Pete Shepherd fastest in Friday's Truck Series 'Happy Hour' at Memphis

O’Reilly 200, Practice Quotes, Page 1 June 29, 2007
Memphis Motorsports Park // From Ford

In his second race this season, Peter Shepherd, driver of the No. 50 Northern Tool + Equipment Ford F-150, sets the fastest time in Friday’s Happy Hour practice. Shepherd made his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut at Memphis Motorsports Park last year.

PETER SHEPHERD – No. 50 Northern Tool + Equipment Ford F-150 – “Everything went pretty well, I think. When we first went out in the first practice session, the truck wasn’t that good. We tried to improve step-by-step throughout the day and we did. I can’t thank Northern Tool + Equipment enough for their sponsorship at this race. I don’t know if you pick-up a bit by having a sponsor, but confidence wise, it’s good having a name on the side of the Ford F-150. We worked on it all day; it wasn’t easy. I can’t thank the crew enough for working so hard in putting together a great truck. My crew chief, Matt Puccia, and the whole crew did a great job. I’m probably not the easiest guy to work with right now since I having very little experience. I can’t thank them enough for getting it right for me.”

THIS IS YOUR SECOND RACE THIS SEASON SINCE LAST YEAR, MILWAUKEE WAS A SHORT AND FLAT TRACK AND MEMPHIS IS A LITTLE BIT LONGER WITH BANKING. “This track is a little different than most short tracks. It’s a big short track, but it runs like a short track. It is kind of what I grew-up on so it’s too out of the ordinary for me.”

MATT PUCCIA – No. 50 - CREW CHIEF – ON TODAY’S PRACTICE “I think we had a pretty good day today considering last week we were a bit unfortunate and had some problems with the truck. This week started off in the first practice and it wasn’t quite right, but we talked about it and worked on it to get it right. In the second practice, the truck stared off pretty good, we made a few adjustments and got it running pretty good. We put a set of stickers there in the end for a mock qualifying run. So hopefully, we’ll get a good qualifying run tomorrow. We hope to get a good starting position tomorrow and keep the Northern Tool + Equipment Ford F-150 running up front and away from trouble.”

WILL TEMPERATURE BE A FACTOR HERE? “Temperature is always an issue, especially here in Memphis. We’ve learned that our trucks turn better when the sun goes down. Hopefully, the conditions will be similar to where we are tonight and we’ll keep the truck where it is right now, because I think we’ve got it set-up to where it can compete.”

2007 Lucas Oil Canadian Dirt Series to start at Autodrome Granby on July 13

Cornwall, Ont. – June 28, 2007 - The month of July is always one of the busiest months of the season in dirt racing. It will also be the same this year as the Lucas Oil Canadian Dirt Series will hit Autodrome Granby, Autodrome Drummond, Autodrome Edelweiss, Brockville Speedway and Cornwall Motor Speedway in that month.

The series starts at Autodrome Granby on Friday, July 13th and will be presented by Bert Transmission. Everyone that was in Granby last remembers the epic battle between Mario Clair and David Hebert during the last 40 laps of the feature, Hebert was finally the winner. On the following night, Autodrome Drummond will be the host of the second race of the series and Coffrage 20-20 will proudly present this event.

Last year, Hebert had dominated the race by winning by a convincing margin over Kayle Robidoux. Two weeks later, Toitures Marcel Raymond will host the third race of the series at Autodrome Edelweiss on Friday, July 27th to kick off a three night week-end of racing action. Local favourite, Pierre Dagenais had won last year’s race. Brockville Ontario Speedway is next on the schedule for the series on the following night. The series ends at Cornwall Motor Speedway on Sunday, July 29th. Brian McDonald was in the winner in 2006 at the ¼ mile bullring. Both Brockville and Cornwall races will be sponsored by 730 Truck Stop.

Every race will be 100 laps of distance and will also count in the 358 DIRTcar Regional Championship points funds for the North region. Points will be awarded for the best finishes (15 in North) in DIRTcar-sanctioned 358-Modified events. It is a good incentive for drivers to participate in this series so that they can use those results for the DIRTcar Regional point funds.

The winner of each race will receive a guaranteed spot in the All-Star Race of the famous Victoria 200 which is held at Fulton Speedway on Saturday September 30. Even better, the 2007 Canadian DIRT Series champion will receive a guaranteed starting spot in the big 200 laps feature of that event.

Again in 2007, numerous sponsors contributed, starting by Lucas Oil Products which is for a second year the major sponsor of the series. Other ones like Babe Design, Finish Line Racewear, Pats Radiator, Bert Transmission, Coffrage 20-20, Toitures Marcel Raymond, Engine Research (Mike Block) and 730 Truck Stop. Because of them, drivers will compete for over $100,000 in prize and money. Competitors that will participate in all 5 events will be eligible to win many prizes.

With all those contributions, it will be the most successful year since the series was born six years ago. Do not miss the opportunity to see some of the best drivers in the eastern part of Canada.

- By Martin Bélanger

ATLANTIC DODGE DEALERS TO SPONSOR RIVERSIDE NASCAR EVENT

JAMES RIVER, NS (June 28, 2007) - The management of Riverside Speedway is excited to announce the Atlantic Dodge Dealers as title sponsor of the much anticipated inaugural NASCAR Canadian Tire Series event on September 15. The event will be entitled the Atlantic Dodge Dealers 300.

"We're very pleased to have the Atlantic Dodge Dealers join us as we present what is expected to be the highest profile stock car racing event ever held in Atlantic Canada," said Paul McLean, general manager of Riverside Speedway. "In our preliminary planning with the Atlantic Dodge Dealer's Advertising Association in partnership with DaimlerChrysler, it is clear they share our enthusiasm both for motorsports and for this new NASCAR series."

Not that there was ever any doubt race fans would share the enthusiasm for the event, but over 2,000 advance ticket requests to-date for the Atlantic Dodge Dealers 300 have confirmed Atlantic Canadian race fans are eager to see the premiere stock car racing series in Canada compete at the premiere stock car racing facility in Eastern Canada - perhaps in all of Canada.

"With this sponsorship at Riverside Speedway we are telling Dodge owners in the Atlantic region that we are committed to bringing them world-class stock-car racing," said Judy Wheeler, Vice President, Marketing - Chrysler. "We have a strong affiliation with NASCAR fans all over North America and strengthening that connection is a natural extension of Dodge motorsports programs."

Duane Rath, President, Atlantic Dodge Dealer Advertising Association sees the partnership as a perfect fit.

"The benefit of being involved with NASCAR and its loyal fans has been clearly demonstrated throughout North America," said Rath. "We're really excited to be able to share in that passion regionally with the sponsorship of this event."

The Dodge brand has been involved with NASCAR since the beginning with the manufacturer's first series win in 1953 when Lee Petty wheeled his Dodge Diplomat to victory. David Pearson won the 1966 championship driving a Dodge Charger. The Charger was the first car NASCAR allowed to use a rear spoiler when, in 1966, it was found that the short trunk area of the streamlined hardtop would lift under high speed; a small strip of metal was added to the rear deck lid to increase stabilization.

The super aerodynamic Dodge Daytona, with its sloped nose and large rear stabilizing wing, was introduced at the inaugural race at Talladega, Ala., in September of 1969. Plymouth countered with its 1970 model Superbird. The era of sophisticated factory-based aerodynamics had dawned over stock car racing with Bobby Isaac winning the 1970 championship piloting a Dodge. Dodge discontinued its factory involvement with NASCAR racing in 1977. In 2001, faithful Dodge fans were rewarded when Dodge returned to NASCAR. The Dodge Charger returned to competition in 2005; Dodge has introduced the Avenger as its Car of Tomorrow model in 2007.

Several promotions are planned in conjunction with the Atlantic Dodge Dealers 300 entitlement; details will be announced as available.

Advance tickets for the Atlantic Dodge Dealers 300 are expected to be available for sale July 21 at the IWK 250 at Riverside Speedway. Starting July 23, advance tickets for the Atlantic Dodge Dealers 300 will be available at the track administration office.

The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series season began May 26 at Cayuga Speedway Park in Hamilton, Ontario and finishes Sept. 23 at Kawartha Speedway in Peterborough, Ontario. The 12-race schedule will stretch across Canada, from Nova Scotia to British Columbia.

About Riverside Speedway
Riverside Speedway, 1/3-mile high banked asphalt oval, is located in James River, between New Glasgow and Antigonish, at exit 30 off Trans Canada Highway 104. Opened in 1969, the facility was totally rebuilt in 2006 to become a premiere motorsports site, comparable to the best short tracks in Canada and the U.S. The 2007 schedule includes three CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour events on June 9, August 4 and August 11; the IWK 250 PASS North event on July 21; and the Atlantic Dodge Dealers 300 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series event on September 15. For more information about Riverside Speedway, please visit www.riversidespeedway.ca or call 902.863.2410.

# # #

This News Release has been distributed by Joan Roué for Riverside Speedway.

OSCAAR Biederman Memorial this Saturday at Cayuga Speedway Park

(Don Biederman celebrating in victory lane with (L to R) Miss Flamboro Speedway, Frank Casale, John Casale, Don, Dizzy Dean and Gary Scott, after this 1981 win at Flamboro Speedway // Dave Franks Photos)

OSCAAR fans are looking forward to the greatly anticipated Don Biederman Memorial this Saturday June 30th at Cayuga Speedway. OSCAAR has not visited the Cayuga track for several years with the last race taking place in 2002.

Many of the drivers are very excited about returning to the .625 mile oval where their Outlaw Super Late Models will reach the highest speeds ever recorded. For some drivers this will be their first ever visit to the famous paved oval where in years past several NASCAR drivers made their mark.

ASA Late Model Series will headline the weekend, which should give the OSCAAR Teams a chance to rub shoulders with some of the greatest short track racers in America. OSCAAR will race first on Saturday evening in the 75 Lap Don Biederman Memorial race followed by the ASALMS Canada 200.Don Biederman is remembered as one of the all time great stock car racers in Canada.

Inducted into the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2001, Don lived and breathed stock car racing until his death from cancer in 1999. In honour of his racing achievements and his passion for Super Late Model racing, OSCAAR has since held the Don Biederman Memorial every year.

The event has become the premiere race of the season for OSCAAR drivers. Don's famous #43 was faithfully restored and is show-cased at the Hall of Fame facilities. It makes the yearly trek to Ontario Speedways during the Don Biederman Memorial.

The tradition will continue as Dave Franks has already made the arrangements for its transport to Cayuga. Dave has also arranged for Don's sister Bernice Collins to attend this year's event. This year offers something a little different with the famous #43 doing some laps before the race.

During the regular OSCAAR season over the past two years, fans have come to recognize the #43 and driver TJ Woolsey. TJ has by tradition sported a different number for the Don Biederman and last year it was the #57.

It brought him good fortune as the V&L Transportation #57 Outlaw charged to the front in TJ Woolsey's first OSCAAR win. I wonder which number TJ will use this year!?

One thing is for sure - predicting a winner for this year's Don Biederman Memorial is not easy. In three races so far in 2007 there have been three different winners. With a very competitive field of sharp looking Outlaws, it is any one's guess who will win the 2007 Don Biederman Memorial!

SCHEDULE: OSCAAR June 30 Race Information: Spectator Gates Open at 9am, Heat Races 4:15pm, Autographs 4:45pm , Feature Race 6:30pm - complete schedule is available at www.oscaar.ca

- By Don McLeod / OSCAAR

Amherst Daily News: Frank Fraser Sr. - The Richard Petty of River Glade

By BEATRICE LANGILLE // The Amherst Daily News
RIVER GLADE, N.B. – Who knew a trip to a drag race in Ontario would lead to a life of racing?Frank Fraser had no aspirations to be a racer. The driver of the Wild Mountain Blueberry Prostock machine soon found out differently.“I went to a drag race once and someone raced a car that was the same as mine. I knew mine would beat his,’’ he recalled.“I went back with my car and I beat him. That got me started in drag racing and that’s how I ended up here. I drag raced for two years but it got too expensive,’’ he added.He moved back to Saint John, N.B., in 1965 where he and a friend commenced building a stock car.This machine raced at the old Airport Speedway in Saint John.“When we went to the first race, our car cost $80 and we made $60,’’ he said. “Today you still make $60 but your car costs $8,000. I’ve been going in circles ever since.”

... continued at the link above

GP of Edmonton announces title sponsor with less than a month to go until the event

EDMONTON (CP) - The Rexall/Katz Group was named lead sponsor of the Grand Prix of Edmonton Champ Car race on Wednesday. The race, to be held July 22 at the Edmonton City Centre Airport, will be called the Rexall Grand Prix of Edmonton.

TSN has the full story here.

NEWALTA Late Model Challenge Series - Mac's 100 scheduled for this weekend at Race City has been canceled

Calgary, AB (June 26, 2007) - Round Four of the NEWALTA Late Model Challenge Series 2007 season, the Mac's 100, scheduled for Saturday, June 30th at Race City in Calgary has been canceled.

Heavy rains have caused extensive damage to the surface of the high banked, high speed half mile oval making it unsafe to conduct a motor racing event. As a result, all oval competition at the facility has been canceled for this weekend. "We are extremely disappointed for our Super Late Model race fans in the Calgary area," commented Series President Craig Ball.

"I visited Race City today (Tuesday) and the conditions are poor. Water is seeping out of the surface of the track. There is no way that we could safely stage an event this weekend." Core samples are being taken to determine the level of saturation below the surface of the track.

The Race City oval is hosting the Vans Warped Tour 07 music concert on July 5th. It is likely that repair efforts will begin after that event and when the ground has had a chance to dry.

"The NEWALTA Late Model Challenge Series would like to thank our corporate sponsor of the event, Mac's Convenience Stores," continued Ball. " We look forward to continuing our relationship with Mac's at a future event."

The 2 day Parts Canada SuperBike Championship will run as scheduled on the road course at Race City this weekend. The next NEWALTA Late Model Challenge Series event is the second of four scheduled Border Challenge 150 races and runs Saturday, July 14th at Race City in Calgary, AB.

- from Craig Ball

Pete Shepherd Memphis Truck preview from Roush Fenway

Peter Shepherd returns to the seat of the No. 50 Ford this weekend at Memphis Motorsports Park. Shepherd made his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start in this race one year ago. The No. 50 will carry the colors of Northern Tool + Equipment this weekend, in a reverse scheme of teammate Erik Darnell’s No. 99 Ford.

The No. 50 team is bringing chassis RK308-42 to Memphis. This chassis last raced at Dover, where Erik Darnell started 21st and finished 18th. In his first start of 2007, Shepherd finished 32nd last week at Milwaukee.

PETER SHEPHERD ON MEMPHIS MOTORSPORTS PARK. . .
“Memphis is a very special place for me, it’s where I made my first Craftsman Truck Series start. We had a good race here last year, managed to keep ourselves out of trouble and raced to the finish. We had a rough go of things last week, so we’ll be looking to redeem ourselves. We’ve got Northern Tool + Equipment on our F-150 this weekend, and I’m very happy to be representing them.”

MATT PUCCIA ON MEMPHIS MOTORSPORTS PARK. . .
“Peter ran his first race for us here last year and did a great job. He is so accustomed to running on short tracks, but for him this is a little more like a speedway. We’ve got the same goals this week as we had for Milwaukee last week, to finish all the laps and keep out of trouble.”

UPDATE: Roush Fenway Racing to Conduct Real-Time Gong Show Competition

Concord, NC (June 27, 2006) - As Roush Fenway Racing makes plans for the 2008 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the team has decided to showcase some of its young driving talent in several upcoming Craftsman Truck Series races. The No. 50 truck will serve as the test truck, with a few different drivers slated to make starts for the remainder of the 2007 season.
"We have a talented pool of young drivers at Roush Fenway Racing," said team owner Jack Roush. "Peter Shepherd and Danny O'Quinn have been impressive, and T.J. Bell has shown great promise as well. We're going to give these guys an opportunity to show what they can do, and we'll make a decision as far as who we're going to put in our trucks for 2008 based off of that."
Peter Shepherd made his first start of the 2007 season at Milwaukee last week, and is scheduled to race the No. 50 at Memphis Motorsports Park this weekend and Kentucky Speedway next month. Danny O'Quinn will make the first Craftsman Truck Series start of his career at O'Reilly Raceway Park in July. T.J. Bell will return to the seat of the No. 50 truck at Nashville, with additional races later in the season.
Northern Tool + Equipment, primary sponsor of Roush Fenway Racing's No. 99 Ford in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, will sponsor the No. 50 in selected upcoming races. The truck will carry a reversed paint scheme of Darnell's No. 99 F-150.
"We're really happy to be involved in this opportunity to give an up-and-coming driver an opportunity," said Randy Rudolph, Director of Advertising for Northern Tool + Equipment. "Roush Fenway Racing has a history of finding great drivers to fill the seats of their trucks, including our driver, Erik Darnell. We see this as a great opportunity to be involved with selecting the next driver to join their program."
The complete schedule of drivers and their races will be released at a later date.

From: Rory W. Connellan // Roush Fenway Racing

CAYUGA SPEEDWAY: OSS Photo Gallery from Bill Mehlenbacher

Thanks to Bill Mehlenbacher for forwarding this photo gallery from the Ontario Sportsman Series race this past weekend (June 23) at Cayuga Speedway Park.

Thunder Road and ACT Turn Up Summer Heat

BARRE, VT – Thunder Road in Barre and the American-Canadian Tour (ACT) are teaming up for a busy early summer stock car racing schedule. With six race events in just 10 days, the summer action will heat up in a hurry.

Beginning with Sanel Parts Plus Night this Thursday (June 28), NASCAR star Kenny Wallace will take on the “Kings of the Road” behind the wheel of an ACT Late Model. Thunder Road’s low regular ticket prices remain in effect for the special event, with general admission only $9 for adults, $3 for children, and just $18 for a family of four. Green flag qualifying action for Street Stocks and Warriors begins at 6:30pm, with the traditional Thunder Road Post Parade rolling out at 7:00pm.

Also highlighting the schedule is an action-packed Independence Day week doubleheader at “The Nation’s Site of Excitement” in Barre. Pepsi presents the annual Independence Day fireworks extravaganza at Thunder Road on Tuesday, July 3 with a full card of Late Models, NAPA Tiger Sportsmen, Allen Lumber Street Stocks, and Power Shift Junkyard Warriors. Just two days later, all four divisions return for Charter Communications Night on Thursday, July 5. Street Stocks and Warriors begin qualifying at 6:30pm at both events, with the Post Parade 7:00pm.

Wrapped around the Thunder Road doubleheader are exciting ACT events at three race tracks, beginning with the Série ACT Castrol PRO-FAB 100 at Autodrome Chaudière in Vallée Jonction, Québec on Friday, June 29 at 7:00pm. The following night, on Saturday, June 30, the ACT Late Model Tour invades White Mountain Motorsports Park in North Woodstock, NH. The White Mountain 150 will pit the champions of ACT against White Mountain’s hometown heroes. Racing begins at 5:00pm.

The action-packed schedule winds down with the Time Warner Cable 150 at Maine’s Oxford Plains Speedway. Like the White Mountain event, hometown Oxford Late Model drivers will show their stuff against the ACT Late Model Tour’s best on Saturday, July 7 at 6:30pm. The Time Warner Cable 150 will serve as the final tune-up date for the $150,000 TD Banknorth 250 at Oxford on Sunday, July 22.

Thunder Road and ACT turn up the summer heat beginning this Thursday with Sanel Parts Plus Night at “The Nation’s Site of Excitement.” For more information, call (802) 244-6963, or visit www.thunderroadspeedbowl.com.

From ACT / Justin St. Louis

OHSWEKEN: Friday June 29 racing cancelled for construction

RACING CANCELLED FOR FRIDAY JUNE 29TH.
Racing for this Friday night at Ohsweken Speedway has unfortunately been cancelled. The construction of new safety fencing will not be finished in time for this week's event.
Ohsweken Speedway apologizes for this situation and reminds you to join us on Friday July 6th as the ASCS Patriots will be in town along with a regular card of action.

From Ohsweken Speedway Online

Peter Shepherd - Race Recap

The Milwaukee Mile/West Allis, Wisconsin/June 22, 2007
Started 18th / Finished 32nd
DISAPPOINTING FINISH FOR SHEPHERD IN MILWAUKEE
Peter Shepherd, No. 50 Roush Fenway Racing Ford F-150

WEST ALLIS, Wisc. (June 22, 2007) - Peter Shepherd looked strong in the early going of Friday night's Milwaukee 200, but the end result was not what he hoped for in his return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
Shepherd started Friday night's race in the 18th position, and by lap 10 had advanced to the 14th position. Shepherd reported in the early going to his crew that his Ford was loose on the exit of the turns, but he was able to run times comparable to the trucks running in the top-10. Shepherd gave up a couple of positions, sliding back to the 16th position when the caution came out at lap 67 for debris. Shepherd came to pit road for tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment.
Shepherd restarted in the 16th position, but as soon as the green flag dropped he reported to his crew that he had a flat left front tire. Shepherd came to pit road to change all four tires at lap 73, and was hit with a penalty for speeding on the exit of pit road.
Shepherd continued on, but reported that the left side of the truck was dragging the racetrack. Crew chief Matt Puccia called Shepherd to pit road, allowing the crew to jack the truck and look underneath it for a possible part failure. The decision was made to change front shocks, but Shepherd reported that the problem continued when he rejoined the field. Puccia made the decision to bring Shepherd to the garage so the crew could take a better look at diagnosing and repairing the problem. The crew examined the No. 50 Ford, but were not able to find a certain problem. Shepherd returned to the racetrack for the closing laps, some 44 laps down to the leaders.
"We really don't know what happened, we might have bent a sway bar or something, but we couldn't see anything wrong with the truck," said Puccia. "We'll take it back to the shop and try to figure out what happened."
"Obviously it's pretty disappointing," said Shepherd of his 32nd place finish. "We had a good run going, but when we came to pit road something happened to the truck. We really don't know what happened, but it felt like the whole left side of the truck was dragging the racetrack. I'm anxious to figure out what happened. We'll look forward to Memphis next week, hopefully we can get a better finish there."

- From RoushFenway

Happy Ending for Delaware Jr. LM team

From John Houton / Delaware Speedway

UPDATE: The Krown Body Maintenance Junior Racing League fibreglass show body that was taken from the Byron (ON) area was dropped off and returned from where it was taken! Car #7 & the Charno family extends its appreciation to everyone who kept an eye out for this one of a kind item, as well as the various media outlets (including Inside Track) that carried the story.

RACELINE RADIO: Erik Tomas's 'Tomas Tales'

Erik Tomas' 'Tales'... from Raceline Radio

Lewis Hamilton continues to astound! A week after his first pole and Formula One win in Montreal, the 22 year old U.K wonder-kid marches into Indianapolis, another track he’s never laid eyes on before, and scores his second-straight pole and win!

And at the Brickyard, he battles his McLaren team mate and reigning champion Fernando Alonso head-to-head, and beats him again, heads up! Hamilton lets more opening lap wreckage swirl in behind him off the start, beats Alonso out in the first round of pit stops and where most rookies may have backed off, he goes hub-to-hub with Alonso on lap 39, holds his line and his nerve, and Fernando never got close enough to stop the kid again!

So that’s 2 poles, 2 wins and 7 podiums in his first 7 GP’s! Pretty fair shootin’ in anybody’s rifle range! McLaren boss Ron Dennis says this time there was never a question of team orders, legal or illegal in some books. They let the boys race even though they’re on the same team and those Constructors points are the most precious, evident with the sweaty palms on the McLaren wall when Alonso and Hamilton went side-by-side.

Good racing, but what happens if they crash each other out? Ah, there’s the Formula One rub! It’s interesting to watch and listen to the American media coverage of Lewis Hamilton’s feats. They rarely run the story without mentioning he’s the first black F-1 driver, that he’s pulling off these heroics, and he’s a black driver.

While it certainly is historic, The U.K and European media seems to downplay the race angle. And when I interviewed Lewis and had him on Raceline Radio last week, I was politely asked to avoid the topic. They said Lewis prefers we not dwell on his ethnicity. Fine with me. I don’t care if the kid’s purple. The much bigger story is the fact that we just might be looking at Formula One’s first rookie champion.

That would be absolutely huge, no matter what colour his skin is! So while my crystal ball worked with Lewis Hamilton, I might need to adjust the horizontal hold on the Dale Earnhardt sweepstakes.

I was convinced he was headed to continue his daddy’s legacy at Richard Childress Racing once he announced his departure from DEI. Wrong. Rick Hendrick, who’s known Little E. since he was the “Smallest E.” wanted NASCAR’s most popular driver on his squad with Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Casey Mears and all those championships.

Maxed out at 4 teams, something had to give, and that was Kyle Busch. I had an interview with Busch ready to pop this week, but that was yanked when contract renewal talks broke down when I’m told Busch wanted too much money prompted by offers from other teams. Hendrick suddenly had a tenant check out of his hotel and that left a room for Earnhardt Junior.

I loved the story Rick and Junior told during the chunk of the media conference we played on the show. When E was only 15, he signed a little contract on a napkin to work for Hendrick when he started driving. When they finalized the deal this past week for real, Rick reminded Junior of their napkin contract. Junior was surprised Rick remembered it.

Hendrick says he never brought it up because he was afraid of Junior’s daddy if he tried to enforce it! Laughter all ’round. The Earnhardt Junior-Hendrick alliance also has emotional roots. Ricky, Rick’s son, who we lost in a plane crash, once said to his Dad one day Dale Earnhardt Junior would drive for Hendrick Motorsports. Junior lost his Intimidator Dad at Daytona, so just maybe Rick sees Dale Junior’s arrival as the fulfillment of his late son’s prophecy, and Junior’s got a strong father figure in his career again.

In this closely knit sport of racing automobiles, where families face risk together every day, that’s not as far fetches as it sounds. What do YOU think? Drop me an e-mail and let me know! Any suggestions? Opinions? Comments? Better ideas? Keep the E-Mails coming for The Raceline E-Mail Bag! The address: erik@raceline.ca Do you agree or disagree with the commentary? We invite your feedback! Until next time, talk to ya’ll on Raceline Radio! ET

WORLD of OUTLAW "Six Nations Showdown" ADVANCED TICKETS Still Available

ADVANCED TICKET SALES for the July 25th "Six Nations Showdown" at Ohsweken Speedway presented by ARROW EXPRESS featuring the World of Outlaw Sprints continue at a brisk pace.

With the excitement growing and only five weeks remaining until the green flag drops on this history making event, approximately 1400 tickets remain for sale. Ticket requests continue to be taken daily by phone only (519-542-2116), and has been extended until July 20th. Credit card payment in full is required at the time of purchase however other arrangements for payment can be made. Tickets will be mailed from the Sarnia Ticket Office directly to your home until July 10th.

After July 10th, tickets will be available at a "Will Call Area" at the track on race day only. Adult price is $40 with children 12 and under at $25. Adult tickets may be upgraded on race day for $5.00 to include a Pit Pass.

NO TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE TRACK UNTIL RACE DAY. ALL SEATS ON THE SPECTATOR SIDE OF THE SPEEDWAY ARE RESERVED FOR THIS EVENT.

"The entire existing stands were sold out in two days" stated an excited promoter Glenn Styres. "We contracted to install an additional 1,288 seats at each end of the existing stands on the front stretch and these have also been selling quickly. The demand has been so good we have made the decision to stretch up the new stands in the turn one area an additional ten rows (800 seats) making them twenty-six rows high" Styres went on. "We hope that as many people that want tickets will buy in advance to help us make sure that ample seating is available on race day. We want to make sure that everyone who wants to attend will have a place to sit at race time. Purchasing advanced tickets will also help us get people into the track when the gates open on July 25th and avoid building long lines at the ticket window" Styres concluded.

From Ken Pelkie

KONI CHALLENGE: KENSAI/COMPASS360 MOSPORT RACE REPORT

Mosport, the sixth of twelve races on the KONI Challenge schedule, was a very rewarding weekend for the Kensai Racing with Compass360 team. Each of the team's three cars finished the race, with solid performances from all six drivers. Karl Thomson and Billy Johnson drove their #76 Acura TSX to victory with a dramatic last-lap pass for the lead, while Taz Harvey and Beau Buisson gave the #75 TSX its best result of the season by finishing fifth. Matt Pritiko, meanwhile, put another solid result in the books to keep his Rookie of the Year hopes alive.

THOMSON AND JOHNSON TAKE THIRD VICTORY
Billy Johnson passed the leading Turner BMW of Trevor Hopwood on the very last lap, snatching victory and edging to within one point of the championship lead. "As he always does, Karl gave me the car in a good position (fifth) and in great shape, with lots of tires and brakes," remarked Johnson. "I'd moved up to third by just past mid- way through the race and was staying with the leaders, doing my best to save the car for a sprint at the end. But after the second yellow flag, at the restart Pierre (Kleinubing in the #82 BMW Z4) and I had to avoid a slower car. I hit the brakes but they weren't there and I ended up going way off track in corner two."

The off-track excursion dropped Johnson to fifteenth place, and he worked tirelessly to make his way through traffic. With only ten laps left, Johnson was fourth, Kleinubing in first, Nick Wittmer in his TSX in second, and Hopwood in third. Kleinubing and Wittmer had gambled on a mid-race pit strategy, and unfortunately it didn't pay off this time, with the Z4 running out of gas and the i-MOTO TSX having to pit for fuel, handing the lead to Hopwood.

"Billy and I normally chat quite a bit on the radio," chuckled Thomson. "But when he finally caught Trevor and was working on the pass, he told me to shut up so he could concentrate. That's when I knew he was really working hard!"

The win marks the duo's third of the season, and helps to solidify Acura's lead in the manufacturer's championship, with 197 points, 14 more than BMW's 183. Johnson and Thomson now have 163 points, one behind the Turner team-mates with 164.

HARVEY AND BUISSON FINISH FIFTH
Beau Buisson halted his five-race unlucky streak with a solid top- five result at Mosport. The fifth place finish was all the more remarkable because it was accomplished with a car that started the race clearly worse for wear. "I was following (Jamie) Holtom in the #01 Cobalt during qualifying" noted co-driver Taz Harvey. "Going through corner three I got it a little sideways and just kept it drifting to the exit, but the car hooked up and I ended up nose-first into the wall." Still, Harvey qualified twelfth.

With less than an hour and a half to repair the #75 Acura between qualifying and the race, the Kensai crew went to work, the result being a fully-functional, if somewhat visually impaired, race car. The hood was held in place with Crew Chief Ray Lee's "special" packing tape, and the bumper with a rather large collection of zip ties.

Harvey settled into a good rhythm after the start, taking the car up to as high as ninth place before handing it to Buisson during the first caution period. Beau took the reigns and gradually made up places, limited by his inability to draft. "I'd get a good run on the car in front through the corners, but when I pulled up behind on the straight the water temp would get too high and I'd have to pull out to cool the engine," he said. Like Johnson, Buisson made a great last- lap pass, in this case taking fifth place from the #127 Fountain BMW of Guy Cosmo.

PRITIKO CONTINUES STRONG ROOKIE YEAR
Matt Pritiko shared the #74 Acura RSX-S with Dave Ciekiewicz, who currently lies third in the Canadian Touring Car Championship GT ranks. Pritiko's had an amazing rookie year in his very first season in street stock racing; he's currently in seventh place in the KONI Challenge ST driver's championship, and Mosport provided an excellent opportunity to continue his progress up the leader board.

"Matt's been a great study this year," noted Thomson. "His results are all the more impressive when you figure that not only is this his first time outside of an open-wheel car but he's also new to every track!"

Ciekiewicz started the car from 16th position, and the team elected to try a different strategy for #74, leaving Dave out for the first yellow in the hopes of another one mid-race, just within the car's fuel window. Unfortunately, like the #01 Cobalt, the #74 had to pit under green flag conditions for gas, tires and a driver change.

Although Ciekiewicz had managed to bring the car up to ninth place by mid-way through the stint, the green flag stop meant that Pritiko returned to the track in 16th. He valiantly moved through traffic, but was a lap down to the leaders. Like the other two Kensai/ Compass360 Acuras, Matt managed some good late-race improvements, moving up two positions in the last three laps, finishing in 11th.

With only two days before the rigs leave for the next KONI race (at Mid-Ohio), there's much repair and preparation to be done at the Toronto-based Kensai Racing shop, but there's no doubt the team is up to the task!

Kensai Racing specializes in high-end performance products and tuner upgrades for Japanese cars. They have fielded Acuras in Grand-Am since 2005, have won the Ontario Touring Car Championship and the Quebec Championship. Visit http://www.kensairacing.com for information.

Compass360 Design + Advertising offers branding expertise to clients in diverse industries across North America. The firm's unique Brand- Aid(TM) process has helped clients in financial service, entertainment, real estate development and high-technology to generate greater value out of their marketing communications. Visit http://www.compass360.com for details.

The team thanks its generous sponsors including Acura, Skunk2 Racing, Hawk Brakes, Tel-IT Consulting, Fujita Air Systems, Dupont and NAPA, Georgian College, OMP and Piloti Shoes.

For PR inquiries regarding Kensai Racing with Compass360, contact Karl Thomson, (416) 465-2299 x21 or email karlt at compass360 dot com. Information on the team is available at http:// www.compass360.com/racing

For more information on the KONI Challenge Series visit http:// www.grand-am.com

Photos courtesy of Paul Bruch

Some photos from Sunday's NCATS race at Mosport

A few people have been kind enough to send me some shots from Sunday's NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race at Mosport Int'l Raceway.

The first (from Sean) is a picture of the initial green flag. Chatting with Andrew Ranger after the race, he didn't complain in the least about getting a 'drive through' penalty for jumping the start. Now I see why.

And then there was this multi-shot sequence of the lap 42 lead change involving Andrew Ranger's winning pass of then race leader J.R. Fitzpatrick up in turn 5. Robert Maguire has his own gallery here on FLICKR.

Thanks to Sean and Robert Maguire for sharing!

Dale Jr. sponsorship hint?

SPEEDTV issued a press release that included the following exchange between Dave Despain and Darrell Waltrip. In recent weeks, there has been speculation that Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be sponsored by Budweiser and VISA. Apparently you can now throw Pepsi into the mix, if you read between the lines. This makes sense given the soft drink maker's longtime with Hendrick driver Jeff Gordon.

Despain: Do you think Teresa will give Hendrick the No. 8?

Waltrip: I don’t think that’s very likely. I really think he’s going to be stuck with 08, if he wants to keep 8.

Despain: Well, with the magic of the Internet, there’s already a Budweiser No. 5 car painted up. Here is what it might look like…

Waltrip: Well, I don’t think that will be true; I don’t think it will be Budweiser.

Despain: Do you know who it will be?

Waltrip: It will still be probably something you can drink – that would be my guess. And it won’t be in a red can.

From David Harris, SPEED

NCATS: Dickies 200 from Mosport Int'l Raceway on TSN

TSN will broadcast the 'DICKIES 200 presented by CANADIAN SHIELD ANTI CRIME REPONSE CORPORATION' NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race from MOSPORT INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY at the following times:

Premiere: Sunday, June 24 @ noon

Repeat 1: Wednesday, July 4 @ 1a.m.

Repeat 2: Friday, July 13 @ 3p.m.

NCATS: FUEL STARVATION PROBLEM ROBS BROWN OF TOP-TEN FINISH

Doug Brown, driving his Haldex-sponsored Dodge Charger, made his first road course start of the 2007 schedule at the 2.459-mile Mosport International Speedway this past Sunday and motored to a satisfying 14th-place finish over the 51-lap long event despite some minor issues during the two-day event.

Brown, who readily admits his road course racing skills are not up to par with some the series leaders, was behind the wheel of the unfamiliar DJ Kennington-prepared Dodge for the first time in the early season.

The racing veteran was among the field of 29 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series starters for the Fathers’ Day “Dickies 200” special at the legendary road course and he was looking to improve upon his 10th-place finish of a year ago while competing in the CASCAR Super Series.

Despite a disappointing qualifying time that saw him line-up 18th for the 400 kilometre chase through the rolling course north of Bowmanville, the Brantford driver was comfortable at the drop of the green flag and quickly settled into a steady pace through the first dozen laps around the 10-turn track. By lap 18th he had moved to 12th place and was chasing down fellow Dodge Charger competitor Brad Graham for another spot. But as he swung through the sweeping turn three on lap 20, he felt a sudden drop in fuel pressure taking away much of his momentum and forcing him to drop off the pace.

“It appears there is a problem in the fuel pickup”, Doug reported as his crew prepared for a fast pit stop for two tires and fuel. Once he got back into the chase the car felt fine but the problem redeveloped again around lap 40. He retreated to the pits for another splash of fuel but failed to regain the speed needed to improve his 14th-place position.

“I’m confident we could have gained a top ten finish or even better had that fuel problem not developed,” he added. “The two tires we changed were like new and the car felt comfortable with lots of power before and after the problems”.

The event was the first of four road course/street circuit events Doug will be running in the Kennington-prepared machine.

Like many of their fellow competitors, Doug and his teammates had some anxious moments during the events’ pre-race inspections in order to correct and resolve some issues required to comply with the tough NASCAR mandated specifications.

“Having gone through that inspection process, there is little doubt, all teams are playing from the same sheet of music now that NASCAR is in charge of our series,’’ remarked crew chief Kelly Hallett when the final NASCAR official’s initials were placed on his inspection sheet. “That in itself is a sure sign the competition in this series can only get better”.

The team is now making the final preparations to their primary Haldex-sponsored oval track Mopar-powered Dodge Charger for the Canada Day race weekend at Barrie Speedway.

Heading to that July 1st event Doug finds himself 13th in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series points’ standings and just eight points out of 10th place occupied by Grimsby, Ontario’s Jeff Lapcevich –a position the Brantford driver would like to be in before the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series teams head out on their mid-July swing to Western Canada for an oval track race at Sun Valley Speedway near Vernon, BC and a road course event as part of the CHAMP Car Series weekend in Edmonton.

During pre-race autograph sessions, Doug had an opportunity to renew acquaintance with Miguel Duhamel, the legendary Honda motorcycle racer, winningest AMA road racer and 5-time Daytona 200 Superbike champion, who making his debut on four wheels at the wheel of the #8 – Bitumar – Jacombs Racing entry in the “Dickies 200” presented by Canadian Shield.

The two had competed in Super Cross racing back in the 1980’s before breaking away to other motorsports programs – Duhamel to motorcycle racing and Doug into stock cars.

HB Motorsports is pleased to have Haldex Limited as its Title Sponsor with NAPA Autopro supporting team programs through its role of Major Associate Sponsor role. Bicknell Racing Products; World of Graphics; HurryPrint Imaging Centre; WIX Filters; KWIC Internet; Gates Canada; BOC Gases; Brochures etc; Leitch Performance Engines; Strodes BBQ & Deli; and BrentZone Graphics are also valued members of our Associate Sponsorship Marketing team.

Prepared by: Ken Spencer // Marketing and Media Relations // HB Motorsports