NASCAR Canadian Tire Series: Tagliani On Pole With Record Run In Trois-Rivieres

Tagliani On Pole With Record Run Joined By Kennington On Front Row

TROIS-RIVIERES, Que. (Aug. 15, 2009) – Alex Tagliani set a series track record and won the pole position in NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 qualifying for Sunday afternoon's GP3R 100 at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres.

Tagliani, a native of Lachenaie, Que., posted a series-record lap time of 68.374 seconds in group qualifying on the 10-turn, 1.53-mile Circuit de Trois-Rivieres for an average speed of 80.557 mph as he and DJ Kennington exchanged the top spot on consecutive laps at one point during their 10-minute qualifying session. Kennington's fastest lap was timed at 68.712 seconds (80.161 mph).

It was Tagliani's first series career pole as he bettered JR Fitzpatrick's record of 68.446 seconds (80.472 mph) set a year ago.

"It's really a tribute to my crew," said Tagliani. "They have not had a lot of time with the car, but they certainly gave me a fast one that turns pretty good."
The second row will consist of current point standings leader Andrew Ranger, who posted a time of 69.012 seconds (79.812 mph) and Anthony Simone with a time of 69.074 seconds (79.741 mph).

Jacques Villeneuve, former Formula One and Indy 500 champion, will start from the fifth position after posting a time of 69.142 seconds (79.662 mph).

Don Thomson Jr., Scott Steckly, Ron Beauchamp Jr., Trevor Seibert and Mark Dilley rounded out the top-10 qualifiers.
The GP3R 100 is set to get underway on Sunday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. ET.

For more information, contact:
Shon Sbarra, NASCAR Public Relations, (704) 309-5493 or ssbarra@nascar.com<mailto:ssbarra@nascar.com>

NASCAR CANADIAN TIRE SERIES presented by MOBIL 1 - GP3R 100 Lineup
Race Sunday; Qualifying Saturday
at Circuit de Trois-Rivieres
Trois-Rivieres, Quebec
Lap Length: 1.53 miles
1. (03) Alex Tagliani, Lachenaie, Que., Chevrolet, 80.557
2. (17) DJ Kennington, St. Thomas, Ont., Dodge, 80.161
3. (27) Andrew Ranger, Roxton Pond, Que., Ford, 79.812
4. (95) Anthony Simone, Holland Landing, Ont., Chevrolet, 79.741
5. (7) Jacques Villeneuve, Montreal, Que., Ford, 79.662
6. (4) Don Thomson, Jr., Hamilton, Ont., Chevrolet, 79.434
7. (22) Scott Steckly, Milverton, Ont., Dodge, 79.309
8. (60) Ron Beauchamp, Jr., Windsor, Ont., Dodge, 79.227
9. (69) Trevor Seibert, Williams Lake, B.C., Ford, 78.962
10. (9) Mark Dilley, Barrie, Ont., Dodge, 78.955
11. (47) L.P. Dumoulin, Trois-Rivieres, Que., Dodge, 78.763
12. (02) Kerry Micks, Mt. Albert, Ont., Ford, 78.445
13. (3) Jason Hathaway, Appin, Ont., Dodge, 78.293
14. (40) Joey Hanssen, Venray, Holland, Dodge, 77.992
15. (07) J.F. Dumoulin, Trois-Rivieres, Que., Pontiac, 77.958
16. (23) Jeff Lapcevich, Grimsby, Ont., Chevrolet, 77.953
17. (66) Robin Buck, Campbellville, Ont., Ford, 77.765
18. (29) Pierre Bourque, Ottawa, Ont., Dodge, 77.498
19. (71) Patrice Brisebois, West Mount, Que., Dodge, 77.323
20. (44) Jarrad Whissell, Calgary, Alberta, Ford, 77.223
21. (18) Kent Nuhn, Williamsford, Ont., Chevrolet, 76.989
22. (39) Dave Whitlock, Petrolia, Ont., Dodge, 76.793
23. (21) Jason White, Sun Peaks, B.C., Chevrolet, 76.337
24. (56) Howie Scannell, Jr., Milton, Ont., Dodge, 76.267
25. (5) Andre Coursol, St. Jerome, Que., Chevrolet, 75.057
26. (13) Cale Gale, Mobile, Ala., Chevrolet, 73.416
27. (55) Dexter Stacey, Kahnawake, Que., Pontiac, 73.416
28. (99) Derek White, Kahnawake, Que., Chevrolet, 72.950
29. (67) David Thorndyke, Oshawa, Ont., Chevrolet, 72.674
* Denotes Rookie of the Year Contender

NASCAR Canadian Tire Series: Bourque Trois-Rivieres Preview

Bourque displays military support at the GP de Trois-Rivières

For immediate release

OTTAWA, ONTARIO (August 15, 2009) – Having already raced in support of the Military Families Fund (MFF) throughout the 2009 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series season, Ottawa's Pierre Bourque is expanding on his racing program's Canadian military theme this weekend at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières.

Bourque is racing with primary sponsorship from WoundedWarriors.ca and associate sponsorship from William Scully Ltd. And as he has at every Canadian Tire Series race he's participated in this season, the driver of the Whitlock Motorsports-prepared No. 29 Dodge will donate all of his race winnings to the Military Families Fund.

"I'm very pleased to announce that I will be racing with sponsorship from WoundedWarriors.ca and William Scully Ltd. at both this weekend's Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières and at the big NASCAR Nationwide / Canadian Tire Series weekend at Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve at the end of the August," said Bourque, just hours before practice at Trois-Rivières.

"WoundedWarriors.ca is a not-for-profit charity that supports Canadian soldiers who have been wounded overseas and who suffer from non-visible wounds like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It is an extremely worthy cause because of what they do and because they keep their administrative costs well below 5%. We are looking forward to educating racing fans about WoundedWarriors.ca and how they can assist Canada's injured soldiers. As well, our new associate sponsor, William Scully Ltd., has a long and proud history of supporting and celebrating Canada's military as the leading manufacturer and retailer of military uniform equipment and we're very pleased that they will be on the No. 29 WoundedWarriors.ca / William Scully Ltd. Dodge for the two upcoming road course events in Quebec."

The Race: Sunday's GP3R 100 at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières is the ninth race of the 13-event 2009 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series season, and the third of four road course races on the schedule. The track is a 1.53-mile temporary street circuit. Qalifying slated for Saturday at 3:20 p.m. The green flag flies on the season's third road course race at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday (Aug. 16). The GP3R 100 will be broadcast on TSN at noon on August 29. Current points leader Andrew Ranger is the defending winner of the Trois-Rivières race. This year's GP3R is the 40th anniversary of the legendary event; one of Canada's most celebrated racing weekends.

About Pierre Bourque: During the week, Pierre Bourque is the man behind Bourque Newswatch (www.bourque.com) a website that goes deep behind the scenes of Canadian politics. Dubbed as "Canada's Online News Authority" it follows the movers and shakers of Canada's political scene. On weekends, Bourque does some moving and shaking of his own, competing in car races in several series, including NASCAR, ARCA and Grand-Am. You can also follow Pierre's Tweets at www.twitter.com/pierrebourque.

About Wounded Warriors.ca: Wounded Warriors.ca is an independent not-for-profit charity that supports Canadian soldiers wounded overseas. It is primarily a fundraising mechanism that supports existing programs that tend to soldiers. Wounded Warriors.ca recognizes the priority to treat visible and non-visible injuries, like that of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. In three years, Wounded Warriors.ca has raised more than $400,000 and, as an all-volunteer organization, is able to keep its administration costs well below 5 per cent. The health of this fund is a credit to the benevolence of Canadian corporations and citizens alike. www.woundedwarriors.ca

About William Scully Ltd.: Located in Montreal, the firm of William Scully Ltd. earned a special place in Canadian military history by becoming the first firm to produce regulation headdresses and badges in Canada. The company has been manufacturing and selling uniform equipment since 1877. For more information, visit them on the web at www.williamscully.ca.

About the Military Families Fund: The Military Families Fund (MFF) is an agile and responsive organization that helps military families within hours of being advised of need. It assists with short-term emergencies and also provides long-term support. The MFF allows for several areas of support, including rehabilitation, education, financial assistance in the case of injury or death of a Canadian Forces member due to service, and urgent and extraordinary financial demands where the ability to provide family necessities is at risk. For more information or to donate, visit www.cfpsa.com.

About the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series: The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series (NCATS) is Canada's top motorsports tour. The 13-race series features events across Canada, from BC to Nova Scotia, with a combination of oval and road course events at the nation's top facilities and race weekends. For more information, visit www.nascar.ca.

Globe & Mail: F1's return to Canada will be at bargain price

Manufacturers' teams were eager to have a race in North America again

By Jeff Pappone // Globe and Mail Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009

Less than a year after losing its grand prix because it couldn't afford the price tag, Formula One looks ready to return to Montreal at a relative bargain.

With the recession tempering expectations and the teams' desire to return to North America combining to force F1 commercial boss Bernie Ecclestone's hand, it is thought the deal on the table to bring the race back to the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in 2010 is worth about $75-million over five years.

Last fall, Ecclestone demanded a guaranteed $175-million over five years from Montreal and then axed the race when he didn't get it.

.... continued at the link above

Note: Jeff Pappone is an active Twitterer....

Grand-Am To Hold Special Test At Indianapolis Motor Speedway

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 13, 2009) - Grand-Am Road Racing announced today it will sanction a test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Thursday, Sept. 3, featuring nine cars from its Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16.

 The Daytona Prototype teams scheduled to test include defending series champion No. 01 TELMEX Lexus Riley, No. 99 GAINSCO Pontiac Riley, No. 10 SunTrust Ford Dallara, No. 6 Michael Shank Racing Ford Riley and the No. 90 Spirit of Daytona Racing Porsche Coyote. 2004 Indianapolis 500 winner Buddy Rice is scheduled to co-pilot the No. 90.

 The GT class teams expected to test include the No. 87 Farnbacher Loles Racing Porsche GT3, No. 07 Drinkin' Mate Pontiac GXP.R, No. 57 BryanMark Financial Pontiac GXP.R and No. 70 SpeedSource Castrol Syntec Mazda RX-8.

 "We are very excited to have this opportunity to see the performance of our sports cars at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway," said Grand-Am President Roger Edmondson. "I look forward to the overall reaction from our participants, fans and media, and determining the future possibility of our series competing at this iconic facility."

 Fans and media are welcome to attend the test to see the teams testing on the F1 and MOTO-GP track configurations. The test will be used to gauge the level of interest of holding a sports car event at the facility among the fans, teams and media.

 Additional details of the test will be announced in the near future.

 The next Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series race will be the Aug. 29 Montreal 200 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, in Montreal, Quebec (SPEED Live, 2 p.m. ET).

From Grand-Am

DRAGS: Doc's Holiday team eyes big prize in Brainerd

Doc’s Holiday team keeps its eye on the big prize in Brainerd

WINNIPEG — The last time the Doc’s Holiday drag racing team visited Brainerd International Raceway, back in May, driver Roger Bateman took a leisurely stroll into the winner’s circle.

Well, perhaps leisurely is the wrong word, as Bateman did still blast down the quarter-mile in eight seconds and change. But the Winnipeg-based Friesen Motorsports entry was uncontested in the top alcohol funny car final of the National Hot Rod Association divisional meet, with fellow Winnipegger Scott McVey unable to answer the bell after damaging his engine in the semifinal.

Now, as they motor back to Minnesota, members of the unsponsored Friesen Motorsports crew, owned by Winnipeg dentist Dr. Brian Friesen, are hoping for that kind of luck — if necessary — on the NHRA’s national stage. Heading into the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, which run from Thursday, Aug. 13 through Sunday, Aug. 16 at BIR, Bateman and the Doc’s Holiday team are zero-for-six in NHRA national-event finals, including their last action at the NHRA Northwest Nationals in Seattle on July 19.

“We’ve obviously got no talent, so we need to be lucky,” jokes Bateman with a healthy chuckle. “Seriously, I don’t know what it is with (national) finals. We always seem to lose the same way . . . we just don’t make the run. We’re always smoking the tires, or something.”

Call it what you will — the law of averages, racer’s luck, just plain dumb luck —the Doc’s Holiday team will take it, once that national-event Wally is on the line.

“We just need a break,” says the Calgary-based Bateman, who pilots the outfit’s 2009 Ford Mustang. “I don’t know how long we can do what we do, without the other guy having a problem that’s worse than ours . . . or us just making a decent run and winning.

“It’s not the sort of thing that gets to me. If it’s your time to do well, you will,” adds Bateman. “Once you get to a final, you kind of go up there and think, ‘Well, no matter what happens, it could have been a lot worse this weekend.’ ”

The Friesen Motorsports team has had plenty of practice in final rounds this season, which has been the team’s most successful to date since Bateman started piloting the car in 2006. Through four NHRA national events, five divisional Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series dates and one International Hot Rod Association national meet in Edmonton this summer, they’ve been to six finals, emerging as top eliminator in three.

The ’09 tour de force has propelled the Doc’s Holiday team into fifth place on the NHRA’s overall TAFC standings, and a sizeable points lead in its quest to repeat as the NHRA’s West Central Division, or Division 5, champion.

The Winnipeggers skipped last weekend’s event at Cordova Dragway Park in Cordova, Ill., their lone no-show on this year’s six-race Division 5 calendar. And their nearest competitor for the divisional title, Vern Moats of Des Moines, Iowa, bowed out in the second round of eliminations, leaving him about 95 points back of Bateman.

“I’ve talked to a few guys who say, ‘Oh, it’s over with already.’ And I tell them, ‘No, it isn’t. It’s never over until it’s over,’ ” remarks Bateman. “I’m going to go race like it’s dead even, not like we have an advantage.”

After launching at one meet in five weekends, the Doc’s Holiday team now faces a challenging stretch of four in five — Brainerd this weekend, a Division 5 event at Topeka, Ks., on Aug. 28-29, the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis from Sept. 2-7, and the Division 5 finale at Earlville, Iowa, from Sept. 11-13.

“You prefer to keep racing when the car is good, rather than taking some time off,” notes Bateman. “We’ve had a great start. We’ve run 5.50s in a lot of places, and we’ve gone exceptionally fast in places where nobody had before, like Great Bend, Kansas.

“But when you’ve got volunteer crew guys who all work, and the doc’s running it out of his pocket with no support, you’ve got to have these breaks,” he adds. “After these next four, (the team’s schedule) depends on whether we can improve (in national standings) or not.”

For sponsorship opportunities, or for more information on Friesen Motorsports, please visit www.docsholiday.com. From Todd Kimberley.

ABOUT FRIESEN MOTORSPORTS: The Winnipeg-based Doc’s Holiday outfit, which is actively seeking sponsorship, is the premier top alcohol funny car (TAFC) drag racing team in the nation, holding both ends of the all-time Canadian record. Friesen Motorsports is defending TAFC champion in the National Hot Rod Association’s West Central Division, or Division 5. Driver Roger Bateman of Calgary, who’d won an NHRA divisional crown in 1998 with the Showdown outfit, has guided Friesen Motorsports to two NHRA top-10 overall TAFC finishes since he began driving for the team in 2006.

NASCAR Legend Ken Schrader to Race at Scotia Speedworld

(Halifax, NS, August 13, 2009) NASCAR Superstar Ken Schrader will be racing at Scotia Speedworld on Friday, August 21st.  Schrader is a 20 year veteran on the NASCAR circuit and on August 21st he will be racing in Scotia Speedworld’s Weekly Racing Series presented by C&R Auto Supply.  Schrader will be featured in the Sportsman division and will race in an extended 50 lap event.  Fans will also have the opportunity to meet the NASCAR legend during a 1 hour on track autograph session.  Tickets will be available at the gate only.  Main gates open at 5:00pm and racing is set to get underway at 7:00pm. 

Over the past 20 years in NASCAR, Schrader has collected a total 732 starts and more than $30 million in earnings. He has four wins to his credit in the Sprint Cup ranks (Talladega, 1988; Charlotte 1989; Atlanta, 1991; Dover, 1991) as well as 64 top-five and 184 top-10 finishes.

Since he was a little boy growing up in Fenton, Mo. Schrader has found some of his greatest happiness driving in circles, and after 20 full seasons in NASCAR’s elite series, Schrader still can’t wait to put on his helmet, strap in his driver’s seat and chase the checkered flag every Sunday afternoon or any other day of the week for that matter.

It is that desire and dedication to drive that has earned Schrader the reputation around the garage as a true racer’s racer. It’s nothing for Schrader to run a couple of dirt races during the week, compete in the Sprint Cup Series on the weekend, and then show up at another dirt track show on Monday night.

 “I want to spend my time racing,” Schrader said. “It’s not only my job, but it’s also my hobby. I love the time that I get to spend behind the wheel, and as long as I can, I’m going to race whenever I get the chance.”

For the past 20 years, Schrader has focused on racing full-time in the Sprint Cup Series. However, he also drives for his self-owned team in a variety of series including the Camping World Truck Series, the NASCAR Grand National West Division, the NASCAR Auto Zone Elite Southwest Series and the ARCA Series.

Admission for the C&R Auto Supply Night featuring Ken Schrader is $12.00 for adults; $2.00 for youth aged 8-15; children 7 and under are admitted free. All children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Pit admission is $15.00 and restricted to those 16 and older.  Tickets are available at the gate on race day. Visit www.ScotiaSpeedworld.ca for more information or call our event hotline at 902.873.2277.

Format for Friday, August 21st
4:00 pm Pit Gate Opens
4:30 pm Tech Opens
5:00 pm Grandstands Open
5:15 pm Practice Starts (SP, LG, LI, TH)
6:30 pm Practice Ends
6:35 pm Bandolero Practice/Drivers Meeting
Drivers Meeting @ Line Up Board (SP, LG, LI, TH)
7:00 pm Opening Ceremonies

Heat Races
Sojourn Signs Bandolero (8 laps)
C&R Auto Supply Sportsman (10 laps)
Miller Tire Lightning (10 laps)
Miller Tire Thunder (10 laps)
Legends (10 laps)

Features
Sojourn Signs Bandolero (15 laps)
Autograph Session featuring Ken Schrader
C&R Auto Supply Sportsman (50 laps) – Featuring Ken Schrader
Legends Semi (12 laps) if necessary
Miller Tire Thunder Semi (12 laps) if necessary
Miller Tire Lightning (20 laps)
Legends (25 laps)
Miller Tire Thunder “A” (25 laps)

*schedule subject to change

About Scotia Speedworld: Scotia Speedworld (SSW) is a 3/10-mile asphalt oval racing facility.  SSW is the only venue in Nova Scotia to host a weekly racing series, which runs May through September and features six different classes of racecars. SSW also hosts special events, including Monster Jam and the CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour. SSW is located at Exit 6 on Highway 102, across from the Halifax Stanfield International Airport. For more information please click on www.ScotiaSpeedworld.ca or call our Event Hotline at (902) 873-2277 or our office at (902) 481-2514.

Media Contact: Tara Foster // 902.429.4069 // 902.488.0809 cell // Media@maritimeprostocktour.com

ACT TOUR ANNOUNCES $250,000 'MONEY MONTH' FOR LATE MODEL TEAMS

Waterbury, VT – The American Canadian Tour (ACT) announced today that over a 30-day period from August 29th through September 27th there would be purses posted of over a quarter million dollars for Late Model race teams in the Northeast and Canada.

Starting with the Coors Light Showdown of Champions event at the 1/3-mile banked Autodrome Chaudiere in the Beauce region outside Quebec City, the top eleven (11) US ACT Tour teams will go head to head with the top (11) ACT Castrol Serie teams. The winner of the event gets the grand prize of $5,000 from the $35,000 in posted purse. Everyone is guaranteed $1,000 minimum, but this year, promoter Michel Lessard has posted a 'kicker'. The winning 'team', be it the US or Castrol team, will share equal portions of an added $5,500.00. The $500 bonus per member will go to the team whose 11 total finishes outpoint the other team. The biggest names in ACT racing from both sides of the border will be attending the second edition of the Showdown. Patrick Laperle barely beat defending ACT Castrol Champion, Alexandre Gingras, in the inaugural 200-lap event in 2008.

The Americans won the overall title as a team last year. Ironically, former Castrol Champions Patrick Laperle of Montreal and Donald Theetge from Quebec City both helped the US team win as they raced on the ACT US Tour in 2008. This year they are locked in a tight battle for the ACT Castrol Serie championship in Quebec and Ontario and will be representing the Canadian team during the classic.

Next up in the marathon 'ACT Money Month' will be a return to Thunder Road Speedbowl in Barre, Vermont for the 47th annual running of the Bond Auto Labor Day Classic. A record purse and prize posting of $45,000 has been offered. Renowned car builder and car owner Pete Duto entered Brad Leighton from Center Harbor, NH in last year's Classic. In one of the most memorable come-back races in the long history of Thunder Road, Leighton crashed twice in the event but came back to win $10,000 and the first place trophy. He will be back to defend the Bond Auto Labor Day Classic in 2009.

One of the most anticipated events of the year is up next for the Late Model teams. The long awaited return of the Fall Foliage 300 is back on the ACT schedule in 2009. The newly renovated and redesigned Airborne Speedway in Plattsburgh, NY will again host the historic '300' weekend with a posted purse of $40,000. This fall classic event was held in many forms and different numbers of laps. The inaugural event was held in 1972 and was won by Bobby Dragon of Milton, VT. Catamount continued the tradition of a big fall event until it closed in 1987. After the closing of Catamount, the race moved to Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough, ME for a three-year stop. Buzzie Bezanson of Plaistow, NH surprised all present with a no pit stop '300' win in 1989.

Two of the greatest Late Model drivers in New England racing history won the other two Beech Ridge events, Robbie Crouch from Tampa, FL in 1988, and "Dynamite" Dave Dion from Hudson, NH won in 1990.   The race moved to Airborne Raceway for the next ten years. A one and only stop for the '300' took place at Thunder Road in 2003, where Ryan Moore, in his only year racing the ACT Tour, was the surprise winner. The Fall Foliage 300 returned to Airborne the following year and has found its home there since 2004. The most recent ACT winners included Airborne and ACT Champions Brent Dragon and Jean-Paul Cyr of Milton, VT, and Quebec's great Patrick Laperle. Under the leadership of present owner Steve Fuller and promoter Mike Perotte, the outstanding DIRT driver Kenny Tremont, Jr.has won all three Fall Foliage extra distance events in a Modified on the ½-mile asphalt speedway. The ACT Tour returns in 2009 after a three-year absence.

The championship month will continue with what has become the most talked-about event in Northeastern Late Model racing of any kind this season. The inaugural ACT INVITATIONAL at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway will take place on Saturday, September 19. No championship title points, no pressure, just an historic day for Late Model racers throughout the region, as they race for $65,000 and a name in the NHMS record books. This year-long promotion will be the racing career highlight for many of the lucky 36 invitees. It is sure to be a highlight for the many short track fans that take in the atmosphere of the first NASCAR Chase event weekend held each September at NHMS.

Finally, the $250,000 month will fittingly come to a close with the 'grand-daddy' event of them all, the 47th Annual Chittenden Milk Bowl. Thunder Road will bring the curtain down on its 50th season with a $10,000-to-win, $70,000 Milk Bowl. The gloves are sure to come off at this year's Milk Bowl. For the first time in recent memory this event will be strictly for the money, the glory, the right to kiss the cow --- with no points for either Thunder Road teams or ACT Tour teams. The three-segment format of the Milk Bowl provides the ultimate equal playing field for the ACT competitors. You don't have to win all three segments, you just need to race every lap like it is the white flag lap, and have a whole bunch of luck.

The ACT Late Models have reached the top of the Northeastern-racing scene. Promoters have recognized them as the best in the business, and tracks from throughout the Northeast and Quebec are rewarding them with the ACT $250,000 Money Month of racing. The real winners will be the fans.

For additional information contact the Thunder Road office at 802.244.6963 or media@acttour.com 

Soft Pauer: Official F1 Timing and Track Positioning Application for the iPhone and iPod touch update

Just like the F1 teams, Soft Pauer, developers of an official F1 Timing and Track Positioning Application for the iPhone and iPod touch, are constantly looking at every angle to improve performance.

For the 2009 Formula 1 Telefonica Grand Prix of Europe, the fourth race since the Application’s official launch, Soft Pauer is pleased to announce the following upgrades to its package.

*               Pause, fast forward and rewind functions to improve the experience and enable easy synchronization to tape delayed races when using the playback function.
*               Time gap between your chosen driver and every other driver in the field, updated each lap.
*               Lap time differences between your chosen driver and the rest of the field available for every lap of the race.

All these new features are available at the reduced total price of 9.99GBP for the remaining seven races of the 2009 season.

So you may not be able to see what Michael Schumacher is up to, but there’s no better way to find out how real Lewis Hamilton’s resurgence is, and whether Kimi Raikkonen can continue to mix it up with Sebastian Vettel, Mark Webber, and under-pressure front-runner Jenson Button.

What’s more, the 3G coverage in Valencia will allow unprecedented access for spectators at the circuit. So there’ll never be a better opportunity to add an extra dimension to the Grand Prix-viewing experience, via your iPhone.

Commenting on the Application, Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel, said “I like to analyse my races to see where I could have done things better. This application allows me to analyse each race using both the dynamic circuit map and the live timing, and that helps to explain why certain things happened.”

*               An Official F1TM Timing and Track Positioning Application is available for iPhone and iPod touch users with 3G or WiFi coverage.
*               To provide the service, SofPauer has a dedicated set of servers and team of engineers working every race weekend.
*               The application can be downloaded from the iTunes App Store and via the following link: http://www.softpauer.com/f1app/link.html

Issued by Soft Pauer Media Office

ROAD RACING: Podiums and Pole for BGR/TLM with Grote at BARC Canadian Touring Trophy Races

The BGR/TLM with Grote squad had a very busy weekend at Mosport over the August 8-9 weekend, with 5 podiums spread out amonst the team drivers in all 3 OFFC classes. Leading the way was the Supertint, The ABL Group, Amsoil, Synthetics Lubricants.ca Vandiemen of Stefan Rzadzinski who had a stellar weekend collecting two 3rd place finishes and a Pole position in treacherous conditions for the Sunday round of the OFFC.

Stefan led for the first few laps sunday and ran in the lead trio for the whole race against the much more experienced veterans of the series. Mikhail Goikhberg finished a short distance back for 4th on Saturday and was on pole for Sunday right up to the last lap where Stefan pipped him right at the end as well as Matt White.

Mikhail ran 3rd right on the lead duo  until a spin ended his race. Fabio Urbano in his Metropolitan/ Urbano Electric/Amsoil entry had another solid weekend, running quicker each session and improving steadily he is surely going to be a driver to be reckoned with in the future. Finishing 7th and 6th over the two days his lap times are only 10ths of a second off his more experienced teamates.

Ivan Graham had another double podium weekend in the B class with 2nd Saturday and 3rd on Sunday, he has not finished off the podium this year and despite missing several rounds runs 4th in the points. Kieran Murphy collected a 2nd and 4th in the C class in his second appearance this season.

We are very happy with the weekend, after his big win in Calabogie, Stefan now knows how to win and that he can win here at Mosport as well. Mikhail had a great run on Saturday and looked like a podium contenter on Sunday but a mistake that has bitten the best out there including multiple time champion Shane Jantzi earlier in the day, ended his great run.

Fabio did a great job, he was less than a second off Stefan and for a new driver without years of karting to learn racecraft he is coming along perfectly. We are looking forward to the final rounds of the series as well as the CanAm Cup. We have some new drivers doing some private testing in the next couple of weeks and will continue to test right into late fall as well. Interested drivers should check out our website for more info.

OHSWEKEN SPEEDWAY: ASCS PATRIOTS AND CHRISTMAS IN AUGUST THIS FRIDAY

By Tommy Goudge (August 13, 2009) – Another special event comes to Ohsweken Speedway’s Friday Night Thunder this week when Trailers By Jim Bray presents the American Sprint Car Series Patriot region tour, along with the ESSO Thunder Stocks, ESSO Mini Stocks, and Bombers, plus Christmas in August and Autograph night!

The ASCS Patriots tour heads to Ohsweken with Little Valley, NY driver Jared Zimbardi leading the championship standings by a narrow two point margin over Bryan Howland of Auburn, NY.  Both drivers have seen success at the Speedway.  Zimbardi claimed the runner-up spot in the weekly Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Car division standings at Ohsweken last season and also won a feature.  Howland, meanwhile, was just a few laps from claiming his second consecutive Northern Summer Nationals victory at Ohsweken in July when his front wing came off and obscured his vision, forcing him off the track. 

Zimbardi and Howland will be joined other Patriot tour regulars, including brothers Bobby and Blake Breen, Don Adamczyk, “Bubba” Broderick, Scott Kreutter, Brandan Warner, Derek Jonathon, rookie candidate Devin Caron, and Pennsylvania driver Trevor Lewis who will be making his first visit to Ohsweken.  Many of Ohsweken’s regular Corr/Pak competitors are expected to defend home turf against the traveling invaders, including Glenn Styres, Ryan Hunsinger, Keith Dempster, Jamie Collard, Kevin Loveys, James Evans, Mikey Kruchka, Jim Huppunen, John Burbridge, Stan Zanchin, Travis Cunningham, and Dain Naida.

The battle for the ESSO Thunder Stocks title remains a tight one, as Shayne Pierce extended his lead over Billy Bleich, Jr. to fifteen points last Friday night.  Jamie Cox beat Pierce to the line for his second feature win in a row and third of the season, while Pierce settled for second again, followed by Jeremy Bean who is also ranked third in the points standings, but does not have a feature win yet this year.  Brad Herron finished fifth after starting inside row nine in last week’s feature and remains fourth in the standings, while Cox moved up to fifth in the rankings by virtue of his feature win.

The ESSO Mini Stock competitors raced in their most prestigious event of the season last Friday in the special Art Hill Memorial 42.  Mitchell Brown stormed to the front early and cruised to the victory, his ninth of the season at Ohsweken and second consecutive Art Hill Memorial victory.  This week it’s back to a regular fifteen lap feature for the Mini Stock drivers, who are all chasing points leader Brown.  Kevin Hilborn is Brown’s nearest challenger, while Mike Evers sits third in the standings followed by Rick Emberson and Dave Goodacre.  2008 track champion Abel Castelein is sixth, despite missing an event.

In Bomber division action, Karl Sault has been on a roll lately and claimed his fourth feature win of the season last Friday night.  Kacey Huffman had troubles last week, but remains second in the points standings to Sault, while the father/son team of Jesse and Mike McDonald sit third, followed by Team 113 and Team 13c.

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 14 when Trailers By Jim Bray presents the ASCS Patriots, ESSO Thunder Stocks, ESSO Mini-Stocks, and Bombers, plus Christmas in August, and Autograph Night!  Santa Claus will be visiting the Speedway, and all your favourite drivers will be available for autographs and photo opportunities, so be sure to bring your cameras!

Friday Night Thunder Adult General Admission for this special event is just $15 (or $10 with a new, unwrapped toy donation), while Seniors and Students are $10 (or $8 with a new, unwrapped toy donation), 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.

Mosport's Racetour Display to kick off busy August schedule

BOWMANVILLE, ON (August 12, 2009) – This week kicks off a busy August schedule for Mosport’s popular RaceTour Display in advance of the biggest sports car race of the year, the Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport, Aug. 27-30.  

First up for the RaceTour is a two-night appearance at J.P. Fitzpatrick & Son across from the AMC Theatres at the Whitby Entertainment Centrum (75 Consumers Dr.), Aug. 13-14 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Mosport’s sleek, exotic American Le Mans Series prototype show car will be on hand and prizes will be given away including tickets to the Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport. These appearances are being held in conjunction with Mill St., the official beer of Mosport.

On Sunday, Aug. 16 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., the RaceTour will head to Boston Pizza in Bowmanville (2372 Hwy. #2) for the Mosport Patio Party for an afternoon of racecars, drivers and fun. Joining the RaceTour show car will be drivers Jim Rossiter and Bill Northam who compete in Mosport Speedway’s Saturday night stock car racing series. Rossiter and Northam's race cars will also be on display. Tickets for the Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport and Mosport Speedway events will be given away. The drivers will be available for autographs and fans are encouraged to bring their cameras to both RaceTour stops.

A four-day SuperTicket for the Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport is just $65 until Aug. 26 ($80 at the Gate) and each ticket includes parking, paddock admission, and entrance to Saturday Night Stock Car racing at Mosport Speedway. Children 12 and under are free when accompanied by a paid adult admission. Single day tickets are also available.

For more information about Mosport ticket packages and camping, 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.

Photo: Mosport International Raceway
For Further Information: Lee Bailie, Mosport, (905) 995-8313 (cell.) or email lee@mosport.com

KONI Challenge Competitors Head North Of Border For 40th Annual Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres

Twelve Canadians Shooting For Win In Series' Only Visit To Canada In 2009

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 12, 2009) - The 2009 Grand-Am KONI Sports Car Challenge season is quickly coming to a close, but this weekend's race at Le Circuit de Trois-Rivières in Quebec focuses on more than just championship battles.

Round 9 of 11 for KONI Challenge competitors comes during the 40th annual Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières on the 1.521-mile temporary street circuit, about two hours northeast of Montreal. This will be the series' fifth visit to the annual event, and in each visit, a Quebec native has won at least one of the races.

Split-class races for the Grand Sport (GS) and Street Tuner (ST) classes are slated, with the ST race scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m. ET Saturday and the GS race at 9:15 a.m. ET Sunday. Both races will last 90 minutes.

Toronto's Ken Wilden leads a charge of a dozen Canadians challenging for one of the two race victories. Wilden, a two-time race winner in 2009 and co-driver of the No. 59 Rehagen Racing Ford Mustang GT, holds an 18-point lead (236-218) in the GS standings over James Gue and Bret Seafuse, co-pilots of the No. 37 Trumansburg ShurSave Ford Mustang GT.

Gue and Seafuse are coming off a victory at Barber Motorsports Park, and Gue raced to a second-place finish in last year's race, won by Kinetic Motorsports drivers Marc-Antoine Camirand and Andy Lally. Wilden, seeking his first career Grand-Am title, is again paired with Dean Martin.

Turner Motorsport has twice won at Trois-Rivières, both times with Chris Gleason, who is fifth in the standings and still in the championship hunt. He is driving with Justin Marks in the No. 97 Turner Motorsport BMW M3, while Matt Bell - who has five GS poles this season - is driving the No. 96 Turner Motorsport BMW M3 with Don Salama.

TRG also has two cars entered, with Duncan Ende - fourth in points - running the No. 39 DigiTrust Group/Adam's Polishes Porsche 997 with Spencer Pumpelly, while Lally - who made his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut Monday at Watkins Glen International - will drive the No. 41 Magnus Racing Porsche 997 with John Potter.

Vancouver's David Riddle completes the Canadian driver lineup in GS, driving the No. 26 C-Max Porsche 997, co-driven by Kris Wilson and fielded by BGB Motorsports.

In ST, point leader Christian Miller leads by 18 points (231-213) over Kristian Skavnes and Andrew Aquilante, who picked up six points with their third-place finish at Barber. This weekend, Miller welcomes Boischetel, Quebec, driver Benoit Theetge as his co-driver of the No. 74 Skunk2/034 Motorsport Honda Civic Si.

Like Camirand - a native of St-Léonard-d'Aston who will drive the team's No. 75 Skunk2/Hondata Honda Civic Si with team owner Karl Thomson - Theetge is one of the top drivers in Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières history and has several victories there, although he is still looking for his first career KONI Challenge victory.

"Honestly, I believe I am on the best team out there," said Theetge, who has led laps in each of the last three KONI Challenge ST races at Trois-Rivières. "But racing is racing. The last three years, I led - 20 minutes from the end, 40 minutes, an hour - but never came up winning. There will be a lot of different strategies. I know the car will be competitive and I will be competitive - it's my home track."

Compass360 Racing is also the defending race-winning team at Trois-Rivières, as the Toronto-based team fielded a car for Adam Burrows and Trevor Hopwood in 2008. The two have moved to the three-car RSR Motorsports stable, where they drive the No. 198 Cruise America/Fischer Skis Mini Cooper S.

The Trois-Rivières area will be represented by 89 Racing Team drivers Jocelyn Hebert of Becancour and Cyril Hamelin of Trois-Rivières. The two have top-10 finishes in each of their starts this season in the No. 189 Trois-Rivières Honda/TVA-Chem Honda Civic Si.

Other Canadian drivers include Gary and Tom Kwok of Markham, Ontario; Paul Dalla Lana and Andrew Danyliw of Toronto; and Gunter Schmidt of Midland, Ontario.

Still, everyone in the KONI ST class is chasing APR Motorsport, which has won the last three races and four pole positions on the season. Ian Baas and Josh Hurley triumphed in the most recent race at Barber in the No. 171 APR/Gunther VW Volkswagen GTI, while Dion von Moltke and Mike Sweeney - winners at Watkins Glen International and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course - seek their third triumph in four races in the No. 181 APR/BBS Volkswagen GTI.

For more information:  Michael Harker, 386-547-3943, mharker@grand-am.com

NPP LATE MODEL SERIES: Beaulieu and Emond ready for stretch drive

www.npp-racing.com

FROM: GORD CRAIG cellphone: (780) 886 – 5232
RE: UPCOMING RACE WEEKEND
RELEASE DATE: Wednesday, August 12th, 2009
===========================================

BEAULIEU AND EMOND READY FOR STRETCH DRIVE

EDMONTON, AB (August 12) - The Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series enters the stretch drive of the 2009 season this weekend.  “This is a crucial part of the season,” says NPP Series announcer Gord Craig, “the point’s race is extremely tight right now.  With just seven races to go, having a bad night or an off night is not an option.” 

Lethbridge, Alberta’s Bridge County Raceway and Rocky Mountain Raceway Park, south of Calgary, host the NPP Late Model Series this Saturday and Sunday.  “This is our third and final Southern Alberta road trip of the season.”  Jason Beaulieu, who sits second in the NPP Series Championship Points chase, has reason to smile entering race action.  The Campbell River BC has won five of the last six NPP Features at Bridge County Raceway dating back to July of 2007.  Beaulieu also won the NPP Feature at Rocky Mountain Raceway Park on June 20th.  “I’m not going to change the way I drive at all,” exclaims the driver of the #46 Lucas Oil Dodge, “its two different tracks and two race nights.  The number one goal right now is finishing near the front Saturday and Sunday.” 

Jason Beaulieu (#46) and Trevor Emond (#17) looking for more ‘success’ in Southern Alberta

One driver hoping to stop Beaulieu’s Southern Alberta domination is Leduc, Alberta’s Trevor Emond.  “Our best finish in Lethbridge so far this year is fifth.  At our last race there (June 27th), we hurt the motor.”  Emond however did drive his Glentel Wireless #17 Chevrolet to a second place finish at Rocky Mountain Raceway Park in June.  Last year Emond drove to RMRP’s victory lane twice.  “We know we have a good car.  We’ve got the setup.  It’s just a matter of getting out their and getting the job done.” 

Emond, who sits sixth in the NPP Series Championship Points Chase, is coming off a win in Edmonton on the August long weekend.  “I sure hope we can keep the momentum going.”  The three-time NPP Series Champion (2003, 04, 05) has a win, a second and a third in his last three NPP Feature events. Emond is 50 points back of two-time NPP Series Champion (2001, 06) Dwight Kennedy who sits fifth in the NPP Series Championship Points Chase. 

Altario, Alberta’s Kevin Clark is fourth in the standings just 10 points ahead of Kennedy.   Stony Plain Alberta’s Mike Tom sits third in points just 22 points behind Jason Beaulieu.  Sidney, British Columbia’s Darrell Midgley remains number one in points with a 138 point cushion over Beaulieu. 

ROCKY MTN RACEWAY PARK
FEATURE WINS
Trevor Emond              3
Dwight Kennedy           2
Jason Beaulieu  1
Kevin Clark                  1
Gerry Emond                1
Paul Grundberg            1

BRIDGE COUNTY RACEWAY
FEATURE WINS
Jason Beaulieu  5
Dwight Kennedy           2
Darrell Midgley 1
Kevin Wheeler 1

BRIDGE COUNTY
RACEWAY – Lethbridge, AB
>Saturday, August 15th
Spectator gates at 5PM
Racing at 7PM

ROCKY MOUNTAIN
RACEWAY PARK – Okotoks/High River, AB
>Sunday, August 16th
Spectator gates at 4PM
Racing at 5PM

2009 POINTS
-as of Wednesday, August 5th
1. #14 Darrell Midgley; Sidney, BC                  Dodge                    1381                           
2. #46 Jason Beaulieu; Campbell River, BC        Dodge                    1243
3. #55 Mike Tom; Stony Plain, Alberta             Chevrolet               1221   
4. # 5 Kevin Clark; Altario, Alberta                  Dodge               1191
5. #81 Dwight Kennedy; Edson, Alberta           Dodge               1181
6. #17 Trevor Emond; Leduc, Alberta              Chevrolet           1131
7. # 8 Pat Fines; Whitecourt, Alberta                Dodge               1077
8. #88 Crystal Kennedy; Edson, Alberta           Dodge               1074
9. #80 Curtis Moore; Sherwood Park, AB           Dodge               1067
10.# 7 Shawn Kennedy; Edson, Alberta           Dodge               1049
11.#12 Paul Grundberg; Whitecourt, AB                 Pontiac              944
12.#01 Stewart/Deathridge; Team Alberta              Dodge               922
13.#78 Ken Clark; Edson, Alberta                   Chevrolet           887
14.# 3 Kevin Wheeler; Whitecourt, AB               Dodge               714
15.#00 Blair Snow(R); Calgary, AB                 Chevrolet               660
16.#35 Darin Borysko; Edson, Alberta              Dodge                    531
17.#61 Bruce Broughton; Spruce Grove, AB          Chevrolet           326
18.#42 Brian McCaughan; Okotoks, AB            Chevrolet           201
19.#10 Travis Day; Whitecourt, AB                 Chevrolet           150
20.#49 Brian Levant(R); Calgary, AB              Chevrolet             4

Northern Provincial Pipelines Ltd., based in Edson, Alberta, is title sponsor of the NPP Late Model Series which brings big league racing to Western Canadian race fans.  Northern Provincial Pipelines is also proud to be one of the major sponsors of the #81 Dodge in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

NASCAR Canadian Tire Series News & Notes - Trois-Rivieres

NASCAR Canadian Tire Series News & Notes – Trois-Rivieres

• GP3R 100 Notebook
• Vortex Brake Pads 200 Post-Race Notebook
• Second Career For Brisebois?

Gale Is Benefiting From International Cooperation

The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 has had a driver from France. There is a current competitor from Holland. Its first female driver participated over a year ago in Montreal. Now, it has had its first American-born driver — Cale Gale — start a race.

It may seem odd for a young man out of Mobile, Ala., to end up racing on the short tracks and road courses of Canada, but both Gale, 24, and the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series benefit from the association.

For Gale, it is an opportunity to race in a highly competitive series with two demanding road-course events — Trois-Rivieres and Montreal — still on the schedule which is invaluable experience for a young driver.

As for the series, it opens a door to American drivers and teams by presenting another viable option to build knowledge and skill in an established, competitive series.

Gale's path to Canada is pretty simple to trace. Under contract with Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI), Gale just connected the dots between KHI's long-time relationship with Rheem in the United States to Rheem Canada's new involvement in NASCAR's third-year venture north of the border through Farwell Racing.

"How I got here was Rheem's involvement in this and at KHI," said Gale. "And it was an opportunity for me to get on the track and gain more experience, especially on road courses."

Gale's racing career began at the age of four when his father put him in a go-kart. In 1989, the five-year-old began racing competitively at Mobile (Ala.) Motorsports Park, winning five features in his first year. The following season, he won 25 features and the track championship.

From there, it was on to pure stocks, super stocks and late models before hitting the road in search of stiffer competition. He made his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut in 2006 at Nashville Superspeedway.

He made his NASCAR Canadian Tire Series debut on Aug. 8 at Mosport Speedway and finished 14th.

"These cars are a little different," he said. "But we need to get a little faster."

Gale is not afraid to admit that he has little frame of reference for road-course racing and the chance to work on it is welcome.

"I'm not really sure what to expect," he said. "I haven't done a lot of (road-course racing) and that is why this was really enticing to me. I've been told that the track in (Trois-Rivieres) is a lot of fun, but a little tight in spots. I'm really looking forward to it."

Here's to another example of international cooperation for the good of many.

Fast Facts

The Race: GP3R 100
The Place: Circuit de Trois-Rivieres, Trois-Rivieres, Que.
The Date: Sunday, Aug. 16
The Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
TV Schedule: TSN, Aug. 29, Noon ET
Track Layout: 1.53-mile road course
Race Purse: $93,973 CAD
2008 Winner: Andrew Ranger
2008 Pole: JR Fitzpatrick
Schedule: Friday: Practice 6:25-7:10 p.m.; Saturday: Qualifying 3:20 p.m.
Track Contact: Marie-Claude Pare, (819) 370-4787, mediagp3r@gmail.com
NASCAR PR Contact: Shon Sbarra, (704) 309-5493, ssbarra@nascar.com

2009 Standings

Rk Driver Points

1 Andrew Ranger 1,364

2 Scott Steckly 1,318

3 DJ Kennington 1,265

4 Ron Beauchamp Jr. 1,258

5 Anthony Simone 1,155

6 Dave Whitlock 1,152

7 Kerry Micks 1,146

8 Don Thomson Jr. 1,124

9 Jason Hathaway 1,120

10 Mark Dilley 1,034

11 Jason White 982

12 Kent Nuhn 977

Second Career For Brisebois?

After roaming the ice for 18 years, appearing in over a thousand National Hockey League games for Montreal and Colorado, Patrice Brisebois, 38, is not quite ready to hang up his skates, but he is about to take his long-time passion for racing to a new level.

This weekend at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres, he will make his NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 debut in the GP3R 100 in part to continue his growth in the motorsports world, in part to raise money for a good cause.

He is using this race and the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series event in Montreal on Aug. 30 as a vehicle to raise funds for the Dreams Take Flight charity, a program started by Air Canada employees that sends physically and mentally-challenged children to Disney World. So far, over 20,000 kids across Canada have made the journey.

This will be his first foray into professional racing, but he has competed in the amateur Ferrari Challenge for five years. And he is prepared to test the competition.

"I like the (NASCAR Canadian Tire Series) because of it's competitiveness," he said. "Those guys are there to win and will do anything to win. It's really something when you get in that car. I have practiced quite a bit imagining being out there with the other cars and a crowd."

It looks and sounds like Brisebois might just be hooked.

GP3R News & Notes

The Race: This event is the ninth of 13 races on the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 schedule and the third of four races on road courses this season. It is the series' third visit to the track.

The Procedure: The starting field is 30 cars, including provisionals. The first 25 cars will qualify through NASCAR Road Race (group) qualifying. The remaining five spots will be awarded through the provisional process. The race will be 42 laps covering just over 100 kilometers (64.26 miles).

The Track: The temporary street course of Circuit de Trois-Rivieres is a nine-turn, 1.53-mile track. Differing from the other three road-course events on the schedule, in Trois-Rivieres, the cars race in a counter-clockwise motion as on oval tracks. It is the oldest street course in North America and this year is the 40th edition of the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres.

The Records: The one-lap qualifying record for the Canadian Tire Series is 68.446 seconds (80.472 mph) set by J.R. Fitzpatrick on Aug. 16, 2008. The race record is held by Andrew Ranger at 1 hour, 3 minutes, 15 seconds set Aug. 17, 2008 for an average speed of 66.764 mph.

Last Year: Fitzpatrick led the first 28 laps before surrendering the lead to Scott Steckly, who paced the field for 17 laps. However, a full-course caution came out on Lap 41 to set up a green-white-checkered finish. On the final lap, Fitzpatrick made contact with Steckly while trying to make a pass for the lead which allowed Andrew Ranger, who had spent much of the race in the third position, to scoot past and collect the victory.

More Time: In his series debut on July 11 at Autodrome St. Eustache, Jacques Villeneuve's race lasted just a few hundred yards before being collected in a Lap 1 accident. The former F1 and Indy 500 champ again will try his luck in a NASCAR Canadian Tire Series event.

Local Flavor: No less than eight drivers native to Quebec will be in the field for the GP3R 100. Along with Ranger and Villeneuve, Indy Car Series regular Alex Tagliani is returning to the series. Other Quebec drivers are Patrice Brisebois, J.F. Dumoulin, L.P. Dumoulin, Dexter Stacey and Derek White.

NCATS Notebook: Vortex Brake Pads 200 Wrap-Up

Leap Frog: When Andrew Ranger (No. 27 Walmart/Tide Ford) won in Edmonton on July 25, he tied Scott Steckly (No. 22 Canadian Tire/Tow Truck in a Box Dodge) for the series all-time lead in wins at six. However, Steckly promptly went out and won the very next race to retake the lead. Not to be outdone, Ranger again tied Steckly with his win at Mosport Speedway. The two now also share the series record for wins in a season with four.

Nice Job, Rookie: Making his series debut, Steven Mathews (No. 15 Mathews Motorsports Ford) notched a sixth-place finish in the Vortex Brake Pads 200 and became the fourth rookie driver since the beginning of the 2008 season to finish inside the top 10 in a debut outing.

Mr. Consistency: With his third-place showing at Mosport Speedway, DJ Kennington (No. 17 Castrol/Mahindra Tractor Dodge) picked up his sixth top-five finish of the season in eight events. In his series career, Kennington has finished inside the top five in 23 of his 33 starts. He has 27 career top-10 finishes.

Mobil 1 Command Performance Driver of the Race: As a reward for his NASCAR Canadian Tire Series victory at Mosport Speedway, Ranger collects $1,500 from Mobil 1 for the fourth time this season.

Mopar Quick Three: This program rewards the top three finishing Dodges in the race eligible for the award. In the Vortex Brake Pads 200, third-place finisher Kennington was the highest-finishing eligible Dodge and thus earned a $2,000 bonus. Ron Beauchamp Jr. (No. 60 Mopar/Mobil 1 Dodge), who came home in fourth place, was the second-highest finishing eligible Dodge, which earned him a $1,000 award. Picking up $500 for finishing as the third-highest eligible Dodge was Dave Whitlock (No. 39 Dickies/NMT Dodge). He finished eighth overall.

Coca-Cola Move of the Race: Improving his position the most over the course of the race was Beauchamp. With a sub-par qualifying effort, he started 14th on the grid before navigating his way to a finish of fourth. As a result, he earned the $1,000 award from Coca-Cola. It was his fifth top five this year after having just five in his two previous seasons.

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. Kennington qualified third and finished the race in third while leading the most laps (94).

In Case You Missed It: TSN coverage of the Vortex Brake Pads 200 from Mosport Speedway will premiere on Sunday, Aug. 23 at 4 p.m. ET. Check local listings for the most up-to-date information. Additionally, the Velocity Prairie Thunder from Saskatoon's Auto Clearing Motor Speedway will premiere on Saturday, Aug. 22 at midnight ET.

Up Next: Montreal

The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 pays a visit to Montreal's legendary Circuit Gilles Villeneuve for the AUTOPRO 100, the final road-course event of the season.

Being paired with the NASCAR Nationwide Series makes it the biggest event of the year. Over 30 cars are expected to be on hand to take on the 2.71-mile, 14-turn temporary street course located in Parc Jean-Drapeau on Île Notre-Dame, a man-made island in the St. Lawrence River.

In last year's event, hometown hero Andrew Ranger battled JR Fitzpatrick all race long. Fitzpatrick led 21 of the 23 laps, but he got off the course on the final lap, spinning him out of contention. Ranger took the checkered for his, then, second career 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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NPP Late Model Series: Okotoks answers the call

www.npp-racing.com

FROM: GORD CRAIG cellphone: (780) 886 – 5232

RE: RACE VENUE CHANGE

RELEASE DATE: Wednesday, August 12^th, 2009

OKOTOKS ANSWERS THE CALL
EDMONTON, AB – The Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series is announcing a major schedule adjustment and venue change to the last half of the 2009 race season. The Sunday August 16th event, originally scheduled at Drumheller, Alberta’s Dinosaur Downs Speedway, will now be competed at Rocky Mountain Raceway Park near Okotok’s Alberta. “NPP Series race teams would like to thank Brian and Sharon McCaughan for adding this extra race date to their schedule,” says NPP Late Model Series announcer Gord Craig, “Rocky Mountain Raceway Park already has a full calendar of events and to be able fit us in and to get staff together on such short notice is an incredible feat.”

Track officials in Drumheller and NPP Series officials agreed that the racing surface at Dinosaur Downs Speedway still needs some improvement in order to safely hold a major motorsport event. At the grand opening event of Dinosaur Downs Speedway on June 28th, the racing surface disintegrated into a fine dusty powder during NPP Series heat races. In the interest of safety, all remaining NPP Dash and Feature events were cancelled. “Nobody wants a repeat of what happened at the end of June.”

The Saturday August 15th event at Bridge County Raceway in Lethbridge and the Sunday August 16th event, now being held a Rocky Mountain Raceway Park, wraps up the final Southern Alberta road trip of the season for Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model teams. Only five races remains in the 2009 NPP season after these two Southern Alberta events are completed.

BRIDGE COUNTY RACEWAY – Lethbridge, AB
Saturday, August 15th
Spectator gates at 5PM
Racing at 7PM

ROCKY MOUNTAIN RACEWAY PARK – Okotoks/High River, AB
Sunday, August 16th
Spectator gates at 4PM
Racing at 5PM

Two Time Daytona 500 Champion Sterling Marlin Enters Peterbilt 250 at Speedway 660!

Fredericton, NB –   All the way from Tennessee to the Geary Woods!  Two Time Daytona 500 Champion Sterling Marlin has announced his intentions to enter the 9th Annual Peterbilt 250 at Speedway 660.  Marlin will join a strong list of Southern Stars who have competed in the Labour Day Classic.  Over the past several years fans have seen Johnny Benson, Terry & Justin Labonte and Ron Hornaday take battle against the best Pro Stock teams in the Northeast.

Marlin was and is a household name from his days behind the wheel of a Sprint Cup car.  He is perhaps best known as only the third driver in Cup history to win back-to-back Daytona 500s, joining Richard Petty and Cale Yarborough as the only drivers to earn that distinction after winning in 1994 and 1995.  "There is no doubt that my fondest memory is winning that first Daytona 500," Sterling said.  Marlin has also added 8 other Sprint Cup victories (total of 10) to his resume, competed in 747 Cup races and has earned a whopping 38 Million dollars throughout his career.   Before his days in NASCAR Marlin won championships at Nashivlle Speedway.  Marlin is currently running a part time Sprint Cup schedule.   

“I’m excited; these home grown short track events are what our sport was built on.   This is a huge race for the Atlantic region and I’m really looking forward to racing the best up there!”  said Sterling in a phone interview. 

Auto Pride/Auto Value out of Fredericton, New Brunswick will be the primary sponsor on Marlin’s car.  In addition to Auto Pride/Auto Value, Marlin will receive support for his venture from Peterbilt New Brunswick and Moosehead Breweries. Other sponsorship deals are still in the works.  “Man we are PUMPED.   This is a thrill of a lifetime for us at Auto Pride.  Sterling is an icon in this sport and we are pretty fired up to be a part of this deal.” said Randy McCoy of Auto Pride.

This news is also great for all involved with Speedway 660.  “This is something special.  There isn’t a NASCAR fan that hasn’t spent many a Sunday afternoon on the coach watching Sterling Marlin on TV.  To have him here, at our track, racing in front of our fans is a really cool deal.” said Speedway 660 co-owner Steve Burns.

Sterling’s car will be prepared by long time weekly Speedway 660 competitor Hal O’Neal and the OGC Racing Team.  “We are pretty excited.  We had some bad luck last year but the car has been completely rebuilt and its ready to go” said Hal O’Neal.   “We’ve been racing for a lot of years and we’ve really missed it this year so I think this is exactly what we need.  We can’t wait!” 

The Peterbilt 250: The 2009 Peterbilt 250 will take place on Sunday, September 6tht, 2009 and will be the highlight of the 8th Annual SPEEDWEEKEND. The event will showcase the Speedway 660 Irving Lubricants Pro Stocks against the best of the Eastern Canada and New England. The purse for 2009 will be over $70,000 with a guaranteed $15,000 to the event winner and possible winner’s cheque of $28,000. Six years ago, the late Scott Fraser took home a record $25,400 including lap money. Only nine years old, the event as grown in crowd, atmosphere, and car count every year since its inception. Over 8,000 people attended the 2008 event to break attendance records at Speedway 660.  Forty plus pro stock cars will be attempting to qualify for 28 spots on the starting grid.

SPEEDWEEKEND: Just like the Peterbilt 250, SPEEDWEEKEND continues to grow every year. Over 14,000 people attended last year’s four-day stock car fest that includes a corn boil on Friday night, O’Leary Pontiac Excitement Sportsman 150 race on Saturday night, the Peterbilt 250 on Sunday, and finishes up with an Enduro 200 on Monday. While the Peterbilt 250 is the highlight of the racing event, the weekend has developed into an event on its own with over 600 campers turning Speedway 660 into a small town over the weekend. It has become the destination of choice for the region’s stock car fans.

Speedway 660: Speedway 660 is WicKID Family Fun!  The 1/3 of a mile high-banked paved oval features three classes of racing on a weekly basis: Irving Lubricants Pro Stocks, Martin’s Home Heating, and Coast Tire Street Stocks. Over 70,000 people are expected to attend over 20 events during the 2009 season. Speedway 660 is located off Highway 7 on Route 660 in Geary, NB, and is within minutes of Saint John and Fredericton. Speedway 660 can be found online at www.speedway660.com. 

If you have any questions  contact: Angela Coffey, Office Manager // Phone 506-455-3181 // e-mail: info@speedway660.com // For Information: Info: 506-454-RACE (7223) // Web:  www.speedway660.com