12 CKL drivers test Franczak supported FV1200's

  Canadian Karting League FV1200 Test day at Mosport
 
TORONTO, ONTARIO -- The Canadian Karting League (CKL) held their FV1200 test day at Mosport DDT this past Saturday. The day was put on by the CKL's sponsor Franczak, and 12 lucky drivers got the chance of a lifetime behind the wheel of a Vallis Motor Sport FV1200.
 
 The 12 lucky drivers were: 2010 Junior Champion -- Matt Garwood, 2010 Junior runner-up -- Cole Saunders, Junior - Alex Nagel, Junior - Tyler Wick, Junior - Robert Rowland, 2010 Senior Champion - Devin Scicluna, 2010 Senior runner-up -- Diego Rojas, 2010 Masters Champion -- Aaron Casaert, 2010 Masters Runner-up -- Paul Baccichet, Masters - Sandy Dunbabin, Masters - Ernest Prokofiew, Masters - Paul McMillan and Senior driver Michael Foster.
 
 For all 12 drivers, it was their first time to drive an open-wheeled race car.
 "I was really nervous when I got in the car," admitted 14-year-old Matt Garwood.
 Other drivers echoed his comments, but all the drivers had the same comments once they experienced the Vallis Motor Sport FV1200.
 
 "It was just awesome!" 2010 Masters Champion Aaron Casaert said. "I really want to thank Chris Bye and Vallis Motor Sport for putting this test day on. Now, more than ever, I want to do really well next year in the Canadian Karting League so I can have a shot at winning the Franczak sponsored full-season of Formula Vee racing in 2012.
 
 Franczak's Chris Bye, who oversaw the event and led the young drivers around the track was happy with what he saw from the CKL drivers. "I was impressed by the drivers we had today," Bye said. "None of them had any experience, but you could see that the lessons they have learned from a year of karting really helped them today."
 
 CKL owner Russ Bond also took in the event. "To see guys that had never seen a kart back in April, now out there pounding around in a FV -- and looking right at home -- makes me proud of the program we have going in the Canadian Karting League. Our emphasis is on learning first, racing second, and I think that all our drivers showed well today. I also want to thank Chris Bye and Bill Vallis for making this day happen."
 
 Franczak Enterprises Ltd. (FEL) www.franczakdrive.com FEL is a learning and promotion company serving the North American automotive sector since 1986. FEL service solutions bring automotive products and the market into sharper focus for sales, press and consumer audiences. The FEL head office is located in St. Catharines, Ontario, with sales offices in Toronto and Detroit.
 
 Canadian Karting League (CKL) www.canadiankartingleague.com The Canadian Karting League is an arrive-and-drive karting league based in Innisfil, Ontario. The CKL provides everything needed to go karting on a budget. The CKL is ASN Canada FIA sanctioned in Ontario.
For more information on the CKL, contact Russ Bond at: r.bond@russbondagency.com or call 416-312-2900.

MOSPORT: Mosport Speedway to host Dickies 200 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series opener in 2011

BOWMANVILLE, ON – Canada’s fastest half-mile paved oval, Mosport Speedway, will play host to the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series 2011 season opener on Saturday, May 28 with the Dickies 200.

The announcement was made by the Series in downtown Toronto on November 10 as they released their full 2011 schedule at the VIP Reception at the Fermenting Cellar in the Distillery District.

“It’s an honour to host the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series 2011 season-opening race at Mosport Speedway,” said Myles Brandt, Mosport President and General Manager.  “The Speedway is a great venue for the Series and they have always put on an entertaining show for the fans.”

The country’s top stock car racers return to Mosport, this time to try to tame the legendary 3.96 km, 10-turn International Raceway for the Vortex Brake Pads 200, June 24-26.

“We are really pleased to have landed two rounds on the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series schedule,” Brandt said.  “These cars look fabulous on the road course and the drivers race hard all weekend long.  It’s one of the most exciting races of our season.”

The 12-race schedule will see a familiar mix of tracks including seven races on ovals and five on road courses, with one taking place on the temporary street circuit at Exhibition Place in Toronto.  A new race on this year’s schedule will be held at Circuit ICAR, a 3 km road course located at the old Mirabel Airport site, north of Montreal.

For more information call the Mosport Hotline at 1-800-866-1072 (Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm ET), visit online at www.mosport.com , or email info@mosport.com

From Ryan Chalmers, Mosport

Chevrolet returning to IndyCar Series in 2012

Fans and industry representatives have asked for increased engine manufacturer participation in the IZOD IndyCar Series. They will get it in 2012.

General Motors and Chevrolet officials announced today that Chevrolet will compete in the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series with a new twin-turbocharged, direct-injected V-6 racing engine powered by renewable E85 ethanol fuel.

The American automaker will join current IZOD IndyCar Series engine manufacturer Honda, which announced earlier this year it would build a new V-6 power plant, designed by Honda Performance Development for the series in 2012.

"We are excited to have engine manufacturer competition again in the IZOD IndyCar Series, beginning in 2012," said Randy Bernard, CEO, INDYCAR. "Chevrolet brings a strong passion for racing, technology, relevance and innovation, which is a great fit for our new car platform. We are excited about the future of Indy car racing with the addition of Chevrolet as well as the continued involvement of our longtime engine supplier Honda."

The new, purpose-built Chevy IZOD IndyCar Series engine will be developed jointly by GM and Ilmor Engineering.  

"Indianapolis Motor Speedway has been a proving ground for manufacturers since Louis Chevrolet, our co-founder, first raced here in 1909," said Chris Perry, vice president of Chevrolet Marketing. "Our return to IndyCar as Chevrolet enters its centennial year is natural. At the same time this engine program will be a showcase for the efficient and powerful engine technologies that parallel new Chevrolet vehicles like the Camaro, all-new Cruze compact and Equinox crossover."

Chevrolet competed previously in Indy car racing as an engine manufacturer in 1986-93 and 2002-05 with V-8 engines, winning 104 races, powering six driver champions and scoring seven Indianapolis 500 victories. The new Chevrolet IZOD IndyCar Series engine program will reunite one of the most successful partnerships in motorsports as Team Penske will introduce the Chevrolet engine in 2012. Team Penske previously tallied 31 Indy car victories with Chevrolet engines, including four Indianapolis 500 wins.

"Our vision is to design, build and sell the world's best vehicles - and racing is one of the best ways to showcase what we can do," said Tom Stephens, GM vice chairman, Global Product Operations. "Re-entering Indy-style racing will help us take our advanced engine technology to the upper bounds of what's possible. And it will also provide a dynamic training ground for engineers, who'll transfer the technologies we develop for racing to the products we sell to our customers.

"GM has become a recognized leader in implementing direct-injection technology in both four-cylinder and V-6 engines by leveraging knowledge already gained from racing," Stephens said. "Building on this foundation, our new partnership with Ilmor will give us even more opportunities to accelerate our engine technology. It will help our effort to continue to expand and improve the DI technology for street cars. Indy racing will also let us compete at the cutting-edge of key technologies like safety, aerodynamics, electronics and materials so we can make our vehicles even more efficient, safer, more innovative and, especially, more fun to drive."

The Chevrolet IZOD IndyCar Series power plant will have an aluminum block and cylinder heads, and will be a fully stressed chassis member supporting the gearbox and rear suspension. Technical details and specifications will be released at a later date.

"We want to take this opportunity to welcome Chevrolet back to the IZOD IndyCar Series," said Erik Berkman, president, Honda Performance Development.  "Although we are certainly proud of HPD's numerous accomplishments during our tenure as single engine supplier to the Series - including an active and unprecedented streak of five consecutive Indianapolis 500s completed without an engine failure - we have repeatedly and unequivocally expressed our desire for engine competition within the Series, dating even from our first days of sole supply, in 2006.

"We look forward to renewing our relationship with Chevrolet as competitors on the race track and giving the fans of open-wheel racing a spirited and challenging rivalry."

The IZOD IndyCar Series announced in June that that its next generation of engines would be more powerful and efficient than the current formula -- along with being relevant to the public and automobile industry.

The 2012 platform allows manufacturers to produce engines with a maximum of six cylinders and 2.4-liter displacement. The engines will be turbo charged producing between 550 and 700 horsepower to suit the diverse set of tracks on which the IZOD IndyCar Series competes. All engines will run on E85 with additional details on the fuel platform to be announced at a later date.

The new engine strategy was based on a recommendation from the ICONIC (Innovative, Open-Wheel, New, Industry-Relevant, Cost-Effective) Advisory Committee, which was tasked with reviewing, researching and making a recommendation to the sanctioning body on the next generation IZOD IndyCar Series engine and chassis.

Committee members include Brian Barnhart, Tony Cotman, Gil de Ferran, Eddie Gossage, Rick Long, Tony Purnell and Neil Ressler. It was mediated by retired Air Force Gen. William R. Looney III.

From Media Contact: Amy Konrath, INDYCAR

Travis Pastrana coming to NASCAR Nationwide Series

CORNELIUS, N.C. - Travis Pastrana is coming to NASCAR in 2011. After mining gold medals in the X Games, shattering jump records on both motorcycles and automobiles and starring as a cultural icon for the action sports world, the star of MTV’s “Nitro Circus” is ready to turn his attention to America’s most popular form of motorsports – NASCAR.

Michael Waltrip Racing, Gary and Blake Bechtel and Pastrana announced today the creation of Pastrana-Waltrip Racing that will field cars in the NASCAR Nationwide Series beginning in 2011. 

Pastrana-Waltrip Racing will focus on creating programs that expose the action sports world’s fans and participants to NASCAR and develop youth marketing initiatives designed to create greater awareness of both sports.

Initial plans are for Pastrana to compete in seven NASCAR Nationwide races in 2011 and twenty races in 2012.    

“I’ve been following NASCAR closely for years as a fan of the sport with competing in the sport a life-long dream,” Pastrana said. “I decided it was time to try and turn that dream into reality and with the help of the Bechtel family, Michael Waltrip Racing and Wasserman Media Group I’m now one step closer!”

Pastrana-Waltrip Racing will field Toyotas out of the Michael Waltrip Racing shop in Cornelius, N.C. Waltrip noted the importance of the youth demographic Pastrana brings to NASCAR.

“Travis has built an enormous and unique following all over the world,” said Waltrip, a two-time Daytona 500 champion. “As a race team owner, we are always looking for ways to deliver to our partners and engage our fans better. This is an opportunity to showcase our company and our sport to a new generation of young fans. We’re also looking for that next big star.  Travis already is one and action sports is full of talented athletes. Having Travis as a part of our program adds another great dimension to our team and NASCAR.”

Travis Pastrana is one of the most recognized and celebrated athletes in the world. An action sports icon, Pastrana owns 16 X Games gold medals along with multiple supercross, motocross and rally championships in his career. Pastrana also created the Nitro Circus empire, which includes a television show, live tours and a soon-to-be-released feature film.  

Check out the official Travis Pastrana NASCAR announcement video at http://pastranawaltrip.com/. 

Also follow team updates and announcements at www.facebook.com/pastranawaltrip and on Twitter at @pwr99.

###

WASSERMAN MEDIA GROUP: Travis Pastrana is and has always been represented by the Wasserman Media Group who will help guide marketing, sales and promotional efforts for the newly formed Pastrana-Waltrip Team.  WMG was instrumental in the formation of this new partnership and in bringing Pastrana to NASCAR, with an aim to create a broader youth audience within the sport through new drivers, action sports related marketing and promotional activations and proactive sponsors targeting a younger demographic on a broader scale. 

From Stacie Fandel // Manager, Media Relations No. 99 NNS

New Hampshire Motor Speedway announces 2nd ACT event for 2011

Waterbury, VT – Building on the success of the past two ACT Invitationals, officials from New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) and the American Canadian Tour (ACT) announced today that the largest touring late model series will add a second event to the ‘Magic Mile’ in 2011.

The event will be presented as part of the IZOD Indy Car Series weekend on August 12-13, 2011 at the largest sports and entertainment facility in New England, the region’s only super speedway. The NASCAR Whelen Modified Division will join the ACT Late Models as part of an ‘ALL STAR’ weekend for short track racing, featuring full-fender ACT Late Models and the very popular open-wheeled NASCAR Modifieds.

“The past two years, the ACT Invitational has provided entertaining and exciting racing for our fans here,” said Jerry Gappens, executive vice president and general manager of NHMS. This premier short track touring series helped grow our annual September NASCAR Saturday into a great tripleheader.

“When we added the IZOD Indy Car Series to our 2011 schedule, August 12-14, I wanted to make Saturday a ‘Short Track Showdown’ that showcases short track stars from around the northeast,” Gappens added. The format and number of teams we expect to be at NHMS for the August 12th-14th weekend is unprecedented. It should be very exciting for our fans and for the teams of the ACT.”

The ACT Late Models and NASCAR Modifieds feature events will be run on Saturday afternoon, August 13, which also includes Indy Car Series practice and record-breaking qualifying.

According to officials at the ACT headquarters, the event will be open to all ACT affiliate track Late Model teams that are a.) ACT legal, b.) in the top 15 in weekly points at an ACT affiliate track by entry deadline, c.) enter the event timely, and d.) get approval of their entry from their local track and from ACT. Additional teams from both touring series of the American Canadian Tour in the US and Quebec will be eligible to enter and go through the approval process. Each of the touring divisions will receive points toward the 2011 championships.

“Obviously, we are very excited about this announcement for ACT Late Model teams from throughout the region. This will certainly be different than this coming year’s ACT Invitational race on September 24th. After a couple years of watching how exciting and respectful the Late Model teams have been at New Hampshire, we wanted to give more Late Model teams an opportunity to race there. Being at Loudon over Indy weekend August 12-14, will be a dream come true for many of the Late Model teams. We expect to have as many as 100 teams trying to qualify for what will be a very unique short track kind of race on the ‘big track’,” said Tom Curley, the President of the American Canadian Tour.

More details regarding qualifying procedures and purses for the NHMS ACT Late Model ALL STAR event are expected in the coming months.

Tickets for the IZOD Indy Car 225 on August 14th start at $35 and advance tickets Saturday’s “Short Track All-Star Showdown” are only $25 for adults. Contact the NHMS Ticket office at 603-783-4931 or go to www.nhms.com for more information.

For additional information contact the ACT office at 802.244.6963, www.acttour.com, or media@acttour.com. Information is also available at www.nhms.com.

MICHIGAN INT'L SPEEDWAY: Scoreboard improvements for 2011

BROOKLYN, Mich. (Nov. 11, 2010) ­— A number of enhancements to Michigan International Speedway’s LED scoreboard will begin this week, continuing the track’s firm commitment to give fans the very best race experience each time they visit the Irish Hills for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.

The scoreboard, the first of its kind in motorsports when it was installed in 2008, will receive a makeover. One of the most noticeable changes will be an increase in the overall height of the scoreboard from 108-feet tall to nearly 155-feet tall, a difference of 47 feet. 

The LED display that shows the running order of the race, various sponsor advertisements and track messaging, will also increase from 57 feet tall to 85 feet tall.

Because of the size of MIS and the size of numbers used so all spectators could see, the former scoreboard only listed running order positions in groups of three. The new board will show the top-14 competitors at one time and include a lap counter.

“These enhancements are necessary to give fans an even better viewing experience of our scoreboard,” MIS President Roger Curtis said. “We were the first race track in NASCAR to get an LED scoreboard and other tracks over the last couple of years have followed suit. We have now looked at other tracks and discovered things from their scoreboards that could make ours even better and are implementing some of those changes.”

In addition to the scoreboard, MIS will continue to have seven Sprint Vision screens available throughout the property for viewing during the race weekends. The action on the Sprint Vision screens complements the running order of the scoreboard, giving NASCAR fans the information they need to enjoy the race.

“Unlike other sports where you know what one team is doing over the other, fans need to keep up with their favorite drivers and the rest of the 43-car field at once — and know what lap it is. The new board and the Sprint Vision screens working together will help fans with that,” Curtis said. “This is an important step for the overall experience of our guests.”

The dismantling of the current scoreboard is now under way. Construction of the new scoreboard will soon follow with a completion date set for mid-May.

Curtis has plans to unveil other improvements in the coming weeks that the fans will notice when they return in 2011. 

Nestled in the lush Irish Hills of Southeastern Michigan, Michigan International Speedway is the Great Escape, a venerable NASCAR national park where fans can get away and enjoy the very best in racing and camaraderie. It’s the love of racing and the thrill of a great time for race fans and drivers alike. 

From MIS

2012 mustang boss 302 lets loose with trackey; choose stock or full-race calibration

• TracKey, available for 2012 Mustang Boss 302 owners through Ford Racing dealers, adds TracMode powertrain control software to the car for track use, providing full race calibration and two-stage launch control in addition to stock calibration, without compromising factory warranty
• Using a dual-path powertrain control module (PCM), TracKey software is installed after the vehicle is purchased; accessed by a specially programmed vehicle key, new code coexists with stock Boss software, allowing drivers to choose between street or track use simply by selecting a key
• No aftermarket chips or permanent modifications are made when TracKey is used, allowing owners to return to the stock setting by starting the car with a regular key

DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 11, 2010 – You hold two keys: One has a black Boss logo, the other red: Either will start your 2012 Mustang Boss 302. Slide the all-black key into the lock cylinder, give it a twist and you’re treated to 444 ponies worth of smooth, streetable driving joy. Or choose red – the TracKey – and you have a competition-ready track car.

A joint project between Mustang engineers and the Ford Racing dealer network, TracKey adds a second set of powertrain control module (PCM) software to a customer’s Mustang Boss 302, activated by a specially programmed vehicle key. When invoked by TracKey, the new TracMode software alters more than 200 engine management parameters, increasing low-end torque and turning the potent but well-mannered stock Boss into a competition-ready track car. Remove TracKey and start Boss with the standard key, and all factory engine settings are restored for a comfortable drive home from the course.

“From an engine management standpoint, we’ve done just about everything possible to give TracKey users a full race car experience,” explains Jeff Seaman, Mustang powertrain engineer. “It’s not for use on the street – for example, the deceleration is set up to preserve the brakes, and the throttle response is very aggressive. A skilled driver on a closed course will really appreciate the benefits.”

As part of the TracKey software package, Ford engineers also devised a two-stage launch control feature similar to that used on the Cobra Jet race car. Using a combination of steering wheel buttons, drivers can set the tach needle to a desired launch rpm. Floor the throttle and the engine will rev to the preset rpm until the clutch is released, helping aid acceleration and vehicle control from a standing start.

One key, hundreds of changes Devised during an all-night garage brainstorming session among core Mustang team members, TracKey introduces the concept known as the dual-path powertrain control module. The industry-first, patent-pending innovation allows two separate sets of engine management software to exist on a single PCM, selected through the existing SecuriLock® Passive Anti-Theft System (PATS) transceiver found in current production keys.
The TracKey PCM software, installed by an authorized Ford racing dealer after a customer takes delivery of the car, adjusts variable cam timing, spark maps, engine braking, fuel control and other engine parameters – more than 200 in total – to provide a complete race car calibration. The result is an aggressive, race-bred driving experience all the way down to the lopey idle rumbling through the Boss quad exhaust.

“Anything that could possibly affect all-out performance is deleted from the TracKey calibration,” said Dave Pericak, Mustang chief engineer. “Throttle limiting and torque management – any daily driveability enhancements are removed and replaced with a pure Ford Racing competition calibration.”

When TracKey is removed and the vehicle is started with the standard key, the PCM settings are automatically drawn from the factory Boss 302 instruction set again without any additional modifications needed – a huge advantage over aftermarket tuning chips and ECU reprogramming.

The convenience is useful for enthusiasts who want all-out performance at the racetrack but stock driveability for the journey there and back.

An after-hours obsession In the early stages of TracKey development, a major challenge was the complexity of installing multiple PCM computers and switching between them. However, Ford controls engineers developed a method to choose between two unique sets of software in a single powertrain control module on the Boss 302: The dual-path PCM was born.

“We installed the 302R software on the same PCM that held the stock Boss software,” says Seaman. “Then the controls engineers developed a software system to activate one or the other, depending upon which key was used to start the vehicle. Really, all the parts to make this work existed – the Ford MyKey® system was already using the PATS transceiver to perform specific actions based on the key used to start the car, and the PCM was flexible enough to handle multiple control modules. It was just putting everything together.”

As the project unfolded, the team was driven by the uniqueness of what they were trying to accomplish, and TracKey became an obsession. Considering the compressed time frame in which the technology was developed, motivation was essential to the creation of the finished product.
“We’ve all been really excited about TracKey, so it came together quickly,” explained Pericak. “The concept was first discussed in spring 2009, and here we are 18 months later with a finished, tested, verified product. It’s a perfect example of what can happen when you get a core, cross-functional team willing to contribute 24/7 to bring a great idea to life.”TracKey powertrain software installation and key programming will be available to 2012 Mustang Boss 302 owners through Ford Racing authorized dealers. Pricing will be announced at a later date.

PHOTOS: NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Reception

On Nov. 10, the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series community - including racers, officials, sponsors, teams and the media - assembled in the Distillery District in downtown Toronto to celebrate the recently completed season, especially the accomplishments of champion DJ Kennington.

During the evening, the series unveiled its 12-race schedule for 2011. The casual event was a refreshing change from tuxedos, banquet tables and lengthy speeches, and also honoured the top racers at Canada's weekly NASCAR facilities.

DELAWARE SPEEDWAY: Whelen Modified Tour heading to Delaware in 2011

Delaware Speedway’s historic 60th season is set to be an exciting one as the speedway begins to rollout its plans to celebrate.  The speedway took to the A-Channel News at Six airwaves this evening with NASCAR representatives Bob Duvall and George Silbermann to unveil the first part of that celebration: this season the famous NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will make its first ever stop in at Canada’s most historic asphalt racetrack.

More than a first for Delaware Speedway, the event also represents a first for the tour itself as it will be the first ever Canadian race for the tour.  The tour will be at the track September 3 and 4 as part of the Great Canadian Race Weekend.  The main event will run on September 4.

 “The Whelen Modified Tour has been one of the top fan requests to have brought to the track for a number of years,” said track General Manager Joe Czernai.  “We’re proud to have come to the point where we can offer this event as part of our racing lineup, more of which will be announced in the coming weeks”.

The Whelen Modified Tour is one of four NASCAR sanctioned regional touring series across the United States, along with the Whelen Southern Modified Tour and the East & West K&N Pro Series.  The tour is considered the next level above the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series division, in which Delaware Speedway drivers compete on a weekly basis and is a developmental step for drivers aiming to compete in the top levels of NASCAR competition.

The Whelen Modifieds themselves trace their development to the early days of stockcar racing and are considered NASCAR’s oldest racing division.  The vehicles are powered by 625 horse power V8 engines, the cars are capable of speeds of up to 150 mph (approximately 240 kph) when set loose on an open track.  Being their first stop at Delaware Speedway, discovering how they will perform on the half-mile is one of the thrills that await fans in September.

Delaware Speedway is also announcing plans to field a competitor in the event.  The track has moved to acquire a Whelen Modified vehicle and plans to put home track hero D.J. Kennington of St. Thomas behind the wheel for the historic race.  Kennington began his career racing in the Street Stock division at the track seventeen years ago and has since moved through the ranks of Late Model and touring series competition.  Kennington has competed in the NASCAR Nationwide series and has won the two most recent NASCAR Canadian Tire Series races held at the track.  He also recently earned the 2010 championship in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series.

 Ticket availability for the event and season pass information for the full season will be announced in the near future. All information will be posted to the track website as soon as it is available, at www.delawarespeedway.com.

About Delaware Speedway: Delaware Speedway is a half-mile paved oval stock-car track, located just west of London, Ontario, Canada. Since 1952, Delaware Speedway has been the home to some of the finest stock car racing in Canada. Its unique natural amphitheatre-like setting allows a family or group of friends to enjoy exciting, comfortable and affordable evening or afternoon of racing.  Delaware Speedway is a proud member of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series which promotes the best in local racing competition across North America.

For more information contact speedway General Manager Joe Czernai: (519) 652-5068 ext 204. // By John Houghton

NASCAR Canadian Tire Series 2011 Schedule Announced

·         Season Opens May 28 at Mosport Speedway; Covers 12 Tracks In Five Provinces

·         Circuit ICAR Date Added To Series Slate

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (November 10, 2010) – NASCAR announced today the 2011 schedule for the fifth season of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1, which takes the series to some of the top racing facilities throughout Canada.

The schedule features 12 dates at 12 different tracks across five provinces. The slate includes tracks and events familiar to the series, but the addition of another road-course event is new for next season.

The 2011 campaign gets underway on Saturday, May 28 at Mosport Speedway near Bowmanville, Ont. It is the first time the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series opens its season at the half-mile oval. Last season, Don Thomson Jr. earned the victory in an August race. This will be the earliest date the track has hosted Canada's premier racing series.

The season's second date takes the Canadian Tire Series to a new venue – Circuit ICAR located on the grounds of Montreal's Mirabel Airport. The 1.86-mile road course is located on the former passenger terminal's apron.

The series again will be included in many of Canada's largest motorsports events. For the fifth consecutive year, the Canadian Tire Series will share Montreal's legendary Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on IÎe Notre Dame with the NASCAR Nationwide Series. This year's signature event on the schedule is slated for Saturday, Aug. 20. Additionally, a date at Toronto's Exhibition Place is set for Saturday, July 9. It is a pairing with the IZOD IndyCar Series at the popular Honda Indy Toronto. Two-time series champion Andrew Ranger picked up wins in both of these races last season.

The annual swing through Western Canada will include stops at Motoplex Speedway in Vernon, B.C., and Auto Clearing Motor Speedway in Saskatoon, Sask. Both events resulted in standing-room-only crowds with Scott Steckly winning in British Columbia, and eventual series title winner DJ Kennington in Saskatchewan.

Another popular date is the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres in Quebec, which is on tap for Aug. 6-7. Last season, Ranger thrilled the fans of his home province with his third straight victory on the 1.53-mile temporary street course.

In what has become a tradition, the season will close and a new champion crowned at Kawartha Speedway, a .375-mile oval near Peterborough, Ont., on Saturday, Sept. 24. Last year, Pete Shepherd III picked up his first series-career win in the event, while Kennington celebrated his first series championship.

The 2011 calendar of races was revealed to many of the series' competitors and track operators at the NASCAR Canadian Recognition VIP Reception held Wednesday evening at The Fermenting Cellar inside The Distillery in downtown Toronto. This event recognized the accomplishments of participants in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1, as well as competitors participating in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series in Canada.

Other 2011 highlights include:

*       The 2011 schedule includes races on seven ovals: Auto Clearing Motor Speedway, Barrie Speedway, Delaware Speedway, Kawartha Speedway, Mosport Speedway, Motoplex Speedway and Riverside International Speedway; and five road courses: Circuit de Trois-Rivieres, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Circuit ICAR, Mosport International Raceway and the temporary street course at Toronto's Exhibition Place.
*       June 11 will be the series' third consecutive year of competing at Delaware Speedway. Kennington has held serve at his home track by being victorious in each of the first two races there.

*       On June 25-26, the series will run at Mosport International Raceway in Bowmanville, Ont., at the facility's 2.459-mile, 10-turn road course. The race is part of an eventful weekend at the 750-acre facility. Last year, JR Fitzpatrick out dueled both Ranger and Jason Bowles for his second win at the track.
*       The Barrie (Ont.) Speedway date is set for Saturday, Sept. 10. Each of the past four trips to Barrie on this weekend has resulted in overflow crowds. The .333-mile tri-oval always produces one of the most exciting and action-filled events of the season. In 2010, Kennington edged Thomson by just .015 of a second.
*       The trip east to the Maritime Province of Nova Scotia for a Saturday, Sept. 17 event at Riverside International Speedway is a popular stop for the competitors. Tackling the high-banked turns of the .333-mile scale version of the legendary Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway is always a thrill for both competitors and fans. Kennington collected his fifth win of the season in this event.

2011 NASCAR CANADIAN TIRE SERIES SCHEDULE

Date                      Track (Length)                                                          Location                       

Sat., May 28         Mosport Speedway (.5-Mile)                                      Bowmanville, Ont.

Sun., June 5          Circuit ICAR (1.86-Mile road course)                         Montreal, Que.

Sat., June 11         Delaware Speedway (.5-Mile)                                    London, Ont.

Sun., June 26        Mosport Int'l Raceway (2.459-Mile road course)       Bowmanville, Ont.

Sat. July 9             Toronto Exhibition Place (1.755-Mile road course)    Toronto, Ont.

Sat., July 23          Motoplex Speedway (.5-Mile)                                    Vernon, B. C.

Wed., July 27        Auto Clearing Motor Speedway (.333-Mile)               Saskatoon, Sask.

Sun., Aug. 7          Circuit de Trois-Rivieres (1.53-Mile road course)      Trois-Rivieres, Que.

Sat., Aug. 20         Circuit Gilles Villeneuve (2.709-Mile road course)     Montreal, Que.

Sat., Sept. 10        Barrie Speedway (.333-Mile)                                      Barrie, Ont.

Sat., Sept. 17        Riverside Int'l Speedway (.333-Mile)                          Antigonish, N. S.

Sat., Sept. 24        Kawartha Speedway (.375-Mile)                                Peterborough, Ont.

Tentative - Subject to Change

From Shon Sbarra, NASCAR Public Relations

Honda Indy Toronto announces action-packed lineup for 2011

TORONTO, ON - The Honda Indy Toronto, taking place from July 8-10, will feature an exciting and diverse race schedule in 2011. In celebration of 25 years of racing on the streets of Toronto, Ontario’s single largest annual sporting event will feature the highest levels of Indy, stock, touring and, for the first time, exotic car racing.

The marquee attraction continues to be the IZOD IndyCar Series with its lineup of popular drivers including Dario Franchitti, series champion and winner of the 2010 Indy 500; Will Power, winner of the 2010 Honda Indy Toronto; Helio Castroneves and Scott Dixon, past winners of the Indy 500; Marco Andretti, son of Michael Andretti, driver with the most wins in Toronto; Danica Patrick, as well as Graham Rahal, son of Bobby Rahal, winner of the inaugural Indy car race in Toronto in 1986.

“Fans appreciate diversity, accessibility and quality in our weekend schedule,” said Charlie Johnstone, vice president and general manager for Honda Indy Toronto. “We could not hope for a better lineup to celebrate 25 years of racing on the streets of Toronto.”

Returning races include the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, Firestone Indy Lights and the Acura Sports Car Challenge that will feature the Canadian Touring Car Championship. An exciting new addition will be the debut of the Ferrari Challenge, a unique racing series that allows Ferrari owners and enthusiasts to see the legendary cars in their natural environment – the race track. This is the first year the Toronto event has featured an exotic car race.

“The Ferrari Challenge is a premium series with universal appeal,” said Kim Green, co-owner of Green Savoree Toronto, ULC, promoters of the Honda Indy Toronto.  “Its addition to our schedule speaks volumes to the prestige and heritage of this Toronto hallmark event.”

Additional reading:
Honda Indy Toronto - www.hondaindytoronto.com
IZOD IndyCar Series – www.indycar.com
Firestone Indy Lights – www.firestoneindylights.com
NASCAR Canadian Tire Series – www.nascarcanadiantireseries.com
Ferrari Challenge – www.ferrarichallenge.com
Canadian Touring Car Championship – www.touringcar.ca

About Honda Indy Toronto: The Honda Indy Toronto takes place on the streets surrounding Exhibition Place near Lake Ontario and downtown Toronto. With 25 years of Indy car racing history in Toronto, the Honda Indy Toronto is among the most respected motorsports events in North America and includes the fastest racing series on the planet, celebrity athletes, and a week-long festival of live entertainment and interactive activities. For more information, visit www.hondaindytoronto.com.

From Kathleen Stelmach / Torchia Comm.

Race Time Rado to broadcast live from Homestead-Miami Speedway

Listen to SIRIUS on Saturday, November 20 from 10 a.m. to noon. Visit www.racetimeradio.com for more info.

Edmonton Indy... not dead yet?

On Tuesday night, Edmonton's city council "put forward a motion instructing city administration to leave no stone unturned in their efforts to restart the Indy’s engine. It instructed the administration to talk to Octane and negotiate as vigorously as possible to allow the Indy to continue,” said Bryan Anderson, Ward 9 councillor...."

Kind of makes you think it was all a bluff and someone might be blinking... Read the full story here.

In other depressing Alberta road racing news, the Edmonton Journal is also reporting that Fort Saskatchewan, AB's Stratotech Park is also "nearing the end of the road."

World Racing Group Champions On Race Time Radio (Sirius Satellite Radio) Tonight

The champs will speak tonight (Nov. 9) on Sirius Satellite Radio Channel 98 ‘The Score.’

Just three days after clinching titles during the Lowes Foods World of Outlaws World Finals Presented by Bimbo Bakeries and Tom’s Snacks at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, N.C., Matt Sheppard (Super DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Series), Jason Meyers (World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series) and Josh Richards (WoO Late Model Series) will headline the ‘Race Time Radio’ show tonight at 8 p.m. EST on Sirius Channel 98.

The drivers will join Race Time Radio host Joe Chisholm for live interviews throughout the hour-long show, which is broadcast from a studio in the Canadian city of Toronto. Chisholm will also take calls from fans who would like to ask the champions questions while they are on the air.

Listeners can call the Race Time Radio studio toll-free at 1-888-942-7326 to speak with the champions.

Sheppard earned his first career overall Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Modified title with a solid effort during the inaugural World Finals appearance of the Big-Block Modified division. Meyers, meanwhile, secured his first-ever WoO Sprint Car Series championship by sweeping Saturday’s pair of A-Mains during the Lowes Foods World Finals and Richards captured his second consecutive WoO LMS crown after a dramatic down-to-the-wire battle with Darrell Lanigan at the Charlotte Dirt Track.

For more information on Race Time Radio and a complete broadcast schedule, visit www.racetimeradio.com

By Kevin Kovac, DIRTcar Racing PR

STAR MAZDA CHAMPIONSHIP ANNOUNCES 2011 SCHEDULE – INCREASED NUMBER OF INDYCAR WEEKENDS OFFERS MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO DRIVERS

Pacoima, CA / Nov. 8, 2010 – The Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear today made the first in an upcoming series of major announcements with the release of the series' 10-weekend, 11-race schedule (with one TBA) for the 2011 season; included are five IndyCar weekends, two with American Le Mans, one with USAC and one where Star Mazda will race a double-header as the co-feature. Rising racing stars from around the world will hone their driving skills at three road courses, four street circuits and three ovals.

The first Star Mazda Championship race of 2011 will be at one of IndyCar's most high-profile events, the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 26-27. Also on the schedule, as they will be at many races this season, are the other series in IndyCar's 'Road to Indy' program: the Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda; the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear; and the Firestone Indy Lights series.

The Star Mazda Championship made its first appearance in the streets of St. Petersburg in 2010, a hotly-contested race won by Conor Daly. This was the first victory of Daly's 2010 season and the first of a 4-race winning streak. Daly went on to win the Star Mazda championship with a total of seven wins and a series-record nine poles.
From there, the Star Mazda Championship has an April TBA date that will be announced shortly.

Three oval races in a row distinguish the next stretch of the 2011 schedule; the Night Before the 500 at O'Reilly Raceway Park with USAC on May 27-28, the Milwaukee Mile with IndyCar on June 18-19 and Iowa Speedway, also with IndyCar on June 24-25.

The Night Before the 500 is a high-profile event on the schedule, with Star Mazda Championship drivers taking part in a comprehensive 'Road to Indy Summit' that includes an autograph session at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and meetings with top officials, teams and drivers of the Firestone Indy Lights and IZOD IndyCar series. 2010 was the first pairing of Star Mazda and the Night Before the 500, with Indianapolis native Conor Daly winning the inaugural event.
Star Mazda last raced at the Milwaukee Mile in 2009 with the NASCAR Nationwide Series; Norwegian driver Anders 'The Viking' Krohn won that event and returned for a second season of Star Mazda competition in 2010 and went on to finish 6th in the championship.

2011 will be Star Mazda's third consecutive visit to the 7/8ths-mile Iowa Speedway oval in Newton, Iowa; the series ran with the ARCA/RE MAX cars in 2009, a race won by Irish driver Peter Dempsey, and in 2010 with IndyCar, where Conor Daly won from the pole.

After three races in a row on ovals, the drivers and teams of the Star Mazda Championship head to one of Canada's premier road racing circuits for the Mobil 1 Presents the Grand Prix of Mosport. This round of the American Le Mans series has historically been held at the end of August, but for 2011 moves to July 22-23. Conor Daly scored his final victory of the 2010 season, from the pole, at this event.

After the wide open spaces of Mosport, the shotgun-barrel confines of the legendary street circuit at Trois-Rivières in Quebec, Canada on August 6-7 will provide the drivers with a challenge, but the incredible energy and enthusiasm of the fans always makes this one of the most popular stops on the circuit. It will be a double-header / double-points weekend at the 42nd annual GP3R in which Star Mazda will be the co-feature with another high-profile open-wheel series. In 2010, this race provided one of the season's most memorable moments as the 2009 winner, Louisiana racer Alex Ardoin, on hand as a driver coach for Team GDT, found himself in the team's spare car and, starting from the outside of the second row, went on to win the race for the second year in a row.

The next three races on the calendar will see the Star Mazda Championship team transporters cross-crossing the country… several times. From Trois-Rivières, the circus moves out to the West Coast for the IndyCar Grand Prix of Sonoma at Infineon Raceway August 26-27; and then it's back to East Coast street circuits with an appearance at the inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix September 3-4.

While Baltimore will be new to all involved, the Star Mazda Championship has a long history at Infineon Raceway, though the last visit there was for a double-header with IMSA in 2005. The winners will be familiar to fans of the Indy Lights series; Chilean driver Pablo Donoso and Canadian James Hinchcliffe (he finished 2nd in the 2010 Indy Lights championship). And the 2005 Star Mazda Champion, was Brazilian racer Raphael Matos, now racing for the deFerran Dragon team in IndyCar.

The 2011 Star Mazda Championship season will wind up at the series' traditional year-end venue, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca with the American Le Mans Series Presented by Patrόn. The series has a long and dramatic history at the legendary road course in Monterey, California, including the dramatic 2009 victory by English racer Adam Christodoulou (his third of the season) to win the championship.

March 26-27
GP of St. Petersburg
Street Circuit
IndyCar
April
TBA

May 27-28
O'Reilly Raceway Park
Oval
USAC

June 18-19
The Milwaukee Mile
Oval
IndyCar

June 24-25
Iowa Speedway
Oval
IndyCar

July 22-23
Mosport
Road Course
ALMS

Aug. 6
Trois-Rivieres
Street Circuit
Co-Feature

Aug. 7
Trois-Rivieres
Street Circuit
Co-Feature

Aug. 26-27
Infineon Raceway
Road Course
IndyCar

Sept. 3-4
Baltimore Grand Prix
Street Circuit
IndyCar

Sept. 16-17
Mazda Raceway
Road Course
ALMS

In addition, there will be an authorized Star Mazda Championship series pre-season test at a track to be announced, as well as the Milwaukee Mile (prior to the beginning of the 3-oval stretch) and at Infineon Raceway. Teams and drivers will, as always, be allowed an unlimited number of test days, but new rules for 2011 will help reduce costs by discouraging excess travel; testing at tracks listed on the Championship schedule will restricted to only those days specifically authorized by the Series.

"Next year will be our twenty-first season of competition and this schedule represents a huge step forward for the Star Mazda Championship, and more big announcements to come in the next few days," says Series founder and CEO Gary Rodrigues. "Our mission is to provide the top young racers from around the world with the most comprehensive education and most high-profile opportunities available in any driver development program in the world today. In concert with the announcements soon to be made, the Star Mazda Championship will be the logical place for any serious driver to accelerate his or her career.

About Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear
Now entering its 21st year of competition, the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear is one of the premier open-wheel driver development series in the world with prizes for 2011 valued in excess of $1.5 million. The series is part of both the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Driver Development Ladder and IndyCar's 'Road to Indy' program and graduates have gone on to race in F1, IndyCar, NASCAR, prototypes and sports cars. Races are held on major motorsports weekends in North America, including IndyCar, American Le Mans and USAC. Drivers 16 and older are welcome to compete, with the Expert Series providing a championship-within-a-championship for drivers 30 and older. The Star Mazda Championship features standing starts, wheel-to-wheel racing at 160 mph, unlimited testing to accelerate driver development and budgets a fraction of other top open-wheel ladder series.

For more information on the Star Mazda Championship and its drivers, as well as the Mazda Motorsports ladder system, please visit www.starmazda.com and www.mazdausa.com. For information, interviews and photos, please contact Star Mazda Communications Director Peter Frey at (818) 398-5733 or StarMazdaPR@aol.com.

On any given weekend, there are more Mazdas on the road-race tracks of America than any other brand of vehicle. At the track, you’ll see MX-5 Miata, RX-8, MAZDA3, MAZDA6, RX-7 and other vintage Mazda models competing, because every Mazda has the Soul of a Sports Car.
For more information on the various Mazda spec series, visit:
www.USF2000.com www.starmazda.com
www.skipbarber.com www.mx-5cup.com

RALLYING: Official Tall Pines Program 2010

Click to see the full Tall Pines Event Program in a new window


Working in conjunction with the promoters of the upcoming Rally of the Tall Pines, Inside Track Communications has produced the Official Event Program. The legendary event takes place Nov. 19-20 in and around Bancroft, Ontario. The program contains schedules, maps, driver bios and more.

A case of the Mo-nday's

For all those following, this is how the Inside Track Communications team's Movember is going here in the office. This is day number 8.

To help raise funds for Prostate Cancer Canada, you can choose an Inside Track Communications employee of your choice (or donate to the team as a whole) by clicking on the following links:

Mark Hoffberg
Art Director
http://ca.movember.com/mospace/633490/

Jeff Morgan
Editor – Inside MotoX & Off Road
http://ca.movember.com/mospace/702834/

Derek Rockel
Sales – Inside MotoX & Off Road / Inside Motorcycles
http://ca.movember.com/mospace/703090/

Mike Galipeau
Sales – Inside Track Motorsport News
http://ca.movember.com/mospace/703404/

James Neilson
Editor – Inside Track Motorsport News
http://ca.movember.com/mospace/881228/

For more info, check out the original post here:
http://insidemotorcycles.blogspot.com/2010/11/inside-mo-torcycles-takes-on-movember.html

Phelps & McCreadie World Finals Winners, Sheppard Captures Mr. DIRTcar Championship!

 
 
'Super Matt' nips Jimmy Phelps In Super DIRTcar Series points finale-
 
Concord, NC – November 6, 2010 – The 2010 Super DIRTcar Series scheduled 22 point races spread over nine months. And that's exactly the number of events that were needed to crown Matt Sheppard as the overall Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Champion for the first time in his Big-Block career.
 
With The Dirt Track at Charlotte providing the backdrop for the 4th Annual Lowes Foods World Finals Presented By Bimbo Bakeries and Tom's Snacks, the mighty Big-Block Modifieds took center stage with 'Super Matt' showcasing his talents in front of a national viewing audience on SPEED TV.
 
Buckled in behind the wheel of the JB Motorsports no. 9s Xtreme Lubricants-Integra Shocks-Bert Transmission/Bicknell machine, Sheppard closed out the final weekend of racing on the DIRTcar Northeast circuit posting 14th- and 2nd-place finishes to capture the coveted Mr. DIRTcar title worth $50,000. Jimmy Phelps closed to within 22 points after winning the 30-lap opener Saturday afternoon, yet faded to 10th in the 40-lap nightcap won by Tim McCreadie with a pass of Sheppard in the closing stages.
 
"It was a long day and a tough day in the first feature," remarked a relieved Sheppard, 28, after posting his series-high 15th Top-5 finish of the season to clinch the elusive championship, one he had led since overtaking Billy Decker in mid-July during the 'Great Canadian Tour' of Quebec. "After that second one it was such a relief to get it done with."
 
"Just feels good to bring home that championship. We've been working since February to get to this point so to be here now really feels great," said Sheppard (3,122), after outscoring Phelps (3,063) by 59 points in the final Mr. DIRTcar standings. Brett Hearn (2,924) placed third ahead of Billy Decker (2,862) with Danny Johnson (2,794), Dale Planck (2,634), Billy Dunn (2,505), Ryan Phelps (2,432), Tom Sears Jr. (2,317) and Larry Wight (2,303) completing the Top-10 on the final points chart. 2010 DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Motorsports Safety Systems Rookie of the Year Lance Willix II finished 16th in the cumulative standings with 1,822 markers.
 
Each Modified main event paid out $6,000 to the winners, yet more importantly offered enough points for near season-long leader Sheppard to outlast Phelps as the curtain dropped on DIRTcar Racing Northeast's 35th consecutive year of open-wheel competition.
 
With sun and wind beating down on the ultra-smooth 4/10-miler during the opening feature that was postponed from Friday due to rain, abrasive track conditions led to no less than 26 flat tires that resulted in 14 caution periods slowing the 30-lapper. Sheppard was the last to force out a yellow flag, holding down second with just three laps to before flattening out a right rear shoe.
 
"In the first race I wasn't as much surprised with getting the flat as I was with it happening so close to the end," Sheppard noted. "Everybody was getting flats so I guess it wasn't unexpected. I took it easy and still got one. I was really amazed how fast the car was running it so easy and still staying up front. After what happened the first time I just didn't want to get another flat the second time out."
 
Phelps was well aware of the tire situation in the opening feature and while his closest competitors waited until their soft Hoosiers lost air before turning pitside, Phelps ducked into the pits with the yellow flag out and 18 laps flashing on the scoreboard.
 
"At first we thought there was a chance the track could've gone that way (abrasive), then we went out and watched the C and B mains and it just didn't appear that it was going there," figured Phelps, 35, who like Sheppard was in search of his first-ever Mr. DIRTcar Big-Block title entering the 2010 finale and now has placed among the front-four in points that last four years. "We ended up putting on the wrong tires but knew it early enough to get off the track and make the change."
 
"I saw a lot of smoke off the cars in front of me, knew what we had on for rubber and also knew we wouldn't make it. And the car wasn't very good with the tire combination anyway. So we just gambled coming into the pits and it paid off, the car was really good after that," said Phelps, after parkingthe HBR Motorsports no. 98h Wave Energy Drink-Mohawk Northeast/Troyer entry in victory lane surrounded by more than 14,000 fans that filled the sold-out stands.
 
Sheppard's Xtreme Lubricants teammate Jeff Brownell Jr. shot out to the early lead in the opener followed by former Charlotte winner Brett Hearn, Bobby Varin, Sheppard and McCreadie. Just five laps in the first yellow flag fell for Hearn, not for a flat tire but just for the all-time Super DIRTcar Series race winner slipping high exiting turn one.
 
"That early miscue was actually a blessing," said Hearn, 52, after charging to the front for a second time and crossing the line fourth behind Phelps, Danny Johnson and Gary Tomkins. "It forced me to race hard from the rear and I got my flat tire earlier than a lot of the other guys. The track was just not what any of the teams was expecting, a lot of sun with a lot of rubber laid down made for a tough surface."
 
Charging from seventh starting position steering the Smith Bros. Concrete Foundations no. 74 Hudson Valley Concrete Pumping/TEO, Tim Fuller grabbed the top spot from Brownell on a lap 10 restart and maintained a comfortable advantage most of the way. Despite almost all the opposition in the 28-car starting field suffering at least one flat tire during the feature, Fuller looked like an exception as he held the point with just two laps to go. Yet rounding turn three the Edwards, N.Y. pilot had a right rear tread go down and before runner-up Danny Johnson could gain control, Phelps nosed ahead up high to forge the third and final lead change as Fuller coasted out of harms way.
 
"Definitely didn't prepare for that type of track condition early on," divulged Phelps, after scoring his fourth series win of the season with a dramatic two-car pass for the lead as he took chief starter Dave Farney's white flag that signalled one lap to go. "Fortunately, we were one of the first in line to make a change and put fresh rubber on. After that, just tried to get through the pack as fast as I could, knew some of the guys up front were starting to struggle and I could see their tires going bald and I wanted to take advantage of it."
 
"I also knew Danny had enough rubber to make it to the end as I could see his tires, felt we were probably as good as he was in regards to how our cars were working. I thought with about five to go there was a good chance it was going to be him and me racing for the lead. Then it looked like Fuller was going to make it but things got all crazy on the last lap," Phelps said.
 
When the final checkered flag flew it was Phelps by .0147 sec. over Johnson, followed by last-place starter and Bert Hard Charger Gary Tomkins, Hearn, who had a flat of his own on lap 24, and Pennsylvania native Kyle Strickler, now living in nearby Mooresville, N.C., who qualified through the B-Main.
 
"I can't believe I finished second, the car was so loose out there today," noted Johnson, who rejoined the field after a right rear went flat on lap 22 to relegate him to the pits for a quick tire change. "But I guess the way guys were dropping out with flats we kind of fell into it. This is definitely a fun place to race, it was good today especially having more than one groove to get around if you were hooked up."
 
Added Tomkins, who rallied from dead-last to find the show position driving Ray Tuit's proven Mike Sparta Trucking no. 673 Pro Stock Automotive-Behrent's Performance Warehouse/Bicknell entry. "It was a long way up through the pack, I just tried to save the car as best I could and keep it as straight as possible getting around. Starting so far back we made a lot of changes having nothing to lose. Knew the track would rubber up so we planned the best we could and ended up with a good finish," said Tomkins, who joined Strickler and 8th-place finisher Billy Dunn as the only drivers not to experience a flat tire during the course of the show.
 
Track conditions were literally like night and day for the 40-lap finale that began under the lights with the sun setting well beyond  the horizon. With the five heat race winners once again redrawing to establish the Top-5 starting positions, pole-sitter Bobby Varin and Sheppard filled the top slots riding ahead of Billy Decker, Dale Planck and McCreadie.
 
"I could tell the track was starting to get into the tires a little in the second race," said Sheppard, who jumped ahead of front row partner Varin at the out set before relinquishing the point to McCreadie with just laps to go. "All I really wanted to do was finish so I think (McCreadie) knew my situation, knew I wouldn't race him hard when the time came."
 
"Once I built a big lead I just backed it down and tried to keep the car as straight as I could. Timmy made a heck of a move and got by me on the outside that last restart and I was gonna just let him go and focus on finishing. My car was good but staying around for the checkers was more important than any win," Sheppard recognized.
 
Also starting fifth in the first feature race, McCreadie retired for good in the opener after a second flat tire sent the Four Star Motorsports no. 4* Keizer Aluminum Wheels-Kruger-Kosakowski Plumbing & Heating/TEO machine pitside for good with five laps to go. The second-generation driver hovered among the Top-5 three-quarters of the second race before taking advantage of the smoking car of runner-up Billy Decker and the ensuing lap 31 restart to grab his first lead of the night.
 
"The car was so bad in the beginning but then the tires caught on and just locked to the track," described McCreadie, 36, after scoring his 19th Super DIRTcar Series triumph --- his last coming at Autodrome Drummond in 2004. "Not sure if we had the best car out there tonight, but I'm confident we definitely had the best tires."
 
In the first race you could've slapped on an Extra-Hard Right Rear tire, yet according to McCreadie no teams ever thought they would need that compound. A regular Hoosier hard compound was utilized on the right-rear in the final 40-lapper and nearly every car made it to the finish with plenty of tread to spare.
 
Following McCreadie and Sheppard across the stripe was Danny Johnson, the only driver to claim both front-five finishes, while Fuller and Brownell held on in the Top-5.
 
"I really like this track, its nothing like anything we race on the circuit up north," said Johnson, 50, a four-time Mr. DIRTcar Big-Block champion, yet his first title in the new millennium remains on hold for another season. "It's a fun place to run being smooth, and it was really good today getting so wide with more than one grove. If you're good there's plenty of room to make it to the front. At the same time, if you're junk don't expect to stay around the front too long."
 
With the Lowes Foods World Finals now officially in the record book, all eyes turn to the 35th annual DIRTcar Racing NorthEast 'Night of Champions' on Saturday, November 20 at the Turning Stone Resort in Verona, New York where nearly $300,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded to the top teams in competition. The banquet will honor the 2010 champions in the Super DIRTcar Series Modified (Sheppard), 358-Modified (Danny Johnson), Sportsman Modified (Tim Sears Jr.) and Pro Stock (Louie Jackson).
 
Super DIRTcar Series Races #21 & #22 – The Dirt Track at Charlotte, November 6, 2010 '4th Annual Lowes Foods World Finals Presented By Bimbo Bakeries and Tom's Snacks' Big-Block Modified Event Summary
Feature #1 (Postponed from Friday, Nov. 5)
FIN   STR    CAR#     DRIVER
1          9          98h      Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY ($6,000)
2          11        27j       Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
3          28        673     Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY
4          1          20        Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
5          23        10k      Kyle Strickler/Mooresville,NC
6          4          10v      Bobby Varin/Sharon Springs,NY
7          25        99L     Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY
8          27        49        Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY
9          6          7          Rick Laubach/Quakertown,PA
10        10        8          Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ
11        14        91        Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
12        21        77x      Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
13        16        34        Andy Bachetti/Sheffield,MA
14        3          9s        Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
15        8          1          Billy Pauch/Frenchtown,NJ
16        12        3d        Matt DeLorenzo/Cropseyville,NY
17        18        1f         Stewart Friesen/Niagara-o-t-Lake,ONT
18        13        99        Ryan Phelps/Fulton,NY
19        20        21k      Randy Chrysler/Lewiston,NY
20        7          74        Tim Fuller/Edwards,NY
21        26        115     Kenny Tremont/West Sand Lake,NY
22        5          4*        Tim McCreadie/Watertown,NY
23        24        42p     Pat Ward/Genoa,NY
24        22        56        Vince Vitale/Phoenix,NY
25        2          29        Jeff Brownell Jr./Waterloo,NY
26        19        65        Rex King/Bristolville,OH
27        15        14        Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ
28        17        62s      Tom Sears Jr./Clay,NY
GATER RACING NEWS LAP LEADERS:   Brownell (1-9), Fuller (10-28), J.Phelps (29-30).           
CAUTIONS:    14 (lap 5, lap 10, lap 19, lap 21, lap 22-4, lap 23, lap 24, lap 26-2, lap 27, lap 29).                           
HEAT WINNERS:   Sheppard, Hearn, McCreadie, Brownell, B.Varin.                                     
B-MAIN WINNERS:   Planck, Vitale.                                  
C-MAIN WINNER:   Pauch Jr.                                 
 
Feature #2
FIN   STR    CAR#     DRIVER
1          5          4*        Tim McCreadie/Watertown,NY ($6,000)
2          2          9s        Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
3          11        27j       Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
4          12        74        Tim Fuller/Edwards,NY
5          9          29        Jeff Brownell Jr./Waterloo,NY
6          1          10v      Bobby Varin/Sharon Springs,NY
7          28        673     Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY
8          19        49        Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY
9          7          20        Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
10        14        98h      Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
11        3          77x      Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
12        24        62s      Tom Sears Jr./Clay,NY
13        6          7          Rick Laubach/Quakertown,PA
14        21        42p     Pat Ward/Genoa,NY
15        23        99        Ryan Phelps/Fulton,NY
16        27        99L     Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY
17        20        8          Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ
18        25        88c      Billy Pauch Jr./Frenchtown,NJ
19        17        3d        Matt DeLorenzo/Cropseyville,NY
20        10        14        Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ
21        13        44        Frank Cozze/Wind Gap,PA
22        15        10        Danny Varin/Sharon Springs,NY
23        26        48too  Dave Rauscher/Waterloo,NY
24        18        1          Billy Pauch/Frenchtown,NJ
25        22        71        David VanHorn Jr./Phillipsburg,NJ
26        16        56        Vince Vitale/Phoenix,NY
27        4          91        Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
28        8          1f         Stewart Friesen/Niagara-o-t-Lake,ONT
GATER RACING NEWS LAP LEADERS:   Sheppard (1-30), McCreadie (31-40).               
CAUTIONS:   3 (lap 13, lap 22, lap 31).                            
HEAT WINNERS:   Sheppard, Planck, McCreadie, Decker, B.Varin.                                      
B-MAIN WINNERS:   Ward, VanHorn.                               
C-MAIN WINNER:   Kerr.                            

From: Tom Skibinski- DIRTcar PR