2017-04-20

Ontario Modifieds Series Fine Tunes its Season Opening Starting Line-Up

Ontario Modifieds Series Fine Tunes its Season Opening Starting Line-Up

By Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media

 

Drivers and teams with the Ontario Modifieds Racing Series – powered by Torque Builders Inc. – have been working hard throughout the off season to get their equipment ready to kick-off an exciting 2017 campaign. There will be new names in the field and familiar faces steering different equipment. Bill Pickford – who along with Richard Warnes and Randy Hollingsworth make-up the OMRS team of officials – says its going to be a great year for the popular open wheel tour.

 

"Across the board, everyone in the Ontario Modifieds Racing Series family is looking forward to the new season," Pickford said. "We have a busy schedule – with events at Peterborough, Sunset and Flamboro – again this year and even though the first green flag is about a month away, our drivers are hungry to flex their muscles and get back on the track."

 

Defending series champion John Baker Jr. has been burning the midnight oil, reworking his 2016 title winning piece. The popular speedster – best known by the abbreviated handle "JBJ" – says that by the time he's finished, only the centre section of last year's car will remain. He'll be replacing the front and rear clips and suspension. There'll be a different engine, clutch and transmission. Baker happily reports that the car will still be orange and carry his traditional #63.

 

At his shop just outside of Stirling, Ontario Randy Hollingsworth and his crew are hard at work getting a pair of cars ready for action. Hollingsworth says the #62W driven by his granddaughter Willow Barberstock had a twist of about an inch from front-to-back in the frame that needed to be straightened. The engine is being freshened and a new body being installed. The car is also getting a new paint scheme and they're installing new drop spindles to lower the ride height. His own car will get a new body and fresh valve springs on the engine.

 

Warnes Racing is busy getting 3 cars and engines ready at their shop in Newcastle, Ontario. Rick Warnes is finishing-off a new car for the #90, that will return to its familiar purple. Former series champion Rob Warnes will be making a few updates and will have a new body on the #90 and the machine that carried the #98 in 2016 will have a driver for several events. Brad Stevenson has a brand-new piece for the new campaign and Josh Gruntz will be making a return to the OMRS ranks in 2017.

 

2017 Ontario Modifieds Racing Series schedule

 

Saturday, May 20th:               Sunset Speedway – Spring Velocity

Saturday, May 27th:               Peterborough Speedway

 

Saturday, June 10th:              Peterborough Speedway

                                                Test a Mod Day, 11:00 to 2:00

                                                OMRS Racing, 6:00

Saturday, June 24th:              Peterborough Speedway

 

Saturday, July 1st:                  Flamboro Speedway – Canada Day Special

Saturday, July 15th:                Peterborough Speedway

Saturday, July 22nd:               Peterborough Speedway

 

Saturday, August 5th:             Flamboro Speedway

Saturday, August 19th:           Peterborough Speedway

                                                Toonie Admission/Fan Appreciation Night

Saturday, August 26th:           Peterborough Speedway

 

Saturday, September 23rd:    Sunset Speedway – Fall Velocity

                                                Qualifying heats

Sunday, September 24th:      Sunset Speedway – Fall Velocity

                                                Last chance qualifying and feature

 

Fans can find full series details atwww.facebook.com/OMRS. The 2017 Ontario Modifieds Racing Series season is supported by Clarke Motorsports Communications.


Photo attachment: Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media

 

The #62W of Stirling, Ontario's Willow Barberstock will have a new look when the Ontario Modifieds Racing Series kicks-off its 2017 schedule – Saturday, May 20th– at Sunset Speedway.

 

Prepared by: Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media

                      



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LEE USA: LEVER DE RIDEAU POUR LA SAISON 2017 DE L’ACT Un contingent de six pilotes du Québec


POUR DIFFUSION IMMÉDIATE                                                                                   SA20170420-06FR

                   

LEE USA: LEVER DE RIDEAU POUR LA SAISON 2017 DE L'ACT

Un contingent de six pilotes du Québec

 

Laval (QC), le 20 avril 2017 – La première épreuve de la saison 2017 de l'American-Canadian Tour (ACT) se tiendra dimanche 23 avril, à la piste de Lee USA dans le New Hampshire.  L'épreuve de 150 tours lèvera le rideau sur la 26e saison de courses de stock-car.

 

Le rapide 1/3-mile a connu 13 différents gagnants lors des 14 représentations, seul le multiple champion Brian Hoar, qui en 2011 et 2012 a réussi à remporter deux fois l'épreuve annuelle intitulée le "New Hampshire Governer's cup".

 

Un contingent de six pilotes du Québec sera sur place pour représenter fièrement la Série ACT, la division Québécoise de l'ACT, de ce groupe nous pouvons compter : 3 champions, un vétéran, un « hard charger » et une recrue. 

 

Du groupe de Québécois, Alex Labbé (St-Albert, QC) le champion 2014 de la Série ACT est le seul à avoir pris le départ à chacune des épreuves depuis 2012.  Quelques jours après avoir compétitionné en Xfinity au Texas Motor Speedway, Labbé sera à nouveau derrière le volant de la voiture no. 48 Équipements de déneigement et de pavage Larue.  Dany Trépanier (St-Edouard, QC) le champion 2015 de la Série ACT fera sa première visite à cette piste.  Le 2-fois champion de la Série ACT Donald Theetge (Québec, QC) sera aussi de la partie.  Jonathan Bouvrette (Blainville, QC) y effectuera son 2e départ, tandis que la recrue Mathieu Kingsbury y sera de sa première visite.  Complétant le groupe, le populaire Claude Leclerc (Lanoraie, QC) amorcera sa 40e année de compétition de stock-car.

 

La majorité des équipes seront sur place samedi pour des essais entre midi et 17h.  Le programme de course quand à lui sera disputé dimanche à compter de 14h, du même coup marquant le début de la 26e saison de l'ACT Late Model.

 

 

 

Le calendrier 2017 de la Série ACT, constitué de courses de stock-car pour voitures Late Model Sportsman, comporte six épreuves disputées sur les tracés asphaltés de l'Autodrome de Montmagny (4) et de St-Eustache (2).  La saison débutera à l'Autodrome Montmagny le 10 juin prochain.

Pour de plus amples informations, contactez M.P. Roy via mproy@lesentreprisesmproyinc.com,
au 514-907-1773, ou ACT à media@acttour.com ou visitez www.constructiongaudreault.com

 

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Craig Graham is Dialed-in for His Brighton Speedway Dirt Track Debut

Craig Graham is Dialed-in for His Brighton Speedway Dirt Track Debut

By Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media

 

From his introduction to the world of weekly short-track motorsports competition, Craig Graham's genre of choice has been the provincial pavement speedways. Earning Rookie of the Year, Best Appearing Car awards and Track Championships in the Thunder Car and Limited Late Model divisions at venues like Peterborough, Sauble Beach, Mosport and Kawartha Speedways, the immaculately prepared #98 machines have been a fixture on the black-top raceways. When the green flag waves to kick-off the 2017 campaign, things will change.

 

During the winter months, Craig Graham added a new piece to the team's stable, with the acquisition of a race-ready, GM Crate engine powered Rocket Chassis dirt late model machine. The 44 year-old father of 2 – who punches the timeclock as a Fixed Vehicle Operations Manager at Clarington Hyundai – says he's looking forward to hitting the track and discovering everything there is to learn about a new brand of racing.

 

"I've raced on some of the bigger tracks and bullrings across Ontario, but up until now, I've never run a lap on dirt. My entire career has been devoted to asphalt," Graham said. "I always wanted to try running on clay and even though I won't be able to commit to the entire season, I'm betting that the events we'll get to run this year at Brighton Speedway will be a lot of fun."

 

Racing on dirt won't just be a new experience from the driver's seat, but also for the entire team. The Orono, Ontario based operation – led by crew chief Marten Rottine – will unload for their first date Saturday, April 29th with an empty notebook that will quickly be filled with set-up information to help get the most from their new equipment.

 

When he's not racing himself, Craig Graham will resume his role as father, mentor and coach as his son tackles another season of action on the Lucas Oil Sportsman Cup Series. After a memorable and impressive sophomore campaign – that included a 3-race wining streak and the $1000 'Boss of the Beach' bonus for taking back-to-back victories at Sauble Speedway – Brandt Graham is counting the days until he's back on the track and on the way to defending his 2016 Lucas Oil Sportsman Cup Series title. The Durham College student will be back at the controls of the potent #14 machine and chasing his next checkered flag.

 

Brandt Graham's 2017 Lucas Oil Sportsman Cup Series Schedule

 

Saturday, May 13th:               Flamboro Speedway

 

Saturday, July 1st:                  Flamboro Speedway

Saturday, July 8th:                  Flamboro Speedway

 

Saturday, August 12th:           Peterborough Speedway

Saturday, August 19th:           Sauble Speedway

 

Saturday, September 16th:    Flamboro Speedway

 

Graham Racing is pleased to announce the return of Full Circle Automation, Arcade Pools, J & M Restoration, Hot Rod Swag Mayhew Graphics and DJD Graphics as marketing partners for the 2017 season.

 

Follow the team behind the scenes and at the track by checking @Graham_Racing on Twitter and the Graham 98 Racing page atwww.facebook.com. Look forwww.graham98racing.com, an Image Factor web-site. Graham Racing is proudly supported by Clarke Motorsports Communications.


Photo attachment: Team supplied

 

Orono, Ontario's Craig Graham will turn his first dirt track racing laps in a Pro Late Model when the 2017 season gets underway – Saturday, April 29th – at Brighton Speedway.

 

Prepared by: Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media

 



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