Picton's (ON) Adam Turner - Keeping Things Light in the Racing World

By Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications

One of the first things you’ll learn about Adam Turner is that he doesn’t take anything too seriously.  The second generation DIRTcar racer from Picton, Ontario would rather face the problems of his world with a smile than worry about them.  If you’re not laughing when you start talking to him, you certainly will be by the time you’re finished.  Turner has been known to keep the crowds that gather near his family-run race team well entertained on a weekly basis.  His parents Paul and Pat have often thought about writing a book of ‘Adamisms’. Their only concern is that few would believe some of the stories they’d be telling.

Turner likes to have a laugh and can spin a tall tale with the best of them, but when he fastens the safety-belts and slips behind the wheel, it’s an entirely different world.  “There’s a job to do and when the green flag waves, I need to focus”, says Turner.  “I’ve never lost track of the fact that racing is supposed to be fun.  We don’t race for a living, so it’s nice to have a no-pressure, relaxed atmosphere around the team.  My Mom and Dad are with me at the track.  We set-up some illuminated palm trees next to the camper and have a barbecue after the races.  People always drop by for a visit before the races and we always have a big crowd show-up when the show finishes.  Most weekends, we don’t leave the pits at Brockville until Sunday morning after a home-cooked breakfast”.

The 2008 racing season – the 25 year-old driver’s second year in a DIRTcar sportsman modified – resulted in a 13th place point’s finish in a limited schedule at Thunder Alley Speed Park in Evans Mills, New York and 6th in the final standings at Brockville Ontario Speedway.  Turner also racked-up 1 top 5 and a pair of top 10 runs in 3 starts at Can Am Speedway in Lafargeville, New York.  For 2 years, Turner and his team travelled back and forth between the Friday and Saturday night venues with fellow Prince Edward County racer and high school friend Tyler Rand, often camping at the track and working on each other’s cars between shows.  With Rand trading his sportsman car for the seat of a 360 sprint car, Adam Turner decided it was time for something new as well and will debut a new look for his #92 DIRTcar sportsman modified once the 2009 season opens.

Turner says he’s already been experimenting with a few different designs for the car and is thinking about a paint scheme similar to Tony Stewart’s 2008 dirt late model.  “We still have the same Bicknell car we ran last year.  It’s a former Sweetners Plus car we bought from Billy Dunn at the end of the 2007 season”, Turner explained.  “Right now, it’s in about a million pieces on the shop floor.  We’re going over everything. Checking welds, adjusting brackets and straightening a bar here and there.  I want to make sure everything is set to go about a week before the season opener”.

Even though there’s snow on the ground, Adam Turner is thinking about racing non-stop.  He has circled tentative dates on the ’09 calendar that hangs on the shop wall.  He’s definitely headed back to Brockville, with an eye on improving his 2008 points position.  With all the talk on various racing forums through the off-season, there may also be a new Friday night home for the popular Prince Edward County racer.  The biggest news to come out of the shop that houses the #92 ride is a plan to follow DIRTcar’s sportsman modified championship series tour.

“We’ve run quite well with the limited resources of the family-run auto repair business on the side of the car and some sponsorship from long-time friends and supporters, I’d like to see what we could do with a solid marketing program in place”, Turner explained.  “We’re going to get some sponsor search materials put together and see what kind of support we can drum-up.  The County is growing and becoming quite a vibrant and popular tourist destination.  The wineries are well known world-wide and anything we could do to help spread the word in our travels would be a win-win situation for everyone”.

Photo attachments:
#1).  Adam Turner scored a street stock win at Brockville Speedway less than a week after his brother Justin passed away during a 2006 family camping trip. (Jim Clarke photo)

#2).  Turner gets set for action at Brockville Speedway’s 2008 season opener.  (Jim Clarke photo)

Contact info:  Adam Turner, 613.476.4298
Prepared by:  Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications <<012_12_02.JPG>> <<017.JPG>>

Hamilton Spectator: Tim Miller on the CME

Thanks to Tim Miller of the Hamilton Spectator for his piece promoting the Canadian Motorsports Expo (Jan. 16-18 at the International Centre)!

Tim's column, which also includes notes about some big races on the '09 racing calendar and some local drag news is located here.

Thanks again Tim!

NASCAR: Elliott Sadler to Drive No. 19 In 2009

Gillett Evernham Motorsports (GEM) announced today that Elliott Sadler will drive the No. 19 Dodge in the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup season.

Tom Reddin, GEM CEO: “We are a family. Sometimes in a family you have differences. We have resolved all differences. We are moving on and excited about heading to Daytona.”

Elliott Sadler: “I want to drive. I’m a racer and that’s what I do. We are all on the same page now and I think you will see that show on the track.”

From GEM

Kawartha Durham Kart Club will have a booth at the Canadian Motorsports Expo

The Kawartha Durham Kart Club (KDKC) (www.kawarthadurhamkartclub.com) will have a booth at the Canadian Motorsports Expo (CME) (www.canadianmotorsportsexpo.com) to showcase their exciting new championship season and new home track.

The CME takes place January 16-18, at the International Centre, 6900 Airport Rd. Friday and Saturday 10 am – 9 pm, Sunday 10 am to 5 pm.

Come by and say hi, pick up membership packages and speak to us about important information for the upcoming year.

As the Toronto region’s only dedicated motorsports show, the CME has plenty to see and do for all the racing enthusiasts in the family. Kawartha Speedway will also be on hand and this is a great opportunity to see 2 of the most famous cars in Nascar - The #48 Lowe's Chevrolet NASCAR Sprint Cup car of Jimmie Johnson and the #88 AMP Chevrolet of Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Visit the show website to obtain a $2 off admission coupon at the front gate.

Kawartha Durham Kart Club: www.kawarthadurhamkartclub.com

Canadian Motorsports Expo: www.canadianmotorsportsexpo.com

From Paul Evans // President, KDKC

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DIRTcar: James Michael Friesen To Make Big-Block Modified Debut Down South!

James Michael Friesen Set For Big-Block Modified Debut At Volusia In February

*Alex Bruce photo attachments: JM Friesen car, mug, victory lane

Weedsport, NY – January 8, 2009 – By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing Northeast PR Director

Short-track racing has a way of carrying on with family tradition from generation to generation. Few are steeped in the Northeast Modified mainstream as much as the Friesen family, a clan recognized as much stateside as closer to its homebase in the city of St. Catharines, Ontario.

When racers arrive in Barberville, Florida for the 38th Annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals By UNOH at Volusia Speedway Park in February, the Modified mini-tour will chronicle the exploits of third-generation driver James Michael Friesen as he makes his Big-Block debut 1,200 miles from home. He’ll have ample opportunity to carve his own niche as three 30-lap main events and a $5,000-to-win 50-lap finale on Saturday, February 14 fill the schedule with an optional night of practice offered Tuesday, February 10.

“Racing was definitely bred in me from day one and I always knew I wanted to get involved in a career around motorsports,” remarked Friesen, 24, who will follow in the tire tracks left by cousin Stewart Friesen after his only showing at VSP in the ’06 Florida DIRTcar Nationals. Before that it was grandfather Stan Friesen, uncles Jamie and the late Alex Friesen, and younger brother Curtis Friesen setting the stage for the newest addition to the mighty DIRTcar Modified ranks in the Northeast.

“When summer time came everything I ever did revolved around racing at Ransomville. From selling 50/50 tickets, programs and popcorn, there was always something to do. And as soon as the go-cart track was built (early 1990s) that’s when I started racing. Having the chance to run in Florida will be a big thrill, so any experience I can take back north will certainly be valuable,” said Friesen, who grew up with racing at Ransomville Speedway every Friday night alongside his parents Joel and Trish Friesen as well as Northeast Modified Hall of Fame honoree Stan, the track owner since 1973.

2008 was a break-out year for James Michael as he captured the Sportsman Modified points title at Ransomville and not only won his first career feature, he went on to claim 10 more regular-season victories buckled into the Blue Moon Potatoes no. 52 Bicknell ride. Friesen will have a similar ride sporting a fresh look just in time for VSP, only with a New Generation powerplant under the hood for the speed week special.

“About a month ago we were planning more of a vacation to Florida, maybe fool around a little down there with the Small-Block car,” divulged Friesen, who took his only other trip to a track in the Sunshine State as part of a Hall of Fame tour at Daytona Int’l Speedway. “But Al (Blanchard, New Generation owner) said he had a big-block motor laying around in the shop and we could be more competitive. So this is also Al’s big-block debut, maybe it can help bring more notoriety to his own business.”

“Right now we’re going down to Volusia only hoping to qualify for all the shows and get a lot of seat time. It will certainly be a lot different running laps with some of the guys I grew up watching. We’ll be prepared as best as possible and give it our best shot, I’m sure it will still be a lot of fun no matter what happens,” Friesen said.

Back up north strapped in a DIRTcar 358-Modified, Friesen will kick of the season with weekend stops at Merrittville (Ont.) and Ransomville speedways, mixing in Small-Block specials every other week at Humberstone (Ont.) Speedway as his budget dictates.

“I never thought the success we had last year would come so quick. You always want to think you’re good enough to win but until it happens most of the time it’s a dream. I started out at Ransomville just hoping to run well against some of the top guys and we got a title at the end. Every young racer has dreams of seeing how far he can climb up the ladder so we’ll just keep taking it one step at a time,” figured Friesen, who recently relocated to a house in Beamsville, Ontario with his crew chief Dave Walters. Keeping busy in the off-season, James Michael recently completed an eight-week course at the Ontario Truck Training School and was certified as a heavy equipment operator.

From go-carts in the 90s to TQ Midget racing in the new millennium, Friesen entered a half-dozen DIRTcar 358-Modified events in 2007 and closed his initial season attending a handful of Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Series Championship shows in autumn. Last spring he grabbed the spotlight early by registering his first career Sportsman victory against an all-star field at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park, then followed up with checkered flags at Ransomville, Merrittville, Humberstone, Cayuga County Fair Speedway and Ohsweken Speedway to rank second circuit-wide.

“I’d like to win one or two features this year but moving up always means more competition, especially this year,” added Friesen, pointing out the graduation of former Sportsman point chasers Mat Williamson and Justin Sharp to the weekly 358 wars along with the addition of talented teenager Erick Rudolph to the Ransomville roster. “We kept our expectations low last year and came out alright, hopefully we’ll have more good fortune this time around and keep having fun along the way.”

Joining Friesen on the list of more than 35 drivers already signed up for the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals are seven-time and defending champion Brett Hearn, reigning Mr. DIRTcar points king Billy Decker and his Gypsum Express teammates Pat Ward and Larry Wight, all-time DIRTcar Big-Block feature winner Alan Johnson, fellow New Yorkers Dale Planck, Matt Sheppard and Keith Flach, Tuscarora Nation natives Randy and Roger Chrysler, New Jersey star Jimmy Horton, Pennsylvanians Rick Laubach and Ray Swinehart, Delaware drivers Jamie Mills and Matt Jester, Vermont invader Dave Camara, Massachusetts wheelman Andy Bachetti, Jeff Brown and Brad Trice from Maryland, Ohioans Jim Rasey and Rex King Jr., Frenchman Michel Chicoine plus the father/son tandem from Texas, Doug and Jason Ingalls.

Any drivers wishing to update team information for the pre-race roster, please contact DIRTcar Northeast PR Director Tom Skibinski by phone (585/350-8997) or through e-mail tskibinski@dirtcar.com correspondence. Specific questions regarding rules can be directed to Cory Reed (315/224-9009), DIRTcar NE Director of Competition & Track Sanctioning. <<CY-08-04-27-462.jpg>> <<RS-08-04-25-460.jpg>> <<RS-08-06-20-169.jpg>>

Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints: Cdn. Series sponsor announced

From Dean Reynolds

Northwood 2 Construction/Lasalle Motorsports to Sponsor the Canadian Series for the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints.

SYRACUSE, NY – In major and long expected announcement, Mike and Lori Lasalle and their successful Northwood 2 Construction business has taken over the title sponsorship for the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints’ (ESS) Canadian Sprint Series.  With their involvement and along with many associate sponsors to be announced in the very near future, the point fund for events held north of the border will be nearly three times larger than it ever has been in the past.

It will be known as the Northwood 2 Construction Canadian Sprint Series.  Over the years it started with Lucy’s Retired Surfers Bar, VSM Abrasives, Lucas Oil themselves and last year with SMAC Magazine as the title sponsor of the point fund for the ESS Canadian events.  The Lasalle’s have been huge fans of all race teams with ESS and now are looking to reward some of the best drivers from both sides of the border with a hefty season end cash awards.

Currently 13 events are scheduled in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec with a few more dates being discussed at this time.  Not only will each event carry points towards the over all Lucas Oil title but also towards the Canadian Sprint Series where drivers will be vying for a point fund that is now well over five digits. 

“We are so fortunate to have great people like Mike and Lori with us.  As traveling keeps on increasing, their contribution will go back into the driver’s pockets and help in increasing car counts in Canada for 2009.” said ESS President Chuck Miller.  “The promoters are tapped out, they just can’t give any more in the actual booking purse so to get teams more money it will have to be done with sponsors.  We want to see the car counts go up when ESS comes to each Canadian facility and with a large point fund we hope this will help greatly.”

The Lasalle Motorsports name has been involved throughout Ontario and Quebec in many forms of racing.  Their familiar #M96 small block will still be at many tracks with ESS star Brain McDonald behind the wheel when he’s not racing his familiar #151KB winged machine.

The schedule for ESS’ 26th Anniversary tour is near completion with dates already firmed at Utica-Rome, Autodromes Granby, Drummond and Edelweiss, Can-Am, Fonda, Mohawk International, Woodhull, Ohsweken, Merrittville, Cayuga County and after nine years the return to Ransomville.  Several other events and tracks are still in the works.

The announcement of the Northwood 2 Construction Canadian Series is the first on many that will be coming from the Lucas Oil backed sprint car organization on the newly formed lucrative Canadian point fund.  For the latest up to date information please log on to www.empiresupersprints.com where for 26 years it has been excitement guaranteed!!

NASCAR: Petty Holdings & Gillett Evernham Motorsports Announce Agreement in Principle To Form New Team

STATESVILLE, N.C. – Gillett Evernham Motorsports (GEM) and Petty Holdings announced today an agreement in principle to form a new NASCAR Sprint Cup team co-owned by Richard Petty, Petty Holdings, owned by majority shareholder Boston Ventures, and Gillett Evernham Motorsports.

The team will field four Dodge entries in the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. Details of the transaction are expected once the deal is closed. Petty and GEM officials anticipate a final agreement by the end of January.

Petty, a seven-time champion and owner of 200 Cup victories, said the new team secures the famed No. 43’s presence in NASCAR for years to come.

“I want to get back to winning and together we will bring the resources, technology and infrastructure to do that,” said Petty.

“This was a big decision for us but it’s something we really wanted to do. We hope everyone in the sport embraces what (GEM Co-owner) George (Gillett) and I are doing. Nothing is going to change for me. I’m going to be at the track every weekend and really involved with the teams and drivers back at the shop. We are very happy. George and I have a lot of work to do, but we have a plan and we’ll be ready for Daytona.”

Petty Enterprises is the winningest team in NASCAR history owning 268 Cup victories since 1949. Gillett said it is a privilege to help write a new chapter in the Petty family history.

“To join with Richard Petty and Petty Holdings is such an honor for me and my family,” said Gillett whose business interests also include ownership in the legendary Montreal Canadiens in the NHL and the English Premier League’s Liverpool FC soccer team. 

“Richard and I have gotten to know each other well over the last few years and both of us believe we have formed something that NASCAR fans will support. We plan to keep the Petty name in the forefront of NASCAR. We ask that all of the King’s fans join with us. Our goal is to get the cowboy hat and sunglasses back in victory lane.”

GEM has its own role in the history of NASCAR.

Ray Evernham, named by the media as the sport’s greatest crew chief of all time in 2006, created Evernham Motorsports in 1999 spearheading Dodge’s return to NASCAR. In 2007, Evernham partnered with Gillett to form GEM. The organization owns 15 victories and has consistently been one of the top performing teams in NASCAR.

“A lot has changed over the years in NASCAR but success still boils down to that cat holding the steering wheel and how he conducts himself both in and out of the car,” said Petty. “I really want to help these guys with their driving and their careers.”

Notes:

·       The new team plans to run a fourth Dodge in eight races in the 2009 season including the Budweiser Shootout with additional races contingent on sponsorship.

·       Ray Evernham retains a minority ownership role with the new team.

·       Richard Petty and Petty Holdings will continue to own and operate the Richard Petty Driving Experience as an independent entity.

·       Key Petty employees Robbie Loomis, Dale Inman and Brian Moffitt will also have active roles with the new team.

·       The new team will use the GEM race shops in Statesville, N.C. and engine shop in Concord, N.C.

·       GEM and Petty sponsors will continue with the new organization.

 
Additional Quotes

Kasey Kahne – “This is pretty exciting stuff. I’ve gotten to know Richard over my five years working with Dodge and I look forward to being around him more. This is pretty awesome. The Gilletts have done a fantastic job of putting this together. I think you can see their commitment to winning. We could have kept on the same path, but they made a pretty bold statement that they are here to win.”

Tom Reddin, GEM CEO – “We now have the greatest driver of all time and champion crew chiefs partnered with the business prowess of the Gillett family. We have a rock solid foundation for the future.”

David Zucker, CEO Petty Holdings – “Petty Holdings is thrilled with this partnership. This is two organizations coming together with one objective in mind – winning.”

Barry Baker, managing director of Boston Ventures and chairman of Petty Holdings – “We are excited about this transaction and believe it will continue to keep the Petty name at the forefront of motorsports for decades to come.”

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From Drew Brown // Gillett Evernham Motorsports