Monday, October 31, 2005

NASCAR’s Car of Tomorrow Tests at Atlanta Motor Speedway

HAMPTON, Ga. (October 31, 2005) – Cars were on track at Atlanta Motor Speedway today, just one day after the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500. With five race teams’ participation, NASCAR tested the Car of Tomorrow in a day-long test session.

Yesterday’s race winner Carl Edwards was among the drivers testing. Joining him were Jeff Burton, Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Petty and Brian Vickers, all testing cars from their own teams and Brett Bodine driving NASCAR’s representative car.

“Safety tops the list of things that are different about this car,” Gary Nelson, vice president of research and development for NASCAR said. “We have done a lot of things in the last four years to improve safety that are car of tomorrow items, but we put them on the car of today if they would fit. You can’t just fit a bigger roll-cage, a different frame or different exhaust. The average race fan is going to see a taller, wider car that has been designed to enhance competition on the track.”

Drivers said they could tell a difference between the cars they drove yesterday and the Car of Tomorrow they drove today.

“These drive a lot more like my Busch car,” said 2004 Busch Series Champion Martin Truex Jr. “They have a lot more air on the back of them. They are real stable getting into the corner compared to a Cup car.”

Truex addressed NASCAR’s emphasis on safety.

“You’re always happy when they try and make things safer,” said Truex. “It doesn’t feel good when you hit the wall. They have done a good job with safety over the last two years. I haven’t really seen anybody get hurt in the last couple years, so they’ve come a long way.”

Jeff Burton, driver of the No. 31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet doesn’t think the racing will change a lot from the fans perspective.

“As far as racing goes, we are all going to have the same thing, everybody is still going to try and find advantages like they do now, so I don’t see if being much different.”

(From Marcy Scott / AMS)

Friday, October 28, 2005

Antoine Bessette invited to test with GP2 Champion TeamAntoine Bessette invited to test with GP2 Champion Team

Courtesy Michel Poirier-Defoy

Montreal, October 27th. – Looking to fill the seat left empty by 2005 GP2 champion Nico Rosberg who is heading to Formula One with Williams-Cosworth, ART Grand Prix team has invited Canadian driver Antoine Bessette for a two-day testing session at the circuit Paul-Ricard next December 1st and 2nd. For the 23 year-old driver from St-Bruno, Quebec who won two rounds of the Toyota Formula Atlantic Championship in Toronto and Montreal while finishing third in the standings, this is a unique opportunity to join the GP2 series, Formula One ladder series. GP2 stars as undercard in eleven grand prix weekends out of twelve programs.

“This is an honor to be invited to test with a GP2 team, said Bessette, especially with the 2005 champion team, ART Grand Prix. I know they have a very short list of candidates because they can only test for six days in the off-season. We are presently negotiating and I hope we come to terms for the benefits of both parties. What an exciting opportunity this would be to race in the GP2 series. I feel I can hold my ground after my Atlantic season. I know I can drive at this level.”

ART Grand Prix, the champion team:
In its first GP2 season, ART Grand Prix had two talented drivers with Nico Rosberg and Alexandre Prémat. In the series that replaced Formula 3000, team principals Nicolas Todt and Frédéric Vasseur earned the championship and by the same token put Rosberg in a Formula One seat.

The GP2 racing machine is a Dallara carbon fiber chassis powered by a V8 500+ hp Renault engine, a seven speed gearbox with steering paddle shift, carbon brakes and Bridgestone tires. Each program is a double header totaling 24 races in the calendar.

Outstanding credentials:
Antoine Bessette should be the only North-American driver to be invited for these test days. With the test period limited to only six days, guest drivers are selected from a very short list and come from all around the world.

Bessette selection came from a group of experts who felt the Gilles-Villeneuve Award winner filled the criteria for that series.

A two-time winner in Toronto and Montreal in the Toyota Atlantic series and third overall in the standings, Bessette was awarded the most prestigious honor after the series title. The Gilles-Villeneuve Trophy is conferred annually "to the driver who possesses extraordinary ability, has that special "star quality" and who has been distinguished through sportsmanship, dedication and perseverance in the face of disappointment".

Negotiating for 2006:
While there are discussions going on with ART Grand Prix for the December test, Bessette is also considering returning to the new Formula Atlantic series that will debute in April. An announcement will be out when a decision is reached.

Antoine Bessette takes the opportunity to thank the large number of fans who took some time to visit his web site at
www.bessetteracing.com .

A1GP TEAM CANADA REPORT: McIntosh boosts Team Canada’s standing

Courtesy Stuart Morrison Public Relations

Estoril, Portugal (October 23, 2005) The third round of the A1 Grrand Prix Series today at the Portuguese circuit of Estoril proved to be a rollercoaster of a ride for Team Canada’s Sean McIntosh. The highlight of the day was Sean’s fourth successive top ten finish, the Vancouver racer claiming seventh in the opening sprint race having qualified in the top ten for the first time yesterday.

While a more dramatic feature race would see Team Canada forced to post their first retirement of the season, the four points collected by McIntosh in the sprint race further promoted the team to sixth overall in the point standings out of 25 competing nations in the inaugural A1 Grand Prix Series.

Sean’s weekend kicked off with Team Canada aiming to build on their third place podium finish at the EuroSpeedway in Germany two weeks earlier. The 20-year-old’s immediate goal was to post a top ten qualifying time to set himself up for a competitive sprint race and an equally strong starting slot for the hour-long feature race.

With Portugal offering competitors a blend of sunshine and rain throughout Friday practice and Saturday qualifying, Team Canada set to work continuing to maximize their track time with the A1 Lola-Zytek. Their hard work reaped reward as Sean posted the seventh fastest aggregate qualifying time for the sprint race.

In contrast to yesterday’s track conditions, today boasted clear blue skies over the 4.36km Estoril circuit and the earlier rain showers proved to be a distant memory as the field took the rolling start for the 18-lap sprint. Sean immediately broke into the top six but later slipped back to his seventh place starting position.

As the balance of his car shifted due to the warmer conditions, Sean’s advances were kept in check and, in his own words, the race turned out to be ‘fairly lonely and uneventful’ but importantly he would take the checkered flag in a solid seventh place to add four more points to Team Canada’s championship tally.

This afternoon’s feature race made amends for the lack of on-track action showcased in the earlier sprint event. As the grid lined up in the finishing order from the first race, Sean once again found himself sitting seventh, the field starting the second race from a standing start.

There was early drama as stalled cars forced the field to take evasive action while charging to the first turn. The safety car was prompted into immediate action and not for the last time over the 36-lap feature.

Several teams opted to take their mandatory pit-stop during the early caution period but Team Canada chose to keep Sean out and he climbed as high as fifth in the maiden stages. Just a few laps later the team called Sean to the pits but a slow stop, once again a stuck wheel nut the guilty culprit, dropped him down to 17th with nine laps completed.

McIntosh successfully hustled his way back into the top ten as a second safety car period saw another flurry of activity in the pits. The return to racing was brief as Jos Verstappen outbraked himself in the Dutch car collecting Team Germany in the process. Two more laps under caution further disrupted Sean’s progress but with additional entries pitting he took the restart on lap 20 in eighth, directly behind Team Great Britain’s Robbie Kerr.

Sean’s Portuguese outing was to last just one more lap however as contact with Kerr at the second turn pitched the Team Canada entry into the barriers and out of the race. Sean’s run of four straight top ten finishes was brought to an abrupt end and the team was left to rue what might have been given the strength of his performance in the race. Team France triumphed in both races at Estoril.

Choosing to reflect on the positives Sean commented:
”We were certainly looking good for two solid top ten finishes here in Portugal but unfortunately it didn’t quite pan out that way. That said it’s been another good weekend for the team. We improved our form in qualifying which was an important goal and we’ve proved that we can race comfortably in the front pack. The next step is to run with the leaders and keep our points challenge going.”

Round 4 of the A1 Grand Prix Series heads down under to Australia and the Sydney-based Eastern Creek circuit, 4-6 November.

Results A1GP R3 Estoril, Portugal
Team Canada, Sprint Race Started: 7th / Finished 7th (4 Points)
Team Canada, Feature Race Started: 7th / DNF (0 Points)
Nations Points Standings after Round 3 Team Canada, 6th (18 Pointts)

NEXT ESTATE COMMUNICATIONS INKS LICENSING DEAL WITH NASCAR TO INTRODUCE FIRST-OF-ITS KIND, RELOADABLE SPORTS AFFINITY PREPAID CARD

Retailers to Provide Exclusive, Off-the-Shelf NASCAR Prepaid Visa Card to Their Customers

Courtesy Kerry Tharp, NASCAR PR/Licensing

LOS ANGELES – October 20, 2005 – Next Estate Communications (NEC) and NASCAR have entered into a licensing partnership to launch the NASCAR® prepaid Visa® card – an off-the-shelf, prepaid financial tool with built-in appeal for NASCAR’s more than 75 million loyal fans.

NEC is America’s first and largest provider of retailer-sold, association-branded prepaid debit cards. NEC’s prepaid products are sold in over 50,000 retail locations nationwide. It is also the creator and operator of the Green Dot® Financial Network, a retail-based financial network providing cash acceptance services including prepaid card reloading and remittance cash collection.

"Next Estate is adding the most powerful brands in the country to its suite of pioneering payment products. This gives our retail partners more exclusive products and our customers more choice," said Mark Troughton, Chief Operating Officer of NEC. "NASCAR represents the most brand-loyal, passionate consumers and we are honored that they chose Next Estate and our Green Dot Financial Network to power their program."

The NASCAR Visa prepaid card is the first reloadable sports-affinity debit card of its kind combining a breadth of services and benefits, with additional perks that racing fans are sure to enjoy.

In addition to providing cardholders with financial flexibility and freedom to pay for purchases at stores, online, over the phone, or wherever prepaid Visa cards are accepted, the new cards have the added convenience of withdrawing funds from more than one million Visa/Plus ATMs worldwide. The NASCAR prepaid Visa card, which requires no applications to fill out and no credit checks, will also feature the NASCAR logo.

NASCAR prepaid Visa cardholders will also enjoy the ability to have their payroll checks deposited directly onto their card, in addition to adding more money onto their card at tens of thousands of Green Dot Financial Network retail locations nationwide. The cards will be issued by Columbus Bank and Trust Company in Columbus, GA.

With the purchase of the card, fans will also receive a premium NASCAR-licensed gift and enjoy a free trial membership in the Official NASCAR Members Club (ONMC), launched in February 2006 to better connect fans with the sport. The card’s roll-out to leading retail stores is set for first quarter of 2006, and will be supported by NASCAR online and via newsletter promotion to its most loyal fans.

“Through our partnership with Next Estate, the NASCAR prepaid Visa card will provide our sport’s millions of fans with enhanced and flexible purchasing opportunities. With a national fan base that overlaps in every geographical market, coupled with NEC’s over 50,000 retail locations and nationwide reload network, including a wide variety of NASCAR retail sponsors, NASCAR fans will have a terrific opportunity to purchase and reload the card,” said Mark Dyer, NASCAR Vice President of Licensing and Consumer Products.

Recent NASCAR research shows that fans are three times as likely to sample and purchase NASCAR branded products and services. Studies also indicate that nearly 90 percent of fans believe that NASCAR-branded products represent quality. For retailers, this means NASCAR-branded products fulfill a pre-existing market demand among an already primed group of customers.

Approximately 22 million prepaid debit cards were issued in 2004. That total is expected to more than double within 5 years.

DIRT: Advance Auto Parts Modifieds Find Their Way "Home" To Volusia In February

By DIRT MotorSports PR

WEEDSPORT, N.Y. (October 28) – With days growing shorter and temperatures beginning to drop throughout the Northeast, race enthusiasts are already looking beyond this season and making plans for the next. The 35th Annual Winter Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park in February will be a grand occasion as the 2006 edition will mark DIRT MotorSports,Inc.'s first 'Race Weeks' as owner of the popular Florida facility.

The Florida Tour at Volusia will once again feature the mighty big-block Advance Auto Parts Modifieds from the Northeast during the week leading up to the Daytona 500 (Feb. 19). The preliminary schedule once again includes three 30-lap main events with a 50-lap finale closing out the '06 trip.

"Volusia Speedway Park is an important acquisition for DIRT, continuing our commitment to acquire selected racing facilities to complement our national World of Outlaws touring series and our national and regional dirt racing sanctioning bodies," stated Brian Carter, DIRT MotorSports Chief Financial Officer. "Volusia is recognized today as the southeast's premier dirt track facility. Several of Volusia's biggest events are scheduled to complement NASCAR races at nearby Daytona, attracting both dirt and asphalt fans from all over the country."

DIRT officially completed the purchase of Volusia Speedway Park ---including a 1/2 mile semi-banked oval, 3/8 mile semi-banked asphalt oval and a 1/8 mile banked clay go-kart track--- on June 30. Located a half-hour from Daytona Beach, this famed facility has seating for nearly 10,000 fans. The track is a popular venue for the DIRT owned World of Outlaws Series® and UMP Late Models as well as a variety of other classes.

This coming February, the World of Outlaws Sprint Series (Feb. 9-10) and World of Outlaws Stacker 2® Late Model Series® (Feb. 16-18) will join the Advance Auto Parts Modifieds (Feb. 15, 16, 17, 18) in kicking off their race season down south, with UMP Super Late Models (Feb. 13, 14, 15 & 17) and UMP Open-Wheel Modifieds (Feb. 7-14) ---also owned by DIRT--- adding to the 11-day DIRT MotorSports marathon. Independent National Late Model and All-Star Sprint specials open up the month before DIRT teams take center stage in the Sunshine State.

Among the 36 DIRT NorthEast drivers competing in four Modified events at Volusia last February, all-time Florida Tour champion Brett Hearn joined Andy Bachetti, Billy Decker and Jamie Mills in victory lane while Hearn and Bachetti tied for the Advance Auto Parts mini-series points title. DIRT Tour '06 marks the 21st trip to Florida for Northeastern Modified teams since 1978 and it will be DIRT's 14th visit to Volusia since staging its inaugural event in 1982 under former owner/operator Dick Murphy.

Fans and race teams already planning to attend Volusia Speedway Park (386/985-4402) are encouraged to contact the track public relations offices for area hotel/motel accomodations. Overnight camping at Volusia is available across the road adjacent to the track for self-contained units. Volusia Speedway Park www.volusiaspeedwaypark.com is located 15 miles west of Daytona Beach on State Road 40 in Barberville, Fla. Mail is received at: 1500 E. Highway 40, DeLeon Springs, FL 32130.

The DIRT MotorSports™ Advance Auto Parts Modified Series is brought to fans across the Northeast by several sponsors and partners, including series sponsors Advance Auto Parts, Dynomax Performance Exhaust, Hoosier Racing Tire and Sunoco Race Fuels. Promotional Partners include Stacker 2®, AMB i.t., RACEceiver, Zippo Lighters and F.X. Caprara Car Companies and the contingency sponsors are DART Machinery, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, MSD Ignitions and Wrisco Industries.

Canada's F1 race moved two weeks

Canada's F1 race moved two weeks













Canada
Canadian Press
10/27/2005 5:25:30 PM
MONTREAL (CP) - The Canadian Grand Prix will be held two weeks later in June in 2006, partly to accommodate the soccer World Cup in Germany.
A preliminary schedule for the 19-race Formula One circuit released this week had the Canadian event on June 25, with the U.S. Grand Prix on July 2. In 2005, the Canadian race was on June 12 and the U.S. on June 19.
''They wanted to minimize the number of races in June because of the World Cup,'' race spokesman Normand Prieur said Thursday.
The only other race that month is the British Grand Prix on June 11.
Prieur said the usual 1 p.m. start of the Montreal event may also be moved up so as not to conflict with games at the World Cup, which runs for most of June.


The change puts the Canadian Grand Prix on a long weekend in Quebec, the St. Jean Batiste or Fete Nationale holiday, which could be a bonus, Prieur said.
''The holiday will be on the Friday so people can come without losing a day of work.''
He said Canada could go back to its mid-June date in 2007.
The proposed 2006 schedule has several changes.
The Australian Grand Prix, which usually opens the season, was moved to April 2 to avoid conflict with the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in March.
The season is to start in Bahrain on March 12.
Prieur said other changes were made space out races more evenly and avoid having teams compete more than two weeks in a row.

Thursday, October 27, 2005

GM Announces Corvette Chief Engineer David Hill to Retire; Tom Wallace to Lead Performance Car Team

DETROIT - General Motors Corp. announced today that David Hill, currently vehicle chief engineer (VCE) of the Chevrolet Corvette and vehicle line executive (VLE) of performance cars, will retire effective Jan. 1, 2006 after more than 41 years of dedicated service.

Tom Wallace will replace Hill as vehicle line executive of performance cars and vehicle chief engineer of the Corvette. Additionally, he will assume responsibilities for compact rear-wheel-drive performance cars including Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky. Wallace currently is VLE of small and midsize trucks.

"Dave Hill has taken the Corvette to heights that few of us can imagine. In terms of performance, refinement and value, he has truly helped to make Corvette second to none. He is a true car guy who will take his rightful place among the legends of Corvette lore," said Bob Lutz, General Motors vice chairman, global product development.

"What do you do to replace a guy like Dave? You do your best to get another one. Tom Wallace also is a car guy and racer who will make a perfect choice to lead the Corvette and Performance team. Besides, Tom was Dave's choice too. That should tell you all you need to know," Lutz concluded.

Hill has a rich history with GM since joining Cadillac Motor Car Division in 1964. He moved through various engineering positions and was named an executive in 1979.In 1982, he was named chief engineer of the Cadillac Allante. Following the introduction of the Northstar engine in 1992 in the two seat luxury roadster, Hill assumed chief engineer responsibilities for the Cadillac Deville and Concours.

Hill was named chief engineer of the Chevrolet Corvette in 1993, only the third chief engineer for the sports car in the vehicle's 53-year history. In 1995, Hill was named vehicle line executive of performance cars and led the development of the fifth-generation Corvette and the introduction of the Cadillac XLR.

Last year, Hill launched the sixth-generation Corvette followed by the introduction of the new 505 bhp Corvette Z06 for 2006.Hill holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Michigan Technological University and a master's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan.

Wallace has been with GM since 1966 when he joined Buick Motor Division in Flint, Mich. He was named to an executive engineering position in 1980 while still with Buick and was later named to the GM Truck Group in 1995. Wallace holds a bachelor's in mechanical engineering from Kettering University (formerly GMI), and was a Sloan Fellow, earning a master's in business administration from Stanford University.

Wallace and his team were responsible for the development and launch of Chevrolet TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon and Chevrolet SSR. Additionally, he led the highly successful launch of the Saab 9-7X and the HUMMER H3.

An avid performance car enthusiast, Wallace has enjoyed competing in both amateur and professional road racing, rally car and drag racing. He started racing with the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) more than 30 years ago and has raced in a variety of Sedan and GT classes with race-prepped Oldsmobile, Buick and Chevrolet models.

###
Contact:Rick Voegelin(831) 761-2201rickvoegelin@compuserve.comVince Muniga(586) 575-1928vince.muniga@gm.com

RACELINE RETURNS TO THE FAN!

BURLINGTON, ON – Burlington Ontario: RACELINE RADIO, Canada’s only nationally syndicated motorsport magazine and open-line radio show is back home in Toronto!

The RACELINE RADIO program returns to where it launched 13 years ago, THE FAN 590,
Monday nights at 7 PM, starting November 7th.

“We are very pleased to have RACELINE RADIO back on THE FAN!”, stated FAN 590 Vice
President, General Manager and Program Director Nelson Millman. “The show was a staple of
THE FAN’s motor sport programming for many years. The passion that Erik and John have for
this sport and for radio will create entertaining and compelling programming on THE FAN!”,
Millman added.

RACELINE RADIO features often exclusive interviews with the stars and major newsmakers
from all aspects of auto racing from around the world, and is heard year round.

“A big part of RACELINE RADIO’s success is coupled directly to the proper environment.
Nelson and THE FAN have always understood the importance and popularity of motorsport and
its place along side hockey, football, baseball and the rest. What a pleasure to have the show
back home on THE FAN!”, commented RACELINE RADIO Anchor, Writer and Producer Erik
Tomas.

“While RACELINE RADIO sings on a wide variety of station formats from music to news-talk
very well, it’s the all-sports stations in the major markets that create such a powerful fit for this
show. We’re proud to provide Montreal, Edmonton, Vancouver and Toronto with their
Motorsport coverage!”, added RACELINE RADIO Executive Producer John Massingberd. “Our
old friends at THE FAN are into this sport as much as we are, it’s great to be back!”,
Massingberd added.

AM 900 CHML Hamilton will continue as The Raceline Radio Network’s flagship station on
Sunday nights , feeding 16 affiliate stations coast-to-coast for both live and “delayed” airings in
Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Windsor, London, Kitchener, Hamilton, Niagara
Falls, Toronto, Peterborough, Montreal, Fredericton, New Maryland, Oromocto and Truro.
A consistent winner of major international broadcast journalism awards, Raceline Radio’s
broadcast partners include: Subaru Canada, Texaco-Havoline, Globalstar Satellite Telephones
and Inside Track Motorsport News.

For more information: Erik Tomas: 905-332-7223 Ext 3. erik@raceline.ca // Nelson Millman: 416-935-8430 Nelson.Millman@rci.rogers.com // 3070 Mainway, Suite 6 Burlington, Ontario L7M 3X1 phone: 905.332.7223 fax: 905.332.1232

Ranger nominated for Greg Moore Award

Ranger nominated for Greg Moore Award

















Andrew Ranger
TSN.ca Staff
10/27/2005 8:37:09 AM
Rookie Andrew Ranger is one of four nominees for the 2005 Greg Moore Legacy Award handed out annually by Champ Car.
The Canadian racer from Quebec made an instant splash in 2005. Ranger, who drives for the Mi-Jack/Conquest Racing team, started 14th at Monterrey but finished second to capture his first career podium in only his second ever Champ Car event. That made him the youngest driver in series history to accomplish that feat.
The other nominees for the award are Champ Car veteran Jimmy Vasser, Oriol Servia and Toyota-Atlantic champion Charles Zwolsman.
Vasser, the ironman of the Champ Car series with 208 consecutive starts under his belt, continues to run at the front of the pack, earning two podium finishes this season as well as a pole position at Milwaukee.
Servia had the difficult task of stepping in and replacing an injured Bruno Junqueira at Newman/Haas. He has adapted well, earning seven podium finishes while scoring his first career win at Montreal.


Zwolsman won three races and captured five pole positions in his rookie season in Atlantics, capturing the series title which earned him a chance to race at the season ending Champ Car race in Mexico City.
Champ Car co-owner and team owner Gerald Forsythe, series vice president of operations Tony Cotman and Toyota Atlantic managing director Vicki O'Connor make up part of the selection committee along with members of the Champ Car media.
Fans will also get their chance to vote by casting a ballot at the Champ Car website, www.champcar.ws
The winner will be announced at the season ending banquet on November 6.
The Greg Moore Legacy Award is presented to the driver who most exemplifies Moore's distinctive combination of outstanding on-track talent and dynamic personality. The award honors the legacy of the former Indy Lights Champion and rising Champ Car star who lost his life in a 1999 racing accident.

2nd ANNUAL CANADIAN SPRINT CAR NATIONALS SET FOR SEPTEMBER 16th, 2006

For Immediate Release ­ Ken Pelkie, Event Coordinator, Canadian Sprint Car Nationals

Glenn and Tina Styres are pleased to announce that the second
annual “Canadian Sprint Car Nationals” has been scheduled for their Ohsweken Speedway on Saturday, September 16, 2006.


A field of seventy 360 sprints from as far away as Des Moines, Iowa converged on the fast three-eights mile clay oval located on the Six Nations Reserve just outside Brantford, Ontario for the inaugural running this past September. When the checkered flag flew at the conclusion of the “A” Main it was veteran Kenny Jacobs of Holmesville, Ohio standing in victory lane having driven the Mike Woodring prepared JEI to the win.

“The September 17th event was much more than we expected” stated track owner Glenn Styres in making the announcement. “The support of the four regional sprint series from our area was impressive; and the huge crowd that turned out was unbelievable. It indicates to us that this is an event that both the racers and fans want. That has given us the incentive to grow the Nationals into an annual premier event at Ohsweken”.

The second annual “Canadian Sprint Car Nationals” will retain a one day format and look very similar to the inaugural event. Time trials will once again set the starting line-ups for the heat races. There will however, be a couple subtle differences. First of all, the winner will collect $6,000, up from $5,000 in 2005 while second place will now pay $3,000. And secondly, two additional positions will be added to the starting field of the “A” Main which will now total 26. Each of the additional positions will pay $500.

Friday night September 15 will also feature a program of sprint cars with the second running of the “Ohsweken Shootout” headlining the program. Also on the card will be a series of sprint heats lined up by a random draw and a pair of 15 lap features with the two winners guaranteed starting positions in the Nationals “A” Main the following night.

Make your plans now to join us at Ohsweken Speedway on September 15 & 16, 2006 for the “Canadian Sprint Car Nationals” weekend. More information will be released in the coming months as event details are finalized.

Wednesday, October 26, 2005

CENTRE FOR SPEED: Final Weekend Preview

CENTRE to host final weekend of Atlantic Championships this Saturday and Sunday; Large Field of competitors registered from throiughout Atlantic Canada

The CFS will host the final weekend of the Atlantic Canadian Strock Car Championships qw double-header weekend on Saturday and Sunday, October 29th and 30th with start times for both events at 1:00 p.m.

Saturday’s event will feature the Midland Pro Stock 100 substitues event in addition the rained-out Atlantic Championships for Street Stocks, Hobby Stocks and four-cylinder TigerCats and ThunderCats. The original Pro Stock 150 Championship race is being be rescheduled to the Spring of 2006 with an exact date announced in the early spring to scheduling conflicts with some of the registered drivers for the original event.

On Sunday, the CFS will host a 250 lap Endurance Race followed by a giant Demolition Derby. A large number of cars are registered from throughout Atlantic Canada.

(From Tim Wile)

DMPE renews sponsorship with PMRA for 2006: Darren Mayer Performance Engineering Inc. supercharger firm to offer Low Qualifier Bonus

By Bruce F. Mehlenbacher, PMRA Director of Operations

October 19, 2005, Stevensville, MI – The Pro Modified Racing Association, www.ProModifiedRacing.com (PMRA) is pleased to announce the renewed sponsorship of Darren Mayer Performance Engineering Inc. as the Darren Mayer Performance Engineering, www.DMPEinc.com (DMPE) Low Qualifier Bonus series sponsor.

“We are very happy with the success of the PMRA in only its first year of operation”, stated Darren Mayer, President of DMPE, which is the top supercharger facility in the performance racing world. "DMPE will be offering the Low Qualifier Bonus at all PMRA events in 2006 and is excited to renew its involvement with the series.”

“The PMRA organization has developed into something great for the racers, fans, and businesses that support it”, said Bruce F. Mehlenbacher, Director of Operations of PMRA. “The first year of operation was interesting, as the group overcame its growing pains to develop into a solid collection of racers operating as a team."

DMPE’s mandate is to help each customer reach their ultimate goal: WINNING! DMPE is the exclusive Kobelco Supercharger Factory Sales and Service center. Whether it is overhauls, damage repair, parts or new complete units, DMPE is the first source for performance superchargers. Although the exclusive Kobelco Factory dealer, DMPE does welcome all other brands for repair, overhaul or modifications. DMPE also specializes in fuel system parts, service and set up. Wet flow fuel system bench testing is also offered at DMPE, along with a complete line of fuel pumps, fuel injection parts and carbon fiber and magnesium injector hats. Visit DMPE’s online parts store for all your racing needs.

For more information about DMPE, visit the company’s website at http://www.dmpeinc.com/.

In its second year of operation, the PMRA will provide fans in the United States and Canada the opportunity to see and hear popular Pro Modified racing in the class known as “the world’s fastest doorslammers.”

The PMRA is a self-governing organization with its own set of technical and safety rules based on the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) Pro Modified division. Cars in the PMRA capture the true spirit of hot rodding, and the class offers a widely-diverse group of race cars with different types of 2000-horsepower engines propelling the cars down the quarter-mile in the 6.20-second range at 230 mph.

For more information, check
www.ProModifiedRacing.com.

Tuesday, October 25, 2005

No NASCAR in Canada in 2006

No NASCAR in Canada in 2006



NASCAR
TSN.ca Staff
10/25/2005 8:46:55 AM
NASCAR will not make a stop in Canada in 2006 following the release of the Busch Grand National and Craftsman Truck Series scheduled for next season.
Despite speculation that promoters in Montreal and Toronto were wooing either a Busch or Truck race north of the border, NASCAR has decided to go with the status quo in 2006. But that shouldn't be seen as a setback, according to Robbie Weiss, NASCAR's director of international racing.
"NASCAR's interest in Canada hasn't waned by any means," Weiss tells the Toronto Sun. "I mean, '06 was not really on the agenda."
"Without putting a date to it, I would like to think that we would be in Canada in the near future."
"Myself, George Pyne and (NASCAR CEO) Brian France have been very clear that we believe Canada is an ideal market for us."

It's no secret that promoters Molstar Sports and Entertainment, Norman Legault of Montreal and Myles Brandt of Mosport Raceway have been trying to land a NASCAR race in Canada. While the ultimate goal is to bring a Nextel Cup race north of the border, a more realistic short-term goal is either a Busch Series or Truck event.


The closest either series will come to the Canadian border is Watkins Glen on August 12 and Michigan Speedway the following week for Busch while the Trucks invade Michigan on June 17 next year.
For the fourth straight year, the Craftsman Truck Series will stage a 25-race slate beginning at Daytona International Speedway on February 17 and includes an inaugural race at Talladega Superspeedway. The 2.66 mile track will become the largest track on which the series has competed.
The Busch series will celebrate its 25th anniversary with Anheuser-Busch as its title sponsor in 2006. The 35 race schedule starts February 18 at Daytona and will once again include a stop in Mexico City for the second straight year.
_______________++++++++++++++++++________________

Didn't think they could make it happen this fast, Wait and see!

Greasemonkey.

BRIGHTON SPEEDWAY PARTS EXCHANGE

WHEN: Saturday, November 12th @ 9:00 a.m.

WHERE: Brighton Speedway Paved Track Surface

BSP is offering all drivers and vendors an opportunity to exhibit their new or used parts to fellow competitors and the public. Free Admission and No Commission required! You can't beat this chance to get a jump start on 2006. Bring out your wares and take the time to talk with other drivers!

Contact the Speedway for more information.

613-475-1102
info@brightonspeedway.com

Monday, October 24, 2005

The "Cooper All" of F1 Car design.... Or.... Just when you thought these guys were fresh out of dumb ideas....

TSN has a story and drawing of the new F1 rear wing design, to be implemented in 2007. Here's a prediction. By Race #2 in 2007, Max Mosley will claim temporary insanity and everyone will have to change back to the current wings... by Race #3.

FIA 2008 rear wing designTSN.ca Staff // 10/24/2005 12:34:21 PM

Formula One cars will sport a radically different look in 2007.





At a meeting of the Formula One Commission in London on Monday, team bosses and F1 officials approved a series of new rules and regulations for the 2006 and 2007 seasons.

Among the changes is a radically new rear wing design, dubbed the Centreline Downwash Generating Wing which is expected to increase overtaking in F1 races. The new wing, along with a return to slick tires, will make their debut in 2007.

Changes approved for 2006 include a brand new qualifying format as well as a return to tire changes during the course of an F1 race. " .....

.... story continued at link above....

Friday, October 21, 2005

Message for SOS Fans, Drivers, Car Owners and Track Promoters:

First of all, I’d like to thank everyone for their support and encouraging words. As your new President I’ll do my best to keep the SOS strong and moving forward.

During the next several months I’ll be working very hard to get myself up to speed…lots to learn and not much time! I’d also like to thank our out-going President, Peter Turford for 5 years of great leadership which has put the SOS in a very strong position. I believe our club is on the right track and fully expect to see continued growth over the next few years similar to that which has been witnessed in the past.

I feel very fortunate to be taking over at this time for the reasons stated above and believe we will have a very strong team going into the new season. The existing Executive and Board members along with the newly elected members have a wealth of experience and have offered me their full support.

We also have a very strong crew of support staff coming back for another season. During the next few months I’m hoping to add to our support staff in areas that I feel need a boost.

Next up on the SOS calendar will be the 2005 Awards Night, which is scheduled for November 19th at the Cairn Croft Inn in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Then over the winter, the SOS is planning on putting displays in local car shows including Performance World in Toronto and Speedorama in London. We may also look at doing displays in a few malls during the late winter or early spring of 2006.

The 2006 season is already beginning to take shape with a tentative schedule of 16 races at 4 tracks already penciled in and there is a potential of adding a couple more events and another track. I for one can’t wait for the 2006 season to begin but in the mean time, there is a lot of work to be done. Keep an eye on our Web Site over the winter for all the latest news.

See you at the track!!
Bill Oldroyd

LEAF RACEWEAR SALE STARTS TODAY...

October 21, 2005 – London, Ontario – Leaf Racewear is starting our 21st Annual Sale TODAY Friday, October 21st! The event will continue through the end of October and feature great once-a-year discounts on everything in the catalog. Our factory Open House will be held tomorrow Saturday October 22nd in London, Ontario.

“We had such great response over the phone and the internet the last two weeks that we’re going to start a day early,” says Leaf Racewear President Colin Grandy.

Customers can shop online at www.leafracewear.com , over the telephone using the toll free 800-731-7735 number, fax (519) 453-5460 or in person at the London, Ontario, headquarters. The shop will open at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 22nd, and remain open until 1:00 p.m. for racers to cash in on the savings. For those ordering online, the sale pricing will be listed on our homepage. Once an order is placed online, a sales agent will contact you with the sale total and for payment options. Make sure to check out our Product 'Clearance' items online for even bigger saving on clearance items.

The annual open house kicks off the Leaf Racewear sales team’s busy fall schedule. Among the trade shows where you can find us – National Parts Peddler show in Syracuse, the Dave Dayton show in Indianapolis followed by the Performance Racing Industry show in early December.

If you have any further questions, please write to adam@leafracewear.com , or phone 1-800-731-7735.

Thursday, October 20, 2005

Barrie Rent-All Inc. joins Holgate Motorsports for 2006: Rookie of the Year, Brad LeLiever happy with new sponsorship package

Courtesy The Russ Bond Agency (www.russbondagency.com)

GILFORD, ONTARIO Holgate Motorsports announced today that they have signed a new primary sponsor for the 2006 Ontario Pro Challenge Series. “We are really happy to announce that Barrie Rent-All Inc. will be the primary sponsor on our Holgate Motorsports #81 Monte Carlo for 2006,” said Holgate Motorsports owner, John Holgate.

Barrie Rent All had previously been a sponsor of Holgate Motorsports, when the team fielded karts for LeLiever a few years ago. The visibility of the stock car program currently run by Holgate Motorsports was the perfect opportunity for Barrie Rent-All Inc. to get back involved with the team. “It is a great opportunity for us,” said Andy Houghton President for Barrie Rent-All Inc. “We have worked with Holgate Motorsports in the past, and the opportunity to be the primary sponsor for Holgate and driver Brad LeLiever was an excellent fit to reach new clients in the Barrie area.”

Barrie Rent-All Inc. supplies equipment and supplies for construction, home, and cottage as well as industrial supplies and equipment. Their company moto is ‘Service, Product , Price’. Barrie Rent-All Inc. is located at 134 Tiffin Street Barrie Ontario. They can be reached at 705-728-8585.

Driver Brad LeLiever is happy to be back with Barrie Rent-All Inc. “It is great to have Mr. Houghton and Barrie Rent All support us in the Ontario Pro Challenge Series for 2006. I think we will be able to build on our Rookie of the Year run we had this year.”

Barrie Rent-All Inc. fast facts:
Barrie Rent-All Inc. supplies equipment and supplies for construction, home, and cottage as well as industrial supplies and equipment. Their company moto is ‘Service, Product , Price’. Barrie Rent-All Inc. is located at 134 Tiffin Street Barrie Ontario. They can be reached at 705-728-8585

Holgate Motorsports Fast Facts:
Hogate Motorsports is one of Ontario’s top karting Motorsport teams, owned by Gilford Ontario’s John Holgate. The team fields karting equipment for Brad LeLiever and Matt Stovold. In 2003, Holgate Motorsports won the coveted Pratt & Miller Award for presentation and appearance at the Sunoco Ron Fellows Karting Championship presented by Toronto Star Wheels. In 2006, Holgate Motorsports will field the #81 Barrie Rent-All Inc./Barrie Honda/Georgian Pontiac /Thermoseal Industries Monte Carlo in the Ontario Pro Challenge Series for Brad LeLiever, along with CMP Motorsports karts for LeLiever and Matt Stovold.

For more information on Holgate Motorsports, e-mail: mail@holgatemotorsports.ca.

"Mr. Edwards, this is Doctor Martin calling, I'm afraid I have bad news. It appears you'll have to postpone your seventh wedding..."

NASCAR DRIVERS CARL EDWARDS AND MARK MARTIN TO APPEAR ON “GUIDING LIGHT,” FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21 ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK

NASCAR drivers Carl Edwards and Mark Martin drive through Springfield on GUIDING LIGHT, Friday, October 21 (check local listings). The drivers, playing themselves, stop off in the local restaurant, Company, where police detective A.C. Mallet (Robert Bogue) comes in, recognizes who they are and chats up the two racing superstars.

Edwards has been on the national scene since 2003 when he nabbed three Craftsman Truck Series wins for Roush Racing, to finish eighth in the series’ standings. Martin, a veteran NASCAR driver, began racing in Arkansas in 1974. Martin had a string of 10 consecutive top10 finishes in 2001.

GUIDING LIGHT is broadcast weekdays (check local listings) on the CBS Television Network and is a Procter & Gamble Production. GUIDING LIGHT was recently nominated for Outstanding Drama Series in 2004.

On the web: http://www.cbs.com/daytime/gl/

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

Not racing, but....

My wife Melody is taking part in the CN Tower Stair Climb for United Way on Sunday, Oct. 23.

The money raised for the Stair Climb will help support United Way's network of 200 health and social service agencies, touching the lives of people in neighborhoods across our community (Toronto).

Secure online donations can be made with VISA or MasterCard. A non-alterable electronic tax receipt will be
sent to you via email.

If you would like to sponsor Melody to support the United Way, please click here to make your donation: https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/StartUp.aspx?SID=690130

Thanks for your support,

Greg MacPherson.

WEEKEND PREVIEW: Brockville Ontario Speedway

Beast of the East presents first fall classic



BROCKVILLE, ON - The leaves are changing, but that doesn't mean the action has come to an end at Brockville Ontario Speedway. The Beast of the East presents its' first ever fall Classic on Saturday, October 22nd at 3pm at the fast quarter mile clay oval.



'This is something, I have always wanted to try for our fans, ' said Promoter Paul Kirkland. 'When we put this year's schedule together, we said why not, I know Canadian race fans have been wanting a late year event on this side of the border.'



Fans will be treated to a twin bill of epic purportion with the final points race of the season for the Patriot Sprint Group with local favourites Rick and Kyle Wilson right in the thick of the fight with both still in the top 10 in the points standings. The afternoon of action also includes the second run what you brung Modified main event as Stephane LaFrance tries to back up his September win with a specially designed sail panel aboard his car. Due to popular request, the Street Stocks were added this week as a third class for this fall classic.



Brockville Ontario Speedway also welcomes aboard Inside Track Motorsport News for this special event. Canada's number one motorsports publication will be on hand offering trial subscriptions as well as some special giveaways. The rain date for the special event is Sunday, October 23rd at 3pm. The track will feature a special Halloween weekend special with an Eve of Destruction Demolition Derby on Sunday, October 30th at 3pm, an illusionist will be on hand as well to make it a Spooky afternoon of mayhem. The 2006 season kicks off with the Hangover Enduro on January 1st at 2pm. "

Monday, October 17, 2005

Boland wins Lancaster battle, but Lilienthal wins PMRA war

Courtesy Bruce F. Mehlenbacher, Director of Operations

October 15, 2005, CLARENCE, NY – On a clear and cool night at Lancaster Motorsports Park, Bruce Boland of Hamilton, ON, won his first Pro Modified Racing Association, www.ProModifiedRacing.com event, the fifth and final PMRA race of 2005.

Driving his B&B Racing 1953 Chevrolet Corvette, Boland defeated the Jeep-bodied Pro Mod of Kenmore, NY’s Joe Lilienthal Friday night on the Lancaster eighth-mile strip in a race presented by: G-Force Race Cars, Jan-Cen Racing Engines and Oddy's Racing Inc.

And with his second-place finish at Lancaster, Lilienthal amassed sufficient points in the 22-car series to win the inaugural PMRA title.

Boland qualified third in the field behind number one qualifier Lilienthal, who took top spot with a 4.452-second, 162.02 pass. Next was Kasey Jansen of St. Catharines, ON, who qualified second in his KC Motorsports Lumina with a 4.537-second pass at 150 mph even. Boland was next with a 4.701-second, 134.26-mph run.

In the semis, Lilienthal got by fellow New Yorker Jack Grainy of North Tonawanda in the Grainy Brothers Beretta, while Boland put down Mark Mitchell of East Otto, NY, in his 1953 Studebaker.

For the final, Boland squeaked through with the win, with a 4.480-second, 150-mph run against the 4.500-second, 157.33-mph pass of the Lilienthal Jeep.

Boland said after the win he had to tune down the Corvette after getting up on two wheels bicycling on the ever-slick Lancaster surface.

“We had to back out the horsepower,” said Boland after his victory. “Sometimes you have to slow things down to go fast.”

With his Lancaster win, Boland places fifth in the 22-car line-up. Taking the 2005 title was Lilienthal with 1820 points.

It was a good night for the Jeep driver. Lilienthal also picked up the Darren Mayer Performance Engineering (DMPE) Low Qualifier Bonus with his 4.452-second time, and was the recipient of the Bear’s Performance Products Consistent Qualifier Bonus with 4.48-second and a 4.45-second runs.

The final point standings (top 15) for PMRA following the event at Lancaster Motorsports Park in the Pro Modified Racing Association Drag Racing Series are:

1. Joe Lilienthal, 1820; 2. Jack Grainy, 1660; 3. Kasey Jansen, 1600, 4. Dave Earhart, 1580; 5. Bruce Boland, 1440; 6. Larry Sinke, 1420; 7. Mark Mitchell, 1280; 8. Joe Boniferro, 1180; 9. Mark Nielson, 1140; 10. Mike Stawicki, 900; 11. Carl Spiering, 740; 12. Luciano Querin, 720; 13. Mike Janis, 700; 14. Fred Jacobs, 640; 15. Al Billes, 380; 15. Andy Jensen, 380.

In its first year of operation, the PMRA will provide fans in Ontario, Quebec, and New York the opportunity to see and hear popular Pro Modified racing in the class known as “the world’s fastest doorslammers.”

The PMRA is a self-governing organization with its own set of technical and safety rules based on the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) Pro Modified division. Cars in the PMRA capture the true spirit of hot rodding, and the class offers a widely-diverse group of race cars with different types of 2000-horsepower engines propelling the cars down the quarter-mile in the 6.20-second range at 230 mph.

A third consecutive victory for Antoine L'Estage – Patrick Richard retired from Pacific Forest Rally

Courtesy Canadian Rally Championship (Photo Courtesy of Marie-Lyse Tremblay)

Merritt (British Columbia), October 16, 2005.- After having won the Baie-des-Chaleurs and the Défi Ste-Agathe/Duhamel rallies earlier this season, Quebec rally driver Antoine L’Estage clinched a third consecutive victory this weekend, finishing first in Round 5 of the Canadian Rally Championship, the Pacific Forest Rally held in British Columbia.

L’Estage and his co-driver Yanick Napert, both from St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, set the fastest time in 15 of the 16 special stages of the event. Their main challenge came from American Matthew Iorio who finished the event in second place, six minutes down to the winning team. In only his first full season in the Canadian Rally Championship, Iorio drove a stunning race on this extremely challenging and muddy roads. However, L’Estage and Napert were simply too strong in their Hyundai Tiburon 4WD and were never seriously challenged for the lead.

Norm LeBlanc of British Columbia finished third and beat Peter Thomson of Toronto, the current leader in the points’ chase. Thomson, who finished fourth this weekend, is now seriously challenged by L’Estage in the race for the 2005 Canadian rally title.

Many fans and experts expected to witness an extraordinary battle for victory between L’Estage and Patrick Richard, the reigning Canadian and North American rally Champion. However, their battle was short lived, as Richard’s Subaru Impreza Sti was the victim of electrical woes before the Richard was forced into a retirement when the turbo blew up Friday night during the sixth stage of the event.

Americans Nat Stow and Ben Bradley (Impreza RS) completed the top five finishers and ranked first in the Production class. Quebec’s Jon Nichols drove his VW Golf GTi to victory in the Group 2 category and claimed seventh place overall. His main rival Gord Olsen retired after an off-road excursion and a mechanical problem.

The final and decisive round of the 2005 Canadian Rally Championship – the Tall Pines rally – will be held in Bancroft, Ontario, November 26. Peter Thomson and Antoine L’Estage now share the lead on top of the standings and will battle fiercely for the title in Ontario next month.

The Canadian Rally Championship is now in its 49th year of running and information about the series and other rallies in Canada can be found at www.carsrally.ca.

Final standings of the Pacific Forest Rally
(for complete results, please visit www.pacificforestrally.com):

1. Antoine L'Estage / Yanick Napert (Hyundai Tiburon 4WD / 1h35'20"); 2. Matt Iorio / Ole Holter (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo.7 / 1h41'32"); 3. Norm LeBlanc / Keith Morison (Subaru Impreza WRX / 1h43'12''); 4. Peter Thomson / Rod Hendricksen (Subaru Impreza WRX / 1h44'25"); 5. Nat Stow / Ben Bradley (Subaru Impreza RS / 1h46'28"); 6. Gary Cavett / Alan Perry (Subaru Impreza WRX / 1h46'38"); 7. Jon Nichols / Carl Schenk (V.W. Golf GTi / 1h47'46''); 8. John Cassidy / Dave Shindle (Subaru Impreza WRX / 1h51'02"); 9. Zebe Szeczyk / Tomasz Karzynski (Mitsibishi Lancer Ralliart / 1h51'35''); 10. Aaron Neumann / Graham Coates (Honda Civic / 1h52'46'')

Interview with the ALMS champions

Courtesy Audi Motorsport

Laguna Seca, 16 October 2005 – Frank Biela (41) and Emanuele Pirro (43) won the 2005 American Le Mans series (ALMS) Drivers’ Championship in the team ADT Champion Racing Audi R8. They were presented with their trophy at the ALMS championship gala in Monterey (California) on Sunday evening. The two Audi works drivers discuss their winning streak in the USA and their plans for the future.

What does winning the title mean to you?
Frank Biela: "An enormous amount. Every title is great. However, after the difficult DTM year, this ‘comeback’ feels particularly good. It’s fair to say that the self-confidence did suffer a little last season.”
Emanuele Pirro: "After last season didn’t run as expected, it was important for me to be competitive again, and we were exactly that the whole year. That we also won the championship is obviously fantastic. It gave me confidence and motivation back.”

How difficult was the jump from the Audi A4 DTM back to the R8?
Biela: "I didn’t find it as difficult as the jump the other way. I think that my driving style suits the R8 more than that required in the DTM at the moment. I couldn’t change the driving style I’d been born with. That’s why stepping back into the sportscar was much easier. After two or three races I felt completely at home again.”
Pirro: "I often drove in different race series at the same time earlier in my career and never had a problem getting used to the various cars. In the DTM I had to force myself to change my driving style. The DTM demands a special driving style, on which I worked for a year. That’s why I had to rediscover my normal driving style for the R8. But it didn’t take very long.”

The Audi R8 will now be put out to pasture, what meaning did the R8 have for your career?
Pirro: "Everybody knows that the Audi R8 is an extraordinary car. But as is usually the case, you’ll realise only much later just how unique the Audi’s run of success really was. I’m proud to have been a part of the project. I won the first race, took the first Le Mans victory and also now the last championship for the R8.”
Biela: "The Audi R8 has a very special place in my career – simply because of the six long years that I spent driving the car. And obviously because of the sweet success: Le Mans, American Le Mans, Sebring and and and – I’ve won a lot of great races and championships with the R8.”

From your point of view how was the 2005 season?
Biela: "Very good. There was a short acclimatisation period in the first three races. The turning point came after Le Mans with three successive victories. Everything ran very smoothly. The team works extremely well. The atmosphere in the team is incredibly good. The season was big fun. Winning the championship was the icing on the cake.”
Pirro: "Things improved constantly. We started the season with a couple of question marks hanging in the air. After two or three races they were gone. Things actually went better than expected. At the end it was almost too easy; we won the championship at the penultimate race of the season.”

What is the special charm of endurance racing and the American Le Mans series?
Pirro: "The best thing is that you have to drive flat out all the time in today’s long-distance races. In a modern long-distance race every tenth of a second counts, even in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In the past, it never occurred to me to look after the car and tyres during a long-distance race. Furthermore, it’s a great feeling to have a team mate with who you get on so well. The races in America are something very special. The circuits are fabulous. You don’t have as much fun on the modern European circuits. There is also a fantastic atmosphere in America.”
Biela: "First and foremost the type of race car is excellent. Driving a sportscar is a huge amount of fun, and the races are interesting. There are driver changes, and strategy plays an important role. The American race tracks are fantastic. Flying backwards and forwards across the Atlantic is stressful, but the races in the USA are simply great fun.”

In the meantime you are both over 40. How much longer do you want to drive?
Biela: "It’s clear that this question is posed more frequently when you are over 40. I’m now 41. I hope that I have another two, three or four competitive years in me. We’ll see what I do afterwards, just how competitive I’ll still be and whether I’m still enjoying myself. At the moment I definitely want to continue driving.”
Pirro: "I’d like to drive for a few more years. I’d certainly like to finish my career at Audi. I owe Audi a great deal, but have also given Audi a lot. I’d like to sit down with Dr. Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport) and decide together when the time is ripe to retire. However, at the moment I feel top fit and in good form. And I still have a lot of fun racing.”

SOUTHERN ONTARIO SPRINTS GET NEW PRESIDENT

On Sunday October 16th the Southern Ontario Sprints elected a new president as Peter Turford stepped down after five seasons as the clubs leader. Media Officer Bill Oldroyd will now hold the title of SOS President.

The Secretary position was also open for election. Stepping down was Daryl Turford. Randa Vandertuin was elected as the new club Secretary. Two board member positions were also open for election. Willy Northcott and Mark Christiano (re-elected) were elected from a group of four possible candidates.

The SOS welcomes all of the new board members and would like to extend a thank you to Peter and Daryl Turford for their many years of service and outstanding work in helping to bring the SOS to the strong club that it is today!

SOS Online

Friday, October 14, 2005

CASCAR on TV... Kawartha Finale

Watch the final event of the 2005 CASCAR SUPER SERIES Season, the DODGE RAM TOUGH 250 from Kawartha Speedway, on Sunday October 16th on SPORTSNET!

EAST and ONTARIO Regions on Sunday October 16th @ 1:30PM EST

WEST and PACIFIC Regions on Sunday October 16th @ 12:00PM MST

***this is a 90 minute program***

Replays

EAST Tuesday October 18th @ 2:30PM EST

ONTARIO Friday 21st @ 1:00PM EST

WEST Monday 17th @ 1:00PM MST

PACIFIC Friday 21st @ 1:00PM PST

FLAMBORO SPEEDWAY: Season Ends With Championship Plans for 2006

Courtesy Flamboro Speedway (Picture supplied by Dave Watson)

Series Race #23 - Flamboro Speedway - October 2nd
The Oktoberfest Show was filled with excitement. It would be Gary’s first ever 100 lap race bringing with it some of Ontario’s best Late Model drivers. Qualifying was done on Saturday October 1st.

A record 32 cars battled for 24 spots. A 2nd in the heat qualified him 6th. David won the heat, picking up his 8th win of the season. An invert of 16 put Gary 11th in the line up. The start of the race was very tight with many fast cars. Moving to the outside the Quaker State Dodge soon got into 7th place and followed ALSTAR Champ Kirk Hooker. A caution on lap 11 provided the opportunity to get by the 6th place car of #22 Glen Watson.

For the next 10 laps Gary glued his car to the back of Hookers #38. Another caution came when 5th place runner Larry Jackson spun out. Gary moved to 5th and would restart beside the #38 to lead the outside lane. Also moving quickly through the pack was David coming from 14th to 7th. On the restart Gary moved the black Dodge past 4th to the rear of 3rd place runner #30 Jim Molehuis another ALSTAR veteran.

The challenge of running the outside lane with these quick cars didn’t discourage the Rookie although these seasoned Late Model vets were anything but passive. Coming off turn 2 the pack of cars headed for turn 3 with Gary beside Kirk and David on dads bumper. Suddenly Kirk moved his car into the high lane hitting the Quaker State car. Gary slowed to avoid the wall but the decrease in speed was too quick for David to react and he slammed the black Dodge knocking into the lower lane where a chain reaction developed causing chaos and mayhem. Gary was hit hard and driven back into the high lane where he collected David. Unfortunately the only 2 cars wrecked were the father and son team.

Later Kirk Hooker would apologize claiming that he didn’t see Gary. A handshake settled the issue. Both returned to the race many laps down. Gary finished 17th and David 18th.

Series Race #24 - Peterborough Speedway - October 9th
With WWS points on the line and the possibility of losing 3rd, Gary and his team hoped their debut at Peterborough would be a success. The car was prepared during the week with Flamboro’s wounds repaired. What the team wanted was to finish the season with a good performance. What happened was incredibly bizarre.

During hot laps with the Quaker Sate Dodge turning excellent times, another car on the track was black-flagged. The driver was suppose to take his car to the infield until practice was over, but instead stopped at the end of the front chute, in the fast lane to turn into the pits. Unfortunately, Gary came flying past the starter stand with 2 other cars on the low lane. The only choices were to slam into the back of the stopped car or go around the outside. Passing high at full speed Gary slid through the opening in turn one and head on into the cement barriers and huge tires. The car went air born landing on top of the tires.

Gary was unhurt but the car suffered serious suspension damage. The crew worked hard (along with the driver who stopped on the track) to get the car ready for the heats. Though race ready, it would not be the same car prior to the accident. On Sunday Gary started 16th but parked the car after two right rear flats. Gary made enough points to finish 3rd in the WWS series. David meanwhile won the WWS Late Model Championship by 3 points his first Late Model title.

FINAL Flamboro Points Standings:
1. #52 Scott Lyons (2071 pts); 2. #8 Paul House (1986); 3. #37 David Elliott (1983); 4. #4 Terry King (1953); 5. #36 Gary Elliott (1941); 6. #56 Jeff Stewart (1934); 7. #07 Todd Campbell (1928); 8. #27 Mark Burbridge (1884); 9. #95 Kevin Benish (1788); 10. #23 Dave Baker (1747); 11. #55 Greg Cox (1697); 12. #06 Simon Wild (1604); 13. #89 Shawn Chenoweth (1257); 14. #44 Steve Laking (1105); 15. #10 Shane Gowan (1093);

FORMULA BMW NEWS: Kevin Lacroix, a remarkable season!

Courtesy Richard Galarneau, Lacroix Racing Team

St-Eustache, Québec, October 14. – After completing his season in Formula BMW USA, young driver Kevin Lacroix took some time with his team to brush up a picture of the first year of his road racing career. The 16-year old young man is really proud of his first season and draws many positive conclusions. One thing is obvious in his mind: he has come a long way from the kid who was driving karts just a year ago.

“When I realize what happened to me over the span of one year, says Lacroix, I have to admit this season was a tremendous learning curve and no other series could have done better for me. The BMW series is meant for young drivers coming out of karting. The FB2 machine is swift and nervous, similar to the small machines I drove for nine years before reaching the big tracks.”

From karting to road racing
It all started last year when Kevin was invited to both BMW training camps in Valencia, Spain. He continues: “We are supervised by professional instructors whether we’re on the track or attending classes. We get familiar with the car, we learn how to behave on the track, etc” After these camps, Kevin was awarded a 40,000$ scholarship and was tutored for the rest of the season. “We were sent to the NASA training center for a physical evaluation. You learn early that you physical fitness is very important when you race. The you realize again how serious those people are: over the course of a race season, I learned more than all my karting years put together. No other series could have done as much. I strongly recommend all newcomers to road racing to start with the BMW.”

Four victories and great events
He totaled four victories this season, the highest by any driver, and a few more podiums. “I was pretty impressed to race on such grand prix tracks like Indianapolis and Montreal, my hometown. Some other tracks were also fantastic racing venues. Each of the seven double headers was a new challenge. Besides the races, we also met great people.”

Special thanks
Kevin had some kind words for the people around him. “I want to thank the series officials who were very professional. Also AIM Motorsport and Keith Willis for their work at the races. Hats off to my engineer Yvan Turcotte who the tireless hours he spent preparing the UniSelect #22 car. And also my manager Richard Galarneau. Finally, the season would not have been possible without my sponsors. They have been very supportive over the last four years and I feel committed to them.”

Where the future lies
The team around Kevin Lacroix is presently considering different avenues for 2006. “We have a few offers from European Formula 3 teams but our goal right now is the new Formula Atlantic series. With a new chassis and engine, all teams will start from scratch with no data: this will benefit a young man like me who would start fresh with new package like all the others. Furthermore, the mother series will apply a two million dollar prize money for the champion when he enters Champ Car.

Testing to come
The Lacroix team is working on a testing schedule in the coming weeks. “We want to test with the former 014a model: it is very competitive and most of the teams will test with it. The new package won’t be available before Spring. The best way to keep posted about what will happen to me in the future is to pay a little visit to my web site.”

Named the Rising Star among kart drivers in 2004, Kevin Lacroix was a 2005 Formula BMW USA scholar, the best entry level professional racing series in America, Europe and Asia. He took part in Formula BMW USA in 2005 with the support of sponsors that have trusted him for many years: Uni-Select network, SKF MotorSports, Raybestos, Tenneco, Pennzoil, Auto Parts Plus and Lacroix Auto Parts. His web site can be visited at www.kevinlacroix.com.

ATLANTIC CHAMPIONSHIPS POSTPONED AT THE CENTRE FOR SPEED

Courtesy Tim Wile, The Centre for Speed - "Atlantic Canada's Super Speedway"

Well folks, unfortunately, due to the weather we are forced to postpone the Atlantic Championships - Speed Weekend presented by Midland to next week - Oct 21, 22 and 23.

I know most of us will be disappointed with the news however the event continues to gain momentum and has now reached a record enrollment of over 230 entries and promises to be well worth the wait.

So, we'll see you next week for one of the biggest stock car event weekends of the year - The Atlantic Championships - Speed Weekend presented by Midland. Oct 21 - 23rd.

Please spread the word! (...and pray for sunshine next weekend)

A complete updated schedule of events will be posted on the CENTRE for Speed site early next week.

Yours very truly

Tim Wile, www.centreforspeed.com
506 388-2415 (O)
506 866-6387 (C)
506 877-1068 (F)

Thursday, Oct. 13, 2005 – Lowe’s Motor Speedway – Ray Evernham and Erin Crocker Q&A

Courtesy Evernham Motorsports

Ray Evernham (President and CEO, Evernham Motorsports)
“We are going to run the full (NASCAR Craftsman) Truck Series. We are going to run six Busch races and probably six or seven ARCA races. At this time, it’s the best way for our program. Our ultimate goal is to get Erin Crocker to be competitive at the Nextel Cup level. We are just looking at changing our steps a little bit, and we feel that the plan now is a little better plan than we originally came up with.”

Is this the plan that you talked about at the beginning?
“It is. It’s more like I had originally planned, and sometimes there are a lot of other factors that you have to change, that start you going down a path that you may not want. It’s everyone’s competitive nature to run faster, sometimes, than we originally planned. We are at where we originally wanted to be. We certainly aren’t going down the Busch route. I think we just got ahead of ourselves.

“In general, Erin does a tremendous job. She’s really talented. I know she’s wrecked in the two Busch races, but speed-wise she gets the job done. I would put Erin in a Cup car tomorrow, if it was purely qualifying and speed. Without having raced that much on pavement and without racing in traffic a lot, we feel that this is going to be a much better way to get more experience racing, without having all the pressure.

“In all fairness to her, I want her to learn without people running all over her all the time. It might be giving her a little bit more of a break. I don’t know whether we would be having a different conversation or not, but the point is that she’s not going to get the experience and the laps if people keep wrecking her.”

The two Busch races that Erin raced in already, did that directly affect this decision, or were you already thinking of this?
“I had been thinking about the decision. A large part is what our partners want and if they are committed (to the change). Judging by the two Busch races, which is one part of what we looked at, I feel we went back to the plan that I felt was the best plan. Erin has another Busch race this year and obviously she would have run well at the Richmond and Dover races, and she will in the future as long as no one runs in the back of her again. They were factors, but I don’t want to say it was the determining factor, because it would be unfair to her to judge her off those two races. Parts of the factors were the number of Cup guys that are going to be in Busch next year.

“This year there is already a bunch – right now there are fifty-five Busch cars in the garage next door – and we understand that there are going to be more next year. I just feel it’s going to be best for Erin to split her time between those three series. She will be able to run competitively in the Truck Series and run for the Rookie-of-the-Year title and have some good finishes. We will step up in ARCA where she will gain her superspeedway experience, and with six Busch races she can really get acclimated with the car in that series. So overall, I really think it’s going to be a good program.”

Where are you going to get the trucks that Erin will run?
“I think we can just go get some of those Dodge Rams out of the lot. Don’t they just put roll cages in them? We hired Keith Barnwell, who was the general manager with ppc Racing, and he has experience with the Busch cars as well as running in the Truck Series. Certainly Dodge, even though Dodge is backing away from their factory support in the Truck Series, there still is a lot of knowledge there. We just need to hire the right people, and you don’t need as many trucks as you would Busch cars. It will actually be a little easier to put together than the Busch team would have been.”

Who will the crew chief be?
“We are looking at a few people right now. Keith is going to bring us some prospects and sit down and talk with them. We are looking for someone with a lot of experience over on the truck side.”

How is Erin taking this?
“Certainly, she’s extremely disappointed, because things were moving along and now it may seem like we are backing up. I don’t want her to think that we are backing up. She’s a very confident, very competent driver. And she’s like I’ve said before, a fiery little red head, and she wants to go. That’s one of the reason’s she’s going to make it, is because she’s ready to go, and I would rather have someone that I have to hold back than someone I have to push forward.”

“We were concerned about that, but in reality it’s the plan we think is best. In this business, people are going to say lots of different things anyways, but in the end they can only judge you on what you did. So, what we have to do is, sure take the criticism, but in the end as long as we deliver, the facts are the facts. So I think it’s going to be easier for me because I’ve been on both sides of the business. One day you’re a hero and the next day you’re an idiot. Hopefully, that’s not what everyone thinks, but I always tell Erin and Kasey when they have bad days, that in the end your book isn’t written all in the first chapter. Everyone is going to have their say, but if we go out and do what we set to do in the end, we are going to be well off.”

What are the expectations, now that we decided what we are going to do?
“We are going to sit down as a group, and I want to sit down with the team, and go over what we want from testing. And certainly if we run six ARCA races next year, I think our goal should be to win one of those because we have a baseline. I don’t know where our goals for the Truck Series or Busch Series should be at next year.”

What about General Mills?
“We will be with General Mills on all of our cars and trucks; Erin is a General Mills driver. They will be a sponsor on the ARCA car, the Busch car and the Dodge Truck; it’s actually a really neat program.

“I don’t want to get into the specifics of the contract, but we have a really good relationship with General Mills, and lets just say have not held back any support.”

What are your goals now?
“We – myself, Erin and General Mills – we feel it’s the best thing for her right now and in the long term to make her a competitive driver in Nextel Cup. Whether she’s running Busch or Truck, it doesn’t really matter, what matters is getting her lap time, keeping her confident, getting her experience and to build a team that will surround her and support her. With the overall goal in mind, it’s really not a big change. This should allow her to race more competitively, than to, honestly, go out and run around in the back of the Busch races. With the races next year, we just want to build her confidence.”

Erin Crocker (Evernham Motorsports Developmental Driver) – What are you thoughts about the decision?
“I think we just got a little ahead of ourselves as far as a full year of Busch, but I look at it as one step back, two steps forward.”

How are you feeling? I mean the rib?
“Well, that was almost three weeks ago now, so I’m back to my regular self. I’m not one that complains a lot to start with and I think I have a high tolerance for pain, but everyone tells me there’s nothing you can do about it. And I think when we ran Talladega, there is so much force that it’s pushing me down into the seat that I didn’t really notice it, but then we tested the next week (Kentucky) and I could feel it a little bit more and someone caught wind of it and that went back to Ray. So the next morning it was, ‘What time is your appointment?’ “

Are you concerned about the outside view of this being a step back?

“Not really, but the people that are important to me, like the Ray Evernhams and Jeremy Mayfields and other people that I respect in racing know it’s for the best.”

Will this maybe make your more comfortable?
“I feel like when Ray said I was ready and that he has a lot of confidence in me, I looked at it in a positive way. We started looking at how many Cup drivers are going to run Busch next year and with the testing changes, he asked me if would feel comfortable going to Daytona and California without ever seeing these places and going out there with twenty Cup drivers, the Truck Series wasn’t sounding so bad.”

When is the first time you are going to be in a truck?
“We are going to be going to Phoenix and Miami this year.”

How do you feel about your two Busch races this year?
“Frustrating, I take the blame for Richmond. I got in over my head a little bit and I messed up my qualifying, something that is pretty simple. I just got down too low and made a driver mental error. And from there we were behind the eight ball. We had a big media day announcing General Mills and with everything else going on I just want to forget about that day all together. Then Dover, I felt really comfortable, we qualified really well, and I felt if we could just get some laps it would be so much experience, and to have that happen on lap 12 is really frustrating.”

So how are you in a pick-up truck?
“I’ve never actually driven one on a race track, but I’m sure we will be alright. Everyone says they are fun to drive, they are a little more forgiving with the longer wheel-base, and I’m really looking forward to racing them.”

Not on the race track, but what have you learned this year?
“Where do I start…I’ve learned a lot about the race cars, I’ve learned a lot about people, about media… it’s just been a huge learning curve that I enjoy learning.”

When did you find out about this change?
“I knew we were going to make some changes, and I had an opportunity to talk with Ray at Talladega and then that Monday we went to lunch and talked about it. It wasn’t like he said this is what we are doing, we talked about it, and it was a nice father-daughter chat.”

Isn’t this more racing?
“We will run over 40 races, and I think it’s great. Not only will it give me more seat time, but it will be in different cars for that matter.”

Dual Airbags return to Super DIRT Week

Courtesy Dirt Motorsports PR

October 12, 2005 Hamilton, Ontario ­The Dual Airbags returned from Super DIRT Week with three new shows now available at www.oval1.com.

The Airbags, Clinton Geoffrey and Adam Ross, hosted two live shows in the infield of the Moody Mile at Super DIRT Week presented by Lucas Oil Products, Old Forge Powersports, Merrittville Speedway and Ohsweken Speedway.

Bolstering the events were superstar guests Brett Hearn, Tim Fuller, Billy Decker, Andy Bachetti, car owners Randy Ross and John Wight and DIRT Technical director Martin Willis along with special guest host Timmy McCreadie.

"We definitely exceeded our expectations," said show co-creator Geoffrey. "We judge the success by the crowd that gathers, and we stopped traffic on both days."

Sunday's show featuring guest host McCreadie - along with a panel of guests including Ross, Wight and Willis - started with a bang when McCreadie questioned DIRT's technical staff and knowledge.

"We should have thought of using a panel of guests a long time ago," said Ross. "We didn't have a whole lot to do once we got the ball rolling.

"I hope the fans enjoyed the different perspectives as much as we did."

The controversial ending to this year's Super DIRT Week prompted the Airbags to record a special edition program. The third SDW Dual Airbags show features comments on DIRT's decision to postpone the event by Stewart Friesen, Vic Coffey, Jeff Brownell and former DIRT race director Cory Reed.

Reed also discusses the Eastern States Weekend coming up at Orange County Fair Speedway and his first season away from DIRT Motorsports in many years.
Next week's follow-up program will feature more feedback from DIRT's major players on the rescheduling of the remaining 148 laps of the Eckerd Drugs 200 for November 5th.

The shows can be heard at www.oval1.com by following the Dual Airbags links. As always they are absolutely free.

Thursday, October 13, 2005

TSN: Molson looking to sell Toronto Indy

TSN.ca - Auto Racing - Canada's Sports Leader: "Molson looking to sell Toronto race



By TSN.ca Staff //



10/13/2005 9:42:02 AM



The Champ Car series has been given an October 31st deadline to purchase the assets of the Molson Indy Toronto or risk losing it to the rival Indy Racing League.



The Toronto Sun says while Molson is looking to shed its reponsibilites as the race promoter, they will likely continue its sponsorship of the event no matter who takes over the race.



'What we have now is a memorandum of understanding that means if (Champ Car) wants to purchase the physical assets of the race - which is the blocks, the fences and the bridges - it has to do its due diligence now,' Cynthea Galbraith, Molson Sports and Entertainment communications manager tells the newspaper.



A Champ Car spokesperson says the series is very interested in keeping Toronto on its schedule.

Galbraith added that a Champ Car takeover of the event would be the 'next best thing' to Molson running it."



... more at the link above.
Tracy's NASCAR debut on hold




Paul Tracy
TSN.ca Staff
10/12/2005 3:38:56 PM
Paul Tracy's NASCAR debut will likely have to wait until 2006.
With six races left in the season, Richard Childress says he is focused on helping Kevin Harvick secure 11th place in the Nextel Cup standings which comes with a $1-million bonus.
As well, should Clint Bowyer wrap up the Busch Series title before the NASCAR season ends, he would like to give him - and not Tracy - a chace at racing in a Cup event, according to the Indianapolis Star.
Tracy tested with Childress back in August with a goal of competing at the Nextel Cup event in Michigan. But Childress said there was not enough time to properly prepare the former Champ Car champion for his debut.
It was speculated that Tracy might make his NASCAR debut at the Nextel Cup event in Atlanta on October 30, but that is unlikely to happen according to the Star.


Tracy's contract with Forsythe Racing is set to expire at the end of this year and the Canadian is keen on trying his hand at NASCAR. Forsythe Racing boss Gerald Forsythe has indicated that Tracy will always have a deal to drive one of his cars as long as he wants.

Wednesday, October 12, 2005

GIRL RACER TO DRIVE BOY RACER

Courtesy Alain Surprenant

After a successful weekend at Virginia International Raceway, car owner Tom Nastasi announced after his Grand-Am Cup 200 win that he has signed the 22 year old Driver “Valerie Limoges”, of Montreal, Quebec. Canada, to a three year contract to drive the # 4 Ford Mustang GT FR500C for Blackforest Motorsports of Deland Florida, in the Grand-Am Cup Championship for two years and a third year to move to a higher series.

The team, in its first year of Grand-Am Cup competition, began the Championship by winning the inaugural race in Daytona for Ford and the Mustang GT FR500C car and capped off the year with a book end win at VIR. The team finished forth in the series championship and drivers Tom Nastasi and Ian James finished fifth in the drivers championship having missed one race during the series.

Valerie is a quadruple kart champion in F100 and F125.

At the age of 19 she moved into FF1600, and then with a limited budget competed in the Canadian races of the North American Fran-Am series.

After securing sponsorship for 2005, Valerie competed in the Hankook Touring Car series were she had four top fives finishes, including a 3rd and six top tens, taking in account a run from 27th to 9th in the Three Rivers Grand Prix. She finishes the season forth in the championship.

Valerie will begin extensive testing with Blackforest Motorsports at the end of October right through to New Years day. A co-driver for the 2006 Grand-Am Cup Championship has of yet not been decided.

Make-Up Date Set For Eckerd 200 Modified Finales at NYS Fairgrounds

By DIRT MotorSports PR

WEEDSPORT, N.Y. (October 12) – The show WILL go on in 2005! DIRT MotorSports NorthEast officials have secured the date of Saturday, Nov. 5 to conclude the 34th edition of the Eckerd 200 for Advance Auto Parts Modifieds at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse. Sunday, Nov. 6 is available if necessary.

Pole-sitter Billy Decker will resume his position out front of the field with 52 of the scheduled 200 laps in the record book.

"We wanted to do everything possible to see this race finish under green this season," commented DIRT MotorSports Events Director Tonya Moschell. "There's no perfect solution that will please everybody but our intentions are to work with the teams and sponsors and we've been given the okay from the State Fair board to bring this event to its conclusion the first weekend in November."

Moschell also noted that staffing the event on Monday, Oct. 10 was never an issue, only the weather that has become as unpredictable as the Syracuse Mile itself over the past 34 autumns. Only twice in Super DIRT Week history ---1974 (95 of 100 laps) and 1992 (135 of 188 laps) --- has the headline Eckerd 200 been shortened due to rain and 1977 marks the lone time that the event was actually postponed until the following season. On three occasions over the past seven years, Sunday's Super Bowl of Modified racing has actually gone beyond the prescribed distance.

Since the race was able to be rescheduled this year ---which was far from certain at the time of its postponement--- it will now be the final points event of the year to determine the overall 2005 Hoosier Tire-Sunoco Race Fuels Mr. DIRT Champion. A pair of Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series events remain at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa. on Oct. 16 and Bridgeport (NJ) Speedway on Oct. 23 during the Atlantic Coast Championships before contending teams return to Syracuse in November.

Competitors have been put at ease knowing that the lucrative purse has been assigned to an escrow account. Individuals seeking pit access must have a red wristband while fans must save their wristbands and ticket stubs for admission to the Fairgrounds' grandstands for this make-up event. Reserved seating will be honored and free general admission passes can be picked up at all Eckerd and Advance Auto Parts store locations in the Syracuse area.

The DIRT MotorSports™ Advance Auto Parts Modified Series is brought to fans across the Northeast by several sponsors and partners, including series sponsors Advance Auto Parts, Dynomax Performance Exhaust, Hoosier Racing Tire and Sunoco Race Fuels. Promotional Partners include Stacker 2®, AMB i.t., RACEceiver, Zippo Lighters and F.X. Caprara Car Companies and the contingency sponsors are DART Machinery, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, MSD Ignitions and Wrisco Industries.

RACE REPORT: A1 GRAND PRIX OF NATIONS, EUROSPEEDWAY LAUSITZ, GERMANY

Courtesy Nikki Rooke, PR and Communications Manager

EuroSpeedway Lausitz, 9 October – It was a close fought, incident packed Feature race that was watched by 34,000 noisy fans at the impressive EuroSpeedway Lausitz circuit. The country whose national anthem was played on the winner’s podium for the second time this weekend was France, with Great Britain and Canada second and third, each taking their first podium of the A1GP series.

When the starting lights went out and the cars rushed into Turn 1, it was A1 Team Switzerland who got the best start with France in close attendance. As the cars crossed the start/finish line for the first time, it was A1 Team Malaysia completing the top three with Brazil in fourth. However, A1 Team France soon opted to use the PowerBoost button and the red, white and blue car overtook Switzerland on lap 4. In the meantime, A1 Team Brazil had moved ahead of Malaysia and the German fans were given something to cheer for as their car moved into fourth on lap two and third on lap 8.

The order at the front remained the same until France pitted and it was A1 Team Switzerland that crossed the line first at the end of lap 16. Sadly for Switzerland, a long pit stop put them out of contention and France re-took the lead they were never to give up on lap 21.

One of the drives of the race was by A1 Team Great Britain. With their car having started last, by the end of lap two it was seventeenth, by the end of lap 10 eleventh, by the end of lap 15 sixth and by the end of lap 21, the French driver knew he had a very rapid car behind him as A1 Team GBR was lying second. A1 Team Canada’s driver, Sean McIntosh, also moved up through the field after starting from seventh on the grid and like A1 Team GBR moved into a podium position on lap 21.

There was one safety car period after A1 Team India stopped on the start/finish straight and the car had to be retrieved. This was soon cleared up however A1 Team Malaysia received a drive through penalty for overtaking during this period. This was not the only team to be penalised during the race, as A1 Team Czech Republic received a drive through for a jump start and A1 Team Brazil, the same penalty for a pit stop infringement. Unfortunately that was not the end of Brazil’s problems as at the restart after the safety car period, three into two didn’t go and with the car in the middle of a sandwich, the inevitable collision happened and Brazil spun into retirement.

It was another miserable weekend for A1 Team USA with Scott Speed being an early retirement in both races. In the Sprint race it was a retirement at Turn 1 while in the Feature race, at the end of lap 2 the car drove into the garage.

Khalil Beschir, who made a name for himself at Brands Hatch after a spectacular crash, gave A1 Team Lebanon their best result to date despite severe handling problems and an extra pit stop. The Team, along with several others, encountered wheel nut problems during their pit stops. This is something that the A1 Grand Prix organisers will be looking into over the next couple of days.

A1 Grand Prix of Nations, EuroSpeedway Lausitz, Germany - Feature race results:

1. France / Nicolas Lapierre; 2. Great Britain / Robbie Kerr; 3. Canada / Sean McIntosh; 4. New Zealand / Jonny Reid; 5. Switzerland / Neel Jani; 6. Ireland / Ralph Firman; 7. Netherlands / Jos Verstappen; 8. Indonesia / Ananda Mikola; 9. Japan / Hideki Noda; 10. Germany / Timo Scheider; 11. Portugal / Alvaro Parente; 12. Pakistan / Adam Khan; 13. Mexico / David Martinez; 14. Australia / Christian Jones; 15. Austria / Mathias Lauda; 16. Malaysia Alex Yoong; 17. China / Jiang; 18. Lebanon / Khalil Beschhir (33 laps); 19. Czech Republic / Tomas Enge (27 laps); 20. Brazil / Nelson Piquet Jr. (26 laps);21. India / Karun Chandhok (19 laps); 22. South Africa / Tomas Scheckter (15 laps); 23. Italy / Enrico Toccacelo (11 laps); 24. USA / Scott Speed (4 laps)

CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS:

1. Brazil 30; 2. France 29; 3. New Zealand 29; 4. Switzerland 17; 5. Australia 16; 6. Mexico 16; 7. Great Britain 15; 8. Canada 14; 9. Malaysia 11; 10. Germany 8; 11. Ireland 8; 12. Netherlands 8; 13. Japan 6; 14. South Africa 5; 15. Pakistan 4; 16. Indonesia 3; 17. Portugal 3

To receive regular updates from A1 Grand Prix, or to register for media accreditation to attend an A1 Grand Prix race, please visit the Media Relations area at www.a1gp.com.

– A1 Grand Prix is the first opportunity in any area of motorsport for nations to compete with other nations on an equal basis. 25 national teams representing Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Switzerland and the USA race identical cars with no electronic driver aids. Performance is determined by human bravery, skill and excellence.

– Following the summer sun around the globe, A1 Grand Prix will deliver 12 weekends of exciting racing action outside of the traditional motorsport season. With the first race under its belt, A1 Grand Prix heads to EuroSpeedway, Lausitz in Germany this weekend before travelling to Portugal, Australia, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, South Africa, Brazil, Mexico, California, USA and China. Full details of the race calendar can be found at www.a1gp.com.

Points are awarded for the Sprint race and the Feature race, money is awarded for the Feature race only.


1st. 10 points $300,000; 2nd. 9 points $200,000; 3rd. 8 points $150,000; 4th. 7 points $110,000; 5th. 6 points $80,000; 6th. 5 points $60,000; 7th. 4 points $40,000; 8th. 3 points $30,000; 9th. 2 points $20,000; 10th. 1 point $10,000

There is also 1 bonus point available for the fastest lap in either the Sprint or Feature race.