BARRIE, ON - The RZ Racing team visited Barrie Ontario on Saturday night for the "A&W 300", this was the third stop on the 2008 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series schedule. The learning curve continued for driver Jason White and the A&W "Cruizin The Dub" sponsored Monte Carlo. Barrie Speedway is a very tight 1/3 mile oval that is known for tearing up equipment and leaving a significant amount of cars out of the race at the end of 300 laps.
The team struggled all day with an extreme understeer (push) condition and qualified 21st. "We really couldn't get a handle on the set up all day, so I just drove the car as hard as I could without wrecking", said White. "It's extremely tough to go to these tracks we have never been too before and be competitive, most of these teams have thousands of laps here, so we just tried to keep the car on the track and get as much experience as possible."
When the green flag dropped it did not take long for the carnage too start, cars where dropping out fast and Jason was avoiding the dust ups that where going on all over the "bullring" shaped track. "I have always heard the stories about Barrie being an aggressive place to race, but I had no idea it was going to be like this," Jason mused. "I showed up to race but it felt like I was in a heavy weight boxing match."
As the race went on Jason was slowly picking off positions and making up some ground on the field and felt he was finally gaining some confidence. "My crew put a new set of tires on at about lap 200 and I started to feel comfortable with the set up of the car", said white. "I started to push myself a little harder and the car was taking it, so I kept hitting my marks and tryiing to be as smooth as possible".
After charging all the way up to 11th position by lap 250, the A&W "Cruzin The Dub" Monte Carlo started to smoke severely and the NASCAR officials brought Jason in to inspect the car and eventually park him for the night. The rear end gear overheated and was blowing oil all over the track. "It was heart breaking to see the black flag, I had smelt rear gear oil for quite awhile so I new something was wrong but it was a hard pill to swallow as I believe we where destined for another top ten finish" said crew chief Brian Uptigrove. "I am really proud of this entire team for a hard days work and there determination to never quit".
The Rz Racing teams day ended with a 16th place finish and world of experience, the next scheduled event is in St. Eustache Quebec for the "KODAK 250" July 5th. In a sport where more marketing dollars equals more speed the RZ Racing Team is thankful for all of their advertising partners leading into this years NASCAR Canadian Tire Series.
Special thanks go out to: Zimmer Wheaton GMC, Powder Ventures Excavations, Douglas Lake Equipment, Twin Anchors Houseboats, A&W, KAL TIRE, PRAXAIR, RE/MAX (Paul Toporowski), Peaks Media Inc., RTR Performance, Diamond Lils Trucking, Zimmer Autosport, Mackdaddys Nightclub, L'Cat Autographics and Thompson Valley Sand and Gravel.
Race dates and results are posted on www.NASCAR.ca
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
NCATS: Rz Racing (Jason White) Barrie report
NCATS: Rz Racing (Jason White) Barrie report
BARRIE, ON - The RZ Racing team visited Barrie Ontario on Saturday night for the "A&W 300", this was the third stop on the 2008 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series schedule. The learning curve continued for driver Jason White and the A&W "Cruizin The Dub" sponsored Monte Carlo. Barrie Speedway is a very tight 1/3 mile oval that is known for tearing up equipment and leaving a significant amount of cars out of the race at the end of 300 laps.
The team struggled all day with an extreme understeer (push) condition and qualified 21st. "We really couldn't get a handle on the set up all day, so I just drove the car as hard as I could without wrecking", said White. "It's extremely tough to go to these tracks we have never been too before and be competitive, most of these teams have thousands of laps here, so we just tried to keep the car on the track and get as much experience as possible."
When the green flag dropped it did not take long for the carnage too start, cars where dropping out fast and Jason was avoiding the dust ups that where going on all over the "bullring" shaped track. "I have always heard the stories about Barrie being an aggressive place to race, but I had no idea it was going to be like this," Jason mused. "I showed up to race but it felt like I was in a heavy weight boxing match."
As the race went on Jason was slowly picking off positions and making up some ground on the field and felt he was finally gaining some confidence. "My crew put a new set of tires on at about lap 200 and I started to feel comfortable with the set up of the car", said white. "I started to push myself a little harder and the car was taking it, so I kept hitting my marks and tryiing to be as smooth as possible".
After charging all the way up to 11th position by lap 250, the A&W "Cruzin The Dub" Monte Carlo started to smoke severely and the NASCAR officials brought Jason in to inspect the car and eventually park him for the night. The rear end gear overheated and was blowing oil all over the track. "It was heart breaking to see the black flag, I had smelt rear gear oil for quite awhile so I new something was wrong but it was a hard pill to swallow as I believe we where destined for another top ten finish" said crew chief Brian Uptigrove. "I am really proud of this entire team for a hard days work and there determination to never quit".
The Rz Racing teams day ended with a 16th place finish and world of experience, the next scheduled event is in St. Eustache Quebec for the "KODAK 250" July 5th. In a sport where more marketing dollars equals more speed the RZ Racing Team is thankful for all of their advertising partners leading into this years NASCAR Canadian Tire Series.
Special thanks go out to: Zimmer Wheaton GMC, Powder Ventures Excavations, Douglas Lake Equipment, Twin Anchors Houseboats, A&W, KAL TIRE, PRAXAIR, RE/MAX (Paul Toporowski), Peaks Media Inc., RTR Performance, Diamond Lils Trucking, Zimmer Autosport, Mackdaddys Nightclub, L'Cat Autographics and Thompson Valley Sand and Gravel.
Race dates and results are posted on www.NASCAR.ca
OHSWEKEN: ASCS Northern Summer Nationals Kick Off Busy Month at Ohsweken Speedway
OHSWEKEN, ON - The season of special events at Ohsweken Speedway continues this Friday and Saturday as Engine Pro Racing presents the American Sprint Car Series “Northern Summer Nationals”. A full slate of Friday Night Thunder activities are planned for Friday, July 4 including night #1 of the Northern Summer Nationals for the ASCS Sprints on Dirt versus the ASCS Patriots, along with Ohsweken’s ESSO Thunder Stocks, ESSO Mini-Stocks, and Friday Night Fun Stocks.
On Saturday night, July 5, the Sprint Cars will take centre stage for night #2 of the Northern Summer Nationals when they compete for a $3,000 feature winner’s cheque. A special $250-to-win Fun Stock race and Box Car races for kids will also be part of the Saturday night festivities.
The stars of the Michigan-based ASCS Sprints on Dirt tour and the New York-based ASCS Patriots tour will converge on Ohsweken to compete for over $35,000 in prize money this weekend, with the weekly competitors from Ohsweken’s Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Car division n hand to defend home turf against the ASCS invaders.
Top drivers from the Sprints on Dirt tour expected this weekend include Indiana drivers Brett Mann and Tim Norman, and Michigan drivers Dustin Daggett, Ben Rutan, and Dain Naida, while the Patriots will bring such front runners from New York as point leader Bryan Howland, Jared Zimbardi, Don Adamczyk, Chris Mulheisen, and the brother combo of Bobby and Blake Breen. Besides sitting 2nd in Patriot points, Zimbardi also leads the weekly Corr/Pak Merchandising division standings at Ohsweken, followed by Ontario drivers Keith Dempster, Kevin Job, Ryan Hunsinger, and Fred Cade. A strong field of 40 cars or more are expected each night for this unique co-sanctioned event.
The ESSO Thunder Stocks division will compete in their 6th feature race of the season on Friday. Cody McPherson of St. Catharines has won 4 of those 6 races, but Stoney Creek driver Brian Pescetti held off McPherson’s potent #777 last week to score his first feature win of the season. The consistency of Ryan Dinning has him up to 2nd in points going into this Friday, followed by week 3 feature winner Terry Osmond, 2007 track champion Brad Bacher, and Glen Leinen rounding out the top 5. A growing field and excellent fender to fender racing have been trademarks of the ESSO Thunder Stock division this season, and more of the same is expected this Friday.
The ESSO Mini-Stocks are always fan favourites at Ohsweken, where they have been known to race 4 and sometimes 5 wide around the wide 3/8’s mile oval. This season has seen a variety of winners visiting victory lane in the Mini-Stock division, including Abel Castelein, Chase Hess, Mitchell Brown, Brent Hill, and Mike Evers. Brown became the first driver to win 2 features in the division this year by winning in convincing fashion last week. The consistency of Castelein, Mark Thorne, Rick Emberson, Kevin Hilborn, and Hess have them sitting in the top 5 in points heading into this Friday.
The new Friday Night Fun Stock division continues to grow as the weeks go by, and that growth should accelerate this weekend as the division competes in a regular event on Friday, and then returns Saturday night to compete for $250 to win. Lee Hils became the first driver in the division to win multiple features by taking his 2nd win of the season last week.
Friday Night Thunder resumes this Friday, July 4 when Engine Pro Racing presents Night #1 of the American Sprint Car Series “Northern Summer Nationals” featuring the ASCS Sprints on Dirt region versus the ASCS Patriot region, plus the ESSO Thunderstocks, ESSO Mini-Stocks, and Friday Night Fun Stocks. Friday Night Thunder at Ohsweken is affordable family entertainment just a short drive away from most mid-western Ontario locations. Friday Night Thunder Adult General Admission is once again $10, while Seniors & Students (ages 13-17) are $8, and kids 12 and under FREE! Please visit www.OhswekenSpeedway.com for more information. Gates open at 5:00p.m. with the first race taking the green flag at 7:45p.m. this Friday, July 4!
Night #2 of the ASCS Northern Summer Nationals will take place on Saturday, July 5, with a posted feature winner’s prize of $3,000. The Friday Night Fun Stocks will also be running a special $250 to win race on Saturday night, and Kids Ages 6-12 are invited to get in on the action with Box Car Races! Adult General Admission on Saturday night is $15, Seniors & Students are $12, and Kids 12 and Under are FREE as always. Bring your July 4 ticket stub to receive $5 off your admission on Saturday night! Log on to www.OhswekenSpeedway.com for more information, including details for the Box Car Races. Gates open at 4:00p.m. with the first race taking the green flag at 7:45p.m. this Saturday, July 5!
Advanced reserved seat tickets for the World of Outlaws events on Tuesday, July 22 and Wednesday, July 23 are still available. All the stars of the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car series return to Ohsweken for 2 separate full points-paying race nights, culminating in the 2nd Annual 6 Nations Showdown on Wednesday, July 23. The broadcast crew from Speed Channel will be on hand each night to record every lap for broadcast on the following 2 weekends. Advanced reserved seat tickets for each night remain available. Visit www.OhswekenSpeedway.com and call 1-888-720-RACE to reserve your seat!
By Tommy Goudge // Ohsweken Speedway Media
OHSWEKEN: ASCS Northern Summer Nationals Kick Off Busy Month at Ohsweken Speedway
OHSWEKEN, ON - The season of special events at Ohsweken Speedway continues this Friday and Saturday as Engine Pro Racing presents the American Sprint Car Series “Northern Summer Nationals”. A full slate of Friday Night Thunder activities are planned for Friday, July 4 including night #1 of the Northern Summer Nationals for the ASCS Sprints on Dirt versus the ASCS Patriots, along with Ohsweken’s ESSO Thunder Stocks, ESSO Mini-Stocks, and Friday Night Fun Stocks.
On Saturday night, July 5, the Sprint Cars will take centre stage for night #2 of the Northern Summer Nationals when they compete for a $3,000 feature winner’s cheque. A special $250-to-win Fun Stock race and Box Car races for kids will also be part of the Saturday night festivities.
The stars of the Michigan-based ASCS Sprints on Dirt tour and the New York-based ASCS Patriots tour will converge on Ohsweken to compete for over $35,000 in prize money this weekend, with the weekly competitors from Ohsweken’s Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Car division n hand to defend home turf against the ASCS invaders.
Top drivers from the Sprints on Dirt tour expected this weekend include Indiana drivers Brett Mann and Tim Norman, and Michigan drivers Dustin Daggett, Ben Rutan, and Dain Naida, while the Patriots will bring such front runners from New York as point leader Bryan Howland, Jared Zimbardi, Don Adamczyk, Chris Mulheisen, and the brother combo of Bobby and Blake Breen. Besides sitting 2nd in Patriot points, Zimbardi also leads the weekly Corr/Pak Merchandising division standings at Ohsweken, followed by Ontario drivers Keith Dempster, Kevin Job, Ryan Hunsinger, and Fred Cade. A strong field of 40 cars or more are expected each night for this unique co-sanctioned event.
The ESSO Thunder Stocks division will compete in their 6th feature race of the season on Friday. Cody McPherson of St. Catharines has won 4 of those 6 races, but Stoney Creek driver Brian Pescetti held off McPherson’s potent #777 last week to score his first feature win of the season. The consistency of Ryan Dinning has him up to 2nd in points going into this Friday, followed by week 3 feature winner Terry Osmond, 2007 track champion Brad Bacher, and Glen Leinen rounding out the top 5. A growing field and excellent fender to fender racing have been trademarks of the ESSO Thunder Stock division this season, and more of the same is expected this Friday.
The ESSO Mini-Stocks are always fan favourites at Ohsweken, where they have been known to race 4 and sometimes 5 wide around the wide 3/8’s mile oval. This season has seen a variety of winners visiting victory lane in the Mini-Stock division, including Abel Castelein, Chase Hess, Mitchell Brown, Brent Hill, and Mike Evers. Brown became the first driver to win 2 features in the division this year by winning in convincing fashion last week. The consistency of Castelein, Mark Thorne, Rick Emberson, Kevin Hilborn, and Hess have them sitting in the top 5 in points heading into this Friday.
The new Friday Night Fun Stock division continues to grow as the weeks go by, and that growth should accelerate this weekend as the division competes in a regular event on Friday, and then returns Saturday night to compete for $250 to win. Lee Hils became the first driver in the division to win multiple features by taking his 2nd win of the season last week.
Friday Night Thunder resumes this Friday, July 4 when Engine Pro Racing presents Night #1 of the American Sprint Car Series “Northern Summer Nationals” featuring the ASCS Sprints on Dirt region versus the ASCS Patriot region, plus the ESSO Thunderstocks, ESSO Mini-Stocks, and Friday Night Fun Stocks. Friday Night Thunder at Ohsweken is affordable family entertainment just a short drive away from most mid-western Ontario locations. Friday Night Thunder Adult General Admission is once again $10, while Seniors & Students (ages 13-17) are $8, and kids 12 and under FREE! Please visit www.OhswekenSpeedway.com for more information. Gates open at 5:00p.m. with the first race taking the green flag at 7:45p.m. this Friday, July 4!
Night #2 of the ASCS Northern Summer Nationals will take place on Saturday, July 5, with a posted feature winner’s prize of $3,000. The Friday Night Fun Stocks will also be running a special $250 to win race on Saturday night, and Kids Ages 6-12 are invited to get in on the action with Box Car Races! Adult General Admission on Saturday night is $15, Seniors & Students are $12, and Kids 12 and Under are FREE as always. Bring your July 4 ticket stub to receive $5 off your admission on Saturday night! Log on to www.OhswekenSpeedway.com for more information, including details for the Box Car Races. Gates open at 4:00p.m. with the first race taking the green flag at 7:45p.m. this Saturday, July 5!
Advanced reserved seat tickets for the World of Outlaws events on Tuesday, July 22 and Wednesday, July 23 are still available. All the stars of the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car series return to Ohsweken for 2 separate full points-paying race nights, culminating in the 2nd Annual 6 Nations Showdown on Wednesday, July 23. The broadcast crew from Speed Channel will be on hand each night to record every lap for broadcast on the following 2 weekends. Advanced reserved seat tickets for each night remain available. Visit www.OhswekenSpeedway.com and call 1-888-720-RACE to reserve your seat!
By Tommy Goudge // Ohsweken Speedway Media
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
McBain wins big at Race City
Riding the Acceleration Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000, McBain took the lead from polesitter Jordan Szoke on lap 5 of the 22-lap Blackfoot Suzuki-sponsored race and pulled away to a 9.259-sec. victory over the Canadian Kawasaki Motors rider.
Kevin Lacombe took third aboard his Team Toyota Yamaha / Fast Company Racing Yamaha YZF-R1.
The win was McBain’s third national Superbike triumph in Calgary and came a year after he lost victory with a crash just a few corners from the finish.
“After what happened last year, to do this in front of everybody is tremendous,” McBain said. “It couldn’t be better. I really felt like it was my turn.”
McBain qualified second for the race and was third at the end of the opening lap behind Szoke’s Kawasaki ZX-10R and the Team Suzuki / Blackfoot / Picotte Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000 ridden by Calgary’s Chris Peris.
McBain got by Peris on lap 3 and then passed Szoke on the front straight at the start of the fifth lap. He took advantage of a couple of breaks in lapped traffic to open up his lead.
“I was getting better drive out of the last turn and that gave me a good run on Jordan down the front straight,” the 35-year-old McBain said. “Then I just kept watching my pit board and my advantage kept growing and growing.”
Szoke, the two-time defending Parts Canada Superbike champion, was unable to add to his record total of eight Race City Superbike victories, but did extend his lead in the series standings to 14 points over Lacombe, 99-85. McBain is fourth with 55.
“I didn’t win, but I finished ahead of the people I needed to,” said the Brantford, Ont. rider. “On the third lap I almost highsided onto the front straight, then I got messed up in traffic and then my tires went off again. Not taking anything away from Clint, but I didn’t have the set-up.”
Lacombe said he was fortunate to finish the race after his bike overheated almost from the start of the race. After dropping to the back of a four-way fight for third at half distance he worked his way back up, finally taking third from Peris just two laps from the finish.
“I knew right from the start I had a problem,” Lacombe said. “Halfway down the straight I was in seventh or eighth. But in the last few laps I knew if I pushed hard the guys in front of me might have problems with their tires.”
Peris settled for fourth while Szoke’s Canadian Kawasaki Motors teammate Brett McCormick of Saskatoon snatched fifth from Francis Martin on the final lap.
Sherbrooke, Que.’s Martin finished sixth on the second of the Team Suzuki / Blackfoot / Picotte Racing entries, with Matt McBride of Mississauga, Ont. seventh on the third of the factory Suzukis.
Calgary riders Jeremy Stepper and Dave Stokowski battled for eighth throughout the race, with the verdict going to the Stepper Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000 by less than half a second over Stokowski’s Calgary Motorsports Kawasaki ZX-10R.
Peter Holzinger of Banff, Alta. finished 10th on a Suzuki GSX-R1000. He battled with the Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada / Ruthless Racing Buell 1125R of Maple Ridge, B.C.’s Steve Crevier for the first half of the race before Crevier retired with mechanical troubles.
In other action at Race City, Szoke scored his second straight win of the year in the Yoshimura Pro 600 Sport Bike class on his Kawasaki ZX-6R, beating the Suzuki GSX-R600 of Peris by just 0.630 secs. in the race, which was shortened by 14 laps due to a crash by Jesse Sherstan.
Lacombe completed the podium in a close third aboard his Yamaha YZF-R6.
Sherstan was not seriously injured in his fall.
Andrew Nelson of Kars, Ont. rode his NCR-Ducati 848 to victory in the 16-lap Canadian Thunder feature at Race City, beating the Ducati 749R of Calgary’s Chad Pasowisty by 2.520 secs. with New Smyrna Beach, Fla.’s Dave Estok third on the Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada / Ruthless Racing Buell 1125R.
Opening round winner Valter Bartolini of Bologna, Italy crashed his NCR-Ducati 848 on lap 11 while in the lead.
Jim Proulx of Ottawa won the Canadian Sport Twins race on a Buell XB12R. His 18-second triumph over the Buell XB9R of Surrey, B.C.’s Olivier Spilborghs earned him his second straight Tirox Winning Big Award.
Jodi Christie of Keene, Ont. won the Armour Bodies Amateur 600 Sport Bike race on his Yamaha YZF-R6, beating the Suzuki GSX-R600 of Calgary’s Patrick Marques by 4.909 secs. Marcel Irnie of Westbank, B.C. placed third riding a Kawasaki ZX-6R.
Irnie claimed the Performance Under Gear Perfomer of the Race Award for his effort.
McBain’s stepson Cody Matechuk completed a great day for the family by winning the Suzuki SV650 National Cup race, coming out on top of a battle for the victory with Burlington, Ont. rider John Jarvie. Matechuk edged Jarvie by 0.882 secs.
Nicky Poon of London, Ont. finished third.
The Parts Canada Superbike Championship continues with a doubleheader at Mosport International Raceway July 17-20.
This weekend’s races will be shown on TSN HD and TSN on Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern, and again on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 4:00 a.m. Eastern.
For complete results go to:
http://www.cdnsuperbike.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=878&Itemid=194
From cdnsuperbike.com
McBain wins big at Race City
Riding the Acceleration Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000, McBain took the lead from polesitter Jordan Szoke on lap 5 of the 22-lap Blackfoot Suzuki-sponsored race and pulled away to a 9.259-sec. victory over the Canadian Kawasaki Motors rider.
Kevin Lacombe took third aboard his Team Toyota Yamaha / Fast Company Racing Yamaha YZF-R1.
The win was McBain’s third national Superbike triumph in Calgary and came a year after he lost victory with a crash just a few corners from the finish.
“After what happened last year, to do this in front of everybody is tremendous,” McBain said. “It couldn’t be better. I really felt like it was my turn.”
McBain qualified second for the race and was third at the end of the opening lap behind Szoke’s Kawasaki ZX-10R and the Team Suzuki / Blackfoot / Picotte Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000 ridden by Calgary’s Chris Peris.
McBain got by Peris on lap 3 and then passed Szoke on the front straight at the start of the fifth lap. He took advantage of a couple of breaks in lapped traffic to open up his lead.
“I was getting better drive out of the last turn and that gave me a good run on Jordan down the front straight,” the 35-year-old McBain said. “Then I just kept watching my pit board and my advantage kept growing and growing.”
Szoke, the two-time defending Parts Canada Superbike champion, was unable to add to his record total of eight Race City Superbike victories, but did extend his lead in the series standings to 14 points over Lacombe, 99-85. McBain is fourth with 55.
“I didn’t win, but I finished ahead of the people I needed to,” said the Brantford, Ont. rider. “On the third lap I almost highsided onto the front straight, then I got messed up in traffic and then my tires went off again. Not taking anything away from Clint, but I didn’t have the set-up.”
Lacombe said he was fortunate to finish the race after his bike overheated almost from the start of the race. After dropping to the back of a four-way fight for third at half distance he worked his way back up, finally taking third from Peris just two laps from the finish.
“I knew right from the start I had a problem,” Lacombe said. “Halfway down the straight I was in seventh or eighth. But in the last few laps I knew if I pushed hard the guys in front of me might have problems with their tires.”
Peris settled for fourth while Szoke’s Canadian Kawasaki Motors teammate Brett McCormick of Saskatoon snatched fifth from Francis Martin on the final lap.
Sherbrooke, Que.’s Martin finished sixth on the second of the Team Suzuki / Blackfoot / Picotte Racing entries, with Matt McBride of Mississauga, Ont. seventh on the third of the factory Suzukis.
Calgary riders Jeremy Stepper and Dave Stokowski battled for eighth throughout the race, with the verdict going to the Stepper Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000 by less than half a second over Stokowski’s Calgary Motorsports Kawasaki ZX-10R.
Peter Holzinger of Banff, Alta. finished 10th on a Suzuki GSX-R1000. He battled with the Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada / Ruthless Racing Buell 1125R of Maple Ridge, B.C.’s Steve Crevier for the first half of the race before Crevier retired with mechanical troubles.
In other action at Race City, Szoke scored his second straight win of the year in the Yoshimura Pro 600 Sport Bike class on his Kawasaki ZX-6R, beating the Suzuki GSX-R600 of Peris by just 0.630 secs. in the race, which was shortened by 14 laps due to a crash by Jesse Sherstan.
Lacombe completed the podium in a close third aboard his Yamaha YZF-R6.
Sherstan was not seriously injured in his fall.
Andrew Nelson of Kars, Ont. rode his NCR-Ducati 848 to victory in the 16-lap Canadian Thunder feature at Race City, beating the Ducati 749R of Calgary’s Chad Pasowisty by 2.520 secs. with New Smyrna Beach, Fla.’s Dave Estok third on the Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada / Ruthless Racing Buell 1125R.
Opening round winner Valter Bartolini of Bologna, Italy crashed his NCR-Ducati 848 on lap 11 while in the lead.
Jim Proulx of Ottawa won the Canadian Sport Twins race on a Buell XB12R. His 18-second triumph over the Buell XB9R of Surrey, B.C.’s Olivier Spilborghs earned him his second straight Tirox Winning Big Award.
Jodi Christie of Keene, Ont. won the Armour Bodies Amateur 600 Sport Bike race on his Yamaha YZF-R6, beating the Suzuki GSX-R600 of Calgary’s Patrick Marques by 4.909 secs. Marcel Irnie of Westbank, B.C. placed third riding a Kawasaki ZX-6R.
Irnie claimed the Performance Under Gear Perfomer of the Race Award for his effort.
McBain’s stepson Cody Matechuk completed a great day for the family by winning the Suzuki SV650 National Cup race, coming out on top of a battle for the victory with Burlington, Ont. rider John Jarvie. Matechuk edged Jarvie by 0.882 secs.
Nicky Poon of London, Ont. finished third.
The Parts Canada Superbike Championship continues with a doubleheader at Mosport International Raceway July 17-20.
This weekend’s races will be shown on TSN HD and TSN on Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern, and again on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 4:00 a.m. Eastern.
For complete results go to:
http://www.cdnsuperbike.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=878&Itemid=194
From cdnsuperbike.com
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.”
