Cordeiro report; nothing sweeter than a repeater...

It was a fantastic feeling going into the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup race, at Autobahn County Club, with the sense of accomplishment from Mid-Ohio. I was looking to repeat (or better!).

I arrived a day early at the track to setup camp and scope out the premises. The track seemed very flat and predictable, more technical than gutsy. Like all things, don't knock it until you try it. It was fast and unexpecting. I placed third in practice and was on a roll! Totally stoked, I headed to my camper to chill out and recharge the batteries before the qualifying session.

We hit the track to qualify and I kept my eye out for the top two from practice. No dice! Where were they??? The track has several straights but not very long in distance making it difficult to judge a good separation from the competitor ahead. I never gave myself enough room to cut a clean fast lap, bad move Andrew! Qualified 6th. Lesson learned! But maybe not so appreciated, yet. I was still happy that I was starting on the third row and positioned to take a podium.

Racing under green... Great start! Passed for P4. Three more to go! I wasn't greedy, all I wanted was a podium finish :p . A few laps passed and we kept it neat and single file, trying to distinguish ourselves from the middle pack. Megenbier caught Pombo braking too early. I was on Megenbier's BUMPER, surprise! I quickly stabbed the brakes and tried to avoid and overtake -like that deer on I-75 the other day-, but no such luck this time. I smucked his rear bumper. Gave my car a "black eye"! (see pic) Couldn't make the pass clean and gave it up. Doing so, I lost a position to Atterbury, falling back to P5.

Oh snap. Here comes the battle. We raced HARD. Neck to neck down the straight and through the corners. I made several attempts to pass but they never stuck for a clean pass, so I let up. Time was running down and my podium was slipping away. We raced hard down to Turn 1. Atterbury braked too late and his car began hopping off the line. The door was WIDE open. Success! (Borat) I took back P4 and began to gain on Pombo. Out comes the double yellow and the race was over. Checkered flag. WHAT A TEASE! :laugh:

I definitely want to thank my partners for without their support I would not be able to pursue my dream.

http://www.makehasteracing.com/
http://www.trackmart.ca/
http://www.vw.com/
http://www.scca.com/
http://www.can-alignment.com/
http://www.hotbits.ca/
http://www.hyperfuels.com/
http://www.vion.com/

VORTEX BRAKES TO SPONSOR MOSPORT SPEEDWAY RACE IN NASCAR CANADIAN TIRE SERIES

(BOWMANVILLE, ON – AUGUST 7, 2009) Vortex Brakes has been announced as the new title sponsor of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race at Mosport Speedway, this Saturday, August 8. The race is now officially known as the Vortex Brake Pads 200.

Based in Mississauga, Ontario, Vortex (www.vortexbrakes.com) is a leading aftermarket brake pad manufacturer specializing in hydraulic and air disc brake pads, and has more than 1,400 brake pad applications. Founded in 1997, this Canadian-owned company has 60,000 square feet of state of the art manufacturing and warehousing facilities. Their Positive Mold presses are custom built for their original equipment-specific manufacturing process. Vortex has recently added three new presses to meet the needs of their growing customer base.

"We're proud to extend our association with the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series to include one of the premier events and facilities in the Series, Mosport Speedway," said Bryan Watts, Vice-President of Vortex Brakes.

"Mosport hosts the only two Toronto-area events in the championship. So this Saturday's race, coupled with our sponsorship of the Team 3 Red/Ed Hakonson Racing and driver Jason Hathaway, will help to generate more awareness for our company and our high-quality line of aftermarket brake pads."

Vortex signed a multi-year agreement sponsorship agreement with the Team 3 Red/Ed Hakonson Racing #3 Dodge Avenger earlier this year.

The Vortex Brake Pads 200 is the eighth of 13 stops on the 2009 Canadian Tire Series schedule. The gates open at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday and time trials are set for 5:00 p.m. Fans will also want to make sure to bring their Sharpies and cameras for the driver autograph session that will get underway at 5:45 p.m. on the front straight. The Vortex Brake Pads 200, a 200 lap, 100 mile race, gets underway at 7:00 p.m.

Tickets are $30 at the gate for adults, youths 13-16 are $15, children 12 and under are free when accompanied by a paid adult admission and parking is free.

For more information about tickets, call the Mosport Hotline at 1-800-866-1072 (Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm ET) or visit online at www.mosport.com. Tickets are also available at Ticketmaster.
-30-
For Further Information:
Lee Bailie,
Mosport, (905) 995-8313 (cell); lee@mosport.com

Jamie Hakonson,
Team 3 Red/Ed Hakonson Racing, (416) 560-6103 (cell); jamie@team3red.com

Bryan Watts,
Vortex Brakes, 905-564-9500, bwatts@vortexbrakes.com

TEMPEST IN TROIS-RIVIERÈS – THIS WEEKEND'S STAR MAZDA RACE AT THE 40TH ANNUAL GP3R FEATURES A HEATED CHAMPIONSHIP BATTLE, FIVE WINNERS IN NINE RACES

Fast Facts – Round 10 of the 2009 Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear at the 40th Annual Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières, August 14 - 16

-The Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear (www.starmazda.com) is the university-level hockey of Indy 500-style auto racing, a high-speed training ground for future stars of the sport. Series graduates – including Indy Car stars Marco Andretti and Graham Rahal -- have gone on to race in F1, Indy Cars, NASCAR, ALMS and Grand-Am. Star Mazda race cars have a top speed of 160 mph and 0 to 60 mph acceleration takes just 2.8 seconds. Prizes for 2009 are worth $1.5 million.

- A Canadian rising star from Quebec, 16 year-old Mikael Grenier, a student at Georges-Vanier High School, will be on the Star Mazda starting grid for Sunday's race. A karting champion who started racing at age 5, he scored six podium finishes in Formula BMW Americans in 2008. So far in the 2009 Star Mazda Championship he has two podiums and two top-10 finishes; driving for a top team (Andersen Racing) in front of a home-town crowd, he has to be considered a top contender.

- The hottest driver in the series currently is Peter 'The Irish Steamroller' Dempsey, who won this event last year. In 2008, he won four races – including three in a row – and finished third in the championship. This year, driving for two different teams, he has already won four races – the last three in a row – and the next two races on the schedule (Trois-Rivières and Mosport) are events he won last year.

- The Star Mazda Championship is a major rung on the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Driver Development Ladder, the only automaker-supported motorsports scholarship program reaching from entry-level karting to the top levels of the sport. This year's Star Mazda MAZDASPEED Ladder driver is Conor Daly, the 2009 Skip Barber Pro Series Champion and son of F1/Indy Car/Sports Car racing legend and noted motorsports broadcaster Derek Daly.

- Ten of the top drivers in the series are part of the Star Mazda / Racing for Kids program that arranges visits by racing drivers to children at local hospitals. Racing for Kids (www.racingforkids.org) and its professional race drivers have visited more than 20,000 children over the years and raised more than $5-Million for Children's Hospitals around the world. Star Mazda drivers will visit the Centre Hospitalier Regional De Trois Rivieres (1991 Boul Du Carmel) on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009 at 1:00 pm.

The Star Mazda Championship is unique in having categories for more mature racers in whom the competitive fire still burns brightly; the Expert (ages 30 to 44) and Master (45 and older) series. This race-within-a-race features company CEOs risking it all in wheel-to-wheel battles with fearless teenage hotshoes, including Japanese driver Toshihiro Deki (leading the Expert Series) and California Mike Guasch (leading the Master Series).

Trois-Rivières (August 7, 2009) -- With four races remaining on the schedule and fifteen of the series' 25 regular drivers still mathematically in contention for the championship, the battle for supremacy in this weekend's 40th annual Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières – Round 9 of the 13-race 2009 Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear – will be especially fierce.
Carrying the flag for the Quebec racing fans will be Mikael Grenier, a 16-year old 'phenom' who started racing at age 5, won multiple karting championships and scored six podium finishes in last year's intensely competitive Formula BMW Americas series. Born on Oct. 17, 1992 in Quebec City and now a student living in Stoneham and attending Georges-Vanier High School in Montreal, Grenier has confirmed his talent with a pair of podium finishes and two top-10s so far in the 2009 Star Mazda Championship season.

And while he must be considered a driver to reckon with, driving the #17 Andersen Racing / NAPA Auto Parts / CAA-Quebec / HS Telecom Mazda for one of the top teams in the series – and with a fellow countryman, Remi Lanteigne (a native of Trois-Rivières) engineering his car, Grenier still faces formidable opposition from the deepest and most diverse talent pool in recent Star Mazda history; Sunday's starting grid will feature drivers from ten countries, including three of the top-4 and seven of the top-10 challengers from the 2008 championship.
Leading the pack currently, with a convincing dominance that has only reinforced the appropriateness of his nickname – The Irish Steamroller – is championship leader Peter Dempsey, winner of this event in 2008. Last year, his first season in the Star Mazda Championship, he won four races, three of them in a row, including Road America and both Canadian rounds, Trois-Rivières and Mosport. In 2009, with four races still to go, he has already won four events, including the most recent three in a row… and the next two races are at tracks where he won last year.

Further, he has achieved this with wins on both road circuits and oval tracks while driving for two different teams. He began the season with the Toronto-based AIM Autosport team and won at Virginia International Raceway earlier in the season. Sponsorship considerations forced him to switch to the #3 Juncos Racing / HOOTERS / Motorsport Ireland / Queyside.ie Mazda, fielded by a veteran South American team now based in Florida and in its first season of Star Mazda competition. With financial backing from the fathers of the other drivers on the Juncos team, including Michael Furfari and Sean Burstyn -- as well team driver Walt Bowlin, who is lending Dempsey his HOOTERS-sponsored car for the remainder of the season -- the Juncos Racing team is on its way to one of the most remarkable seasons in the 19-year history of the Star Mazda Championship.

One other driver has won two races and showed dominant form early in the season, Englishman Adam Christodoulou, the 2008 European Formula Renault champion. Driving the #11 JDC Motorsports / Molecule / Alpinestars Mazda, he won the season-opener at Sebring, won from the pole at Salt Lake City and has four podium finishes, including finishing second to Dempsey's two wins in Rounds 8 and 9, the two race weekend at the Harrah's Autobahn Grand Prix presented by Mazda. He is 2nd in the championship, just 19 points behind Dempsey – and with 44 points of offer for a win, the tight confines, unforgiving walls and crowned roads that make up the Trois-Rivières could be where it all changes.

Also having scored wins this season are Christodoulou's fellow Englishman, Richard Kent, Scandinavian racer Anders Krohn and the American son of an Irish racing legend, Conor Daly. Kent burst on the Star Mazda scene in the final race of the 2008 season, winning from the pole at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in his first-ever race in the series. Returning in 2009 to drive the #33 Andersen Racing / Traka Allied Interior Products Mazda, he started from the pole and finished second at Sebring, missed Round 2 due to a non-racing ankle injury, and won from the pole in Race 2 of a two-race weekend at New Jersey; he is currently 7th in the championship with 255 points. Anders Krohn, the 2008 FF2000 champion, scored his first-ever Star Mazda victory on the Milwaukee Mile oval driving the #27 Team Mundill / Trallfa / Colosseum Mazda; he is 8th in the championship with 254 points, just one behind Kent.

Conor Daly, son of racing legend and famed motorsports broadcaster Derek Daly, was the 2008 Skip Barber Pro Series champion and won his 2009 Star Mazda Championship drive in the #22 Andersen Racing / College Network / Indeck / Cytomax Mazda courtesy of the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Driver Development Ladder; this unique program is the only automaker-supported ladder program in auto racing today, reaching all the way from karting to the top levels of the sport. Daly, 3rd in the championship with a win from the pole in Race 1 at New Jersey, three podium finishes and 280 points.

Drivers with wins in previous seasons who are always a threat to break through with another victory include Californian Joel Miller, the 2007 Skip Barber Pro Series champion who raced in 2008 with sponsorship from the MAZDASPEED ladder and won from the pole in his series debut at last year's season-opener in Sebring. Now racing the #2 Andersen Racing / Fader Higher Productions / eSoles / Doug Mockett & Co. Mazda, he is 4th in the championship with 275 points, two podiums and four top-5 finishes. Louisiana racer Alex Ardoin, now in his third season of Star Mazda competition, put on a crowd-pleasing, driving-sideways display in the 2007 GP3R and went on to win that year's season finale at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. A constantly competitive driver who finished 4th in last year's championship he is looking to break a recent string of bad luck and put his #51 JDC Motorsports / Oral & Facial Surgery Center / Twister Trailer Mazda back in the winner's circle where it belongs.

In addition to the young rising stars of the series, the Star Mazda Championship also includes categories for more mature racers in whom the competitive fire still burns brightly. As a result, in the streets of Trois-Rivières, fans will see corporate CEO's and entrepreneurs battling wheel-to wheel with fearless teenage rocket pilots. Tied for the lead in the Expert Series (drivers 30 to 44 years old) are Japanese Racer Toshihio Deki (#80 Goshen Motorsports Mazda) with two in-class victories and six in-class top-3 finishes, and Vancouver's Chris Cumming, the 2008 Expert Series champion. Cumming, however, is in training to run the Ironman Canada on August 30 and will miss both the Trois-Rivières and Mosport races. Dominating the Master Series (drivers 45 and older) is Californian Mike Guasch, leading the Master series with five in-class wins so far this season racing the #91 JDC Motorsports / Molecule Mazda.

On-track Star Mazda Championship action in the 40th Annual GP3R begins with two practice sessions of Friday, August 14 (12:30 pm to 1:10 pm and 5:35 pm to 6:15 pm). Qualifying will take place on Saturday, August 15 from 10:30 am to 11:15 am; the field will be split into two groups, with Group 1 qualifying from 10:30 to 10:50 am and Group 2 taking to the track from 10:55 am to 11:15 am. The exciting, F1-style standing start that begins each 45-minute Star Mazda Championship race is scheduled to take place at 11:15am on Sunday, August 16.
Next up on the 2009 schedule for the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear is the second of two Canadian races; the Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport on August 29. The 2009 season wraps up with a final pair of ALMS races; at Road Atlanta on September 25 and at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on October 10.

About the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Driver Development Ladder
The MAZDASPEED Motorsports Driver Development Ladder is unique in being the only automaker-funded scholarship program that provides funding for champions at each level to move up from karting to the top ranks of the sport. Mazda will provide a next-level, fully-funded ride in a Mazda powered car to the 2009 champions of selected Mazda series.
Open-wheel racers are competing for these awards in 2009:
· One successful kart racer will participate in a full season of the Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda in 2010.
· The 2009 Skip Barber National Champion will be racing in the 2010 Star Mazda Championship Presented by Goodyear.
· The 2009 Star Mazda Champion will be racing in the 2010 Atlantic Series Powered by Mazda.

Mazda is the brand of choice for road-racers across North America. More than 9,000 grassroots racers compete in various classes with the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and the National Auto Sport Association (NASA). Racers who are years away from earning a driver’s license can now begin their professional motorsports careers in the Mazda family. A driver can begin in karts and progress through the Skip Barber series, Club Racing Formula Mazda, professional Star Mazda and finally to Formula Atlantic, all with Mazda. No other car company has ever connected the dots this way.

About The Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear
For 2009, the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear (www.starmazda.com) will feature an 11-weekend, 13-race schedule on major race weekends with American Le Mans, Grand-Am, the Atlantic Championship, NASCAR Nationwide and Craftsman Truck Series. Prize money is $1.5 million, including a fully-funded drive in the 2010 Atlantic Championship. Drivers 16 and older are welcome to compete and the Star Mazda Championship also features Expert (30 to 44) and Master (45 and older) classes for more mature racers. The Star Mazda Championship features standing starts, wheel-to-wheel racing at 150 mph and budgets a fraction of other top open-wheel ladder series. iRacing.com is the official racing simulation of the Star Mazda Championship, and one-month free 'virtual test drive' of the Star Mazda open-wheel car is available by going to www.starmazda.com/newdriver.
________________________________
For more information on the Star Mazda Championship and its drivers, as well as the Mazda Motorsports ladder system, please visit www.starmazda.com and www.mazdausa.com. For information, interviews and photos, contact Star Mazda Communications Director Peter Frey at (818) 398-5733 or StarMazdaPR@aol.com.
________________________________
On any given weekend, there are more Mazdas on the road-race tracks of America than any other brand of vehicle. At the track, you’ll see MX-5 Miata, RX-8, MAZDA3, MAZDA6, RX-7 and other vintage Mazda models competing, because every Mazda has the Soul of a Sports Car.
For more information on the various Mazda spec series, visit:
www.atlantic-championship.com www.starmazda.com
www.skipbarber.com www.mx-5cup.com

NASCAR Canadian Tire Series on TSN: Edmonton

 

Allen Berg Racing Schools August Update

Rexall Edmonton Indy Corporate Championship: The inaugural Rexall Edmonton Indy Corporate Championship (www.edmontonindy.com/index.php/get-involved/corporate-championship) held last weekend dur­ing the Indy event was a resounding success, with 10 happy drivers responding to cheers from the crowd on hand for their local favorites.

A visit from Alex Tagliani (www.tagliani.com) with a few sage words of wisdom was most inspiring to the group of newcomer drivers, whom successfully conquered the challenging 14 turn circuit held at the Edmonton Municipal Airport on Thursday and Friday, July 23 and 24, 2009.

Click Here (www.allenbergracingschools.com/calgary-racing-school-news.asp) to view results and photos.

ABRS announces Marv Jones Honda (www.marvjoneshonda.com) official support vehicles at Mission Raceway Formula Car programs August 10-14.

ABRS will continue to rely on the outstanding performance of the Honda Civic Si (www.marvjoneshonda.com/dcm2/nvgBrochure.html?id=742579120090706) and Honda Pilot (www.marvjoneshonda.com/dcm2/nvgBrochure.html?id=749654420090706) as part of next week’s programs, continuing the Honda brand affiliation from its Alberta based programs, with the support of Maple Ridge BC based Marv Jones Honda.

Marv Jones Honda General Manager Daniel Russman adds “As a supporter of the commu­nity since 1973, we are excited to support ABRS in this local venture, in a venue that show­cases our vehicles’ safety, quality and handling performance.” 

ABRS Offers Advanced Road Car Track Driving Program at Rivers Edge Road Course at Mission Raceway BC.

Positions only available at 2PM on August 12, 2009

ABRS is offering an Advanced Road Car Lapping Program (www.allenbergracingschools.com/road-car-track-days.asp), for experienced drivers famil­iar with Mission Raceway Park, on Wednesday August 12 from 12PM to 4PM.

These will be supervised lapping sessions with ABRS instructors on hand to provide feed­back on your driving performance. Our programs have been increasingly popular in Cal­gary.

Come out and give it a try and have some fun! Plenty of track time!

Space is extremely limited. Sign up today by clicking here (www.allenbergracingschools.tix.com/Event.asp?Event=211062).

Click Here: (www.allenbergracingschools.com/road-car-training-programs.asp) to view photos of some of our customers’ cars.

ABRS announces Edmonton Road Car Track Day — NEW PROGRAM!!!

Due to the increased demand from Edmonton drivers, ABRS is holding a One Time Road Car Track Lapping Event at the immaculate Stratotech Park (www.stratotech.ca/park_facility/track_layout.pdf) on Wednesday September 2, 2009.

This will be run similar to the Road Car Track Days (www.allenbergracingschools.com/road-car-track-days.asp) currently offered at Race City Speed­way in Calgary, with our Introductory Road Car Lapping operating 8AM to 12 PM and Ad­vanced Road Car Lapping from 12PM to 4PM.

Come join us to learn how to drive your car to the limits in a safe, supervised without getting a ticket!

To register  for any of these programs please visit our bookings page by Clicking Here (www.allenbergracingschools.tix.com/ActSelectionAllenBerg.asp?OrganizationNumber=1463).

2009 may be the last season for ABRS in Calgary. Book now while space is still available, to ensure your opportunity for the ultimate racing experience!!!

Click Here: (www.allenbergracingschools.com/calgary-racing-schools-video1.asp) to view a lap of Race City Speedway recorded from one of our on-board cameras.

Click Here: (www.allenbergracingschools.com/calgary-racing-schools-video2.asp) to view one lap of driving comparing two drivers through our MoTeC data systems.

We provide a complimentary 2.0GB USB drive loaded with your video, data, MoTeC program and photos in our One and Two Day Formula Car programs, in order for you to relive the experience!

NASCAR Canadian Tire Series: Andrew Ranger confirmed to attend Mosport party at Hooter's Whitby on Friday

(BOWMANVILLE, ON – August 5, 2009) NASCAR Canadian Tire Series points leader Andrew Ranger will be in attendance at the Mosport Drivers Party at Hooters Whitby (1608 Dundas St., E. at Thickson Rd.) on Friday, August 7 from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. to help fans get revved up for the Mosport Speedway 200 on Saturday night.

The 2007 Series champion will be joined by fellow drivers Mark Dilley, Cale Gale, Scott Steckly, Dave Thorndyke and Dave Whitlock. All will be available for autographs and pictures. NASCAR Series cars will also be on display and fans are invited to bring along their cameras.

The Dickies Canadian Worker of the Year display will be on hand to allow guests to nominate candidates for the Canadian Worker of the Year contest and for a chance to win some great prizes including a 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 full-size pick-up truck.

Advance tickets for Saturday’s Mosport Speedway 200 are just $25 until Wednesday, August 5 ($30 at the Gate) and parking is free. Children 12 and under are free when accompanied by a paid adult admission.

For more information about tickets, call the Mosport Hotline at 1-800-866-1072 (Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm ET) or visit online at www.mosport.com. Tickets are also available at Ticketmaster. 

From Lee Bailie, Mosport, (905) 995-8313 (cell.) or email lee@mosport.com

NASCAR Canadian Tire Series News & Notes - Mosport Speedway

NASCAR Canadian Tire Series News & Notes – Mosport

 

·         Mosport Speedway 200 Notebook

·         Velocity Prairie Thunder Post-Race Notebook

·         Top Five NCATS Stories In 2009

 

Dilley Is In The Business Of Racing

 

A career, like racing, is about passion. Without a true love, it becomes a job.

 

Mark Dilley (No. 9 Dodge/Leland Industries Dodge) has unparalleled passion for racing, which just might explain why he made it his profession. A long-time competitor in Canadian stock-car racing and ambassador for the sport, Dilley joined forces last year with Linda Jones to form Wide Open Motorsports Solutions, a company with a primary purpose of procurement and promotion of drivers and sponsors. But, this year, the interest took off in a little different direction.

 

"In years past (Linda Jones) and I had separately done similar things, so we decided, last year, to join forces to double our efforts," said Dilley.

 

Now moving in the same direction, Dilley and Jones combine knowledge and assets to provide even more service to both clients and sponsors.

 

"We are constantly on the lookout for sponsorship opportunities for our clients," he said. "In this economy, we need to have a broader view and not just focus on the traditional cast of characters."

 

As a firm believer of NASCAR as a marketing platform, Dilley is confident that interest is still high.

 

"I think the interest is out there, but it just may not be in the same places it has always been. The larger companies are stretched thin, but there are businesses out there looking to get involved."

 

Earlier this year a group of investors looking to purchase Sunset Speedway in Innisfil, Ont., approached Wide Open about managing the track and shepherding it through several renovation projects. Running a track is not new to Dilley, a former owner of Barrie (Ont.) Speedway.

 

"The owners want to build a quality facility, to match some of the nicer places in the country, in central Ontario well within the bounds of the Toronto market," Dilley stated.

 

The transformation of the 40-year-old .333-mile track will not come overnight, but a strategy is in place with the ultimate goal of hosting a NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 event in mind.

 

"We need to get a new track in there with a proper pit road. That's the first step," said Dilley. "We've already made some changes to many of the fan areas to make those better. Now, it's a matter of working inside out; starting with the track."

 

Not helping Dilley focus on his business interests this year is one of the worst slumps of his racing career. He has just three top-10 finishes in 2009.

 

"We just need a break. Whatever can go wrong has this year. It's  definitely  frustrating," he said. "I don't think I've ever had a stretch like this in my career, but we'll get it turned around this weekend."

 

In his two previous series starts at Mosport Speedway, Dilley has a pair of runner-up finishes.

 

Fast Facts

 

The Race: Mosport Speedway 200

The Place: Mosport Speedway, Bowmanville, Ont.

The Date: Saturday, Aug. 8

The Time: 7 p.m. ET

TV Schedule: TSN, Aug. 23, 4 p.m. ET

Track Layout: Half-mile oval

Race Purse: $78,523 CAD

2008 Winner: Kerry Micks

2008 Pole: None - Rain

Schedule: Practice 1:30-2:30 p.m.; Qualifying 5 p.m.

Track Contact: Lee Bailie, (905) 983-9141, lee@mosport.com

NASCAR Contact: Shon Sbarra, (704) 309-5493, ssbarra@nascar.com

 

2009 STANDINGS

Rk    Driver                        Points

1       Andrew Ranger              1,179

2       Scott Steckly                1,148

3       Ron Beauchamp Jr.       1,098

4       DJ Kennington               1,090

5       Anthony Simone            1,021

6       Dave Whitlock               1,005

7       Kerry Micks                  1,000

8       Jason Hathaway               982

9       Don Thomson Jr.              964

10     Mark Dilley                      916

11     Jason White                    867

12     Kent Nuhn                       850

 

Hathaway Looks To Heat Up In Second Half

 

The first half of the season sets the tone, but the second half holds the defining moments and cements the memories—good or bad.

 

For Jason Hathaway (No. 3 Snap-on Tools/Vortex Brake Pads Dodge), the first seven races of 2009 have been solid and consistent. With the exception of a 20th-place finish at Delaware (Ont.) Speedway due to engine troubles, he has six top-10 finishes including a season-best finish of fourth in the last outing in Saskatoon, Sask.

 

He has been remarkably consistent, so far, this season with four eighth-place and one seventh-place finish in seven races.

 

Last season, Hathaway closed the season in strong fashion with three top fives in the final five races of the year, which includes his first series career win in the season finale, a rain-shortened event at Kawartha Speedway before finishing ninth in the final standings and earning Most Improved Driver honors, an award selected by series officials, at the post-season awards ceremony.

 

The first half of 2008 was not particularly special putting Hathaway, with improved performance in 2009, in a much better position to cover ground in the standings this time around.

 

Racing out of Appin, Ont., Hathaway currently is eighth in the championship points standings, but is a mere 39 points out of fifth place.

 

Mosport News & Notes

 

The Race: This event is the eighth of 13 races on the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 schedule and the sixth of nine races on oval tracks this season. It is the series' third visit to the track.

 

The Procedure: The starting field is 22 cars, including provisionals. The first 19 cars will qualify through two-lap time trials. The remaining three spots will be awarded through the provisional process. The race will be 200 laps covering 100 miles.

 

The Track: The half-mile oval shares grounds with Mosport International Raceway, a 2.459-mile road course, a 2.4-kilometer advanced driver and race driver training facility, and a 1.4-kilometer kart track. All told, Mosport is Canada's largest motorsports complex, covering 750 acres located just north of Bowmanville, Ont., less than an hour's drive from Toronto. The name Mosport is a contraction of motorsport and is pronounced “MOE-sport.” The facility opened in 1961.

 

Familiar Turf: After racing on the .333-mile banked oval at Auto Clearing Motor Speedway in Saskatoon, Sask., for the first time in the last outing, series drivers and teams return to a comfort zone. With just a couple of exceptions, everyone is familiar with the strategies and idiosyncrasies of Mosport Speedway.

 

Last Year: The visit to Mosport Speedway a year ago was marred by wet weather. Only practice was complete on Saturday before rain moved into the area, causing the race to be moved to Sunday. For the first time in its brief history, the starting field was set per the series rule book, with points leader Scott Steckly on the pole, as time trials were not able to be held. In the race, Kerry Micks battled Mark Dilley down the stretch and picked up his first series victory on an oval track after winning a pair of road-course events in 2007.

 

The Records: The one-lap qualifying record for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series at Mosport Speedway is held by JR Fitzpatrick at 21.592 seconds (83.364 mph) set on Aug. 11, 2007. The 200-lap race record is held by Micks in last year's race on Aug. 10 at 1 hour, 43 minutes, 18 seconds (58.083 mph).

 

NCATS Notebook: Velocity Prairie Thunder Wrap-Up

 

The Last Shall Be First: Leaving engine parts scattered around the race track in practice is not normally in a race-winning recipe, but Scott Steckly (No. 22 Canadian Tire/Tow Truck in a Box Dodge) was able to overcome an engine failure in practice to win his second race of the year and seventh of his career. In doing so, he broke his tie with Andrew Ranger (No. 27 Walmart/Tide Ford) for the most career series wins.

 

Back On Top: Earlier in 2009, Steckly took over the all-time series lead for laps led from Don Thomson Jr. (No. 4 Home Hardware Chevrolet). However, with his 161 laps led in the Velocity Prairie Thunder, Thomson now has 1,251 laps led in series history and regained the lead from Steckly (1,179). Ranger is a distant third with 743 laps led.

 

First and Third: While transitioning to the NASCAR spec engine, Steckly was caught in a pinch when his primary custom-built engine expired in practice and was forced to rent a motor from DJ Kennington (No. 17 Castrol/Mahindra Tractor Dodge), who finished third in the race while having a stake in the winning car, as well.

 

Mobil 1 Command Performance Driver of the Race: As a reward for his NASCAR Canadian Tire Series victory at Auto Clearing Motor Speedway, Steckly collects $1,500 from Mobil 1 for his effort. It is his second victory of the 2009 season.

 

Mopar Quick Three: This program rewards the top three finishing Dodges in the race. In the Velocity Prairie Thunder, the race winner, Steckly, was the highest-finishing eligible Dodge and thus earned a $2,000 bonus. Second-place finisher Kennington was the second-highest finishing eligible Dodge, which earned him a $1,000 bonus. Picking up $500 for finishing as the third-highest eligible Dodge was Jason Hathaway (No. 3 Snap-on Tools/Vortex Brake Pads Dodge). He finished fourth overall.

 

Coca-Cola Move of the Race: Improving his position the most over the course of the race was Steckly. Not able to qualify due to the ongoing work on his car, he started 18th on the grid before storming to the lead in just 128 laps and on to victory. As a result, he earned the $1,000 award from Coca-Cola. It is the second time in three races that he has collected this award.

 

MAHLE Clevite Engine Builder of the Race: 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.  Thomson collected the most points by finishing second in the race, starting on the pole and leading the most laps.

 

In Case You Missed It: Coverage of the Velocity Prairie Thunder will premiere on Saturday, Aug. 22 at midnight ET on TSN. Check local listings for the most up-to-date information. Additionally, the Canadian Tire 100 from Edmonton's Rexall Speedway will premiere on Sunday, Aug. 9 at noon ET.

 

Halfway: Top Five NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Stories In 2009

 

The 2009 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 season is just past the half-way mark. The first half of the season has had many great storylines, but here is a look at the top five.

 

1. Ranger Collects First Oval-Track Win

Since moving from open-wheel racing prior to the 2007 season, Andrew Ranger has been a dominant force on road-course events by winning five of the 10 road races in series history. However, stock-car racing is about the ovals. The ability of a driver is measured against his or her rate of success on oval tracks. Despite his 2007 series title, Ranger’s validation as a stock-car racer would not be complete until he proved he could win on an oval. On July 18 at SunValley Speedway in Vernon, B.C., he closed the deal in dominating fashion. He lapped every car in the field but one en route to Victory Lane.

 

2. Series Makes Delaware Speedway Debut

For years, Delaware (Ont.) Speedway was the Mecca of stock-car racing in Canada. It was the home of CASCAR, with several race teams based nearby and many drivers cut their teeth in late-model racing there. However, the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series had yet to compete at the facility. In the June 6 race, a large crowd was on hand to see local product DJ Kennington  return home to pick up his first national series win at the track, after several close calls in the CASCAR days.

 

3. Spec Engine Introduced

This season, NASCAR officials decided to introduce its spec engine program to the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series in 2009. The affordable, yet competitive, motor program already has been in place in the four U.S.-based developmental series with plenty of success. Both 2008 NASCAR Camping World Series champions—Matt Kobyluck (East) and Eric Holmes (West)—won with a car powered by a spec engine. Ranger's win at SunValley was the first series win for the new program.

 

4. Villeneuve Makes Series Debut

It’s not often that a developmental series, like the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, gets an opportunity to have a driver with the pedigree of Jacques Villeneuve join its ranks. The former Indy Racing League, Indy 500 and Formula One champion is one of just three drivers—Mario Andretti and Emerson Fittipaldi—to ever pull off that trifecta. Unfortunately, in Villeneuve’s debut on July 11 at Autodrome St. Eustache, his race lasted just a few hundred feet as he got caught up in a Lap 1 accident.

 

5. Whitlock Announces Retirement; Wins First Series Race

In a bit of a surprise announcement made just three days before the season opener on May 23 at Autodrome St. Eustache, Dave Whitlock stated that 2009 would be his last season behind the wheel. He, then, promptly went out and won the season-opening race. In doing so, Whitlock collected his first series win after 25 starts.

 

Up Next: Trois-Rivieres

 

The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 heads back out on the road next week to take on the demanding Circuit de Trois-Rivieres for the GP3R 100. It is the third of four road-course events on tap for the series in 2009.

 

Jacques Villeneuve is slated to make his second series start and looks for a better result than in his Lap-1 exit on July 11 at Autodrome St. Eustache. Additionally, Montreal Canadiens defenseman Patrice Brisebois, racing for charity, will make his NASCAR and series debut.

 

Last season, Andrew Ranger benefited from a last-lap incident between Scott Steckly and JR Fitzpatrick to collect the win.

 

 

Shon Sbarra

NASCAR  |  Media Coordinator, Touring Series Canada

3004 37th Street NW, Gig Harbor, WA  98335

CELL: 704.509.5493  |  TEL: 253.853.7371  |  E-MAIL: ssbarra@nascar.com

 

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Ohsweken Speedway: Art Hill Memorial this Friday Night

By Tommy Goudge (August 5, 2009) – A very special event takes to the track this Friday night at Ohsweken Speedway when the ESSO Mini Stock division honours Art Hill, the only driver to lose their life in the history of the track.  The Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Cars will also return to competition after nearly a month off, along with the ESSO Thunder Stocks, and Bombers, plus the first annual Hot Dog Eating Contest!

The ESSO Mini Stocks head into their big event with Mitchell Brown leading the way in the points standings, followed by Kevin Hilborn, Mike Evers, Rick Emberson, and David Goodacre, but points will not be a factor in the big race this Friday.  Brown won a thrilling race over Steve Hess last Friday night for his eighth victory of the season, while Hess settled for a close second, followed by Ethan Martin, Emberson, and Paul Goodale.  Brown is also the defending winner of the Art Hill race, overcoming Rick Robinson, Abel Castelein, Hilborn, and Craig Erskine for the victory in the forty-two lap feature.

Do you have what it takes to become the 2009 Ohsweken Speedway Hot Dog Eating Champion?  The first annual Hot Dog Eating Contest will take centre stage at intermission on Friday night, with a trophy for the winner and Speedway gift packs for the top three.  The entry fee is just $10, and registration will be limited to the first ten registered applicants.  More details and rules are available on the Speedway website: www.OhswekenSpeedway.com.

Tom Huppunen leads the way in the Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Car standings, while Glenn Styres, Kevin Job, Dave Dykstra, Keith Dempster, and others give chase.  Huppunen passed Mikey Kruchka for the lead and eventual feature win in the last event on July 10, while Kruchka settled for the runner-up spot, followed by Jamie Collard, Styres, and Dempster.

The ESSO Thunder Stocks points race continued to heat up last Friday night as leader Shayne Pierce and second place-sitting Billy Bleich both experienced problems in the feature event.  Pierce salvaged an eighth place finish, while Bleich took ninth, but the gap remains close between those two at the top, while chasers Brad Herron, Jeremy Bean, Jamie Cox, Ryan Dinning, and Lee Winger all gained on the leaders.  Cox took his second feature win of the season last Friday after holding off repeated challenges from Herron, while Winger, Bean, and Mike Ward finished out the top five.

Karl Sault continues to lead the way in the Bomber standings and took his third feature win of the year on Friday night, while Kacey Huffman, Jesse McDonald, Team 113, Dale Cooke, and others give chase.

Tickets are on sale now for the Fifth Annual Arrow Express Canadian Sprint Car Nationals, coming up September 17, 18, and 19!  Please visit www.OhswekenSpeedway.com and call 1-888-720-RACE to order yours today! 

Friday Night Thunder at Ohsweken Speedway offers affordable family entertainment just a short drive away from most mid-western Ontario locations.  Friday Night Thunder resumes on Friday, August 7 when the Rochester Knighthawks present the Art Hill Memorial for ESSO Mini Stocks, plus the Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Cars, ESSO Thunder Stocks, ESSO Mini-Stocks, Bombers, and the First Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest!

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.

Southern Ontario Sprints: At Brighton Speedway this Saturday

By Tommy Goudge (August 6, 2009) – The Southern Ontario Sprints tour is back in action at Brighton Speedway this Saturday, August 8th for the sixth round of the championship series, with Shedden’s Justin Martin leading the way in the points chase.  Fans are invited to spend the weekend in the area, as discount tickets are available for “Fast and Furious Weekend” featuring the OSCAAR Super Late Models at Kawartha Speedway on Friday, and the SOS tour at Brighton on Saturday.

Martin has yet to win a feature this season, but consistency has placed him at the top of the pack, while Adam West of Ridgetown and Lefroy driver Warren Mahoney give chase, just eleven and twenty points behind, respectively.  The rest of the top ten includes Sutton’s Bob Crawford, Tyler Rand of Consecon, Glenn Styres from Ohsweken, Newmarket driver Dick Mahoney, Burford’s Jamie Collard, Ryan Hunsinger from Brantford, and “Joyceville Jet” Rick Wilson.

In the Riverside Bar and Grill Brighton Speedway miniseries, Martin is deadlocked with Collard at the top of the standings, with West just three points behind, while Rick Wilson and Warren Mahoney are still well within striking distance with three events left, including this Saturday.

The last SOS event at Brighton on July 11th ended with Adam West in victory lane, after the “Batman” passed Rick Wilson with just a handful of laps remaining.  Wilson settled for second, followed by Warren Mahoney, Jamie Collard, and rookie of the year candidate Travis Cunningham.

Don’t miss the sixth round of the Southern Ontario Sprints season on Saturday, August 8! The SOS races are once again presented by Holiday Inn of Trenton, while Brighton’s popular Canadian Modifieds, Comp 4’s, Pure Stocks, and Stingers will also be in action. 

Visit www.BrightonSpeedway.com for more information on the “Fast and Furious Weekend” in conjunction with Kawartha Speedway and the OSCAAR Super Late Model tour.  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 #6: www.SouthernOntarioSprints.com

WHERE: Brighton Speedway: 775 County Road 64: Brighton, Ontario
Phone: (613)-475-1102 or toll free 1-(866)-681-1102
On the Web: www.brightonspeedway.com

WHEN: Saturday, August 8, 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.

MORE LAPCEVICH RACING SUCCESS

August 5, 2009. While the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series was running events in western Canada, Jeff Lapcevich the driver of the #23 Tim Hortons Chevrolet Impala was busy on the track testing his race car in preparation for this weekends race at the Mosport Raceway Oval and also traveling to Huntsville, Alabama with sons Cayden and Treyten for the Eastern Grands where the boys raced Quarter Midget cars against hundreds of the best racers from Canada and the United States.

The victories continued for five year old Treyten Lapcevich competing in the novice class. Last month in Langley, BC the young racer competed against some very difficult competition in the novice class and won the title. Well with even greater numbers of participants at the Eastern Grands in Huntsville, Alabama Treyten once again was the overall winner in the novice class.

The victory by Treyten Lapcevich is particularly significant due to the fact that Region Four where he competes at tracks in Ohio, Indiana and Michigan, normally produces several winners in the sixteen different classes. Other than Treyten’s overall victory in the novice class the rest of the region was shut out.

Older brother Cayden Lapcevich again showed his natural racing ability and instinct competing in several different classes. Cayden has won the overall title in two of three classes in the previous three Grands. Sadly this streak came to an end, partly due to some questionable calls from the judges. Though he did not accomplish the same number of overall class victories he’d become accustomed to his accomplishments were significant.

In the Stock class nine year old Cayden qualified tenth and started on the pole for the “B Main”. After finishing second he transferred to the “A Main final” starting seventh and had raced his way up to second. As Lapcevich looked to complete the pass for the lead approaching the white flag he was bumped from behind by the competitor he was passing. Upset with the judges ruling on the events the fiery competitor’s emotions boiled over he raised his arm in frustration. Cayden was disqualified, victory taken from his hands.

There was further disappointment in the Light Mod and Light B class for the Lapcevich crew when the car wouldn’t fire and Cayden was unable to even post a qualifying time. “I have to take a lot of responsibility for that” said father Jeff Lapcevich. “I had trouble tuning the car with all the humidity and I had it leaned out to much, so it was my fault that it wouldn’t start” he explained.

With no qualifying time Cayden was forced to do a lot more racing to keep moving up the competition ladder. Beginning with the “E Main in the Light Modified class he finishes second, then won the “D Main”, “C Main” and finished second in the “B Main” and also wound up second in the “A Main final” a tremendous accomplishment.

Cayden Lapcevich began the Light B class in the “D Main” where he finished second, then went on to win the “C Main finished third in the “B Main and also claimed third in the “A Main”.

“Cayden did a lot more racing than he’s used to and I think he was pretty worn out by the end of the week” said Jeff Lapcevich. “Without the benefit of qualifying you have to race your way up, and he did a great job. I’m so proud of both he and Treyten. It was another great week for the family.

Immediately upon their return from Huntsville, Alabama Jeff Lapcevich was back in the seat of the #23 Tim Hortons Chevrolet testing on the Mosport oval. The team was very pleased with the results. “Our lap times were right around the pole time from last year” said Lapcevich. “The conditions I think were pretty similar so I think we’ll be ready for this weekend. I’m excited to get back in action” he added.
Jeff Lapcevich and the Tim Hortons team will resume competition in the 2009 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series on Saturday August 8th at Mosport Speedway with the green flag set to drop at 7PM. This year’s series events will consist of ovals, road courses and temporary street circuits from coast to coast in Canada. All events are once again scheduled to appear on TSN. For More information about Jeff Lapcevich and Lapcevich racing log onto http://www.lapcevichracing.com/

Photos: 1. Cayden Lapcevich and Treyten Lapcevich at the Western Grands last month in Langley, BC.

PHOTO GALLERY: ACT Castrol Series event #6

This is a 116 photo gallerie of the sixth race on the 2009 ACT Castrol Series Championship. The race was held at Audrome Montmagny Speedway in Montmagny, QC on Saturday August, 1, 2009.

The race was won by Patrick Laperle, finishing second was Karl Allard and Patrick Hamel crossed the line third, but was retrograded to fourth for a bump and pass violation. Donald Theetge was bump' up to third.

Thanks to M.P. Roy for the photos. You can see M.P.'s blog here

Villenueve Completes Successful Canadian Touring Car Test

Toronto, Ontario, CanadaAugust 3, 2009 - The Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship Presented By Toyo Tires confirmed its status as Canada’s Premiere Touring Car Championship with a recent successful test by Jacques Villenueve.

“It was wonderful to meet Jacques at one of our events earlier in the season,” stated John Bondar, President of the Championship, “and we were honoured when he returned to present trophies during our official podium ceremony.”The morning of the test was spent changing springs and adjusting shocks to optimize balance.

Jacques spent a short time getting comfortable with the characteristics of the car and then got up to speed very quickly. After about ten laps, he was able to establish a top five lap time.“We are working on putting together a program for Jacques to compete in at least one Championship event before the end of the season,” continued John Bondar. “It will be very exciting to see Jacques competing in the Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship Presented By Toyo Tires.”

For further information, check out 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 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.

Cordeiro report; Incase you didn't know, Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup specs!

The Jetta TDI Cup car is powered by a 2.0L, 170 HP, four cylinder TDI clean diesel engine mated to a six-speed, double-clutch, automatic DSG transmission.
The car is only slightly modified from stock with Pirelli racing tires, race suspension and brake components, drivers racing safety seat, FIA roll cage and an on-board fire extinguisher system.

Specs:

Engine capacity: 1968cc, 4 valves per cyl., 170HP, 258 ft-lbs tq @ 1900-2500 rpm.

Fuel: Hyperfuels SynDiesel B5 Biofuel

Brakes: Fronts\\ 4-piston fixed-caliper disc brakes, internally ventilated, 356mm (14")Rears\\ Single-piston floating-caliper disc brake, 255mm (10")

Wheels: 18x8.5" light alloy rims

Tires: Pirelli 245/645-18" slick and rain tires

Curb weight: 1,290kg (2,844 lbs)

Data logging: Memotec AIM data logging system with display

Safety: ABS brakes, 6-point racing safety harness, DefeNder head and neck restraint system, FIA approved roll cage,
FIA homologated fire extinguishing system, recovery hooks front and rear, electric cutout switch, driver side window safety net, Recaro race seat



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