HALIFAX, NS (August 5, 2008) - The stars are aligned for this Saturday's Atlantic CAT 250 at Scotia Speedworld - short track racing stars that is...The expected lineup for the only Pro All Stars Series (PASS) points race in Canada this year features a combined 24 pro stock division championships and hundreds of race wins - including seven of eight former Atlantic CAT 250 winners - among some of the top stock car racers in the northeastern U.S. and eastern Canada.
Defending and two-time Atlantic CAT 250 winner Mike Rowe (Turner, Maine) leads the way in both championship titles and race wins. The 58-year-old elder statesman of the racing Northeast has earned 11 championships in his impressive career. Mike Rowe's son, Ben Rowe (Turner, Maine) also has two Atlantic CAT 250 wins as well as five pro stock championship titles. Johnny Clark (Hallowell, Maine) boasts two Atlantic CAT 250 wins and two pro stock titles.
John Flemming (Halifax) is the inaugural Atlantic CAT 250 winner and has three CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour titles on his resume. Add to the list three-time champion and Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame member Rollie MacDonald (Pictou) and the stage is set for an all-star 2008 edition of the Atlantic CAT 250.
While championships are both earned and impressive, they do not assure their owners an easy ride. 2008 has been a year where young lions have been roaring on both sides of the border, serving notice to the more seasoned racers they are indeed a force to be contended with.
And so the Atlantic CAT 250 will not only be a battle to see which side of the border the winner comes from, but a battle between the "old guys" and the "young guys."
Joining the already impressive lineup of "old guys" are "young guys" with recent series race wins including: Shawn Turple (Enfield) - 30 years old, two-time '08 CARQUEST Tour winner; Donald Chisholm (Antigonish) - 32 years old, multi-time CARQUEST Tour winner and finished fourth in the '07 edition of the Atlantic CAT 250, the top finishing Canadian; DJ Shaw (Center Conway, NH) - 18 years old, won his first PASS North race June 24; Derek Ramstrom (Worcester, Mass.) - 17 years old, first PASS win in most recent series race July 30; Adam Bates (Atkinson, NH) - 20 years old with first PASS win July 5; and Trevor Sanborn (Parsonfield, Maine) - 18 years old with two PASS South wins in '08.
Besides the prestige of having an Atlantic CAT 250 win on their resume the winner gets a guaranteed $6,000 U.S. from the $38,800 promoter's purse. But perhaps the most treasured element in garnering an Atlantic CAT 250 victory is the honour of having your name engraved on the perpetual event winner's trophy: the Scott Fraser Memorial Cup - named for
long-time Atlantic CAT motorsports representative and maritime motorsports superstar, Scott Fraser, who lost his life in a 2004 snowmobile accident.
Mike Rowe, who won the Scott Fraser Memorial Cup in 2005 said it best: "What makes this win really special is Scott Fraser. He was an awesome driver. When they announced the winner of this race would get this trophy and that Frank Fraser was going to give out, I thought that would be a great one to win..."
Two Big Shows This Weekend
Race fans will want to be at Scotia Speedworld both Friday evening and Saturday evening, so as not to miss a minute - or lap - of the biggest weekend of the year at Scotia Speedworld.
The C&R Auto Supply Sportsman 100 will be the feature Friday night, and with only a few weeks remaining in the 08 Lockhart Truck Centre Weekly Racing Series season, the extended length event could play a major part in the division championship chase. Besides sportsman action, Friday's race card will see championship points racing in the Miller Tire/BFGoodrich Thunder and Lightning divisions, as well as qualifying heat races to determine the starting order for Saturday's Atlantic CAT 250.
While Saturday's show will culminate with the Atlantic CAT 250, the event will also see racing action for the Sojourn Signs Bandoleros, the Hobby Stocks, and the Legends Tour.
A special savings two-day grandstand ticket is available for adults at only $40 and youth aged eight to 15 for just $6. Friday-only grandstand tickets for adults are $20 and for youth are $2. Saturday-only grandstand tickets for adults are $35 and for youth are $5. Children seven and under are admitted free at Scotia Speedworld when accompanied by an adult.
Advance tickets are available at Ticket Atlantic locations and online (TicketAtlantic.ca), and at the Scotia Speedworld administration office in Dartmouth's Burnside Industrial Park (Mon-Thu., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Fri. until Noon).
Racing starts at 7 p.m. Friday and 6 p.m. Saturday. Grandstand gates and the track box office open at 5 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday.
Besides great racing action, fans will also have the chance to win lots of CAT gear, gift certificates to local restaurants - courtesy of Pepsi, and one lucky fan Saturday night will take home a Holiday Inn Suite Experience that includes a weekend stay at the Holiday Inn Express at the Halifax Airport, free hot breakfast bar for four and a $500 gas card.
Friday's national anthems will be performed by Sharon Resky, the lead singer of the sensational Fleetwood Mac cover band Gypsy. Saturday's national anthems will be performed by Belinda Zwicker.
Last - but certainly not least - fans will want to arrive early Saturday for the on-track autograph session at 5 p.m., followed at 5:45 by the popular CAT equipment parade which will feature the newest and coolest Caterpillar equipment on the market, including the Metso Crusher.
Former Atlantic CAT 250 Winners
- 2000: John Flemming, Halifax, Nova Scotia
- 2001: Louie Mechalides, Tyngsboro, Mass.
- 2002: Ben Rowe, Turner, Maine
- 2003: Ben Rowe, Turner, Maine
- 2004: Johnny Clark, Farmingdale, Maine
- 2005: Mike Rowe, Turner, Maine
- 2006: Johnny Clark, Farmingdale, Maine
- 2007: Mike Rowe, Turner, Maine
About Atlantic CAT
Atlantic Tractors & Equipment Ltd. (Atlantic CAT) is a full-line Caterpillar Equipment and Engine Dealership serving the provinces of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. The dealership meets the business needs of its customers by providing superior products backed by excellent parts and service capabilities. Atlantic Cat operates from eight locations. The company is engaged in the sale, lease, rental and service of the full-line of Caterpillar Earthmoving and Engine Products. These include machines for use in a variety of industries - Mining, Forestry, Agriculture, Road Building, Road Maintenance, General Construction and Light Construction operations. The company sells and services the full-line of Caterpillar diesel Engines and Power Generation products for use in applications requiring Stand-by or Prime Power diesel generating products, Marine Power for commercial vessels, Truck Power for the on-highway trucking industry and time-saving Harvesters for the agricultural industry.
About C&R Auto Supply
Do it yourself and save with C&R Auto Supply. They carry new and remanufactured goods, as well as both import and domestic. C&R Auto Supply specializes in Brake Parts, Rotors, Clutches, CV Shaft Assemblies, Chassis Parts and Shocks. C&R Auto Supply is located at 2513 Agricola Street in Halifax; call them at 423.7127.
About Scotia Speedworld
Scotia Speedworld is a 3/10-mile asphalt oval stock car racing track featuring the Lockhart Truck Center Weekly Racing Series for six divisions and several special events during the race season, which runs from May to September. Scotia Speedworld is located at Exit 6 on Highway 102, across from the Halifax Stanfield International Airport. For more information please click on ScotiaSpeedworld.ca or call our Event Hotline at (902) 873-2277 or our office at (902) 481-2514.
From Joan Roué
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