LUCAS OIL WWS: A year of change

By Josh Paxton, WWS

While the fundamentals remain undisturbed, ‘a year of change’ will best describe the upcoming sophomore season of Canada’s Weekend Warrior Series.

When we last left Canada’s first ever league of grassroots stock car racing, the inaugural Lucas Cup Champion was crowned at Peterborough Speedway. Tom Walters of Barrie, recognized in Ontario stock car racing circles as both “Stompin’ Tom” and “Mr. Saturday Night,” fought for six long months against top competition, including a ferocious battle with fellow Barrie driver and former CASCAR competitor John Gaunt, to climb the proverbial mountain and claim the first ever Canadian Grassroots Stock Car Racing title.

Walter’s Eastern Conference equivalent, David Elliott of Acton, used his open-wheel experience and determined grit to put top contender, former CASCAR driver Pete Vanderwyst of St. Thomas, behind him to claim the Conference title.

More than two hundred other Late Model race car drivers challenged for a spot in the top ranks of the Weekend Warrior Series. Now, three months later, the awards banquets of the participating speedways are a memory of the past, and a fresh page awaits the next chapter of WWS Canadian grassroots stock car racing history.

The WWS administration, Paxton Motorsports Marketing, has had no off-season. Immediately following the close of the competitive racing season it was time to retrieve feedback from all available parties: sponsors, competitors, promoters, and fans. The first year involved a lot of learning, and WWS co-founders Joshua and Gerry Paxton continue to nurture the ‘evolution’ of this grassroots stock car racing league.

One of the more major projects was the development of a new look for the WWS. Set to be unveiled in the week of January 23rd, the all-new http://www.weekendwarriorseries.com/ website is not just a move, but a leap to a more professional and entertaining window into the workings of the program, and the lives of those people involved. Said Joshua, “We are taking the image of Canadian grassroots stock car racing to a whole new level. We want to share our passion with the nation. There are amazing stories of competition, teamwork, rivalry, and family, that happen each weekend, right here in Ontario, that get overlooked for imported stories. We’re looking to bring attention to the Canadian product.”

The website will also be introducing a new logo for the WWS program. “We’ve kept the theme of a warrior’s shield, and the original colours, but we really wanted to emphasize the pride of being a Canadian brand.” Heading into ’06, the Weekend Warrior Series is proud to announce the return and continued support of Lucas Oil Products.

When asked, Paxton Motorsports responded that the WWS is in the midst of developing additional added-value partner programs to supplement the Lucas Oil support. “Absolutely we are working to add partners. We’re working on a couple of associates to promote the two Ontario conferences, as well as working to develop additional programs to meet the needs of interested parties.”

Unfortunately it appears that not everyone shares the ambitious vision of the WWS. Earlier this morning it was announced that Mosport Speedway of Bowmanville had been released from the stock car racing league. WWS Director of Operations Gerry Paxton stated that following a performance review, and several conversations with Mosport Race Director Brian Bassett, “it became apparent that this particular speedway was not living up to its obligations as a member of the WWS.” The Weekend Warrior Series will post a further release regarding the dismissal of Mosport Speedway on its new website, to address the reasons and reactions to this decision.

The WWS is very positive about the outlook for the 2006 Canadian Grass Roots Racing program. The WWS league moves forward with a roster of seven Ontario-based asphalt speedways, including markets in Peterborough, Barrie, Hamilton, and London, as well as a new headquarters in Toronto. The weekly grassroots stock car racing program surrounds the Golden Horseshoe, encompassing some 12 million people, all of which the Paxton's refer to as ‘closet race fans’.

The idea is that racing offers something for everybody. For the thrill seeker there’s the speed, close passes, and big time wrecks. For the coach, there’s the reinforcement of team work and community. For the desktop designer there are the flashy colours and bright designs of paint schemes and logo work. “Our job is to find out what it is about racing that gets a person excited, and then get them out to experience it live.”

There’s already a lot of excitement surrounding the upcoming WWS racing season. Competitors and fans alike await the release of the 2006 event schedule, slated for release in February. There’s a lot more to come from WWS in ’06, so stay tuned.

For more information, contact Paxton Motorsports Marketing, Josh Paxton via email jp@weekendwarriorseries.com or Gerry Paxton at gerry@weekendwarriorseries.com.