DELAWARE SPEEDWAY RELEASES 2006 TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

DELAWARE, ON - Delaware Speedway has released its 2006 tentative event dates. The schedule features a variety of racing, centered around the track’s six divisions, the Cintas NASCAR Late Models, POWERADE® Modifieds, Kendall Motor Oil Street Stocks, Challenger Motor Freight Trucks, APC Enduros and the Krown Body Maintenance Junior Racing League. Several special events are also on tap for 2006, including the much-anticipated return of the I.S.M.A. Super Modifieds on September 29, 2006.

In the first event of the season, Jeff Coward of Komoka will begin defense of the first-ever APC Enduro championship at Delaware Speedway. An APC Enduro event on Sunday, April 23, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. will be the first racing of the season.

Opening day for the weekly divisions is set for Saturday afternoon, April 29, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. That day will feature the return of the Cintas NASCAR Late Models, who represent Delaware Speedway in both the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series and the Lucas Oil Weekend Warrior Series. Pete Vanderwyst of St. Thomas is the defending Delaware Speedway track champion while Scott Lindsay of St. Marys took the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series crown for the second-straight season.

Also running on Opening Day will be the POWERADE Modifieds and Challenger Motor Freight Trucks. Jamie Cox of Dorchester has won six-consecutive POWERADE Modified championship. Darrell Limon of Watford is the defending Challenger Motor Freight Truck division champion.

The Kendall Motor Oil Street Stocks will begin their season the following week, May 5, the first Friday night of the season. Dan Monaghan of Windsor is the defending Kendall Motor Oil Street Stock champion.

The weekly divisions will again serve as the backbone of the racing program at Delaware Speedway, with many fun and exciting race formats and promotions planned throughout the year.

The Cintas NASCAR Late Models are scheduled to run the largest variety of different races, including “Twin 55’s” (to mark the track’s 55th anniversary) on Friday, May 19; The “PartSource 139” (to mark Canada’s 139th birthday) on Friday, June 30; “Twin 75’s” on Friday, July 21; and the “Triple 50’s” to start the Great Canadian Race Weekend on Friday, September 1. Other different formats and special payouts may be put into play upon confirmation of additional sponsorships and plans of other race tracks in 2006.

The POWERADE Modified division will be showcased with an Invitational race on Friday, June 9, alongside the Auto Value Super Sprints. The Modifieds will also end their season by running the same night the I.S.M.A. Super Modifieds are in town, September 29.

The second annual Kendall Motor Oil Street Stock Showdown will take place on Friday, July 7. The same format for that race will be extended to the Challenger Motor Freight Truck division for the Truck “Challenge” on Friday, August 4 when the ARCA Lincoln Welder Truck Series is at the track.

The second annual APC Enduro All-Star race will again highlight the second day of the three-day Great Canadian Race Weekend, on September 2.

The Krown Body Maintenance Junior Racing League (for kids ages 8 to 17 years) will begin its 2006 Wednesday night racing on June 7, 2006. Marc Jacobs of London will return as the Junior Division champion. Andrew Gillen of London graduated from the program as the Senior Division champion in 2005.
CANUSA Eliminator races for weekly events will be confirmed shortly and announced separately.

Among the special events, Delaware Speedway is again planning to build on the tradition its CASCAR Super Series races on the Victoria Day Weekend in May and the Labour Day Weekend in September. The CASCAR events are still tentative and should be confirmed early in the New Year.

Groups returning to Delaware Speedway in 2005 include the Auto Value Super Sprints (June 9), Lucas Oil Canadian Vintage Modifieds (June 30) and the ARCA Lincoln Welder Truck Series (August 4). The ISMA Super Modifieds are returning to Delaware for the first time in over 20 years on Friday, September 29, 2006.

2006 Season Passes are now on sale. Other ticket packages, including advanced tickets for the ISMA Super Modified race and a “Six Pack” of tickets are available for purchase online at http://www.delawarespeedway.com/. ISMA advanced tickets and “Six Packs” are also available at the PartSource store at 618 Wharncliffe Road in London.

For more information contact: Kevin Bulmer, Delaware Speedway, (519) 652-5068 ext. 202 or kevin@delawarespeedway.com

F1: Williams drops plans for rival series (TSN)

Having lost his manufacturer backing, Frank Williams has decided it is better to do business with the devil he knows rather than the one he doesn't.

Williams F1 have become the latest team to sign on with the existing Formula One structure beyond 2008.

Williams called his decision "an important step towards protecting against a divisive split" which would undermine the sport of Formula One.

"WilliamsF1 has agreed to become a signatory to the new Concorde Agreement after confirming that the commercial rights holder, FOM (Formula One Management), had agreed to an improved distribution of commercial revenues among participating teams," read a statement released by the team. "In addition, significant progress had been made in securing important undertakings from the sport's governing body, the FIA, which will underpin the successful long term governance of Formula One."

Williams called on the other F1 teams to put the issue of a breakaway series behind them and work together with the current group to solidify and grow the sport.

... continued at link above...

BRIGHTON SPEEDWAY PARK: Bill Gaston

Farewell to a Driver...

The racing family has lost a veteran, friend and fellow competitor. Bill Gaston - driver of the 03 Canadian Modified- will be missed by his fellow drivers, Brighton Speedway Park management, staff and fans.

His colourful personality and long time dedication to dirt track racing reminds us all of why we do the things we do... maybe not because we are the best, but because we love it!!!

You and I will meet again
When we're least expecting it
One day in some far off place
I will recognize your face
I won't say goodbye my friend
For you and I will meet again

~Tom Petty

From Brighton Speedway Park

CUP: FINLEY TO HEAD UP NAPA RACING TEAM

HIGH POINT, N.C. (Dec. 6, 2005) – Following up on last week’s news regarding its recent changes to the No. 22 CAT Racing team, Bill Davis Racing released more details Tuesday about its 2006 plans for the No. 55 car, confirming Derrick Finley will serve as crew chief for Michael Waltrip and the No. 55 NAPA AUTO PARTS crew.

Along with Finley, the majority of the crew members who worked on the No. 22 car this 2005 season will move to the No. 55 team.

“Derrick has done a good job with the No. 22 car this year. Putting him and his experienced group of guys with Michael is going to make the entire transition back into a two-car team easier for all of us,” said Bill Davis, team owner and president of Bill Davis Racing. “Derrick is a very intelligent individual and a hard worker. I am confident he, Michael and the rest of the guys have what it takes to get the No. 55 NAPA car up front.”

Earlier this year, BDR entered into a partnership with Waltrip and NAPA AUTO PARTS to field a second team in 2006. Davis announced last Thursday Dave Blaney had returned to his racing organization to drive the No. 22 Caterpillar car in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, with Kevin Hamlin joining him as crew chief. Next season will be the first time since 2003 that Davis has fielded two full-time NASCAR Nextel Cup teams.

“I’m really looking forward to having two teams. Having Blaney and Hamlin’s input is going to be valuable. I’ve known Hamlin for a long time. We’ll work well together,” Finley said. “It’s a big help to be able to take most of my guys with me. We’ll have our core group together with a new driver, which should help speed everything up as far as comfort level for all of us.”

An Albuquerque, N.M., native, Finley graduated from the University of New Mexico with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1996. He was hired right out of college by the legendary racer Dale Earnhardt to become the first engineer employed at Dale Earnhardt Incorporated (DEI).

Finley came on board at BDR in 2003 to serve as team engineer, and then assumed crew chief duties for the No. 22 in late 2004.

“Obviously, it’s real exciting to get to work with Michael. I worked with his brother [Darrell Waltrip] at DEI and had some great success in a short amount of time with him. We expect to have the same success with Michael.”

From Contact: Angie Copen // Bill Davis Racing

NEW WEBSITES: HONEYWELL CPG BRANDS

Honeywell CPG brands FRAM®, Prestone®, and Autolite® are pleased to announce the launch of their all-new consumer web sites.

These dynamic sites are innovative in not only their design, but also in the way in which they inform, entertain and assist our consumers in selecting the best CPG products for their vehicle and lifestyle.

In addition to showcasing our premium products, these sites will also engage consumers with helpful tools, such as a maintenance calendar and helpful installation how-to videos and tips.


Additionally, these sites have enhanced features to promote consumer awareness regarding the importance of continual vehicle maintenance. Be sure to visit these sites often for product information and updates!

Middle East beckons McIntosh

Vancouver, Canada (December 06, 2005) – Having sampled tests in GP2 and World Series by Renault cars in the past two weeks, Sean McIntosh returns to his Team Canada racer this weekend, 9th-11th December, as the inaugural A1 Grand Prix of Nations hits the halfway stage with Round 6 hosted at the 5.39km Dubai Autodrome in the United Arab Emirates.

A1 Grand Prix’s first visit to the Middle East also marks something of a homecoming for the championship as it was in Dubai in March 2004, at the opening of the state-of-the-art Autodrome, that series founder Sheikh Maktoum first unveiled his plans for an international motorsport formula pitting nation against nation throughout the traditional ‘off-season’. That dream is now a reality with the series already visiting the UK, Germany, Portugal, Malaysia and Australia before Sunday’s spectacular in Dubai.

For Team Canada’s Sean McIntosh this weekend’s Sprint and Feature races offer an opportunity for the 20-year-old from Vancouver to learn yet another new circuit while adding to his record of five top-ten starts and five top-ten finishes, including Canada’s first A1GP podium in the Feature race at the EuroSpeedway in Germany.

"I can’t wait to get back into the Team Canada car in Dubai," McIntosh enthused. "Our last race in Malaysia feels like a long time ago and I’ve been waiting for this opportunity to get back behind the wheel and continue to demonstrate the pace we were showing last month. It was great to come back to Europe and test the GP2 and World Series by Renault cars but my focus is set firmly on improving Team Canada’s standing in the A1 series."

He continued, "I’m looking forward to learning the track during Friday’s practice sessions. The conditions will no doubt change as the weekend progresses and the sand, I’m sure, will be an ever-present factor. That will be the same for everyone though; our goal this weekend simply has to be to put together a complete package with two quick qualifying runs on Saturday and two points scoring races on Sunday. I’m confident we can achieve this and put Team Canada back into the top-ten heading into the second half of the season."

Team Canada currently sits just outside the top-ten in the Nations Standings in 11th place on 20 points. Team France leads the 25-strong field of nations with 92 points courtesy of eight consecutive victories. Sunday’s races can be viewed live or on-demand in Canada by logging on to: www.a1gp.com

By Stuart Morrison Public Relations

Joel Robinson says....

.... Watch the 2005 CASCAR YEAR-IN-REVIEW program on SPORTSNET Saturday December 10th

EAST Saturday Dec 10 @ 4:00PM EST
Monday 12 @ 7:00PM EST
Thursday 15 @ 3:00PM EST

ONTARIO Saturday 10 @ 3:00PM EST
Monday 12 @ 2:00PM EST
Wednesday 14 @ 1:00PM EST

WEST Saturday 10 @ 12:30PM MST
Thursday 15 @ 3:00PM MST
Monday 19 @ 1:00PM MST

PACIFIC Saturday 10 @ 4:00PM PST