2012-01-23

PASS To Sanction Super Limited Division in 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

 Super Limiteds will serve as major support division at approximately 10 PASS South events

 

CHARLOTTE, NC (January 22) – Officials from the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) announced today that it will sanction the Super Limited division beginning in 2012. The Super Limiteds will run as a support division to the PASS South Super Late Models at approximately ten events. The PASS Super Limiteds will employ a variety of chassis and engine combinations to allow racers an affordable way to compete in a touring division.

 

“We’re looking forward to having the PASS Super Limiteds as part of our great weekends of racing throughout the Southeast with the PASS South Super Late Models,” said PASS President Tom Mayberry. “We think the PASS Super Limiteds will be a great stepping stone division for youngsters looking to make the move from Bandelero and Legends cars up to PASS. This should be a really affordable way for everybody involved to go racing.”

The PASS Super Limiteds will be open to both perimeter and straight rail chassis, with rules aimed at making both types of chassis competitive. Racers will also be able to utilize a variety of different engine combinations including the 602/603 crate with a 390 CFM Holley HP Series, the 604 Fast Burn crate with a 500 CFM 2 barrel Holley HP Series, the Limited Built Motor with a 350 CFM 2 Barrel Holley HP and the Late Model Built with a 350 CFM 2 Barrel Holley HP. There will be a claim rule for shocks and brake calipers. Also in an effort to keep costs down, racers will race on scuffed Hoosier F-45 bias ply tires.

The purse is guaranteed paying $1,000 to win and $150 to start. The inaugural race for the PASS Super Limiteds will be on March 10th at Dillon (SC) Motor Speedway as part of the 7th Annual South Carolina Clash. The PASS Super Limiteds will join the PASS South Super Late Models at other venues including Hickory Motor Speedway, Orange County Speedway, Wake County Speedway, Anderson Motor Speedway, Motor Mile Speedway, and Caraway Speedway. Many drivers have already expressed interest in this exciting, new division.

For more information on the PASS Super Limiteds please contact Ollie Spain at 336-214-8072 or visit raceccs.com. For more information on any PASS division please visit proallstarsseries.com.

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McGrail targets 2012 Airborne Modified title

For immediate release – Airborne Speedway – January 23, 2012

South Plattsburgh, NY – Airborne Speedway competitor Pat McGrail of Candiac, QC is going all out in an attempt to return the DIRT Modified title north of the USA border in 2012.

 

McGrail has purchased a new Troyer DIRTcar Modified chassis designed specifically for asphalt racing and a new RL Racing engine to go with it. He’s also welcomed Fastenal aboard as a new sponsor.

 

McGrail came on strong in 2011 after a slow start to place sixth in the Ernie’s Discount Tools Modified point standings while recording three podium finishes. “I am going to try my best to bring the Airborne championship trophy home to Quebec just like Martin Roy did last year,” McGrail said.

 

Roy has announced plans to compete in the CASCAR series this season. In 2009, he became the first Canadian to win Airborne’s lead division championship in 38 years. He became a two-time track champion in 2011 by overtaking Patrick Dupree of Saranac Lake, NY in August.

 

“This will be my third full season at Airborne,” McGrail said. “We did okay my first year and we were quite good last year, but not good enough to beat the top drivers like Roy, Dupree and George Foley. Last year we struggled at times. The car was a little too heavy in the back, had problems coming out of the corners and was hard on the brakes. The rear end would jump around too much.”

 

Rene Lessard of RL Racing has enjoyed much success at Canadian dirt tracks, including Autodrome Granby. Troyer race cars have set the standard for Modified racing in the Northeast for decades.

 

“We‘re trying to advance some rear suspension ideas and position components in a way that’s best suited for pavement,” Troyer owner Billy Colton said. “You need the proper balance between flexibility and stiffness. A stiff car can be fast, but it can also be very unforgiving if you don’t hit the setup just right.”

 

“I’m very respectful of how Airborne’s promoter Mike Perrotte has kept a lid on expenses in the Modified division,” Colton said. “His approach has been great. You can still take a regular dirt modified car there and be competitive. The chassis we’ve built for Pat McGrail and Roger Labreche fit the rulebook.”

 

McGrail’s title bid will be assisted by two long-time crew members - Yvon Perron and Leandre Laroche. “I’m 50, Yvon and Leandre are 60-plus,” McGrail said. “We agreed we need to come back and give it another try at Airborne. It’s very competitive there, but it’s a very good place to race and we still have the need for speed.”

 

Airborne’s 59th season opener is set for Sunday, April 29.

 

Contact: Tom Herzig tomherzig@hotmail.com 802-882-8131

 


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Martin, Ford and Mercer Earn Kawartha's Most Improved Driver Honours

By Jim Clarke, Kawartha Speedway PR/Clarke Motorsports Communications

 

What do you do to get noticed?  Are you able to step-up when it’s your turn to shine?  Drivers in Kawartha Speedway’s 3 regular classes are some of the best in the business.  Whether they’re running in the Hasiuk Trailer and Container Rental Mini Stocks, Better Carpet Thunder Cars or NAPA Auto Parts ACT Late Models, there is no shortage of stellar competition at the province’s premier motorsports facility.  At the year’s awards banquet, the track recognizes a most improved driver in each division. 

 

Brad Martin finished Kawartha Speedway’s 2010 season in 7th spot when the final points for the Hasiuk Trailer and Container Rental Mini Stocks were tabulated.  The life-long resident of the almost fictional sounding Plainville, Ontario had a respectable first season of competition, but always knew he could do better.  When the 2011 campaign got started, Martin arrived at the Fraserville facility with a new attitude and increased self confidence.

 

“I was pretty tough on myself during the first year,” said Martin.  “I put so much emphasis on where I started a race instead of where I was going to finish.  Finishing the feature 15th – like I did on the opening night – would have affected me for weeks last year.  This year, I just put it out of my mind and came back with a 2nd place effort the following week.  Even tough there is always room to improve, my first career win and a 4th place point finish is a good place to start.”

 

Andy Ford has been a Friday night Fraserville fixture for more than half a decade, but entering the 2011 program he was still chasing that elusive main event victory.  A freelance videotape editor, Ford is what most would consider a throwback runner.  His #93 Better Carpet Thunder Car machine was built and maintained by his brother Dan in garage alongside his home in Grafton.  Ford, from Scarborough meets his brother at the track for every show.

 

“I’d had some solid runs in the past, but never managed to get to the winner’s circle,” said Ford.  “In the last couple of years I’ve travelled to some different tracks and I think that experience made me more of a racer than just a driver.  Running the street stock nationals show at Bristol in 2010 taught me a lot and opened my eyes to some of the things we’d been doing wrong.  Kicking-off 2011 with a second place effort and then back-to-back wins in the next 2 shows picked-up the attitude of the entire team.”

 

His performance during Kawartha Speedway’s 2011 season may have been enough to erase Bryan Mercer’s memories of the 2009 and 2010 campaigns.  After scoring a 4th place point finish in 2007 and 5th in the standings a year later, the Port Hope veteran was on the outside looking in when the top 10 positions were tallied in the next 2 years.  A 3rd place run opening night was a sign of things to come, followed by a win in the first extra distance show 2 weeks later and a history making performance in the Summer Sizzler made everyone take notice of the #81 NAPA Auto Parts ACT Late Model Chevy.

 

“I knew the team had the ability to turn some heads.  It was just a matter of showing everyone else what we were capable of,” said Mercer.  “The car was fast out of the box and everything we did during the first events of the year seemed to make it better.  My confidence had taken a beating during the last 2 years, so it was great to be able to turn things around and pick-up a couple of very impressive wins.”

 

Kawartha klips:  Next on the agenda for the Fraserville, Ontario 3/8th mile oval is the 3rd annual Long John 200 endurance event Sunday, February 5th.  The complete 2012 schedule can be found by checking www.kawarthaspeedway.com... 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.  See www.CanadianMotorsportsExpo.com for details.

 

Photo attachment:  Joe and Heather Wiebe www.adrianmediaservices.com

(L-R)  Bryan Mercer, Andy Ford and Brad Martin collected the 2011 Most Improved Driver honours at Kawartha Speedway’s Award’s Banquet.

 

Prepared by:  Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications

 

 


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PASS South Schedule Expands to 16 Races, Features Marquee Events

For Immediate Release

 

 

CHARLOTTE, NC (January 22) – The Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South Super Late Models will embark on its most ambitious schedule yet in 2012 with 16 races spanning 4 states. PASS South will be entering its seventh season and will feature some of the biggest events in short track racing including the All American 400, Easter Bunny 150, North-South Shootout and Mason Dixon Meltdown.

 

“Just when you think it can’t get any better, it does,” said PASS President Tom Mayberry. “We’ve got some really great events this year at some of the South’s premier facilities. When you look at all the races, all the major events we have scheduled, I know that all of our PASS South competitors can’t wait to get this historic season kicked off in March at Dillon.”

The season will be highlighted by PASS South’s first visit to the historic Fairgrounds Speedway in Nashville, TN on October 6th for the All American 400. In 2012, this prestigious event will return to a true 400 lap race, with the winner having the opportunity to take home $30,000. South Boston (VA) Speedway will host three PASS South events in 2012, with Orange County (NC) Speedway, Concord (NC) Speedway, and Hickory (NC) Motor Speedway each hosting two events each. Dillon (SC) Motor Speedway, Wake County (NC) Speedway, Anderson (SC) Motor Speedway, and Motor Mile (VA) Speedway will each hold a single PASS South event in 2012. Returning to the schedule this year for the first time since 2008, will be the Caraway Speedway near Asheboro, NC. Caraway Speedway will host two events including the Labor Day Classic and the North-South Shootout on November 10th.

The PASS South Super Late Models will kick off their 2012 season on Saturday, March 10th with the 7th Annual South Carolina Clash at the Dillon Motor Speedway in South Carolina.

2012 schedules and driver registration forms can be found at proallstarsseries.com.

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Kawartha Speedway Revises 2011 Rookie of the Year Award Winner

By Jim Clarke, Kawartha Speedway PR/Clarke Motorsports Communications

 

Sometimes things just happen.  At Kawartha Speedway’s 2011 award’s banquet – Saturday, January 14th – the rookie of the year honour in the Hasiuk Trailer and Container Rental Mini Stock division was presented to 7th place point finisher Alex Lees, who won 3 main events during the year.  After checking statistics for the season, the track has announced that the award should have actually belonged to Ryan Oosterholt, who picked-up only 1 feature race win, but finished 2nd in points.  General Manager/Promoter Derek Lynch says the track regrets the error and will be sending a trophy to Oosterholt.

 

“There is so much going on when preparing for the banquet, that occasionally things get missed,” said Lynch.  “We co-ordinated the on-line vote, arranged more than 40 trophies and planned seating for over 300 people.  There’s no denying the outstanding seasons each driver had and the results they were able to accomplish. Winning rookie of the year is quite an achievement and we want to make sure that Ryan gets the credit he deserves.”

 

The 20 year-old Oosterholt enjoyed a successful first year behind the wheel of his #79 Alma Electrical and Mechanical, Scugog Collision, Mark’s Maintenance, Mosport International Karting, Link Greenhouses, Martyn Mini Hoe and Scott Roy Re/Max 4 cylinder.  The Blackstock, Ontario resident – a graduate of what is now the pure stock division at Mosport – was impressed with how well he ran during his freshman season.

 

“We had some strong shows and learned a lot along the way,” said Oosterholt.  “Our division has a number of talented drivers and many of them are at the same stage of the development as I am so my confidence and comfort levels grew on almost a weekly basis.  It was fun to work through the pack and I can’t wait until we’re able to get the next season rolling.”

 

With the exception of a 6th place, Friday August 12th and 12th on Friday, August 26th, the first year pilot managed a top 5 five main event run every time he strapped into the car, highlighted by a first career win Friday, July 22nd.  Lynch says any driver should be proud of an effort like that.

 

“I’ve been around the motorsports industry my entire life and learned at an early age that consistency is the key to success,” said Lynch.  “Ryan had a great first season at Kawartha and we’re very sorry his accomplishments were originally overlooked.”

 

Kawartha klips:  Next on the agenda for the Fraserville, Ontario 3/8th mile oval is the 3rd annual Long John 200 endurance event Sunday, February 5th.  The complete 2012 schedule can be found by checking www.kawarthaspeedway.com... 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.  See www.CanadianMotorsportsExpo.com for details.

 

Photo attachment:  Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications

Ryan Oosterholt won the Hasiuk Trailer and Container Rental Mini Stock main event Friday, July 22nd.  The Blackstock, Ontario racer was awarded the division’s rookie of the year award following a check of 2011 statistics.

 

Prepared by:  Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications

 

 


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