Fort Lauderdale, Florida (January 07, 2011) – Starworks Motorsport is pleased to announce it will field an experienced five-driver line-up when the #8 Miracle Grout Shield Ford-Riley Daytona Prototype hits the track for the ‘Rolex 24 at Daytona’, hosted at the legendary Daytona International Speedway in Florida, 27th – 30th January 2011.
Showcasing experience across a variety of international motorsport platforms including Formula One, NASCAR and the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series, the team’s entry consists of defending ‘Rolex 24 at Daytona’ Champion Ryan Dalziel (SCO), together with his Starworks Motorsport team-mate from last season Mike Forest (CAN), while Tomas Enge (CZE), Colin Braun (USA) and Jim Lowe (USA) complete the driver roster.
“I’m really excited about our line-up in the #8 car,” commented Starworks Motorsport Team Principal, Peter Baron. “I’m glad that Ryan and Mike will be working together again and that Ryan and Tomas are reunited after some successful outings for me in the past. We’ve had Colin Braun on our radar for the ‘Rolex 24 at Daytona’ for some time and I’m glad it’s going to work out this time to get him in our car.
“We’re also happy to be welcoming a Daytona Prototype newcomer in the form of Jim Lowe. He’s got a wealth of experience at this event in the GT class so we know he’ll be a solid driver for us as we target the top step of the podium. We had a ton of interest from drivers to take the seats now filled by Tomas and Colin but we like the fact that they’re ‘no-ego’ racers and that they share our desire to win. We know our car will be fast with Bill Riley calling the shots on engineering and with Ford power pushing us around the track!”
Dalziel won last year’s ‘Rolex 24 at Daytona’ before joining Starworks Motorsport to partner with Forest for his most competitive season to-date in the Grand-Am Series, the Orlando-based Scot finishing fifth in the points at season’s end. Peter Baron’s strongest finish as a team owner at the ‘Rolex 24’ came in the form of a second place runner-up finish back in 2007.
The ‘Rolex 24 at Daytona’, the opening round of the 2011 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series, starts at 3pm EST on Saturday 29th January with 24 hours of flat-out endurance racing following on the 3.56-mile road-course layout at Daytona International Speedway. The race will be broadcast live in parts by SPEED – www.speedtv.com
For further information on the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series please log on to: www.grand-am.com
www.starworksmotorsport.com
Friday, January 07, 2011
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
ACT: Canadian stars set to invade New Smyrna Speedway in February
Waterbury, VT – Quebec City racer Donald Theetge might have been the first Canadian to enter the American Canadian Tour (ACT) Goodyear Speedweek Cup event to be held at the New Smyrna Speedway in Florida, but the Canadian competitor list continues to lead the way toward the first-ever ACT events to be held during the World Series of Asphalt Short Track Racing in New Smyrna. The two 100-lap main events will be held on Sunday, February 13th and Monday, February 14th.
While many head to Daytona during Speedweeks in February, most asphalt short track fans can be found each night from February 10th-19th during the 10 days that is the World Series of Short Track racing in nearby New Smyrna, FL. The tradition of northern competitors heading to Florida from the days of Richie Evans, Jerry Cook, Bugsy Stevens and a host of the greatest from the Northeast Modified division to Late Model Canadian great Jr. Hanley--- New Smyrna has always been the place to be during the heart of the northern winters.
ACT announced today that 2010 Castrol Champion Karl Allard has entered his Quebec City Larue Industrial team into the inaugural Goodyear Speedweek Cup event. Allard narrowly beat out another Quebec Champion, Patrick Laperle from Montreal, QC, who has also entered the two events. Laperle is one of the few ACT drivers to compete at New Smyrna in the past few years. His family team led most of the World Series standings in 2009 in the Late Model crate division before he was wrecked in the next to last night of competition. The Allard-Laperle rivalry will get an early start in 2011.
Other notable Canadian teams that will make the trek to New Smyrna include Quebec veteran Yvon ‘The Bullet’ Bedard and London, Ontario’s Jonathan Urlin. A large number of young Canadian teams have entered, including: Justin Holtom, Tim Dorning and Spencer Macpherson from the Ottawa region of Ontario, along with Castrol regulars Patrick Hamel and Kevin Roberge from Quebec.
“We are really excited about the pre-entries we have received. I don’t think we will have any problem filling our 26-car field with the support we are getting. Right now we have an equal number of Canadian and US teams who have entered, and we expect another half dozen entries by the January 10 deadline,” said Tina Gallison, Director of Administration for ACT.
The Goodyear Speedweek Cup will use the unique qualifying system of heat racing, and each 100-lap event will award points on two consecutive nights to determine the overall standings and the first winner of the Goodyear Speedweek Cup.
From ACT
Kia Canada Inc. completes 2010 with a record year of 53, 882 units sold and continues industry-leading streak of 24 consecutive months of sales growth
-2010 is Best Year in Kia Canada’s 11 year history
-Sales growth momentum continues at industry leading 2 full years
-Kia Canada records 11 record sales months in 2010
-December 2010 sales increase 14.9 per cent
-2010 year-to-date sales increase 16.8 per cent
-Kia Canada out-paces industry sales in 2010
Mississauga, ON, January 4, 2011 – Kia Canada Inc. completed 2010 with a record year reporting 53,882 sales nationally marking a successful year for the eleven year old Company in Canada. Kia Canada was also successful in December 2010 by extending the industry-leading sales streak of 24 consecutive months which currently leads all manufacturers in Canada largely driven by Canadian demand for the Kia product line-up and a strong dealer network. Kia Canada also recorded 11 best-ever or record breaking months in 2010 including the month of December with 3039 vehicles reported while sustaining a 14.9% increase over December 2009. Kia Canada finished up 2010 by out-pacing industry performance with a 16.8% increase versus 2009 results.
“2010 was an exceptional year for Kia Canada and its retailers executing 3 successful, all-new vehicle launches with the 2011 Sorento CUV, 2011 Sportage CUV and the 2011 Forte5-Door compact car while sustaining aggressive results with the balance of the Kia product portfolio” said Maria Soklis, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Kia Canada Inc. “2011 is a pivotal year for Kia as it marks the second year of its design-led transformation starting with the all-new 2011 Kia Optima mid-size sedan in early 2011 offering world-class design, technology including all-new powertrains and safety”.
2010 also signified record sales for the top three selling product lines including the Forte line-up, the Sorento and Kia Soul which was the first vehicle to launch the current design-led transformation by Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer. Additionally, the product offensive will continue into 2011 starting with the all-new Kia Optima and followed by four additional exciting vehicles that exude the winning formula that has been the staple of success for Kia over the last 24 months. “Kia Canada will experience another exceptional year in 2011 through the strengthening of our product breadth and continuing to provide a product line-up that includes high quality, fuel efficient vehicles that Canadians desire” added Maria Soklis.
Sales Highlights
Kia Canada Inc. experienced its best year on record in its eleven year history in Canada:
2010 Top 5 volume Sales
Forte: 13,578 (best year)
Sorento: 10,214 (best year)
Soul: 9,857 (best year)
Rio: 7,887
Rondo: 6,307
January Incentives Kia Canada commences its new program for January launching the “The Kia New Year’s Revolution” allowing a cash purchase of the 2011 Rio for $9995 (plus delivery, destination, applicable taxes and other fees) when combining all incentive offers. Incentive offers for January are up to $6000. A unique offering of 0% financing over an 84 month term will be available on all 2011Kia Rio sub-compact vehicles. In addition, other low rate financing for other 2011 vehicles will be available along with the offer of “Don’t Pay until Spring”. These options make it easier to acquire a new Kia vehicle. Cash buyers can also select up to seven vehicles from Kia Canada’s line-up for under $20,000
-Sales growth momentum continues at industry leading 2 full years
-Kia Canada records 11 record sales months in 2010
-December 2010 sales increase 14.9 per cent
-2010 year-to-date sales increase 16.8 per cent
-Kia Canada out-paces industry sales in 2010
Mississauga, ON, January 4, 2011 – Kia Canada Inc. completed 2010 with a record year reporting 53,882 sales nationally marking a successful year for the eleven year old Company in Canada. Kia Canada was also successful in December 2010 by extending the industry-leading sales streak of 24 consecutive months which currently leads all manufacturers in Canada largely driven by Canadian demand for the Kia product line-up and a strong dealer network. Kia Canada also recorded 11 best-ever or record breaking months in 2010 including the month of December with 3039 vehicles reported while sustaining a 14.9% increase over December 2009. Kia Canada finished up 2010 by out-pacing industry performance with a 16.8% increase versus 2009 results.
“2010 was an exceptional year for Kia Canada and its retailers executing 3 successful, all-new vehicle launches with the 2011 Sorento CUV, 2011 Sportage CUV and the 2011 Forte5-Door compact car while sustaining aggressive results with the balance of the Kia product portfolio” said Maria Soklis, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Kia Canada Inc. “2011 is a pivotal year for Kia as it marks the second year of its design-led transformation starting with the all-new 2011 Kia Optima mid-size sedan in early 2011 offering world-class design, technology including all-new powertrains and safety”.
2010 also signified record sales for the top three selling product lines including the Forte line-up, the Sorento and Kia Soul which was the first vehicle to launch the current design-led transformation by Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer. Additionally, the product offensive will continue into 2011 starting with the all-new Kia Optima and followed by four additional exciting vehicles that exude the winning formula that has been the staple of success for Kia over the last 24 months. “Kia Canada will experience another exceptional year in 2011 through the strengthening of our product breadth and continuing to provide a product line-up that includes high quality, fuel efficient vehicles that Canadians desire” added Maria Soklis.
Sales Highlights
Kia Canada Inc. experienced its best year on record in its eleven year history in Canada:
2010 Top 5 volume Sales
Forte: 13,578 (best year)
Sorento: 10,214 (best year)
Soul: 9,857 (best year)
Rio: 7,887
Rondo: 6,307
January Incentives Kia Canada commences its new program for January launching the “The Kia New Year’s Revolution” allowing a cash purchase of the 2011 Rio for $9995 (plus delivery, destination, applicable taxes and other fees) when combining all incentive offers. Incentive offers for January are up to $6000. A unique offering of 0% financing over an 84 month term will be available on all 2011Kia Rio sub-compact vehicles. In addition, other low rate financing for other 2011 vehicles will be available along with the offer of “Don’t Pay until Spring”. These options make it easier to acquire a new Kia vehicle. Cash buyers can also select up to seven vehicles from Kia Canada’s line-up for under $20,000
NOVICH AND ROGERS TO DRIVE WITH COMPASS360 RACING
(Toronto, Canada) -- Grand-Am's Continental Tire Street Tuner Champions, Compass360 Racing, added two talented rookies to their four-car program for 2011, today announcing the signing of Andrew Novich and Dan Rogers. The duo will share the team's #77 Honda Civic Si starting at Daytona Test Days next week.
Californian Novich is no stranger to the team, having driven with C360R in the last year's season finale at Miller Motorsports Park in September. "Andrew had very little time in our car at Miller," noted Team Principal Karl Thomson. "He was on the pace immediately, and he really impressed us with his feedback and relaxed attitude. We've been watching him progress through TDI Cup and are excited to be working with Andrew as he moves into the role of a pro driver over the coming seasons."
Rogers, who hails from Anchorage, Alaska, has raced primarily in the Pacific Northwest and is keen to move up to Grand-Am. "I've raced a few BMWs in Pro-3 and GT2 and am really looking forward to learning the Honda. I've raced against previous C360R drivers Kevin York and Ted Anthony Jr., and know the team will give me a great car."
Driver development specialists Speed Secrets will be supporting the car along with returning sponsors Skunk2, Honda Performance Development, Powerslot Rotors and Cobalt Brakes. "All of the pieces are coming together for another great season for Compass360 Racing," remarked Technical Director Ray Lee. "We've got some really strong drivers signed up to help us try and get another Manufacturer's Championship for Honda and go for our third straight Driver's and Team's title. The competition's always tough in this series, but we're ready."
Test Days at Daytona, or the "Roar Before the 24", take place at the famed track on January 7-9th, in advance of the first Continental Tire race of the season on January 27-28, 2011. Tickets for Test Days and the Race are available at the Daytona International Speedway website, here: http://tinyurl.com/2vfq6o7
Compass 360 Communications, a firm offering marketing expertise to clients in diverse industries across North America. The team, with support from Honda Performance Development (HPD), fields four front-running Honda Civic Si's in Grand-Am's Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, winning series Championships in 2010, 2009 and 2007. The team also won the 2010 Canadian Touring Car Championship, with support from Durabond. For details visit http://C360R.com.
Californian Novich is no stranger to the team, having driven with C360R in the last year's season finale at Miller Motorsports Park in September. "Andrew had very little time in our car at Miller," noted Team Principal Karl Thomson. "He was on the pace immediately, and he really impressed us with his feedback and relaxed attitude. We've been watching him progress through TDI Cup and are excited to be working with Andrew as he moves into the role of a pro driver over the coming seasons."
Rogers, who hails from Anchorage, Alaska, has raced primarily in the Pacific Northwest and is keen to move up to Grand-Am. "I've raced a few BMWs in Pro-3 and GT2 and am really looking forward to learning the Honda. I've raced against previous C360R drivers Kevin York and Ted Anthony Jr., and know the team will give me a great car."
Driver development specialists Speed Secrets will be supporting the car along with returning sponsors Skunk2, Honda Performance Development, Powerslot Rotors and Cobalt Brakes. "All of the pieces are coming together for another great season for Compass360 Racing," remarked Technical Director Ray Lee. "We've got some really strong drivers signed up to help us try and get another Manufacturer's Championship for Honda and go for our third straight Driver's and Team's title. The competition's always tough in this series, but we're ready."
Test Days at Daytona, or the "Roar Before the 24", take place at the famed track on January 7-9th, in advance of the first Continental Tire race of the season on January 27-28, 2011. Tickets for Test Days and the Race are available at the Daytona International Speedway website, here: http://tinyurl.com/2vfq6o7
Compass 360 Communications, a firm offering marketing expertise to clients in diverse industries across North America. The team, with support from Honda Performance Development (HPD), fields four front-running Honda Civic Si's in Grand-Am's Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, winning series Championships in 2010, 2009 and 2007. The team also won the 2010 Canadian Touring Car Championship, with support from Durabond. For details visit http://C360R.com.
Saturday, January 01, 2011
A Few of My Favorite Things about 2010
Greg Cybulski, WINNIPEG, MB (January 1, 2011) This list of some of my favorite things about 2010 is in no particular order. Each holds it's own distinct significance and is equally as important. The only common thread is that they all involve racing. Here we go...
Inaugural Big Al Delaine Memorial Wissota Modified race, Red River Co-op Speedway, Winnipeg, MB. Pat Mooney and the Delaine family carried on the legacy and paid tribute to one of the biggest supporters of the local racing community. This race was created and promoted for all the right reasons.
Ricky Weiss of St. Francis Xavier, MB: 2010 Wissota National Late Model champion. Weiss won 29 of 85 shows he competed in this season, At 22, Ricky is the youngest Canadian driver in the history of Wissota to win the National Late Model championship.
Dana Brandt's IMCA Hobby Stock winning streak at Estevan Motor Speedway, SK. In 11 starts, Dana won 10 Heats and 10 Features!
Chris Unrau's #27 'Harvest for Kids' Lightning Sprint. A beautiful car campaigned for a worthy cause.
Being a part of the Harvest for Kids event in Winkler, MB. When community comes together, good things happen. We need more of this in our society.
Gerald Balcaen Memorial, Red River Co-op Speedway, Winnipeg, MB. The best part of this night was seeing Amber Balcaen pick up the Northern Lightning Sprint Association feature win and deliver an emotional victory lane speech.
Amber Balcaen's Lightning Sprint run for the 2010 NLSA points title. Amber spent the rain-shortened NLSA season inching her way to within striking distance of the reigning NLSA champion. Misfortune on the second last points race would prove to be her undoing and be the difference that gave Roland Bernard his second consecutive championship.
Danny Schatz takes over Red River Valley Speedway in Fargo, ND. The half-mile in Fargo was one of my favorite stops. With the attention it will be getting from Danny, something good will be that much better.
2010 Wolff Pack Run weekend, IMCA Modifieds at Speedy Creek Raceway, Swift Current, SK. $40,000 in prize money. For that kind of money, I would build a car!
Continuing support of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum. These folks are awesome in every sense of the word. Support is a two way street and I have seen this first-hand with the NSCHoF in Knoxville, Ia.
Working with the Northern Lightning Sprint Association. The NLSA went through some sophomore growing pains in 2010. Year 3 will be much better. The on-track product will continue to grow and be awesome for Winnipeg's open wheel fans.
The opening of ALH Motor Speedway in Morden, MB. The locally proclaimed 'Miracle in Morden' ran a few late race dates in 2010. The track is still a work in progress but has a lot of potential. There's something about the atmosphere of a rural community race track that has always been enjoyable.
Super Truck special at Emo Speedway, Emo, ON. Anthony Leek IS the true definition of a promoter. If he wants something, he goes out and he gets it. It isn't easy, but he always appears to find a way to get things done. The Saturday racing community culture that he has helped create in Emo should be a model for others to learn from.
Being invited on to Marty Gold's The Great Canadian Talk Show on 92.9 KICK-FM. I got my first taste of radio from inside the studio. What an awesome experience.
Writing and voicing the Prairie Dirt Racing Report on 1570 CKMW radio in Winkler, MB. I'm going from every Friday at 9:45am in 2010 to a weekly Monday to Friday time slot at 9:45am in 2011. I am so grateful for this opportunity.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Inaugural Big Al Delaine Memorial Wissota Modified race, Red River Co-op Speedway, Winnipeg, MB. Pat Mooney and the Delaine family carried on the legacy and paid tribute to one of the biggest supporters of the local racing community. This race was created and promoted for all the right reasons.
Ricky Weiss of St. Francis Xavier, MB: 2010 Wissota National Late Model champion. Weiss won 29 of 85 shows he competed in this season, At 22, Ricky is the youngest Canadian driver in the history of Wissota to win the National Late Model championship.
Dana Brandt's IMCA Hobby Stock winning streak at Estevan Motor Speedway, SK. In 11 starts, Dana won 10 Heats and 10 Features!
Chris Unrau's #27 'Harvest for Kids' Lightning Sprint. A beautiful car campaigned for a worthy cause.
Being a part of the Harvest for Kids event in Winkler, MB. When community comes together, good things happen. We need more of this in our society.
Gerald Balcaen Memorial, Red River Co-op Speedway, Winnipeg, MB. The best part of this night was seeing Amber Balcaen pick up the Northern Lightning Sprint Association feature win and deliver an emotional victory lane speech.
Amber Balcaen's Lightning Sprint run for the 2010 NLSA points title. Amber spent the rain-shortened NLSA season inching her way to within striking distance of the reigning NLSA champion. Misfortune on the second last points race would prove to be her undoing and be the difference that gave Roland Bernard his second consecutive championship.
Danny Schatz takes over Red River Valley Speedway in Fargo, ND. The half-mile in Fargo was one of my favorite stops. With the attention it will be getting from Danny, something good will be that much better.
2010 Wolff Pack Run weekend, IMCA Modifieds at Speedy Creek Raceway, Swift Current, SK. $40,000 in prize money. For that kind of money, I would build a car!
Continuing support of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum. These folks are awesome in every sense of the word. Support is a two way street and I have seen this first-hand with the NSCHoF in Knoxville, Ia.
Working with the Northern Lightning Sprint Association. The NLSA went through some sophomore growing pains in 2010. Year 3 will be much better. The on-track product will continue to grow and be awesome for Winnipeg's open wheel fans.
The opening of ALH Motor Speedway in Morden, MB. The locally proclaimed 'Miracle in Morden' ran a few late race dates in 2010. The track is still a work in progress but has a lot of potential. There's something about the atmosphere of a rural community race track that has always been enjoyable.
Super Truck special at Emo Speedway, Emo, ON. Anthony Leek IS the true definition of a promoter. If he wants something, he goes out and he gets it. It isn't easy, but he always appears to find a way to get things done. The Saturday racing community culture that he has helped create in Emo should be a model for others to learn from.
Being invited on to Marty Gold's The Great Canadian Talk Show on 92.9 KICK-FM. I got my first taste of radio from inside the studio. What an awesome experience.
Writing and voicing the Prairie Dirt Racing Report on 1570 CKMW radio in Winkler, MB. I'm going from every Friday at 9:45am in 2010 to a weekly Monday to Friday time slot at 9:45am in 2011. I am so grateful for this opportunity.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
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