Stage set for final showdown at the Rally of the Tall Pines

BANCROFT, Ontario – Unpredictable weather and challenging roads set the stage for a fierce final showdown at Canada’s rally season ender, the Rally of the Tall Pines, November 20-22, in Bancroft, Ontario.

Subaru Rally Team Canada’s Pat Richard and co-driver Alan Ockwell have already secured the Canadian championship title, but defending champions Antoine L'Estage and Nathalie Richard are looking for redemption in what has been a frustrating Canadian season.

There will be plenty to fight for at Tall Pines, with the Hyundai team of L’Estage and Nathalie Richard in close contention with Ken Block and Alex Gelsomino for the North American Rally Cup - a series which scores a team’s best six events on both sides of the Canada-US border.  These three top factory teams are all out for a big win at this final event of the season.

“I've won Tall Pines three times, and we're ready to win again this year” says L’Estage. “The North American Rally Cup has only been won by one American in the past seven years, and I want to make sure it stays that way!”

But their biggest challengers for the title aren’t going to make it easy. Subaru Rally Team USA’s Ken Block and Alex Gelsomino are looking to wrap up the title on L’Estage’s turf.

“Antoine has won two races in our U.S. championship and it's my goal to win my second this year in his,” said Block. “It's going to be a battle, and I plan on standing on the top of that podium at the end."

 
Block made his rally debut at Tall Pines several years ago and has since made it a regular stop on his competition calendar. The event ended early for Block in 2007 after he slid off the road.

“It's great to have won the title, but we really want to win at Tall Pines,” said Patrick Richard. “It's great not to have to worry about championship points so we'll be pushing really hard.”

Andrew “ACP” Comrie-Picard and guest co-driver Chrissie Beavis will make the gravel debut of the team’s Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X – a first in North America.

Also entered is Block’s Monster Energy teammate Dave Mirra, a BMX legend who has recently made the switch from two wheels to four.

More than 40 teams are expected to take the start at this event, including a diverse two-wheel drive entry including historic cars such as a 1978 Datsun 280Z, and a 1976 Ford Cortina GT. Zebe Szewczyk has made the trek from Alberta in his blazing yellow Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart, and there are a number of production entries fighting for class wins.

Tall Pines Rally also marks the culmination of Subaru and Mitsubishi’s 2008 contingency award programs, and they will be awarding thousands of dollars in prize money to the top competitors in each marque based on event and season standings.

The storied Rally of the Tall Pines is an event that features some of the toughest driving challenges in North America, with conditions often referred to as “winter roads with summer ditches”.

The cold weather in the region at this time of year means the roads can become snow or ice covered, but drivers will not have the benefit of snow banks to keep them on the road. A small mistake can have big consequences at this event.

The Rally of the Tall Pines is one of the most spectator-friendly in the series, and this year will include a new Super Special stage minutes from downtown Bancroft. The rally is held November 20-22, 2008, and includes more than 150 kilometers of competitive stages run in the Canadian Shield setting around Bancroft, Ontario. 

Rally car racing is often described simply as “real cars, real roads, real fast.” The all-season motorsport sees drivers and their co-drivers take modified road cars to the limit as they achieve blistering speeds over closed-road courses that typically cover more than 150 kilometres of gravel, dirt or snow-covered roads. Fans can get up close to the cars in the service areas and catch all the action from specially designated spectator points located at the best spots on the route.

The Canadian Rally Championship is comprised of six events held nationwide in a season that extends from February to November. The series is presented by Subaru Canada, supported by Yokohama Tire Canada and features contingency programs from Subaru Canada and Mitsubishi Canada. The Canadian Association of Rallysport (CARS) is the official sanctioning body for rallying in Canada.

Full coverage of the championship will air on RDS and TSN. Check local listings.

For more information on the web: www.CARSrally.ca ; www.tallpinesrally.com
 
Mandatory Photo Credit: WarwickPatterson.com
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New Hampshire Motor Speedway to Host ACT Invitational in 2009

LOUDON, N.H. (November 17, 2008) - Late Model stock car drivers will get their first superspeedway experience next year as New Hampshire Motor Speedway will host the inaugural American-Canadian Tour (ACT) Invitational during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series SYLVANIA 300 weekend on September 17-20, 2009.

The Invitational will have a purse of more than $65,000 for invited and approved teams that attend the historic, groundbreaking event for Late Model stock car racing.

"New Hampshire Motor Speedway has been looking for a way to support the short track industry throughout the Northeast and Québec/Ontario markets," said New Hampshire Motor Speedway Vice President and General Manager Jerry Gappens.  "The Invitational is a great addition to our NASCAR weekend that already includes the Sprint Cup Series, the Camping World Truck Series, the Camping World Series East, and the Whelen Modified Tour."

"New Hampshire Motor Speedway is giving short track fans and teams throughout the Northeast and Canada a wonderful opportunity," said ACT President Tom Curley.

The ACT Invitational race will be a 50-lap all-star event with 36 starters.  Each 2009 race winner up to the running of the Invitational on the U.S.-based ACT Late Model Tour and the Québec/Ontario-based Série ACT-Castrol will be awarded a guaranteed starting spot and a $500 bonus for each win contingent upon participation at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway event.

Three non-championship events will also be Invitational qualifying races with a $500 New Hampshire Motor Speedway bonus: the CARQUEST Vermont Governor's Cup 100 at Thunder Road International Speedbowl in Barre, Vt.; the TD Banknorth 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway in Oxford, Maine; and the Coors Light 200 "Showdown at Chaudière" all-star race at Autodrome Chaudière in Vallée-Jonction, Quebec on Saturday, August 29.

Other invitees will be 2009 champions and/or point leaders as of September 17, 2009 on the ACT Late Model Tour and Série ACT-Castrol, as well as at the following ACT-affiliated short tracks: Thunder Road International Speedbowl, Oxford Plains Speedway, Lee USA (Lee, N.H.) Speedway, Twin State Speedway (Claremont, N.H.), White Mountain Motorsports Park (North Woodstock, N.H.), Seekonk Speedway (Seekonk, Mass.), Waterford Speedbowl (Waterford, Conn.), Capital City Speedway (Ottawa, Ont.), and Kawartha Speedway (Peterborough, Ont.).  Provisional starting spots will be awarded to fill the field to 36 cars, if needed.

"Short track racing is grass roots racing and is the engine that drives the entire stock car industry," said Curley.  "Jerry Gappens and his New Hampshire Motor Speedway team are to be commended during these challenging times with their proactive, innovative ideas to be inclusive of the region's short tracks.  Obviously, the American-Canadian Tour teams and fans, along with their affiliate Late Model tracks, are very excited and appreciative about this opportunity."

"This is great news for Late Model racing as a whole," said ACT Late Model Tour veteran Brent Dragon of Milton, Vt.  "Racing at Loudon is something I think all drivers in this region want to do, and now we've all got even more motivation to win races.  Being at New Hampshire Motor Speedway brings this group to a whole new level."

"I'm very proud of the fact that ACT is going to New Hampshire," said Donald Theetge of Québec City, the 2006 Série ACT-Castrol champion.  "It will be great for our drivers, our fans, and it would be a great thing to win a race in front of the Sprint Cup teams.  I know I'm going to try everything I can to get in that race and win it."

Promotions will be held in all major markets of the region, including the Canadian metro areas of Montréal, Ottawa, Québec City, and eastern Toronto, and U.S. metro areas including Providence; Portland; Boston; Hartford; Burlington, Vt.; Manchester, N.H.; Plattsburgh, N.Y.; and more, to make attending this event affordable, and so that the fans will get more action and value for their ticket money.

"It is our intention to give the best short track teams in the region a chance to compete at the premier superspeedway in the northeast," said Gappens.  "We are very excited to have the ACT race fans join us for this incredible weekend of racing."

The Série ACT-Castrol 2009 schedule was released at the annual Banquet of Champions in Drummondville, Que. on Saturday, November 15.  The 2009 ACT Late Model Tour schedule will be released in the coming days.

For more information on the ACT, please call (802) 244-6963 or visit them online at www.acttour.com.

For more information on New Hampshire Motor Speedway, please call the Ticket Hotline at (603) 783-4931 or visit us online at www.nhms.com.

From: New Hampshire Motor Speedway & ACT

Yokohama Tire Introduces the All-New ADVAN Neova® AD08

FULLERTON, CA (Nov. 17, 2008) – The ADVAN® legend grows: Yokohama Tire Corporation has added a new tire to its global flagship ADVAN line, the ultra-high-performance ADVAN Neova® AD08, which debuts to the public at the Los Angeles Auto Show, November 21-30.
The ADVAN Neova AD08 is an updated version of Yokohama’s ADVAN Neova AD07, nicknamed "the fastest street tire." The all-new ADVAN AD08 will be available in the U.S. in mid-2009 in 32 sizes, ranging from 15 to 19 inches.

"The Neova AD07 truly set the standard for max-grip, full-tread tires," said Jim Mayfield, director ADVAN brand, "but the new AD08 is the best of the best. Extensive testing reveals the Neova AD08’s distinct advancements in four key areas: dry grip, wet grip, ride comfort and noise level, taking it to remarkable new heights and maintaining our leadership in the industry. All these areas of improvement are very important to consumers in the ultra-high-performance segment and demonstrate Yokohama’s technical achievements and innovations."

Many of the new Neova’s improvements, especially the wet and dry gripping, are attributed to a new micro silica compound, HDC (Hyper Density Carbon), which also extends treadwear. Other highlights include specially placed steel sidewall inserts (for improved handling and enhanced cornering), rapid reflex twin ribs that add stability and steering response, an extra-wide unibloc shoulder for continuous rubber-to-road contact during high-speed cornering, adaptive flare blocks for better lateral strength and turning power, and stress control grooves that minimize uneven wear.

"Fast just got faster with the new ADVAN Neova AD08," said Mayfield. "It definitely lives up to the ADVAN legacy. This is an ultra-high-performance tire ADVAN enthusiasts are going to love."

Yokohama Tire Corporation is the North American manufacturing and marketing arm of Tokyo, Japan-based The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., a global producer and distributor of premium tires since 1917. Servicing a network of more than 4,500 points of sale in the U.S., Yokohama Tire Corporation offers a complete line of tires, including high-performance, light truck, passenger car, commercial truck and bus, as well as off-the-road mining and construction applications. For more information on Yokohama’s extensive product line, visit http://www.yokohamatire.ca.

WHEELS: Norris McDonald on NASCAR Canadian Tire Series top rookie Jason White

Click here for the full story.

FLAMBORO: LM drivers' meeting Nov. 15, 2008 by Dave Franks

This is a 20-photo gallery from the Flamboro Speedway Late Model drivers' meeting, on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008 at the speedway. Thanks to Dave Franks for sharing the photos. You can see Dave's website here.

NHRA: Powerade Series - Champs crowned in Pomona

From Anthony Vestal
 
PEDREGON AND KRAWIEC WIN POWERADE SERIES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CROWNS
Dixon, Pedregon, Anderson and Rivas claim event titles at Auto Club NHRA Finals
 
POMONA, Calif. – Cruz Pedregon earned his second NHRA Funny Car world championship title, and first in 16 years, by racing to victory Sunday at the Auto Club NHRA Finals in Southern California.

Meanwhile, Eddie Krawiec won his first POWERade Series crown in Pro Stock Motorcycle, and did so without winning a race during the season. He joins Rob Bruins, the 1979 Top Fuel champ, as the only drivers in NHRA history to win a season title without earning an individual race victory.

After Pedregon won his first round meeting against Jerry Toliver, he secured his first title when his two closest challengers lost in the first round. Season-long leader Tim Wilkerson fouled against John Force and then Robert Hight lost to Pedregon's brother, Tony.

Pedregon then drove his Advance Auto Parts Toyota Solara to his third straight event victory to close out the six-race Countdown to 1, NHRA’s Playoffs, by beating Ron Capps in the final round. It is Pedregon’s 26th career win and second here at his home track.

"I'm stunned," an emotional Pedregon said moments after his brother Tony eliminated the last racer within reach. "It's awesome Tony got that win right there because I'm standing here thinking of my dad (Frank) and that I hope he's proud of his sons. I was 18 when he died and Tony was 16 and now we each have two world championships. We've come a long way for a couple of Hispanic kids from Chino."

Krawiec entered the Countdown to 1 in seventh place and finished runner-up in four of the six races in the championship playoffs, securing his first title and the fourth for Harley-Davidson and the seventh for Vance & Hines Racing.

"Consistency pays off," Krawiec said. "It shows you that you just need to go rounds at the end. We made the Countdown in seventh place and have been in four of the last five finals. I haven't had a chance to get my first (event) Wally yet, but I've got a big gold Wally (for winning the championship). I do have a $75,000 check here though, so if someone wants to sell a Wally, I could buy one.”

Larry Dixon, Greg Anderson, and Chris Rivas also claimed race victories in their respective categories at the final NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event of the season at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

Dixon raced to his second win of the season in Top Fuel, holding off Rod Fuller in the final round. Dixon, who moved to second in the point standings with the victory, covered the distance in 3.833 seconds at 300.93 mph in his U.S. Smokeless dragster to take his 43rd career victory and first at the Finals. It was his fourth win at the historic Pomona track.

"The car nosed over really, really, really badly on the other end and it gave me the feeling it was going to blow up, but I wasn't at the finish line yet," Dixon said. "Then I saw the win light come on and it blew up, but I saw the win light come on, and that was all that mattered. We hopped it up for the final and certainly needed it. 'Hot Rod' had been cutting good lights all day and their car had been running good. You can tell by the way we blew up that we left everything on the track. I hate finishing second (in points), but as far as the bonus money that gets passed around to the guys on the team, the difference between fifth place, where we came into this race, and second, where we finished, is monumental. We were racing to finish second, so I'm really happy for them."

Top Fuel season champ Tony Schumacher's record-breaking season ended when Fuller defeated him in the second round. Schumacher tied Anderson's 2004 season-marks for wins (15) and elimination round wins (76).

Anderson claimed his sixth Pro Stock victory of the season in his Summit Racing Pontiac GXP when Kurt Johnson fouled at the start in his ACDelco Chevy Cobalt. It was Anderson’s 57th career victory and his fourth win at the Finals and seventh win at Pomona.

“It is second place, but it was first place today," said Anderson, who moved into second overall in the final point standings with his win. "It was the highest position available, and it felt like we were going for the championship there. I love racing Kurt. We always have great battles. I wish that would have been for the championship, but second ain’t so bad. Right now, we’re going to have to be happy with that, and next year, we’ll have to try and rectify that. Maybe next year it will be Kurt and I going for the championship on the last run here.”

Newly crowned Pro Stock world champ Jeg Coughlin lost in the first round to Allen Johnson.

Rivas continued his hot streak in Pro Stock Motorcycle by winning his third race in a row, defeating newly crowned season champ Krawiec in the final round. Rivas, who moved to second in the final point standings with the win, powered his G-Squared/Drag Specialties Buell to a performance of 6.929 at 191.95 to drive away from Krawiec’s Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson, which trailed at 7.009 at 190.46.

"We're still not really sure where that 6.92 came from," said Rivas, who finished second in the point standings, five points behind Krawiec. "I knew that we had left together and by the time I plugged third gear he had completely dropped back; I thought he had broken. We hit the rev limiter at the finish line so I knew it either had been a really good run or that it had broken the transmission. I did what I was supposed to do as a rider. I took out the reigning world champ and kept him from having the number-two spot, and I feel fantastic about that."

The 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season opens Feb. 5-8 at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

Lucas Oil Returns to the Sponsor the Empire Super Sprint Tour for Two More Years

By Dean Reynolds

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The biggest sponsorship announcement in Empire Super Sprint (ESS) history came at the 25th anniversary awards banquet from Lucas Oil Canada’s Steve Snowden himself.  Lucas Oil has signed on to be the tour sponsor for the 2009 and 2010 seasons with the title officially being the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints.

Steve along with his son attended the awards banquet at the Holiday Inn at Carrier Circle in Syracuse, N.Y. to make the special announcement.  For one of the busiest men in Canada, it was his first time greeting many of the stars from the 360 organization.

“I along with Lucas Oil really enjoy sponsoring many types of grass roots racing and sprint cars are a part of that group.  ESS travels to both US and Canada which is big for Lucas, but we were just thrilled for what they did for us in return over the past year.” said Snowden in front of a packed house.  “We are honored to come back for two more years and support all these great competitors.  I didn’t get to a race last year and everyone tells me I’m missing a great show.  I will make sure I do get to a race in 2009.”

“The real winners in having Steve and Lucas Oil back are the competitors.  With the economy unstable, tracks just can’t afford to raise purses anymore.  To get your drivers more money is thru your point funds.” noted ESS President Chuck Miller. “When you have a good point fund waiting the teams at seasons end it will entice more to follow the tour.  We had a very successful 25th anniversary tour and we look to build going into 2009”

In addition to being the official tour sponsor, fans at each Lucas Oil ESS event will see many special promotions and giveaways.  The new logo which made its debut last year will be the official ESS logo minus the 25th anniversary slogan.  

The announcement of Lucas Oil is the first of many to come as ESS gets ready for the 2009 season in bringing you some of the most exciting winged sprint car action.  For the latest up to date information from the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints you can visit www.empiresupersprints.com.  Where the tradition of excitement guaranteed will continue for over 25 years!

Photo Caption:  Steve Snowden (c) receives a special award from ESS President Chuck Miller (l) and Vice President Dean Reynolds (r).

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