EDMONTON, ALBERTA (July 19, 2007) – With a recent fourth-place finish, veteran stock car driver Kerry Micks is going into the next NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race with a positive outlook.
“We ran well at Sunvalley (BC) last week, and we’re hoping to keep the momentum going,” said the team owner and driver of the Mick Motorsports Beyond Digital Imaging Ford Taurus. “And I think we have enough experience in setting up and racing our car on the road course.”
Micks placed second in this event in 2006.
The upcoming event will be race five in the 12-race series, at the Rexall Grand Prix of Edmonton on the 1.96 mile, 14-turn road course at the City Center Airport July 20-21.
The former CASCAR Super Series champion added he is grateful for the welcome sponsorship of Beyond Digital Imaging this season.
“Thanks to BDI, we have been able to build a solid racing campaign this year, said Micks, who lives in Mount Albert, ON. “I’m very grateful they stepped up to the plate to help us, and we will try to do our best.”
For information about the Rexall Grand Prix of Edmonton, call (780) 488-8882 or visit online at www.grandprixedmonton.com
Beyond Digital Imaging Inc. (BDI), Canadian Detailing Services, Cathcart Trucking and APX Racing Gear and Incentives Inc., Nur America, and HP Canada are sponsors of Micks Motorsports.
From Bruce F. Mehlenbacher
Friday, July 20, 2007
Thursday, July 19, 2007
NCATS: BROWN AND HALDEX DODGE HEADING TO EDMONTON AFTER TOUGH RUN IN VERNON
VERNON, BC - Doug Brown and his Haldex-sponsored Dodge, along with fellow NASCAR Canadian Tires competitors are their way to Alberta's Capital for a major supporting appearance at this weekend's Grand Prix Edmonton. The event is race #5 on the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series schedule and Brown is still in search of his first top-ten finish of the season.
The Brantford racing veteran remains fifteenth in the series' point’s standings following a 13th-place run at Vernon, BC's Sun Valley Speedway last Sunday.
The Sun Valley event saw Doug qualify 10th in the 23-car field but an early race drive-thru penalty for jumping out of line too early on a restart cost him a lap and it was an infraction from which he was unable to recover over the duration of the 300-lap event.
That penalty cost us some valuable track positions and we just couldn't seem to catch a break, not even a "lucky dog award" to get us back onto the lead lap", stated the obviously disappointed driver. "We'll just have to hope we can better our efforts in Edmonton."
The team has struggled thus far in the early season, but they're determined to gain a top-ten spot on the flat but fast 3.154-kms City Centre Airport circuit. But they will have their hands full with added entries expected for the special prelude to the CHAMP Car Series weekend feature.
Last year’s event, run under the sanctioning of CASCAR, saw the full-bodied late model cars qualify at average speeds in the 138 kms/hr range over the 14-turn course. Officials are optimistic the first event at this venue run under the new NASCAR Canadian Tire Series label will attract upwards of 30 cars. 37 cars started last year’s event, the highlight of the weekend for many of the 100,000 fans in attendance.
Following the Edmonton race, Doug and his teammates will have roughly a week at home to prepare for the August 4th event at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve as part of the inaugural NASCAR Busch Series, NASCAR Canadian Tire Series doubleheader in Montreal –an event Canadian race fans have been waiting all season for.
A full schedule of the weekend’s activities are noted on http://www.circuitgillesvilleneuve.ca/
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
NCATS: Disappointment in Vernon for Kent Nuhn, high hopes for Edmonton
VERNON, BC - Prior to their arrival at the Sun Valley Speedway, in Vernon, British Columbia for the British Columbia Dodge Dealers Dodge Avengers 300, Kent Nuhn and his 09 The Fuel Genie/Nuhn Auto Recyclers Pontiac Grand Prix, team made a quick pit stop in Geraldton, Ontario for a fundraiser. While they were there, Kent had a chance to sign a Camero that is being auctioned off at a Canadian Tire in Thunder Bay.
They arrived at the Sun Valley Speedway and were ready to get racing. During the first practice session, Kent was happy with his car and decided to leave it parked during the second session. The on-track temperature going into the qualifying laps was 98° Fahrenheit. Between the practice session and qualifying began, Kent’s car became tight. Unfortunately, on his second qualifying lap, Kent lost his oil pressure, only time would tell as to how much longer the car would last. He qualified 21st out of 23 cars with a 19.317 sec. lap.
As the race progressed, by lap 28 Kent had moved up 6 spots on the grid, before his car overheated. Before and during the race, there were a few teams that were in need of some equipment, that the 09 team were able to provide. They helped the #45 of Trent Guest and his team re-build his car and they also gave the #50 of Joey McColm parts for his car’s rear end.
The next race for Kent and his team will be race #5 on the schedule at the Edmonton City Airport in the Rexall Grand Prix of Edmonton. Kent and his team are looking forward to going back a track that they like. Their only hope is that they do not fall to the same problems that they had at Mosport.
For further information regarding Kent Nuhn and The Fuel Genie/Nuhns Auto Recyclers Team or sponsorship information contact Hugh Nuhn at (519)794-2746.
By Leslie Bates
KAWARTHA SPEEDWAY: 50 laps for the Thunder Cars this Friday
FRASERVILLE, ON - There’s an age-old saying that tells us lightning never strikes in the same place twice. Fans at Kawartha Speedway are hoping to prove that myth false Friday, July 20th. That’s the night the track’s Thunder Car division will run 50 laps in their main event.
The last time the Thunders rumbled for an extra distance feature - Friday, June 29th they ran the entire distance without a yellow flag. That was also the night of the ‘special guest’ in victory lane. All night, everyone thought the #14 Thunder Car had been driven by Steve Mayhew.
It was only when the driver took-off his helmet in victory lane that the crowd learned the car had actually been driven by Steve Mayhew’s son, Norm. His father had an allergic reaction a bee sting earlier in the day and wasn’t feeling well. Norm Mayhew magically worked his way through the pack on a night that saw on 7 cars finish on the lead lap.
Pit gates open at 3:00. Spectator areas and on-track practise begins at 5:00. The green flag drops on the night’s first heat race at 7:00.
Kawartha Speedway is located just minutes from Peterborough, near the intersections of highways 115 and 28 at Fraserville, Ontario. For the complete schedule, check http://www.kawarthaspeedway.com/
From Jim Clarke, for Kawartha Speedway
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
NCATS: Pierre Bourque Takes to the Streets in Edmonton This Weekend
CONCORD, NC (July 18, 2007) – One any given weekend, you might find Pierre Bourque racing in anything from a Dodge Charger to a Porsche, competing in anything from the NASCAR Busch East Series to Busch Series to Canadian Tire Series to the Koni Challenge Series, running a road course or an oval and doing it at any number of tracks in the United States or Canada.
This weekend, Bourque will be hitting the blacktop of Edmonton, Alberta on a 1.96-mile temporary road course at the city’s airport complex. The Edmonton Grand Prix will include a Saturday afternoon event for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series and Bourque will be right in the middle of the action with his Whitlock Motorsports #29 Dodge.
Bourque is both excited about the race and his chances of success in it.
"I'm thrilled to be going back to Edmonton, it's a great venue and fans are extremely welcoming and addicted to motor racing.
"I fully expect that my #29 DRIVING.CA-CANADA.COM-CONSERVATIVE PARTY Whitlock Motorsports Dodge Charger will run strong at this venue. It is very much geared to this kind of track and I know that my crew chief, Steve Mifsud, will have left no stone unturned to ensure a very fast car for me."
This weekend, the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series is sharing a race weekend with the Champ Car World Series, one of the premier open-wheeled racing tours in the world. The Canadian Tire Series is also attracting plenty of its own attention in its inaugural season though.
"The NASCAR Canadian Tire series is really catching on with sports fans across the country. It's a great sign for NASCAR as it continues to grow in Canada,” said Bourque.
Race fans will now have a new tool to keep up with Bourque’s busy racing schedule. His new website, http://www.pierrebourque.net/ has been launched. The site features all kinds of news, results and background information on the Canadian race driver, as well as a number of multimedia goodies for race fans. Be sure to check Bourque’s new site out, as well as his primary sponsor’s website, Driving.ca.
“I am as passionate about motorsports as my primary sponsor Driving.ca is about motoring. Driving.ca is a fantastic website for people looking to research a new vehicle purchase, learn about the latest industry developments, or follow the very latest in racing. We're both all about passion, which makes Driving.ca and perfect match for me."
For more information on Pierre Bourque, please contact Mike Twist at (207) 590-1786 or (207) 499-2565 and be sure to check out the all-new http://www.pierrebourque.net/.
This weekend, Bourque will be hitting the blacktop of Edmonton, Alberta on a 1.96-mile temporary road course at the city’s airport complex. The Edmonton Grand Prix will include a Saturday afternoon event for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series and Bourque will be right in the middle of the action with his Whitlock Motorsports #29 Dodge.
Bourque is both excited about the race and his chances of success in it.
"I'm thrilled to be going back to Edmonton, it's a great venue and fans are extremely welcoming and addicted to motor racing.
"I fully expect that my #29 DRIVING.CA-CANADA.COM-CONSERVATIVE PARTY Whitlock Motorsports Dodge Charger will run strong at this venue. It is very much geared to this kind of track and I know that my crew chief, Steve Mifsud, will have left no stone unturned to ensure a very fast car for me."
This weekend, the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series is sharing a race weekend with the Champ Car World Series, one of the premier open-wheeled racing tours in the world. The Canadian Tire Series is also attracting plenty of its own attention in its inaugural season though.
"The NASCAR Canadian Tire series is really catching on with sports fans across the country. It's a great sign for NASCAR as it continues to grow in Canada,” said Bourque.
Race fans will now have a new tool to keep up with Bourque’s busy racing schedule. His new website, http://www.pierrebourque.net/ has been launched. The site features all kinds of news, results and background information on the Canadian race driver, as well as a number of multimedia goodies for race fans. Be sure to check Bourque’s new site out, as well as his primary sponsor’s website, Driving.ca.
“I am as passionate about motorsports as my primary sponsor Driving.ca is about motoring. Driving.ca is a fantastic website for people looking to research a new vehicle purchase, learn about the latest industry developments, or follow the very latest in racing. We're both all about passion, which makes Driving.ca and perfect match for me."
For more information on Pierre Bourque, please contact Mike Twist at (207) 590-1786 or (207) 499-2565 and be sure to check out the all-new http://www.pierrebourque.net/.
Hinchcliffe Aiming to Bounce Back in Edmonton
Toronto, Canada (July 18, 2007) - The final leg of the Cooper Tires Presents The Champ Car Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda Canadian tour takes places this weekend, Friday 20th - Sunday 22nd July, with Toronto's James Hinchcliffe back in action in a double-header race meeting at Edmonton's City Centre Airport.
Following starts earlier this month at Circuit Mont-Tremblant in Quebec and on the streets of Toronto, Ontario, the Atlantic pack heads west to Alberta for Rounds 9 and 10 of the 12-race series on the 1.973-mile temporary course in Edmonton, the season later concluding with events in San Jose, California, Sunday 29th July and Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, Sunday 12th August.
Having been taken out of his hometown event last time out in Toronto, James Hinchcliffe is keen to put the frustrations of Round 8 firmly behind him and concentrate on making the most of this weekend's races behind the wheel of the #9 NOCO/ProWorks Sierra Sierra Enterprises Swift Mazda-Cosworth. Round 8's chaotic wet race two weeks ago saw 'Hinch' retire for the first time this season, ending a run of five straight top-six finishes, but an eleventh place classification brought some consolation to the 20-year-old in the form of 10 more championship points.
Despite this it wasn't enough to prevent the popular Canadian from surrendering second in the Driver Standings to France's Franck Perera, the GP2 Series veteran posting back-to-back wins at Mont-Tremblant and Toronto to sit 31 points adrift of season-long points leader, Brazil's Raphael Matos. Currently tied with fellow countryman Robert Wickens in third place on 178 points, James is hoping to avoid the bad luck which blighted his Toronto outing and aim for victory this weekend, the sophomore racer still searching for his first win of the season and first top-step since Portland last June.
"I'm looking forward to going back to Edmonton," said Hinchcliffe. "For a temporary track, the layout at the airport's pretty impressive. The organizers have done a really good job in making it feel like a proper road course rather than a temporary street circuit. It's extremely fast and extremely physical so the fact that we have a double-header meeting means it will be a serious test of driver and machine!"
He continued, "Obviously being punted out of the race in Toronto has really hurt my title chances. The gap to Rafa (Matos) is quite big so I'm going to be out there in attack mode racing for wins as I don't really have to protect my position. I'm confident I can pass Wickens and try and get back ahead of Perera, although he's on a roll right now but if Rafa was to strike some bad luck we could be sitting pretty to try and capitalize on that!"
Round 9 starts in Edmonton at 2:30pm EST on Saturday 21st July with Round 10 starting on Sunday 22nd July at 12:30pm EST. Both races will be broadcast on ESPN2 on Monday 23rd July at 5pm EST.
Top-Five Atlantic Drivers R8/12: 1st Matos (BRA) 228pts, 2nd Perera (FRA) 197pts, 3rd Wickens (CAN) 178pts, =3rd HINCHCLIFFE (CAN) 178pts, 5th Ricci (ITA) 125pts.
From Stuart Morrison Public Relations
Following starts earlier this month at Circuit Mont-Tremblant in Quebec and on the streets of Toronto, Ontario, the Atlantic pack heads west to Alberta for Rounds 9 and 10 of the 12-race series on the 1.973-mile temporary course in Edmonton, the season later concluding with events in San Jose, California, Sunday 29th July and Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, Sunday 12th August.
Having been taken out of his hometown event last time out in Toronto, James Hinchcliffe is keen to put the frustrations of Round 8 firmly behind him and concentrate on making the most of this weekend's races behind the wheel of the #9 NOCO/ProWorks Sierra Sierra Enterprises Swift Mazda-Cosworth. Round 8's chaotic wet race two weeks ago saw 'Hinch' retire for the first time this season, ending a run of five straight top-six finishes, but an eleventh place classification brought some consolation to the 20-year-old in the form of 10 more championship points.
Despite this it wasn't enough to prevent the popular Canadian from surrendering second in the Driver Standings to France's Franck Perera, the GP2 Series veteran posting back-to-back wins at Mont-Tremblant and Toronto to sit 31 points adrift of season-long points leader, Brazil's Raphael Matos. Currently tied with fellow countryman Robert Wickens in third place on 178 points, James is hoping to avoid the bad luck which blighted his Toronto outing and aim for victory this weekend, the sophomore racer still searching for his first win of the season and first top-step since Portland last June.
"I'm looking forward to going back to Edmonton," said Hinchcliffe. "For a temporary track, the layout at the airport's pretty impressive. The organizers have done a really good job in making it feel like a proper road course rather than a temporary street circuit. It's extremely fast and extremely physical so the fact that we have a double-header meeting means it will be a serious test of driver and machine!"
He continued, "Obviously being punted out of the race in Toronto has really hurt my title chances. The gap to Rafa (Matos) is quite big so I'm going to be out there in attack mode racing for wins as I don't really have to protect my position. I'm confident I can pass Wickens and try and get back ahead of Perera, although he's on a roll right now but if Rafa was to strike some bad luck we could be sitting pretty to try and capitalize on that!"
Round 9 starts in Edmonton at 2:30pm EST on Saturday 21st July with Round 10 starting on Sunday 22nd July at 12:30pm EST. Both races will be broadcast on ESPN2 on Monday 23rd July at 5pm EST.
Top-Five Atlantic Drivers R8/12: 1st Matos (BRA) 228pts, 2nd Perera (FRA) 197pts, 3rd Wickens (CAN) 178pts, =3rd HINCHCLIFFE (CAN) 178pts, 5th Ricci (ITA) 125pts.
From Stuart Morrison Public Relations
DRAGS: LaFleur Races Ahead with Jiffy-tite in NHRA LODRS Events
Lancaster, NY (July 5, 2007)… Jiffy-tite’s Duane LaFleur is back on track for the 2007 race season, holding nothing back for his fans. After a crash in June of 2006 put HIM on the sidelines, LaFleur made his first appearance in his Jiffy-tite/Valvoline backed roadster at the NHRA LODRS event held at the Summit Raceway Park, taking home runner-up honors in the Super Gas Top 8 event.
The following weekend, LaFleur earned “Best Engineered Car” at the NHRA LODRS event held at the Maple Grove Raceway. LaFleur’s new car is a 1968 Chevrolet Camaro built by Race Tech Race Cars of Burlington, NC, sponsored by Jiffy-tite Motorsports and associate sponsored by Valvoline, K&N Filters and KD Kanopies.
This car features a chromoly tube frame and a full fiberglass body. A 540 ci Chevrolet big block built by Larry Sexton of White House, TN gives LaFleur a powerhouse that makes 900 hp. It is backed by a two-speed Powerglide transmission, a custom fabricated 9” with Moser Engineering 4.30 gear set at the rear and plumbed with a complement of Jiffy-tite Quick Connect fluid fasteners in both the product’s signature black and gold colors and the new all black stealth.
For more information, contact Jiffy-tite Motorsports at 888-605-7788 or visit http://www.jiffy-tite.com/ Jiffy-tite Motorsports is located at 4437 Walden Avenue, Lancaster, NY.
###
From Leslie Maxwell // Public Relations Director // Martin & Company Advertising
The following weekend, LaFleur earned “Best Engineered Car” at the NHRA LODRS event held at the Maple Grove Raceway. LaFleur’s new car is a 1968 Chevrolet Camaro built by Race Tech Race Cars of Burlington, NC, sponsored by Jiffy-tite Motorsports and associate sponsored by Valvoline, K&N Filters and KD Kanopies.
This car features a chromoly tube frame and a full fiberglass body. A 540 ci Chevrolet big block built by Larry Sexton of White House, TN gives LaFleur a powerhouse that makes 900 hp. It is backed by a two-speed Powerglide transmission, a custom fabricated 9” with Moser Engineering 4.30 gear set at the rear and plumbed with a complement of Jiffy-tite Quick Connect fluid fasteners in both the product’s signature black and gold colors and the new all black stealth.
For more information, contact Jiffy-tite Motorsports at 888-605-7788 or visit http://www.jiffy-tite.com/ Jiffy-tite Motorsports is located at 4437 Walden Avenue, Lancaster, NY.
###
From Leslie Maxwell // Public Relations Director // Martin & Company Advertising
T-shirts... Get your T-shirts here.... Show your support for someone called "Jr."... T-Shirts....
Not sure which "Jr." the shirts are referring to.... Hanley? Thomson? Johnson? Griffey?... am I leaving someone out?
Anyway, if you're interested in demonstrating your support for anyone called "Jr." regardless of what number, colour or sponsor he has (wink, wink)... then click here.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
ACT: Superstars Headed to ACTion Super Series 200 at Autodrome St-Eustache
ST-EUSTACHE, QC – The best short track stock car drivers from Canada and the northeastern United States are headed to the ACTion Super Series 200 at Autodrome St-Eustache outside Montreal on Saturday, July 28.
The superstars of the Série ACT Castrol will try to defend their home turf against the southern invaders of the ACT Late Model Tour, hoping to win the first of four Super Series events in 2007 and earn a whopping $6,000 (US). The ACTion Super Series 200 will award championship points toward both the Série ACT Castrol and the ACT Late Model Tour, and is expected to draw more than 40 teams racing for a total purse of more than $43,000.
Leading the way is Sylvain Lacombe, a five-time winner at Autodrome St-Eustache and a former Série ACT Castrol Champion. “The Terror of Terrebonne” has made his mark at the 4/10-mile oval in some of the biggest races ever held in Quebec, including the prestigious Cari-All 300, a race he has won a record four times.
“I’m excited for the race at St-Eustache,” said Lacombe. “I like racing with ACT, and it’s nice if you can win the big money races.”
Lacombe is tied for the lead in all-time Série ACT Castrol victories with 10, and has a victory in ACT Late Model Tour competition. He says he enjoys racing against the Americans.
“I like to race with drivers like Jean-Paul Cyr and Brian Hoar,” he said. “They are very competitive and make everyone work harder. There will be a lot of good American race teams, and some of them are not going to qualify, just like us Canadians. It’s very exciting, and it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Lacombe is currently tied for fourth in Série ACT Castrol point standings with Patrick Laperle, but is only five points behind leader Karl Allard. Two-time winner Alexandre Gingras, Jean-François Déry, and veterans Claude Leclerc and Yvon Bédard will try to chase Lacombe’s familiar orange #3 Chevrolet down.
Scott Payea, third in ACT Late Model Tour points, is looking forward to the challenge of visiting a new race track. While the Série ACT Castrol has raced at Autodrome St-Eustache on nine previous occasions, the ACT Late Model Tour has never visited the facility.
“I spoke with Patrick Laperle about St-Eustache a while ago to learn a little about the setup for the car, and I think it will help us a lot,” Payea explained. “I always like racing at new places, and I hear that the facility is nice and that the track is very racy, so it should be a good time.”
Payea earned his first career ACT Late Model Tour victory at the Merchants Bank 150 at Barre, VT’s Thunder Road in May, and hopes he can take his second win in the ACTion Super Series 200.
“Typically, the Canadian teams do very well against us when they’re at home, but we’re confident that we can contend with guys like Donald Theetge and Lacombe and Laperle. Plus, I want to win that $6,000!”
Payea, six-time ACT Late Model Tour Champion Jean-Paul Cyr, five-time Champion Brian Hoar, Brent Dragon, and Randy Potter will be on hand to challenge the Série ACT Castrol regulars, along with Theetge, of Boischatel, QC. Theetge, the defending Série ACT Castrol Champion, is competing full-time on the ACT Late Model Tour in 2007 and is the only driver to have scored victories this season on both series.
The ACTion Super Series 200 is scheduled to take over Autodrome St-Eustache on Saturday, July 28. Green flag qualifying action begins at 5:30pm. Autodrome St-Eustache is located on Boulevard Arthur-Sauve in St-Eustache, QC, just outside of Montreal and Laval. More information, call (802) 244-6963 or visit www.acttour.com.
From ACT
Riverside Speedway: STELLAR FIELD EXPECTED FOR IWK 250
JAMES RIVER, NS - (July 17,2 007) - Riverside International Speedway will host some of the best short track racers in the Maritimes and New England this Saturday in the IWK 250 Presented by Steve Lewis Auto Body and DuPont Refinish. Twenty-eight teams are expected to enter the prestigious event, including champions, winners, veterans, rookie and stars.
Headling the entry list are NASCAR drivers Ricky Craven and Regan Smith. Craven, a native of Maine, has the distinction of being the man who captured the checkered flag in the race with the closest recorded finish in NASCAR history, winning by just 0.002-second over Kurt Busch in March 2003 in Darlington, South Carolina. Smith, from New York, shares the driving seat this year in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup competition with veteran Mark Martin, with each driver running a limited schedule. Just last week it was announced that rookie Smith will move to full-time Cup competition in 2008; Martin is behind Smith all the way.
"Regan's ready," said Martin last Saturday. "100% ready. Everybody is real proud of him and I have talked to other drivers who all think that he's doing a great job and think he's ready. We're excited about getting him going."
With Craven and Smith in the field, top regional racers will want to pick it up a notch in the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) North sanctioned event.
John Flemming, three-time CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour champion hailing from Halifax, is looking forward to racing the guys from racing's big league.
"It will be great racing against those guys," said Flemming. "I think it's awesome for the track to bring them in, both for the fans and for us racers to be able to test our talent against guys that have made it to NASCAR. I'm looking forward to rubbing fenders with them."
Frank Fraser, a veteran racer from Shubenacadie, has been rubbing fenders with NASCAR racers since the 70s and says he's never done much different when racing them.
"They've always be just another racer to me," said Fraser. "If you let yourself think they're better than you to start with, then your beat."
Besides Flemming and Fraser, other top Maritime Canadian racers expected to enter the IWK 250 include: Donald Chisholm (Antigonish), Chris Duncan (Saint John, NB), Cy Harvey (Elmsdale), Rollie MacDonald (Pictou), Dean MacInnis (Wycocomagh), Mike MacKenzie (Dartmouth), Robbie MacLean (Winslow, PE), Marty Prevost (Fall River), Wayne Smith (Halifax), Shawn Turple (Enfield), and Bobby White (Kennetcook).
Of the Canadian group, MacDonald and Smith are also former CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour champs, and MacDonald is a member of the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame. Chisholm, Flemming, MacDonald, MacKenzie, Prevost, Smith, Turple and White are all race winners with the competitive CARQUEST Tour.
Representing the PASS series are champs Johnny Clark (Hallowell, Maine), Ben Rowe (Turner, Maine), and Mike Rowe (Turner, Maine). Also on the entry list from the U.S. are Maine's Gary Bellefleur, Steve Berry, Travis Benjamin, Cassius Clark, Richie Dearborn, Curtis Gerry, Bill Penfold and Trevor Sanborn. Derek Ramstron from Massachusetts and Adam Bates from New Hampshire are also expected to make the trek to Nova Scotia this weekend.
Besides the challenge of racing against NASCAR stars, regional racers will be fighting for their share of the event purse, which could top $70,000, if all 250 laps are sold prior to the race. The winner of the IWK 250 is guaranteed $7,500 U.S. A $100 bonus per lap led will be awarded the leader of each sponsored lap in the race for a potential $25,000 CDN bonus.
Besides pro stock competition, fans in attendance for the IWK 250 will see racing action from the Riverside Sportsman Super Series and the Atlantic Open Wheel series. Preliminary indications are for more than 25 sportsman cars and over 20 AOW cars.
Racing action starts at 5 p.m. Saturday with qualifying heats setting the starting grids for all three divisional feature races. The IWK 250 is expected to start by 9 p.m. An autograph session is scheduled during the event to allow fans the chance to meet the drivers.
Friday will see an open practice session between Noon and 5 p.m. then pre-race activities move to the Antigonish Mall. An evening Meet and Greet will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. where fans can see the cars and meet the stars that will race in the IWK 250 - and - get the chance to see Jeff Gordon's No. 24 DuPont Refinish NASCAR NEXTEL Cup showcar.
From Paul McLean / Riverside Speedway // Distributed by Joan Roue
Headling the entry list are NASCAR drivers Ricky Craven and Regan Smith. Craven, a native of Maine, has the distinction of being the man who captured the checkered flag in the race with the closest recorded finish in NASCAR history, winning by just 0.002-second over Kurt Busch in March 2003 in Darlington, South Carolina. Smith, from New York, shares the driving seat this year in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup competition with veteran Mark Martin, with each driver running a limited schedule. Just last week it was announced that rookie Smith will move to full-time Cup competition in 2008; Martin is behind Smith all the way.
"Regan's ready," said Martin last Saturday. "100% ready. Everybody is real proud of him and I have talked to other drivers who all think that he's doing a great job and think he's ready. We're excited about getting him going."
With Craven and Smith in the field, top regional racers will want to pick it up a notch in the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) North sanctioned event.
John Flemming, three-time CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour champion hailing from Halifax, is looking forward to racing the guys from racing's big league.
"It will be great racing against those guys," said Flemming. "I think it's awesome for the track to bring them in, both for the fans and for us racers to be able to test our talent against guys that have made it to NASCAR. I'm looking forward to rubbing fenders with them."
Frank Fraser, a veteran racer from Shubenacadie, has been rubbing fenders with NASCAR racers since the 70s and says he's never done much different when racing them.
"They've always be just another racer to me," said Fraser. "If you let yourself think they're better than you to start with, then your beat."
Besides Flemming and Fraser, other top Maritime Canadian racers expected to enter the IWK 250 include: Donald Chisholm (Antigonish), Chris Duncan (Saint John, NB), Cy Harvey (Elmsdale), Rollie MacDonald (Pictou), Dean MacInnis (Wycocomagh), Mike MacKenzie (Dartmouth), Robbie MacLean (Winslow, PE), Marty Prevost (Fall River), Wayne Smith (Halifax), Shawn Turple (Enfield), and Bobby White (Kennetcook).
Of the Canadian group, MacDonald and Smith are also former CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour champs, and MacDonald is a member of the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame. Chisholm, Flemming, MacDonald, MacKenzie, Prevost, Smith, Turple and White are all race winners with the competitive CARQUEST Tour.
Representing the PASS series are champs Johnny Clark (Hallowell, Maine), Ben Rowe (Turner, Maine), and Mike Rowe (Turner, Maine). Also on the entry list from the U.S. are Maine's Gary Bellefleur, Steve Berry, Travis Benjamin, Cassius Clark, Richie Dearborn, Curtis Gerry, Bill Penfold and Trevor Sanborn. Derek Ramstron from Massachusetts and Adam Bates from New Hampshire are also expected to make the trek to Nova Scotia this weekend.
Besides the challenge of racing against NASCAR stars, regional racers will be fighting for their share of the event purse, which could top $70,000, if all 250 laps are sold prior to the race. The winner of the IWK 250 is guaranteed $7,500 U.S. A $100 bonus per lap led will be awarded the leader of each sponsored lap in the race for a potential $25,000 CDN bonus.
Besides pro stock competition, fans in attendance for the IWK 250 will see racing action from the Riverside Sportsman Super Series and the Atlantic Open Wheel series. Preliminary indications are for more than 25 sportsman cars and over 20 AOW cars.
Racing action starts at 5 p.m. Saturday with qualifying heats setting the starting grids for all three divisional feature races. The IWK 250 is expected to start by 9 p.m. An autograph session is scheduled during the event to allow fans the chance to meet the drivers.
Friday will see an open practice session between Noon and 5 p.m. then pre-race activities move to the Antigonish Mall. An evening Meet and Greet will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. where fans can see the cars and meet the stars that will race in the IWK 250 - and - get the chance to see Jeff Gordon's No. 24 DuPont Refinish NASCAR NEXTEL Cup showcar.
From Paul McLean / Riverside Speedway // Distributed by Joan Roue
NCATS SUN VALLEY: Steckly Dominant at Vernon, But Comes Up Short
VERNON, BC – The 22 Racing team headed out to Sun Valley Speedway in Vernon, BC for the first of two western races in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series. Scott Steckly, driver of the Erb Group Dodge Charger was looking to turn around what has been a disappointing start to the season, with good showings at the race in Vernon this past weekend and Edmonton this week. The team was able to qualify up front like they have all season, this time starting in fourth.
The 300 lap event went on Sunday night. Steckly had the most dominant car of the race right from the get go. Starting in fourth, Scott was able to work his way into the lead by lap 60. The Erb Group Dodge would relinquish, when Steckly pitted under caution on lap 109. Scott then restarted the race in ninth place.
Again, Steckly started heading right back to the front. Steckly would go on to lead most of the laps, until the end. A green/ white checkered flag set up a two lap showdown between Scott and JR Fitzpatrick. Steckly’s car always took about three laps to get up to full speed. The two drivers raced door to door for two full laps.
Both cars where even entering the final turn of the final lap. As they approached the finish line, Fitzpatrick appeared to have edged Scott. Nobody in the crowd knew for sure who had won the race. As the cars slowed down to enter turn one, JR Fitzpatrick was declared the winner. He beat Steckly by the slim margin of .029 seconds. Steckly went on to lead 142 of the 300 laps in the race. During one stretch Scott opened a four second lead on his next closest competitor.
Following the race Scott was both encouraged by the strong run, but disappointed he could not bring home the victory in a race he clearly dominated. “My car was awesome tonight and felt really, really comfortable, but it took me about three laps to get it going,” said the disappointed Steckly. “And Fitzpatrick knew that from the previous restarts and took advantage of it.”
The next race in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series is Saturday, July 21 at the Edmonton Grand Prix.
The 22 Racing team is proudly sponsored by: Erb Group of Companies, AW Millwrights, International Dealers: Diamond International (Edmonton, AB), Sommers Motor Generator Sales, D.H. Jutzi Limited, Groeneveld, Thermo King of Eastern Canada, Twin City Graphics, Chris Root Precision Machine, Stratford Motor Products, Generation Filtration, Mr. Transmission (Guelph), Commercial Babcock, Classy Collectibles, Glasvan Great Dane, Motorsport Design, Milverton Garage.
Contact kyle_erb@sympatico.ca for more information or visit www.nascar.ca for the latest news on the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series.
The 300 lap event went on Sunday night. Steckly had the most dominant car of the race right from the get go. Starting in fourth, Scott was able to work his way into the lead by lap 60. The Erb Group Dodge would relinquish, when Steckly pitted under caution on lap 109. Scott then restarted the race in ninth place.
Again, Steckly started heading right back to the front. Steckly would go on to lead most of the laps, until the end. A green/ white checkered flag set up a two lap showdown between Scott and JR Fitzpatrick. Steckly’s car always took about three laps to get up to full speed. The two drivers raced door to door for two full laps.
Both cars where even entering the final turn of the final lap. As they approached the finish line, Fitzpatrick appeared to have edged Scott. Nobody in the crowd knew for sure who had won the race. As the cars slowed down to enter turn one, JR Fitzpatrick was declared the winner. He beat Steckly by the slim margin of .029 seconds. Steckly went on to lead 142 of the 300 laps in the race. During one stretch Scott opened a four second lead on his next closest competitor.
Following the race Scott was both encouraged by the strong run, but disappointed he could not bring home the victory in a race he clearly dominated. “My car was awesome tonight and felt really, really comfortable, but it took me about three laps to get it going,” said the disappointed Steckly. “And Fitzpatrick knew that from the previous restarts and took advantage of it.”
The next race in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series is Saturday, July 21 at the Edmonton Grand Prix.
The 22 Racing team is proudly sponsored by: Erb Group of Companies, AW Millwrights, International Dealers: Diamond International (Edmonton, AB), Sommers Motor Generator Sales, D.H. Jutzi Limited, Groeneveld, Thermo King of Eastern Canada, Twin City Graphics, Chris Root Precision Machine, Stratford Motor Products, Generation Filtration, Mr. Transmission (Guelph), Commercial Babcock, Classy Collectibles, Glasvan Great Dane, Motorsport Design, Milverton Garage.
Contact kyle_erb@sympatico.ca for more information or visit www.nascar.ca for the latest news on the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series.
NCATS SUN VALLEY: DJ KENNINGTON SCORES TOP-FIVE IN CASTROL DODGE
VERNON, BC – DJ Kennington and the Castrol Dodge Crew returned to Sun Valley Speedway just outside Vernon, BC looking to score another victory at the BC Dodge Dealers Dodge Avenger 300 as the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series began a swing through Western Canada. Kennington has been a winner at this beautiful ½ mile track in previous visits and scored other podium finishes as well. The weekend began with a solid qualifying effort putting the Castrol Dodge in the third starting position.
As the BC Dodge Dealers Dodge Avenger 300 began Kennington looked to find racing room and a comfortable pace for the long event. As other competitors jostled for position DJ and the Castrol Dodge did drop back several positions and caused concern for the crew and his fans. Kennington was quick to radio word to the team telling them “not to worry, we’ve got a fast race car”. DJ would demonstrate just how good the Castrol car was later on.
The Castrol Crew performed flawlessly during the first few pit stops of the grueling event getting tires, fuel and other service done in quick order to keep DJ running with the lead group of cars. A judgment ruling by NASCAR officials though would set the team back. During a pit stop Kennington was forced to maneuver around another competitor as he stopped for service. NASCAR penalized the team for being outside the pit box while service was completed. The Castrol Dodge team was forced also make another pit stop for loose lug nuts. The result, they were a lap down to the leaders.
Unfazed by the circumstances against them Kennington set out to keep the Castrol Dodge in contention. Slicing his way through the field with skill and precision, the fortunes of the team changed when a caution allowed the team to get their lap back. As the field returned to racing Kennington continued his aggressive passing and moving back into the top-ten. “We had a great race car all night, but it was some tough luck had got us down” he said afterwards.
Late race, take not prisoners racing as the finish neared had Kennington and the Castrol Dodge battling with the #9 Dodge. The two would make incidental contact, Kennington would continue, the other car crashed out. “It’s too bad for Mark (Dilley) said DJ afterwards who spoke with the driver after the race to explain his side of the circumstances. “We’ll never try to put people out deliberately, I feel bad his night ended early.
Kennington would continue his tenacious charge and claim a fifth place finish at the conclusion of the night. “From where we were in the middle of the race, I guess we’ll take it” he said.
After four races DJ Kennington and the Castrol Dodge team sit fourth in the overall point standings.
The NASCAR Canadian Tire series is back in action this coming Saturday, July 21st on the airport runways at Edmonton City Centre Airport as part of the Edmonton Grand Prix weekend. The twelve race schedule features events from coast to coast in Canada including stops at the best ovals in the Country along with temporary street circuits in Edmonton and Trois Rivieres. Look for more information all season at www.nascar.ca All twelve races of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series will also be broadcast on TSN.
This release prepared by TL Sports & Entertainment
As the BC Dodge Dealers Dodge Avenger 300 began Kennington looked to find racing room and a comfortable pace for the long event. As other competitors jostled for position DJ and the Castrol Dodge did drop back several positions and caused concern for the crew and his fans. Kennington was quick to radio word to the team telling them “not to worry, we’ve got a fast race car”. DJ would demonstrate just how good the Castrol car was later on.
The Castrol Crew performed flawlessly during the first few pit stops of the grueling event getting tires, fuel and other service done in quick order to keep DJ running with the lead group of cars. A judgment ruling by NASCAR officials though would set the team back. During a pit stop Kennington was forced to maneuver around another competitor as he stopped for service. NASCAR penalized the team for being outside the pit box while service was completed. The Castrol Dodge team was forced also make another pit stop for loose lug nuts. The result, they were a lap down to the leaders.
Unfazed by the circumstances against them Kennington set out to keep the Castrol Dodge in contention. Slicing his way through the field with skill and precision, the fortunes of the team changed when a caution allowed the team to get their lap back. As the field returned to racing Kennington continued his aggressive passing and moving back into the top-ten. “We had a great race car all night, but it was some tough luck had got us down” he said afterwards.
Late race, take not prisoners racing as the finish neared had Kennington and the Castrol Dodge battling with the #9 Dodge. The two would make incidental contact, Kennington would continue, the other car crashed out. “It’s too bad for Mark (Dilley) said DJ afterwards who spoke with the driver after the race to explain his side of the circumstances. “We’ll never try to put people out deliberately, I feel bad his night ended early.
Kennington would continue his tenacious charge and claim a fifth place finish at the conclusion of the night. “From where we were in the middle of the race, I guess we’ll take it” he said.
After four races DJ Kennington and the Castrol Dodge team sit fourth in the overall point standings.
The NASCAR Canadian Tire series is back in action this coming Saturday, July 21st on the airport runways at Edmonton City Centre Airport as part of the Edmonton Grand Prix weekend. The twelve race schedule features events from coast to coast in Canada including stops at the best ovals in the Country along with temporary street circuits in Edmonton and Trois Rivieres. Look for more information all season at www.nascar.ca All twelve races of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series will also be broadcast on TSN.
This release prepared by TL Sports & Entertainment
NCATS SUN VALLEY: DON THOMSON JR SCORES TOP-TEN IN HOME HARDWARE CHEVY
VERNON, BC - Don Thomson Jr. and the Home Hardware team got off to a fast start as the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series (NCATS) season hit the ½ mile track at Sun Valley Speedway near Vernon, BC scoring the Bud Pole award. In scorching temperatures Thomson blazed to a time of 18.299 seconds or an average speed of 98.366 MPH claiming the number one starting spot for the 300 lap main event.
As the green flag waved for the race Thomson and the Home Hardware Chevy settled in behind his teammate on the first lap and looked to settle into a comfortable race pace. “I didn’t want to force anything early” said the driver “Especially with the warm temperatures this is such a long event there is no need to do anything too aggressive in the early going”. Other competitors would not follow that same plan.
With only a handful of laps completed the right front tire of Thomson’s Home Hardware Chevy was bumped by during a forceful move by another competitor. “That knocked the toe out on the car and we had our hands full for the rest of the night” shrugged Thomson afterwards. Thomson began to slip back several positions but remained in the top-ten.
Knowing there was still plenty of racing left, the Home Hardware team chose to make aggressive handling adjustments to try and compensate for the ill handling car. “The Home Hardware guys worked really hard to give me the best they could, but when you try and help that kind of problem you can only do so much before you start causing other issues and we just had to battle through”.
Thomson would use his years of experience to skillfully keep the Home Hardware Chevy toward the front of the field. Battling an ill handling car requires constant attention and Thomson would end a long hot night with a top-ten finish. “It’s certainly not the result we had hoped for but it’s not as bad as it could have been” he concluded afterwards.
Through four races Don Thomson Jr. and the Home Hardware team are currently sixth in the championship point standings.
The NASCAR Canadian Tire series will return to action with the second half of the Western Canada swing on the airport runways at the Grand Prix of Edmonton this Saturday, July 21st. The CATS run a twelve event schedule on ovals, road courses and temporary street circuits across Canada. Each of the twelve races will also be broadcast on TSN. For information about the NCATS including schedule, results and more, log onto www.nascar.ca
This release prepared by TL Sports & Entertainment
As the green flag waved for the race Thomson and the Home Hardware Chevy settled in behind his teammate on the first lap and looked to settle into a comfortable race pace. “I didn’t want to force anything early” said the driver “Especially with the warm temperatures this is such a long event there is no need to do anything too aggressive in the early going”. Other competitors would not follow that same plan.
With only a handful of laps completed the right front tire of Thomson’s Home Hardware Chevy was bumped by during a forceful move by another competitor. “That knocked the toe out on the car and we had our hands full for the rest of the night” shrugged Thomson afterwards. Thomson began to slip back several positions but remained in the top-ten.
Knowing there was still plenty of racing left, the Home Hardware team chose to make aggressive handling adjustments to try and compensate for the ill handling car. “The Home Hardware guys worked really hard to give me the best they could, but when you try and help that kind of problem you can only do so much before you start causing other issues and we just had to battle through”.
Thomson would use his years of experience to skillfully keep the Home Hardware Chevy toward the front of the field. Battling an ill handling car requires constant attention and Thomson would end a long hot night with a top-ten finish. “It’s certainly not the result we had hoped for but it’s not as bad as it could have been” he concluded afterwards.
Through four races Don Thomson Jr. and the Home Hardware team are currently sixth in the championship point standings.
The NASCAR Canadian Tire series will return to action with the second half of the Western Canada swing on the airport runways at the Grand Prix of Edmonton this Saturday, July 21st. The CATS run a twelve event schedule on ovals, road courses and temporary street circuits across Canada. Each of the twelve races will also be broadcast on TSN. For information about the NCATS including schedule, results and more, log onto www.nascar.ca
This release prepared by TL Sports & Entertainment
NCATS SUN VALLEY: DRAMATIC WIN FOR J.R. FITZPATRICK AND MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOLS CHEVY
VERNON, BC – John Ryan (J.R.) Fitzpatrick had a quick start to the weekend in the Milwaukee Electric Tools Chevrolet at Sun Valley Speedway near Vernon, BC scoring a front row starting spot. Fitzpatrick would also show a flair for the dramatic at the conclusion of the race.
It was a perfect start to the 300 lap event for J.R. Fitzpatrick and the Milwaukee Electric Tools Chevy as he moved into the race lead on the opening lap and maintained the position for the first 39 laps of the race. “I’ve said this every week, but this is a fast car,” said J.R. before the race, “I just want to get out there and give us a boost.”
Fitzpatrick would have no difficulty maintaining a solid position with the lead group of cars through much of the night. As pit stops cycled through, the Milwaukee Electric Tools team gave J.R. prompt efficient pit stops to keep him in the hunt. “At different points through the race it might take a little time to make your way through some of the traffic, but with it being such a long race I also wanted to be patient” said the driver.
As the race entered the closing stages, Fitzpatrick tried to nose his way on the outside after a restart from a caution period. J.R. would lead lap 252 but could not close the deal and fell back behind the leader. I thought the Milwaukee Electric Tools Chevy would be able to do it on the high side but I just couldn’t make it stick” he said. Fitzpatrick would get another opportunity on the final restart.
A late race caution set up a Green, white checker finish to the 300 lap event. Fitzpatrick on the outside of the front row trying to make the same move he’d been denied earlier. “I knew it had to be on the outside” said the driver. As the cars roared into corner one, the 18 year old hung onto the outside groove and the two top cars raced door to door to the conclusion. On the final lap, coming out of corner four, Fitzpatrick inched the Milwaukee Electric Tools Chevy ahead and claimed the victory by the margin of 0.029 seconds to the delight of thousands of fans and of course his team.
It was an emotional J.R. Fitzpatrick in victory lane afterwards jumping onto the roof of the car to celebrate with the fans, the Milwaukee Electric Tools crew showering him with water. Fitzpatrick dove into their arms to congratulate them on the success. “This is a great win for our team” he beamed afterwards. “I want to thank my whole team, Milwaukee Electric Tools. This one’s for my dad, and my mom, it’s a great win” in he exclaimed.
With the victory JR Fitzpatrick and the Milwaukee Electric Tools team now sit fifth in the championship standings after four events, just a single point back of fourth.
Riding the wave of momentum the Milwaukee Electric Tools team head to Edmonton for the next event of The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series this coming Saturday, July 21st as part of the Grand Prix of Edmonton weekend. More information on the series can be obtained by visiting www.nascar.ca All twelve races will also be shown on TSN.
This release prepared by TL Sports & Entertainment
It was a perfect start to the 300 lap event for J.R. Fitzpatrick and the Milwaukee Electric Tools Chevy as he moved into the race lead on the opening lap and maintained the position for the first 39 laps of the race. “I’ve said this every week, but this is a fast car,” said J.R. before the race, “I just want to get out there and give us a boost.”
Fitzpatrick would have no difficulty maintaining a solid position with the lead group of cars through much of the night. As pit stops cycled through, the Milwaukee Electric Tools team gave J.R. prompt efficient pit stops to keep him in the hunt. “At different points through the race it might take a little time to make your way through some of the traffic, but with it being such a long race I also wanted to be patient” said the driver.
As the race entered the closing stages, Fitzpatrick tried to nose his way on the outside after a restart from a caution period. J.R. would lead lap 252 but could not close the deal and fell back behind the leader. I thought the Milwaukee Electric Tools Chevy would be able to do it on the high side but I just couldn’t make it stick” he said. Fitzpatrick would get another opportunity on the final restart.
A late race caution set up a Green, white checker finish to the 300 lap event. Fitzpatrick on the outside of the front row trying to make the same move he’d been denied earlier. “I knew it had to be on the outside” said the driver. As the cars roared into corner one, the 18 year old hung onto the outside groove and the two top cars raced door to door to the conclusion. On the final lap, coming out of corner four, Fitzpatrick inched the Milwaukee Electric Tools Chevy ahead and claimed the victory by the margin of 0.029 seconds to the delight of thousands of fans and of course his team.
It was an emotional J.R. Fitzpatrick in victory lane afterwards jumping onto the roof of the car to celebrate with the fans, the Milwaukee Electric Tools crew showering him with water. Fitzpatrick dove into their arms to congratulate them on the success. “This is a great win for our team” he beamed afterwards. “I want to thank my whole team, Milwaukee Electric Tools. This one’s for my dad, and my mom, it’s a great win” in he exclaimed.
With the victory JR Fitzpatrick and the Milwaukee Electric Tools team now sit fifth in the championship standings after four events, just a single point back of fourth.
Riding the wave of momentum the Milwaukee Electric Tools team head to Edmonton for the next event of The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series this coming Saturday, July 21st as part of the Grand Prix of Edmonton weekend. More information on the series can be obtained by visiting www.nascar.ca All twelve races will also be shown on TSN.
This release prepared by TL Sports & Entertainment
NCATS SUN VALLEY: BRAD GRAHAM AND THE FULL THROTTLE TEAM
VERNON, BC – Brad Graham and the Full Throttle/Challenger Motor Freight/Logel’s Auto Parts team returned to the sight of their first victory, Sun Valley Speedway near Vernon, BC this past weekend. Graham was hoping to find the same kind of success they’d enjoyed in previous visits.
The weekend started with frustration for Graham and the Full Throttle team as a tight race car allowed them only the 13th quickest qualifying time. “I just couldn’t get the car turned in the corners” said Brad. “We’re still learning some of the characteristics of this new race car, but I’m confident we can be better for the race”. Brad was correct.
As racing began in the BC Dodge Dealers Dodge Avenger 300 Graham began to ease the Full Throttle Dodge up through the field and was soon in the top ten. “The car was handling better to start the race and it continued to improve as things went on”. Brad continued to improve his position and was into the top five with a very good race car.
For the first pit stop the Full Throttle Dodge was running so well they decided not to change tires and only took on fuel. “We decided to wait on the tires because I didn’t have to push the car at all and we were gaining positions” he explained. Graham would continue to gain ground and take over the lead of the race just past halfway on lap 166. “The car was just perfect at that point of the race, I was pushing hard at all” said Brad.
As the race progressed and pit stops cycled through for the teams Graham and the Full Throttle Dodge would have little difficulty maintaining a top-five position. “Knowing the car we had I just wanted to take car of it and be ready for the late stages” said Brad.
Others did not run with the same approach. Between corners three and four Graham would be contacted by another competitor causing handling issues for the Full Throttle Dodge. “That hit really did some damage” said Graham afterwards. “I understand being aggressive sometimes by that kind of move doesn’t show any respect for other competitors”.
Graham would soldier on using all his skills to bring the Full Throttle Dodge home just missing a top-ten finish being scored eleventh. “I’m happy we managed to hang on for that kind of finish but really disappointed as well because we had a really good car tonight” he stated.
Brad Graham and the Full Throttle/Challenger Motor Freight/Logel’s Auto Parts Team return to action this coming weekend as the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series takes off for the airport runways as part of the Edmonton Grand Prix weekend on July 21st. For more information about the series log onto www.nascar.ca and for more news information about the team go to www.bradgraham.ca All 12 races this season will also be broadcast on TSN.
This release prepared by TL Sports & Entertainment
The weekend started with frustration for Graham and the Full Throttle team as a tight race car allowed them only the 13th quickest qualifying time. “I just couldn’t get the car turned in the corners” said Brad. “We’re still learning some of the characteristics of this new race car, but I’m confident we can be better for the race”. Brad was correct.
As racing began in the BC Dodge Dealers Dodge Avenger 300 Graham began to ease the Full Throttle Dodge up through the field and was soon in the top ten. “The car was handling better to start the race and it continued to improve as things went on”. Brad continued to improve his position and was into the top five with a very good race car.
For the first pit stop the Full Throttle Dodge was running so well they decided not to change tires and only took on fuel. “We decided to wait on the tires because I didn’t have to push the car at all and we were gaining positions” he explained. Graham would continue to gain ground and take over the lead of the race just past halfway on lap 166. “The car was just perfect at that point of the race, I was pushing hard at all” said Brad.
As the race progressed and pit stops cycled through for the teams Graham and the Full Throttle Dodge would have little difficulty maintaining a top-five position. “Knowing the car we had I just wanted to take car of it and be ready for the late stages” said Brad.
Others did not run with the same approach. Between corners three and four Graham would be contacted by another competitor causing handling issues for the Full Throttle Dodge. “That hit really did some damage” said Graham afterwards. “I understand being aggressive sometimes by that kind of move doesn’t show any respect for other competitors”.
Graham would soldier on using all his skills to bring the Full Throttle Dodge home just missing a top-ten finish being scored eleventh. “I’m happy we managed to hang on for that kind of finish but really disappointed as well because we had a really good car tonight” he stated.
Brad Graham and the Full Throttle/Challenger Motor Freight/Logel’s Auto Parts Team return to action this coming weekend as the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series takes off for the airport runways as part of the Edmonton Grand Prix weekend on July 21st. For more information about the series log onto www.nascar.ca and for more news information about the team go to www.bradgraham.ca All 12 races this season will also be broadcast on TSN.
This release prepared by TL Sports & Entertainment
NCATS SUN VALLEY: MECHANICAL MISFORTUNE FOR BEAUCHAMP & TEAM MOPAR
VERNON, BC – Ron Beauchamp Jr. and the Mopar Parts Team began the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series swing through Western Canada at the ½ mile oval of Sun Valley Speedway near Vernon, BC with the BC Dodge Dealers Dodge Avenger 300. Unfortunately the team would be battling right from the start.
The Mopar Parts Dodge seemed to be quite comfortable during practice but Ron Beauchamp Jr. battled a seriously tight race car around the ½ mile during qualifying trying to keep it off the wall. Beauchamp would be forced to start the main event deep in the field at 19th. “Obviously we made some changes, and I’m sure we’ll be better in the race” said Beauchamp.
When the green flag waved for the BC Dodge Dealers Dodge Avenger 300 Beauchamp knew he would have to be sharp to stay out of trouble and begin gaining back positions he’d given up in qualifying. Ron Jr. used the high line around the track to move steadily through the field. “The car worked so well up high it surprised me a bit” said Beauchamp. “I was just riding around up high and gaining spots”.
The ride would get a little uncomfortable for Beauchamp as smoke began to collect inside the cockpit of the Mopar Parts Dodge. Crew Chief Chris Couvillion and the team made a pit stop to try and address the problem and also adjust the handling of the car to provide more help for later in the race.
The ride for Ron Beauchamp Jr. in the Mopar Parts Dodge became considerably more uncomfortable a short while later as the handling changed dramatically and Ron Jr. knew immediately something was seriously wrong. “The car was all over the place” said a frustrated Beauchamp. Forced to stop and diagnose the difficulty, Team Mopar found a broken hub in the right rear and made repairs as quickly as possible returning Ron Jr. to the track.
“The guys did good job to get me back out there to try and minimize the point’s damage” said Beauchamp. “The Mopar Parts Dodge was solid the rest of the way, we didn’t have a great finish at 16th but some other guys also took a hit too”.
With four of twelve races on the schedule complete, Ron Beauchamp Jr. sits seventh in the overall series championship point standings,
Competition resumes for Team Mopar in The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series on the airport runways at Edmonton’s City Centre Airport on July 21st as part of the Grand Prix of Edmonton weekend. The 12 race schedule will take the teams from coast to coast and will consist of ovals, road courses and temporary street circuits. For the complete schedule, results and other information log onto www.nascar.ca You will also be able to watch all twelve races this season on TSN.
This release prepared by TL Sports & Entertainment
The Mopar Parts Dodge seemed to be quite comfortable during practice but Ron Beauchamp Jr. battled a seriously tight race car around the ½ mile during qualifying trying to keep it off the wall. Beauchamp would be forced to start the main event deep in the field at 19th. “Obviously we made some changes, and I’m sure we’ll be better in the race” said Beauchamp.
When the green flag waved for the BC Dodge Dealers Dodge Avenger 300 Beauchamp knew he would have to be sharp to stay out of trouble and begin gaining back positions he’d given up in qualifying. Ron Jr. used the high line around the track to move steadily through the field. “The car worked so well up high it surprised me a bit” said Beauchamp. “I was just riding around up high and gaining spots”.
The ride would get a little uncomfortable for Beauchamp as smoke began to collect inside the cockpit of the Mopar Parts Dodge. Crew Chief Chris Couvillion and the team made a pit stop to try and address the problem and also adjust the handling of the car to provide more help for later in the race.
The ride for Ron Beauchamp Jr. in the Mopar Parts Dodge became considerably more uncomfortable a short while later as the handling changed dramatically and Ron Jr. knew immediately something was seriously wrong. “The car was all over the place” said a frustrated Beauchamp. Forced to stop and diagnose the difficulty, Team Mopar found a broken hub in the right rear and made repairs as quickly as possible returning Ron Jr. to the track.
“The guys did good job to get me back out there to try and minimize the point’s damage” said Beauchamp. “The Mopar Parts Dodge was solid the rest of the way, we didn’t have a great finish at 16th but some other guys also took a hit too”.
With four of twelve races on the schedule complete, Ron Beauchamp Jr. sits seventh in the overall series championship point standings,
Competition resumes for Team Mopar in The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series on the airport runways at Edmonton’s City Centre Airport on July 21st as part of the Grand Prix of Edmonton weekend. The 12 race schedule will take the teams from coast to coast and will consist of ovals, road courses and temporary street circuits. For the complete schedule, results and other information log onto www.nascar.ca You will also be able to watch all twelve races this season on TSN.
This release prepared by TL Sports & Entertainment
OHSWEKEN Speedway Awaits the Arrival of the WORLD of OUTLAWS
In little more than one week, history will be made at Ohsweken Speedway when the World of Outlaws arrive to complete in the inaugural “Six Nations Showdown” presented by “ARROW EXPRESS July 25th.
Quickly becoming known as one of the smoothest and fastest 3/8 mile clay ovals in North America, the “Home of the Canadian Sprint Car Nationals” has received a major facelift in preparation for the event which will see the powerful 410 cubic inch sprint cars from the world’s premier series compete for the first time on Ontario soil.
All of the top drivers are expected to be on hand including Steve Kinser, Joey Saldana, Danny Lasoski, Craig Dollansky, Terry McCarl, and the defending Champion and recent winner of Eldora’s “Kings Royal”, Donny Schatz.
Approximately 600 tickets remain for sale with presales continuing until Thursday evening this week by phone only at (519-542-2116). Credit card payment in full is required at the time of purchase and tickets will then 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.
Any remaining tickets unsold will be available race day when the Spectator Gates swing open at 4:00PM along with approx One Hundred Thirty “obstructed view” seats located in the bottom rows in the turn four area. “When we installed the new stands in turn four we didn’t consider the height of the wall at the exit of the turn and it is difficult to see the track immediately in front of you” stated one of the principle owners, Glenn Styres.
“The rest of the track has good sight lines from these seats but we didn’t have enough time to fix the problem before this show so it was decided to offer these tickets for sale on race day only at a substantially reduced rate” he concluded. This block of tickets will be available at $20 per Adult and $5.00 for kids twelve and under however they will not be able to be upgraded for a Pit Pass like the regular priced seats.
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 Wednesday, July 25th show is a full point race for the series with racing scheduled to get underway with the usual 7:45 PM start. The winner will collect a cool $10,000. Pit Gates will open at 2:00 PM with spectator gates opening at 4:00. An autograph session is scheduled to begin at 4:30. Mini Stocks will also be on the program in a support role.
NO ONE UNDER 13 WILL BE ADMITTED INTO THE PITS.
Be sure to keep up on all the latest news from Ohsweken Speedway by logging
on to the official website at www.ohswekenspeedway.com.
For Immediate Release - Ken Pelkie for OHSWEKEN Speedway
Quickly becoming known as one of the smoothest and fastest 3/8 mile clay ovals in North America, the “Home of the Canadian Sprint Car Nationals” has received a major facelift in preparation for the event which will see the powerful 410 cubic inch sprint cars from the world’s premier series compete for the first time on Ontario soil.
All of the top drivers are expected to be on hand including Steve Kinser, Joey Saldana, Danny Lasoski, Craig Dollansky, Terry McCarl, and the defending Champion and recent winner of Eldora’s “Kings Royal”, Donny Schatz.
Approximately 600 tickets remain for sale with presales continuing until Thursday evening this week by phone only at (519-542-2116). Credit card payment in full is required at the time of purchase and tickets will then 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.
Any remaining tickets unsold will be available race day when the Spectator Gates swing open at 4:00PM along with approx One Hundred Thirty “obstructed view” seats located in the bottom rows in the turn four area. “When we installed the new stands in turn four we didn’t consider the height of the wall at the exit of the turn and it is difficult to see the track immediately in front of you” stated one of the principle owners, Glenn Styres.
“The rest of the track has good sight lines from these seats but we didn’t have enough time to fix the problem before this show so it was decided to offer these tickets for sale on race day only at a substantially reduced rate” he concluded. This block of tickets will be available at $20 per Adult and $5.00 for kids twelve and under however they will not be able to be upgraded for a Pit Pass like the regular priced seats.
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 Wednesday, July 25th show is a full point race for the series with racing scheduled to get underway with the usual 7:45 PM start. The winner will collect a cool $10,000. Pit Gates will open at 2:00 PM with spectator gates opening at 4:00. An autograph session is scheduled to begin at 4:30. Mini Stocks will also be on the program in a support role.
NO ONE UNDER 13 WILL BE ADMITTED INTO THE PITS.
Be sure to keep up on all the latest news from Ohsweken Speedway by logging
on to the official website at www.ohswekenspeedway.com.
For Immediate Release - Ken Pelkie for OHSWEKEN Speedway
Monday, July 16, 2007
NCATS: Micks takes top five in Vernon
“The BDI race car was good all night”
VERNON, BRITISH COLUMBIA (July 15, 2007) – In his Beyond Digital Imaging Ford Taurus, Kerry Micks placed fourth in Sunday’s British Columbia Dodge Dealers Dodge Avenger 300 on the half-mile tri-oval at Sunvalley Speedway in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Sirius Satellite Radio.
“It was an awesome race, we led a couple of times, and are pleased with a top-five finish,” said Micks, of Mount Albert, ON. “This finish should move us up in the points, the BDI race car was good all night.”
J.R. Fitzpatrick edged Scott Steckly by .029-seconds in the green-white-checkered finish, Peter Gibbons finished third, and D.J. Kennington finished fifth behind Micks to round out the top five.
“The extreme hot temperatures were tough on everyone, the BDI crew did great job battling the elements and I burned my leg in the car,” said Micks after the race. “But we’ll be good for Edmonton where we finished second last year.” The veteran stock car driver, who qualified fifth in the 23-car field at Vernon, competed in a race that saw 13 lead changes between seven drivers and 68 of the 300 laps under the caution flag.
“It’s very encouraging for the team to have BDI on board as a primary sponsor for the rest of the tour with associate sponsorship from Nur America,” said Micks.
The next NASCAR Canadian Tire Series event for Micks Motorsports will be race five in the 12-race series at the Rexall Grand Prix of Edmonton on the 3.154-kilometer (1.96 miles), 14-turn road course at the City Centre Airport in Edmonton, Alberta on July 20-21.
Beyond Digital Imaging Inc. (BDI), Canadian Detailing Services, Cathcart Trucking and APX Racing Gear and Incentives Inc. 3M, and Nur America are sponsors of Micks Motorsports.
From Bruce F. Mehlenbacher
NCATS: WHITLOCK FINISHES 6TH IN FIRST OF TWO WESTERN EVENTS
VERNON, BC - The Dodge Dealers Dodge Avenger 300 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race at Vernon, BC's Sun Valley Speedway on Sunday saw Dave Whitlock post a season best 6th place finish.
Practice on Saturday went well with times consistently in the top ten. Twenty-three cars lined up for time trials at 7 p.m. and Whitlock timed seventeenth quickly. “I got into turn one a little to hot on the second lap and that ruined our efforts for a good qualifying spot,” stated Whitlock after qualifying.
Sunday dawned hot and sunny again as the teams prepared for the 300 lap event later in the day. The green flag dropped at 7 p.m. and Whitlock immediately started picking off cars in front of him.
During the mid point of the race Whitlock in the #39 Dickies/Hamilton-Tiger Cats/NMT Dodge Charger moved to the point to lead the field for several laps. Later in the race Whitlock had to take advantage of the Beneficiary rule after they lost a lap during a pit stop. The #39 Dodge Charger immediately started a charge back to the front again.
Over the final eighty laps Whitlock ran as high as third, which was nullified when the yellow flag flew and a full lap had not been completed since the pass. On the ensuing green, white, checkered restart, Whitlock was relegated to the fifth starting position and crossed the finish line in sixth.
“The car was really good all day which we expected,” stated a hot Whitlock after the race. “We didn’t qualify where we should have but knew that on the long green runs we would be okay,” he added. “If we could have re-started in third with two to go I think we had something for the front two cars.”
J.R. Fitzpatrick and Scott Steckly ran side by side for the final two laps with Fitzpatrick taking the checkered flag by inches. Third was the #1 of Peter Gibbons, fourth was #17 D. J. Kennington and the #02 of Kerry Micks rounded out the top five.
The team heads into Edmonton next for the Grand Prix of Edmonton starting on Thursday July 19th. A full field of NASCAR Canadian Tire Series cars are expected to be on hand including hometown favourite Kevin Dowler.
The Dickies/Hamilton Tiger-Cats/NMT race truck & trailer will be taking part in the Grand Prix of Edmonton Hauler Parade in downtown Edmonton on Wednesday July 18th. The parade begins at 12 noon from Airport road and travels East on 104 Ave, North on Jasper Ave and then West on 111th Ave and finally West on Kingsway to Airport Road and the Champ Car Paddock at 1 p.m.
Next up is the Edmonton Grand Prix where the teams move into the paddock on Thursday July 19th, practice and qualifying are on Friday with the main event taking place at 4:45 p.m. on Saturday.
Williamson-Dickie Canada Co. is a subsidiary of Williamson-Dickie Manufacturing Company of Fort Worth, Texas. Since its beginnings in Forth Worth, Texas in 1922, the Williamson-Dickie Manufacturing Company has grown from a humble manufacturer of bib overalls into a global brand powerhouse, with Dickies work pants, shirts, denim, outerwear, school uniforms, outdoor gear, medical and chefs apparel and an extensive licensing program offering sturdy head-to-toe clothing options for hardworking men and women of all ages, professions, regions and interests. Williamson-Dickie operates through subsidiaries in North America, Canada and Europe as well as exclusive distributorship around the world. Dickies products are available at select retailers across Canada and the Dickies Factory Outlet store in Hanover, Ont. For more information please visit http://www.dickiescanada.com/
For more information on the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series please visit http://www.nascar.ca/
Whitlock Motorsports is a professional racing business located in Wyoming, ON just outside of Sarnia. The 5,000 square foot dedicated motorsports facility houses up to eight race cars, a chassis dyno and all the necessary tools to field a competitive two car race team. Dave Whitlock boasts three National CASCAR Championships, 1991, 1997 and 1998 along with several top three National Championship finishes, while teammate Mark Dilley has one National CASCAR Championship to his credit in 1994. Both teams have consistently posted finishes in the Top Six in the National Point Standings since Dilley joined the Whitlock team in 1999. http://www.whitlockmotorsports.com/
For more information please contact: Linda Jones
Practice on Saturday went well with times consistently in the top ten. Twenty-three cars lined up for time trials at 7 p.m. and Whitlock timed seventeenth quickly. “I got into turn one a little to hot on the second lap and that ruined our efforts for a good qualifying spot,” stated Whitlock after qualifying.
Sunday dawned hot and sunny again as the teams prepared for the 300 lap event later in the day. The green flag dropped at 7 p.m. and Whitlock immediately started picking off cars in front of him.
During the mid point of the race Whitlock in the #39 Dickies/Hamilton-Tiger Cats/NMT Dodge Charger moved to the point to lead the field for several laps. Later in the race Whitlock had to take advantage of the Beneficiary rule after they lost a lap during a pit stop. The #39 Dodge Charger immediately started a charge back to the front again.
Over the final eighty laps Whitlock ran as high as third, which was nullified when the yellow flag flew and a full lap had not been completed since the pass. On the ensuing green, white, checkered restart, Whitlock was relegated to the fifth starting position and crossed the finish line in sixth.
“The car was really good all day which we expected,” stated a hot Whitlock after the race. “We didn’t qualify where we should have but knew that on the long green runs we would be okay,” he added. “If we could have re-started in third with two to go I think we had something for the front two cars.”
J.R. Fitzpatrick and Scott Steckly ran side by side for the final two laps with Fitzpatrick taking the checkered flag by inches. Third was the #1 of Peter Gibbons, fourth was #17 D. J. Kennington and the #02 of Kerry Micks rounded out the top five.
The team heads into Edmonton next for the Grand Prix of Edmonton starting on Thursday July 19th. A full field of NASCAR Canadian Tire Series cars are expected to be on hand including hometown favourite Kevin Dowler.
The Dickies/Hamilton Tiger-Cats/NMT race truck & trailer will be taking part in the Grand Prix of Edmonton Hauler Parade in downtown Edmonton on Wednesday July 18th. The parade begins at 12 noon from Airport road and travels East on 104 Ave, North on Jasper Ave and then West on 111th Ave and finally West on Kingsway to Airport Road and the Champ Car Paddock at 1 p.m.
Next up is the Edmonton Grand Prix where the teams move into the paddock on Thursday July 19th, practice and qualifying are on Friday with the main event taking place at 4:45 p.m. on Saturday.
Williamson-Dickie Canada Co. is a subsidiary of Williamson-Dickie Manufacturing Company of Fort Worth, Texas. Since its beginnings in Forth Worth, Texas in 1922, the Williamson-Dickie Manufacturing Company has grown from a humble manufacturer of bib overalls into a global brand powerhouse, with Dickies work pants, shirts, denim, outerwear, school uniforms, outdoor gear, medical and chefs apparel and an extensive licensing program offering sturdy head-to-toe clothing options for hardworking men and women of all ages, professions, regions and interests. Williamson-Dickie operates through subsidiaries in North America, Canada and Europe as well as exclusive distributorship around the world. Dickies products are available at select retailers across Canada and the Dickies Factory Outlet store in Hanover, Ont. For more information please visit http://www.dickiescanada.com/
For more information on the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series please visit http://www.nascar.ca/
Whitlock Motorsports is a professional racing business located in Wyoming, ON just outside of Sarnia. The 5,000 square foot dedicated motorsports facility houses up to eight race cars, a chassis dyno and all the necessary tools to field a competitive two car race team. Dave Whitlock boasts three National CASCAR Championships, 1991, 1997 and 1998 along with several top three National Championship finishes, while teammate Mark Dilley has one National CASCAR Championship to his credit in 1994. Both teams have consistently posted finishes in the Top Six in the National Point Standings since Dilley joined the Whitlock team in 1999. http://www.whitlockmotorsports.com/
For more information please contact: Linda Jones
NCTS: Pete Shepherd crashes at Kentucky
Kentucky Speedway/Sparta, Kentucky/July 14, 2007
Started 12th / Finished 32nd
ACCIDENT FOILS SHEPHERD'S RUN AT KENTUCKY
Peter Shepherd, No. 50 Northern Tool + Equipment Ford F-150
SPARTA, Kentucky (July 15, 2007) - Peter Shepherd headed to Kentucky Speedway full of optimism and excitement. He left with a very different feeling, wondering where things went wrong. An early wreck ruined Shepherd's chances of backing up his strong finish at Memphis, the last time the series raced.
Shepherd posted the 12th fastest time in qualifying on Saturday afternoon, recording his best career qualifying effort to date. From the drop of the green flag, the No. 50 Northern Tool + Equipment Ford began to drop back in the field. Shepherd reported that he was having brake problems, and that he was taking things easy until he could feel out the problem. Shepherd showed 17th at lap 17, but dropped back to the 20th position by lap 23. Finally free of traffic, he was able to settle in and get a better assessment of his truck's mechanical problems.
Shepherd reported to the crew that he was extremely loose on entry into the corners, and that his handling difficulties might have been the problem he was feeling earlier in the run. As the crew began to discuss pit strategy, an incident between the Nos. 59 and 91 trucks occurred right in front of the No. 50, an accident that proved unavoidable for Shepherd. The Northern Tool + Equipment Ford suffered heavy damage, ending his race prematurely.
"It was just a chain reaction," said Shepherd of the wreck. "I hate it for the guys on this Northern Tool + Equipment team. We thought we had a good truck; we unloaded and came of the hauler and practiced pretty good. In race trim, we couldn't get a handle on it. Unfortunately, the 59 (Terry Cook), was coming up on, I think it was the 91, and kind of crammed down a little bit. It was no body's fault and but it got the 59 a real loose and he had to check-up and when he checked-up we were right there and just happened to get in the back of him. It's a bad break for us and them and everybody involved. I hate it for everybody."
The Craftsman Truck Series next competes at O'Reilly Raceway Park on Friday night, July 27.
Contact: Rory Connellan, Roush Fenway Racing
Started 12th / Finished 32nd
ACCIDENT FOILS SHEPHERD'S RUN AT KENTUCKY
Peter Shepherd, No. 50 Northern Tool + Equipment Ford F-150
SPARTA, Kentucky (July 15, 2007) - Peter Shepherd headed to Kentucky Speedway full of optimism and excitement. He left with a very different feeling, wondering where things went wrong. An early wreck ruined Shepherd's chances of backing up his strong finish at Memphis, the last time the series raced.
Shepherd posted the 12th fastest time in qualifying on Saturday afternoon, recording his best career qualifying effort to date. From the drop of the green flag, the No. 50 Northern Tool + Equipment Ford began to drop back in the field. Shepherd reported that he was having brake problems, and that he was taking things easy until he could feel out the problem. Shepherd showed 17th at lap 17, but dropped back to the 20th position by lap 23. Finally free of traffic, he was able to settle in and get a better assessment of his truck's mechanical problems.
Shepherd reported to the crew that he was extremely loose on entry into the corners, and that his handling difficulties might have been the problem he was feeling earlier in the run. As the crew began to discuss pit strategy, an incident between the Nos. 59 and 91 trucks occurred right in front of the No. 50, an accident that proved unavoidable for Shepherd. The Northern Tool + Equipment Ford suffered heavy damage, ending his race prematurely.
"It was just a chain reaction," said Shepherd of the wreck. "I hate it for the guys on this Northern Tool + Equipment team. We thought we had a good truck; we unloaded and came of the hauler and practiced pretty good. In race trim, we couldn't get a handle on it. Unfortunately, the 59 (Terry Cook), was coming up on, I think it was the 91, and kind of crammed down a little bit. It was no body's fault and but it got the 59 a real loose and he had to check-up and when he checked-up we were right there and just happened to get in the back of him. It's a bad break for us and them and everybody involved. I hate it for everybody."
The Craftsman Truck Series next competes at O'Reilly Raceway Park on Friday night, July 27.
Contact: Rory Connellan, Roush Fenway Racing
NCATS: Fitzpatrick Edges Steckly in B.C. Dodge Dealers Dodge Avenger 300
VERNON, B.C. (July 15, 2007) – J.R. Fitzpatrick edged Scott Steckly by .029 seconds at the finish line to win the British Columbia Dodge Dealers Dodge Avenger 300 at Sunvalley Speedway in Vernon, B.C. He took advantage of a late caution which set up a green-white-checkered finish for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Sirius Satellite Radio event.
Steckly had the best car in the race, but it took him about three laps for the car to handle properly. Fitzpatrick noticed this on previous restarts and knew that he had a chance on the three-lap dash to the finish. The two cars raced door to door for the entirety of the three laps before Fitzpatrick got the nose of his car across the line just slightly ahead of Steckly’s.
“It was so close that I didn’t even know that I won until I was into turn one,” said Fitzpatrick. “I was just digging as hard as I could. I knew that it took (Steckly) a few laps to get going.”
The race was slowed by eight caution periods covering 68 laps and had 13 lead changes among seven drivers.
Peter Gibbons, who raced among the leaders all evening long finished third. Kerry Micks and D.J. Kennington finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
Dave Whitlock, Jason Hathaway, John Gaunt, Andrew Ranger and Don Thomson Jr. rounded out the top 10.
In the championship point standings, Ranger took over sole possession of the top spot and now leads Gibbons by 12 points and Mark Dilley by 15 points.
The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Sirius Satellite Radio is in action next weekend for a date on the street course at the Rexall Grand Prix Edmonton.
NASCAR CANADIAN TIRE SERIES presented by SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO-
UNOFFICIAL
British Columbia Dodge Dealers Dodge Avenger 300
Results: Sunday At Sunvalley Speedway
Vernon, British Columbia // Lap length: 0.5 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (2) J.R. Fitzpatrick, Cambridge, Ontario, Chevrolet, 300 laps, 59.269 mph, $6,130.
2. (4) Scott Steckly, Milverton, Ontario, Dodge, 300, $6,100.
3. (7) Peter Gibbons, Stouffville, Ontario, Chevrolet, 300, $3,435.
4. (5) Kerry Micks, Mt. Albert, Ontario, Ford, 300, $2,380.
5. (3) D.J. Kennington, St. Thomas, Ontario, Dodge, 300, $3,365.
6. (17) Dave Whitlock, Petrolia, Ontario, Dodge, 300, $3,060.
7. (11) Jason Hathaway, Appin, Ontario, Dodge, 300, $2,510.
8. (14) John Gaunt, Barrie, Ontario, Dodge, 300, $2,205.
9. (9) Andrew Ranger, Roxton Pond, Quebec, Ford, 300, $1,905.
10. (1) Don Thomson, Ayr, Ontario, Chevrolet, 300, $3,350.
11. (13) Brad Graham, Glencoe, Ontario, Dodge, 300, $1,535.
12. (8) Jim White, Kamloops, British Columbia, Dodge, 300, $1,480.
13. (10) Doug Brown, Brantford, Ontario, Dodge, 298, $1,425.
14. (12) Jason White, Sun Peaks, British Columbia, Chevrolet, 294, $1,400.
15. (6) Mark Dilley, Barrie, Ontario, Dodge, 290, accident, $1,373.
16. (19) Ron Beauchamp, Windsor, Ontario, Dodge, 257, $1,347.
17. (16) Derek Lynch, Warksworth, Ontario, Dodge, 207, accident, $1,320.
18. (15) James Ward, Kelowna, British Columbia, Ford, 206, rear end, $1,295.
19. (18) Norm Hunger, Delta, British Columbia, Pontiac, 196, $1,270.
20. (20) Joey McColm, Ajax, Ontario, Dodge, 195, $1,215.
21. (23) Trent Guest, Medicine Hat, Alberta, Dodge, 194, $1,190.
22. (22) Brian McCoughan, Okotoks, Alberta, Dodge, 57, transmission, $1,160.
23. (21) Kent Nuhn, Williamsford, Ontario, Pontiac, 28, overheating, $1,135.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 2 hours 31 minutes 51 seconds // Margin of Victory: .029 seconds // Fastest Qualifier: D.Thomson Jr. (No. 4 Home Hardware Chevrolet) (98.366 mph, 18.299 seconds)
Caution Flags: 8 for 68 laps. // Lead Changes: 13 among 7 drivers. // Lap Leaders: J.Fitzpatrick 1-39; K.Micks 40-59; S.Steckly 60-109; K.Micks 110-126;P.Gibbons 127-145; D.Whitlock 146-165; B.Graham 166-186; M.Dilley 187-205; S.Steckly 206-251; J.Fitzpatrick 252; S.Steckly 253-288; P.Gibbons 289; S.Steckly 290-299;J.Fitzpatrick 300.
Standings: 1. A.Ranger, 638; 2. P.Gibbons, 626; 3. M.Dilley, 623; 4. D.Kennington, 599; 5. J.Fitzpatrick, 598; 6. D.Thomson, 585; 7. R.Beauchamp, 570; 8. J.Gaunt, 570; 9. K.Micks, 564; 10. J.Hathaway, 540.
For more information, contact:
Shon Sbarra, NASCAR Public Relations, (253) 377-9128 or ssbarra@nascar.com
Jason Christley, NASCAR Public Relations, (386) 947-6788 or jchristley@nascar.com
NCATS: Repeats of MOPAR 300 from Barrie Speedway on TSN
Watch the MOPAR 300 in Hi-Definition on TSN
Repeat: Wednesday, July 18 @ 2pm (EST)
NCATS Sun Valley Speedway: 20 to go
Scott Steckly is leading tonight's NCATS race at Sun Valley Speedway with 20 laps to go. Peter Gibbons is next, ahead of JR Fitzpatrick, Kerry Micks and Dave Whitlock.
Thanks to Joel Robinson for the update.
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