Brockville Ontario Speedway: Northeast Fall Nationals Oct. 17-18

Here is an ad for Brockville Ontario Speedway and the DIRTcar Northeast Fall Nationals at the BOS on Oct. 17 & 18.

NASCAR Announces 28 State, Province Champions For 2009

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Oct. 6, 2009) – Two NASCAR Whelen All-American Series drivers won their state NASCAR championships for a third consecutive year – Virginia’s Philip Morris and Colorado’s Bruce Yackey. They are among the 28 U.S. state and Canadian province champions for 2009.

Morris, 44, of Ruckersville, Va., also won his second consecutive and third overall NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national championship in 2009. Morris competed at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Va., and South Boston (Va.) Speedway in 2009. Yackey, 43, of Greeley, Colo., scored his sixth career track championship at Colorado National Speedway near Denver. Both compete at their respective tracks in the Late Model division.

Eight other drivers were able to repeat their 2008 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series state or province championships in 2009.

They include Erica Thiering, Alberta, Canada (Edmonton International Raceway); Dave Haworth, British Columbia, Canada (SunValley Speedway); Keith Rocco, Connecticut (Waterford Speedbowl, Thompson International Speedway and Stafford Motor Speedway); Bill Leighton Jr., Nebraska (I-80 Speedway and Junction Motor Speedway); Jeff Strunk, Pennsylvania (Grandview Speedway); Jonathan Bouvrette, Quebec, Canada (Autodrome St. Eustache); Marty Ward, South Carolina (Greenville Pickens Speedway); and Naima Lang, Washington (Evergreen Speedway).

Andy Eckrich of Iowa City, Iowa, who races at Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway, Farley Speedway and West Liberty Raceway, won the Iowa NASCAR state championship for the second time in three years in 2009.

The crowning of champions in a state or province continues a tradition of honoring the best short-track racers which dates back to the earliest days of NASCAR. Former state champions include Cale Yarborough, Ned Jarrett, Richie Evans, Red Farmer, Ralph Earnhardt, Harry Gant and Jack Ingram. NASCAR resumed the format in 2007.

This year, 16 drivers earned their first NASCAR state/province championship including Nick Joanides, California (Toyota Speedway at Irwindale); Richie Davis, Arizona (Thunder Raceway); Paul Antley, Georgia (Lanier National Speedway); Ricky Bilderback, (Rockford Speedway); Mark Underwood, Louisiana (Monroe Motor Speedway); Mike Rowe, Maine (Beech Ridge Motor Speedway); Terry Senneker, Michigan (Kalamazoo Speedway); Adam Royle, Minnesota (Raceway Park); Philip Baril Jr., New Hampshire (Lee USA Speedway); Jeffrey Connors, Nevada (The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway); John Fortin, New York (Riverhead Raceway); Travis Swaim, North Carolina (Caraway Speedway), Donnie Hill, Ohio (Columbus Motor Speedway); Steve Roblee, Ontario, Canada (Delaware Speedway); Reese Coffee, South Dakota (Park Jefferson Speedway); and Kevin Nuttleman, Wisconsin (LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway).  

All 28 state and province champions will be honored Friday, Nov. 13 at the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Awards Banquet at the Concord (N.C.) Convention Center along with the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national champion, track champions and special award winners.

Since its inception, NASCAR’s national short-track racing series has served as a springboard in the careers of many top drivers. NASCAR stars Greg Biffle, Clint Bowyer, Jeff Burton, Kurt and Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Bobby Labonte, Jamie McMurray, Elliott Sadler and Brian Vickers all began their careers racing their local short tracks.

From Jason Christley, NASCAR Public Relations

Southern Ontario Sprints: Martin crowned champ at banquet

By Tommy Goudge (October 7, 2008) – The fourteenth season of Southern Ontario Sprints competition came to a conclusion on Saturday, October 3 as the club honoured 2009 champion Justin Martin at the annual SOS awards banquet, held this year at Brantford’s Best Western Brant Park Inn.

The top fifteen in 2009 SOS points took home point fund money, while awards were presented to:

Marie White Memorial Award (100 career SOS races) – Keith Dempster and Glenn Styres
Founders Rookie of the Year Award – Tyler Rand
ImageFactor.ca Best Appearing Car Award – Tyler Rand
Riverside Bar & Grill Brighton Speedway Championship – Rick Wilson
Dave MacLeod Mechanic of the Year Award – Bob Martin and John Watson
Kenetic Photos Hard Charger Award – Jamie Collard
SOS Points Championship – Justin Martin

The Top Ten in 2009 Southern Ontario Sprints Points were:

1st – Justin Martin (Shedden, Ontario)…Martin put together a strong and consistent season to claim his first SOS championship, with four “Top 5’s”, and eight “Top 10’s”.  The twenty-one year old driver did not finish outside the top ten in any SOS feature in 2009, and recorded a best finish of third, which he accomplished three times at Brighton (June 6, August 8, and September 5).

2nd – Adam West (Ridgetown, Ontario)…The 2005 SOS Champion competed in all eight SOS events in 2009, recording two feature wins (South Buxton May 23, Brighton July 11), five “Top 5’s” and six “Top 10’s”.  The wins moved “Batman” into a tie for sixth on the all-time SOS feature win list.

3rd – Warren Mahoney (Lefroy, Ontario)…The 2001 and 2006 SOS Champion competed in all eight SOS events in 2009, claiming three “Top 5’s” and seven “Top 10’s” along the way. His only finish outside the Top Ten came during the season finale at Brighton, when a hard crash relegated “The Wile One” to seventeenth.

4th (tie) – Tyler Rand (Consecon, Ontario)…Rand claimed the 2009 SOS Rookie of the Year award on the strength of seven “Top 10’s” out of eight races.  His best result was seventh, a spot he finished in three times this year at Brighton (June 6, July 11, September 6).

4th (tie) – Jamie Collard (Burford, Ontario)…Collard hooked up with the Ballantyne racing team for the 2009 season, and they met with instant success.  Jamie finished fourth in points despite missing an SOS event due to engine problems.  Out of seven SOS events, Collard had five “Top 5’s” and seven “Top 10’s”.  His best finish was second at South Buxton on August 22.

6th – Bob Crawford (Sutton, Ontario)…A mainstay on the SOS tour, Crawford once again competed in all eight SOS events in 2009, with five “Top 10’s”. The “One Man Army" has finished sixth or better in the points in each of his seven SOS seasons.

7th – Dick Mahoney (Newmarket, Ontario)…Mahoney competed in all eight SOS events in 2009 to run his career total to one hundred forty eight, which leads the all-time SOS list. “The Pig” accrued two “Top 10’s” in 2009.

8th – Rick Wilson (Joyceville, Ontario)…Wilson competed in six SOS events in 2009, claiming an exciting feature win at Brighton on August 8. With that win, “The Joyceville Jet” has now recorded at least one SOS feature win each season since 2001, the longest streak of any SOS driver.  Wilson continues to lead the all-time SOS feature win list, with twenty-four.

9th – Glenn Styres (Ohsweken, Ontario)…Styres competed in five SOS events in 2009, claiming three feature wins (Brighton May 17, Brighton June 6, Brighton September 5) and finished in the top five in each event.  “The Ohsweken Flyer” now sits just five wins behind Rick Wilson on the all-time SOS feature win list.  Styres competed in his one-hundredth career SOS event on September 5.

10th – Travis Cunningham (Grimsby, Ontario)…A rookie competitor, Travis competed in six SOS events in 2009 and showed great promise.  The former modified racer recorded two “Top 5’s” and five “Top 10’s” in his first year with the SOS.

Also recognized for their contributions to the Southern Ontario Sprints in 2009 on Saturday night were:

Competition Director – Cliff Williams
Pit Tent – Terri Watson
Pit Steward – Loree Ferrell
Car Shows – Mike Ferrell and Mike Doughtery
Quad Trailer – Warren Mahoney
50/50 – Jane Williams, Alicia Rowlands, Andrea West, Kathy West, Karen Mahoney
Announcer – Greg Calnan
Media Officer – Tommy Goudge
Pit Reporter – Dale Calnan
Photographer – Mike Doughtery
Firemen/Tech Inspectors/Crew – Warren Lindsay, Ron Sparks, Mike Ferrell
Merchandise Tent – Ron and Judy Ferrell
Sponsors – Fatheadz, ImageFactor.ca, ASi Racewear, Have Bus Will Travel, Kenetic Photos, Wiseco Piston, Riverside Bar & Grill, and BS&B Radiator
2009 SOS race venues – Brighton Speedway, Ohsweken Speedway, and South Buxton Raceway
2009 Board of Directors – Mike Ferrell, Tommy Goudge, Adam West, Warren Lindsay, and Bob Martin
2009 Executive – Terri Watson, Helen Brown, Dick Mahoney, and Peter Turford

Twenty-nine different drivers competed in at least one SOS event in 2009.  Drivers competing in their first SOS full-points events in 2009 included Tyler Rand, Travis Cunningham, Jason Martin, Jim Munsie, Erin Joyce, Kyle Fraser, Doug Banks, and Chris Durand.

The annual SOS meeting was held on Saturday afternoon before the banquet. One rule change was passed, as the “3 spin” rule was modified. Also taking place at the meeting were the annual elections, during which Mike Ferrell was chosen as the new president, Loree Ferrell became the new secretary, and Warren Mahoney, Tyler Rand, and Mike Dougherty were elected to the board of directors.

The SOS would like to thank all the banquet attendees for their donations to the Travis Rutz trust fund.  Thanks to the generosity shown, $1,000 was raised for Travis and his family to help cover his medical costs.  At the time of this writing, Travis remains in Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis recovering from injuries sustained in a crash at Terre Haute on September 27.  The SOS would like to wish Travis well on his road to recovery, and we hope he will be back home in British Columbia very soon.

The Southern Ontario Sprints will be taking part in many of the car shows and motorsports expos coming up in the area during this offseason, and will be releasing the 2010 schedule in the new year as well. The SOS club would like to thank the competitors, fans, officials, and everyone else involved for making 2009 a great season, and we hope to see you again in 2010!

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, brought to you this season by Wiseco Piston, Kenetic Photos, Fatheadz Eyewear, BS&B Radiator, Triple X Race Co., ASI Racewear, and www.ImageFactor.ca.

David Ostella, Star Mazda Championship Laguna Seca Preview

For Immediate Release: October 7th, 2009

Driver News: David Ostella, Star Mazda season finale

Photo Credit: www.otp.ca

Photo Cutline: Ostella returns to where his formula car career began this weekend.

_____________________________________________________________________________

 

David Ostella is in California this week as the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear prepares for its season finale at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Saturday’s race will bring the final of thirteen rounds, and for just the second time this season the young Canadian will be returning to a track he has raced on prior.

 

“I loved Laguna Seca last year and it will always be special as it was my very first race weekend in a car,” Ostella said prior to departing Wednesday. “I was pretty quick there in Formula BMW as well, so I hope this year will be even better. The track is amazing and offers everything a track can: elevation changes, fast sweepers, slow hairpins and especially the famous corkscrew. It’s a perfect track!”

 

It’s easy to see why the seventeen-year old views the track so fondly, as making his formula car debut last season he qualified fourth on the grid and went on to set the fastest lap of the race in the opening event of the Formula BMW Americas schedule. “That was a great day to be sure,” Ostella remembered. “I was very nervous of course, but also excited at the same time and I was just so happy to be racing a car for the first time. I was just glad to be racing, and moving up from karts.”

 

A full season followed, before a move up to the Star Mazda Championship for 2009, a season that is about to come to a close. “The last race gives you mixed feelings, but overall things are quite positive,” he said looking back at the championship to date. “I’ve had some ups-and-downs this season, more downs than I would have liked, but a lot of learning for sure. I think the car has a curse or something! We have switched to the back-up to change our luck this weekend, and we’ll try to go out with a season best!”

 

Perhaps also bringing positive vibes will be a birthday celebration, as Ostella turns eighteen when the race weekend begins Thursday. The Star Mazda drivers will complete two promoter test sessions on day one before two official practice runs on Friday. Saturday morning will bring a lone qualifying session, before the finale rolls off at 12:50. As always, Ostella is able to compete in California thanks to continuing support from Global Precast Intercontinental, Alpinestars and RAW Integrated Ltd. For more information, visit www.davidostella.com, www.starmazda.com or www.mazdaraceway.com

Atlantic Canada's Largest Stock Car Invitational set for this weekend at Centre For Speed in Shediac, NB

October 7, 2009 - Shediac (N.B.) -- Over 200 drivers and teams from throughout Atlantic Canada and Maine including a number of current and former track, tour and defending Atlantic Champions, have registered to compete in this weekend’s 9th annual  Maple Leaf Foods  / Vance Hanes Auto Parts Atlantic Stock Car "Championships Speed Weekend" on October 10 & 11 at the Centre for Speed (CFS), Atlantic Canada’s Super Speedway and Metro Moncton’s ‘Playground of Power’, located in nearby Grand Barachois.

A total of over $50,000 in payouts, including lap sponsorships, will be available for teams in the seven stock car divisions of Pro Stock, Sportsman, Streetstock, 4 cylinder Mini Stock and Four Fun, Atlantic Open Wheel (AOW) modifieds and Legend stock car racing events during this upcoming weekend.

Two feature races will highlight the 2009 Atlantic Stock Car Championships with the Vance Hanes Auto Parts Sportsman 100 on Saturday, October 10th and the Maple Leaf Foods Pro Stock 150 on Sunday, October 11th, both starting at 1:00 p.m. The October 10th event will also feature Atlantic Championship races for Legend, Mini Stock and Four Fun division drivers. Sunday’s action will also include Atlantic Championship racing for Streetstock (50 lap feature) competitors as well as 35-lap events for Sportsman and AOW Tour competitors.

NASCAR drivers J.R. Fitzpatrick of Cambridge, Ontario, and Donald Chisholm of Antigonish, Nova Scotia will highlight a field of top stock car drivers from throughout Atlantic Canada, including for the first time ever, competitors from two Newfoundland speedways – Avondale and Thunder Valley Speedways.

"Were very excited about this year’s Atlantic Championship events," says Tim Wile, track promoter and general manager for the Centre for Speed (CFS). "We've got a super field of competitors in all divisions and the cars continue to register every day.  We should have the strongest overall field of stock cars that we've ever seen at our facility for this years annual event, including drivers from all four Atlantic provinces thanks to our first-ever Newfoundland entries and strong representation from each of the stock car facilities in our region including Fredericton, Halifax, Sydney, Antigonish, and Charlottetown."

The long weekend events are expected to attract most of the top drivers from throughout the four Atlantic provinces, including most area track and tour champions as well as a number of former champions and defending Atlantic Champs.

On Sunday, October 11th, the Maple Leaf Foods Pro Stock 150 will feature CARQUEST Maritime Pro Stock Tour (MPST) champion, Wayne Smith (Timberlea, N.S.), who will be defending his 2008 Atlantic Championship title against the best Pro Stock drivers from our region, including Nova Scotians Donald Chisholm and John Flemming, local favorites Dave O’Blenis (Boundary Creek), Mike Stevens (Riverview) and Brian McNaughton (Lower Coverdale), as well as Bern Hickey of Avondale Speedway (NL). J.R. Fitzpatrick, a rising NASCAR Canadian Tire series driver, will also be competing in both the Pro Stock 150 on Sunday and the Legends feature on Saturday. This year, J.R. has been quite busy in both Canada and the United States, competing in a number of Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series events south of the border as part of the Kevin Harvick NASCAR racing team.

Other top regional Pro Stock competitors expected on Sunday include a number of teams from Nova Scotia including George Koszkulics (New Glasgow) and Craig Slaunwhite (Terrence Bay), Fredericton-area drivers Shaun Tucker, Greg Fahey along with PEI competitors Jonathan Hicken, Kris Hughes, Scott Livingston and Kris Fournier. Over 40 Pro Stock drivers have registered to compete for positions on the starting grid for the Maple Leaf Pro Stock 150 on Sunday.

Sunday’s action will also include top Streetstock track champions and drivers from throughout the Atlantic region in the very competitive Atlantic Streetstock Championship 50. If last year’s ‘photo finish’ is any indication, defending 2008 Atlantic Champ Fred Broussard from Sydney’s Island Speedway will have his hands full in this ‘edge of your seat’ Streetstock feature. Competitors from the AOW Tour will also battle it out in the AOW 35-lap main event.

On Saturday, October 10th, a total of 60 of the Maritimes top Sportsman drivers are expected to battle for positions on the 28-car starting grid for the Vance Hanes Auto Parts 100. Top competitors, including current and former track champions from most of the stock car tracks in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, are expected to make the trek to CFS for the 100 lap feature. The event will include top competitors and multi time track champs such as Dan Bourque (Grande Digue), Claude Gaudet (Barachois), Jim Duke (Moncton), Glyn Nott (Burton), Bradley Logan (Fredericton) and Jeff Dillman & Terry Roma (Halifax).

The Saturday program will also include track champions from throughout the region and other top drivers, including a few competitors from two Newfoundland speedways, in the very competitive 4 cylinder (Mini Stock, Four Fun). Both of these division drivers will be competing for their respective Atlantic Championship bragging rights in the Four Cylinder 35. Also included in the Saturday event will be drivers from the region’s Legends racecar series putting their skills to the test against J.R. Fitzpatrick in the Legends 50 feature race.

"There are two things that make this weekend event unique," said track promoter Wile. "Fans, drivers and crews get a chance to celebrate the end of the racing season in friendly competition, without any pressure, and it's also an opportunity to match skills with most of the top teams from throughout the region - in every class with a chance to be named the 'best of the best' in your division."

Friday afternoon and evening on October 9th will feature practices for all divisions as well as a pit party.

Weekend passes for adults will be sold for $40 while a youth (5-15 years old) weekend pass will go for $10. Weekend Family Passes for 2 adults and 2 youths will also be available for $85 – a savings of $15! Furthermore, a limited amount of advance weekend passes for only $30 are available at Race Time located in Dieppe’s Champlain Mall.

On Saturday October 10th, individual day passes will be $20 for adults and $10 for youths while day passes for the October 11th races will be $25 for adults and $10 for youths. Monday, October 12th has been reserved as a rain date for either event.

The CENTRE for Speed is a 128-acre motor sports park which includes Atlantic Canada’s largest and fastest stock-car oval along with several other racing facilities. The CENTRE overlooks the Northumberland Straight and is located 5 kms east of Shediac’s Parlee Beach in the village of Grand Barachois, New Brunswick.

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

From Tim Wile, Promoter & General Manager // CENTRE for Speed

Rick Mercer in the "Train of Death Race" at Varney Motor Speedway

From last night's Rick Mercer Report.

Click here ... the Varney feature starts at the 1 minute mark. Really funny!

New Dodge CEO says Dodge will continue its involvement in NASCAR

A report on CBSSports.com says, "The new head of Dodge's car brand says the manufacturer will continue its involvement in NASCAR."

The report continues, "Ralph Gilles takes over the job from Mike Accavitti, who resigned after three months in the job. Accavitti's resignation came amid another restructuring of Chrysler, which went through Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this year."

And... "Gilles says development and marketing of Dodge vehicles still works through NASCAR participation."

Click on the link above for the full story. NASCAR Canadian Tire Series veteran Mark Dilley recently announced the end of his five-year association with Dodge as his primary sponsor.

BONUS: In September 2008, Gilles competed in the Targa Newfoundland in a Dodge Challenger. Click here to download a PDF of the exclusive story and photo ZOOM of Gilles' adventure at Targa., from Inside Track Motorsport News.

LAST MEN STANDING – TWO BATTLES REMAIN TO BE FOUGHT IN THE 2009 STAR MAZDA SEASON FINALE THIS WEEKEND AT MAZDA RACEWAY LAGUNA SECA

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca / Oct. 6 -- After twelve races throughout North America, held on a challenging combination of road courses, street circuits and ovals, the battle for the 2009 Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear has come down to two titles, four drivers and one race – this weekend's Monterey Sports Car Championships at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

The fight for the overall Series title – and the career-making prize that goes with it – pits Peter 'The Irish Steamroller' Dempsey (left), driver of the #3 Juncos Racing / The Collection / Motorsport Ireland / Queyside.ie Mazda and leading the championship with five wins and five poles, against English racer Adam Christodoulou (below right), who has won two races, started from the pole twice, and finished on the podium an additional six times at the wheel of the #11 JDC Motorsports / Molecule / Alpinestars Mazda.

The two rising open-wheel stars are separated by a bare 15 points; and there are 45 points (44 for a win and one for pole) up for grabs this weekend. Dempsey needs finish only 6th or better to clinch the title no matter where Christodoulou finishes, but both drivers are hungry to finish up the season with a win and the 45-minute season finale, scheduled to take the green light for the always-exciting standing start at 12:50 pm, Saturday, October 10, is sure to feature a high-speed, wheel-banging battle that will have fans on their feet.

The outcome of this race is of particular significance to these two drivers not only because of their natural competitiveness, but also because of the grand prize that goes to the Series champion; included in the $1.5 million in prizes that will be handed out during the post-race awards ceremony is a fully-funded drive in the next step up the open-wheel racing ladder, the 2010 Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda. This racing 'scholarship,' valued at $750,000, is awarded by the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Driver Development Ladder, the only automaker-supported ladder program that funds series champions moving up to the next level -- and reaches all the way from karting to the top levels of racing.

By way of example; 2004 Star Mazda Champion Michael McDowell moved on to race in Indy Cars, prototypes and is now competing in NASCAR. 2005 champion Raphael Matos went on to win the Atlantic and Indy Lights championships and is now racing in the IRL. Dane Cameron, the 2007 Star Mazda champion, graduated through the Atlantic ranks to compete full-time in the Grand-Am GT1 class driving a Mazda RX-8 for Racers Edge Motorsports. And John Edwards, who won the 2008 Star Mazda championship, is one of three drivers in contention to win the 2009 Atlantic Championship this weekend – and the $1 million sponsorship prize that goes with it.

It should also be noted that the Star Mazda Championship, as a middle rung on the MAZDASPEED Ladder, has scholarship winners coming and going. As Edwards was moving up to Atlantic, entering the Star Mazda series at the beginning of 2009 was Conor Daly, the 2008 champion in the Skip Barber Pro Series. Daly, the son of racing legend Derek Daly, drives the #22 Andersen Racing / College Network / Indeck / Cytomax Mazda and will finish third in the championship. Coming into Mazda Raceway, he has scored one win (from the pole) and five podium finishes. With a Formula One career like his father's firmly in his sights, he tested in Europe recently, with impressive results.

Beyond the overall Series Championship, there are other significant battles that will be waged among the more than 25 cars expected on the starting grid at Mazda Raceway. While Christodoulou has already clinched the prestigious 'Rookie of the Year' award, there is a second, thoroughly unique 'championship-within-a-championship' to be won this weekend; The Star Mazda Championship features 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. Californian Mike Guasch, 51, who has scored six in-class wins (with best finishes of 11th overall at both Autobahn and Trois-Rivières), has already clinched the Master Series title driving the #91 JDC Motorsports / Molecule Mazda.

Still to be settled, however, is the Expert Series championship, which comes down to a battle between Japanese driver Toshihiro Deki, driver of the #80 Juncos Racing Mazda (three in-class wins and eight in-class top-3 finishes) and Vancouver resident Chris Cumming (left), the 2008 Expert Series champion, driving the #16 World Speed Motorsports Mazda. Cumming missed two races while he prepared to compete in the Ironman Canada triathlon, but has seven in-class wins so far. Deki has 172 points vs. 168 for Cumming, and with 20 points awarded for a win, these two drivers will be engaged in a battle royal back in the field – Deki to become champion in his rookie year and Cumming to retain his 2008 title.

Once we get away from talking about championships and rookie awards and focus on likely contenders to win the race, the field becomes a good deal wider. 2009 has been a remarkable season with the deepest and most diverse talent pool in recent Star Mazda Championship history, including drivers from ten countries as well as three of the top-4 and seven of the top-10 drivers from 2008 who came back to compete again for the championship. Six drivers, including Dempsey and Christodoulou, have won races this season – and are perfectly capable of doing it again this weekend.

The other four include the only other multi-race winner, Englishman Richard Kent, currently 6th in the championship with two victories, four pole positions and 347 points driving the #33 Andersen Racing / Traka Allied Interior Products Mazda. He made a major impression on the series in 2008 when, driving a one-off race for the Andersen Racing team, he won from the pole in this very event. He started on the pole and finished second in the season-opener at Sebring (a race won by Christodoulou), but missed Round 2 due to a non-racing ankle injury. He also started from the pole at the first oval of the season, the Milwaukee Mile, but was eliminated from competition by contact with another car on the first turn of the first lap. But for either of those problems, it would be a 3-way battle for the championship this weekend.

The driver who won that race at Milwaukee, Scandinavian racer Anders 'The Viking' Krohn, is another prime contender for victory lane this weekend. Currently seventh in points with 343, he has seven top-10 finishes and has been quicker that his results show in the last couple of races. Another highly-experienced winner this season is Alex Ardoin, a 3-season Star Mazda veteran. He won this event in 2007; in 2008, he finished on the podium four times and was 4th in the championship. This year, he scored an emotional victory in Round 10 at Trois-Rivières (right) driving the #51 JDC Motorsports / Oral & Facial Surgery Center / Twister Trailer Mazda. With his win, three podium finishes and five top-10 results, he sits 5th in the championship with 361 points.

Californian Joel Miller, the 2007 Skip Barber Champion and last year's Star Mazda MAZDASPEED Ladder driver, has yet to win in this his second season of Star Mazda competition. But he did win last year's Sebring season-opener from the pole and finish second in the 2008 championship. He has put together a solid season driving the #2 Andersen Racing / Doug Mockett & Co. Mazda with three podiums, five top-5s for 370 points and 4th place in the championship – and he finished a solid 4th in this race last year.

It must also be said, given that this race has been won for the past two years by a driver for whom it was the first victory of the season, that you can't overlook drivers who have shown great competitive spirit during the season, such as Texan Rusty Mitchell who started from the pole at Trois Rivières in his #66 Mitchell Motorsports / Motorola Mazda and led every lap but the last one, losing to a superbly-executed pass by Alex Ardoin. Or the extremely quick young Brazilian, Ciao Lara, a second-season driver who has scored fourtop-5 and seven top-10 finishes in his #19 JDC Motorsports / MLD / ATW/ Molecule Mazda and sits 8th in the points with 339.

On-track Star Mazda Championship action at the Monterey Sports Car Championships at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca begins with a 'promoter test' on Thursday, Oct. 8. Official practice begins with a morning and afternoon session on Friday, Oct. 9. Qualifying to set the grid for the always-exciting Star Mazda 'standing start' will take place from 8:00 – 8:45 am Saturday, Oct 10, with the expected field of 25+ Star Mazda cars and drivers taking the green light for the 45-minute 2009 season finale at 12:50 pm. The Star Mazda Championship awards ceremony will be held 4 – 7 pm at the Chateau Julien winery in Carmel.

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. For drivers interested in competing in the series, detailed information is available at www.starmazda.com/newdriver.

Canadian Kyle Marcelli to drive for Team GDT in Star Mazda finale

(Monterey, California) October 5th 2009 – Just announced, Canadian racing driver Kyle Marcelli will make the transition back behind the wheel of a single seater this coming weekend at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Kyle continuing to represent Lafarge on the International stage will pilot the Team GDT Star Mazda entry in the Championship finale located in Monterey, California.

Fresh off a streak of wins behind the wheel of Intersport Racing’s L1 machine in the IMSA Lites Championship Marcelli will be looking to wrap up what has been another successful season on a high note. Continuing their ever growing relationship, Lafarge a global leader in construction material will be partnering alongside Marcelli for this coveted event.

“I’m very exciting for the opportunity to get back behind the wheel of a single seater and the opportunity to race at the famed road course.  Team GDT is filled with a great bunch of crew and I’m excited to work with them in racing to victory ,.” Said Kyle Marcelli

 “We are very pleased to have the opportunity to run a proven race winning driver such as Kyle. The team has worked very hard to develop and produce a front running package for this year and next.  We have in place all the ingredients, engineering, driver coaching and a great mechanical staff to be a consistent front runner.” Said GDT Team Manager Paul Mata

Kyle would like to thank his partners Lafarge, GP Masonry and Landscaping Supplies, Brown Window Corp, Barrie Trim and Mouldings, Alpinestars, The Robert Simpson Brewing Company, Simplepay.ca, Century Craft Custom Home Builders, Spherion Staffing Solutions and Intersport Racing for there continued support.

For more information visit: www.kylemarcelli.com

Ford Mustang On Track For 2009 Championship Titles

DEARBORN, Mich., October 6, 2009 – The car that was “born to race” is doing just that in 2009… and winning races and championships nationwide. The 2009 race season is proving to be a banner year for the Ford Mustang. In addition to celebrating its 45th anniversary this year, the iconic pony car has won two series championships already and is positioned to possibly win championship titles in NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Funny Car Series, SCCA Speed World Challenge GT Series, and Formula Drift Professional Drifting Championship Series. 

GRAND-AM KONI CHALLENGE
For the second consecutive year, the Ford Mustang FR500C swept the triple crown of the Grand Am KONI Challenge, winning team, driver and manufacturers’ championships. Ken Wilden claimed the driver and Wilden and his teammate Dean Martin captured the team title for Rehagen Racing with a sixth place finish at the season-ending Bosch Engineering Octoberfest at Virginia International Raceway. The championship was the first for Wilden and the Rehagen Racing team.

“We took over the points lead by the second race,” said Ken Wilden. “Our performance has been solid and consistent. The Mustang has been a phenomenal car. It feels good to win the championship. It’s been 13 years since my last championship, and it’s been a while since I’ve been in a car that I could say I could win one in.”

Bret Seafuse and James Gue drove their JBS Motorsports Ford Mustang GT to victory at VIR and in doing so jumped Ford to the top of the manufacturers’ standings, edging BMW by four points (348-344) to help Ford capture back-to-back manufacturers’ titles. Ford Mustangs dominated the 2009 KONI Challenge, winning five races and finishing on the podium in eight of the eleven races.

NHRA
With four races remaining in the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing series, six of the 10 drivers eligible for the Countdown to 1 playoff run pilot Mustangs.  Carrying the Blue Oval and the pony car into championship run are 14-time champion John Force, Ashley Force Hood, Robert Hight, Mike Neff, Bob Tasca III and Tim Wilkerson.  The Ford Mustang drivers have hoisted the coveted Wally Trophy in six out of the last seven races.  Heading into Richmond this weekend, Force Hood sits atop the points standings while Hight is a close second, Tasca remains in sixth while Force, Wilkerson and Neff occupy the seventh through ninth positions, respectively.

Hight said it best after clinching the final spot in NHRA’s Countdown to 1, “I’m excited that six of the top 10 are Ford Mustangs and, you know what, one of us ought to win this championship.”

SCCA SPEED WORLD CHALLENGE CHAMPIONSHIP GT SERIES
SCCA Speed World Championship GT Series Mustang driver Brandon Davis is leading the point standings with only one race to left in his season. Davis needs to finish sixth or better in the last race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca this weekend to win the Speed World Challenge GT Championship.  In his last outing at Road Atlanta, Davis raced in the new 2010 Mustang and hopes to capture the title in the latest model.

“We are optimistic going into the final round, but the fact is, it’s not over yet,” said Davis.  “We’re very aware of that, and we’ll be celebrating afterwards hopefully, but for right now, we’re still focused on the task at hand.”

FORD RACING MUSTANG CHALLENG FOR THE MILLER CUP
One Mustang driver, Andrew Caddell, has already claimed his 2009 championship when he took the checkered flag at Miller Motorsports Park two weeks ago. Caddell is now the two-time Ford Racing Mustang Challenge Series champion.  Caddell successful defended his inaugural Mustang Challenge title despite fierce competition from Ted Anthony Jr.

“We won the first race of the year, and then we struggled after that. After the Barber Motorsports Park and the 45th Anniversary of the Mustang, we took the car to the dyno and found that we were 12 horsepower down.  We changed the motor, and once we did that, the rest of the season went great,” said Caddell. “We won in New Jersey, we finished second at Laguna and then we finished the season off with another win. It was just a great year.”

Formula Drift Professional Drifting Championship
One of the most recognizable cars in the Formula Drifting Professional Drifting Championship Series is the Falken Mustang driven by Vaughn Gittin Jr.  Gittin sits third in series standings with one race left in the season. The last round in the series takes place October 16th -17th at Toyota Speedway in Irwindale, California.

OTHER MUSTANGS
Brent Hajek and his Hajek Motorsports stable of ’08 Cobra Jet Mustangs have made a significant impact at the dragstrips in 2009, including winning the season-opening NHRA Winternationals in the car’s debut.  Hajek Motorsports also took an E-85 Mustang to Talladega earlier this year where Bill Elliott set a closed course speed record for an E-85 powered car. Next up on the on the horizon for Hajek Motorsports, a land speed record attempt in an E-85 powered 2010 Mustang at the famed Bonneville Salt Flats.

About Ford North America Motorsports: Ford North America Motorsports, based in Dearborn, Mich., is responsible for major racing operations in North America, including NASCAR (Sprint Cup, Nationwide Series, Camping World Trucks), Grand American sports car racing, NHRA drag racing, USAC midget car racing and the Ford Racing Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup.  The department also oversees the development and marketing of Ford Racing Engines and Performance Parts, the outreach programs with all Ford Clubs and Ford enthusiasts, and the marketing of the Ford Racing brand through initiatives such as Team Ford Racing.  For more information regarding Ford Racing’s activities, please visit www.fordracing.com.

Drags: Canadian Jeff Arend takes emotional NHRA Funny Car win in Memphis

Cutlines: Arend.jpg: Jeff Arend celebrates his O’Reilly NHRA Midsouth Nationals Funny Car win with his crew and legendary team owner, Connie Kalitta.

Wilkerson.jpg: Daniel Wilkerson, son of 2008 Memphis Motorsports Park Funny Car winner Tim Wilkerson, was involved in a scary crash in the first round of action Monday. While the car was demolished, the 21-year-old racer walked away unharmed.

UPSETS RULE AS AREND, LUCAS, PHILLIPS WIN AT MMP; LINE EARNS FIFTH WIN OF ‘09

MILLINGTON, Tenn. – On a cool, cloudy Monday at Memphis Motorsports Park, an impressive crowd were onhand for some of the biggest upsets in recent memory for the NHRA Full Throttle Series’ O’Reilly NHRA Midsouth Nationals. Jeff Arend (Funny Car), Morgan Lucas (Top Fuel), and Michael Phillips (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all hoisted Wallys against presumably stronger opponents. Jason Line (Pro Stock) was the one exception, earning his fifth victory of the season after his finals opponent, Ron Krisher, fouled out with a -.018 red light.

For Arend and his Kalitta Racing team, it was an emotional Winner’s Circle with memories of Scott Kalitta, whose name still adorns the car. Kalitta, a two-time NHRA Top Fuel champion and the son of team owner and legendary racer Connie Kalitta, was killed in an accident in Englishtown, N.J., last year.

“Our crew guys…obviously a lot of them were there last year for Scott’s accident and today, there were tears in their eyes,” said Arend, who beat Tony Pedregon in the Funny Car finals. “It was hard for me to come in (to this team), but it’s obviously a lot tougher for the whole team and we’ve turned a big corner here today. We’re going to bring that trophy to Scott, that’s for sure.”

The win was Arend’s first since Maple Grove in 1996, where, coincidentally, he beat Pedregon, and is his second career Wally. He earned Monday’s victory with an ET of 4.091 at a speed of 310.41 mph, which ties the fourth-fastest FC time in the 1,000-foot era. The Canadian-born Arend beat Jack Beckman, John Force, and Ashley Force Hood to get to the final round.

In Top Fuel, Lucas beat six-time and defending class champion Tony Schumacher, who is currently at the top of the standings with five wins in 2009. Both drivers smoked the tires off the starting line and Lucas was able to top “The Sarge” in a dramatic peddle fest down the track.

“I went (to the line) with the intention to do what we’ve done in every other round today and that’s just to go down the track and just try to nail the tree,” he said. “It’s funny sometimes how wins happen. Sometimes you’re on, sometimes the car is on, sometimes you’re both on. Today, I felt like both of us were on.

“The awesome part of thousand-foot racing for me is that you get to see the scoreboard and you get to know if you won. (The run was) really intense and I’m so proud of my guys.”

Lucas took the victory with an ET of 5.133 at a speed of 251.44 mph, beating teammate Shawn Langdon, event top qualifier Larry Dixon, and surprise semi-finalist Steve Torrence to get to the final round. He is now fifth in points, 133 behind Schumacher.

Phillips was the third surprise winner of the O’Reilly NHRA Midsouth Nationals, beating defending PSM champion Eddie Krawiec in a close race. Phillips’ time of 6.935 topped Krawiec’s 6.948 and set a track record in qualifying with a speed of 196.70 mph. It is the first time he has won since Maple Groves in 2003.

“It’s great,” Phillips said, describing his feelings of finally returning to the Winner’s Circle. “I’ve been out here and struggling for the last three years. I lost my whole set up on my bike in ’06 when I ran against Matt Smith in Ohio and I struggled and I struggled and I struggled.

“It’s just one of those deals where I was chasing my tail for a while, I found it, and now the bike’s running good.”

With the win, Phillips jumps to third in the Pro Stock Motorcycle points, 165 markers behind Hector Arana. Phillips was able to get to the finals by facing Arana in the semis after Arana red lit. Arana did leave Memphis with 20 bonus points, thanks to setting the NHRA national PSM ET record of 6.851. Phillips also beat defending event winner Craig Treble and GT Tonglett in the first and second rounds, respectively.

Of the four classes, Line was the only racer who was not a surprise visitor to the Winner’s Circle. The victory was his second at MMP (2004) and the 20th of his career. He moves to second in the Pro Stock standings, 78 points behind the weekend’s top qualifier Mike Edwards.

“I wasn’t thinking a lot about the points,” he said. “Fortunately, NHRA pays someone else to add (the points) up, so really for us, it’s about winning races. We came through today, some way, somehow.

“We’ve struggled the last few weeks and haven’t done a good job and didn’t do a great job behind the wheel today, but it was good enough.”

The event was postponed on Sunday due to heavy rains and was delayed Monday morning due to more weather issues. It was delayed again for 56 minutes after a scary wreck involving Dan Wilkerson, the 21-year-old son of defending race winner, Tim Wilkerson. The younger Wilkerson was racing Ron Capps in the first round of Funny Car eliminations and was ahead of the veteran when his car began to fishtail, causing both rear tires to separate from the chasis and put the Springfield, Ill. native nearly head-on into the wall.

Wilkerson suffered no injuries and immediately got out of the remains of his car and immediately got on the radio to let his mother, who was watching the events unfold from the starting line.

"My neck doesn't hurt, my head doesn't hurt, none of my arms or legs hurt, but my feelings are not just hurt; they're pretty crushed," he said.  "That was a great race car, the one my dad drove last year, and now it's total junk.  The first two things I thought of once I got out of the car were 'Man, we were ahead of him and were winning' and 'Holy cow, I ruined the race car.'  There was just nothing I could do, though.  I was along for the ride.  Let me tell you, that split-second instant right before you hit the wall is not a fun moment."

The NHRA Full Throttle Series returns to Memphis Motorsports Park in August, 2010. For more information on that race, and the more than 200 events hosted here, visit them on the Web at MemphisMotorsportsPark.com. Fans can also follow MMP at Twitter.com/MMPRacing and its official page on Facebook.

Photos by John Tucker, Memphis Motorsports Park. Release from Brandon W. Mudd

Canadian Rally Championship: Pat Richard wins Pacific Forest Rally to keep title fight alive

MERRITT, B.C. - The Subaru Rally Team Canada pairing of Pat Richard (Squamish, B.C.) and Alan Ockwell (Toronto) won the 2009 Pacific Forest Rally, the fifth round of the Canadian Rally Championship presented by Subaru and supported by Yokohama. Mixed conditions in the hills surrounding the Nicola Valley took a toll on both teams and cars, with battles raging all through the order.

Richard and Ockwell suffered a technical problem during the final service, requiring them to delay their departure and incur a penalty which nearly cost them the event. The duo proceeded to crush the stage record on the final stages to re-affirm their win.

“We were only three seconds ahead going into the last stages,” said Richard. “We broke the stage record on Helmer, and made up 23 seconds on one stage alone.”

Antoine L'Estage and Nathalie Richard (Ste-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que.) were tempted to fight for the win, but had their minds on a bigger prize. With a second place finish, the two retain a six point lead in the Canadian Rally Championship heading into the final event next month.

“It was very tempting to get into an all out battle with Pat,” said L'Estage. “But we came here to make sure we keep as big a lead in the championship as possible, and it wasn't worth the risk to push.”

Scott Trinder and Bill Westhead (Vancouver) finished third after a close battle with rivals in the last few stages. The result is the first national podium finish for the team.

“I'm totally stoked on the result,” said an excited Trinder. “We came out here aiming to try to finish in the top few Subarus, but we're the top privateer Subaru entry, which is amazing.”

Jan and Jody Zedril (Winnipeg, MB) earned the top two-wheel drive finish, clinching the 2009 Group 2 class title. The overall two-wheel drive championship is still to be decided at the final event.

“Competition in two wheel drive has really stepped up,” said Jan Zedril. “You realize how many more risks you need to take just to gain a few seconds.”

Eric Grochowski and Leanne Junilla (Calgary) finished second in two-wheel drive with their VW Golf, despite engine problems that worsened through the rally. Carl Barrell and Martin Burnley were third in two wheel drive, also driving a VW Golf.

“This has been one of the most exciting events we've had in a long time, with lots of battles throughout the field,” said event organizer Paul Westwick. “We had really variable conditions – snow, sand, mud, gravel – and that kept things interesting.”

The manufacturer’s championship will also be decided at the final event of the season, where Subaru will defend a slim 10-point lead over rivals, Mitsubishi.

Rally car racing is often described simply as “real cars, real roads, real fast.” The all-season motorsport sees drivers and their co-drivers take modified road cars to the limit as they achieve blistering speeds over closed-road courses that typically cover more than 150 kilometers of gravel, dirt or snow-covered roads. Fans can get up close to the cars in the service areas and catch all the action from specially designated spectator points located at the best spots on the route.

The Canadian Rally Championship is comprised of six events held nationwide in a season that extends from February to November. The series is presented by Subaru Canada, supported by Yokohama Canada and features contingency programs from Subaru Canada and Mitsubishi Canada. The Canadian Association of Rallysport (CARS) is the official sanctioning body for rallying in Canada.

The final round of the Canadian Rally Championship is the Rally of the Tall Pines, held in Bancroft, ON, November 19-21, 2009.

Pacific Forest Rally Final Results (full results at www.pacificforestrally.com)

1)      Pat Richard – Alan Ockwell (Subaru Impreza STI) – 1 hours 26 min. 12.40 sec.
2)      Antoine L'Estage – Nathalie Richard (Mitsubishi EVO X ) – 1:27:23.00
3)      Scott Trinder – Bill Westhead (Subaru Impreza WRX) – 1:33:45.20
4)      Simon Losier – Francois Morin (Mitsubishi EVO VIII) – 1:34:13.50
5)      Mark Jennings-Bates – Jennifer Daly (Subaru Impreza STI) – 1:36:54.90
6)      Jan Zedril – Jody Zedril (Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart) – 1:39:16.80
7)      Colin Armstrong – Keith Morison (Subaru Impreza WRX) – 1:40:46.90
8)      Graham Bruce – Ryan Warrington (Subaru Impreza STI) – 1:42:06.70
9)      Eric Grochowski – Leanne Junilla (Volkswagen Golf) – 1:42:23.50
10)   Dave Hintz – Rick Hintz (Subaru Impreza WRX) – 1:42:39.80

PHOTOS: Andrew Harvey/Flatovercrest.com (Mandatory Credit)

Full coverage of the championship will air on RDS and TSN. Check local listings.

For more information: Terry Epp, National Series Manager, 905-640-6444, or crc@carsrally.ca // On the web: www.CARSrally.ca ; www.pacificforestrally.com

PHOTO GALLERY: 47th Milk Bowl

This is a 576 photo gallery of the ACT's 47th Milk Bowl. This race was held at Thunder Road Speedbowl in Barre, VT on Sunday, October 4, 2009.

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

Brockville Ontario Speedway Fall Nationals Less Than Two Weeks Away

BROCKVILLE - There are just two major events left in the 2009 racing season for DIRT Northeast.  Super DIRT Week which is just around the corner and just under two weeks away, the DIRT Northeast Fall Nationals at Brockville Ontario Speedway.  The preparations for the biggest weekend of racing in the 40 years of racing on October 17th and 18th at the Beast of the East are already in full swing.

Crews have been busy coming up with plans, and moving things around on the Speedway grounds to handle race fans and teams alike as they come north of the border to close out the Mr. DIRT 358 Modified and Pro Stock tours.  There will also be a next to last tour event for the Sportsman, a special open 360 Sprint Car event and a Street Stock invitational.  Heats begin each day at 2pm

Brockville Ontario Speedway will have a special booth on Manufacturers row at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, NY as part of Super DIRT Week 2009.  Race fans can get more information about the big event in person from Thursday through Saturday this week.Heading towards Super DIRT Week, a few local drivers are still very much in the fight for Mr. DIRT titles. 

Nine-time Brockville champ Danny O Brien of Kingston is third in 358 Modified points trying to track down former Brockville regular Dale Planck and defending champ Pete Bicknell.  2008 Brockville track champ Chris Raabe of Napanee sits atop the Mr. DIRT Sportsman standings as he tries to go back to back with Brockville regular Adam Turner of Picton continuing to turn heads as he holds his spot in the top 12. 

The track is still accepting offering lap sponsorship packages for the 358 Modifieds, Sportsman and Pro Stocks with the driver leading the lap pocketing the 25 dollar a lap stipend.  Advance tickets are also on sale through the track office at  613-348-3998.

NASCAR @ KANSAS: Post Race Press Conference Transcripts - Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, Tony Stewart and Darian Grubb

Kansas City, KS - Tony Stewart took the lead in his No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Impala SS on lap 238 of the 267-lap Price Chopper 400 and never looked back to claim his fourth victory of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) season.

The two-time NSCS champion led five times for a total of 37 laps on the way to his 37th career victory and second at Kansas Speedway. He jumped to fourth, just 67 points behind the leader, in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings with three of the 10 Chase races in the record books.

Stewart's victory clinched the 33rd NSCS Manufacturers' Cup Championship for Chevrolet with 15 wins this season through 29 of 36 races.

Four-time NSCS champion Jeff Gordon, No. 24 DuPont Impala SS, finished second in the race to move to seventh in the standings. He sits just 103 points behind the leader.

Juan Pablo Montoya continued his strong season with a fourth-place finish in the No. 42 Target Impala SS. Montoya is third in the standings, 51 points out of first place.

Mark Martin, No. 5 CARQUEST/Kellogg's Impala SS, maintains an 18-point lead in the point standings with a seventh-place finish in today's race. Martin led once for a total of 11 laps.

Defending and three-time NSCS champion Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Lowe's/Kobalt Tools Impala SS, remains second in the standings after finishing ninth in the final order. He led five times for a total of 53 laps.

Ryan Newman, No. 39 US Army Impala SS, is ninth in the standings with a 22nd-place finish in today's race.

The NSCS series heads to Auto Club Speedway, Fontana, California, for the fourth race of the 2009 Chase on Sunday, October 11, 2009.

TONY STEWART AND DARIAN GRUBB, NO. 14 OFFICE DEPOT/OLD SPICE IMPALA SS - Winner

THE MODERATOR:  We're pleased to be joined in the media center by today's race winner and his crew chief, Tony Stewart, driver of the No. 14 Office Depot Old Spice Chevrolet for Stewart-Haas Racing and his crew chief Darian Grubb.  Congratulations to these guys for winning the Price Chopper 400 presented by Kraft Foods here at Kansas Speedway.  For Tony, it's his fourth victory in 2009, his second victory here at Kansas Speedway.  It moves him up to fourth in the points in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship, and also the win today for Chevrolet clinches its 33rd manufacturer's championship.  
Tony, congratulations on the win.  Tell us how that happened out there today.  
TONY STEWART:  It happened because we were the first guy across the finish line.  (Laughter.)
But to break it down a little more complicated than that, the good thing was we got two tires at the end there, and Darian made a great call getting two, and the guys had an awesome stop.  That was really what it boiled down to.  
We got that track position at the end, and we had the luxury of being able to pick the inside or outside lane on the restart, and I kind of debated back and forth which side I needed to be on.  But I kind of struggled when I was stuck on the bottom on restarts today.  So took a gamble and went to the top and got enough of a lead on Kasey to get down to the bottom by the time we got to 1 and 2 and was able to run our line, and we got enough of a gap right off the bat that it gave me the flexibility to run my own line, run my own pace and let those guys have to worry about catching us.  
THE MODERATOR:  Darian, talk about some of that strategy that Tony was sharing with us there that helped you win this race.  
DARIAN GRUBB:  It was pretty tough.  We had to make a decision there being two or four tires towards the end, but we had a lot of laps on the tires.  Two stops before that we had done two, and it actually worked pretty well for us.  We gained a lot of track position and Tony was able to hang on a little better than some of the other cars that took two.  We knew we had a shot at it, and we knew that track position was going to be key, so we had to do that to be able to get out there and race those guys that were so fast.  
We were hanging out with them all day, but we couldn't get in front of them to be able to outrun them, so we knew we had to do something there at the end to get that track position.  
Q.        At the end of the race, you said you could tell Jeff was coming.  Did you pick it up a little bit, or maybe did he fall off?  Did you just kind of try to keep that gap between you at the end of the race?  
TONY STEWART:  We just kind of ran our pace.  It's easy, when somebody starts running you down, it's easy to over-drive your car trying to maintain a gap, and you end up making it worse on yourself.  So even though I saw him getting bigger in the mirror, I didn't want to burn the tires off of it in case we got a caution, and we got a green and white checkered, so we just ran hard enough to not abuse the tires.  
It's like he could get so close and then he couldn't get any closer.  When he got up there, he got tight, and he had to run pretty hard to get by Greg, and then to run us down.  So by then he pretty much got the good off his tires and we got the luxury to kind of on that restart run our own pace and take care of it and make sure we made it last the whole way.  
Q.        How much debate did you guys have over two or four?  Were you in agreement right away?  Am so of the guys talked about --
TONY STEWART:  We did, actually.  He asked me what I thought.  I kind of put my vote in, and he said it was exactly what he was thinking.  So I mean, it made me feel good that I felt like when we both agree on the same thing like that that quick, it was like to both of us it wasn't even an option.  We pretty much knew what we both needed.  
Q.        For both of you, you hit a little lull; you had like six straight races of ninth or worse.  Can you just kind of talk about your mindset and how you kind of reversed it and what's this mean?  
DARIAN GRUBB:  We still approach every race the same.  We've had a few races in the last few weeks that just weren't up to the standards that we had set that we wanted to have, but we got the best out of every situation we ran and got the best finish we possibly could.  
By doing that we know we're going to keep setting the tone.  We're going for wins every week.  We know we have to win to be able to win the Chase for the championship, and today was just a good example of how hard you have to fight and how close the competition is between all these guys.  
We swapped the lead tons of times today between all the actual competitors for the championship.  You've got to be able to compete against those guys and race them and also race your race and just go for the wins.  That's the only way you're going to be able to make up any ground.  
TONY STEWART:  I agree exactly 100 percent with what he said there.  That's exactly right.  You have to take those bad days, like Darian said, they weren't days that we wanted, but at the end of the day, no matter what the circumstance that got us behind, we were able to rebound from it, not get all the way up to where we wanted, but we were able to make gains on it at the end and salvage a better finish than where we were.  Whatever the scenarios were, we were able to overcome part of it.  
As long as you do that at the end of the day, obviously the outcomes weren't what we wanted, but the fact it just shows this team doesn't have any quit in them, and that's what it's going to take to get back on top.  
Q.        Speaking of making gains, entering the race there were only three drivers within 106 points of the lead, now there's six.  How important is that, and you're one of the guys that made up a sizable amount of points.  How important is that right now?  
TONY STEWART:  It depends on who you're talking to.  It's not important to me that there's that many guys there.  I want to be within ten points of it, obviously.  But it shows how competitive this Chase is.  Guys that were up front there had average days, and a lot of guys closed on them today.  It just shows that you're going to have to be on for ten weeks to win this thing, and if you have a bad day, there's going to be guys that are going to capitalize on it.  
Q.        Two elements that you guys have already talked about, the start to the Chase, I'm wondering, how disappointing for that because of how good you guys have been were the first two races of the Chase?  And then Darian, you said you knew you were going to have to win races.  Were you feeling you were in a must-win situation with the way the 48 and the 5 had performed the first two weeks?  
DARIAN GRUBB:  We knew going into the Chase it was a must-win situation.  You're going to have to win races against these competitors.  These guys have probably won 80 percent of the races this season in Chase.  You have to go in with the mindset you have to win races.  
Those last two weeks, first two weeks of the Chase, the last two performances we had, they weren't what we wanted, but it's what our team needed to do.  We came back from 36th to 9th at Dover, and we came back from 33th to 14th at Loudon in very short amounts of time.  We were able to salvage what we could out of those races, and we actually became a stronger team and fixed some problems and were working a little harder.  We know what details we're missing now to become a strong championship contending team.  
Q.        (Inaudible.)  
DARIAN GRUBB:  You have to take a positive out of it every week.  If you don't, you're never going to be moving forward.  If you just take negatives, all you're going to be doing is beating yourself down.  
Q.        Could you talk about how nice it is for your team back with Chevrolet to help them clinch the manufacturer's championship today?  
TONY STEWART:  Yes, it's a proud moment.  I mean, Chevy has been a big part of my career, and General Motors in general has.  To be the team that wins the race today and locks down the championship for them, that's a huge sense of pride for us leaving here today and something that we hope they're as proud of us helping and doing our part in that as we are.  
Q.        Jeff Gordon was in here and mentioned that --
TONY STEWART:  He came in here?  Jeff Gordon came in here?  Wow.
Q.        I know you're amazed.  
TONY STEWART:  That's awesome.  I never would have thought Jeff Gordon would have came in here.  (Laughter.)
Go ahead.  I'll try to contain myself.  
Q.        He said if this was the old system you'd be running away with it --
TONY STEWART:  Yeah, but it's not the old system, so why are we talking about the old system?  In case you didn't know, we haven't used that system for five years now, so why are we talking about the old system?  Who cares?  
Q.        That's what I was going to ask you --
TONY STEWART:  No, you guys are the ones that bring it up.  We don't know.  We know what the system is.
Q.        Jeff Gordon mentioned it.  He was sitting right there.  He used that same microphone.  
TONY STEWART:  You would think I would feel the vibe from it right now and understand that.  
I don't even talk about the old system because we don't use it anymore.  It's not even a factor in the equation.  It's like, yeah, we know we would have, but that's not what system we run under.  We all know it starting the year.  Unless they go back to it, who cares?  Except for Jeff Gordon.
Q.        I guess my point was after leading in the points all year long and then not -- and then falling back a little bit at the beginning, that wasn't a factor at all for you guys.  
TONY STEWART:  In what way?  
Q.        I mean, you didn't let that get you down at all.  
TONY STEWART:  You're kidding, right?  
Q.        I'm struggling.  
TONY STEWART:  We know what the system is, so we knew that when we got --
Q.        But you fell from first to --
TONY STEWART:  Yeah, but you know that can happen.  Everybody's points are reset.  The whole field was within 40 points of each other going into Loudon.  It doesn't take a math major to understand what the system is.
Q.        Or a journalist.  
TONY STEWART:  Obviously.  You said it this time.  
Q.        I'm going to move on to something different.  
TONY STEWART:  The thing is we had the whole time that we were in the lead to think about that, but we didn't think about it.  All we did was worry about the significance of just making sure you're in the top 12 when it comes time for Richmond.  It doesn't matter whether you're leading, it doesn't matter how many you're leading by, it doesn't matter if you only make the Chase by one point and you're 2,000 points behind the leader.  And that's the mindset that we all start Daytona with, and you know it.  
It's not a situation where anybody that's leading the points is going to be -- they shouldn't be disappointed because that's what the system is.  We understand what it is.  There's nothing wrong with it.  The system is a cool system.  
It's like Bruce said, now we've got six guys within 100 points of the lead after three races.  So it obviously makes sense, and there's a reason that they've done it, so it's like there's no point in even worrying about the old system and how it all works.  
Q.        You said you've got a race tonight.  What's your plan?  I guess you got rained out last night.  
TONY STEWART:  Yeah, as soon as I get done with this stimulating conversation that we're having here, make me feel smarter when I leave here, then I'm going to get to Knoxville as quickly as I can.  That's my goal to get out of here soon.  Just a hint.  
Q.        Darian, you come from a team that had a lot of success out of California.  You guys are now heading to California.  Your outlook on coming up with a good strategy and a good car to run there next week?  
DARIAN GRUBB:  We're really looking forward to it.  We've got some good cars.  We made a lot of changes to our entire fleet over the last few months trying to get things more acclimated to what Tony needs in a race car.  We finished eighth there in the spring with our second race together.  So I feel like we learned a lot of lessons through the year.  So hopefully we'll be able to go back and improve on that.  
Q.        Tony, what's your outlook?  
TONY STEWART:  I agree with Darian.  We were still just learning each other going into California in the spring.  So going around this time, we obviously know each other better.  We've had time to make mistakes and make decisions that worked for me, and we've learned the feel that I like together, and that's something that will help us definitely for next week.  So it's a much more -- I'm anticipating California a lot more this time than in the spring.  
Q.        Following up on that, the relationship with Darian, is that something recent or is that just -- do you just have the chemistry and click with him like you did with Zippy?  
TONY STEWART:  It was only about an hour and a half ago that I felt this way.  I'm just kidding.  
Honestly, when we started this thing in the spring, I mean, this were times when I was sitting in the car, and I told him what my balance was, and he told me what we were going to change, and I was like, wow, is that the right way to go?  I told him that, too.  
It's just learning each other.  It's learning a new package.  It was a big learning curve for me to learn a new chassis.  Darian obviously knows what these cars like and what this chassis package likes.  It's just a matter of tailoring it to what I like feel-wise in the car.  
There were times the first couple races where I didn't necessarily understand why we were doing something.  But when you go out there and it responds positively to those changes, you gain that confidence right away.  And I do; I have the same confidence in Darian that I had in Zippy for ten years.  
It doesn't take long, and the great thing is I've been really blessed and lucky over the last 11 years to have two really good crew chiefs that I can talk to about anything and that I've connected with.  It definitely helps on days like today.  
Q.        Is there something about this track that you like, given that you've come away with the checkered flag twice now?  
TONY STEWART:  It's round.  We really like that part.  
No, I mean, not necessarily.  We've been lucky enough to win at all but three tracks on the schedule, and that's a goal of mine is to win at those other three.  There's nothing -- I've had more local news people ask me what I think about the racetrack, and I think the same thing about it as when I came the first time.  I liked it when I came here the first time, and I still like it.  
But in case you didn't know, this track is exactly the same as Chicago.  I mean, even down to the bus lot.  It's another track on our schedule.  But the cool thing is there's a lot of short track, dirt track fans from this area, and that's what makes coming here different than some of the other places we go to, because of the dirt track routes that we have here.  
Q.        Darian, the decision to take two tires at the end, was that irrespective of what Biffle was doing, taking four?  In other words, was that irrelevant?  And were you surprised then that he did and then came out behind Tony?
DARIAN GRUBB:  It was.  I actually think his plan may have been two tires.  We heard him call on the radio that they switched from two to four at the last minute.  I don't know if that was because he slit his tires coming into the box or anything like that.  We made our plan and we were going to stick to it and hoped the other guys weren't going to make that same decision.  

MARK MARTIN, NO. 5 CARQUEST/KELLOGG'S IMPALA SS – CHASE POINT LEADER, Finished 7th

JEFF GORDON, NO. 24 DUPONT IMPALA SS – Finished 2nd

         THE MODERATOR:  We're going to roll into our post-race Price Chopper 400 presented by Kraft Foods at Kansas Speedway today.  We appreciate Mark Martin coming in.  He drives the No. 5 CARQUEST Kellogg's Chevrolet.  You still hold the points lead after three races in the Chase, 18 points over Jimmie Johnson.  Talk about your race out there this afternoon here at Kansas.  
MARK MARTIN:  Well, we didn't quite have it nailed down.  Our car was just a little bit off of some of the guys out there, and our race team fought really hard, and we fought for everything we got today.  
It was a great effort, and it was actually a very good result based on, you know, missing it just a little bit.  It's the first time we've missed it that much in a while, and you're going to have that.  I'm just proud of this race team, and we just lacked a little bit being able to get up there and contend for the win.  
But we pretty well peaked at the end.  Our car was probably the strongest the last run.  So with that in mind, I've got to say, man, we're still fighting hard as we can go.  
Q.        You said you missed a little bit, but you actually extended your points lead a little bit.  
MARK MARTIN:  Yeah, you can look at anything any way you want.  I did and I didn't.  I extended on the 48 but I didn't on several guys.  Look at it however you want.  It's a race, okay; every race, that's how you score points.  
What is there, seven more to go?  I don't think we should be getting all hyped up about the tally right now, you know.  We've got a lot of racing to go.  
The races are actually what determine it.  We had a good race, a good result based off of being a whisker off.  
Q.        We just got in here and just wanted to check with you, overall how would you evaluate your race?  Like you said, just picked up some points, but if you could look at the whole picture of this race, are you pretty pleased for No. 3 in the Chase to be still up front be finishing seventh here today?
MARK MARTIN:  Yes, I am.  I have at times been off this much and been in 25th place.  If we miss it a little bit and we battle and fight and scratch and come up with a seventh place finish, then I'm very, very proud.  I'm proud of my team, and I'm proud of what we accomplished today.  And we'll have to try to tune it up a little bit for the next one.  
THE MODERATOR:  Mark, we appreciate very much you stopping by.  
We are pleased now to be joined by today's second place finisher.  He moves up to seventh in the point standings in the Chase, and that's Jeff Gordon.  He drives the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet.  
JEFF GORDON:  That's it?  Can't you read it different?  Just tell me I'm fifth.  
THE MODERATOR:  Seventh in points, drives the 24 DuPont Chevrolet, but certainly a strong one out there this afternoon for your race team.  
JEFF GORDON:  Yeah, it was definitely a strong finish.  We really struggled at the beginning of this race.  I was pretty disappointed that the car was doing the things that it did.  I'm really, really proud of this team and Steve for not giving up.  I mean, I was a bear on the radio because I was so mad about it.  And we just never gave up on it.  We kept tuning on it, and Steve made some great adjustments and we had great pit stops and found ourselves in position there at the end with some guys and two tires to take advantage of it.  To come back and finish second is certainly a great, great day for us.  
Q.        Before the race, Montoya said it was at times frustrating because no matter what you do, Mark Martin is always right there, first, second, third, fifth, and you seemed to be a little surprised that you had only gone up to seventh.  Is it kind of annoying or frustrating when you do as well as you do and you don't make up a lot of ground?  
JEFF GORDON:  I mean, a little bit, but you don't expect to go from where we were in points all the way up to first.  I mean, it's just that you have a good today like today and you're not really sure where everybody finished, and you're kind of hoping for the best, that you made some big jumps.  
I mean, I'm pretty sure we made a big jump from a numbers standpoint, it's just maybe we didn't go up a lot in positions.  
But that's what happens when you get off to the start that we did at New Hampshire, when you finish 15th and all the guys that you're racing in the championship finish ahead of you.  Then even a day like today is not going to necessarily turn you around and all of a sudden be in the top two or three.  
We've just got to keep doing this.  That's what I'm excited about.  Keep having finishes like today and effort like today, and we've still got a lot of races left.  
Q.        Just talk about chasing Tony and just what was going through your mind as you were round and round and round and just can't get to him?
JEFF GORDON:  When I got into third behind Greg, I knew we had a good car, and I was trying to put down the best laps that I could and started not really making any gains.  Then I searched around a little bit and hit on a couple things and gained on Greg, and I was able to get by him a little bit quicker than I thought I was going to.  And so at that point, I was like, ooh, maybe I do have a shot at Tony.  
As I got closer to him, my car just really started getting tighter and tighter and tighter, and at that point I tried searching around a little bit, but there just really wasn't anything I could do.  Tony was running a really solid line and had a good car.  He had clean air.  As long as he didn't make any big mistakes, I wasn't going to catch him.  
I got a little bit of hope there one time; he slipped coming off of 4 and I gained on him, but after that I couldn't gain any more.  
Q.        Jeff, with the fact that you guys finished six, seven spots ahead of the 5 and the 48, that brings you guys back up a little bit closer.  How important is that to just kind of keep chipping away like that?  You may not make great gains on them, but if you keep chipping away at them, you can be in a position to close the gap.  
JEFF GORDON:  If we can just do it in another seven weeks, man, I'll be happy with that.  
Right now we've got to focus on our team and our program and our finishes, and we can't control what those guys do, or Greg or Tony or any of them.  We got a little bit behind in New Hampshire.  We've got to make sure that's the worst finish that we have in the Chase.  That's the only chance that we have, and that's asking a lot, but that's now our goal.  It's the position we put ourselves in.  
Racetracks like today are good tracks for us, but I'll tell you, when they dropped the green, I thought we were going to get lapped.  We were really far off.  
I'm as optimistic and excited right now about the fact that we made adjustments and got ourselves to a second place finish as I am just that we had a good day.  I mean, we've got a lot of work still left to do.  
Q.        Over a 25-lap run like we had at a track like this, can you sort of describe the difference in the feel of the car with the two tires versus four?  How does that work out?  
JEFF GORDON:  It kind of goes in cycles.  We took two earlier, and it actually worked pretty good for us until the end of the run.  So I think that four tires are a little bit better right from the getgo for a couple laps, and then I think they seem to level off once they get up to temperature.  And then once you get to the end of the run when the fuel load goes away, then it really starts to go.  
I mean, we were better than Tony there at the end, but not enough.  We made some adjustments to make our car good on the restart and tried to jump up through there, and it worked.  It did what we needed it to do.  But we needed to get out front sooner in order to maintain, and we didn't.  So that's why we finished where we did.  
But going back to the two-tire thing, it's risk versus reward, and look at how it worked out for Tony but look how it worked out for the other guys.  You've got to be willing to take that risk, if you're not the first guy out there when they drop the green, what's going to happen, because for a bunch of guys it didn't work out.  You've got to kind of weigh that out, and for us four tires was the way to go.  But two tires earlier worked decent.  
If we had known we were going to get out front, then maybe it would have worked.  But you don't know that, and I'm not sure, you'll have to ask Steve why he made the decision he did, but I'm glad he made the four tires call.  
Q.        Jeff, you were talking about how finicky this car is.  What is the cure for that?  Do you try to figure this stuff out in practice?  
JEFF GORDON:  I'm telling you, that first run I didn't think any communication skills in the world was going to fix that thing.  I didn't think any adjustments -- I thought we were going to have to come down and change four spring shocks and sway bars.  I don't know how that car came to us, I really don't.  
I definitely give Steve a lot of credit for not panicking.  He made adjustments, but they weren't just crazy adjustments.  It does tell you how finicky this car is.  We made some adjustments where the car came around a little bit, still wasn't great, and it never really was spectacular all day.  Even there at the end, I was good in 1 and 2 but not in 3 and 4.  We've got to go back and analyze what we did throughout the weekend, where we started the race, what adjustments we made.  
I was so mad I didn't pay attention to adjustments to be honest with you.  I just told them what it did and drove the heck out of it, and somehow we finished second.  I'm looking forward to going back and talking to them.  
 
Q.        When you look at how this race finished and down the stretch, 10 of the 12, 9 of the 10, were all in the Chase, the cream of the crop kind of rising to the top there.  Does racing get any better than this?  You two are having fun because obviously you're up there at the podium and moving up in points, but does it get any better than this?  Talk about the emotion of racing with the cream of the crop and the way this finishes; at some point it's anybody who can catch anybody.  
JEFF GORDON:  I think that's why they made the Chase.  Right now Tony would be pretty much on cruise control with the championship.  So they made the Chase to have a playoff-type system, and all year long it's been anybody that can win races and comes on strong, and now that's what we've got.  
I think that it's -- even though the Hendrick cars started off the first two races strong and we were strong today, that doesn't mean that this thing is over.  There's a lot of racing left to go.  There's a lot of great competition, and the competition is as even as I've ever seen it.  Even though we've had some dominating performances, to have so many different guys in the Chase running up front at different racetracks is impressive.  
THE MODERATOR:  Thanks for putting on a great show.  Good luck at California.  

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