Friday, June 27, 2008

CARPENTIER CLAIMS FIRST NASCAR POLE

PATRICK CARPENTIER IN THE No. 10 BERLIN CITY AUTO GROUP DODGE WON THE POLE FOR THE LENOX INDUSTRIAL TOOLS 301.

· Carpentier won his first Coors Light Pole in his 17th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start. His best previous start was fourth at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway (race No. 10).

· DID YOU KNOW? Prior to this afternoon, the most recent Raybestos Rookie to win a pole position in the Sprint Cup Series is Denny Hamlin. Hamlin captured the top starting spot for the 2006 Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond (62 races).

· The best previous start by a Raybestos Rookie here at New Hampshire was Jeff Gordon (third in 1993).

CARPENTIER: “It’s amazing. There’s going to be a busload of people coming to watch this one from up north this weekend. It’s great. I love this sport and I love driving these cars and I want to do it for many years. I was just happy when it was raining. It was like ‘Oh we’re going to make the race. We’re going to be in’ and it got even better. That was just really hooked up, similar to what we had at Richmond. After the first lap we’re on it so I’m pretty happy.”


WHAT WILL YOUR THOUGHTS BE ON HOW YOU RUN THIS THING? “For us, we’ve got to finish every race in the top-20. We need to put the car back in the top-35. I’m going to lead these guys on the green flag and hopefully I get to stay there for a while. We’ll go back and forth in the race but the important thing for us is to finish this race and get some points and get that car closer to the top-35.”


COMMENT ON YOUR LAP. “It was great. It was good this morning in practice and we made a few changes for this afternoon and I mean the car was hooked up in three and four, just brake in the corner and got right back on the throttle and stayed wide-open all the way to the start finish line. I starting the second lap and I was like ‘Oh this one is going to be good' and he said ‘Shut ‘er down, shut ‘er down, that’s good enough!’ I’m pretty happy.”


HOW DOES WINNING THE POLE TODAY STACK UP TO YOUR OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN RACING? “It’s the biggest thing in my career by far. I want to stay here. I lived in the U.S. for a long time and my kids are born here and we go back and forth from Montreal to the U.S. and this is what I want to do. I’ve always enjoyed it and since I’ve been here I love driving these cars and I realized I never really enjoyed the other things I did before. For me, that’s where I want to be and to get a pole today is the biggest thing in my career because I enjoy driving these things so that’s great.”


THIS TRACK IS JUST FOUR HOURS FROM HOME. THERE ARE A LOT OF PATRICK CARPENTIER SUPPORTERS IN THE STANDS. “That’s going to be great. We need to bring more fans, new fans, to racing and if it fills it up on Sunday you’re going to see busloads of people coming down. That’s what we want to see. We want to keep growing NASCAR. It’s a great sport and hopefully we keep doing that.”


CARPENTIER PRESS CONFERENCE

“I was going for the second lap and I was hoping this was going to be a little bit better and I was hoping I was going to be in the race and he said ‘Shut 'er down, shut 'er down you’re in. You’re on the pole. That was great. We’ve got a local sponsor this weekend with Berlin City Auto Group. They’ got dealerships here in New Hampshire and Vermont so it’s great. It’s a good thing. I’ve got also thank Dodge because we have a good engine and they give me good engines to qualify to make sure that we made the show and this weekend we’ve got a really good one. That’s what I told them this morning. I said this weekend has got a good one in there so I’ve got to thank these guys and everybody, Valvoline and LifeLock that’s been on the car this year because without them I wouldn’t be here. I want to be here for a while so this pole position is great.”


DID YOU WAIT ON PURPOSE TO WIN A POLE SO CLOSE TO YOUR HOME? “It’s amazing. It’s really amazing to be close to home. There going to be busloads of people coming down here and that’s what the objective is, to grow the fan base of NASCAR here and to bring more people in. A lot of people in Canada are starting to be fans so hopefully on Sunday I get to stay there for a while but that’s going to be the hard part. I’m enjoying this today. It’s great. I have one story that I have to say. We came here a couple of years ago because I wanted to race NASCAR and had been trying for a while, been trying to get in the Gong Show and it didn’t work out. We came here with absolutely nothing and we started talking to the NASCAR people and Robert [his agent] organized me a press conference. I said ‘What are you organizing that for? I have nothing to say.’ Anyway we did the press conference here and there was a lot of people actually. It came out pretty good and that’s what got us started and got us started on sponsorship for the Montreal race and that’s what started it all, actually, was right here

that press conference on the other side. It’s the first time it went out and that was two years ago. If you would have told me in two years, I remember we were by the fence down at the back and I was holding the fence watching Tony Stewart race the late model on Saturday or something like that. I was like ‘Man that would be fun to do. These guys, they race anything, any series and I want to be here. And if you would have told me we got a pole here I wouldn’t have believed you but it’s great.”


HOW MEANINGFUL IS IT TO BE ON THE POLE HERE TWO YEARS LATER AND TO BOLSTER THIS SEASON THAT YOU’RE HAVING? “Honestly, I would have liked a pole last week on the road course. I wouldn’t have been as happy as what I am now. I mean, to me NASCAR is all ovals. I’ve always loved ovals and always wanted to race on the ovals and when they told me if you want to make a good impression go on the road course in Montreal. I said ‘Are they going to label me as a road course guy? I want to do ovals.’ And this is what I like, what I really like so to get a pole on the oval is unbelievable. I’m really happy. Hopefully it helps for me to stick around for a few years because I enjoy the sport. I was at the exit of corner two looking at the races and practice and stuff and we were like man, that would be great to be driving one of these and we’re here now so that’s good.”


CAN YOU PINPOINT WHERE THE PROGRESS HAS BEEN FOR DODGE THIS YEAR? “It’s been amazing. We tested all winter, tested really hard and Kasey and Elliott did a lot of things to the car and it’s teamwork. Ray has organized the team and put some people in place and with Mr. Gillett buying the team and focusing on the sponsorship side of it and having some guys on the technical side of it everybody kind of does his job more than having…it was a lot. For Ray to do everything with sponsors and this and that, the sport has grown too much to do that and now Ray comes in and helps and gives me some tips and different things. And Kasey and Elliott really work together well. These guys, as soon as I find something on the car that’s good I give it to them. But I’ll be honest with you, more often it’s them that’s giving it to me for now. But in the future we hope to give them some more. It’s been amazing. Like from last year for me when I came in at Phoenix there was not that much communication with the team. It was like three single-car teams in one three-car team. This year it’s really truly starting to be a three-car team and they’re really working for the guys and we’ll get meetings together and everything. The team is just coming together. It’s been fun to watch. I mean, I came in at the right time last year. Everybody struggled and they picked me up and the team is coming back up. I’m really fortunate.”


COMPARE THE POLE HERE VERSUS THE POLE AT MONTREAL. “For me the answer is that Montreal wasn’t as exciting as this one because if I would have qualified sixth at Montreal you would have ne ver seen me in a Sprint Cup car later on so that pole meant a lot to us when you had to run top-two or top three to make a good impression there. By getting that pole at Montreal we knew we had part of it done so we’re really excited about this one here and Montreal. Both of them were very exciting because it’s my first one on ovals here. It’s pretty amazing. And the one in Montreal was the first one I was hoping of many. Both of them were good.”


COMMENT ON QUALIFYING AFTER THE RAIN DELAY. HOW MUCH DID THE TRACK CHANGE? “It has nothing to do with the track [laughs]. I’m joking. The track came in and we kind of knew it. My chief mechanic actually said that ‘You know the track is going to be really sticky, so if we play our cards right you’re going to have a good car and it’s going to be hooked up.’ But for us it doesn’t really matter because the go-or-go-homers are all at the same time so you’ve still got to beat these guys out. I never thought the track would be as good as running up front and it definitely had more grips. The rain cools it down very quickly and it was about 105 [degrees] in the afternoon, something like that, and it was probably down to 70 degrees later so that gives us a lot of grip. But don’t talk about that, it’s just between you and me [laughs].”


DID YOU FEEL A SENSE OF URGENCY TODAY WITH THE RAIN OR WERE YOU CONFIDENT? “We were talking with these guys earlier on that if it rains, you’re in, so for us the first objective is to be in the race. I never thought today we’d be so far ahead up front. I like to qualify. I always have and I like to qualify on the oval but it’s so risky if you are a go-or-go-homer. If you make a mistake on that lap you’re going home so it’s a lot of pressure. And when you have to qualify it’s a lot more pressure. I was like ‘We’re in the race so we’re good. We’re going to be here in the show on Sunday.’ But I never it would be that much up front. I was trying to focus on the lap and the process. I sit in the car early and do the lap in my mind and try to improve it from practice and try to do that lap in qualifying. But it qualifying I had in my mind a 29.7 so I was off a little bit but usually I’m pretty close. I always try to get the lap I need to make the show but the track helped us, too.”


HOW DO YOU PLAN TO HOLD THE LEAD ONCE THE RACE STARTS? “Somebody asked me ‘Are you going to lead to the green flag?’ I said ‘You bet I’m going to lead the green flag.’ I don’t know how long I’m going to stay there but I’ll cross start finish at least I hope. It’s going to be tough. It was like Richmond. We qualified out the front and then we start moving back so we’re going to work on the race setup tomorrow and I think we’ve still got some new tires to work with so that should help for the race setup. We’ve been working on it. It takes some time. These guys, they’ve been doing it for many, many years and it usually takes me a little bit to get the track in race mode and how the car needs to be driven, which line and where with the traffic and stuff. We have the intention of staying there more, fighting it a little bit more. Tony Stewart came a couple of weeks ago in the trailer and gave me a bunch of tricks for the restarts and talked to me for a while there. So I’ve had a lot of help since Richmond so hopefully it pays off. The main objective is to finish top-15, top-20. If we do that we move on to the next one, we got closer to the top-35 so I still got to keep that in mind. It’s not like staying up front at all costs. If we’re good enough to do it we’ll stay there. If not, we need the points.”

CARPENTIER CLAIMS FIRST NASCAR POLE

PATRICK CARPENTIER IN THE No. 10 BERLIN CITY AUTO GROUP DODGE WON THE POLE FOR THE LENOX INDUSTRIAL TOOLS 301.

· Carpentier won his first Coors Light Pole in his 17th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start. His best previous start was fourth at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway (race No. 10).

· DID YOU KNOW? Prior to this afternoon, the most recent Raybestos Rookie to win a pole position in the Sprint Cup Series is Denny Hamlin. Hamlin captured the top starting spot for the 2006 Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond (62 races).

· The best previous start by a Raybestos Rookie here at New Hampshire was Jeff Gordon (third in 1993).

CARPENTIER: “It’s amazing. There’s going to be a busload of people coming to watch this one from up north this weekend. It’s great. I love this sport and I love driving these cars and I want to do it for many years. I was just happy when it was raining. It was like ‘Oh we’re going to make the race. We’re going to be in’ and it got even better. That was just really hooked up, similar to what we had at Richmond. After the first lap we’re on it so I’m pretty happy.”


WHAT WILL YOUR THOUGHTS BE ON HOW YOU RUN THIS THING? “For us, we’ve got to finish every race in the top-20. We need to put the car back in the top-35. I’m going to lead these guys on the green flag and hopefully I get to stay there for a while. We’ll go back and forth in the race but the important thing for us is to finish this race and get some points and get that car closer to the top-35.”


COMMENT ON YOUR LAP. “It was great. It was good this morning in practice and we made a few changes for this afternoon and I mean the car was hooked up in three and four, just brake in the corner and got right back on the throttle and stayed wide-open all the way to the start finish line. I starting the second lap and I was like ‘Oh this one is going to be good' and he said ‘Shut ‘er down, shut ‘er down, that’s good enough!’ I’m pretty happy.”


HOW DOES WINNING THE POLE TODAY STACK UP TO YOUR OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN RACING? “It’s the biggest thing in my career by far. I want to stay here. I lived in the U.S. for a long time and my kids are born here and we go back and forth from Montreal to the U.S. and this is what I want to do. I’ve always enjoyed it and since I’ve been here I love driving these cars and I realized I never really enjoyed the other things I did before. For me, that’s where I want to be and to get a pole today is the biggest thing in my career because I enjoy driving these things so that’s great.”


THIS TRACK IS JUST FOUR HOURS FROM HOME. THERE ARE A LOT OF PATRICK CARPENTIER SUPPORTERS IN THE STANDS. “That’s going to be great. We need to bring more fans, new fans, to racing and if it fills it up on Sunday you’re going to see busloads of people coming down. That’s what we want to see. We want to keep growing NASCAR. It’s a great sport and hopefully we keep doing that.”


CARPENTIER PRESS CONFERENCE

“I was going for the second lap and I was hoping this was going to be a little bit better and I was hoping I was going to be in the race and he said ‘Shut 'er down, shut 'er down you’re in. You’re on the pole. That was great. We’ve got a local sponsor this weekend with Berlin City Auto Group. They’ got dealerships here in New Hampshire and Vermont so it’s great. It’s a good thing. I’ve got also thank Dodge because we have a good engine and they give me good engines to qualify to make sure that we made the show and this weekend we’ve got a really good one. That’s what I told them this morning. I said this weekend has got a good one in there so I’ve got to thank these guys and everybody, Valvoline and LifeLock that’s been on the car this year because without them I wouldn’t be here. I want to be here for a while so this pole position is great.”


DID YOU WAIT ON PURPOSE TO WIN A POLE SO CLOSE TO YOUR HOME? “It’s amazing. It’s really amazing to be close to home. There going to be busloads of people coming down here and that’s what the objective is, to grow the fan base of NASCAR here and to bring more people in. A lot of people in Canada are starting to be fans so hopefully on Sunday I get to stay there for a while but that’s going to be the hard part. I’m enjoying this today. It’s great. I have one story that I have to say. We came here a couple of years ago because I wanted to race NASCAR and had been trying for a while, been trying to get in the Gong Show and it didn’t work out. We came here with absolutely nothing and we started talking to the NASCAR people and Robert [his agent] organized me a press conference. I said ‘What are you organizing that for? I have nothing to say.’ Anyway we did the press conference here and there was a lot of people actually. It came out pretty good and that’s what got us started and got us started on sponsorship for the Montreal race and that’s what started it all, actually, was right here

that press conference on the other side. It’s the first time it went out and that was two years ago. If you would have told me in two years, I remember we were by the fence down at the back and I was holding the fence watching Tony Stewart race the late model on Saturday or something like that. I was like ‘Man that would be fun to do. These guys, they race anything, any series and I want to be here. And if you would have told me we got a pole here I wouldn’t have believed you but it’s great.”


HOW MEANINGFUL IS IT TO BE ON THE POLE HERE TWO YEARS LATER AND TO BOLSTER THIS SEASON THAT YOU’RE HAVING? “Honestly, I would have liked a pole last week on the road course. I wouldn’t have been as happy as what I am now. I mean, to me NASCAR is all ovals. I’ve always loved ovals and always wanted to race on the ovals and when they told me if you want to make a good impression go on the road course in Montreal. I said ‘Are they going to label me as a road course guy? I want to do ovals.’ And this is what I like, what I really like so to get a pole on the oval is unbelievable. I’m really happy. Hopefully it helps for me to stick around for a few years because I enjoy the sport. I was at the exit of corner two looking at the races and practice and stuff and we were like man, that would be great to be driving one of these and we’re here now so that’s good.”


CAN YOU PINPOINT WHERE THE PROGRESS HAS BEEN FOR DODGE THIS YEAR? “It’s been amazing. We tested all winter, tested really hard and Kasey and Elliott did a lot of things to the car and it’s teamwork. Ray has organized the team and put some people in place and with Mr. Gillett buying the team and focusing on the sponsorship side of it and having some guys on the technical side of it everybody kind of does his job more than having…it was a lot. For Ray to do everything with sponsors and this and that, the sport has grown too much to do that and now Ray comes in and helps and gives me some tips and different things. And Kasey and Elliott really work together well. These guys, as soon as I find something on the car that’s good I give it to them. But I’ll be honest with you, more often it’s them that’s giving it to me for now. But in the future we hope to give them some more. It’s been amazing. Like from last year for me when I came in at Phoenix there was not that much communication with the team. It was like three single-car teams in one three-car team. This year it’s really truly starting to be a three-car team and they’re really working for the guys and we’ll get meetings together and everything. The team is just coming together. It’s been fun to watch. I mean, I came in at the right time last year. Everybody struggled and they picked me up and the team is coming back up. I’m really fortunate.”


COMPARE THE POLE HERE VERSUS THE POLE AT MONTREAL. “For me the answer is that Montreal wasn’t as exciting as this one because if I would have qualified sixth at Montreal you would have ne ver seen me in a Sprint Cup car later on so that pole meant a lot to us when you had to run top-two or top three to make a good impression there. By getting that pole at Montreal we knew we had part of it done so we’re really excited about this one here and Montreal. Both of them were very exciting because it’s my first one on ovals here. It’s pretty amazing. And the one in Montreal was the first one I was hoping of many. Both of them were good.”


COMMENT ON QUALIFYING AFTER THE RAIN DELAY. HOW MUCH DID THE TRACK CHANGE? “It has nothing to do with the track [laughs]. I’m joking. The track came in and we kind of knew it. My chief mechanic actually said that ‘You know the track is going to be really sticky, so if we play our cards right you’re going to have a good car and it’s going to be hooked up.’ But for us it doesn’t really matter because the go-or-go-homers are all at the same time so you’ve still got to beat these guys out. I never thought the track would be as good as running up front and it definitely had more grips. The rain cools it down very quickly and it was about 105 [degrees] in the afternoon, something like that, and it was probably down to 70 degrees later so that gives us a lot of grip. But don’t talk about that, it’s just between you and me [laughs].”


DID YOU FEEL A SENSE OF URGENCY TODAY WITH THE RAIN OR WERE YOU CONFIDENT? “We were talking with these guys earlier on that if it rains, you’re in, so for us the first objective is to be in the race. I never thought today we’d be so far ahead up front. I like to qualify. I always have and I like to qualify on the oval but it’s so risky if you are a go-or-go-homer. If you make a mistake on that lap you’re going home so it’s a lot of pressure. And when you have to qualify it’s a lot more pressure. I was like ‘We’re in the race so we’re good. We’re going to be here in the show on Sunday.’ But I never it would be that much up front. I was trying to focus on the lap and the process. I sit in the car early and do the lap in my mind and try to improve it from practice and try to do that lap in qualifying. But it qualifying I had in my mind a 29.7 so I was off a little bit but usually I’m pretty close. I always try to get the lap I need to make the show but the track helped us, too.”


HOW DO YOU PLAN TO HOLD THE LEAD ONCE THE RACE STARTS? “Somebody asked me ‘Are you going to lead to the green flag?’ I said ‘You bet I’m going to lead the green flag.’ I don’t know how long I’m going to stay there but I’ll cross start finish at least I hope. It’s going to be tough. It was like Richmond. We qualified out the front and then we start moving back so we’re going to work on the race setup tomorrow and I think we’ve still got some new tires to work with so that should help for the race setup. We’ve been working on it. It takes some time. These guys, they’ve been doing it for many, many years and it usually takes me a little bit to get the track in race mode and how the car needs to be driven, which line and where with the traffic and stuff. We have the intention of staying there more, fighting it a little bit more. Tony Stewart came a couple of weeks ago in the trailer and gave me a bunch of tricks for the restarts and talked to me for a while there. So I’ve had a lot of help since Richmond so hopefully it pays off. The main objective is to finish top-15, top-20. If we do that we move on to the next one, we got closer to the top-35 so I still got to keep that in mind. It’s not like staying up front at all costs. If we’re good enough to do it we’ll stay there. If not, we need the points.”

Tonight's races at Saskatoon's Auto Clearing Motor Speedway cancelled... rescheduled to Saturday

CANCELLATION OF TONIGHTS RACE AT AUTO CLEARING MOTOR SPEEDWAY (in Saskatoon, SK)

Do to the heavy rain and the predicted forecast, Auto Clearing Motor Speedway is canceling tonight's race.
It will run tomorrow, Saturday, June 28 at 7:00 PM with all 4 divisions running. (Gates will open at 6 PM)

Ø Lucas Oil Super Late Models
Ø Hertz Equipment Rental Thunder Stocks
Ø NAPA Auto Parts Pro Trucks
Ø PartSource Sport Compact Mini Stocks

Advance tickets available at all Mac's convenience stores in Saskatoon and PA.
From: Herm Hordal // Business Development // Auto Clearing Motor Speedway

Tonight's races at Saskatoon's Auto Clearing Motor Speedway cancelled... rescheduled to Saturday

CANCELLATION OF TONIGHTS RACE AT AUTO CLEARING MOTOR SPEEDWAY (in Saskatoon, SK)

Do to the heavy rain and the predicted forecast, Auto Clearing Motor Speedway is canceling tonight's race.
It will run tomorrow, Saturday, June 28 at 7:00 PM with all 4 divisions running. (Gates will open at 6 PM)

Ø Lucas Oil Super Late Models
Ø Hertz Equipment Rental Thunder Stocks
Ø NAPA Auto Parts Pro Trucks
Ø PartSource Sport Compact Mini Stocks

Advance tickets available at all Mac's convenience stores in Saskatoon and PA.
From: Herm Hordal // Business Development // Auto Clearing Motor Speedway

Open House Celebration with John Massingberd

Last night, the family and friends of John Massingberd got together - with John - at the Promark Motorsport offices in Burlington (ON) to "reminisce over the good old days." A few months ago, John was diagnosed with A.L.S. (aka Lou Gehrig's Disease).

There were a lot of stories passed around, and the offices were filled with laughter and smiles. Thanks to John, Kitty and everyone at Promark (Snowtrax, Dirt Trax and Raceline) for a great evening.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the ALS Society in honour of John Massingberd can download this form.

Open House Celebration with John Massingberd

Last night, the family and friends of John Massingberd got together - with John - at the Promark Motorsport offices in Burlington (ON) to "reminisce over the good old days." A few months ago, John was diagnosed with A.L.S. (aka Lou Gehrig's Disease).

There were a lot of stories passed around, and the offices were filled with laughter and smiles. Thanks to John, Kitty and everyone at Promark (Snowtrax, Dirt Trax and Raceline) for a great evening.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the ALS Society in honour of John Massingberd can download this form.

NCATS: Tight Barrie oval next stop for Team Fastline's Jim Lapcevich

"We plan to be right in the thick of things"

HAMILTON, ONTARIO (June 27, 2008) – Team Fastline driver Jim Lapcevich is hoping for a good showing at the upcoming NASCAR Canadian Tire Series event, the A&W 300 at Barrie Speedway.

"Barrie is a tight oval, and there's always a lot of paint-swapping there," said Lapcevich, who placed ninth in last year's race. "I enjoy racing there and mixing it up with the rest of the cars. We plan to be right in the thick of things."

The Barrie oval is a one-third mile oval built in a tri-oval configuration. The Saturday night race is the third in the series' 13-race 2008 schedule, and will feature 24 starters in the 100-mile event.

The 36-year old Hamilton driver of the Tim Hortons Monte Carlo is presently 19th in the standings after two starts. His best finish in 2007 was a fifth at Trois-Rivières, and he posted two top-ten finishes last season.

"I've raced Barrie many times," added Lapcevich. "With the right set up and a little luck, I plan on being up front when the checkered flag drops."

Teammate Jeff Lapcevich will not be competing.

Barrie Speedway is located on the 8th Line of Oro-Medonte between Barrie and Orillia, Ontario just off Highway 11, 10 minutes north of Barrie and 10 minutes south of Orillia.

For information about Barrie Speedway tickets and camping, call (705) 487-0279 or visit online at www.barriespeedway.com

Team Fastline, www.fastlinemotorsports.ca is sponsored by Tim Hortons, Springer's Meats, Troy Cove Marine, Cathcart Trucking, Wix Filters and B & J Electric.

About Fastline Motorsports: The Fastline Motorsports, www.FastlineMotorsports.ca team cars are based on the 2008 Chevrolet Monte Carlo body with a 107.5-inch wheelbase, which sits on top of a McColl Racing Enterprises chassis. The 355-cubic inch small-block Chevrolet engine from AP Racing Engines produces over 500 horsepower, and this power is transferred to the car's rear wheels by a four-speed transmission. Headed by father Joe Lapcevich, and with an experienced and devoted crew of 12 others, this two-car team demonstrates the professionalism, ability, and confidence to represent this exciting sport both on and off the track.

About Jeff Lapcevich: Jeff Lapcevich ran a limited schedule in the 2007 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series and finished with two top-ten finishes. Jeff Lapcevich began his career on road circuits, and the experience acquired in this form of motorsport has developed into a successful career on the CASCAR tour, as he has won six road course events in the past four years in CASCAR.

About Jim Lapcevich: In 2007, Jim Lapcevich captured seven top-ten finishes in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series and one top-five finish, narrowly missing the winner's podium on several occasions. With a strong background in oval track events, Jim Lapcevich has progressed from the Saturday night "bull-rings" to become one of the top drivers in CASCAR, with several victories in this national series. With a strong competitive desire, Jim will always be in the hunt vying for that checkered flag.

About NASCAR: The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) has a broad reach with 1,300 racing events at 95 tracks in the United States, Canada, and Mexico in several racing series. Among major professional sports, NASCAR ranks number one in corporate involvement and per-event attendance, and number two in television viewership. This sanctioning body for stock car racing is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in New York City (Corporate Marketing), Los Angeles (Broadcasting Media and Entertainment), Charlotte, North Carolina (Licensing and Aftermarket), Concord, North Carolina (Research and Development Center), Mexico City, and Toronto, Ontario.


The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series will be presented across Canada in a 13-race schedule for 2008.

From Bruce F. Mehlenbacher // Director of Public Relations

NCATS: Tight Barrie oval next stop for Team Fastline's Jim Lapcevich

"We plan to be right in the thick of things"

HAMILTON, ONTARIO (June 27, 2008) – Team Fastline driver Jim Lapcevich is hoping for a good showing at the upcoming NASCAR Canadian Tire Series event, the A&W 300 at Barrie Speedway.

"Barrie is a tight oval, and there's always a lot of paint-swapping there," said Lapcevich, who placed ninth in last year's race. "I enjoy racing there and mixing it up with the rest of the cars. We plan to be right in the thick of things."

The Barrie oval is a one-third mile oval built in a tri-oval configuration. The Saturday night race is the third in the series' 13-race 2008 schedule, and will feature 24 starters in the 100-mile event.

The 36-year old Hamilton driver of the Tim Hortons Monte Carlo is presently 19th in the standings after two starts. His best finish in 2007 was a fifth at Trois-Rivières, and he posted two top-ten finishes last season.

"I've raced Barrie many times," added Lapcevich. "With the right set up and a little luck, I plan on being up front when the checkered flag drops."

Teammate Jeff Lapcevich will not be competing.

Barrie Speedway is located on the 8th Line of Oro-Medonte between Barrie and Orillia, Ontario just off Highway 11, 10 minutes north of Barrie and 10 minutes south of Orillia.

For information about Barrie Speedway tickets and camping, call (705) 487-0279 or visit online at www.barriespeedway.com

Team Fastline, www.fastlinemotorsports.ca is sponsored by Tim Hortons, Springer's Meats, Troy Cove Marine, Cathcart Trucking, Wix Filters and B & J Electric.

About Fastline Motorsports: The Fastline Motorsports, www.FastlineMotorsports.ca team cars are based on the 2008 Chevrolet Monte Carlo body with a 107.5-inch wheelbase, which sits on top of a McColl Racing Enterprises chassis. The 355-cubic inch small-block Chevrolet engine from AP Racing Engines produces over 500 horsepower, and this power is transferred to the car's rear wheels by a four-speed transmission. Headed by father Joe Lapcevich, and with an experienced and devoted crew of 12 others, this two-car team demonstrates the professionalism, ability, and confidence to represent this exciting sport both on and off the track.

About Jeff Lapcevich: Jeff Lapcevich ran a limited schedule in the 2007 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series and finished with two top-ten finishes. Jeff Lapcevich began his career on road circuits, and the experience acquired in this form of motorsport has developed into a successful career on the CASCAR tour, as he has won six road course events in the past four years in CASCAR.

About Jim Lapcevich: In 2007, Jim Lapcevich captured seven top-ten finishes in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series and one top-five finish, narrowly missing the winner's podium on several occasions. With a strong background in oval track events, Jim Lapcevich has progressed from the Saturday night "bull-rings" to become one of the top drivers in CASCAR, with several victories in this national series. With a strong competitive desire, Jim will always be in the hunt vying for that checkered flag.

About NASCAR: The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) has a broad reach with 1,300 racing events at 95 tracks in the United States, Canada, and Mexico in several racing series. Among major professional sports, NASCAR ranks number one in corporate involvement and per-event attendance, and number two in television viewership. This sanctioning body for stock car racing is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in New York City (Corporate Marketing), Los Angeles (Broadcasting Media and Entertainment), Charlotte, North Carolina (Licensing and Aftermarket), Concord, North Carolina (Research and Development Center), Mexico City, and Toronto, Ontario.


The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series will be presented across Canada in a 13-race schedule for 2008.

From Bruce F. Mehlenbacher // Director of Public Relations

OHSWEKEN Speedway: WoO "Six Nations Showdown" advance tix still available

OHSWEKEN, ON - ADVANCED TICKET SALES for the July 22nd and 23rd “Six Nations Showdown” at Ohsweken Speedway presented by ARROW EXPRESS featuring the World of Outlaw Sprints continues at a brisk pace. With the excitement growing and a little over three weeks remaining until the green flag drops, approximately 3,000 Reserved Seat tickets remain for sale.

Ticket requests continue to be taken daily by phone only (1-888-720-7223), and will continue to be sold in advance until July 18th. Credit card payment in full is required at the time of purchase however other arrangements for payment can be made. Tickets will be mailed from the Sarnia Ticket Office directly to your home until July 10th. After July 10th, tickets will be available at a “Will Call Area” in the ticket booth at the track on race day only. Approximately 950 General Admission tickets will also be available on each race day only. Adult Reserved Seat tickets may be upgraded on race day for $5.00 to include a Pit Pass however General Admission tickets can not be upgraded.

NO TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE TRACK UNTIL RACE DAY.

NO ONE UNDER 13 WILL BE ADMITTED INTO THE PITS.

“An extensive renovation project is being completed which will see the spectator seating increased to 8,000 on the front stretch” stated an excited promoter Glenn Styres. “We have also finished installation of the new Musco Lighting system in time as “Speed Channel” will be in attendance taping both days of the event” Styres concluded. The much anticipated return of the Outlaws will include all of the stars and cars of the premier Sprint Car series headquartered in the United States featuring Joey Saldana, Donny Schatz, Craig Dollansky, Terry McCarl, Steve Kinser and Danny Lasoski.

Both shows for the series are scheduled to get underway with the usual 7:45 PM start. Pit Gates will open at 2:00 PM each day with spectator gates opening at 4:00. Thunder Stocks will provide entertainment as the support class on Tuesday while Wednesday will feature the Mini Stocks in a support role. As an added incentive, Corr/Pak Merchandising has stepped up and is offering $100 to any 360 Sprint Car who attempts to qualify either day. If they are successful in making the “A” Main, the $100 will be increased to $250 on either night.

Be sure to keep up on all the latest news from Ohsweken Speedway by logging on to the official website at www.ohswekenspeedway.com .

From Ohsweken Speedway

OHSWEKEN Speedway: WoO "Six Nations Showdown" advance tix still available

OHSWEKEN, ON - ADVANCED TICKET SALES for the July 22nd and 23rd “Six Nations Showdown” at Ohsweken Speedway presented by ARROW EXPRESS featuring the World of Outlaw Sprints continues at a brisk pace. With the excitement growing and a little over three weeks remaining until the green flag drops, approximately 3,000 Reserved Seat tickets remain for sale.

Ticket requests continue to be taken daily by phone only (1-888-720-7223), and will continue to be sold in advance until July 18th. Credit card payment in full is required at the time of purchase however other arrangements for payment can be made. Tickets will be mailed from the Sarnia Ticket Office directly to your home until July 10th. After July 10th, tickets will be available at a “Will Call Area” in the ticket booth at the track on race day only. Approximately 950 General Admission tickets will also be available on each race day only. Adult Reserved Seat tickets may be upgraded on race day for $5.00 to include a Pit Pass however General Admission tickets can not be upgraded.

NO TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE TRACK UNTIL RACE DAY.

NO ONE UNDER 13 WILL BE ADMITTED INTO THE PITS.

“An extensive renovation project is being completed which will see the spectator seating increased to 8,000 on the front stretch” stated an excited promoter Glenn Styres. “We have also finished installation of the new Musco Lighting system in time as “Speed Channel” will be in attendance taping both days of the event” Styres concluded. The much anticipated return of the Outlaws will include all of the stars and cars of the premier Sprint Car series headquartered in the United States featuring Joey Saldana, Donny Schatz, Craig Dollansky, Terry McCarl, Steve Kinser and Danny Lasoski.

Both shows for the series are scheduled to get underway with the usual 7:45 PM start. Pit Gates will open at 2:00 PM each day with spectator gates opening at 4:00. Thunder Stocks will provide entertainment as the support class on Tuesday while Wednesday will feature the Mini Stocks in a support role. As an added incentive, Corr/Pak Merchandising has stepped up and is offering $100 to any 360 Sprint Car who attempts to qualify either day. If they are successful in making the “A” Main, the $100 will be increased to $250 on either night.

Be sure to keep up on all the latest news from Ohsweken Speedway by logging on to the official website at www.ohswekenspeedway.com .

From Ohsweken Speedway

NCATS: Micks ready for NASCAR Canadian Tire Series at Barrie

MT. ALBERT, ONTARIO (June 27, 2008) – After an equipment failure at the previous NASCAR Canadian Tire Series event, Kerry Micks has plans to return to his quest in capturing the 2008 championship.

"We had some problems at Mosport, but we've regrouped and will be right in there for the Barrie race," said Micks, who drives the Beyond Digital Imaging Ford Fusion. "I've raced at Barrie for many years, and know the track well."

Micks, of Mount Albert, will be competing in round three of the 2008 NCTS, the A&W 300 at Barrie Speedway this Saturday night.

The former CASCAR Super Series champ came a close second in the opening round of the 2008 series with a second-place at Cayuga, and was in the hunt on the Mosport road course race but suspension woes kept him out of contention.

Micks placed seventh in last year's season, with strong victories at Montreal and Trois-Rivières. He took the pole in last year's September race at Barrie, and placed fourth in the July 1 Barrie race after starting in 17th position. He is presently sixth in the division standings.

Micks will be one of 24 starters for the A&W 300, a 300-lap event on the third-mile Barrie oval.

And he says he is ready.

"Running at Barrie can be a wild experience," he explained. "It's a tight track, and traffic can be heavy at any time. But we'll be in the hunt, and hopefully come away victorious."

Barrie Speedway is located on the 8th Line of Oro-Medonte between Barrie and Orillia, Ontario just off Highway 11, 10 minutes north of Barrie and 10 minutes south of Orillia.

For information about Barrie Speedway tickets and camping, call (705) 487-0279 or visit online at www.barriespeedway.com .

Beyond Digital Imaging Inc. (BDI), Canadian Detailing Services, Crane Lake Resort, HP Canada, Ultraflex, Cathcart Trucking, Castrol and NGK Spark Plugs are sponsors of Micks Motorsports, www.micksmotorsports.com .

About Kerry Micks: Kerry Micks, the 1993 CASCAR Super Series National Champion is the driver of the #02 Micks Motorsports 2008 Ford Fusion in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series. Micks of Mount Albert, Ontario finished the 2007 season in seventh position in the championship point standings with three top-three podium finishes, and seven top-ten finishes including a win at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in downtown Montreal and the Grand-Prix de Trois-Rivières. Micks collected one pole in 2007 at Barrie Speedway and had a third place finishes at Mosport Speedway.

Kerry has been driving Ford products since 1995 when Ford of Canada came on board with Micks Motorsports, and it continues to support Ford and retain close relationships with all involved.

About NASCAR: The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) has a broad reach with 1,300 racing events at 95 tracks in the United States, Canada, and Mexico in several racing series. Among major professional sports, NASCAR ranks number one in corporate involvement and per-event attendance, and number two in television viewership. This sanctioning body for stock car racing is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in New York City (Corporate Marketing), Los Angeles (Broadcasting Media and Entertainment), Charlotte, North Carolina (Licensing and Aftermarket), Concord, North Carolina (Research and Development Center), Mexico City, and Toronto, Ontario.

The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series will be presented across Canada in a 13-race schedule for 2008.

From Bruce F. Mehlenbacher // Director of Public Relations

NCATS: Micks ready for NASCAR Canadian Tire Series at Barrie

MT. ALBERT, ONTARIO (June 27, 2008) – After an equipment failure at the previous NASCAR Canadian Tire Series event, Kerry Micks has plans to return to his quest in capturing the 2008 championship.

"We had some problems at Mosport, but we've regrouped and will be right in there for the Barrie race," said Micks, who drives the Beyond Digital Imaging Ford Fusion. "I've raced at Barrie for many years, and know the track well."

Micks, of Mount Albert, will be competing in round three of the 2008 NCTS, the A&W 300 at Barrie Speedway this Saturday night.

The former CASCAR Super Series champ came a close second in the opening round of the 2008 series with a second-place at Cayuga, and was in the hunt on the Mosport road course race but suspension woes kept him out of contention.

Micks placed seventh in last year's season, with strong victories at Montreal and Trois-Rivières. He took the pole in last year's September race at Barrie, and placed fourth in the July 1 Barrie race after starting in 17th position. He is presently sixth in the division standings.

Micks will be one of 24 starters for the A&W 300, a 300-lap event on the third-mile Barrie oval.

And he says he is ready.

"Running at Barrie can be a wild experience," he explained. "It's a tight track, and traffic can be heavy at any time. But we'll be in the hunt, and hopefully come away victorious."

Barrie Speedway is located on the 8th Line of Oro-Medonte between Barrie and Orillia, Ontario just off Highway 11, 10 minutes north of Barrie and 10 minutes south of Orillia.

For information about Barrie Speedway tickets and camping, call (705) 487-0279 or visit online at www.barriespeedway.com .

Beyond Digital Imaging Inc. (BDI), Canadian Detailing Services, Crane Lake Resort, HP Canada, Ultraflex, Cathcart Trucking, Castrol and NGK Spark Plugs are sponsors of Micks Motorsports, www.micksmotorsports.com .

About Kerry Micks: Kerry Micks, the 1993 CASCAR Super Series National Champion is the driver of the #02 Micks Motorsports 2008 Ford Fusion in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series. Micks of Mount Albert, Ontario finished the 2007 season in seventh position in the championship point standings with three top-three podium finishes, and seven top-ten finishes including a win at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in downtown Montreal and the Grand-Prix de Trois-Rivières. Micks collected one pole in 2007 at Barrie Speedway and had a third place finishes at Mosport Speedway.

Kerry has been driving Ford products since 1995 when Ford of Canada came on board with Micks Motorsports, and it continues to support Ford and retain close relationships with all involved.

About NASCAR: The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) has a broad reach with 1,300 racing events at 95 tracks in the United States, Canada, and Mexico in several racing series. Among major professional sports, NASCAR ranks number one in corporate involvement and per-event attendance, and number two in television viewership. This sanctioning body for stock car racing is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in New York City (Corporate Marketing), Los Angeles (Broadcasting Media and Entertainment), Charlotte, North Carolina (Licensing and Aftermarket), Concord, North Carolina (Research and Development Center), Mexico City, and Toronto, Ontario.

The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series will be presented across Canada in a 13-race schedule for 2008.

From Bruce F. Mehlenbacher // Director of Public Relations

Thursday, June 26, 2008

WATKINS GLEN INT'L: Experience the arts and Finger Lakes

Finger Lakes Wine Experience and Artists’ Tent Added to The Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen Weekend

Watkins Glen, NY (June 26, 2008) – Fans that attend the Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen, July 4-6, can take in the Finger Lakes’ culture through an afternoon of wine tasting and art browsing in the Turn 10 Village. Fans can begin with tasting the creations of local vineyards and wineries at the Finger Lakes Wine Experience. The artists’ tent next door will allow fans to embrace the local racing heritage with the work of local racing and automotive painters, photographers, and sculptors.

In the Finger Lakes Wine Experience exhibit, fans can sip the afternoon away with wine from local wineries and vineyards. Yancey Fancy will also have its artisan cheeses on hand for sampling and purchase. The experience will be open Saturday, July 5, and Sunday, July 6, from 12-4 PM in the Turn 10 Village. Admission to the tent is $3, and only fans ages 21 and older may enter. Customers are welcome to enjoy their wine in a private tent while listening to live music from a variety of bands. Additional seating will also be available in a fenced-in courtyard adjacent to the Red Cat Summer Stage.

Several New York wineries will be on hand in the Finger Lakes Wine Experience. Wineries that will have wines available to taste or purchase, include: Wagner Vineyards, Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards and Winery, Lakewood Vineyards, Fulkerson Winery, Glenora Wine Cellars, Knapp Vineyards, Shaw Vineyards, Atwater Estates Vineyards and Pleasant Valley Winery.

To further experience the culture of the Finger Lakes, stop by the artists’ tent next door to the Finger Lakes Wine Experience exhibit. The artists’ tent will feature the work of national automotive and racing artists, and art will be available for fans to admire or purchase. Some of the sport’s top artists are scheduled to attend, including: Robert Gillespie, Craig Booth, Scott Schleh, Newlin Keen and James Ahmay. Admission to the tent is free of charge, and will be open for fans to visit all day Saturday and Sunday.

If you enjoy all of the local culture during the Camping World Grand Prix, you may also enjoy the Finger Lakes Wine Festival only two weeks after the 4th of July race weekend. The Finger Lakes Wine Festival presented by Yancey’s Fancy New York Artisan Cheese will feature over 500 different wines from over 80 New York State wineries and vineyards. In addition to wine tasting, patrons can watch cooking demos, take culinary classes, attend wine seminars and listen to live music. The festival will take place at Watkins Glen International, July 18-20. For tickets and more information please visit www.FLWineFest.com or call 866-461-7223.

Tickets for the historic 60th Anniversary of racing in Watkins Glen are on-sale now! Open-wheel racing returns for the 4th of July weekend during the Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen, July 4-6. General admission tickets for Kids 12 and under are FREE during the Camping World Grand Prix weekend when accompanied by an adult. The action continues with the Centurion Boats at The Glen NASCAR Sprint Cup and Zippo 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series weekend, August 7-10. For tickets and more information, please contact the Watkins Glen International ticket office at 866-461-RACE or log on to the official website www.TheGlen.com.

From WGI

WATKINS GLEN INT'L: Experience the arts and Finger Lakes

Finger Lakes Wine Experience and Artists’ Tent Added to The Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen Weekend

Watkins Glen, NY (June 26, 2008) – Fans that attend the Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen, July 4-6, can take in the Finger Lakes’ culture through an afternoon of wine tasting and art browsing in the Turn 10 Village. Fans can begin with tasting the creations of local vineyards and wineries at the Finger Lakes Wine Experience. The artists’ tent next door will allow fans to embrace the local racing heritage with the work of local racing and automotive painters, photographers, and sculptors.

In the Finger Lakes Wine Experience exhibit, fans can sip the afternoon away with wine from local wineries and vineyards. Yancey Fancy will also have its artisan cheeses on hand for sampling and purchase. The experience will be open Saturday, July 5, and Sunday, July 6, from 12-4 PM in the Turn 10 Village. Admission to the tent is $3, and only fans ages 21 and older may enter. Customers are welcome to enjoy their wine in a private tent while listening to live music from a variety of bands. Additional seating will also be available in a fenced-in courtyard adjacent to the Red Cat Summer Stage.

Several New York wineries will be on hand in the Finger Lakes Wine Experience. Wineries that will have wines available to taste or purchase, include: Wagner Vineyards, Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards and Winery, Lakewood Vineyards, Fulkerson Winery, Glenora Wine Cellars, Knapp Vineyards, Shaw Vineyards, Atwater Estates Vineyards and Pleasant Valley Winery.

To further experience the culture of the Finger Lakes, stop by the artists’ tent next door to the Finger Lakes Wine Experience exhibit. The artists’ tent will feature the work of national automotive and racing artists, and art will be available for fans to admire or purchase. Some of the sport’s top artists are scheduled to attend, including: Robert Gillespie, Craig Booth, Scott Schleh, Newlin Keen and James Ahmay. Admission to the tent is free of charge, and will be open for fans to visit all day Saturday and Sunday.

If you enjoy all of the local culture during the Camping World Grand Prix, you may also enjoy the Finger Lakes Wine Festival only two weeks after the 4th of July race weekend. The Finger Lakes Wine Festival presented by Yancey’s Fancy New York Artisan Cheese will feature over 500 different wines from over 80 New York State wineries and vineyards. In addition to wine tasting, patrons can watch cooking demos, take culinary classes, attend wine seminars and listen to live music. The festival will take place at Watkins Glen International, July 18-20. For tickets and more information please visit www.FLWineFest.com or call 866-461-7223.

Tickets for the historic 60th Anniversary of racing in Watkins Glen are on-sale now! Open-wheel racing returns for the 4th of July weekend during the Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen, July 4-6. General admission tickets for Kids 12 and under are FREE during the Camping World Grand Prix weekend when accompanied by an adult. The action continues with the Centurion Boats at The Glen NASCAR Sprint Cup and Zippo 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series weekend, August 7-10. For tickets and more information, please contact the Watkins Glen International ticket office at 866-461-RACE or log on to the official website www.TheGlen.com.

From WGI

Merrittville Speedway: Celebrate the holidays in style

For Immediate Release - June 26, 2007 - From Jim Irvine - Merrittville Public Relations - 905-892-8266

Thorold, Ontario (June 26) School is out for the Summer!
Canada Day will soon be here and for our American friends … the 4th of July!
Celebrate them all in what is becoming quite a tradition at Merrittville Speedway – Saturday June 28th.

Boltworks will present $1.00 Pillers Hot Dogs all night long in the grandstand while on the track - racing action will feature all 5 Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Divisions plus Round Two of the Konzelmann Estate Winery Enduro Qualifiers accelerated by Niagara College.

The last event of June will also be highlighted by a Firemaster Productions Fireworks Display.

With the recent announcement of the partnership between Niagara College and the Enduro Qualifiers leading up to the 100, comes news that Don Tremblay is at it again as well.

A terrific fan of racing, Don has recently posted considerable bonuses for the L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modifieds, Original Pizza Logs Sportsman, Hoosier Stocks, Lucas Oil Open Wheel Lites and the Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinders this Saturday

An extra $1100 will be available courtesy of Mr. Tremblay. Race teams

The Enduro winner will become the second driver to qualify for a potential $200 Bonus if he or she can win the September 7th Konzelmann Estate Winery 100 lap Enduro.  Of course the outside pole position starting spot for the 100 will also go the June 28th winner.

“We’re happy to celebrate the end of school and Canada’s Birthday with the mid season Fan Appreciation Special,” reveals GM Erica Bicknell, “6 divisions of racing … $1.00 Hot Dogs all night and FIREWORKS … there’s definitely something for everyone.”

Younger race fans can also get a great start to the summer after stopping by the Lucas Oil #17 Hoosier Stock of Rob Disher who will be giving away a girls bike and a boys bike. Stop by and check out his car and get a ticket.

Boltworks have been long time supporters of Merrittville Speedway. Owners Sandy Howe and Ross Trout of Boltworks each have more than 20 years of experience each in the fastener industry with vast product knowledge that you won’t find just anywhere. Sandy and Ross know the nuts and bolts of nuts and bolts and their Eastchester Avenue East location has a complete supply of industrial fasteners – bolts, screws, nuts, washers, threaded rod, rivets, pins, drills, bits, taps, driver bits, hex keys, tools, industrial sprays and more.

Enduro Racing at Merrittville Speedway is enjoying a resurgence over the last couple seasons – all leading to the season-ending Konzelmann Estate Winery 100 lap event accelerated by Niagara College.

Enduro Racing is something that just about anyone can get on track with. Just find yourself a car and with some safety modifications – you’re in the show. Depending on the outcome of each qualifier, a driver could run the same car through-out the summer and then again in the Fall Main Event.

“Our Enduros attract all kinds,” relates (GM) Erica Bicknell, “ drivers with no experience … some that have run this type of event before and even some of our regular Saturday Night competitors … but in the end it’s more survival than experience that counts.”

For Enduro Rules and Specifications – visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com. Rules are also available from the Speedway Office during the season and the Novelty Trailer on race nights.

Individuals considering re-training for a new career are encouraged to take a serious look at the many programs and opportunities available at Niagara College.

For further information on technology, apprenticeship and skills training visit niagaracollege.ca and accelerate your career.

Show Time is 7:00 PM with the grandstand gates opening at 5:30.

Join us this season on a Saturday Night for a LUCAS OIL WEEKLY RACING SERIES EVENT - FIVE Divisions featuring local heroes and up-coming new stars or one of our many special events! .

Your Local Dirt Track is where it's at!! Merrittville Speedway "The Best Family Entertainment in Niagara"

MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY SPONSORS: The 2008 Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series for Merrittville Speedway’s 5 Divisions is brought to fans by partners including Boltworks, Pillers and Niagara College in addition to contingency sponsors Bilstein Shock Absorbers, Hoosier Tire Canada, Inside Track Motorsport News, Intercomp, ISC Racer’s Tape, Jaz Products, Kirkey Racing Fabrication, Motorsports Safety Systems, Port City Racing, R.J.S. Racing Equipment, Sway-A-Way, Ultra Shield Race Products, Outerwears and XRP, Inc.
Lucas Oil Products is one of the fastest growing additive lines in the consumer automotive industry featuring a premium line of oils, greases and problem-solving additives.
Through innovative product research and development, along with aggressive marketing programs, Lucas Oil Products has established itself as the top selling additive in the industry.
Race fans can look for Lucas Oil Products at their favorite automotive retailer including the St. Catharines and Niagara Falls PartSource locations, Drummond Home Hardware in Niagara Falls and through RCM Racing Equipment.


From Erica Bicknell / Merrittville Speedway

Merrittville Speedway: Celebrate the holidays in style

For Immediate Release - June 26, 2007 - From Jim Irvine - Merrittville Public Relations - 905-892-8266

Thorold, Ontario (June 26) School is out for the Summer!
Canada Day will soon be here and for our American friends … the 4th of July!
Celebrate them all in what is becoming quite a tradition at Merrittville Speedway – Saturday June 28th.

Boltworks will present $1.00 Pillers Hot Dogs all night long in the grandstand while on the track - racing action will feature all 5 Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Divisions plus Round Two of the Konzelmann Estate Winery Enduro Qualifiers accelerated by Niagara College.

The last event of June will also be highlighted by a Firemaster Productions Fireworks Display.

With the recent announcement of the partnership between Niagara College and the Enduro Qualifiers leading up to the 100, comes news that Don Tremblay is at it again as well.

A terrific fan of racing, Don has recently posted considerable bonuses for the L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modifieds, Original Pizza Logs Sportsman, Hoosier Stocks, Lucas Oil Open Wheel Lites and the Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinders this Saturday

An extra $1100 will be available courtesy of Mr. Tremblay. Race teams

The Enduro winner will become the second driver to qualify for a potential $200 Bonus if he or she can win the September 7th Konzelmann Estate Winery 100 lap Enduro.  Of course the outside pole position starting spot for the 100 will also go the June 28th winner.

“We’re happy to celebrate the end of school and Canada’s Birthday with the mid season Fan Appreciation Special,” reveals GM Erica Bicknell, “6 divisions of racing … $1.00 Hot Dogs all night and FIREWORKS … there’s definitely something for everyone.”

Younger race fans can also get a great start to the summer after stopping by the Lucas Oil #17 Hoosier Stock of Rob Disher who will be giving away a girls bike and a boys bike. Stop by and check out his car and get a ticket.

Boltworks have been long time supporters of Merrittville Speedway. Owners Sandy Howe and Ross Trout of Boltworks each have more than 20 years of experience each in the fastener industry with vast product knowledge that you won’t find just anywhere. Sandy and Ross know the nuts and bolts of nuts and bolts and their Eastchester Avenue East location has a complete supply of industrial fasteners – bolts, screws, nuts, washers, threaded rod, rivets, pins, drills, bits, taps, driver bits, hex keys, tools, industrial sprays and more.

Enduro Racing at Merrittville Speedway is enjoying a resurgence over the last couple seasons – all leading to the season-ending Konzelmann Estate Winery 100 lap event accelerated by Niagara College.

Enduro Racing is something that just about anyone can get on track with. Just find yourself a car and with some safety modifications – you’re in the show. Depending on the outcome of each qualifier, a driver could run the same car through-out the summer and then again in the Fall Main Event.

“Our Enduros attract all kinds,” relates (GM) Erica Bicknell, “ drivers with no experience … some that have run this type of event before and even some of our regular Saturday Night competitors … but in the end it’s more survival than experience that counts.”

For Enduro Rules and Specifications – visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com. Rules are also available from the Speedway Office during the season and the Novelty Trailer on race nights.

Individuals considering re-training for a new career are encouraged to take a serious look at the many programs and opportunities available at Niagara College.

For further information on technology, apprenticeship and skills training visit niagaracollege.ca and accelerate your career.

Show Time is 7:00 PM with the grandstand gates opening at 5:30.

Join us this season on a Saturday Night for a LUCAS OIL WEEKLY RACING SERIES EVENT - FIVE Divisions featuring local heroes and up-coming new stars or one of our many special events! .

Your Local Dirt Track is where it's at!! Merrittville Speedway "The Best Family Entertainment in Niagara"

MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY SPONSORS: The 2008 Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series for Merrittville Speedway’s 5 Divisions is brought to fans by partners including Boltworks, Pillers and Niagara College in addition to contingency sponsors Bilstein Shock Absorbers, Hoosier Tire Canada, Inside Track Motorsport News, Intercomp, ISC Racer’s Tape, Jaz Products, Kirkey Racing Fabrication, Motorsports Safety Systems, Port City Racing, R.J.S. Racing Equipment, Sway-A-Way, Ultra Shield Race Products, Outerwears and XRP, Inc.
Lucas Oil Products is one of the fastest growing additive lines in the consumer automotive industry featuring a premium line of oils, greases and problem-solving additives.
Through innovative product research and development, along with aggressive marketing programs, Lucas Oil Products has established itself as the top selling additive in the industry.
Race fans can look for Lucas Oil Products at their favorite automotive retailer including the St. Catharines and Niagara Falls PartSource locations, Drummond Home Hardware in Niagara Falls and through RCM Racing Equipment.


From Erica Bicknell / Merrittville Speedway

NCATS: Andrew Ranger and Alex Tagliani back on oval track on June 28th

Montreal, June 26th, 2008: After an exciting race on the road course at Mosport International Raceway on June 15th, Quebec-born drivers Andrew Ranger and Alex Tagliani will take on the Barrie Speedway this coming weekend with determination and confidence for the third round of the 2008 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series championship.

Respectively ranked 9th and 10th in the overall drivers' standings after only 2 events, Ranger and Tagliani will be back in action on the tricky oval track at Barrie Speedway for the A&W 300. Last year, in his rookie season, Andrew Ranger qualified a mere 16th but drove like a veteran to finish the event in 5th place. "The Tide-Wal-Mart car is very reliable and the whole team is really motivated. I plan to put all those elements to good use to fight for the win and climb the championship standings quickly, especially since last year we had a really good race at Barrie," commented Andrew Ranger.

For Alex Tagliani, driver of the Ubisoft-Wal-Mart car, leader of the rookie of the year standings, this event will again be treated as a learning experience, most notably on how the race car behaves on oval tracks. Having been unable to complete the first race of the season at Cayuga in May due to mechanical issues, Tagliani views the challenge of the A&W 300 as a full scale test of his ability to adapt to fendered cars. "I know I can do well at Barrie. I understand the car more and more and I can adapt my driving style accordingly too. After all, I did manage to be second quickest at St-Eustache before the rain ruined everything," expressed Alex Tagliani.

With a team determined to climb the championship ladder and two drivers ready to show their immense talent: Andrew Ranger as reigning series champion and Alex Tagliani as an experienced open-wheel veteran racer, the A&W 300 is truly an event to be seen.

Make sure to book Saturday, June 28th for the A&W 300 at Barrie Speedway for another exciting round of the 2008 NASCAR Canadian Tire series championship.

The Victory Lap Charity Program: The Victory Lap Charity Program, affiliated to Opération Enfant-Soleil in Quebec and to Children's Miracle Network in the rest of Canada, aims to raise funds to help sick children across the country. Since the program's inception in 2003, over $700,000 have been raised for 14 children's hospitals in Canada.

In 2008, the Victory Lap takes an even bigger leap forward and plans to break the $1,000,000 mark in donations since 2003. To do so, the program counts on the support of Wal-Mart stores in Canada, the participation of numerous partner brands and on the generous input from Andrew Ranger and Alex Tagliani as program ambassadors.

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Source: Professional Sports Management // Audrey Choquette

NCATS: Andrew Ranger and Alex Tagliani back on oval track on June 28th

Montreal, June 26th, 2008: After an exciting race on the road course at Mosport International Raceway on June 15th, Quebec-born drivers Andrew Ranger and Alex Tagliani will take on the Barrie Speedway this coming weekend with determination and confidence for the third round of the 2008 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series championship.

Respectively ranked 9th and 10th in the overall drivers' standings after only 2 events, Ranger and Tagliani will be back in action on the tricky oval track at Barrie Speedway for the A&W 300. Last year, in his rookie season, Andrew Ranger qualified a mere 16th but drove like a veteran to finish the event in 5th place. "The Tide-Wal-Mart car is very reliable and the whole team is really motivated. I plan to put all those elements to good use to fight for the win and climb the championship standings quickly, especially since last year we had a really good race at Barrie," commented Andrew Ranger.

For Alex Tagliani, driver of the Ubisoft-Wal-Mart car, leader of the rookie of the year standings, this event will again be treated as a learning experience, most notably on how the race car behaves on oval tracks. Having been unable to complete the first race of the season at Cayuga in May due to mechanical issues, Tagliani views the challenge of the A&W 300 as a full scale test of his ability to adapt to fendered cars. "I know I can do well at Barrie. I understand the car more and more and I can adapt my driving style accordingly too. After all, I did manage to be second quickest at St-Eustache before the rain ruined everything," expressed Alex Tagliani.

With a team determined to climb the championship ladder and two drivers ready to show their immense talent: Andrew Ranger as reigning series champion and Alex Tagliani as an experienced open-wheel veteran racer, the A&W 300 is truly an event to be seen.

Make sure to book Saturday, June 28th for the A&W 300 at Barrie Speedway for another exciting round of the 2008 NASCAR Canadian Tire series championship.

The Victory Lap Charity Program: The Victory Lap Charity Program, affiliated to Opération Enfant-Soleil in Quebec and to Children's Miracle Network in the rest of Canada, aims to raise funds to help sick children across the country. Since the program's inception in 2003, over $700,000 have been raised for 14 children's hospitals in Canada.

In 2008, the Victory Lap takes an even bigger leap forward and plans to break the $1,000,000 mark in donations since 2003. To do so, the program counts on the support of Wal-Mart stores in Canada, the participation of numerous partner brands and on the generous input from Andrew Ranger and Alex Tagliani as program ambassadors.

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Source: Professional Sports Management // Audrey Choquette

Inside Track Motorsport News: Volume 12, Issue 5


Celebrating Canadian motorsports on almost every page. Click here to subscribe.

Inside Track Motorsport News: Volume 12, Issue 5


Celebrating Canadian motorsports on almost every page. Click here to subscribe.

NCATS: Dilley Returns Home to Barrie Speedway this Weekend

BARRIE, ON, Thursday June 26, 2008: Home track advantage? Mark Dilley driver of the No. 9 Dodge Avenger in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series says, “There may be a slight edge for me at Barrie Speedway, but not much. Most of the guys have run here long enough now that they have it figured out.” Dilley will return to his home track Barrie Speedway this Saturday night for the running of the A&W 300, round three of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series tour, a tour that will see them race in 13 events across the country.

After a tough outing in the second event at Mosport International Raceway, the world renowned 2.459 mile road course on Fathers Day, Dilley is looking to rebound and come out of Barrie with a solid finish and move up in the Championship points. “We had a rocket for a race car at Mosport but the clutch broke on the first lap and we didn’t get a chance to see what the No. 9 Avenger could really do,” said Dilley.

Last year in the inaugural season of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, the driver of the No. 9 Avenger sat on the pole and finished second in the Canada Day weekend event at Barrie, but had tough luck on their return in September. “This track is fun to race but everything happens real fast out there,” stated Dilley. “You can get caught up in someone else’s wreck real easy but I am looking forward to running in front of my hometown fans – it should be exciting.”

Dilley also has one win here in the former CASCAR Super Series in 2005, so he knows his way around the newly configured 1/3 mile tri-oval. The track is under new management and they have been working around the clock to get everything in top shape for the weekends events.

Spectator gates open at 2 p.m., NASCAR Canadian Tire Series time trials take place at 4 p.m. and the green flag will wave for the start of the A&W 300 at 8:05 p.m. Also on the racing grid will be Barrie Speedway regular classes of Pure Stocks, Chargers and Thunder Cars.

Weekend event tickets can be purchased online at www.barriespeedway.com. Please also visit the website for more information on camping and a full event schedule.

For more information on Mark Dilley please visit www.whitlockmotorsports.com or contact:

From Linda Jones // Wide Open Motorsport Solutions

NCATS: Dilley Returns Home to Barrie Speedway this Weekend

BARRIE, ON, Thursday June 26, 2008: Home track advantage? Mark Dilley driver of the No. 9 Dodge Avenger in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series says, “There may be a slight edge for me at Barrie Speedway, but not much. Most of the guys have run here long enough now that they have it figured out.” Dilley will return to his home track Barrie Speedway this Saturday night for the running of the A&W 300, round three of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series tour, a tour that will see them race in 13 events across the country.

After a tough outing in the second event at Mosport International Raceway, the world renowned 2.459 mile road course on Fathers Day, Dilley is looking to rebound and come out of Barrie with a solid finish and move up in the Championship points. “We had a rocket for a race car at Mosport but the clutch broke on the first lap and we didn’t get a chance to see what the No. 9 Avenger could really do,” said Dilley.

Last year in the inaugural season of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, the driver of the No. 9 Avenger sat on the pole and finished second in the Canada Day weekend event at Barrie, but had tough luck on their return in September. “This track is fun to race but everything happens real fast out there,” stated Dilley. “You can get caught up in someone else’s wreck real easy but I am looking forward to running in front of my hometown fans – it should be exciting.”

Dilley also has one win here in the former CASCAR Super Series in 2005, so he knows his way around the newly configured 1/3 mile tri-oval. The track is under new management and they have been working around the clock to get everything in top shape for the weekends events.

Spectator gates open at 2 p.m., NASCAR Canadian Tire Series time trials take place at 4 p.m. and the green flag will wave for the start of the A&W 300 at 8:05 p.m. Also on the racing grid will be Barrie Speedway regular classes of Pure Stocks, Chargers and Thunder Cars.

Weekend event tickets can be purchased online at www.barriespeedway.com. Please also visit the website for more information on camping and a full event schedule.

For more information on Mark Dilley please visit www.whitlockmotorsports.com or contact:

From Linda Jones // Wide Open Motorsport Solutions

Rookie Stenhouse Leads ARCA RE/MAX Series Parade to Cayuga

NELLES CORNERS ON (6-26-08) – Olive Branch, Mississippi’s Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. leads the parade of ARCA RE/MAX Series warriors marching north of the border to compete in this Sunday’s inaugural Cayuga ARCA RE/MAX 250 at Cayuga Motor Speedway.

The 20-year-old Roush Fenway Racing development driver is, not only the SunTrust Rookie of the Year leader, he’s also the championship point leader headed to Cayuga. If that’s not enough, Stenhouse, after nine events in 2008, is the only repeat winner so far among eight different winners.

And if he can hang on, he’ll be the first driver to unseat nine-time series champion Frank Kimmel from the championship throne since Bill Baird pulled it off back in 1999.

“I am kind of surprised (to be leading the championship points),” said Stenhouse. “For me, not having the experience in a stock car, it is a little surprising that I've been running so well. However, I have the best team and best cars out there so in that respect I'm not so surprised."

Prior to the 2008 season, Stenhouse, an open-wheeler by trade, had never raced stock cars on pavement, or on dirt, for that matter. Yet, in one of the most competitive seasons on record, he’s the guy everyone’s chasing.

"I think it goes back to the last answer. I didn't have much pavement experience coming into this deal but I've been working really hard and everyone at Roush Fenway Racing has given me the tools to succeed. We've done a lot of testing; I've been watching videos and I have my teammates, crew chiefs and engineers to talk to. Take that and the fact that Lumpy (crew chief Jeff Campey) and all the guys on the No. 99 team work really hard to build fast race cars, it's not terribly surprising."

Still yet, even with the expertise of a well-oiled team, Stenhouse has never even seen most of the tracks he’s competing on this year, including Cayuga.

"I've never even raced in Canada but I'm looking forward to this weekend. Any weekend that I'm racing is a good weekend. Wish I had more time to look around up there, but we don't really have time. We’re flying into Buffalo late Friday afternoon and driving over so I guess I'll get to enjoy the scenery from Buffalo to Cayuga."

As it turns out, Stenhouse is enjoying a lot of scenery this year. With some time away from the ARCA RE/MAX Series world last weekend, Stenhouse buckled up in a midget at Knoxville Raceway where he finished third in the Knoxville Midget Nationals. Stenhouse won the event in 2007.

Stenhouse cut his teeth in the open-wheel divisions in the south before he caught a break from Tony Stewart, who, after seeing Stenhouse race, offered him a ride in his USAC Sprint and Silver Crown cars. Stenhouse made good use of the opportunity earning a Silver Crown win on the Springfield mile-dirt and finishing second at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds.

"Tony (Stewart) is definitely a mentor. He gave me the chance to drive for him last year in USAC and from there it's kind of just taken off. 

"I think he wants to see the guys do well that came from where he did. I talk to him quite a bit and I know I can always call him for advice or when I have a question. He's come to a few of my ARCA races and it's a big help having him there, giving me pointers on how to get around the track better. I really can't thank him enough and one day I hope to be in his shoes so I can help the next batch of drivers coming up from USAC."

Stenhouse also has plans to do double duty this year at Springfield and DuQuoin where the ARCA RE/MAX Series runs in companion with the USAC Silver Crown Series every year.

"I can't wait to run the dirt tracks. I'm anxious to see how the stock cars will react on dirt; I'm sure it will be a lot different than a sprint car. Last year I won at Springfield in a USAC Silver Crown car and ran second at DuQuoin in a Silver Crown car. This year I plan to race Carl Edwards’s Silver Crown car at both tracks prior to the ARCA RE/MAX races, which I'm looking forward to. I think we have a pretty good shot at winning those races."

But whether it’s in an open-wheel car or a 3,400 lb. stock car, winning races has certainly not been an issue for Stenhouse. Stenhouse won in only his sixth start in the ARCA RE/MAX Series at Kentucky Speedway back in early May. Two races later, he won at Pocono, thus becoming the only driver in 2008 to repeat in the win column.

"Kentucky was my first ARCA RE/MAX Series win in the No. 99 Ford and my first stock car win so that was pretty big. After that win, Jack (Roush) asked if I could do it again and then we went back out and won Pocono. That was cool. I felt like that win was big too because it showed that we could consistently run up front and win. We weren't just lucky in Kentucky."

But as competitive as the ARCA RE/MAX Series has become over the years, there is, indeed, much more to winning races than luck. Stenhouse is fully aware of the expertise, work ethic and knowledge that surround him under the Roush Fenway Racing banner.

"I don't think there's just one person. This is a team sport so it really takes the entire team. Everyone back at the shop from the chassis guys, to engineers, to body hangers and the couple of guys we have that stay in the shop while we're on the road. Then you have the guys that travel each week and even the marketing people because without sponsors we can't do this. Everyone has their job and when they do their job I can do mine. Everyone from Jack on down has been very helpful to me and I'm lucky to have this opportunity.

Every Tuesday Jack comes to Concord and Mooresville for team meetings and as long as we're in town and not testing somewhere I'm in the meeting."

Like most all up and coming drivers, Stenhouse comes from the short-tracks, which is why Cayuga may fit right in.

"I actually really like the speedways, but if I had to pick between short tracks and superspeedways, I would say short tracks because the driver has more input and they are more challenging."

Stenhouse’s next challenge is in the form of a five-eighths mile flat short-track in Nelles Corners, Ontario this Sunday afternoon.

In addition to this Sunday afternoon’s Cayuga ARCA RE/MAX 250, the ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series will join the ARCA RE/MAX Series for an ARCA double-header weekend at Cayuga kicking off with the ARCA Lincoln Welders 50 Saturday afternoon, June 28th.

Practice for the ARCA RE/MAX Series is scheduled for Saturday, June 28th from 12:30-2:00 PM followed by SIM Factory Pole Qualifying at 3:30. The ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series race follows ARCA RE/MAX Series qualifying Saturday afternoon. The Cayuga ARCA RE/MAX 250 is set for 1:30 PM Sunday afternoon, June 29th.

For ticket and general information, visit http://www.cayugamotorspeedway.com.

From: ARCA Communications // http://www.arcaracing.com