Southern Ontario Speedways Go Touring

BARRIE, ONTARIO - Inside Track Motorsport News, McColl Racing and Stefko Race Engines are pleased to announce the creation of a five-track, two division touring stock car series. The new series will feature races at Sauble, Peterborough, Kawartha, Barrie and Sunset Speedways, for the Limited Late Model and Thunder/Super Stock classes.

The McColl Racing Late Models presented by Inside Track will showcase the top Limited Late Model racers from around Southern Ontario, competing in 75-lap feature races at four tracks.

All races will count toward the final points title, with an additional race at Kawartha Speedway – The Summer Sizzler – serving as a non-points event.

The Stefko Race Engines Thunders presented by Inside Track will highlight talented Thunder/Super Stocks racers from across Southern Ontario taking part in 50-lap features at all five participating tracks. All five events award series points.

Both series will kick-off at Sauble Speedway on Friday, July 2. By the end of that weekend, the Tour will have slid across to Peterborough (on July 4) for a chance at an early qualifying spot in the 2010 Autumn Colours Classic. From there, the McColl Late Models will head to Kawartha on July 9 for a shot at The Summer Sizzler title, while the Stefko Thunders will test Sunset Speedway’s new high-banks, on July 18. If that is not enough, the next stop will be the always fast and exciting Kawartha Speedway, on July 23.

Both classes will march North on Hwy. 400, on August 20, for an appearance at the ever-so-tough Barrie Speedway. The Stefko Thunder Champion will be crowned that day, while the McColl Late Models’ championship will be settled at Sunset on Sept. 5.

“I know I speak on behalf of all the speedways involved when I say we’re all very excited about the new tour,” said Sunset’s Mark Dilley. “I think this has been a long time coming and I am very excited for the racers. They deserve to be able to compete at different speedways, against their best drivers. The fans will be in for a treat at all the events.”

Like anything else, this would not be possible without the help of great companies like McColl Racing, Stefko Race Engines and Inside Track. All the participating Speedways would like to thank them for giving the racer and the fans a chance to see some of the best racing in Southern Ontario in 2010.

“McColl Racing Enterprises is pleased to sponsor the Touring Late Model series in 2010 and feel it is a great venue to showcase our products,” stated General Manager Alan Pinsonneault. “Although Late Model racing throughout Ontario is strong at a local, hometrack level, we feel that Ontario has been missing a Late Model touring series for the racers who have been looking for an affordable travel touring series. We hope that our support of the McColl Touring Late Models will aid in the effort to promote and grow it into the future.”

“I think it is a great opportunity for the racers and fans to come together from other tracks around the province,” said John Stefko of Stefko Race Engines. “We are proud to be part of something new and exciting.”

“We jumped at the opportunity to become involved with these new tours,” said Inside Track Motorsport News Editor Greg MacPherson. “These series feature racers who are the heart of our magazine. We’re also excited to be associated with companies like McColl Racing Enterprises, Stefko Race Engines, Wide Open Motorsport Solutions and all of the participating speedways. We share their belief that touring series – featuring the best each weekly track has to offer – are good for racing in Ontario.”

Schedules:

McColl Racing Touring Late Models presented by Inside Track

Sauble Speedway Friday July 2, 2010
Peterborough Speedway Sunday July 4, 2010 (Qualifier for Autumn Colours)
Kawartha Speedway Friday July 9, 2010 (Non Points)
Barrie Speedway Friday August 20, 2010
Sunset Speedway Sunday Sept. 5, 2010

Stefko Race Engines Touring Thunders, presented by Inside Track

Sauble Speedway Friday July 2, 2010
Peterborough Speedway Sunday July 4, 2010 (Qualifier for Autumn Colours)
Sunset Speedway Sunday July 18, 2010
Kawartha Speedway Friday July 23, 2010
Barrie Speedway Friday Aug. 20, 2010

About McColl Racing Enterprises: McColl Racing Enterprises Ltd. opened their doors in 1988 and since that time the company continues to improve its reputation each year by building winning race cars for all stock car divisions throughout Canada. Now located in their 6500 square foot facility in London Ontario, McColl Racing Enterprises Ltd. provides race teams with what they need to win. From a basic frame, complete car or any part of that car, the 12 person staff is 100 percent committed to building a car to suit each customer’s needs and budgets.

About Stefko Race Engines: Stefko Racing Engines was established in 1984 and John Stefko built his first small block Chevy motor over 35 years ago. Stefko offers a complete machine shop and engine facility and is a certified crate motor supplier and rebuilder. They are also a certified rebuilder for ACT and the Lucas Oil Sportsman Series. Stefko boasts numerous track championships with countless wins and laps led. Stefko continues to build engines for teams in ARCA, NASCAR and OSCAAR series.

About Inside Track Motorsport News: Inside Track Motorsport News is the Official Publication of Canadian Motorsports, featuring coverage from across the spectrum of Canadian grassroots racing. Published 12 times a year, Inside Track also prominently features tours like the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series and the Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship, as well as coverage of Canadians competing on the international stage. For info, visit www.insidetracknews.com.

The points fund, event payouts and rules will follow.

For more information please contact:

Mark Dilley - Sunset Speedway / Wide Open Motorsport Solutions
(705) 790-0591 // mdilley@wideopensolutions.ca

Derek Lynch - Kawartha Speedway
(705) 939-6316 ext. 206 // lynch15red@yahoo.ca

Derek Lynch Sets His Sights on the Magic Mile

By Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications

The goal of every racer is to keep their eyes on the big prize. Warkworth, Ontario’s Derek Lynch is no exception. In his position as General Manager/Promoter of Kawartha Speedway, some people might think the 38 year-old is in the perfect position to practise his craft. Always the professional, Lynch chooses to avoid any perceived conflict of interest by leaving his racecar parked in the garage when it comes time for action at the 3/8th mile oval at Fraserville, Ontario. Still, when the American-Canadian Tour dangled a big money carrot just inches from his face, Lynch took his driving shoes out of the closet and sent his fire suit to the cleaners.

For the first time in series history, the ACT Tour will take its cars and stars to Loudon’s New Hampshire Motor Speedway – during the weekend that opens the NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup – Saturday, September 19th. 36 teams will be invited to be part of the history making event. Drivers can earn a guaranteed starting berth in the ACT Invitational by winning a series event throughout the season or by earning a track championship (or leading the points) at an ACT Tour late model sanctioned venue as of September 19th. Capital City Speedway hosts an tour stop Saturday, June 13th while Kawartha Speedway’s 200 lap Summer Sizzler is Sunday, July 12th.

Lynch will use Ottawa’s Capital City Speedway as his home track throughout the 2009 season and will tow his Dodge to the Stittsville, Ontario oval for a number of events. Earlier in his career, Derek Lynch was a regular on the former NASCAR Busch North tour and ran a number of events at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. He says he’s looking forward to a chance to return to ‘The Magic Mile’.

“NHMS is a great facility,” says Lynch. “It has done a lot for racing in New England and eastern Canada. It is a lot like Sanair Super Speedway outside of Montreal, with the exception that Sanair has a dogleg backstretch. NHMS is flat and tight and should throw off a great race with the ACT cars. I’m hoping I haven’t forgotten too much of what I learned about the place – but it has been about 8 years since I have been there, so I’m bound to need a refresher. I’ve heard talk about speeds in the 140 mile an hour range which is similar to Sanair, so it should be fun. The Busch North cars are quite a different beast that the American-Canadian Tour machines, so we will have to rely on some good judgement and a little guesswork to be fast out of the box.”

Lynch says racing regularly for points will take him back a bit in his career, but he’s happy to have long-term partner Hasiuk Trailer and Container Rentals from Colborne, Ontario on the sides of his red #15 Dodge.

“The Hasiuk family has been a big supporter of my late model team for about 20 years,” states Lynch. “Before that, they sponsored my father’s cars. Going racing just wouldn’t seem the same without them being involved in our program in some fashion.”

For details on Derek Lynch’s schedule at Capital City Speedway, see www.capitalcityspeedway.ca. To learn more about the ACT Invitational – Saturday, September 19th at New Hampshire Motor Speedway – visit www.acttour.com or www.nhms.com.

Photo attachments: (Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications)

#1). Derek Lynch takes a break at the controls of his American-Canadian Tour late model.

#2). Warkworth, Ontario’s Derek Lynch will fly the colours of long-time sponsor Hasiuk Trailer and Container Rentals at Capital City Speedway. He hopes to earn a starting spot in the ACT Invitational Saturday, September 19th at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.