SAUBLE SPEEDWAY: Announces Late Model Specials for 2007

Sauble Speedway will host a pair of 75 lap Late Model specials in 2007. Click on the image below or go to www.saublespeedway.com for more information.

Pete Shepherd second-fastest in Truck testing today at Daytona Int'l Speedway

From Ford Racing....

Today marked the first day of a three-day test session for NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series teams at Daytona International Speedway in preparation for next month’s Daytona 250 season-opener. Travis Kvapil, the 2003 truck series champion, is set to compete in the No. 6 Roush Racing Ford that was driven to victory lane a series-high six times in 2006. Kvapil, driving the defending race-winning Ford F-150, posted the fastest time in the morning session in the truck, while his Roush Racing teammates rounded out the top three. Rookie Peter Shepherd was the second quickest driver, while Erik Darnell, the 2006 Raybestos Rookie of the Year, was the third fastest driver. Kvapil and Darnell took part in an afternoon press conference discussing upcoming season.

(p.s. - no cutting & pasting... please post the link elsewhere. Thanks!)

What is it about racing that attracts these type of people?

The news this morning is filled with reports of a 25-year-old man from Oakville (named Adam Spencer) who has reportedly skipped Canada with $8 million of his investors' money. There is a Canada-wide warrant out for his arrest.

One of the people mentioned in some of the reports is that he was an avid racing fan and briefly sponsored Canadian racer James Hinchcliffe.

You can read about the charming Mr. Spencer here, here, here and here.

Headz Gamez.... website updated

A few days ago, the Headz Gamez website was gone.

Now it's back, with a new welcome message and updates to several of the pages, including the removal of the photo gallery of the Parrsboro, NS event. It also still bills the game as "an official licensee of NASCAR." The "Careers" page has also been updated.

There is no mention as to the identity of the "new management", although with bankruptcy papers making the rounds to the tune of over $5.75 million dollars, it's nice to see the new group believes in being "fiscally responsible." Obviously, someone thinks there's a future for these games....

From the updated site:

"HGI's former founder, CEO, President and sole director stepped down as of November 23, 2006 citing a desire to move on to other ventures.
The new management of HGI are excited about the future prospects for the company and will be continuing to be committed to producing an exciting line of sports related board games for distribution worldwide.
It has been desided (sic) that HGI will not be proceeding with its plans to build a factory in Nova Scotia. HGI believes in being fiscally responsible and it is not economically feasible."

NPP Late Model Series releases its 2007 schedule

EDMONTON, AB – The Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series has released its 2007 race schedule. This upcoming season marks the seventh consecutive year of the tour which features some of the best Late Model Stock Car drivers in Western Canada.

N.P.P. LATE MODEL SERIES
2007 OFFICIAL SCHEDULE

Saturday, April 28th Castrol Raceway - Test 'n' tune
Saturday, May 5th Castrol Raceway - Season Opener
Saturday, May 19th Hidden Valley Motorsports Park
Sunday, May 20th Hidden Valley Motorsports Park
Saturday, May 26th Central Alberta Raceway
Saturday, June 2nd Castrol Raceway
Saturday, June 16th Rapid Fire Motorsports Park
Sunday, June 17th Rapid Fire Motorsports Park
Saturday, June 30th Castrol Raceway - N.P.P. Oilmen's Invitational
Sunday, July 1st Castrol Raceway - N.P.P. Oilmen's Invitational
Friday, July 13th Castrol Raceway - N.P.P. Gold Cup
Saturday, July 14th Castrol Raceway - N.P.P. Gold Cup
Friday, July 20th Rocky Mountain Raceway Park
Saturday, July 21st Bridge County Raceway
Saturday, July 28th Central Alberta Raceway
Saturday, August 11th Castrol Raceway
Friday, August 17th Castrol Raceway - World of Outlaws Show
Saturday, August 18th Castrol Raceway - World of Outlaws Show
Saturday, Sept. 1st Bridge County Raceway
Saturday, Sept. 2nd Bridge County Raceway
Saturday, Sept. 8th Castrol Raceway
Saturday, Sept. 22nd Castrol Raceway - Season Championship


2007 N.P.P. SERIES TRACKS
Bridge County Raceway - Lethbridge
Castrol Raceway - Edmonton, Alberta
Central Alberta Raceway - Rimbey, Alberta
Hidden Valley Motorsports Park - Drumheller, Alberta
Rapid Fire Motorsports Park - Drayton Valley, Alberta
Rocky Mountain Raceway Park - High River/Okotoks, Alberta

Grand Prix of Toronto Finalizes On-Track Line-Up for 2007

TORONTO, ON – The Grand Prix of Toronto is proud to ring in the New Year by announcing the addition of the Star Mazda Championship to its 2007 race schedule. This final addition to the on-track line-up ensures the Grand Prix of Toronto will showcase the most impressive open-wheel and production-based racing events ever to hit the Exhibition Place circuit.

“As the largest annual sporting event in Ontario, we are constantly looking for ways to ensure fans have new reasons to return year after year.” says Charlie Johnstone, president and CEO, Grand Prix Association of Toronto. “With six races that will bring more than 180 race cars, drivers from more than 10 countries and over 24 different makes of cars - from Champ Car’s Panoz DP01 to Mazda, Porsche, BMW, Cadillac and Dodge Viper - this year’s event will demonstrate an extraordinary range of racing action for our visitors.”

The Star Mazda Championship is the most competitive open-wheel development series in North America and has helped propel aspiring young drivers up the ranks in open-wheel racing. Alumni include Oakville, Ontario native and 2006 Champ Car Atlantic Championship top-ten finisher, James Hinchcliffe and one of the most recognized family names in racing, Graham Rahal, second place finisher in the 2006 Champ Car Atlantic Championship. The Toronto stop on the Star Mazda Championship schedule will boast a field of up to 30 Pro Formula Mazda cars featuring a carbon-fiber chassis, six-speed sequential gearbox and a 240-horsepower Mazda rotary powerplant.

In addition to the Star Mazda Championship, the 2007 Grand Prix of Toronto on-track schedule will showcase the accomplished driving skills of an international field of racers from the Champ Car World Series and Champ Car Atlantic Championships, SCCA SPEED World Challenge Championships (SCCA SPEED GT and SCCA SPEED Touring Car) and the Canadian Touring Car Championship.

From Andrea Hynes // Manager, Communications // Grand Prix Association of Toronto

DRAGS: St. Thomas Dragway Drivers' Meeting set for March 4

ST. THOMAS, ON – The 2007 St. Thomas Dragway Driver’s Meeting will be held Sunday, March 4, 2007 at 10 A.M. at the St. Thomas-Elgin Memorial Arena, 80 Wilson Ave., St. Thomas. Doors open at 9.30 A.M. for coffee and donuts.

Ritch Bowers, NHRA Division 3 Technical Director, will be present to answer all your questions regarding the 2007 NHRA Rule Book, Summit Super Series and Division 3 Bracket Finals.

IMPRESSIVE TV RATINGS FOR FIRST FIVE CASCAR RACES

TORONTO, ON - The ratings for the first five CASCAR Super Series races broadcast on SPEED have been released. James Robinson Associates Ltd., the producer of the Super Series television shows since 1994, is pleased to announce that shows have attracted an average audience of more than 260,000 viewers, for a five-race total of 1.3 million.

CASCAR is the only Canadian auto racing series to air on SPEED."We're very pleased to see the excellent response to our shows in terms of SPEED viewer numbers in the U.S. and Canada," said Jim Robinson.

"These shows appeared on Rogers Sportsnet during the Canadian racing season and the added exposure of appearing on SPEED on Saturday afternoons during the fall and winter means additional value added for the advertisers who support the shows. The high ratings for these broadcasts speaks to the excellent quality of the racing in Canada and, we believe, to the quality of the productions."

JRA would like to thank the racing fans and sponsors for their support of the CASCAR Super Series races on SPEED.

ACT: CROUCH RETURNS TO STOCK CAR RACING

WATERBURY, VT – Six-time American-Canadian Tour (ACT) Champion, Robbie Crouch of S. Burlington, VT will return to the Late Model Series in search of a seventh championship title in 2007. Known as the “Tampa Tornado” during his heyday, Crouch last raced in July, 1997.

“It should be fun and add some excitement to my life,” commented the 54 year-old racer who has owned almost every ACT record available. “The ACT Tour is on an up swing. It’s building like back in 1986, I see the same things happening now. I like that and I want to be involved,” he remarked.

Crouch will pilot a car owned by Dave Storey of Plaistow, NH, “I have a weak spot for nostalgia,” stated Storey. “As a car owner, I raced against Robbie in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. I always respected the type of racer he was. This Tour has become a real driver’s series and he’s one whale of a driver. The opportunity arose and this dream of mine, to have him race for me, has come true,” he finished.

Along with Crouch’s six American-Canadian Tour titles he’s a record four time winner of Vermont’s most prestigious race, the Milk Bowl at Barre’s Thunder Road. In all, he has over 80 ACT wins in a career that spans over 15 seasons.

Tom Curley, ACT president stated, “Having Robbie Crouch committed to run for the title just turned the wick up on ACT racing in 2007. This is going to be a lot of fun. Three of the greatest champions in the history of ACT (Crouch and Jean-Paul Cyr, six titles each and Brian Hoar, five) battling to break the Championship Tour title logjam should be very, very exciting.”

He continued, “What a thrill this is going to be for guys like Roger Brown, Joey Polewarczyk, Jamie Fisher and Scott Payea, among others. The biggest winners will be the fans. Having Crouch back in the Dave Storey ride to finish out his career with guys like Rowe, Leclerc and second generation Dragon teams mixed in should make for some very competitive and great racing. With the addition of our ACT Quebec Série, having the ACT teams eligible for the Oxford 250, and having guys like Crouch, Hoar and Kip Stockwell return to ACT competition this year, it looks like 2007 will be our best year in many decades.”

“Hopefully it will be like riding a bike,” Crouch said. “Maybe what I’m lacking in terms of youth will be made up with my experience. I’m trying to get prepared mentally and physically to give Mr. Storey’s team the best chance possible.”

Crouch will begin his quest for a record tying seventh ACT Tour Championship on Saturday, April 28 at Maine’s Oxford Plains Speedway. Additionally he will return to Thunder Road for the first time in many years in the track’s 48th season opener, the Merchants Bank 150 on Sunday, May 6.

For additional information contact the ACT office (802) 244-6963 or visit www.acttour.com

By Marjorie Mulligan Fay / ACT

Inside Track Photo Quiz

We're just putting the finishing touches on our big, final, CASCAR issue. Lots of great photos from over the years, many of them (like this one) by Dave Franks.
Here's one for a teaser.... It pertains to a pretty significant day in Canadian motorsports.
Can you name the individual, the year and the event?

INSIDE TRACK: Canadian racing notebook - Wednesday

TSN has a story saying that Jacques Villeneuve will be driving for Peugeot at Le Mans.

The OSCAAR Outlaw SLM officials and racers gathered for a meeting on Sunday to elect their new executive and to prepare for the upcoming season. One piece of news that emerged following the meeting was that OSCAAR will be racing at Cayuga Speedway on the Canada Day Weekend, bringing their headline 'Don Biederman Memorial' race to yet another facility.

(Biederman photo by Dave Franks)

IROC SERIES DELAYS START OF 2007 SEASON

From IROC

The International Race of Champions (IROC) officials announced today a delay in the start of the 2007 season due to not having a title sponsor in place.

The traditional IROC season opener at Daytona International Speedway in February will not take place while the Series continues to pursue a new title sponsor.

IROC President Jay Signore said, “We’re very disappointed about not making it to Daytona this year and we’re working very hard to find a title sponsor. Our hopes are to find a new title sponsor in enough time to be able to have a full four-race season within 2007.

"I want to thank Robin Braig and his entire staff at Daytona International Speedway for all of their patience and support during this difficult period. All of IROC’s partners and associates have been, and continue to be, very loyal and supportive of our efforts to continue the IROC Series.”

The elite All-Star invitational competition, which matches 12 drivers from different disciplines of auto racing in equally prepared cars, celebrated its 30th anniversary season in 2006 with NASCAR NEXTEL Cup champion Tony Stewart winning the prestigious $1-million IROC championship.

All plans regarding the remainder of 2007 are pending the procurement of a title sponsor.

NASCAR Notebook

(NOTE: Blogger was down for a few hours today. Sorry for the inconvenience).

Looks like the war of words between Little E and his team owner / stepmother Teresa is heating up. They're starting to sound like Trump and Rosie doing battle in the press. See here, here and here for the latest shots.

***
And... it sounds like NASCAR is set to tweak its 'Chase' formula. Under the old system, racers who were 400 points out of first place with 10 races left were eliminated... without a rule to formalize it. Under Chase #1 they're were formally eliminated. Looks like Chase #2 will put them back in contention. How nice.

Talk about creating a solution to a problem that didn't exist. So... because Matt Kenseth lapped the field one year, something HAD to be done. Thank goodness the NFL didn't cut touchdowns from 7 points to 3 in the wake of all those blowout Superbowls. Routs are a part of sport. They happen. They aren't a sign of a broken system. Look at last night's college football championship game. Florida whooped Ohio. Do you think the NCAA is going to head back to the drawing board because of it? Me neither.

OK, back to racing... it looks like the new Chase is going to be:

• top 12 racers with 10 races to go are in the Chase
• more points for winning races
• racers more than 400 points out with 10 races to go are welcome to compete for the Chase
• racers outside the top 12 with the last name "Earnhardt", Gordon (not Robbie), or "Stewart" are automatically in the Chase, regardless of their point standing after 26 races.

One of these is a joke. Possibly more if you think about it. Who would have thought you'd need a degree in mathematics to follow NASCAR? I can't wait until they start giving out 'more' points for wins... and one guy takes several checkered flags early in the Chase... undermining the whole point of the exercise which was to guarantee that the title is still up in the air at Homestead.

There's a more serious story about this issue here.

Bobby Hamilton, 49, dies after battle with neck cancer

From NASCAR.com

Bobby Hamilton, the 2004 Craftsman Truck Series champion and a four-time winner in the Cup Series, died Sunday. He was 49. Hamilton, a native of Nashville, had been battling cancer for nearly a year. He announced in March 2006 that he was undergoing treatment for neck cancer. He immediately turned over his driving duties in the Craftsman Truck Series to his son, Bobby Hamilton Jr."

... continued at the link above.

Sad News: Martin Chenhall

I hadn't heard this, but read about it in Norris McDonald's column in today's Wheels section of the Toronto Star.

"Martin Chenhall, an executive at General Motors for many years who was largely responsible for the creation of the GM/Player's Challenge Series, died in December after suffering a head injury. He was 70. Everybody who knew him is invited to attend a "Celebration of Marty's Life" at the Whitby Yacht Club next Saturday, Jan. 13, at 1 p.m."

CASCAR @ Trois-Rivieres on SPEED today at 4 p.m.

Watch Round #6 (Trois Rivieres) of the 2006 CASCAR SUPER SERIES on SPEED! today (Saturday, January 6) at 4 p.m.

Headz Gamez gone... with an almost $6 million bankruptcy

When Kerry Martens and his Headz Gamez Int'l came onto the racing scene halfway through 2006, it was a breath of fresh air. It was very exciting to think that a big company was keen to market its wares through Canadian motorsports. Sadly, like many things that seem too good to be true.... it was.

We recently received bankruptcy papers noting that the company was kaput and that its only legacy would be a creditors' list amounting to over $5.75 million dollars and broken dreams for many, including the residents of Parrsboro, Nova Scotia.

Headz Gamez is merely the latest addition to a list of companies and individuals who have preyed upon the goodwill and optimism of those in the racing community. It's time for all of us to look in the mirror and change so that this doesn't happen again. Burn us once, shame on you... Burn us 10 times, shame on us.

The bottom line is that if someone isn't going to pay you a significant part of their sponsorship commitment up front.... then he's probably never going to pay you at all.

Ex-partner convicted of killing a racing legend and his wife... 19 years after their deaths

From CNN.com

PASADENA, California (AP) -- After nearly 19 years of pursuing justice for her slain racing star brother and his wife, Collene Campbell walked out of a courthouse and waved a checkered flag.
Campbell, 74, waved the victory banner Thursday on behalf of Mickey and Trudy Thompson after a jury convicted the racer's former business partner, Michael Goodwin, of murder. Jurors also agreed with prosecutors' allegations of special circumstance of lying in wait and multiple murder.
"I was the one that everybody called the pain in the butt that wouldn't let go of it," Campbell said.
When the verdict was read, Goodwin, 61, only shook his head slightly. He faces life in prison at his sentencing March 1.

continued at the link above...

ROLEX 24: Jeff Gordon takes first laps on DIS road course

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Jeff Gordon is usually turning laps at Daytona International Speedway on the famed 2.5-mile tri-oval in his No. 24 DuPont Automotive Finishes Chevrolet. But on Thursday, for the first time in his career at “The World Center of Racing,” Gordon was behind the wheel of a sports car tackling the twists and turns of the 3.56-mile road course.

During the first day of the three-day Rolex 24 At Daytona test session, Gordon, a four-time NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion and three-time Daytona 500 winner, was behind the wheel of the No. 10 SunTrust Racing Pontiac Riley as he continues preparation for his first start in the Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 27-28.

Gordon will share the driving duties with SunTrust Racing car owner/driver Wayne Taylor and Italian Max Angelelli in the twice-around-the-clock challenge that kicks off the Rolex Sports Car Series season.

While Gordon was able to test the No. 10 SunTrust Racing Pontiac Riley in early December at Homestead-Miami Speedway, his first road course laps at DIS have been educational.
“It’s really been a great experience,” Gordon said. “I had an idea of what to expect with the car by doing Homestead but I’ve never been on this road course before and it’s pretty challenging track to learn. That last time out I was getting a good feel for it. I’m with the right team. I’m having fun and enjoying it. It’s a lot different peeling off that banking at the start/finish line than turning into the infield.

Gordon participated in two shifts on Thursday and had a third shift planned later in the afternoon. He will continue Rolex 24 testing on Friday.

“The first shift I wasn’t (comfortable with the times),” Gordon said. “I was a little disappointed but the second shift the speeds started to come and I’m going to get more laps later this afternoon. I’m feeling pretty good about it.”

Gordon hopes to follow the tire tracks of fellow NASCAR driver Casey Mears, who was part of the overall winning team of last year’s Rolex 24.

For Gordon, a Rolex 24 victory would be his 13th at “The World Center of Racing” tying him for fifth on the all-time DIS wins list with racing legends Hurley Haywood and Richard Petty.

Another historical Daytona International Speedway milestone Gordon could accomplish is being one of only three drivers to win both the Daytona 500 and the Rolex 24 during their career. Currently, Mario Andretti and A.J. Foyt are the only drivers to have accomplished that feat (Andretti’s 1972 Rolex 24 win wasn’t a 24-hour race).

Jimmie Johnson, Gordon’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate and the 2006 Daytona 500 champion, is also competing in the Rolex 24 and will be looking to pull off the same feat. Johnson will be racing the No. 91 Lowe’s Riley-Matthews Motorsports Pontiac Riley with Jim Matthews, Marc Goossens and Ryan Hunter-Reay.

Fastest of the day: There were three different Rolex Sports Car Series test sessions on Thursday. The fastest in the first session was the No. 10 SunTrust Racing Pontiac Riley of Taylor, Angelelli and Gordon with a lap of 122.085 mph, 1 minute, 44.976 seconds.

In the second session, the No. 05 Sigalsport BMW Riley with Bill Auberlen, Matthew Alhadeff, Gene Sigal and Karl Wendlinger were fastest with a lap of 122.084, 1:44.977.

In the final session of the day, the No. 10 SunTrust Racing Pontiac Riley returned to the top of the speed charts with a lap of 122.809, 1:44.357 – the fastest of the day.

In the KONI Challenge Series, driver Romeo Kapudija had the No. 54 Hyper Sport Mustang GT atop the speed charts for both test sessions. Patrick Dempsey, star of the ABC hit television series “Grey’s Anatomy,” is a co-driver on that car and is expected to test later this week.

The Roar Before the Rolex 24: On Friday, Jan. 5 and Saturday, Jan. 6, sports car fans will get all-access with the inaugural Roar Before The Rolex 24 At Daytona.

The Roar Before The Rolex 24 At Daytona will prep sports car fans for the 45th anniversary of the Rolex 24 on Jan. 27-28 with fan forums, displays, entertainment in the NEXTEL FANZONE and a technical talk about the Daytona Prototype from Howard Motorsports.

In addition, sports car fans will be able to view all the Rolex 24 At Daytona testing action from anywhere in the historic infield of Daytona International Speedway (with exception of the hot pits) and will have access to the garage area. Admission for the inaugural Roar Before the Rolex 24 At Daytona is $5 at the gate and children 12 and under are free. Gates open at ­­­9 a.m.

KUMHO, INTERSPORT JOIN FORCES FOR 2007 SEASON

Courtesy American Le Mans Series

Eager to compete again for class wins and championships in the American Le Mans Series, Intersport Racing and Kumho Tire USA will team together in the Series' highly competitive LMP2 class for the 2007 season. The Kumho-shod, AER-powered Intersport Lola B05/40 will turn its first competitive laps at the 55th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on March 17.

Kumho and Intersport will join other Series teams and manufacturers at the third annual American Le Mans Series Winter Test from January 22-24 at Sebring International Raceway. Kumho also will supply tires to P2 teams B-K Motorsports and van der Steur Racing.

"We are eager to begin working with Intersport," said Rudy Consolacion, Kumho's motorsports manager. "Intersport is an independent team that has proven it can go head-to-head with the big factory teams. The addition of Intersport to the Kumho mix gives us a good shot at winning races and competing for the class championship in 2007."

Intersport won the LMP2 class championship in 2003 and 2005. The team also won the LMP2 class at the 2004 24 Hours of Le Mans. Competing against the Penske Porsches and the rest of the LMP2 field in 2006, Intersport scored three class wins, including a P2 victory and second overall at Sebring. For 2007, both Penske Motorsports and Dyson Racing will campaign Porsche RS Spyders. There also will be three Acura-powered entries in a class full of depth and world-class quality.

"We're excited to start a long-term relationship with Kumho," said Intersport team principal Clint Field. "With Kumho's and Intersport's commitment to winning, next year should be very successful. We expect to be very competitive again with our AER engine, Lola chassis, and Richard Berry and Very Berry Exotics on board as a sponsor.

"Kumho's development has come a long way in the past couple of years," noted Field. "The performance of the van der Steur Radical at Laguna Seca got our attention because it's obvious the tires were very competitive. We tested the Kumhos after the season and they stacked up very well against the other tires we tested.

"The tire is already competitive, and we're looking forward to helping Kumho further develop the tire and make it even more competitive than it already is," he added.

Brian Alder, team manager and crew chief for Intersport, is equally excited about working with Kumho. "We're looking forward to having a tire that will be able to compete with the Michelins," he said. "We've been keeping an eye on Kumho and watching them grow in the Series the last two years. We feel working together we can help Kumho develop a tire that will be better than the competition. We're always looking for the best equipment and technology, and Kumho fits that bill."

Co-driving with Field will be his father, Jon Field. The two will drive together for the full season for the first time in their careers. "Clint and Jon give us one of the top driver lineups in the Series," said Alder. "People may have underestimated us a few years ago, but we've earned the respect of everyone and proved that we're for real. We're one of the best teams in the Series and are coming back in 2007 stronger than we were last year."

"LMP2 is shaping up to be the most competitive class in the American Le Mans Series in 2007, with 10 or more cars expected in the class in several races," said Consolacion. "Clint, Jon and Brian bring a lot of experience to the table. They will push their car and our tires to the limit. We can't wait for the season to start."

Established in 1960, Kumho Tire Co., Inc., of Seoul, South Korea, had 2005 sales of $2.2 billion. Kumho manufactures and distributes a complete line of tires for passenger cars, light trucks and heavy-duty trucks. Kumho has manufacturing facilities in Korea and China and operates technical centers in Birmingham, England, and Akron, Ohio. Founded in 1975 and headquartered in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, Kumho Tire U.S.A is the U.S. distribution arm of Kumho Tire Co. In addition to its 830,000 square foot headquarters and central distribution facility in Rancho Cucamonga, the company operates four additional distribution facilities in Atlanta, Chicago, Columbus and Dallas. For more information, visit the Kumho Web site at www.kumhotire.com.