to take checkers. It also happened in age order with Pat # 6 the oldest as winner, Danny 7x in second then kid brother Tim # 88 in third. We managed to get them all down to the start line for a historic Victory Lane photo.

I later found out that only Brockville and one other track in the North East, survived Saturdays wet weather. The other was the Airborne Speedway at Plattsburgh. NY

On Sunday, I had a well needed 'lay in' before my early start at the Cornwall Motor Speedway. With it being the biggest show of the year the gates were opened at 3-30 pm so staff needed to be there earlier. I like to get there soon after lunch most weeks, I then find a place to relax until the racing starts.

A big race of this stature meant some important guests were present. It was a pleasure to meet up again with Kevin Kovac , head of media for WoO Late Models and Brian Carter World Racing Group director, CEO & CFO

Thirty Late Model teams filled the pits, along with a good quantity of weekly 358 Dirt Modifieds and the visiting REVSTAR 'Tobias' Speedsters

There was drama during the Late Model heats when Jordon Bland 12b of Ohio did a wild flip in the first turn. His car landed flat on it's roof and the race came under red flag conditions while he was extricated. He was then taken to the local hospital for a check up and X-Rays.

As the field began to line up for the 50 lap Feature we heard word from the hospital that Bland was OK and he wanted to get back to the track as quickly as possible to take up his guaranteed spot on the grid. Meanwhile his back up car was being unloaded from the hauler.

He made it in the nick of time and took his place on the grid. After the traditional four-wide rolling lap the big one got under way with last years winner, Josh Richards of West Virginia setting the pace with local hero Tim McCreadie of Watertown NY  in hot pursuit. Crowd favorite, McCreadie, making his return to the track following injuries sustained at the Chilli Bowl last winter, just couldn't catch the 'Kid' Rocket. Richards must enjoy his visits to Canada, not only was this his second Cornwall victory, he also took the checkers at Oshweken too. Worthy of note was the sixteenth placing of the earlier hospitalized Jordan Bland.

The Revstar Tobias Speedster race was won by Dominic Beaulac and Joel Doiron took the 358 Modified Feature.

Finally, I must add that, just on cue, during the intermission my cel phone rang. It was my real estate agent, calling me to say my house offer had been accepted. If things go to plan, I should be living in the city of Cornwall before the end of August.

Canadian rally: Mitsubishi Brigade goes back to work at the Baie des Chaleurs rally

Toronto (June 24th, 2009) – The Canadian Rally Championship is moving back east to the Gaspe Peninsula for the Rallye Baie des Chaleurs, this coming weekend and Mitsubishi will have no less than nine teams entered looking for a second victory this season and a third podium finish. Winners of the first event in February, Antoine L’Estage and codriver Nathalie Richard from St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, will be first on the road Friday evening in their 2009 Lancer Evolution while Torontonian Andrew Comrie-Picard in a similar car will be third in a very impressive 48-car starting grid. 

Supporting the two tenors that will vie for an outright win, the Boisvert Mitsubishi Synchro team from Blainville will have four Evolution Lancers entered with four members of the Losier family driving: defending Cup champion Simon and father Rejean in their familiar Evolution 8RS, Martin and rookie Maxime in similar EVO 5 models.

Meanwhile, Jan and Jody Zedril from Winnipeg will try to take sole possession in the Group 2 category. Phil Deans and codriver Carmel Burke from Kingston are leading the Production Sport category and looking for a second class win. Finally, Michel Labramboise from Picton will be the first lady to campaign for the Mitsubishi Cup in 2009. She will start 47th.

"We know all the crews have been working over time to get their cars ready for what seems to be the toughest event of the year”, said Koji Soga, President and CEO of Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada. “We have two teams among the top three in the country and this round could be a turning point in the season.”

Event profile: Baie des Chaleurs Rally

The 32nd edition of the Rallye Baie des Chaleurs will head for the forest roads from the New-Richmond sport complex on Friday night. Thousands of spectators and fans will line up for two days to see the cars drift by. After a few speed tests on Friday night, cars will spend the night in New-Richmond and the event will resume Saturday morning at 9:00 AM until 5:30 PM for the podium ceremony. Of the 400 kilometre total distance, more than 190 will be speed stages. For more information, please visit the event web site at www.rallyebdc.com or visit our password free media website at www.mitsubishi-motors-pr.ca.

From Susan Elliott

Cordeiro report; Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup @ Mid-Ohio course

It was a picture perfect weekend. The rain fully disappeared and it was bright, sunny and clear.

Qualifying wasn't as great as the weather. I was unable to accomplish the qualifying position that I was hunting for. During qualifying I focused on keeping a good gap between myself and the next character, hoping that, eventually I would suck up to his bumper down the straight and knock off a bunch of time. No dice. I was one second off the pace and qualified 12th position. Total bummer!

What was done could not be changed so I focused on my race and practiced in my head a thousand times at the start of the race. I would not repeat what had happened to me in Utah and this time I was ready. Red lights... GREEN! I went out of the hole like Donovan Bailey! Passing four cars at the start put me into 8th position.

Eventually earning my way up to 6th position I was struck in turn 2 while making a pass for 5th by an eager 8th place runner. Total chaos. Just about landed on my roof but somehow managed to keep it together and on track. Back up to 9th position. I was pissed and on a mission. Adrenaline took over. I was strategically picking them off one by one and quickly climbed back on top.

If you fall, pick yourself up and try again. When you put your heart into it, you will succeed. My 4th place finish was well earned. For me, I felt complete gratification. The stars finally aligned and I was able to achieve my top 5 finish. I felt like I won the race! In my heart I knew anything was possible. If you fall, pick yourself up and try again.

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NASCAR Canadian Tire Series on TSN: Dickies 200 from Mosport Int'l Raceway

 

PHOTOS: WoO Late Model (TRIPLE CROWN) @ Cornwall Motor Speedway

Photos by Rick Young ... www.rickattheraces.com

Cordeiro report; Megenbier makes it two in a row at the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup race at MID-OHIO

MEGENBIER MAKES IT TWO IN A ROW AT THE VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI CUP RACE AT MID-OHIO SPORTS CAR COURSE
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Melrose Park, Illinois native takes the Championship points lead

Lexington, OH (June 21, 2009) – After a DNF in Round 2 of the SCCA Pro Racing Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup season, Timmy Megenbier has been a driver on a mission. Today, he claimed his second-consecutive victory of the season in Round 4 of the season after leading 13 of 17 laps at Lexington, Ohio’s Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Pole sitter Devin Cates led the field into the first turn on lap one, but went off course in the second turn, opening the door for the second and third place starters, Joey Atterbury and Timmy Megenbier to advance their positions. Atterbury and Megenbier battled for the remainder of the race with Megenbier taking the lead on lap five. He held on for the remainder of the race to take his second and second-consecutive victory of the young season. Megenbier’s win moves him into the Championship lead.

“I really couldn’t have asked for anything more today,” Megenbier said. “Heading into the race, I knew where the good places to pass were going to be, and I just waited for the opportunity to make it happen. I have to give it to Joey (Atterbury) for racing clean today and not trying to block my move. I simply out braked him, and he let me go. It feels amazing that I’ve been able to make it two in a row now and have moved into the Championship lead. Hopefully, I’ll be able to make it three in a row at our next race, which is at my home track.”

Atterbury and Andy Lee rounded out the podium. Lee’s third-place finish marks the best result for the Maricopa, Arizona native in two seasons. After a difficult qualifying session, Lee started ninth, but didn’t waste any time moving forward. He also ran the fastest lap of the race and the weekend – 1:39.605 (81.610 mph).

“I was pretty disappointed yesterday after qualifying because I definitely think I should have been able to start higher than ninth,” Lee said. “With that starting position, I knew it was going to be a battle for me, so I concentrated on running consistently strong laps and being patient. Thankfully, this strategy paid off with a good result. After almost a season and a half, it feels great to finally be on the podium. I feel like I’m really starting to make some progress in this series, so I can’t wait to get to our next race in Chicago.”

Lee wasn’t the only driver who scored solid, season-best finishes. Andrew Cordeiro (4th), Nicky Boulle (5th) and JD Mobley (7th) all had their best races of the season so far. The day didn’t go so well for series points leader, Jake Thompson who finished 11th. The result drops him to third in the series standings. The top five drivers in the Championship after four races are: Megenbier (140), Atterbury (121), Thompson (111), Lee (104) and AJ Nealey (89).

Mark Gillies of Car & Driver magazine finished 13th, the best finish this season for a guest driver. The Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup series returns to action for Round 5 of the 10 event season, July 25-26 at Autobahn Country Club in Joliet, Illinois.

Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Round 4 (17 Laps)

Position/Car Number/Driver/Hometown/Sponsor/Best Time/Best Speed

1 3 17 Timmy Megenbier/Melrose Park/IL/Chicagoland VW/ 1:39.832 / 81.424
2 2 14 Joey Atterbury(R)/Renton/WA/SCCA/ 1:39.624 / 81.594
3 9 27 Andy Lee/Maricopa/AZ/Castrol/ 1:39.605 / 81.610
4 12 26 Andrew Cordeiro/Woodbridge/Ont/VION/ 1:39.758 / 81.485
5 11 4 Nicky Boulle(R)/Dallas/TX/Defnder/ 1:39.890 / 81.377
6 5 8 Derek Jones/Philadelphia/PA/Aggreko/ 1:40.684 / 80.735
7 13 7 JD Mobley(R)/Castle Rock/CO/Bosch/ 1:40.674 / 80.743
8 6 23 Juan Pablo Sierra Lendle/Puebla/MX/Castrol/ 1:39.996 / 81.291
9 8 2 AJ Nealey(R)/Pasadena/MD/Sherwin-Williams/ 1:40.162 / 81.156
10 22 22 Andrew Novich(R)/Novato/CA/Oakley/ 1:40.753 / 80.680
11 16 19 Jake Thompson(R)/Vancouver/BC/Lamin-X/ 1:40.053 / 81.245
12 15 3 Taylor Broekemeier/Fort Collins/CO/Oakley/ 1:39.934 / 81.341
7 21 Mark Gillies(G)/Ann Arbor/MI/iRacing.com/ 1:40.394 / 80.969
13 10 5 Ryan Ellis(R)/Ashburn/VA/VION/ 1:40.157 / 81.160
14 19 24 Donny Warren(R)/Winchester/VA/Aggreko/ 1:40.385 / 80.976
15 18 15 Theresa Condict(R)/Lexington/MA/HYPERFUELS/ 1:41.384 / 80.178
16 1 29 Devin Cates(R)/Broad Run/VA/HYPERFUELS/ 1:41.106 / 80.398
17 14 6 David Richert/Niverville/MB/Bosch/ 1:41.324 / 80.225
18 20 16 Eric Morse(R)/Pittsburgh/PA/Amplify/ 1:41.665 / 79.956
19 21 34 Juan Pablo Delgado(R)/Orizaba/MX/Red Bull/ 1:42.854 / 79.032
20 23 28 Rhett Tucker(R)/Cumming/GA/DC United/ 1:41.595 /80.011
21 4 20 Mark Pombo/Duluth/GA/VW Parts & Accessories/ 1:41.329 / 80.221
22 24 32 Andrew Gun Tucker(R)/McDonough/GA/Pirelli/ 1:43.595 / 78.467
23 17 30 Perry Richardson(R)/Los Gatos/CA/Pirelli/ 1:42.073 / 79.637
(R) – Jetta TDI Cup Rookie Driver
(G) – Guest Driver (not eligible for Championship results)

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