Inside Track Breaking News Blog

Preparation Begins For 2012 Season for Dillon Sallows and DKD Racing; Team to Participate in Local Car Show in March

noreply@blogger.com (Craig Revelle) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:14:00 +0000

By Craig Revelle - Finish Line Web Design

As the 2012 racing season quickly approaches, preparation is well underway in the DKD Racing shop, as they get ready for an exciting new year. After a breakout year in 2011 that produced his first feature win, Dillon Sallows is anxious to get back on the track and build on their success from last year.

Before the racing season gets underway in April, several off-track events are on the horizon as the annual Frontenac Mall Car Show in Kingston, Ontario is set for March 22^nd to March 24^th. Cars will enter the mall on March 21^st and will last throughout the weekend. The final day of the show also overlaps with the banquet for Mohawk International Raceway (MIR). The following week is the Cornwall Motor Speedway banquet. Sallows will be honoured for his sixth place finish in points at Cornwall and seventh place finish in points at MIR.

“I really enjoy the car show at the mall. It is a great opportunity to meet with the race fans, as well as other people at the mall that may have never seen our type of racing before”, says Sallows. “The banquets are also a lot of fun, as we get together with our fellow racers who we haven’t seen since October”.

Once the car shows and banquets are over, the 2012 racing season will be underway. Chapman’s Can Am Motorsports Park hosts a practice session on April 14^th and 15^th, and will open their season on April 21^st. MIR and Cornwall have not yet released their opening dates, but are typically slated for mid-May.

“I am really looking forward to getting the season started. We have a brand new body on the car with just a few laps at Syracuse on it, and we are ready to going for another year”.

Dillon plans to race at Mohawk International Raceway, as well as Cornwall Speedway in 2012, and also hopes to attend the occasional race at Brockville and Can Am this year as time permits. At the end of the year, the team plans to make their return to Super DIRT Week in Syracuse.

Sponsorship opportunities are available with DKD Racing. The team is currently seeking sponsorships to help with the cost of a new GM Crate Motor as their primary motor blew up at the end of the 2011 season. Please contact Dallas Sallows at hockey4kids@hotmail.com to discuss how sponsoring our race team can benefit your company.

Sallows, who operates his race team with his parents, Dallas and Kim Sallows races under the banner on DKD Racing, the initials of each family member. In addition to the C & B Enterprises sponsorship for 2012, DKD Racing will also have an impressive list of sponsors that include Erin & Buggo, Shortall’s Sand & Gravel, Unity Savings, Pat Roger’s Towing, Alex McCoy Plumbing and Heating, The W.I.P.P. Restaurant, Hollingsworth Supply Services, Finish Line Web Design, and Megaly’s General Store.

For more information on Dillon Sallows and the DKD Racing team, please visit our website, www.dillonsallows.com.

Excel Tower Service Racing Announces Charlie Sandercock as Driver for Upcoming World of Outlaw Late Model Events in the Sunshine State

noreply@blogger.com (Craig Revelle) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:34:00 +0000

By Craig Revelle - Finish Line Web Design

The 2012 racing season is coming up quickly for Greg Belyea and his Excel Tower Service Racing team. After making the decision to start the season in February and join the World of Outlaws Late Models for their events in Florida, the team has now announced that fellow competitor and friend Charlie Sandercock will take the reigns on the familiar Excel Tower Service car for a stretch of nine races in 10 nights.

The team will depart for the sunshine state in mid-February and the first stop will be at Bubba’s Raceway Park in Ocala Florida. The track is open for practice on Wednesday, February 15^th and will be followed by three exciting nights of World of Outlaw Late Model racing. When the action stops in Ocala, the team will then travel through the state of Florida during the only off day on the tour on Sunday, February 19^th. The racing will pick up the following day at Volusia County Speedway for three nights of racing with the UMP sanctioned Late Models, followed by two more nights at the same venue with the World of Outlaw Late Models on February 23^rd and 25^th. The 24^th of February will be another UMP Late Model event.

“We are very excited to travel down to Florida this year and follow the World of Outlaw Late Model schedule while we are here”, says team owner and usual driver Greg Belyea who is stepping out of car in favor of fellow competitor Charlie Sandercock, who battled Belyea for the Brighton Speedway championship through the final week of the 2011 season. “We are going to give Charlie a chance to see what he can do with the open motor car, and are very excited to have him on board”.

Sandercock will pilot the Excel Tower Racing entry with his own familiar number 57 adorning the side of the car. Sandercock adapted quickly to the Late Model division over the past two seasons after running a Canadian Modified at his home track, Brighton Speedway previously.

“It will be a lot of fun to get away to Florida in February and go racing”, adds Belyea. “We made the trip a few years ago, and we learned a lot, and I feel that we are much more prepared this time around. We know it will be a really competitive field down there, and hopefully we can have a good outing with Charlie in the car. It will be a long stretch of racing, but it will be a great way to start of the season”.

For more information on Greg Belyea and the Excel Tower Service racing team, please visit our website, www.exceltowerracing.com. You can follow along during the Florida trip for nightly race results, photos and more.

Ontario Topless Sprints Announce Tentative 2012 Schedule; OTS is Full Steam Ahead With Exciting Events Planned

noreply@blogger.com (Craig Revelle) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 03:40:00 +0000

By Craig Revelle - Finish Line Web Design

After a very successful inaugural event at Humberstone Speedway in 2011, the Ontario Topless Sprints are back for a new season on a much larger scale with events scattered throughout the summer at several different racetracks in Ontario, Pennsylvania and Ohio.

The tentative schedule has the Ontario Topless Sprints (OTS) and the Ohio based Buckeye Outlaw Sprint Series (B.O.S.S) working together during most of the events on the schedule, as well as one OTS standalone event on the schedule. The OTS and B.O.S.S. will also have a co-sanctioned event with the Michigan Traditional Sprints (MTS).

The OTS season will get underway with a weekend doubleheader beginning at Wayne County Speedway in Orrville, Ohio on Friday, May 18^th and Mercer Raceway Park in Mercer, Pennsylvania on Saturday, May 19^th. Just one event is on the schedule at this time during the month of June as OTS travels to Pittsburgh’s Penn Motor Speedway on Saturday, June 23^rd. July is the busiest month of the season for OTS with three events on the schedule with a visit to Sharon Speedway in Sharon, Ohio. Another weekend doubleheader is on the card on July 20^th and 21^st as OTS holds events at South Buxton Raceway and Humberstone Speedway respectively. After more than two months off, the series will then wrap up back at Wayne County Speedway for the 2012 season finale on Saturday, October 6^th.

“We are very excited to announce our 2012 season schedule”, says Ontario Topless Sprints President Ken Bayliss. “This is just a tentative schedule though, and we hope to be able to add some more events in the near future”.

In an effort to help build OTS as well as its sister site for the Ontario Outlaw Flat Trackers, www.ooft.ca - we will have a booth set up at the Canadian Motorsports Expo in Toronto, Ontario at the International Centre on February 10^th, 11^th and 12^th. Stop by and visit us and learn more about both the OTS and OOFT.

Ontario Topless Sprints would like to thank Giant FM Classic Rock 91.7FM, Traffic & Court Services, Finish Line Web Design, OTR Filters, E-Shine.ca, Lou’s Tire Service, CARSTAR, Great Signs & Graphics, Garden City Environmental, Xtreme Custom Exhaust, Tapp’s Water Treatment, Pit Stop Automotive, Castle Racing Team, RCM Racing Equipment, Kear’s Speed Shop, King Racing Products, BR Motorsports, Outerwears Performance Products and Pancho’s Racing Products for supporting OTS in 2012.

“We wouldn’t be able to do any of this without the help of the great companies that support us”, adds Bayliss, who will also be competing in the OTS events this season. “I just can’t thank everyone enough for their support as we move into our first full season with the series. We had a great time at our event at Humberstone in 2011, and look for an even better 2012”.

For more information on this exciting form of motorsports, please visit Ontario Topless Sprints on the web at www.ontariotoplesssprints.com. You will find information on the event including rules, driver entry list when available, and our great sponsors and affiliates that are on board with us to date. You can also follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/otsracing.

Dylan Evoy Nominated as Canadian DIRT Racer of the Year in Coveted Inside Track Magazine’s Reader’s Choice Awards; Voting is Now Open

noreply@blogger.com (Craig Revelle) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 03:14:00 +0000

By Craig Revelle - Finish Line Web Design

After a 2011 racing season that saw Dylan Evoy and the Evoy Racing team capture an unprecedented 14 feature wins, and a countless number of qualifying race victories, the team continues to reap the benefits of their fantastic season by being nominated for the Inside Track Canadian DIRT Racer of the Year Reader’s Choice Award.

The Award is one of several Motorsports related categories that are voted on by Inside Track Reader’s and viewers. The voting is taking place now on the Inside Track website. For easy access to the award voting, you can simply go to the evoyracing.com website and click on the Inside Track Reader’s Choice Award logo. You have to navigate through the other voting categories before you get to the voting for Canadian DIRT Racer of the Year voting. It is the third category on the list.

“It is a great honor to be nominated for this award”, says Evoy. “We really had a fantastic season and it always feels good to get recognized for our accomplishments. Inside Track is a National magazine, and to be represented on that level is great for our team”.

The winner of this award, as well as the other category award winners will get honored at the annual Canadian Motorsports Expo in Toronto during the weekend of February 10^th, 11^th and 12^th. The Canadian Motorsports Expo will take place at the International Centre in Toronto, located near the Pearson International Airport.

Evoy Racing, and driver Dylan Evoy would like to thank all of their sponsors for the past season and look forward to working with them again in 2012. These great sponsors include Ogilvie’s Auto & Fleet Service, 1000 Islands RV Centre, NAPA Auto Parts Fireball Performance Automatics, RONA, Charleston Lake Auto Service, Subway, Linde, Unity Savings, Canadian Tire, Pennzoil and NGK Spark Plugs.

Additional sponsorship opportunities are available with the Evoy Racing team for the 2012 season. To see how your company could benefit from sponsorship of a championship winning team, please contact Dylan Evoy at 613-345-3782, or email dylanevoy83@hotmail.com.

To stay up to date with Dylan Evoy and Evoy Racing throughout the off season and leading up into the 2012 season, log on to the team’s website at www.evoyracing.com. The website is updated weekly during the season and it also contains information on Evoy Racing and Dylan as well as direct links to our sponsor’s websites.

Tabatha Murphy Awarded 2012 Scholarship to Race 101 Program in North Carolina; Course Proven to be a Great Experience for Young Racers

noreply@blogger.com (Craig Revelle) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:10:00 +0000

By Craig Revelle - Finish Line Web Design

Following a local trend of talented young racers from this area getting accepted into the popular Race 101 program in North Carolina, Tabatha Murphy was notified this week that her application to the auto racing educational program had been accepted.

Murphy will head south for the first time to attend class orientation during the weekend of February 10^th, 11^th and 12^th. She will travel to North Carolina a couple more occasions before racing starts up here in our area. Over the course of the year, students of Race 101 will participate in weekly webinars classes online, and then once the season is over she will head back down to North Carolina for more weekend classes, which will also include an opportunity to drive a Race 101 prepared pavement Late Model at the legendary Hickory Motor Speedway in Hickory North Carolina. After the program comes to an end Tabatha and her classmates will be in the running to be named 2013’s Race 101 Premiere driver, where the potential winner will race in several events in the Race 101 house car.

“I am very excited to be part of the Race 101 program for 2012”, says Murphy, who will be joined by two other local female racers that also received acceptance letters into the program this week. “I know from talking to others that have participated in the program that it will be an unbelievable experience for me, and I look forward to getting started”.

RACE 101 stands for Research, Analyze, Consult, and Educate 1 on 1. The yearly Scholarship Program is the primary program for Race 101. It focuses on working with specially selected young drivers (ages 13-28) from the US and Canada through an application process similar to a college or university. The program lasts over the course of a year, with proven teaching and coaching methods that give the students one on one time with instructors, classroom time, track time, hands-on experience as well as homework assignments.

Tabatha Murphy would like to thank King Edward Auto Parts, Brockville Tractor Trailer Maintenance, Allan Bell and Associates, Reabel’s Plumbing, Splash Well Drilling and Finish Line Web Design for all of their support. We have been working hard over the off-season getting ready for 2012, and we look forward to working with you all again in 2012.

To stay up to date with Tabatha Murphy and the Murphy Motorsports team throughout the off-season, log on to the team’s new and improved website at www.tabathamurphy.net. The website is updated weekly during the racing season and it also contains information on Tabatha Murphy as well as direct links to our sponsor’s websites.

Fowl Mood Racing Team Will Get an Early Start in 2012 as They Travel to Florida at the End of the Month to Compete at East Bay Raceway Park

noreply@blogger.com (Craig Revelle) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:03:00 +0000

By Craig Revelle - Finish Line Web Design

The 2012 racing season will begin early for Phil Potts and the Fowl Mood Racing team, as they plan to travel to Tampa, Florida and compete at Easy Bay Raceway Park in the ultra competitive NeSmith Chevrolet Late Model Series.

The team will be looking to conquer the troubles that left them on the outside looking in during last year’s Winter Nationals at East Bay, in which the problems were later determined to be a faulty shock that disrupted the handling of the car.

“We were a little off the mark last year at East Bay, and we are looking forward to getting back there this year and putting up a better performance”, says Fowl Mood driver Phil Potts. “I really have to thank Stu and April Archer for giving me the opportunity, and all the crew that will be making the trip with us this year. We feel that getting the season started early will be a great benefit to our team once the racing season gets started up here at our own local tracks”.

Potts and the Fowl Mood team will be debuting a brand new color scheme on their Late Model during the Winter Nationals, and will have a couple new sponsors on board for the 2012 season.

The team will leave their shop in Brighton, Ontario on Saturday, January 28^th and begin the 24 hour journey to Tampa, Florida and East Bay Raceway Park. The first on track action will begin on Wednesday, February 1^st with an open practice session, followed by three consecutive nights of racing in the NeSmith Chevrolet Late Model Series on February 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th.

“We are thrilled to have Gord’s Water Service and Brighton Recycling on board with us for 2012. They will join the great group of sponsors that have been with us since we started this Late Model program, and we cant thank them enough for their contribution to our team”, adds Potts.

Fowl Mood Racing would not be possible without the support of our sponsors. We would like to thank Hutchinson Fuels, Indewey Excavating, Vanderlaan Building Supplies, Bill’s Johns, Gord’s Water Service and Brighton Recycling Inc. for all their support, and we look forward to a very exciting 2012 season.

For more information on Phil Potts and the Fowl Mood Racing team, and to stay up to date with our progress through the 2012 racing season, please visit our website, www.fowlmoodracing.com.

Sarah Cornett-Ching Seeks Help of Fans and Sponsors with Voting in the ‘Always a Champion’ Video Contest; Winner to Receive Sponsorship

noreply@blogger.com (Craig Revelle) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:38:00 +0000

By Craig Revelle - Finish Line Web Design

PENTICTON, BRITISH COLUMBIA - Sarah Cornett-Ching is seeking the help of fans and sponsors to vote for her daily in a video contest that she has entered. The contest is titled ‘Always a Champion’ and there will be five winners of this contest that will receive a $10,000 sponsorship from Champion Spark Plugs for the upcoming 2012 racing season, and one grand prize winner of a $50,000 sponsorship package.

The ‘Always a Champion’ contest began at the start of the New Year, and runs through February 5^th, 2012. You can vote once a day on the video, and by signing up to vote on the site, you will also be eligible to win free apparel from Champion. In order to vote, simply go to www.alwaysachampion.com and register. Once you have registered, type Sarah Cornett-Ching in the search field, click on the video and vote. Once registered, you can also vote right from the www.sccracing.com website.

"This is a great contest that Champion has put on for us racers, and with your help we may have a chance to win one of those coveted sponsorship packages" says Cornett-Ching. "We encourage everyone to vote for us daily between now and February 5^thand leave a comment on the video. The Champion sponsorship, along with the help of our already existing sponsors for 2012 would make a great combination going into the new season."

The five finalists (one per each racing category) will be determined by a Sponsor-selected panel of judges based on the following criteria: Inspirational Quality (34%); Relevance to Theme/Best Depiction of a Champion (33%); and number of votes (33%). All eligible Contest Entries will be judged from January 16, 2012 through January 31, 2012. While the voting doesn’t solely determine who wins the contest, the 33% is very important in determining the winner.

"We have been promoting the video contest through social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter since the voting began" adds Cornett-Ching who has utilized these sites all year long to keep sponsors and fans informed of any news throughout the year.

"We need to step it up in order to be in the running for this sponsorship when it closes in a few weeks."

Since 2005, Sarah Cornett-Ching has racked up a pile of awards, including Most Aspiring driver as well as Champion in her division that year. Two years later, after moving up a class, she claimed the championship again. In 2008 she claimed her first ever top five finish in the NASCAR Whelen All American Series, and the following year she finished third overall in the series points standings. In addition to her third place in points, she also claimed awards for Most Improved driver, Most Dedicated to the Sport and West Coast Sportsman Rookie of the Year Award. In 2010 she claimed fifth place in points in both the Okanagen Street Stock Series and the West Coast Sportsman Series. She was also named Most Improved Driver and Most Dedicated Driver of the West Coast Sportsman Series. In 2011, Sarah again won Most Improved Driver in the West Coast Sportsman Series, finishing fourth in points, and won Rookie of the Year, and Most Improved driver in the OK Tire ARCA West Series, finishing eighth in points.

For more information on Sarah Cornett-Ching and to follow her racing accomplishments, please visit her newly revamped website, www.sccracing.com or visit her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sccracing.

MOPAR PARTS RETURNING AS SPONSOR & NEW CREW CHIEF FOR RON BEAUCHAMP JR.

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Lewis) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:20:00 +0000

January 12, 2012. While the 2012 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series first event is still months away, Ron Beauchamp Jr. and the #60 Mopar Parts/Mobil 1/Exide Batteries Dodge team have already been very busy with preparations for another season of competition. The team has brought in ASA Championship Crew Chief Deon Deneau and there is already sense of optimism for the year ahead.

Driver Ron Beauchamp Jr. is excited to be returning to the series again and continuing his association with long time partners at Mopar Parts, Exide Batteries and Mobil 1. “We’re so proud to be teamed with the absolute best group of companies you could associate with” said Beauchamp. “Our relationship goes far beyond the racetrack and their support has been incredible over the years” he added.

Beauchamp and the #60 Mopar Parts/Mobil 1/Exide Batteries Dodge team were once again tough competitors at each event last season but expectations are even higher for the team this year, which is why the decision was made to bring in new Crew Chief Deon Deneau. “I’ve know Deon for years” said Beauchamp. “He’s worked with Butch Miller in ASA, was ASA Crew Chief of the year in 2007, he’s got a lot of other experience and after we met to discuss the opportunity the decision was an easy one” he stated.

Deneau is thrilled to be back home in Canada and working with Beauchamp Motorsports. “I'm very thankful for the opportunity Ron Sr. has given me, I think the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series has become extremely competitive and has some very talented race teams competing in it and it will be an exciting challenge for us”.

The race shop for the #60 Mopar Parts/Mobil 1/Exide Batteries Dodge is already humming with activity. “Deon has been evaluating some things and making a few changes” explained Beauchamp. “We’ll also be going over the cars very closely so he can get a better understanding of the setup we’ve been running. The whole team in energized and we can’t wait to get the season going” he added.

Race fans will have an opportunity to meet Ron Beauchamp Jr. and see the #60 Mopar Parts/Mobil 1/Exide Batteries Dodge at the upcoming Canadian Motorsports Expo in Toronto, February 10-12 at the International Centre in Toronto, ON.

Ron Beauchamp Jr. and the #60 Mopar Parts/Mobil 1/Exide Batteries Dodge Team will compete in all twelve races on the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series schedule. Once again this year all events will be broadcast on TSN. Fans should check their local listings for times. For more information about the #60 Mopar Parts/Mobil 1/Exide Batteries team log on to www.beauchampmotorsports.com and www.mopar.ca

Attached photo: The #60 Mopar Parts/Mobil 1/Exide Batteries Dodge Challenger

Klotz Canada joins the Southern Ontario Sprints for 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Mike G) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:24:00 +0000

The Southern Ontario Sprints would like to welcome our new partner, Klotz Synthetic Lubricants, for the 2012 season. Klotz will provide support to the SOS as an Associate Sponsor.

Sam Donnelly, of Klotz Canada is looking forward to 2012. “I have been following the SOS for awhile so I figured it might be time to try and get involved.”

Klotz products set the standards for performance & quality, which is exactly what, is required to be a frontrunner in this ultra-competitive racing organization.

Whether you're new to the powersports industry or an old-timer, Klotz is one name you can trust. Driven to perform at the highest levels, we race-test every product to make sure it meets the most stringent demands. Whether it's your Car, Motorcycle, ATV, Snowmobile, Boat, PWC, RC or V-Twin, you can trust Klotz to take better care of it than any other brand.

More information on Klotz Synthetic Lubricants is available at www.klotzcanada.com

Whitteker Looks Back on Educational 2011 Season and Provides Some Insight into What is in Store for Whitteker Motorsports in 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Craig Revelle) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:21:00 +0000

By Craig Revelle - Finish Line Web Design

It is hard not to look back into the past year for Luke Whitteker and the Whitteker Motorsports team and not see the improvement from the beginning of the year to the end. Just one year ago, Luke stepped into the Race 101 program in North Carolina with a strong desire to learn, and a year later, he is set to graduate and will take the valuable experience that he gained and continue to apply that to his racing career. He has met and worked with some great people in the program, shared some great times with fellow students and have made some memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.

Whitteker will wrap up his year with Race 101 in a graduation ceremony next month in Charlotte, North Carolina, where Luke and his fellow classmates will learn who was named Race 101’s premiere driver for 2012. The winner will be offered a ride in a Race 101 prepared Late Model for the 2012 season.

“I am really excited to graduate from the Race 101 program and see who will be named the premiere driver for 2012”, says Whitteker. “It has been an amazing experience so far, and winning the premiere driver would be icing on the cake”.

Whitteker Motorsports has been working hard over the off-season on their racing program and will once again race weekly at Cornwall Motor Speedway on Sunday nights this season, and following the Mr. DIRTcar 358 Modified tour. In addition, Whitteker will also be competing in Quebec, racing Friday night’s at Autodrome Granby, and competing in the 10 race Quebec Series that will see all 10 events televised on the French RDS Channel. Both Granby and Autodrome Drummond with host five events, and there will be full coverage including driver interviews and play-by-play that will be broadcasted by RDS.

“Having these races shown on TV will be a huge deal for everyone involved”, says Whitteker. “Anytime we can get our sponsors that kind of exposure is great. I look forward to being a part of that this coming season”

Autodrome Granby is currently utilizing social media site Facebook by having a vote amongst several drivers. The driver with the most votes will have the opportunity to host their sponsors and have a special section in the stands for their fans for a night during the 2012 season. To vote for Luke, simply check out our Facebook page below and follow the link.

Today more then ever, Social Networking is a huge part of getting the word out to fans, friends, sponsors and everyone else. It is a quick and convenient way to spread the word about what you are doing, and Whitteker Motorsports continues to utilize this method. We encourage everyone to check us out and follow us on Facebook and twitter.

As the 2011 season started, Luke and the Whitteker Motorsports team announced that they would be working to raise money for the CHEO Foundation in Ottawa. CHEO stands for Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. Whitteker Motorsports will soon make a donation of $1000 to the organization. That money was raised through Whitteker Motorsports t-shirt and merchandise sales during the 2011 season.

Whitteker will also take part in the Gater Racing News Motorsports Expo in Syracuse during the weekend of March 10^th and 11^th at the New York State Fairgrounds. Whitteker will have the racecar on display representing Finish Line Web Design. We encourage everyone that can make it to stop by the booth.

As we get closer and closer to the start of a new season, Luke Whitteker and the Whitteker Motorsports team would like to thank all of their sponsors for their continued support. These sponsors include Rust Check, Coldwell Banker, Steve Summers Coburn Realty, Jim’s Performance Plus, Parcoll Products/Napa Auto Parts, Quaker State, Toy Storage, Wells and Son Construction, 730 Truck Stop, Lloyd McMillan Equipment Ltd., ERD Engine Research and Development, Cohen and Lord Insurance, Thompson Tim-Br Mart and Finish Line Web Design.

To stay up to date on Luke Whitteker and the Whitteker Motorsports team, please visit our website, www.lukewhitteker.com or follow us through Facebook at www.facebook.com/whittekermotorsports or through Twitter at www.twitter.com/lukewhitteker.

INDY LIGHTS: 12-race schedule announced for 2012

noreply@blogger.com (GREGM) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 18:51:00 +0000

INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2011) - A diverse calendar featuring 12 races divided among ovals, temporary street circuits and permanent road courses highlights the 2012 Firestone Indy Lights schedule announced today by INDYCAR officials.

"Our goal is to prepare Firestone Indy Lights drivers to become successful IZOD IndyCar Series drivers," said Tony George Jr., manager of business development for Firestone Indy Lights. "We've seen how this has worked recently with drivers having success after graduating from the series. The 2012 schedule continues to help us reach that goal by helping our current drivers gain experience and succeed on all types of racing circuits."

Firestone Indy Lights teams will race at the Raceway at Belle Isle for the first time under INDYCAR sanction on the weekend of June 2-3 as part of the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix. The CART-sanctioned Indy Lights raced at Belle Isle from 1992-2000 with drivers such as Tony Kanaan, Robbie Buhl and Eric Bachelart among the race winners. The series' return to the 2-mile oval at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., on Sept. 15 will be the first Firestone Indy Lights race at the track since 2005.

Eight venues that hosted Firestone Indy Lights races in 2011 return and will be run in conjunction with the IZOD IndyCar Series and have additional support from the Mazda Road to Indy. Firestone Indy Lights returns as the headline event at the Grand Prix of Trois Rivieres on the streets of Trois Rivieres, Quebec. An additional event will be announced at a later date.

For the 10th consecutive year, the Firestone Indy Lights season will begin competition in the state of Florida, with a race on the streets of St. Petersburg on March 24-25. The series will then return to the 2.3-mile Barber Motorsports Park on March 31-April 1 before heading to the streets of Long Beach, Calif., for the fourth time on April 14-15.

The first oval of the season will be the series' premier event - the Freedom 100 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 25, two days before the Indianapolis 500.

"The opportunity to compete on Carb Day at Indianapolis is an experience that is second to none for our drivers, teams and sponsors and the highlight of the schedule each year," George said. "We feel like our schedule demands the ability of both drivers and teams to master a variety of venues with the end result of a champion that is fully prepared to be an IZOD IndyCar Series driver."

The Belle Isle race and the oval event at Iowa Speedway precede the Canadian stretch, which features races on the streets of Toronto's Exhibition Place, Edmonton City Centre Airport and Trois Rivieres. A return to the streets of Baltimore will lead into the race at Auto Club Speedway.

Firestone Indy Lights is the premier ladder series for drivers and teams striving to compete in the IZOD IndyCar Series and the Indianapolis 500. The top series in the Mazda Road to Indy development system, teams compete for more than $3 million in prize money in cars that are second in speed only to the IZOD IndyCar Series at most tracks they visit. Graduates of this fast and cost-effective series include Marco Andretti, Ana Beatriz, Ed Carpenter, Wade Cunningham, Jay Howard, James Hinchcliffe, JR Hildebrand, Alex Lloyd, Charlie Kimball and Raphael Matos.

The complete 2012 Firestone Indy Lights schedule:

March 24-25 Streets of St. Petersburg, Fla.

March 31- April 1 Barber Motorsports Park

April 14-15 Streets of Long Beach, Calif.

May 25 Indianapolis Motor Speedway

June 2-3 Raceway at Belle Isle Park

June 22- 23 Iowa Speedway

July 7-8 Streets of Toronto

July 21-22 Edmonton City Centre Airport

Aug. 5 Streets of Trois Rivieres, Quebec

Sept. 1-2 Streets of Baltimore

Sept. 15 Auto Club Speedway

TBD TBD

From Amy Konrath, INDYCAR

VIDEO: NCATS Champ Scott Steckly

noreply@blogger.com (GREGM) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 13:15:00 +0000

A video on NASCAR Canadian Tire Series champion Scott Steckly. Thanks to Joel Robinson for sending it along.

IZOD INDYCAR SERIES ANNOUNCES 2012 SCHEDULE

noreply@blogger.com (Mike G) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:41:00 +0000

INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011) - A first-ever event in China and two venues that return after multi-year absences highlight the IZOD IndyCar Series schedule for 2012 announced today.

The 2012 season, which will feature the return of engine manufacturer competition and a new universal chassis produced by Dallara Automobili, kicks off Sunday, March 25, with the eighth Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

The IZOD IndyCar Series again presents the most diverse schedule in motorsports with the challenges of races on temporary street circuits, permanent road courses, superspeedways and short ovals in four countries.

"To be crowned IZOD IndyCar Series champion, the driver must be able to master a diversified race schedule that truly challenges the best in the world," said Randy Bernard, CEO, INDYCAR. "The 2012 schedule offers our drivers and teams the test of conquering both ovals and road and street races. Adding to the diversity of the season, we're excited with the launch of three engine manufacturers vying for the Manufacturers Trophy."

The scenic Belle Isle park circuit will be the site of the recently announced Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix on Sunday, June 3. The IZOD IndyCar Series had competed at the Raceway at Belle Isle in 2007 and '08. Also returning to the schedule is the 2-mile Auto Club Speedway oval in Fontana, Calif., for a race under the lights Saturday, Sept. 15. INDYCAR sanctioned four races at Auto Club Speedway between 2002 and '05, while CART hosted events at the track from 1997 to 2002.

Night races also will be held at Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday, June 9, and the .875-mile Iowa Speedway on Saturday, June 23.

The Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for Sunday, May 27, with Pole Day on Saturday, May 19.

The IZOD IndyCar Series returns to Barber Motorsports Park for the third consecutive year on Sunday, April 1, and the 38th Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach will be held Sunday, April 15. Also, the series will compete on the streets of Sao Paulo, Brazil, for the third time on Sunday, April 29, as the lead-in to Indianapolis 500 activities.

Back-to-back races in Canada highlight July - on the streets of Exhibition Place in Toronto on Sunday, July 8, and on the exciting City Centre Airport circuit in Edmonton, Alberta, on Sunday, July 22.

The permanent road courses of the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (Sunday, Aug. 5) and Infineon Raceway (Sunday, Aug. 26) also retain their traditional dates. On Sunday, Sept. 2, the IZOD IndyCar Series will electrify the streets of downtown Baltimore for the second consecutive year.

"INDYCAR is excited about the confirmed races announced today," said Bernard. "With the new car and engine manufacturer competition, we believe they will be tremendous events that will help INDYCAR grow.

"We are exploring adding additional events to the 2012 schedule. We're in the process of confirming a 16th event, while also considering adding a 17th race to the calendar."

In addition to the race schedule, the series' annual preseason Open Test will be held at Sebring International Raceway on March 5-8.

The television lineup and event start times will be announced soon. Also, the 2012 Indy Lights schedule will be announced soon.

March 25 - Streets of St. Petersburg

1.8-mile street course

April 1 - Barber Motorsports Park

2.3-mile road course

April 15 - Streets of Long Beach

1.968-mile street course

April 29 - Streets of Sao Paulo

2.536-mile street course

May 27 - Indianapolis Motor Speedway

2.5-mile oval

June 3 - Raceway at Belle Isle Park

2.1-mile street course

June 9 - Texas Motor Speedway

1.5-mile oval

June 23 - Iowa Speedway

.875-mile oval

July 8 - Streets of Toronto

1.755-mile street course

July 22 - Edmonton City Centre Airport

1.973-mile airport course

Aug. 5 - Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

2.258-mile road course

Aug. 19 - Streets of Qingdao, China

3.87-mile street course

Aug. 26 - Infineon Raceway

2.303-mile road course

Sept. 2 - Streets of Baltimore

2-mile street course

Sept. 15 - Auto Club Speedway

2-mile oval

Allmendinger to Drive the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Dodge in 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Mike G) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 16:32:00 +0000

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (December 21, 2011) – Penske Racing has named AJ Allmendinger as the driver of the team’s No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Dodge Charger for the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Allmendinger, who has competed in the Cup Series since 2007, is coming off a strong season that saw him finish 15th in the series standings while battling for a position in the Chase for the Championship. The 30-year-old native of Los Gatos, Calif., earned one top-five, 10 top-10 and 22 top-15 results in 2011 while driving the No. 43 car for Richard Petty Motorsports.

“I am really excited about the opportunity to join Penske Racing and drive the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Dodge in 2012,” said Allmendinger. “I have always admired Roger Penske and the way his teams compete and win in every series where they race. It is a privilege for me to represent such iconic and respected brands as Shell and Pennzoil, AAA and Dodge. I am honored to join Penske Racing and I will do my very best to continue to build on the standard of excellence established across the organization.”

Allmendinger will join a winning team that’s poised to compete for a position in the 2012 Cup Series Chase. The No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Dodge team produced two wins, three poles and 16 top-10 finishes in 2011 as it earned a spot in the Chase and finished 11th in the series standings. Allmendinger will be paired with crew chief Todd Gordon, who led the Penske Racing No. 22 Nationwide Series team to six victories last season and was named last week as the new chief of the Shell-Pennzoil Dodge.

“AJ is a very talented and motivated driver and we believe he will be a terrific fit with our team,” said Roger Penske. “He has shown great promise and consistent results on the track over the last few seasons and working with Todd and the Shell-Pennzoil Dodge team will allow him to take the next step and compete for race wins and a spot in the Chase in 2012.”

“Shell and Pennzoil are extremely pleased by Penske Racing’s selection of AJ Allmendinger to drive the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Dodge,” said Lisa Davis, President of Shell Oil Products U.S. “AJ has consistently demonstrated great potential and continuous improvement as a driver, and with Penske’s track record, our employees and customers can look forward to seeing him contending for wins and ultimately a championship in the NASCAR Cup Series. We know he will represent our brands well on and off the track and we look forward to a successful 2012 with AJ behind the wheel.”

Allmendinger honed his skills in the open-wheel racing ranks. After winning the Barber Dodge Pro Series title in 2002 and the Toyota Atlantic Championship in 2003, he earned Rookie of the Year honors in the Champ Car World Series in 2004. He posted five wins and finished third in the 2005 Champ Car World Series before making the switch to NASCAR. He first competed in the Cup Series in 2007 and he’s earned 26 top-10 finishes in less than five Cup Series seasons. Allmendinger has finished inside the top 20 in points in each of the last two seasons.

Penske Racing is one of the most successful teams in the history of professional sports. Competing in a variety of disciplines, cars owned and prepared by Penske Racing have produced 350 major race wins, 412 pole positions and 23 National Championships. For more information about Penske Racing, please visit www.penskeracing.com .

Seasons Greetings from the Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour!

noreply@blogger.com (Mike G) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 20:54:00 +0000

Bryan Mercer Strives to Keep the Drive Alive

noreply@blogger.com (Mike G) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:36:00 +0000

Close. They say it only counts in horseshoes (and occasionally hand grenades). Midway through Kawartha Speedway’s 2011 season, it looked like Port Hope, Ontario’s Bryan Mercer was close to earning his first career NAPA Auto Parts ACT Late Model track championship. After scoring a 3rd place finish on opening night, the 15 year veteran racer picked-up a convincing win in the season’s first 100 lap invitational – his first main event win since 2006. Another 3rd place effort Friday, June 24th was followed by a history making triumph in the 8th annual running of the 150 lap Summer Sizzler and a $3,000 payday.

“Between the final checkered flag of 2010 and first green of 2011, our car spent a lot of time on either jackstands or a jig,” said Mercer. “We stripped off the body panels and sent the car to Mike McColl’s shop in London, Ontario. They updated some of the geometry and other components during the winter. It really made a difference to how the car felt and handled. Our 2007 Monte Carlo felt like a brand new piece every time we took to the track. I’ve been told a number of people thought it was a brand new car.”

The strong, early season showings placed Mercer and his #81 Sine’s Flooring/Durmach Tooling/Creative Edge Graphics/Jim’s Pizza, Port Hope/Quantrill Chev-Buick-GMC Cadillac/Cressman Tree Maintenance/UAP NAPA, Port Hope/Appleman CARSTAR Collision/ Dent Tec/True2spl Windshield Repair/Clarke Motorsports Communications Chevrolet in a comfortable, albeit not commanding lead atop the Fraserville 3/8th miler’s headline division standings. As anyone who is familiar with the world of short-track racing will tell you, things can often change in the length of a straightaway; or in Bryan Mercer’s case, the turn of a corner.

“No matter how much I’d like to erase that night from my mind, I’m sure I’ll never forget the incident from Friday, July 15th,” said Mercer. “I was coming through turns 1 and 2 in the semi feature. I’d already won a heat race, so that meant starting near the back. Another car and I went into the corner running close together and we made contact. I don’t know if he didn’t know I was there or if the car just broke loose. No matter how it happened, it was frustrating and may have cost us the championship.”

In a sportsmanlike gesture, Bryan Watts offered the use of his car for the main event, but the 38 year-old father of 3 could only muster a 9th place finish in the unfamiliar piece. With just a week before the next event, crew chief and father Ron Mercer along with Shane Crombie, Dave Dennis, Jeremy Dennis, Donny Dennis, Dylan Fraser, Danny Langstaff, Mike Lagrois and Terry Stark went to work to get their damaged machine ready for a trip to McColl Racing Enterprises to have a front clip updated. The car made its return Friday, July 22nd, but a second place finish was its best showing in the year’s final 6 events. A fluid leak on the final night of the season saw the black bow-tied beast with the patented showroom shine loaded into the hauler after only a couple of laps in the night’s first qualifying heat.

“Finishing 5th in points – especially after running so well at the start of the year – was a bitter pill to swallow,” said Mercer. “On the positive side, we were only 1 point out of 4th and found what it takes to win. As a team, that makes us more determined to come back even stronger when the 2012 season gets underway.”

Mercer says he likes the competition and challenge of racing and the friends he’s made over years. The graduate of the thunder car and challenger divisions would like to see a more uniform set of rules from track to track to allow the drivers to travel more. He’d also like to take a stab at the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series before calling it a career. To learn more, see www2.creativeedgegraphics.com/mercer.

Be sure to visit www.kawarthaspeedway.com for details on the on-line voting for most improved and most sportsmanlike drivers in each of the 3 regular divisions. Winners will be announced at the annual awards banquet Saturday, January 14th. The 2012 season kicks-off Sunday, February 5th with the 3rd edition of the Long John 200 Endurance event. Kawartha Speedway will also be part of the Canadian Motorsports Expo – presented by Inside Track Motorsports News – February 10th, 11th and 12th at the International Centre in Toronto. See www.canadianmotorsportsexpo.com for the full schedule.

Photo attachment: Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications

Bryan Mercer dedicated his 2011 Kawartha Speedway season to the memory of long-time friend and supporter Jim Sine, who passed away in November of 2010.

Prepared by: Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications

clarkemotorsports@hotmail.com

613.968.6410 / 613.922.0654

ALDO Racing Division participates in the upcoming 2012 DAKAR Rally

noreply@blogger.com (Mike G) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 21:38:00 +0000

December 5, 2011, Montreal, Quebec: The ALDO Racing team, driver and President of ALDO Global Retail and Product Services, David Bensadoun, along with Navigator, Patrick Beaule and Crew Chief Yves Turcotte, will be competing in the 2012 DAKAR Rally. In preparation for DAKAR, David Bensadoun announced that the team will be devoting their race to the finish line- to the fight against AIDS, with a set goal of raising $500,000 for CANFAR, The Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research.“Racing at DAKAR is something I've been dreaming of since I was a teenager. Now that the moment is finally here, it felt strange not to use it for a higher purpose. I chose to devote my race to ALDO Fights AIDS because it's a cause that's important to our company and it's a cause that needs to be talked about. While we‘ve made notable advancements in prevention and medication, the fact remains that there is still no cure for AIDS. CANFAR is an amazing organization and they are well deserving of our support. They were the first AIDS organization we gave money to in 1987 and so with this we continue our support. It could be said that symbolically we hope to finish the rally as much as we hope for an end to AIDS” - David BensadounBy competing in the rally for a cause, David brings to life what has come to be known as the “DAKAR Spirit”. After six years of racing and training in Canada, the United States and Morocco, the team is now ready to face the treacherous terrain of DAKAR. Starting off in Argentina and ending in Peru, DAKAR is 14 days long, 9,000 km and a race which few complete. The DAKAR Rally is not just difficult to finish, it is equally difficult to enter. Each year, 150 car entrants are accepted and of those, only forty percent will be capable of finishing the race. Since the start of DAKAR in 1977, just seven Canadian teams have participated and none to date have been able to finish in the car category of the rally.Participating in the DAKAR Rally is an enduring challenge and an adventure of a lifetime on par with climbing Mount Everest. David Bensadoun, along with his team, anxiously await their challenge that is set to begin January 1st, 2012.Bensadoun has already raised $200, 000 and is quickly moving towards his goal of $500, 000. The funds raised will be given to The Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research. CANFAR is Canada's only independent charitable foundation dedicated to eliminating AIDS through research.

“CANFAR is honoured to be the beneficiary of the ALDO Racing team’s DAKAR Rally Race, and we thank David Bensadoun and his team as they embark on this great adventure,” said CANFAR President & CEO, Christopher Bunting. “The money raised by ALDO and David will support new research as we continue our quest to develop the vaccine and find the cure that will finally eradicate AIDS from our planet.”

Bryan Watts Looks to 'Brake' Away From the Pack

noreply@blogger.com (Mike G) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:05:00 +0000

Take a few moments to wander through the pit area at your favourite weekly racetrack and one thing is very evident. The racers look younger year after year. Drivers have more opportunities to develop their skills, gain experience and sharpen their talents in go karts and the track’s entry level divisions before taking a turn at the headline class. Kawartha Speedway isn’t much different...except for one possible exception. 50 year-old Uxbridge, Ontario racer Bryan Watts says he’s looking to show everyone at the 3/8th mile Fraserville oval that ‘old guys rule’. The Vice President of OE Quality Friction, makers of VORTEX Brake Pads could’ve started slowly like everyone else, but instead chose to get his feet wet running with the NAPA Auto Parts ACT Late Models.

“I really didn’t have any prior racing experience, unless you count the daily commute on the ‘407’,” said Watts with a chuckle. “I did a few shows in 2010, but the 2011 campaign at Kawartha was the first time I’ve run a full season anywhere. At the start of the year, my goals were simple. I was looking to get as much seat time as possible and wanted to learn how to be a competent racer and good competitor. Looking ahead to 2012, I think its best to stick with that plan...and if things go well, try to pass the 10 cars that finished ahead of me in points this year.”

Not just a driver, but also a corporate and team sponsor Bryan Watts has come-up ‘speed’ very quickly where the business side of the sport is concerned. He says he’s amazed by the passion and willingness of people who make the sacrifices in their personal lives and volunteer their time to get their equipment to the track. His #61 McColl Racing, VORTEX Brake Pads/Fast Eddie Racewear/Choko Motorsports/D & L Associates/Kurtz Trucking Chevrolet is maintained in the shop and at the track by Jason Hathaway, Owen Wells, Josh Arnold, Phil Arnold, Mike McLennan and Dave Hathaway. Even wife Ronann Watts helps turn a wrench from time-to-time. Watts has been able to contribute to the sport by developing Canadian made brake components – with the feedback his company gets from local racers – and supports as many programs as possible.

“At this level, most of the teams involved do so as a hobby and on a limited budget,” said Watts. “We’ve learn so much through our association with EHR and their NASCAR Canadian Tire Series team. If we can help with a donation of product as part of a contingency program, I’m all for it. A team puts a decal or 2 on their car and the driver wears a VORTEX Brake Pad hat in victory lane when their pictures are taken. It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved. I’m looking forward to the day when it’ll be my smiling face in the winner’s circle.”

Even though he’s relatively new to the game, Watts says he’d like to see a way for the tracks to find a unified set of rules that would allow drivers to run a variety of different tracks on a regular basis. He can recognise the benefit for the racetrack to draw a different crowd when it comes to on-track competition – as well as the chance for drivers to gain experience running against some different drivers. Car counts are hard to get and more common rules would make it easier for drivers to pick-up a few extra races here and there without a lot of work and money. Watts says he wishes he’d been exposed to the sport of stockcar racing at an earlier age.

“I look at some of the other drivers involved and wish I could have their track time and perspective,” Watts admits. “My wife Ronann was around tracks and even worked as a crew member before we met. She raced with Lambert and Corey Yake at Sunset Speedway and has been a long time stockcar racing fan. If I’d been smarter and started hanging around the racetracks back then, who knows when we might have met?”

To learn more about OE Quality Friction and VORTEX Brake Pads, visit www.vortexbrakes.com .

Track management and officials would like to thank everyone – all drivers, crew members, families, friends and fans – for an exciting year in 2011and extend their best wishes for a happy and safe festive season.

Photo attachment: Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications

Bryan Watts battles with Mike Wallace during NAPA Auto Parts ACT Late Model action at Kawartha Speedway.

CTCC Unveils its New B-Spec Class

noreply@blogger.com (Mike G) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 13:16:00 +0000

Toronto, December 15, 2011 – With the ambition of providing a complete and integrated Championship, the Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship presented by Continental Tire (CTCC) reveals today its new and more accessible race category: the B-Spec Class.

The concept of B-Spec was first developed through collaboration between Honda Performance Development and Mazdaspeed Motorsports Development with the goal of creating a common set of rules that could be adopted by different racing series or sanctioning organizations. Over the past year, CTCC worked with SCCA and Grand-Am to solidify a set of rules that would respect both the B-Spec concept and goals of the different series. B-Spec is designed to be an entry level and affordable category, and highlights one of the fastest-growing segments of the automobile business. Both Honda and Mazda revealed their new prototypes in December of 2010. Since then the Honda Fit and Mazda2 have been joined by the Ford Fiesta and Fiat 500 at various test sessions. Other eligible cars include the Chevrolet Sonic, Kia Rio, Mini Cooper, Nissan Versa and Toyota Yaris.

Like CTCC's Super and Touring Classes, the new B-Spec Class will have its own set of requirements and will feature showroom stock racing cars utilizing stock engines and chassis, fitted with a competition roll cage, racing seat and other safety equipment along with the approved Continental ExtremeContact race tires and Sunoco race fuel. Weight equalization will be used to balance performance among competing manufacturers.

"This is an exciting new development for CTCC which will provide an entry-level into professional racing in Canada," stated John Bondar, CTCC President. "I can't wait to see all of the new competitors on some of the most challenging tracks in Canada. I am proud to confirm that B-Spec will be included in all Rounds of the 2012 CTCC season."

About CTCC

The Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship presented by Continental Tire is the only truly Canadian professional road racing series and it showcases race cars based on their stock street version. The entry-level B-Spec Class introduces a compact car category with stock engine; the Touring Class features cars with minimal modifications, while Super Class machines have powerful and heavily modified engines and advanced aerodynamics. All three classes compete at the same time on the track and challenge for supremacy in their class.

Experience the rush of touring car racing!

VP's Popular 5-Gallon Pails Undergo Makeover

noreply@blogger.com (Mike G) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 20:45:00 +0000

SAN ANTONIO, TX (December 14, 2011) Customers familiar with the blue 5-gallon pails distributed by VP Racing Fuels for more than 20 years will soon see their orders filled with a newly designed pail that has undergone a significant makeover. "Our traditional 5-gallon pails served us well with a quality and look driven by functionality," said Steve Scheidker, VP 's Director of Marketing. "They came to be synonymous with VP's no nonsense approach to quality. However, we concluded it was time to upgrade the pails' look to support our current brand positioning and better complement the advanced performance characteristics of the fuels they contain."

"First, the new pails incorporate VP's current tagline, 'MAKIN' POWER!' and have an unconventional, edgy look in keeping with VP's position on the leading edge of race fuel technology and our unbridled passion to stay there," Scheidker added. "This attitude will carry over into our national rollout of VP-branded retail gas stations and C-stores where dealers and customers will be reminded that unlike traditional refiners, VP is not a conservative 'oil company,' but rather an unconstrained 'performance company' willing to push the edge of the envelope."

"In addition, the new pail design includes images representative of the wide variety of motorsports VP supports with the best quality performance fuels. This will serve to remind customers of VP's broad experience in race fuel technology and how adept VP is in transferring technology from one segment to another to yield ever-improving performance across all racing applications."

"Given that these pails are sold into every segment of motorsports and can be found in pits and garages throughout North America and around the world, they actually serve as 'billboards' for our brand," Scheidker continued. "It only makes sense to leverage that exposure to convey our key branding messages."

"We've received nothing but positive reactions from our dealers who have seen the new pails and anticipate it will only enhance their ability to market VP's products," Scheidker concluded. "Importantly, the new pail design will have no impact on the price of our fuels and, of course, the quality of the pails' contents will remain unsurpassed. We're confident all our customers will embrace the new design and see it as the perfect container for their fuel of choice."

VP Racing Fuels is the leader in race fuel technology, with a well-earned reputation for superior power and performance. VP is the Official Fuel of National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Championship Drag Racing, American Le Mans, World of Outlaws, AMA Supercross and Rally America among nearly 60 VP-sponsored racing series.

In addition to racing fuels, VP's product line includes SEF Small Engine Fuels for 2- and 4-cycle portable gas-powered tools and PowerMaster hobby fuels for R/C racing. More information is available online at VPRacingFuels.com, SEFfuels.com or PowerMasterFuels.com.

Canadian Tire driver Scott Steckly honoured alongside NASCAR's best

noreply@blogger.com (GREGM) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:38:00 +0000

CHARLOTTE, NC (December 13, 2011) – On Saturday evening at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina, Canadian Tire Series champion Scott Steckly was honoured as Canada’s national stock car champion during NASCAR’s Night of Champions Touring Awards Gala. It was the second time in the last four years that the Canadian Tire-sponsored racer has earned that distinction.

Steckly, from Milverton, Ontario, was joined at the awards celebration by fellow title winners from the ranks of the NASCAR Mexico, K&N Pro Series (East and West) and the Whelen Modified and Whelen Southern Modified divisions. In recognition of his 2011 Canadian Tire Series title, Steckly was presented with his championship ring by NASCAR president Mike Helton, during a program hosted by media legends Mike Joy and Dr. Dick Berggren.

Saturday’s gala banquet was the main event in a memorable week filled with public appearances by Steckly.

After delivering his championship-winning No. 22 Canadian Tire / MotoMaster Dodge to the NASCAR Hall of Fame for display last Tuesday morning, Steckly and his racing counterparts were whisked away for a photo shoot in downtown Charlotte. Wednesday was Media Day where Scott joined legendary NASCAR crew member turned radio host ‘Chocolate’ Myers in the Sirius Radio studios. He followed up that experience by participating in the annual ‘Karting Race of Champions.’

Describing the kart event, Steckly laughed, “They took all the [NASCAR Touring] Series winners and put them in racing go-karts. Max Gresham, from the K&N Series, eventually won the race. I might have had something for him, but I was black-flagged for rough driving.”

Celebratory dinners – on Thursday and Friday with the various series’ sponsors and track owners – set the stage for the highly-anticipated Champion’s Gala in Saturday evening.

“NASCAR always does things first class, all the way,” observed Steckly. “It was very special to have my wife Penny, my parents, my crew and a couple of my sponsors in Charlotte to help share in this accomplishment. It was a pretty busy week, but it was a lot of fun.”

In addition to his championship ring, jacket and custom-painted helmet, Steckly also returned home with the Keystone Light Award (Most Pole Positions) and the Dodge Mopar Award as the highest finishing Dodge driver in the final point standings.

“Everyone at the NASCAR head office talks very highly about the Canadian Tire Series and how much it has grown,” concluded Steckly. “While we’re down south, we plan to snoop around a little and see what secrets we can bring back that will let us go for a third title in 2012.”

In other Canadian Tire Series news from Charlotte, Louis-Philippe Dumoulin received the Rookie of the Year award, while Jason White was presented with the fan-voted Most Popular Driver award.

For more information on the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series please visit www.nascarlocalracing.com.

ABOUT SCOTT STECKLY: In 2011, Milverton (ON)’s Scott Steckly claimed his second NASCAR Canadian Tire Series championship crown, repeated his winning effort from 2008. At the wheel of the No. 22 Canadian Tire / Motomaster / Exide / Erb / Mark’s Work Wearhouse / AW Millwrights / Castrol/ Dodge Challenger, 39 year-old Steckly earned three race victories this year (at Mosport, Motoplex and Riverside Speedways), claimed nine, top five finishes and secured three pole positions on his way to the championship title.

In addition to preparing his own mount, Steckly also fielded the #9 PartSource/ Rheem Dodge for past Canadian National Champion, Mark Dilley.

ABOUT THE NASCAR CANADIAN TIRE SERIES: Having just completed its fifth season of operation, the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series is Canada’s only professional stock car racing division.

The series competes from coast to coast in Canada, with events extending from Motoplex Speedway in Vernon (BC) to Riverside Speedway in Antigonish in Nova Scotia.

In 2011, the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series ran 12 races with the schedule split between seven oval track and five road course venues, and appeared at such high profile events as the Honda Indy Toronto and the NASCAR Nationwide NAPA 200 in Montreal.

Past series’ champions include Andrew Ranger (2007 & 2009), Scott Steckly (2008 & 2011) and DJ Kennington (2010).

For more information on Scott Steckly and 22 Racing please contact: Linda Jones // Wide Open Motorsport Solutions // (705) 730-4044

Email: ljones@wideopensolutions.ca

For more information on Canadian Tire please contact: David Gollom // Manager, Communications, Canadian Tire // 416-480-8450

Email: david.gollom@cantire.com

Prepared by JWN / Inside Track Communications

Race Time Radio - Inside CSRA: Tonight at 7 p.m.!

noreply@blogger.com (GREGM) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:28:00 +0000

Race Time Radio Inside CSRA - Tonight: Tues. Dec. 13th 2011 at 7 p.m. (ET)
Listen Live at www.racetimeradio.com/live-csra.htm

Kawartha Speedway Fans Race to the Ballot Box

noreply@blogger.com (GREGM) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:13:00 +0000

With a federal election in May and a provincial campaign making headlines in October, 2011 may already be considered the year of the vote. Now, Kawartha Speedway’s fans, friends, drivers and crew members will get a chance to cast a ballot for their favourites. The track will host an on-line vote for the most improved and most sportsmanlike drivers in the Hasiuk Trailer and Container Rental Mini Stock, Better Carpet Thunder Car and NAPA Auto Parts ACT Late Model divisions. Winners will be announced at the annual awards banquet Saturday, January 14th. General Manager and Promoter Derek Lynch says it’s a great way to get the fans involved.

“No matter what class, everyone has a favourite driver – someone they cheer for every Friday night – and this is the time to show that support,” said Lynch. “Winning either award is something to be very proud of and the hardware that comes with the honour can be an excellent addition to the driver’s personal wall of fame.”

The on-line balloting combined with input from speedway officials and results from throughout the recently completed season will determine the award winners in each regular division. To cast a vote, visit www.kawarthaspeedway.com or register at the track’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/#!/groups/2232895579/ or Twitter account www.twitter.com/#!/KDSpeedway . There is no limit to the number of times you can vote, but the deadline for each category is coming-up fast.

Kawartha Speedway’s 2012 season gets underway Sunday, February 5th with the 3rd annual edition of the Long John 200 Endurance Event. The track will also be part of the Canadian Motorsports Expo – presented by Inside Track Motorsports News – February 10th, 11th and 12th at the International Centre in Toronto.

From Jim Clarke / Kawartha Speedway

Race Time Radio: Tonight - December 12, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (GREGM) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 20:37:00 +0000

Race Time Radio: 8 p.m. - DIS President Joie Chitwood III, Sr. Director
of Communications for Grand-Am Road Racing Herb Branham and more. Tune
into www.racetimeradio.com to listen.

Canadian Motorsports Expo returns with a new date and a bigger venue

noreply@blogger.com (GREGM) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:29:00 +0000

Almost 80 percent of the available exhibitor space has already been filled!

TORONTO, ON // December 12, 2011 – The 6th Annual Canadian Motorsports Expo, Powered by Inside Track Motorsport News takes place February 10, 11 & 12, 2012 at the International Centre, adjacent to Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. New for 2012, the CME will be held on a new date, in a bigger hall.

Responding to exhibitor and attendee feedback, the show has been moved back in the calendar – by several weeks – to be closer to the start of the racing season. The CME’s new date is two weeks prior to NASCAR’s Daytona 500, at a time when Canadian racers and fans are making their plans and purchasing decisions for the upcoming racing season.

The Canadian Motorsports Expo will once again take place at the International Centre, but it’s moving to the bigger Hall 6, which offers considerably more space (80,000 square feet). Hall 6 is also more wide-open than the show’s former space, which means the CME will be better able to accommodate more exhibitors, tracks, series, vendors and racing vehicles.

Also new for 2012, the CME is the only Winter / Spring show at the International Centre permitted to offer more than 10% racing content, so there is no question about where the real racers, fans and industry members will be in February!

“We’re just inside of two months to go until show-time and the response to the 6th Annual Canadian Motorsports Expo has been fantastic,” said the CME’s Greg MacPherson. “So far, almost 80 percent of the available exhibitor space has already been sold. The racing industry is really getting behind the CME and has responded positively to the new February date and the move to Hall 6. We have some great new partners and features to announce in the coming weeks.”

On the opening day of the CME (Friday, February 10), highlights will include the presentation of the Inside Track Readers’ Choice Awards and Spencer Lewis’ Ontario Asphalt Power Rankings Top 10 Awards. Saturday’s schedule (February 11) will feature the celebrity racer Q&A and autograph sessions, the Meet the Media Fan Forum and several other interesting and informative presentations. On Sunday (February 12), CASCAR founder Tony Novotny and several well-known racing personalities will take a trip down memory lane during the CASCAR Reunion.

“For this year’s show, we’ve introduced an online, interactive floor plan that lets exhibitors and sponsors see what space and properties are still available, on a real-time basis,” said the CME’s Mike Galipeau. “We encourage anyone who thinks their business could benefit from being part of the show to check out the ‘Exhibitor Info’ page at www.CanadianMotorsportsExpo.com and then contact us at (416) 962-7223 or info@canadianmotorsportsexpo.com.”

Offering interesting and informative forums and seminars, celebrity racer autograph sessions, NASCAR Sprint Cup stock cars, racing vehicles from across the motorsports spectrum, reunion events, awards presentations and equipment suppliers and collectible vendors, the CME has something for every racer and fan. The show is an ideal venue for businesses looking to jumpstart their sales, marketing and promotional campaigns in front of their most motivated customers.

Throughout its existence, the Canadian Motorsports Expo has become known for its presentation of celebrity racers from Canada and around the world. Stars like Ron Fellows, Jacques Villeneuve, Matt Kenseth, Paul Tracy, Brad Keselowski, Dario Franchitti, Max Papis, Derek Daly, Miguel & Yvon Duhamel and many more have graced the CME stage for fan Q&A and autograph sessions.

The CME has also featured world-famous racing machines, including the NASCAR Cup cars of Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon, as well as F1 and IndyCar vehicles. Watch for updates to find out which star racers and machines will be appearing at the 6th Annual Canadian Motorsports Expo.

ABOUT THE CME: The Canadian Motorsports Expo Powered by Inside Track Motorsport News is a three-day celebration of Canadian racing that runs February 10, 11 & 12, 2012 at the International Centre (6900 Airport Road in Mississauga, Ontario (Canada)). In addition to booths and racing vehicles representing the entire spectrum of Canadian motorsports, the show is loaded with seminars and forums to entertain and inform racers and fans alike. Celebrity drivers will be at the CME to sign autographs and meet the fans. One of the special themes of this year’s CME is the CASCAR Reunion. Please check the show’s website (www.CanadianMotorsportsExpo.com) for news, updates, schedule information and more.