TRANSCRIPT: Ganassi & Montoya discuss his jump to NASCAR

NOTE: Chip Ganassi announced Sunday morning at Chicagoland Speedway that Juan Pablo Montoya has signed a multi-year deal with the organization to compete in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series beginning in 2007. Montoya will drive the No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge Charger.

CHIP GANASSI (Owner Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates)

COMMENT ON BIG WEEKEND AT CHICAGOLAND SPEEDWAY “It was certainly a big weekend for us. We have little momentum now and we look forward to increasing that momentum as well.”

WHAT ARE THE PLANS FOR JUAN PABLO NOW IN 2006? “We all read yesterday and heard the news that McLaren and Ron Dennis had released Juan. Interestingly as I’m sure many of these sports writers understand there are different levels of being released. Are you released fully and completely on day one? Is it shake hands, see you later, get on with your life or is it something where he’s going to be released to do some testing? Is he going to be released to do some racing? We’re still walking through the mechanics of that. I’m sure there’s still some papers that have to be signed and some release documents and everything. While he has been released from his driving duties with McLaren, I think there’s still some paperwork that’s probably being exchanged right now. I certainly don’t want to speak for him or McLaren, but I would characterize it as while he was certainly released there’s probably going to be some kind of conditional release.”

WHAT IS JUAN PABLO BRINGING TO YOUR TEAM? “I think you have to understand. This deal sort of looked very quick to a lot of people in the last less than a week, and in a way it was. In a way also, I guess I’ve been working on it since he did leave the team. Maybe we’ve been working on for about six years I guess since we last saw him in one of our cars. What does he bring to the team? He brings a lot of excitement, a lot of ability, a lot of attitude. I haven’t really given that whole Hispanic thing a thought yet…. What I want to do, I want to win races. We’ve always had great drivers available to us to drive and this sort of says what our team is doing is right and the way we’re going about it is right. So he brings some validation as well I think.”

HOW DID YOU PRESENT JUAN PABLO TO YOUR SPONSOR? COULD YOU COMMENT ON HOW THEIR DEMOGRAPHICS MATCH HIS APPEAL? “In how their demographic matches his appeal, that is something you’ll have to ask them. I’m into racing. I’m not into the demographics of major corporations. The interesting thing is Juan Pablo is sponsored by Mobil in Formula 1 and he’s under very, very strict rules about what he can say and what he can’t say. Obviously having the Texaco/Havoline Dodge step in is something PR people might have a challenge with. I can tell you this. Obviously we wouldn’t do anything without Chevron, which is the parent company of Texaco/Havoline, obviously we were in step with Chevron the whole way about what was going on and they were fully supportive, could not have been more supportive of the plan, the idea and how it came down and moving forward. They’re very, very excited, obviously. They’re a world class company and Juan is obviously a world class driver. I think it goes hand to hand. What else can you say? The world needs the world.”

COULD JUAN PABLO RACE ONE OF YOUR CARS AT WATKINS GLEN? “When we get the details of his release, what we can and can’t do, we’ll be certainly all over every opportunity we get to put him in good cars at race circuits he needs to see. I have to tell you on the list of important things I want him to learn, driving a Cup car on a road course is way down the list right now.”

HAVE YOU TALKED TO JUAN PABLO ABOUT HOW HE MAY BE TREATED IN NASCAR? “There are going to be people that accept him, and I’m sure there will be people that don’t. It’s like that in any endeavor, any time there’s change. Everybody likes change as long as it doesn’t affect them. The ways of the world are changing. People within our own organization here had some question. I think as soon as they met Juan face-to-face at the racetrack within 20 seconds… The guy has got an infectious personality No. 1 and No. 2, you realize he gets it about racing. I don’t have any problem with him being accepted, being nudged around on the track. I’m sure people will try him on for size, but that’s all part of it. I’m sure he’ll earn their respect on the track, and I’m sure he’ll have everyone’s respect off the track as well.”

DO YOU SEE NASCAR AS BEING THE TOP RACING SERIES IN THE FUTURE? “That’s an interesting question. For many years here in the United States there’s been an influx of interest in NASCAR. In the last 10 years NASCAR has exploded. Really it began with what they call the Modern Era (beginning in 1972). There have been so many interesting things that have happened in the modern era of NASCAR. It has a lot of interest. The interest continues to go up year in and year out. When they signed this new TV package, when they went to FOX, there’s a huge, huge amount of interest in the NASCAR arena from sponsors, from drivers, from teams. It only continues to grow. I’m not someone who keeps score on what’s the biggest racing series in the world or what’s the most popular or whatever. I look at it from a racing point of view. I like being involved in racing. It’s my business. It’s my job, and I love it. I have a lot of passion for it. I have a lot of interest in it, but it’s for other people to decide which is the biggest one in the world or what’s the most interesting one. You have to say there is a lot of interest in NASCAR with people in the United States. We’ll have to see if that expands.”

COMMENT ON MEXICAN DRIVER LUIS DIAZ “Luis is obviously at the top of his sport in the country of Mexico now. Probably the premiere driver in the country, and we’re fortunate to have him in our sports car team, and I look forward to working with him for years to come.”

HOW LONG DO YOU THINK IT’LL TAKE JUAN PABLO TO BECOME COMPETITIVE IN CUP? “I can only go off of my past experience. He’s shown to pick up new tricks pretty quickly even though he’s not an old dog, so I don’t see that as a major challenge. A lot of times in these Cup cars it’s the things you don’t do as opposed to things you have to do. With his racing experience he knows the things you have to do. I think it’s a question of a pretty long list of things you don’t do. We have some interest from some veteran drivers who want to help Juan along the way, one in particular sticks out. I hope we can get him to help us along the way because a lot of these veterans have a lot to add in terms of nuisances of different circuits and tracks, the dos and don’ts of a Cup car. A couple of these retired guys, one in particular, I’d surely like help me.”

COMMENT ON WHAT THIS SAYS ABOUT THE APPEAL OF NASCAR “From my point of view, it’s obviously a tight driver market right now in Cup. It forces people to look outside the box. We’ve never been afraid to do that. Fortunately there was an opportunity here that myself and the world were unaware of until not too long ago, so these opportunities don’t come along often, and I think when they do you have to seize the moment. Interestingly enough, a lot of questions I’m getting about it are things I haven’t thought of yet. I think his life has changed a bit since I saw him last. He’s married. He has a son. I think they have another child on the way. This series gives him an opportunity to be home on Sunday night. I’m just guessing here, but I think this gives him the ability to have some family life. In speaking with Juan, I learned the amount of miles they do each year in Formula 1 and the amount of time he spends testing, not in front of people,. He’s saying that when you compare the mileage, it’s kind of interesting because it’s very close except most of the mileage in NASCAR is in front of people on Friday, Saturday and Sunday as opposed to testing all week in front of nobody in the middle of France. At the end of the day, Juan is about racing. One of the first things he said to me face-to-face at the airport when we finally got together. I began to ask him all these questions about NASCAR, and he said, ‘hey, I want to race.’ I think that’s an important point. There’s all this marketing and diversity and world appeal and all this stuff sort of swirls around, but what does it swirl around? I think at the center of all this is racing. He mentioned to me the closeness of the racing. I read somewhere on a clip here the past few days he said, ‘you go side-by-side three inches or four inches apart for entire laps at 180-190 mph.’ ”

WHY DO YOU THINK THE PERCEPTIONS ABOUT NASCAR HAVE CHANGED SO QUICKLY? “I had the same questions about NASCAR when I came from open wheel racing, and I’ve had nothing but open arms. They respect people who race and they respect people who have had success elsewhere. They welcome them with open arms. You’ve got to work and earn their respect, but I think they give you every opportunity to do that. I wouldn’t call it a closed shop.”

DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA HOW LONG IT MIGHT TAKE TO GET THE DETAILS OF JUAN’S RELEASE WORKED OUT? HOW MUCH TESTING WOULD YOU LIKE FOR JUAN TO DO BEFORE HE ENTERS HIS FIRST CUP RACE? “In terms of time frame we’re hoping we can get going on something here by the middle of August. In terms of what we’d like to see him do in the meantime, no matter what you do between the time you get started and the Daytona 500, I think when you get to the middle of February in Daytona you’re going to say, ‘I wish we had a few more days to try this or try that.’ These race circuits each have their own little nuisances and you’re going to constantly be questioning if you covered every base. So in terms of amount, I don’t know if we could ever do enough and we’ll always wish we had more time. We certainly want to get him in every type of track and every type of car we have.”

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE ADAPTATION PROCESS WILL BE LIKE COMING FROM FORMULA ONE TO NASCAR? “There are so many different things about the two series that are different. While they are both racing, you have different cars, different tracks, different types of drivers, different food, different accommodations, different parts of the country versus the world. NASCAR is a much more family-friendly atmosphere. I was reading in the paper this morning that Tony Stewart said a good thing about NASCAR drivers is they can laugh at themselves or whatever. I think the adaptation will take on a lot of different avenues if you will, on and off the track. These are all going to have to be managed and the expectation is going to have to be managed. The expectation of the driver from the team, the expectation of the fans from the driver, the expectation of the driver on the track – a lot of expectations here are going to have to be managed, and we’re all going to work hard to do that in our respective areas.”

WHAT WOULD BE THE IDEAL WAY TO BRING JUAN ALONG? “The best scenario would be if we had a year to prepare I guess and we could just go to all the tracks and go back to them and test and after we go to each one go back to them again and test. That isn’t a reality situation. Road courses are down at the bottom of the list. It’s about getting to know these cars and getting to understand the nuisances of the circuit and getting to understand the differences of a Bristol versus a Richmond versus a Martinsville versus a Charlotte versus a plate races and the differences in plate races from Daytona to Talladega. The good thing is you’re talking about somebody who is used to racing at a high level with a high level of information. There’s certainly a lot of information here that’s going to be downloaded to Juan within the next six months, however that information is delivered, whether it’s delivered on the track or delivered verbally, whether it’s delivered during a test or during a race. The good news he’s used to absorbing a lot on the information side, and there’s certainly going to be a lot of it.”

ELABORATE ON TIGHT DRIVER MARKET “Let me just say one thing before I go along. Everybody keeps saying Chip Ganassi Racing. It’s Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. I’ve seen that a lot this week in the press. Thanks for letting me get that out. The name of the team is Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, who also happens to be of Spanish speaking decent there in Cuba for those of you who don’t know. Tight driver market, that’s not a failure on anybody’s part. It’s not a tight driver market across the board. It’s a tight driver market when you want good drivers, quality drivers who have the experience. That’s what you’re looking for. These days there are plenty of guys out there that can drive these cars, but can they do the job on the track? Can they do the job off the track? Can they have the maturity level to deal with all the scenarios they’re going to be faced with throughout the season? These are the things the team owners are looking for these days. I wouldn’t call it a failure on anybody’s part. It’s the way of the world these days, across the board in all formulas of racing. There’s a good driver shortage, maybe that’s how it should be phrased.”

WILL THE NEW TESTING RULES HINDER YOU? “Obviously most of the bigger teams I know of actually do test quite a bit at non-NASCAR venue tracks. I heard a rumor they were going to increase the number of tests and have one or two more tests. Again, it’s going to be a wait and see kind of thing. One of the arguments I do have is that the testing rule in years past has been so tight. It does make it difficult if you have a driver that gets hurt or you’re bringing in a new driver or whatever. NASCAR has always been fairly good at working with you on that kind of stuff. I’m certainly somebody that’s pleased if there’s going to be an increase in testing.”

ELABORATE ON JUAN’S DEBUT “Believe me as much of a surprise as this was to everyone in the media, it was just as much a surprise to everyone in our organization here in Charlotte. They’re all scrambling putting different plans together and different scenarios. If Juan was able to drive tomorrow I think it would be an impossibility just because of the previous plans that are in place. I think it’s important to keep in mind this isn’t a start-up situation. We have plenty of plans in place for our current drivers and what they’re scheduled to be doing.”

JUAN PABLO MONTOYA (2007 Driver No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge Charger)

WAS THE POPULARITY OF NASCAR A REASON YOU MADE THE CHANGE? “I think the popularity of the sport is very important. I think in America NASCAR is huge, especially if you come here and spend a month between the two races and you see how much is involved in NASCAR. It’s huge and for me to be able to come here and work with NASCAR with the diversity program and bringing new fans into the sport and help promote the sport, I think it’s a huge thing. We’re all going to benefit out of this deal. The reason I made the decision is about how great the racing is. The main reason I made the switch is because I think the racing is great.”

WHY DO YOU THINK PERCEPTIONS ABOUT NASCAR HAVE CHANGED SO QUICKLY? “I think a lot of people are scared of making switches and it’s a big switch. The change from open wheel racing to a Cup car is so big. A lot of people are scared of making the switch, but I’ve been so welcomed and I’ve got to thank everybody for making me feel so welcome around the garage. I think a lot of people think, ‘oh, I can be welcome, too.’ I think that’s a lot of it.”

IS WATKINS GLEN A PLACE YOU MIGHT HAVE YOUR EYE ON TO START AND FEEL COMFORTABLE? “No, at the moment the main focus with Chip is getting to know everybody and finalizing everything with McLaren and see where we start. It’s good the way both parties on Sunday night, great for you, great for me. McLaren, Mercedes and Dodge, it’s the same company. It’s all DaimlerChrysler, so in a way I’m still part of the family and it’s great. Am I thinking about starting early at Watkins Glen? I don’t think so. It’s not so important what’s going to be my first race. For me it’s getting to know the cars, getting ready for next year. What really matters is the season ahead next year, not this year.”

DISCUSS EXPECTATIONS FOR NEXT SEASON “A lot of people are going to have their eyes, expecting what I’m going to do in the first few years. One reason Chip and I decided to do a long term deal was it’s going to take time. Jeff Gordon’s comments were with time he was sure I can do well. I’m not expecting to be right out of the box winning races or anything like that. It’s a long learning curve. I’ve had that question before about a road course. I’m sure I could do well on a road course, but there’s two races against 36. There are 34 races on ovals and two races on road courses. I think road courses are a very minority of the whole picture.”

DISCUSS TECHNICAL ADJUSTMENTS YOU’RE GOING TO MAKE TO BECOME A NASCAR DRIVER “Bumping is one of them, getting used to people hitting you from behind. Is it a friendly push? What is a friendly push and what is not? Getting used to running side-by-side with a car beside you for 20 laps or 100 laps. That’s very important learning when to draft, learning when to move out of the draft, learning when to go high and when to go low. When I raced CART before people used to go high, but I was watching a replay of the Daytona race and Chicago race, these guys run so close to the wall it’s not even funny. That’s going to take a lot of practice. I know the team is going to be very patient with me. It’s going to take time and we’re all in it together for the long run.”

WILL YOU FEEL PRESSURE TO PERFORM WELL IMMEDIATELY? “It’s going to take time. It’s such a big deal. I wasn’t really expecting it to be such a big deal. I’m really happy with the change I made, with the choice I made. People are going to be watching closely, so I think it’s very important to be well prepared. I think we need to be well prepared. If we decide to do a race or two at the end of the year, whatever Chip decides to do, I think we need to be prepared. It doesn’t matter how good I do this year. The important thing is how we do next year. The focus is getting ready for next year.”

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE BROUGHT ALONG? “I’ll rely on Chip Ganassi to make sure how they bring me along. I’m the rookie here. Yes, I have a lot of knowledge. I’ve raced a lot of cars and I have a lot of experience in spots, but it’s a new world for me. They know it and I don’t. I’m open to suggestions. If they say we want to go there, I’ll say, ‘OK, we’ll go there.’ Where they think it’s right I’ll be there.”

ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT POTENTIAL PROBLEMS WITH YOUR RELEASE FROM McLAREN? “No, I think everything with McLaren is pretty settled. It’s not a matter of releasing or not releasing. It’s a matter of working together. I’m not racing the Formula One program, but the reason I’m not driving the Formula One program is because DaimlerChrysler’s interest at the moment is for me to be here. To be realistic, we’re completely out of the championship this year, so there was no point… To learn here, it’s going to take time. The more time I can spend here in America and focus on next year’s deal is important.”

ELABORATE ON THE F1 RELEASE “It’s not a matter of when it’s released or not. It’s not about being released. It’s about working together and seeing when we can actually start doing the job. It’s a matter of talking and deciding what’s the best for me and what’s the best for DaimlerChrysler. It’s that simple.”

WOULD IT BE BETTER FOR YOU TO JUMP IN RIGHT NOW? “I think at this point it’s a little premature to be honest in a way. You think about it and they’re right in the middle of the season. Yes it’s important for me to get up to speed with the team, but I think at the same time it’s important not to disturb the way the team is developing this year. You cannot damage their program because I got released a bit early. The plan with Chip was always the end of October. If we have a couple more months we should be happy about that. We shouldn’t be arguing if it’s now or in a month’s time. The main focus here is 2007.”

COMMENT ON YOUR DRIVING STYLE? “I think style is hard to say. I think everybody has his personal style. Once you drive the car and see how comfortable… I think it’s about how comfortable you are with the car. If you’re really comfortable you can be more aggressive and use more of the car. If you’re not as comfortable and the car is not as comfortable for you to drive you need to be a bit more predictable with the car. I don’t know. I haven’t even driven the car yet. It’s hard to say how’s my style. I get along with Jeff Gordon well and Casey Mears and David Stremme and all the guys at Chip Ganassi with Felix Sabates already came to me and told me whatever you need. Every driver I’ve met so far has been mega nice to me. It’s been ‘anything you need we will help you.’ I’ve never seen that before. I’ve been in Formula 1 for six seasons. In six seasons I’ve been to the Williams motorhome and McLaren motorhome. I’ve never been to any other motorhome in Formula 1. In 10 minutes I was in Jimmie Johnson’s, Roger Penske. I was in every bus and motorhome and everyone was nice. They’re just happy to be there and it’s great to see. It’s great to see people loving the sport and enjoying the sport.”

COMMENT ON OTHER OFFERS IN FORMULA ONE? “The chance Chip gave me to come to America and race NASCAR, you don’t get it every day. Maybe three or four years down the line, maybe the opportunity wasn’t available. Maybe Chip wouldn’t want to give me a ride in four years. Maybe he could have. Moments come in your life and you can either take them or leave them. I decided to take it. I decided it was best for me, the best for my career, the best for my family and I’m just happy. I’m so happy to be working again with Chip.”

WHAT DOES YOUR MOVE MEAN FOR F1? “I think F1 from the technology point of view is the highest sport there is. It is very well positioned world wide. You come to America and nobody is really interested in it. When I was there it was hard to see, but now being a part of NASCAR and being able to be involved with the Latin market and having Colombians, being close to Colombia, everything is just fantastic. From my point of view, to be able to say five years down the line hopefully I could go say ‘I won in CART. I won in IRL. I won in Formula 1 and I won in NASCAR.’ How many drivers in the world are able to say they’ve won in everything they raced on? That’s exciting to me. Of course I want to do well. I want to kick everyone’s butt there, but it’s not going to be easy. Everybody out here is great, and they’re going to make my life very tough.”

From Ray Cooper / Clearblue

MOSPORT: Set to host two-wheeled doubleheader weekend

BOWMANVILLE, ON (July 11, 2006) - Open-wheeled racing in the Toronto area gives way to the two-wheeled variety as Canada’s biggest motorcycle road race, The Canadian Superbike Doubleheader, comes to Mosport International Raceway this weekend, July 14-16.

This event is the premier stop and only doubleheader round in Canada’s national motorcycle road racing championships and features the country’s top riders, big- name factory teams and privateers.

The Superbike class is the premier category of the weekend. Defending series champion, Francis Martin of Sherbrooke, Quebec, a factory Suzuki rider, and Yamaha’s Pascal Picotte (Granby, QC) who is last year’s Mosport Doubleheader victor and winner of five consecutive Mosport rounds, will try to stop the red-hot Jordan Szoke (Brantford) from winning his fourth and fifth races in as many outings this year for Canadian Kawasaki. Szoke’s last Superbike win at Mosport’s famed road course came in 2002.

One of the fastest growing national championships is the Canadian Thunder Series for twin-cylinder production-based sport bikes like Buell, BMW and Ducati. Richmond, B.C. rider Darren James comes to Mosport as the defending Thunder Series champ aboard a Buell. Just two years as a national class, James has emerged as the category’s first big star and is the man to beat this weekend.

In total, there are three full days of racing action provided by eight different classes of motorcycle racing.

Three-day advance SuperTickets are just $50 and can be purchased by calling the Mosport Hotline at 1-800-866-1072 or though our on-line box office at http://www.mosport.com/ . After July 12, the SuperTicket price is $60. Children 12 and under are admitted (when accompanied with an adult paid admission) and weekend camping is also free with admission.

By Mosport

Strachan Fast in Toronto

The ATTO Vintage GT Challenge was the final and most exciting race of the Molson Toronto Grand Prix weekend. On his first appearance on the 1.775 mile circuit through the Toronto CNE grounds and Lakeshore Boulevard, Malcolm Strachan drove a production-based 1973 Corvette. With approximately 500 horsepower, it was not considered a threat to the 800 horsepower big-block Corvettes, BMW M1s, and other Trans-Am style cars.

The first of two qualifying sessions had Strachan firmly in 7th spot of the 40 competitors, his run being cut short due to a rear tire puncture at nearly 240 km/h on the narrow Lakeshore Blvd. This caused an interesting moment for Strachan as he tried to slow the heavy Corvette before the hairpin corner at the end of the straight. The crew of Strudwick Motorsports worked on the car and incorporated several suspension and aerodynamic changes. With new tires, Strachan went out for his second qualifying session hoping to improve his 1 minute 24.1 second lap from the first session.

On his fourth flying lap, Strachan had the pits buzzing. He had sliced three full seconds off his time and stood third overall in his production-based Corvette. His exceptional times drew lots of attention, and the youngest driver in the field was suddenly being asked for interviews for both television and newspapers.

The Sunday race had shaped up to be an epic battle between the Glarner Motorsports BMW M1s, the Legendary Motorcars team of 800 horsepower big-block Corvettes and Strudwick Motorsports. Strudwick's fastest car had pole position with Blaise Csida driving, followed by Peter Klutt in the Legendary Motorcars Corvette, Strachan in third, with the Glarner BMWs filling out the top five.

As the green flag dropped, Peter Klutt used his 800 horsepower to his advantage by stealing the lead into the first corner, following closely by Csida. Strachan dropped back to 7th due to a fuel feed problem that caused the car to die momentarily as the green flag fell. Strachan had minor contact with one of the Legendary Motorcars Corvettes exiting corner one despite trying to avoid the weaving Corvette. Strachan continued on, picking off cars, working back up to fifth. However, the car cut out twice more and he parked it in the pits, his race over.

After several laps, Csida made a brilliant pass going into the first corner, reclaiming the lead. He went on to claim victory over Klutt by eight seconds with Marcus Glarner wheeling his BMW M1 home in third.

Strachan's busy schedule continues this weekend with his first foray into stock car racing at Kawartha Downs Speedway on Friday night, and at Shannonville in his Mobil 1 Corvette on Saturday and Sunday in the Ontario Challenge Cup GT series.

Multimatic Panoz Squad Heads Out West For Newest ALMS Venue Assault

Courtesy Multimatic Panoz Squad

Toronto - ON (July 10th, 2006) Multimatic Motorsports Team Panoz has its sights set on getting its championship assault back on track when the team visits the newest venue on the American Le Mans Series schedule this week – Miller Motorsports Park in Salt Lake City.

While the search for speed in Utah has been pursued since 1912 at the Bonneville Salt Flats only 100 miles away, the new Miller Motorsports Park facility is set to establish itself as one of the premier state-of-the-art road courses in North America.

Located 33 miles from downtown Salt Lake City, the new track features a 4.5 mile long, 40-50 foot wide, 24-turn layout – the longest circuit in North America.

The venue has become the new home track for Multimatic Panoz star Gunnar Jeannette who moved to Salt Lake City earlier this year.

The #50 and #51 Panoz Esperante GTLM machines finished 6th and 7th in the last round of the championship at Lime Rock Park – both cars requiring extensive bodywork repairs after a visit to the shortest venue on the ALMS calendar.

Miller Motorsports Park this week becomes the 20th venue visited by the American Le Mans Series in its eight year history – joining Sebring, Road Atlanta, Mosport, Infineon Raceway, Portland, Mazda Raceway – Laguna Seca, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Silverstone, Nurburgring, Texas Motor Speedway, Adelaide, Mid Ohio, Road America, Washington D.C., Trois Rivieres, Miami, Lime Rock Park and the other new venue for 2006, Reliant Park at Houston.

Of the 19 venues contested to date, the Panoz marque has tasted the champagne in victory lane at eight of those tracks – winning at Sebring, Road Atlanta, Mosport, Infineon Raceway, Portland, Nurburgring, Mid Ohio and Washington D.C.

Following the Salt Lake City event, Multimatic Motorsports Team Panoz will head north to Portland for round six of the 2006 title assault the following weekend.

The back-to-back races represent an ideal opportunity to chase down points leader Johannes van Overbeek (Flying Lizard Porsche). After Lime Rock, David Brabham and Scott Maxwell slipped to equal third place in the driver's standings – 20 points adrift of the Porsche driver.

However, with 20 points up for grabs for a race victory – a pair of strong performances over the next two races could put the Australian/Canadian combination back in contention.

Jeannette and team-mate Tom Milner will also be chasing their first podium result for 2006 after clinching their first race finish at Lime Rock. The young American duo’s Lime Rock chances were spoilt after contact with the Porsche of Klaus Graf.

After four rounds, Panoz remains second in the manufacturer's standings and Multimatic Motorsports Team Panoz holds the same position in the team's title chase.

"Obviously the next two weeks are very important – two good races here would really set us up well for the remainder of the season," Multimatic Vice President and Motorsports Technical Director, Larry Holt said.

"The new track in Salt Lake has a pretty varied combination of corners and I believe our cars should be well suited round there.

"Gunnar has done a few laps around Miller Motorsports Park so he has been able to give us a bit of an idea as to what to expect.

"The guys in the shop have worked pretty hard to get the cars turned around and reloaded into the trucks for the trip out West. The cars came back from Lime Rock with the roof as basically the only straight panel.

"The team is looking forward to checking out the new venue. We've heard nothing but good reports and we’d love to add a ninth track to the Panoz ALMS win roster this week."

NASA RALLY SPORT ANNOUNCE SPEC RALLY FOCUS PROGRAM

Courtesy Wilson von Kessler

KNOXVILLE, TN (July 10, 2006) - NASA Rally Sport, the stage rally sanctioning arm of the National Auto Sport Association (NASA), is pleased to announce the introduction of a new spec racing class featuring the Ford Focus. The class is called Spec Rally Focus and allows 2000-2006 model Ford Focus cars prepared for competition with parts and contingency payouts from Ford Racing Performance Parts, and other suppliers. Other announced suppliers include DMS North America for suspension, Racetech for seats and harnesses, Hankook for the spec tire, and Team Dynamics for the spec wheels.

"We're thrilled to introduce the only spec class in U.S. Rallying. The class will allow rally competitors to build competitive, fun, and affordable cars to race," said John K. Shirley with NASA Rally Sport. "The Focus is the best starting point for a spec competition car and with the rules we have in place."

"We are excited to support the Spec Rally Focus Series as an extension of our support to the NASA road racing Spec Focus series," added Andy Slankard with Ford. "The Ford Focus has a great history in Rally highlighting the outstanding dynamics and overall 'fun to drive' aspect of the car. Outfitted with Ford Racing Performance Parts the car becomes an excellent platform for entry level Rally racing."

Rules for the class are available online at http://rallyspecfocus.com.

Four-time winner Bill Arnold plots a 5th Anniversary Targa victory

Courtesy Doug Mepham

His car is still in pieces, he doesn t have his engine and a thousand details are still to be determined, but rest assured that four-time winner Bill Arnold is coming to the 5th Anniversary of Targa Newfoundland.

Arnold, of San Rafael, California, is the only competitor to have won his class in each of the four previous Targa Newfoundland international rally events. He was also the first competitor to earn the coveted gold Targa plate for three consecutive years of consistent finishes in the annual event for historic, classic and modern sporting cars. That makes him both an idol and a target for the legions of drivers, co-drivers, crew members and fans who will converge on St. John s for the start of the fifth running of Targa on Sept. 9-16, 2006.

As the event's man to beat, Arnold is both gracious and coy.

The event absolutely gets tougher every year, he says from his shop near San Francisco, where he specializes in BMW repair. The first year, we were all kind of finding our way. Since the second year, it s been getting tougher, the event s been fine-tuned and the level of competition has gone up. The margins are down to a few seconds one second, two seconds, five seconds at the top of the field. It s tough.

He should know. In the inaugural Targa Newfoundland in 2002, Arnold and partner Tammy Hull won the Modern Division in their BMW M Coupé without the aid of proper navigation instruments or much preparation. Both Arnold and Hull had been road racers and came to Targa on a whim. We didn t really know what to expect, he recalls.

But when he came back for the second annual event, he was prepared. He built a 1972 BMW Bavaria for the Classic Division, and promptly set the event on its ear. The cleverly designed big sedan, with Californian Peter Guagenti subbing for then-pregnant Tammy, set a blistering pace that few could touch. They won Classic in a last-day shoot-out. When Arnold and Hull returned with the big car in 2004, their competitors raised their game but the results were the same another win.

With new co-driver, Canadian Alan Ryall, Arnold and the Bavaria returned in 2005 to find a much tougher field. The results were uncertain until the final stages of the last day, but the old BMW stood atop the podium again and Arnold had established a high-water mark: Four class wins in four events.

Bill Arnold has been something of a reflection of Targa, observes organizer Robert Giannou. He was a little confused at the beginning but muddled through. And with each passing year, he s gotten better, more sophisticated, more focused. Bill s a terrific asset to Targa, and you know that anyone who wants to beat him has to be at the top of their game.

Arnold won t predict how he ll do in 2006. In addition to the steadily increasing level of competition, a comprehensive rewrite of the event s rules means he has to make some changes to the car. You know what s weak and you try to make it stronger, he says. But knowing what it takes to win must surely be a help. You know how to drive the car in a make-or-break situation. You know which stages are going to be important in the results, he says. Hopefully, you know how to get the last tenth out of the car on those corners that are covered in gravel, before the car spits you into the ditch!

The 5th Anniversary Targa Newfoundland will start and end in St. John s and will cover more than 2,100 kilometres of the challenging, twisty roads of the central and eastern portion of the island of Newfoundland over six days, including more than 500 kilometres of closed-road, flat-out Targa Stages. In addition to the two primary competitions for Targa and Grand Touring entries, a new category known as Targa Tour has been added for 2006. The latter gives motorsports enthusiasts and collectors of unique and rare vehicles the opportunity to enjoy all that Targa has to offer without the pressure of competition or the need for stringent vehicle preparation.

Competitors have come from the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Holland, the Bahamas and the U.K. for the first four editions of Targa Newfoundland. Entries continue to arrive daily for the 2006 and 2007 events. Targa Newfoundland is owned and organized by Newfoundland International Motorsports, and is listed on the FIA international motorsports calendar.

Mike Vincec heads to Valencia, SpainAwarded scholarship to attend Formula BMW course

Courtesy Chris Jameson, Level Ten Communications

July 7th, 2006, Stouffville, ON – While making last minute preparations to leave for the next Snap On Stars of Karting event in Charlotte, 15 year old Mike Vincec received the kind of phone call every driver hopes for. Rob Howden, President, Howden Media Group, the publisher of eKartingNews and Super Kart Illustrated, called to tell Mike and his family that he had been selected to receive one of only two scholarships to attend the Formula BMW USA 2007 Licensing Courses in Valencia, Spain.

"This is just fantastic news!" exclaimed Mike. "It was our hope to be in a position to attend the school at some point over the next couple of seasons. Now, thanks to Rob, the Howden Media Group and their work with the people at Formula BMW USA, we can make it happen immediately."

The course allows graduates eligibility to apply for an international FIA Class C competition license. There is also the chance for an invitation to participate in the 2006 Formula BMW USA Scholarship Shootout. This determines which drivers will be selected to participate in 2007 racing series as part of the Formula BMW USA Junior Team. As a BMW Junior, drivers are offered an Education and Coaching Program that gives them the best possible preparation for their career in motorsports.

"Getting to the Shootout is an ultimate goal for this year," offered Mike, "but for now, I am just looking forward to attending the course in Valencia and getting a taste of what the future holds when it comes to competing in formula cars."

Mike, with a few family members in tow, will be heading to Valencia for the course scheduled July 24-25. He will be busy in the few weeks prior with Snap On Stars of Karting races in Charlotte, NC (July 8-9) then assisting instructors at a new karting school being held at Cameron Motorsports Complex, Hamilton, ON (July 10-13). He returns from Spain just in time for the next round of the Sunoco Ron Fellows Karting Championship at the Mosport Karting Academy (July 28-30).

For more information on the Formula BMW USA scholarship and race series visit www.formulabmwusa.com. For more information on the karting school visit www.cameronmotorsports.com. For more information and results visit www.mikev.ca.

Blown Engine Sidelines Ryan Litt at Dixie and Angola, Salem Next

From Tommy Goudge, Ryan Litt Racing PR

Two burnt pistons spoiled what was shaping up to be another consistent weekend for the #07 BS&B Radiator, OTC/SPX Tools Sprint Car and its rookie pilot Ryan Litt on Friday night at the Dixie Motor Speedway during the 7th round of the Auto Value/Bumper to Bumper Super Sprints series schedule.

The evening began with the 8th fastest lap in time trials for the 19 year old from Lyons, Ontario, but went south from there as problems began to surface in the heat race, before finally completely ending the team’s night shortly after the green flag flew in the feature event. On Saturday night at the Angola Motor Speedway, long-time AVSS competitor “JohnBoy” Hotchkiss was gracious in allowing Ryan to drive his #75 Stickney Farms Vortex Sprinter for the evening to keep the rookie of the year quest alive, but once again mechanical gremlins plagued Ryan and company.

”We burnt 2 pistons up on Friday night at Dixie (on the 07),” said Ryan later. “I’d like to thank John for allowing me to drive his car. Unfortunately they were having fuel problems with the 75 - mainly the fuel filter plugging up. It stopped running completely in the feature when I was running about 12th, right behind Bill Tyler. I can’t wait for Salem though since we’ve got a new motor coming from Claxton, so we should be rockin’ around the high banks - should be fun!”

The problems have allowed Chad Goff to pull within 5 points of Ryan’s 3rd spot in the AVSS driver’s standings as well as the Owens Petroleum Rookie of the Year standings. The busy summer schedule for the drivers and teams of AVSS continues this Saturday night at the historic highbanks of Salem Speedway in Southern Indiana. Following that event, another single event weekend will take place on July 15 back at the Auto City Speedway.

McIntosh aiming for World Series Top-Ten

Courtesy Stuart Morrison Public Relations

Montreal, Canada (July 10, 2006) – Having competed in Belgium, Monaco and Turkey so far this season, Canada’s Sean McIntosh heads to the Misano Circuit in Italy this weekend, 15th-16th July, for Round 4 of the 2006 World Series by Renault.

The KTR racer enjoyed a break-out weekend in last month’s double-header at Istanbul Park, opening his points scoring account with a pair of top-six finishes to launch himself into 11th place in the Driver Standings. The 21-year-old Vancouver-native, who was just one spot away from a points scoring run in the second round in Monaco, capitalized on the pace of his Formula Renault 3.5 car in the first race in Turkey to slice through the field from a seventh-row grid slot to take fourth at the checkered.

The following day McIntosh again responded to a mid-order qualifying position by sprinting up the order to a sixth place finish and another welcome haul of championship points. This weekend presents the A1GP race winner with the challenge of learning yet another new race circuit, this time the anti-clockwise 4.06km Misano Circuit. Racing in Italy for the first time in his burgeoning career, McIntosh has time and again proved adept at educating himself to the demands of new tracks and the young Canadian will again have the benefit of testing at the circuit on Thursday and Friday prior to heading into Saturday morning’s Race 1 qualifying session.

Looking to build on his championship standing and crack the top-ten Sean said:
“It was great to get two strong finishes under my belt in Turkey. As a team we’ve always known we’ve been quick but you still have to go out there and prove it! Everything fell together in the last couple of races and hopefully we can continue to build on the momentum heading into this weekend’s races in Italy. This is our busiest period in the schedule with three race weekends in four weeks so it’s important for us to put all the pieces together. I’m looking forward to getting down to it on Thursday, learning the circuit then going for it in qualifying on Saturday morning. If we can get up there then we can aim for podium finishes.”

The weekend’s schedule of events kicks off on Thursday with a pair of two-hour test sessions before two more 45-minute sessions on Friday. Race 1 (21 laps) starts on Saturday, 15th July, at 3:30pm CET followed by Race 2 (29 laps) on Sunday, 16th July, at 1pm CET.

For more in visit www.ktr.be or www.renault-sport.com.

Ignition woes sideline Spiering in Michigan IHRA race

Courtesy Bruce F. Mehlenbacher

MILAN, MI (July 9, 2006) – Carl Spiering’s day ended abruptly with an ignition magneto failure in the second round of the final eliminations Sunday at the International Hot Rod (IHRA) eMax Drag Racing Series Fourth Annual Suzuki Motor City Nationals at Milan Dragway in Michigan.

“This season certainly has been a test of one’s sanity, said Spiering. “Our next stop is at home in Cayuga (Ontario) where we won last year in the Eaton Road Warrior,” added the 41-year old driver from Jordan Station, Ontario. “We’re big boys and we will rebound in front of our home town fans where we will be one of the favourites. This is when things turned around for us last year winning the Canadian Nationals and then the Torco Shootout.”

Spiering, driving the Eaton Electrical Supercharged Pro Modified Chevrolet Camaro, defeated a red lighting Dennis Radford of Oregon in a 1963 Corvette in first round of final eliminations. Spiering ran a 6.172 second elapsed time pass at 232.91 miles per hour.

In the second round Spiering’s Eaton Road Warrior was matched with Scotty Cannon’s 2006 Pontiac GTO. Spiering was unable to keep the car running despite several attempts to start the engine. The engine would fire when primed and then quit. Cannon, from South Carolina, in a single, lost traction almost immediately when he launched from the starting line to run an off-the-pace 12.353 second elapsed time lap at 82.92 miles per hour.

Carl Spiering continues to lead, and is the defending Champion in the chase over all other teams in the Torco Race Fuels Pro Modified class earning points based on their final qualifying spot at each national event. The top eight point earners will have the opportunity to participate in the 2006 Torco Race Fuels Pro Modified Shootout, which will be held in Martin, Michigan at the Northern Nationals.

The next International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) eMax Drag Racing Series event of the season the Fifth Annual Canadian Nationals will take place July 21-23 at Toronto Motorsports Park in Cayuga, Ontario. For information, call 905.772.0303 or visit www.TorontoMotorsportsPark.com.

Big plans underway for Cayuga International Speedway

Courtesy Bruce F. Mehlenbacher

Hagersville, ON (July 8, 2006) – For more than 40 years, Cayuga International Speedway has hosted some of the largest and most popular auto racing events in Canada, and that legacy will be kept alive as the new management team starts the rebuilding process.

After the September 2-3 running of the CASCAR Super Series “Hot Head Henry 200 Powered by Griddly Headz” stock car race, the 5/8ths-mile oval and grandstand will undergo a complete transformation into a state-of-the-art racing facility with a larger racing surface and seating for up to 60,000 fans.

The new ownership team has retained the services of Baskervill Motorsports Design, one of North America’s premier track designers and builders, and Cooper Construction of Oakville, ON, to start construction of this exciting project in September. The new facility is expected to open in 2008.

The upcoming Labor Day event will feature not only a CASCAR Super Series race, but also races in the CASCAR Sportsman Series, and support races from Southern Ontario racing clubs. The weekend will also be a reunion for fans to share in the heritage of the track, with some special names from Cayuga’s racing history that helped give the track its international reputation. A special tribute to long-time Cayuga Speedway owner Bob & Leone Slack will also take place.

As Canada’s largest oval track auto racing facility, Cayuga International Speedway has presented the best in racing. Generations of fans have witnessed top racers in stock car and open-wheel competition at this Southern Ontario track for more than 40 years.

With a new team of dedicated professionals, Cayuga will maintain its rich heritage and use this foundation in building an innovative state-of-the-art facility, providing a new stage of motorsport entertainment at an international level.

BOURQUE: Unavoidable Accident Halts Canadian at Lake Erie

NORTH EAST, PA (July 11, 2006) – After a season best qualifying effort at Lake Erie Speedway last Saturday, Pierre Bourque’s solid night and debut at Lake Erie Speedway were demolished by an unavoidable incident on lap 63 resulting in a season’s worst 23rd place finish.

The Fast Track Racing (FTR) team was especially looking forward to the event to unveil a brand new racecar. The car included a 105 inch wheelbase compared to the 110 inch wheelbase they’ve used thus far this season. The Charlotte, North Carolina based crew worked overtime to put it together.

The weekend started out slowly for the Ottawa, Canada native as his FTR racing crew led by Dave McClure tried to dial their new car to the racing surface. In the first and only practice session of the day, Bourque and his Fast Track Racing team could only produce the 24th fastest lap during the session maneuvering a lap of 16.600 seconds equaling a speed of 81.325 mph just over a second off the leaders. “We’re not comfortable with where we are on the charts,” said the Rookie-of-the-Year candidate. “Our No. 10 Full Metals Minerals-Pollara Strategic Public Opinion Chevrolet is solid and I think by the end of the session, I really learned a lot about the track. We should be good in qualifying and we’re all looking forward to the race.”

In time trials, Bourque turned two laps around one of the finest short tracks in the country amounting a fast lap of 16.225 seconds or 83.205 solid enough for 19th on the starting grid, a career best. “I’m really satisfied with our lap,” Bourque mentioned. “Andy Hillenburg, Dave McClure (crew chief) and the Fast Track Racing team have put an awesome racecar underneath me after making some minor miracle changes and I’m looking forward to the race.”

At the start of the race, Bourque was one of the sturdiest cars on the track, quickly and quietly moving his way towards the front of the pack. Despite dealing with some minor handling woes, Bourque was enduring the seat time his rookie team was looking for. Bourque was hovering inside the top-15 before two cars made contact ahead of him forcing Bourque into the mess with no place to go and forcing the FTR team their first DNF (did not finish) of the season.

“We broke the steering on our No. 10 Chevrolet and that’s what put us out,” explained Bourque after the event. “It’s a shame. We had a great car. Bottom line. We’re making strides here in the NASCAR Busch East Series and this is our first real “bad luck” of the season. While we’re disappointed with the outcome, there is nothing we can do to change it.”

“I’m really proud of the Fast Track Racing team this weekend,” he said. “We overcame some early struggles and appeared to be heading towards a good night. It wasn’t meant to be.”

Before Bourque joins the rest of his competitors on the NASCAR Busch East Series tour, he will spend a day with Hillenburg’s Fast Track Racing team at Gateway International Raceway Tuesday testing in the open test session for the ARCA RE/MAX Series.

“I’m really looking forward to getting back into an ARCA RE/MAX Series car,” Bourque added. “It’s been a while since I’ve competed in that series, but I’ll be back in ARCA later this season. We’re going to use the session to adapt me further in the ARCA cars and more seat time, that’s the key.”

Next up for the NASCAR BES is an event from New Hampshire International Speedway a triple-header weekend competing with the NASCAR Busch and Nextel Cup Series. Bourque’s event is set for Friday, July 14th.

In addition to running the full NASCAR Busch East Series in 2006, Pierre Bourque and Fast Track Racing will make limited starts in the ARCA RE/MAX Series. Bourque will also make three CASCAR Series races later this year with Whitlock Motorsports.

For more information on Full Metals Minerals, please visit http://www.fullmetalminerals.com

For additional input on Pollara Strategic Public Opinion, please logon to http://www.pollara.ca

From: Chris Knight, Fast Track Racing

POCONO TICKET WINNERS ANNOUNCED

A few weeks back, we announced a contest to reward Inside Track subscribers for their support and loyalty by making them eligible for free NASCAR tickets to the upcoming Nextel Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway. Last Friday, we drew a pair of names from our database.

And the winners are:

1) Eileen Bellamy of Midland, Ontario. She subscribed at the recent MOPAR Canada Day CASCAR Race Weekend at Barrie Speedway.

2) Scott Boam of Burlington, Ontario. His name was drawn from our existing subscriber database.

Both winners were quite excited when they heard they had won!

Watch for details of a similar draw for tickets to the upcoming NASCAR weekend at Michigan International Raceway. To be eligible for these and other Inside Track draws, you need to be a subscriber (Click here for details).

Thanks for your support. And to Eileen, Scott and their guests - who will be heading to Pocono - have a great time!

SUNSET: Thursday night show!

From SunsetSpeedway.ca

Get A Mid-Week Race Fix - Racing This Thursday!

There's great racing action on the way this Thursday as Sunset Speedway will be hosting the first of two mid-week race events in 2006. There will be invitationals for Four Cylinders and Four Funs plus Spectator Races and School Bus Races! What a great way to kick the work week blahs.

Plus, the best part - it's only half price to get in! Front gate opens at 6:00pm and the racing program starts at 7:30pm (no pre-race qualifiers). It'll be a fun night - see you there.

Shepherd to drive Roush #50 Truck at Memphis

Here is the press release from Roush Racing...

Roush Racing announced today that Canadian racecar driver Peter Shepherd will pilot the No. 50 Roush Racing Ford F-150 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series O’Reilly 200 this weekend at Memphis Motorsports Park.

Shepherd was selected as one of the 25 finalists for Roush Racing’s Driver X competition in 2005, and was quick to impress. Following a stellar performance at Martinsville, Shepherd advanced to the second round of the competition at Darlington, where he continued to impress team owner Jack Roush.

“When I saw Peter’s performance at Martinsville, it reminded me so much of a young Mark Martin, someone who has the ability to learn and adapt very quickly,” said Roush. “He is the most talented 19-year old I’ve ever seen.”

Shepherd was signed to a driver development contract with Roush Racing following his outstanding showing in Driver X. In addition to racing the No. 50 truck this weekend, he will also race in selected ARCA events with the Roulo Brothers No. 39 entry. Shepherd currently races for Carl Edwards/ R.E. Technologies Racing in the USAC Silver Crown division.

“I’m really happy to head to Memphis to make my first start in the Craftsman Truck Series,” said Shepherd. I got to test at Richmond last week with Erik Darnell and Michel Jourdain, Jr. and I learned a lot there that will really help me this weekend. I’m thrilled to have this opportunity to drive for Jack Roush and everyone at Roush Racing, and I’ll look forward to making the most of it. We’ve got to make the race on time, so that puts some pressure on us but I’ve got a great crew behind me and I really feel good about our chances and I would love to represent any new sponsors that want to come on board.”

Goodyear Fastest Lap Winner – CASCAR’s #4 Don Thomson Jr.

TORONTO, ON - Goodyear Engineered Products associate Trent Allen presents CASCAR’s #4 Don Thomson Jr. with a cheque for the Goodyear Gatorback Fastest Lap award from the CASCAR Super Series in the MOPAR Canada Day 300 at Barrie Speedway. The 300 lap event was won by Don Thomson Jr’s teammate #84 J.R. Fitzpatrick.

Goodyear Engineered Products is the exclusive NASCAR Performance licensee of automotive aftermarket belts and hose, including Goodyear Gatorback Poly-V and v-belts, timing belts and curved radiator hose. Visit www.goodyearbeltsandhose.com/ for additional information.

From: Brad Baber // Business Development Manager // Goodyear Canada Inc.

CONTITECH BELTS DRIVE BMW MOTORCYCLES: WORLD CHAMP STUNT DRIVER PRAISES BELTS AFTER WINNING ‘STUNT WARS’

HANNOVER, GERMANY, – BMW Motorcycle is relying on technology from ContiTech for the drive technology of its new twin-cylinder models, and the success of the European and former World Champion stunt driver.

Both the BMW F 800 S Sports machine and the BMW F 800 ST sports touring bikes that are now being delivered to dealers and customers worldwide, use the rear-wheel drive and maintenance-free high-performance CONTI SYNCHROFORCE EXTREME timing belt from ContiTech Power Transmission Group.

The bike also comes “field-tested” by former World Champion Stunt Driver, Christian Pfeiffer.

Using a prototype of the machine this past February, the 35-year-old Pfeiffer won against the best stunt professionals in the world at Lakeland, Florida’s “Stunt Wars,” the largest freestyle motorcycle competition in the U.S. The modified F 800 S was the only twin-cylinder bike among the competitors, most of whom had four-cylinder machines.

Pfeiffer was particularly enthusiastic about the F 800’s engine characteristics.

“The engine is really well connected to the throttle, and the power is transmitted spontaneously and sensitively – much better than in my last motorcycle with chain drive,” said Pfeiffer. “That is exactly what I have always wanted for my stunts – absolutely perfect!”

Lighter than a universal drive, such a drive configuration in this power category is a perfect mix of weight, efficiency and service life.

“We developed this belt to last 40,000 km – without having to use any greases or other lubricants,” said Michael Gorz, motorcycle drive project leader at ContiTech’s Power Transmission Group. “The belt is characterized by its excellent responsiveness and gives the bike an impressive look, while providing harmonic operational performance.”

ContiTech Power Transmission Group, a business unit of the ContiTech Division of Continental AG, develops and manufactures a wide range of drive systems for the automotive original equipment and replacement markets, appliance and industrial equipment industries. For additional information, visit the ContiTech Web site at www.contitech-usa.com.

PHOTO CAPTION: European motorcycle stunt champion Christian Pfeiffer on the new BMW F 800 S: “The engine is really well-connected to the throttle and the power is transmitted spontaneously and sensitively – much better than in my last motorcycle with chain drive.” (Photo Courtesy of BMW).

From: Hank Inman // Goldfinch Communications, Inc. // 2324 Riverfront Parkway // Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221

Danica set to bolt to NASCAR?

First Montoya snubs North American open-wheel racing to drive in Nextel Cup. And now Danica Patrick's father has been quoted saying he's trying to get his daughter into NASCAR.

"I'm trying to get her here [into NASCAR]," T.J. Patrick told the Orlando Sentinel.

I can't imagine what the boys in the booth at the IRL races would have to talk about if she goes NASCAR.

Will the last one out, turn out the lights....

PETE SHEPHERD: Set for NASCAR Truck Series debut this weekend at Memphis

Fresh off his second-place finish in Silver Crown action at Chicagoland on the weekend, Canadian Pete Shepherd will be making his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut this coming Saturday night at Memphis Motorsports Park.

Shepherd will be driving Jack Roush's #50 truck. He found out about the news last Thursday, one day after his successful Truck test at Richmond Int'l Raceway.

Go get 'em Petey!

G.P. of Toronto... No CASCAR, but....

They had this. (From driving.ca... h/t to Bourque.)

The reports from this weekend's open wheel spectacle on the streets of Toronto talked as much about the sparse stands as they did the race itself.

To be fair, it was incredibly bad luck that the final game of the World Cup - with Italy playing - was up against the race. But on the other hand, F1 was smart enough not to compete against the soccer championship.

Bottom line.... Let's hope that the unification talks are for real.

Juan Pablo Montoya jumps to NASCAR

ESPN has the details of the Formula 1 driver's decision to reunite with Chip Ganassi in 2007.

Information, education, gratification at new Yokohama Tire website

Yokohama Tire (Canada) Inc. has taken the wraps off a new, easy-to-navigate consumer website packed with useful product information, helpful tire knowledge and even a fun action game.

The new site, www.yokohama.ca, will become the must-visit destination for savvy consumers searching the web for current tire news, product promotions, important technical background and guidance on buying tires specifically for their cars, predicts Brad Sherwin, Marketing Communications Manager for Yokohama Canada.

“The web has become the most important tool for consumers to get to know brands and products, and the tire business is no exception,” says Sherwin. “They want current information, they expect value-added education, they’re seeking the latest deals and they want it all in an easy-to-navigate site. That’s what they get at yokohama.ca.”

The site was launched during the last week of June, and includes a “tire finder” application that helps consumers determine which Yokohama tire exactly suits their car, a guide to finding the nearest convenient Yokohama retailer, and the ability to download the forms to take advantage of special product rebates. Visitors can find out about the company’s motorsports involvement, check out branded merchandise like Yokohama hats and shirts, and catch up on news from the company.

“The Yokohama racing game is great, too,” says Sherwin, “but it’s harder than it looks.”

While the site will primarily serve consumers, Sherwin also thinks it will be a good sales aid for retailers looking for a transparent device to help customers understand both the technology behind their tire purchase and the options available to them. “Educated consumers are better consumers, and this site helps newcomers and experienced buyers alike make informed decisions,” he concludes.

Yokohama Tire (Canada) Inc. markets and distributes a full line of tires for high performance, passenger car, light truck, and commercial truck applications, as well as off-the-road tires for mining and construction applications. It maintains distribution centres across Canada to serve more than 800 independent tire dealers.


Contact:

Brad Sherwin
Marketing Communications Manager
Yokohama Tire (Canada) Inc.
604-646-6700 ext. 119
brad.sherwin@yokohamatire.ca

Doug Mepham
MacDonald & Co.
613-966-4969
doug.mepham@bellnet.ca

Brighton Speedway: Preview

The Southern Ontario Sprints get set to make their third visit of the season to the 1/3 mile clay oval in Brighton Ontario.

The Brighton Speedway always hosts close action and a packed crowd when the sprint cars are in town.

The SOS returns this Saturday night as Glenn Styres carries a slim 11 point lead into race six of the 2006 season. Styres was the winner of the Southern Ontario Sprints season opener at Brighton back on May 6th. Green Flag Flies at 7pm.

CARQUEST Tour at Scotia Speedworld

HALIFAX, NS (July 5, 2006) – The CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour makes its second appearance of the 2006 season at Scotia Speedworld on Saturday July 8, 2006.

After three events of the 11 race series, only one point separates points leader Gordie Ryan (Wellington, NS) and John Flemming (Halifax, NS), while Wayne Smith (Timberlea, NS) sits in third pace, five points back. Rounding out the top five are Brad Mann (Glen Livet, NB) in fourth and last Saturday’s race winner at Raceway Park, Greg Proude (North Wiltshire, PE) is fifth. It will be a battle among these top drivers as they fight for finishing positions and those valuable championship year-end points. Ryan won this race in 2005.

Russell Smith (Lakeside, NS) holds a 10-point lead over Paul Gahan (Lower St. Mary’s, NB) in the EIT Race Radios Rookie of the Year honours going into this event.

Supporting the CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour will be the Hobby Stock division and the Legend Tour. Grandstands open at 3 p.m., time trials are at 5:10 p.m. and racing is at 6 p.m.

Grandstand admission is only $22 and $5 for youth aged 8-15. Children seven and under are admitted free. Pit access is $25 and is restricted to those 16 and older. Advance tickets are available from Amber Contracting, Burnside; CARQUEST, Dartmouth & Halifax; Forbes Chev Olds, Dartmouth; Olands Cold Beer Store, Halifax; Parts For Trucks, Burnside; Rocky Lake Quarry, Bedford and RV Contacts, Mount Uniacke.

OSCAAR Outlaws Back In Action at Sunset

By Don McLeod
July 6, 2006

Sunset Speedway marks the return of OSCAAR Super Late Model racing this Saturday, July 8. This will be OSCAAR's lone appearance at Sunset for 2006. The last race was held on August 6, 2005, and was supported by a capacity crowd who witnessed a great night of racing.

There was plenty of pre-race drama last year when it was decided to allow 12-inch spoilers to give the Outlaws more grip on the short track surface. In the end, the win was taken by Rob Clarke and the London Mechanical Plumbing and Heating #49 team who elected to go with a smaller carb and regular spoiler.

This year a lot of attention has focused on the new tire rule that calls for four soft-compound tires. OSCAAR teams have been very pleased with the results. On-track performance certainly has been excellent: witness zero cautions at the most recent event. No doubt the teams are hoping for similar performance at Sunset's quick 1/3-mile oval.

Current points leader John Fletcher is counting on a good performance for his JNE Consulting #61 Team. With a tight points race already developed between the #61 and #49 teams, it will take consistent top five or better runs to stay in the hunt. Any mishaps or early mechanical trouble for one will hand a healthy lead to the other.

Further challenges will also come from Drew Spicer, Lloyd Ritchie, Phil Bullen, Al Shepstone and Glenn Watson who are all within reach in the points and ready to take advantage of any wobble at the top. Still some distance back is OSCAAR's most recent winner Shane Maginnis. The Kerr Cadillac Goodwrench Service #03 team will be pumped and ready to make some more gains in the points.

Several teams have had setbacks in recent races and have been working hard to get their cars and drivers back on the track. Gary Passer had a great run at Barrie until a blown engine sidelined his Jenco Equipment #52 Outlaw. Sunset is home track for the Passers and the scene of Gary's last feature win, so there has been a strong effort to get his car ready for this race. TJ Woolsey and the V&L Transportation #43 car have their engine back and will be working diligently to get ready for Sunset. The teams for Ed Bowlby, Al Shepstone and Glenn Watson have all made repairs to their cars and looking forward to better runs this weekend.

As with every event this year, OSCAAR is looking forward to a great crowd of loyal fans coming out to cheer their favourite driver(s). The Thunder Cars, Four Cylinders and Four Funs will be on the schedule along with Spectator Races. Pre-race qualifying for the Four Cylinder classes begins at 6:15 p.m. with the full race program getting underway at 7 p.m.

Team JNE Consulting Adds Banvil 2000 as Associate Sponsor

MILTON, ON – Team JNE Consulting and John Fletcher are proud to have Banvil 2000 join the team as an associate sponsor for 2006.
Banvil 2000 is a leader in the supply of decorative, commercial and industrial fans for both indoor and outdoor since 1974. Banvil 2000 also carries a wide line of air circulation products, recessed lights and accessories.

Banvil 2000 President Everett Wills said, “We got involved with Team JNE Consulting to attract more exposure for us. We have been following this team for a while and wanted to be involved.”

Team driver John Fletcher is excited to add Banvil 2000 to the growing support of the team: “To have Banvil come on board is not only a good reflection of our team, but also the interest in OSCAAR as a whole.”

Banvil 2000 is located in Milton, ON, and you can visit their website at www.banvil2000.com to find out what fans and fan accessories best suit your needs. Team JNE Consulting’s next visit to the track is July 8 at the 1/3-mile Sunset Speedway.

Peterborough Speedway Set to Host LLM Invitational this Saturday Night!

Submitted by Peterborough Speedway

PETERBOROUGH, ON – Peterborough Speedway is the place to be this Saturday, July 8, as it is set to host a 75-Lap Limited Late Model Invitational proudly presented by Pepsi Canada. Limited Late Model drivers from Ontario’s speedways are invited to take on Canada’s fastest 1/3-mile oval for 75 laps of exciting racing action.

“Our regular Limited Late Model drivers are very competitive and have thrilled the fans all summer with their exciting shows,” commented J.P. Josiasse, promoter of Peterborough Speedway. “Bring in some other contenders from other tracks, and the feature event will be one that fans will not want to miss,” J.P. added.

Current points leader and defending track champion Craig Graham is fully prepared to take on the best of the best from across the province. “Peterborough Speedway is an excellent place to race. It is fast and we always have a lot of fun. I am pumped and eager to take on the challenge of racing with other drivers from other tracks,” explained Graham.

With a $1,000 going to driver who visits Victory Lane for a combined total purse of $7,000, it will be very interesting to see which named LLM drivers show up on Saturday to challenge for the win.

Also on the schedule for the night are the Mini Stocks, Legends and kids bikes races at intermission. Fans will not want to miss the non-stop action of Peterborough Speedway!

To find out who will become the Pepsi Canada Limited Late Model Invitational Winner, be sure to take to the grandstand this Saturday, July 8. Pit gates open at 3 p.m., spectator gates at 5 p.m. with the green flag dropping at 6 p.m. sharp! Visit www.peterboroughspeedway.com or call 705-743-5880 for further event details.

A1GP Unveils Provisional Calendar for 2006/07 Season

MONTREAL, QC – The provisional calendar for the second season of the A1 Grand Prix of Nations was announced July 5 with a schedule consisting of 13 races starting in October 2006 and running through to April 2007.

The sophomore season of ‘The World Cup of Motorsport’ will once again see A1 Team Canada compete against 24 nations with the team looking to build on its 10th place finish in the Nations Standings which included a victory in Indonesia courtesy of Vancouver’s Sean McIntosh. A1 Team France won the inaugural A1GP title.

Oct. 1, 2006 Netherlands Zandvoort
Oct. 8, 2006 Czech Republic Brno
Nov. 5, 2006 China Beijing
Nov. 26, 2006 Malaysia Sepang
Dec. 16, 2006 UAE Dubai
Jan. 21, 2006 New Zealand Taupo**
Feb. 4, 2007 Australia Sydney
Feb. 25, 2007 South Africa Durban (street race)
Mar. 11/18, 2007 South/North America
Mar. 25, 2007 Mexico N/A
Apr. 8, 2007 Indonesia N/A*
Apr. 15, 2007 China Shanghai
Apr. 29, 2007 Great Britain Brands Hatch

* To be confirmed
** Venue subject to agreement

All races proposed on the 2006/07 season A1GP race calendar above are subject to FIA World Council approval and the successful completion of commercial agreements between the circuit management and A1 Grand Prix.

RANGER ROLLS INTO TORONTO AS LEADING CANADIAN CCWS DRIVER

TORONTO, ON – A year ago, Andrew Ranger headed into the Molson Grand Prix of Toronto as the points leader in the Champ Car World Series rookie standings. This year, the Roxton Pond, Quebec native enters the Toronto race – the first of three Champ Car events in Canada – as the leading Canadian driver in the series.

Five top-10 finishes in the six Champ Car races thus far have propelled Ranger into an impressive fourth place in the 2006 drivers’ standings. His 99 points top fellow Canadians Alex Tagliani and Paul Tracy, who have compiled 90 and 81 points respectively.

“The goal entering this season was to continue to build on my strong rookie year, and we’ve been able to do that through the first six races,” said Ranger, who drives for the Tide/Mi-Jack Conquest team. “With the exception of the last race in Cleveland, where we struggled all weekend, I’m happy with the way things have gone this season. We haven’t always had a very good position on the starting grid but we’ve managed to make up for it during the race.”

In fact, Ranger has earned an extra point in four of the six races for being the most improved driver on the track, in gaining the most positions during the course of the race. His best performance in this regard was in the season-opener at Long Beach, where he started 16th on the grid and finished sixth. He matched the sixth-place finish at the next race, in Houston, coming from 13th on the grid.

When Ranger made his first Champ Car appearance in Toronto last year, he was in ninth place in the drivers’ standings, with 69 points. He was poised for a top-10 finish before his home-country supporters but his engine suddenly cut out in the final laps and Ranger failed to finish. Two years ago, Ranger had a much more successful race in Toronto, making it to the podium with a second-place finish in the Atlantic series event.

Ranger has plenty of reasons to be eager about returning to Toronto. Not only is it the first opportunity of the season to perform in front of a partisan crowd, it’s also an occasion to spend some time at the track with youngsters and their families who will be special guests of the Tide @ Wal-Mart Victory Lap Charity Program, for which Ranger is the spokesperson. The tour, which is visiting 92 Wal-Mart stores across Canada this summer, raises funds in support of the Children’s Miracle Network and its affiliated hospitals throughout Canada.

“I really enjoy meeting the kids and their families,” said Ranger. “I hope their visit to the track helps, in some way, to bring a smile to their face and gives them some fun time together. When you see the courage these people have, it makes any problem you have at the race track seem very small.”

Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame welcomes A1 Team Canada gift

MONTREAL, QC – To help celebrate the relocation and re-opening of the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame (CMHF), now situated in Halton Hills, On, A1 Team Canada’s Sean McIntosh has donated the race boots and gloves he wore in Indonesia as he claimed Canada’s maiden victory in the A1 Grand Prix of Nations back in February.

Having moved to its new home last month, based at Legendary Motor Car in Halton Hills, the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame continues to celebrate Canada’s proud racing heritage while recognizing the achievements of outstanding Canadian competitors in both domestic and international motorsport competition.

While donating his history-making A1GP apparel to the CMHF, along with a signed print of his debut start for A1 Team Canada at Brands Hatch last September, McIntosh commented: “I was delighted to be able to represent Canada in A1GP and to cap my last race of the season for the team with a victory, our first, was just fantastic. We made a little bit of history for Canadian motorsport that day and I’m thrilled our accomplishments will be remembered through the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame.”

Thom Dickinson, President of the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame said: “We’re more than pleased, not just at Sean’s successes but also his consideration in donating these items to the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame. We’re delighted to receive them and to add them to our expanding collection highlighting Canadian excellence in motorsport.”

McIntosh’s drive for A1 Team Canada in Round 8’s Feature race was one of the undoubted highlights of a stunning first year of competition in ‘The World Cup of Motorsport’. Having suffered the disappointment of crashing out on the first lap of the Sprint race, McIntosh responded with a sublime drive charging from last-to-first in the Feature race, despite an unwelcome drive-through penalty, to power A1 Team Canada to its first ever A1GP victory.

The Vancouver-born 20-year-old then led a rousing rendition of ‘Oh Canada’ from the top step of the podium while draped proudly in Canada’s maple leaf flag. The Indonesian win marked McIntosh’s second trip to the A1GP podium following a third-place effort in Germany while his points-scoring consistency helped steer A1 Team Canada to a 10th place finish in the Nations Standings from a total of 25 countries competing in the inaugural A1GP season.

For further information on the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame log on to www.cmhf.ca

CASC-OR: BARC 2006 Canada Day Grand Prix of Ontario Wrap-Up

Special to Inside Track

BOWMANVILLE, ON – Race Ontario’s latest event, hosted by the British Automobile Racing Club (BARC), was a huge success! Over 90 competitors and 1,000 fans came out for the Canada Day Long Weekend Event.

ONTARIO TOURING GT CHAMPIONSHIP
The 2006 Championship is nothing short of spectacular to follow this season. Scott Nicol leads the T1 class in his Honda Civic and took second to Christian Sorensen's #254 BMW in the 85-minute race. Sorensen was incredibly fast all weekend long.

Alain Lauziere, in the Octane Motorsports MINI Cooper S JCW, led the T2 class with 342 points heading into the event and along with co-driver Pierre Mandeville took second place this weekend. Ian Madden took the victory in this highly-charged race. Rookies Pat Harrison and Vic Simone debuted the SPI/PH Racing Nissan and finished a respectable fourth in class.

The closely fought GT class saw Sasha Anis take the top of the podium this weekend; he was sixth in class coming into the event so this will bump him up the standings. Several DNF’s during the race mean that this battle is far from over.

ISSECO F1200 CHAMPIONSHIP
The F1200’s did not disappoint the multitude of fans either. Michael Raekelboom and Frank Steinhausen were within 12 points of one another coming in. Steinhausen took victory in the first race, second ahead of Raekelboom who ended up third in the second race. But Steinhausen was a DNS in the third race, which Raekelboom won, despite being a DNS in the first. This is turning into quite the exciting season!

Guy Bellingham was second, first and third, which means he too is right in the fight!

ONTARIO CHALLENGE CUP

GTB driver Alan Jones won the first and third races and finished runner-up in the second this weekend. In GTA, Ron O’Brien had two seconds and a DNS to Civic driver Scott Nicol’s third, first and DNS. In GTC, Marc Durant had an exciting weekend, moving steadily up the podium with each race to win his final race of the weekend.

An exciting match-up was in GTD with the white Honda Civic of Andrew Danyliw and Frank Blanchet in his Nissan Sentra. Blanchet took the first race with Danyliw second, but the Lotus took victory in the second but dropped to third in the final race behind Toth and Blanchet who won. Blanchet is having a fantastic season with several victories now to his name.

Malcolm Strachan made a strong appearance, taking all three class victories in GT-1. Nick Majors in the ‘Darth Viper’ car had two second-place podium finishes for a great weekend!

FORMULA LIBRE
It was a very close weekend for the Formula Libre class of racers. Jeremy Hill won all three races followed by Greg Beresford and Mario Urbano. The final race of the weekend was by far the most exciting and came down to a near photo finish. Beresford had been leading up until the end where somehow Hill managed to get past him at the finish line. He won by 0.008 seconds! You don’t get much closer than that…

SOLO SPRINT TIME TRIALS
The first pairing of Solo Sprint and Regional Racing took place this weekend as well. A series where you are after the ‘perfect lap’, it was well attended and highly enjoyed by all.

Cars such as a Rocost 7, which took the fastest lap of the weekend, compete against Civics, Mazda 6s, Camaros and even a Viper. They range from fully-prepped racecars to street car, daily drivers.

Ron Pasdernick’s winning lap was in the 1:30’s, closely followed by the BMW of Christian Sorensen and the Mustang of Riaan Van Vuuren. Pat Harrison won ‘Most Improved’, taking over five seconds off his lap times over the weekend.

SUBSCRIBERS-ONLY DRAW FOR NASCAR TICKETS TO POCONO!

(NOTE: This post will be at the top of the list all weekend... check below for other posts. BTW, our promotions team will be on hand at Barrie Speedway for this weekend's CASCAR / MOPAR Canada Day 300 events. If you're not already a subscriber, you can sign up there!)

ALL ITMN SUBSCRIBERS (CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE!) IN GOOD STANDING AS OF THE END OF DAY ON FRIDAY, JULY 7, 2006 WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A DRAW FOR TICKETS TO THE UPCOMING NASCAR NEXTEL CUP RACE WEEKEND AT POCONO RACEWAY.

The prize is for tickets only to Sunday's (July 23) Pennsylvania 500 NASCAR Nextel Cup race, so the winner will have to get him/herself there. There are two pairs of TERRACE CLUB tickets being awarded. Each pair has a $500 value, which includes Sunday tickets (reserved seats), a continental breakfast, a buffet lunch, unlimited pop & water, pre-race pit & paddock access and private washroom access. Winners must arrange own transportation and accommodation.

CASCAR: J.R. Fitzpatrick wins MOPAR Canada Day 300 at Barrie

BARRIE, ON ­ On a several occasions during the past few seasons, you got
the feeling that it was only a matter of time before J.R. Fitzpatrick would
win his first CASCAR Super Series race. On Sunday afternoon at Barrie
Speedway, the talented youngster guided his #84 Milwaukee Tools Chevy to
victory in the MOPAR Canada Day 300, confirming that he is a serious
contender on Canada’s top stock car tour.
The Ayr, ON resident lined up fourth on the grid for the third
race of the season and cruised comfortably in fourth-place for most of the
race before being the beneficiary of some late-race chaos that eliminated
the three drivers in front of him within the final five laps of 300-lap race.
During a late-race restart, on lap 295, Fitzpatrick’s teammate
Don Thomson Jr. was in the lead, in front of DJ Kennington and Mark Dilley.
Moments after taking the green flag, Kennington got into the back of
Thomson, sending him sideways and into the wall on the backstraight of the
1/3-mile tri-oval speedway. Thomson, the five-time and current National
champion was done for the day. And so, it turned out, was Kennington, who
was black-flagged by CASCAR officials for causing the incident. That left
Dilley in the lead, in front of J.R. Fitzpatrick and Ron Beauchamp Jr.
Moments later, Dilley’s Dodge-sponsored Charger was pushed
high into the second groove, opening the way for Fitzpatrick to jump into
the lead with just two laps to go. From there, he maintained his position
in front of Beauchamp’s MOPAR Dodge Charger and came home less than one
second in front of the Windsor, ON driver. Three-time Super Series National
champ Dave Whitlock celebrated his 40th birthday in style by finishing
third in the MOPAR Canada Day 300, in his NTN Bower / NMT Dodge Charger.
In addition to Thomson (Home Hardware Chevy), who was scored
in 10th-place in the final results, several other championship
front-runners had difficulty at Barrie Speedway on Sunday afternoon. Former
points leader Kerry Micks (Canadian Detailing Services / Trailers by Jim
Bray Ford Taurus) had transmission woes and finished 20th. Two-time
National champion and 2005 championship runner-up Peter Gibbons was
involved in a crash that sidelines his Canadian Tire Chevy on lap 151;
leaving him in 18th-place at the end.
Following three events, J.R. Fitzpatrick leads the Super
Series points by just eight points over Milverton, ON’s Scott Steckly (542
to 534). NAPA / Autopro Chevy driver Doug Brown is in third with 513
markers. In Sunday’s race, Brown repeated his fourth-place performance from
the season opener at Barrie, in May, to equal his best-ever result in Super
Series action.
After contesting the first three races of the season in
Ontario, the CASCAR Super Series will head west for a two-race swing
through B.C. and Alberta. On July 15 & 16, the tour will visit Sun Valley
Motor Speedway in Vernon, BC. The following week (July 21-23) CASCAR will
make its return to Alberta for the G.P. of Edmonton ChampCar weekend.

CASCAR ON TV: Catch the MOPAR Canada Day 300 presented by the Dodge Dealers
of Ontario from Barrie Speedway on Saturday, July 15 on SPORTSNET. For
information regarding initial airings and replays of Super Series races,
please check your local listings or visit
http://www.cascar.ca/schedule/tv_schedule.html.

CASCAR Super Series
RESULTS: MOPAR Canada Day 300
presented by the Dodge Dealers of Ontario
Round #3 // July 2, 2006 // Barrie Speedway
Barrie, Ontario // 300 Laps // 1/3-mile, banked tri-oval

FIN. ST. # DRIVER
(HOMETOWN) SPONSOR(S) /
MAKE
LAPS
1 2 84 J.R. Fitzpatrick (Ayr,
ON) Milwaukee Tools Chevrolet Monte
Carlo 300
2 10 60 Ron Beauchamp Jr. (Windsor,
ON) MOPAR / Mobil1 / Exide / Chrysler Jeep Dodge Svc. Dodge
Charger 300
3 7 39 Dave Whitlock (Wyoming,
ON) NTN Bower / NMT Dodge
Charger 300
4 4 10 Doug Brown (Brantford,
ON) NAPA / AUTOPRO Chevrolet Monte
Carlo 300
5 6 22 Scott Steckly (Milverton,
ON) ERB / AW Millwrights Dodge
Charger 300
6 9 19 Brad Graham (Glencoe,
ON) Challenger Motor Freight / Logel’s Dodge
Charger 300
7 1 9 Mark Dilley (Barrie,
ON) Dodge / Mobil 1 / Exide / Leland / Avenue
M.W. / CRS Dodge Charger 300
8 14 25 Jim Lapcevich (Hamilton,
ON) EMCEA Transport / Tim Hortons Chevrolet Monte
Carlo 299
9 15 3 Jason Hathaway (Appin, ON)
® Snap-On Tools / Arctic Cat / Super 8 Dodge
Charger 297
10 3 4 Don Thomson Jr. (Hamilton,
ON) Home Hardware Chevrolet Monte
Carlo 295
11 8 17 DJ Kennington (St. Thomas,
ON) Castrol Dodge
Charger
295
12 20 11 Ron VanEs (Smithville,
ON) Star Van Systems Chevrolet Monte
Carlo 294
13 18 93 Joe Goncalves (Concord,
ON) Bolt-On Performance / Pro-Spray Chevrolet Monte
Carlo 294
14 19 09 Kent Nuhn (Williamsford, ON)
® Nuhn Motorsports Pontiac Grand
Prix 294
15 12 71 Bryan Cathcart (Peterborough,
ON) Fitzsimmons Stars Chevrolet Monte
Carlo 293
16 21 14 John Fitzpatrick (Ayr,
ON) Latta Cranes Chevrolet Monte
Carlo 292
17 17 50 Joey McColm (Ajax, ON)
R ATTO Dodge
Charger
154
18 5 1 Peter Gibbons (Stouffville,
ON) Canadian Tire / Monroe Brakes Chevrolet Monte
Carlo 151
19 13 88 Dave Jacombs (Mt. Hope,
ON) Lou's BBQ / CPS Flooring Ford
Taurus 130
20 11 02 Kerry Micks (Mt. Albert,
ON) Cdn. Detailing Services / Trailers by Jim Bray Ford
Taurus 124
21 16 43 Bob Merrifield (Belle River,
ON) Re/Max Preferred Team Dodge
Charger 35
22 22 12 Richard Durivage (Montreal, QC)
® MIAPOXY Chevrolet Monte
Carlo DNS
® after the hometown denotes Rookie contender.
POLESITTER: #9 Mark Dilley (14.132 seconds * New Record) // TIME OF RACE: 2
hours, 17 minutes and 27 seconds // AVERAGE SPEED: 39.268 mph // MARGIN OF
VICTORY: .960 seconds // CAUTIONS: 11 for a total of 79 // LAP LEADERS: #9
Mark Dilley (1-6), #4 Don Thomson Jr. (7-142), #09 Kent Nuhn (143-146), #4
Thomson (147-295), #9 Mark Dilley (296-297), #84 J.R. Fitzpatrick (298-300)
// GOODYEAR BELTS & HOSES FASTEST LAP: #4 Don Thomson Jr. (14.434 seconds)
// HARD CHARGER: #60 Ron Beauchamp Jr. (Advanced 8 positions)

POINT STANDINGS:
CASCAR SUPER SERIES: Unofficial after 3 events (top 10): 1. #84 J.R.
Fitzpatrick (542 pts.); 2. #22 Scott Steckly (534); 3. #10 Doug Brown
(513); 4. #02 Kerry Micks (506); 4. #39 Dave Whitlock (506); 6. #4 Don
Thomson Jr. (505); 7. #17 DJ Kennington (480); 8. #19 Brad Graham (477); 9.
#9 Mark Dilley (475); 10. #25 Jim Lapcevich (473)

CASCAR SPORTSMAN SERIES: Unofficial after 2 events (top 10): 1. #77 Dion
Verhoeven (165 pts.); 2. #32 Mike Alguire (164); 3. #00 Steve Munro (154);
4. #81 Shawn McGlynn (150); 5. #11 Cole Weber (147); 6. #95 Ron Lethbridge
(140); 7. #67 Scott Mitchell (136); 7. #20 Dave Didero (136); 9. #48 Doug
Cathcart (135); 10. #36 Alan Lebert (133)

POINT STANDINGS: CASCAR FLO~PRO.COM WESTERN SERIES: After 2 Events (top
10): 1. #35 Kevin Dowler (325); 2. #36 Jim White (320); 3. #71 Daryl Harr
(307); 4. #30 Derek Polack (301); 5. #6 Todd Nichol (290); 6. #87 James
Ward (278); 7. #21 Jason White (275); 8. #2 Carl Harr (268); 9. #26 Shawn
Polack (264); 10. #79 Wade Lee (262)

Contact CASCAR’s Toronto Office at (416) 531-4714 or visit www.cascar.ca
Prepared by Inside Track Communications. // Contact: Greg MacPherson (416)
561-2320 (cell).
Comments regarding additions to ­ or deletions from ­ this mailing list
should be sent to: greg@insidetracknews.com

CASCAR Barrie

JR Fitzpatrick won the MOPAR Canada Day 300 at Barrie Speedway on Sunday afternoon. It was the first CASCAR feature win of his career.

Ron Beauchamp finished secons, ahead of Dave Whitlock.

The race featured a wild finish. With five laps to go, during a restart, second-running DJ Kennington got into the back of leader Don Thomson Jr., who ended up slamming into the outside wall on the backstraight. Kennington was black-flagged, knocking him out of contention.

Fitzpatrick survived a hectic final few laps en route to the win.

Top 10: 1. JR Fitzpatrick, 2. Ron Beauchamp, 3. Dave Whitlock, 4. Doug Brown, 5. Scott Steckly, 6. Brad Graham, 7. Mark Dilley, 8. Jim Lapcevich, 9. Jason Hathaway, 10. Don Thomson Jr.

In other action at Barrie Speedway on Sunday, Mike Alguire won the MOPAR 100 CASCAR Sportsman Series race to earn his first-ever CASCAR win.

... More to follow.