2018-12-27

Devil’s Bowl Speedway to be Independently Sanctioned in 2019


ATTACHED PHOTO: Devil's Bowl Speedway in West Haven, Vt., will become independently sanctioned for its weekly races in 2019.  Kenny Tremont Jr. (#115) and Tim LaDuc (#54), shown battling in August 2018, are among the drivers expected to chase a $5,000 championship prize next summer.  (Alan Ward photo)





Devil's Bowl Speedway to be Independently Sanctioned in 2019

More drivers to benefit from new program at Vermont track

 

For Immediate Release                                                                                                                                                                                  DBS-122718-1

                                                      

WEST HAVEN, Vt. – Devil's Bowl Speedway has taken the next big step forward in its progression by announcing today that it will carry its own sanctioning and licensing for the 2019 season.  The move will better position the half-mile Vermont dirt track for both the present and future and is the latest in a recent series of major improvements to both the physical property and infrastructure of the business.

Promoter Mike Bruno said that the move is the culmination of several years' worth of dialogue with drivers and teams, careful data analysis, and an overall review of auto racing industry trends and projections, both locally and nationally.

Devil's Bowl Speedway has recently been part of the weekly NASCAR Whelen All-American Series program.  Bruno has worked to guarantee that in NASCAR's absence the facility will be able to remain among the industry leaders in insurance coverage for participants while also providing a healthy championship point fund.

More drivers will receive post-season point fund money in 2019 under the new structure.  The crate-engine "602" Sportsman Modified division will continue to be the headliner with a point fund paying $5,000 to the champion and bonuses to eligible drivers inside the top 15 in final point standings.  The Limited Sportsman, Super Stock, and Mini Stock classes will reward the eligible drivers among the top 10 finishers, and the 500cc Mini Sprint class will offer a point fund payout for the first time with the top five drivers eligible.

Membership license fees will be similar to – or less than, in some cases – the previous fees.  Competition licenses for the Sportsman Modified division will be $175 through March 31, or $200 beginning April 1.  Driver licenses for the four support classes, as well as car owner licenses for all divisions, will be $100 until March 31 and $125 after.  Crew member licenses will be $85 until March 31 and $100 after.  License applications are available now and can be requested by emailing devilsbowlspeedway@gmail.com.

New for 2019 will be a single-day membership license for drivers.  The single-day option is just $25 for Sportsman drivers or only $15 in the support divisions, with no cap on the number of single-day purchases.  All drivers, car owners, and crew who are officially licensed members will be covered by the speedway's insurance protection in the case of accident during an event, with incident coverage matching the previous level.

"We are very excited to be an independent track in 2019," Bruno said.  "I thank NASCAR and specifically Kevin Nevalainen for the help in building our program for the past seven years, but our business model has seen major changes in the last two years and our plans have evolved.  We've been approached to join other organizations as well, but the time is right for Devil's Bowl to stand on its own and to try something different."

Bruno is positive that the changes will benefit the speedway in both the short and long term.

"We've asked our drivers what they want, and we've also listened to suggestions from the ones who race with us just once or twice a year, and we think that we've found a good balance with our new program," Bruno said.  "We're also going to continue to work with other tracks and sanctioning bodies in the area to help improve racing overall.  We are extremely positive about the future of Devil's Bowl."

The full 2019 schedule of events is expected to be released in early-to-mid-January.  The 2018 season will come to its official close at the Banquet of Champions at the Holiday Inn Rutland-Killington in Rutland, Vt., on Saturday, January 26.

Devil's Bowl Speedway is located on Route 22A in West Haven, Vt., four miles north of U.S. Route 4, Exit 2, and just 20 minutes from Rutland, Vt.  For more information, visitwww.DevilsBowlSpeedwayVT.com or call (802) 265-3112.  Devil's Bowl Speedway is on Facebook at facebook.com/DevilsBowlSpeedway and on Twitter and Instagram at @DevilsBowlSpeed; follow the action using the #DevilsBowl hashtag.

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2018-12-16

Warnes Racing Announces Plans for the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing

Warnes Racing Announces Plans for the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing

By Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media


Racers at every level have a bucket list. Whether written down or kept in the back of their mind, there's a compilation of tracks where they'd like to compete or goals they hope to accomplish during their career. Ontario Modifieds Racing Series driver/official Rick Warnes – who finished 5th in points during the recent OMRS season – is looking forward to crossing something important off his list, with plans to make his first career trek to the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing.


"This is an event that has always been on our radar and prior to the start of our 2018 season, we made the decision to do something special as a team," Rick Warnes said. "I had hoped to bring this plan to fruition while my Dad was still with us, but we just weren't in a position to make it happen. Since his passing a couple of years ago, it has made us even more determined to accomplish our goal."


Warnes Racing – based in Newcastle, Ontario – purchased a Lefthander modified chassis out of Ohio late in the spring of 2018 and slowly worked at putting it together. Over the next month or so, we'll complete the finishing touches on the car and then journey southward in February to be part of this marquee event. Warnes says that despite going into the trip as a perceived underdog, the team's intentions and goals are quite realistic.


"The OMRS group has always been a tightly-knit group and I'm thrilled to have so many close friends and family members stepping up to the table to lend their support for this amazing adventure," according to Warnes. "First and foremost, we'll be looking to have some fun, meet some new people and enjoy the experience. I think we'll have a great time and I'm looking forward to the chance to log some laps at a new track."


The 53rd annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing – February 8th to 16that New Smyrna Speedway – has the open-wheeled modifieds scheduled for 7 shows during the 9 nights of racing. 6 of the programs consist of qualifying and a 35 lap main event, with the Tuesday, February 12th show highlighted by a 75 lap 'A' main. Based on the most recent OMRS calendar, Warnes says making the trek to Florida will be close to running an entire season's worth of racing packed into just over a week at the track.


"There will be a lot going on, but it'll be a great experience."


Warnes Racing expects to have their new chassis ready in the coming weeks, with an announcement of marketing partners and the unveiling of the car's paint scheme scheduled for shortly before the team's planned departure.


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


After finishing 5th in the 2018 Ontario Modifieds Racing Series standings, Warnes Racing driver Rick Warnes (#90) is getting ready for his first career start at New Smyrna Speedway's World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing.


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




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2018-12-05

Raphaël Lessard mène 60 tours lors du Snowball Derby, toute une course !

 

                                                                                              POUR DIFFUSION IMMÉDIATE

 Raphaël Lessard mène 60 tours lors du Snowball Derby, toute une course ! 

Pensacola, Floride, le 3 décembre 2018 - Raphaël Lessard conclut sa saison 2018 de Super Late Model avec un abandon crève-cœur lors de la 51ème édition du Snowball Derby, tenu annuellement au 5 Flags Speedway en Floride.

Les gradins étaient pleins pour la course la plus en vue de la saison. Le Snowball Derby, qui clôture habituellement la saison de SLM aux États-Unis, est toujours l'arrêt par excellence des meilleurs pilotes en Amérique du Nord. Lessard, qui y compte maintenant trois participations, s'élançait de la 10ème position pour cette épreuve de 300 tours.

Le pilote natif de Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce ne s'est pas contenté de cette position alors qu'en 7 tours, il s'imposait déjà en 5ème place. Après 100 tours complétés, et après une bataille respectueuse avec son coéquipier Noah Gragson, Raphaël a pris la position de tête qu'il a gardée pour un peu plus de 60 tours.

S'éloignant du deuxième, Jeff Choquette, le pilote membre du programme de développement de Toyota (TRD) s'est enfui du peloton de tête, rattrapant des retardataires, et en prenant avantage pour creuser une plus grande avance.

Perdant la première position au 177ème tour, Raphaël et sa Toyota Camry #51 FRL Express/Mobil 1/Toyota de Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) sont tout de même restés dans le Top 3 derrière Jeff Choquette et Ty Majeski. Remontant en deuxième position avec 50 tours à faire, il était sous pression de Harrison Burton qui avait des pneus neufs.

Coup de théâtre tant attendu en fin de course, une neutralisation a permis aux meneurs de rentrer aux puits pour de nouveaux pneus. Raphaël a perdu une position lors de l'arrêt aux puits permettant à Noah Gragson de partir en premier. Mais Lessard, 3ème, était tout de même en bonne position sur la grille pour espérer une première victoire lors du Snowball Derby.

Toutefois, avec 9 tours restants à la course, Lessard a été contraint de rentrer aux puits à cause d'un bris du différentiel qui coulait, ce qui l'a amené à l'abandon. Il termine donc le Snowball Derby en 25ème position, tandis que son coéquipier Noah Gragson offre la victoire à Kyle Busch Motorsports.

« Ma voiture était excellente, explique Raphaël. Nous avons dominé toute la course. J'ai même remonté le peloton et j'ai mis un tour à toutes les voitures en piste jusqu'au 12ème , et j'avais une demi-piste d'avance sur le deuxième, c'était incroyable. Par contre la piste s'est mise à changer après mon arrêt aux puits, je n'arrivais plus à sortir la voiture convenablement des virages. Je roulais alors en 3ème position. Le drapeau jaune à la fin m'a donné la stratégie parfaite, je suis sorti des puits en 3ème place, et Noah mon coéquipier en 2ème position, mais je savais que j'étais plus rapide que lui alors j'avais confiance de remporter l'épreuve. Lors de la dernière neutralisation avec quelques tours à faire, les officiels m'ont demandé de rentrer aux puits, car le différentiel laissait de l'huile sur la piste. C'est une victoire ratée que nous aurions dû obtenir. »

« J'aimerais remercier mes commanditaires Mobil 1, FRL Express, Toyota et un gros merci à Kyle Busch Motorsports ainsi que mon chef d'équipe, Cody Glick et mon agent Christopher Biby. Également mes parents qui me supportent à chaque course, la société en commandite sans qui je ne pourrais courir cette saison ainsi que tous ceux qui se sont déplacés à La Cage Brasserie Sportive et le Resto l'Express ainsi que mes partisans. »

Résumé de la saison 2018 

Cette saison aura certainement été ponctuée de nouvelles expériences pour le jeune pilote qui a couru sur circuit routier pour la deuxième fois  lors du Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières dans la série CSCC. Lessard aura également participé à plusieurs séries à travers les États-Unis et le Canada, notamment dans le CARS Energy Response Tour, le Sourthern Super Series (SSS), l'ARCA/CRA, le Pro Late Model au Jukasa Motor Speedway en Ontario et en Nascar Late Model lors du Bacon Ball à L'Autodrome Chaudière.

Il compte deux victoires cette saison, la première lors du Short Track U.S. Nationals 100 au Bristol Motor Speedway, et l'autre lors de la 52ème édition du RedBud 400 en ARCA/CRA à Winchester. Il termine 4e au classement de la série CARS Response Energy Tour avec seulement 8 départs cette saison (le champion compte 9 courses).

Ses prouesses en piste lui ont également mérité le Trophée Bertrand-Fabi, remis par Auto Sport Québec (ASQ) en octobre dernier. Ce prix est décerné chaque année au pilote qui a fait briller le Québec à l'étranger.

Maintenant, rendez-vous en 2019 !

 

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2018-12-04

Put a Bit of The BOS Under a Race Fan’s Tree This Christmas

Put a Bit of The BOS Under a Race Fan's Tree This Christmas

By Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media


'Tis the season to start thinking about the 50th anniversary – 2019 event schedule – at Brockville Ontario Speedway.


Treat the fan on your gift list to a season pass for The BOS. Grandstand admission, good for the entire year – with the exception of the Bullringer 110 and Fall Nationals – is just $220. A pit pass – for all events except the Northeast Fall Nationals and Bullringer events – is only $420. Reserved seats for special events are just $60. Brockville Speedway gift cards, available in any amount and redeemable at the main grandstand general admission gate, souvenir booth or canteen are also available. Track owner/promoter Paul Kirkland says it promises to be an exciting year at the popular 3/8th mile clay oval.


"We're all looking forward to getting another season of action underway and our promotional team is working hard to get things ready," Kirkland said. "The first step in that direction is the announcement that our 358 Modified division will be sponsored by 1000 Islands RV Centre and will be known as the 1000 Islands RV DIRT Modifieds. Henry Boer and his team have been strong supporters of the track and its great to have them take this step."


Fans can also relive some of most memorable moments from Brockville Ontario Speedway's thrilling 2018 calendar. Pick-up a DVD copy of any regular season event for only $20 or from the Loud & Dirty DIRTcar Northeast Fall Nationals for only $40 while quantities last, with delivery guaranteed in-time for Christmas morning.


Don't miss out on the chance to pre-book your camping spot for the Fall Nationals, with advance payment set at only $50. Premium sites are $100, with renewals needing to be paid in full by Friday, May 31st before remaining spots in either section are offered to the public.


The 2019 campaign promises to be another busy one – with plenty of changes on the horizon – at Brockville Ontario Speedway. One of the biggest differences fans will notice was announced at the end of last year, when Danny O'Brien confirmed his plans to step away from weekly action shortly after clinching his 14th track championship.


"Across the board, our Saturday nightline-up is one of the best in the business," Paul Kirkland admitted. "There is no doubt that we'll miss having Danny here every week, but our fan base will still have plenty of action to cheer for once the green flag waves to kick-off the year."


For complete off-season news and information on special Christmas gift-giving promotions, look towww.brockvillespeedway.com, like the track on Facebook or follow it on Twitter.


The 50th anniversary 2019 regular season is scheduled to get underway Saturday, May 11th at The BOS.


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


David Hebert (# ONE) and Tristan Draper (#17) fight for a spot at The BOS. There are several different Brockville Ontario Speedway holiday gift ideas available; with guaranteed Christmas delivery.


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




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Wrap Up Christmas Giving With a 2019 Peterborough Speedway Season Pass

Wrap Up Christmas Giving With a 2019 Peterborough Speedway Season Pass

By Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media


Treat the short track racing fan on your holiday gift list to something special this year, with a 2019 season pass to catch all the all the action at Canada's Toughest 3rd of a Mile Paved Oval. With 5 weekly, showcase divisions and some of the provinces top touring series also on the program, Peterborough Speedway is Central Ontario's racing destination and the track promotional team has put together several different packages to suit every budget.


Get $48 off the grandstand admission price and see 16 nights of regular season racing at the tight, tricky bullring on Mount Pleasant Road for just $180. The 2019 Super Pass includes every Saturday night – from the Victoria Day weekend season opener to the Labour Day championship Clash – plus the Thanksgiving weekend 27th annual running of the Autumn Colours Classic for only $225. That's more than $60 less than what you'd pay at the ticket booth.


Fans can even pick and choose the regular season shows they'd like to attend, with a 10 race ticket bundle for $130. That's a $20 saving. For the full details, head towww.peterboroughspeedway.com and select the 'season passes' tab from the Fan Info drop-down menu.


To add some extra excitement to your holiday giving, put a Peterborough Speedway driving school package under the tree. Experience the thrill of taking to the high banks of one of the fastest paved ovals, where the country's top drivers battle-it-out year after year. Your adrenaline rush package includes in-class instruction, on-track sessions and more. Sessions are limited to 10 participants per class. All the information you'll need can be found by clicking the 'packages' option under driving school on the track web-site.


The management, staff, drivers and race teams at Peterborough Speedway would like to wish everyone a happy, safe and joyous festive season. Be sure to look towww.peterboroughspeedway.com, as well as the track Facebook and Twitter social media platforms for the latest news and information leading-up to the 2019 opening night.


Peterborough Speedway has several different options to make a race fan's Christmas merry and bright.


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

     



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