Airborne Speedway - East Coast Snocross
East Coast Snocross Headed to Plattsburgh |
Airborne Speedway is facilitating the two-day event, which is round two of the East |
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2010-12-20
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2010-12-15
TMR Completes First Test for 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tony Marks Racing Completes First Test for 2011 Dufault, Marks and Austin Turn Laps at New Smyrna Toledo, OH (Dec. 15, 2010) –Tony Marks Racing (TMR) got their pre-season testing off to a great start after a three-day test at New Smyrna Speedway with drivers Maryeve Dufault, Jared Marks and Chase Austin at the wheel of the both a late model and ARCA car. |
The test was intended to provide Dufault and Marks an opportunity to get familiar with the ARCA car and get some valuable seat time as TMR prepares their 2011 campaign. Under the watchful eye of veteran crew chief Larry Moore, Austin took the first laps in the ARCA car, shaking it down and making certain that it was dialed in prior to Dufault and Marks taking the wheel. "This was only the 2nd time in the ARCA car for me but it all came back pretty easy," said Austin. "I just shook down the car to get a good baseline so that Maryeve and Jared could run without worrying about anything but getting familiar with the ARCA car. They both did a good job. I was impressed with how well they did and despite the rain, it was a successful test." Crew chief Larry Moore planned the test so that Dufault and Marks could run quite a few laps in the CRA Late Model car and learn the ½ mile oval of New Smyrna before moving into the ARCA car. "We came into the weekend with the goal being to get Maryeve and Jared familiar and comfortable in the ARCA car," explained Moore. "I was impressed with how smooth and calm they both were when we moved to the ARCA car as that is really something you can't teach a driver. They both handled the ARCA car really well and I was impressed with how quickly they picked up on the weight and horsepower of the car. It's nice to leave a test and say there was no drama with the drivers or the cars." For Dufault, the test was a good opportunity to get seat time in the ARCA car and begin to learn the nuances of the stock car. "I am really very happy with the whole weekend," said Dufault at the close of the test. "The team did a great job and we communicated really well. I was really happy to adapt so quickly to the 800 HP ARCA car and the test has really boosted my confidence going into the Daytona test in January." Marks started the weekend running the CRA Late Model that TMR plans to enter for the 2011 season. "The test started off really well, we were fast in the late model right out of the trailer so that was nice," explained Marks. "I'm going to be running Speedweeks at New Smyrna in February so it was nice to get a chance to run this track and fine tune the car and start getting ready for the Crate Late Model and Super Late Model events." Marks also got his first opportunity to test the ARCA car on Sunday. "I wanted to get my feet wet in the ARCA car," said Marks. "It's very different than the late model with a lot more horsepower and a heavier car so it was nice to get a feel for the car and get a little seat time. I am looking forward to doing some more testing in the ARCA car as the season goes forward." The team has now returned to their shop in Toledo, Ohio where preparations for their next test at the Daytona International Speedway January 11-13, 2011 are underway. "Now we're going to spend the next few weeks going over the cars and making sure we're ready to go testing in January," said Moore. "Even though we have a lot of work on our plates, I think we are just thrilled to be here and get to work with Maryeve and Jared and watch their careers grow." The team is slated to run the full 19 race season in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards with Dufault. Additional team plans for 2011 include entries for additional drivers in select ARCA Racing Series events. TMR will also enter Jared Marks in a full schedule of late model racing in CRA and ASA and is exploring the possibility of limited Nationwide Series schedule. About Tony Marks Racing (TMR): Tony Marks Racing was founded in 2009 through the passion for racing of team owner and former driver Tony Marks. Marks is the successful owner of TMT, Inc., a logistics, warehousing and packaging company with over 400 employees whose customers are mainly comprised of Fortune 100 companies. Marks began his racing career in 1985 getting behind the wheel of everything from drag racers, Dirt Late Models, SCCA Formula Fords, USAC F2000 Open Wheel and ARCA cars. Tony personally raced until 2005 amassing numerous wins, championships and track records along the way until he then changed his focus from driver to owner and began building racing programs for his children Jared (16 years old) and Rachel (13 years old). Under the auspices of TMR, Jared began his racing career in 2002 in quarter midgets and now competes in late model, CRA and ARCA Series events while Rachel continues her development program racing quarter midgets and Bandoleros. TMR has been at the forefront of charitable giving through its' "Driving Against Hunger" and "Million Meal Challenge" race programs which have raised over $200,000 for Forgotten Harvest in 2010 at the Truck and Nationwide events at Michigan International Speedway. For the NASCAR events TMR along with TMT, Inc. partnered with Forgotten Harvest for the "Million Meal Challenge For Our Kids" which helps to bridge the hunger gap while schools are out of session and feeds 20,000 children per day in the Detroit metro area. Forgotten Harvest was significantly displayed on the entry of Chase Austin during both the Truck and Nationwide events at Michigan International Speedway along with logos of "Million Meal Challenge" sponsors Walgreen's, United Race Group, Holyfield's Choice Alka-Power Water and Vitamin Spice. Evander Holyfield was also instrumental in the challenge, acting as Grand Marshall for the August race and announcing his "Fight Against Hunger" on behalf of Forgotten Harvest. As the first race team to "Drive Against Hunger" through their partnership with Forgotten Harvest, TMR plans to continue their alliance with Forgotten Harvest and once again "Drive Against Hunger" during the 2011 season. For additional information on TMT, Inc. go to www.tmtcompanies.net. |
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Série Sportsman Québec annonce son calendrier 2011
Le président de la Série Sportsman Québec, André Poulin, vient de publier le calendrier de 11 épreuves pour la saison 2011. En plus du calendrier, vous trouverez un communiqué détaillant les plus récents changements concernant la série, tel qu’annoncé los de la réunion tenue le 12 décembre dernier : | Série Sportsman Québec President André Poulin released an 11 race schedule for the 2011 season. In addition to the schedule, you will find below the release outlining the changes the series will undergo as announced at the driver/owner meeting held on December 12: |
15 décembre 2010 Québec Pour diffusion immédiate La Série SS Québec regarde vers le futur. C’est dimanche passé le 12 décembre que c’est tenu la réunion de la Série au Restaurant Normandin de St-Romuald. Plus de 20 pilotes étaient présents malgré la mauvaise température qui sévissait. Parmi les pilotes présents, on remarquait 2 nouveaux soit : David Gagnon #47 d’Alma qui a fait l’acquisition de la voiture #05 cette hiver et Denis Boutet #70 qui pilotera dans l’équipe de Gilles Hamel Racing l’ancienne voiture #21 en 2010. On notait aussi 2 retours soit : Daniel Roy qui avait le #77en 2009 et qui pilotera avec le #11 cette saison après une année de pause et le retour de Rock Poulin qui pilotera une toute nouvelle voiture de l’équipe Boulet Racing en 2011. Rappelons que Poulin est le pilote a avoir accumulé le plus de damier depuis les débuts de la Série en 2007 avec 13. Rock dévoilera son numéro plus tard cet hiver. Il faut aussi signaler le retour probable des 9 premiers au classement en Élite en 2010 et les 6 premiers en Intermédiaires, ce qui devrait donnée une saison fort intéressante. En 2011, plusieurs changements à prévoir. La Série a annoncé qu’elle changeait son image commerciale en 2011 avec un nouveau nom qui sera Série Sportsman Québec et un nouveau logo qui sera dévoilé d’ici janvier. Certains pilotes de la Série commenceront à utiliser les carrosseries MUSCLE CAR AR BODIES en 2011. Cette carrosserie est optionnelle en 2011 mais deviendra la carrosserie d’avenir de la Série. Rock Poulin, Steeve Lesage #95, Jimmy Nadeau #17, François Lessard #71 Marc Rod shop qui est à la conception d’une nouvelle voiture utiliseront dès cette saison soit un Ford Mustang ou encore un GM Camaro. Daniel Sylvain a aussi confirmé que si le Dodge Challenger était prêt pour le 1 mars comme supposé, il serait le 1e a l’utilisé en 2011. La Série a aussi annoncé qu’elle revenait à la formule d’une seule division pour 2011. Un championnat complet ou les 11 courses compteront à 100%. Un nouveau livre des règlements refait à neuf et beaucoup mieux structuré à aussi été remis aux pilotes qui ont même demandé pendant la réunion de resserrer encore plus au niveau des inspections et des pièces non-conformes. La Série sera présente au Salon de l’auto Sport de Québec en début d’avril avec 4 voitures et un kiosque. Karl Drouin #39 de l’équipe PROFAB sera une des voitures sur place. La Série aura un calendrier de 11 courses qui sera distribué entre 5 autodromes de la province, Les pistes de Riverside Speedway Ste-Croix, Autodrome Chaudière et l’Autodrome Montmagny recevront la Série Sportsman Québec à 3 reprises chacun. L’autodrome St-Félicien et l’ASE seront visité à une reprise. (Vous trouverez le calendrier plus bas). André Poulin Série Sportsman Québec
CALENDRIER 2011
Samedi 14 mai Autodrome Montmagny (100 tours)
Samedi 21 mai Autodrome Chaudière (100 tours)
Samedi 11 juin Riverside Speedway Ste-Croix (2 X 50 Inversé)
Vendredi 1 juillet Autodrome Chaudière (100 tours) (Concours Pit Stop Brossard Performance)
Samedi 9 Juillet Autodrome St-Félicien (2 x 75 tours avec pit stop,Points dans chaque manche)
Sam. 23 juillet Riverside Speedway Ste-Croix (100 tours avec PIT STOP)
Samedi 6 août Autodrome St-Eustache (Spécial 150)
Samedi 13 août Riverside Speedway Ste-Croix (100 tours à déterminer)
Samedi 20 août Autodrome Montmagny (100 tours)
Vend. 26 août Autodrome Chaudière (100 tours)
Samedi 3 sept. Autodrome Montmagny (100 tours)
Cédule non- officiel et sujet à changements ou ajouts |
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2010-12-14
ACT: CANADIAN THEETGE FILES FIRST ENTRY TO NEW SMYRNA ACT EVENT
CANADIAN THEETGE FILES FIRST ENTRY TO NEW SMYRNA ACT EVENTFor Immediate Release ACT – 121410-67 Waterbury, VT – Two-time ACT Série Castrol Champion, Donald Theetge from Quebec City, Canada is the first to file an entry for the inaugural Goodyear Speedweek Cup event to be held at the New Smyrna Speedway (NSS) in Florida on Sunday, February 13th and Monday, February 14th as part of the World Series of Asphalt Short Track Racing. |
The “World Series” will host the American Canadian Tour (ACT) for the first time in February of 2011. A field of between 26 and 30 teams are expected to make the migration to the warmer Florida climate from all over New England and the provinces of Quebec and Ontario. The recently announced purse of over $33,000.00 brought immediate reaction from veteran competitor Theetge, “I am very proud to be the first to enter this event. I have raced with ACT for over 20 years and try to support them in any way I can. This will be a great way to bring my team from the cold and snow of Quebec City to Florida for a mid-winter break. We are all looking forward to it.” Theetge is considered one of the best ACT stars on tracks of ½ mile or longer. The very fast, banked ½ mile at NSS is expected to suit his style. The format for the Goodyear Speedweek Cup will be unique to the World Series. The innovative ACT plus/minus heat system will set the starting field for the first 100-lap event on Sunday evening, February 13th. Drivers will be awarded 1 point for a win in the feature event, 3 points for third etc. An inversion of the Sunday feature will determine the starting field for the second 100-lap race on Monday evening. The purse will be broken down with $15,000 paid in the two features and $18,000 will be paid to the overall positions when combining the points from the two features, a similar format to the famous Milk Bowl held annually at ACT’s home track, Thunder Road Speedbowl in Barre, Vermont. Low score wins the Goodyear Speedweek Cup and the lion’s share of the $18,000.00 bonus money. “We wanted to show fans something a little different at New Smyrna for our first ever appearance. This format should be very entertaining for the fans and it should spread the money around a little and give all our teams a chance to have some fun and hopefully help each with some of their expenses,” said Tom Curley, President of the American Canadian Tour. For additional information contact the ACT office at 802.244.6963, www.acttour.com, or media@acttour.com. |
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2010-12-07
Tony Marks Racing Announces New ARCA Racing Series Team for 2011 Season
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tony Marks Racing Announces New ARCA Racing Series Team for 2011 Season Canadian Maryeve Dufault to Pilot the Entry. Toledo, OH (Dec. 7, 2010) –Tony Marks Racing (TMR) announced today the intent to run a full season in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards with Canadian driver Maryeve Dufault piloting the No. 50 TMR entry. At the helm of the team will be owner Tony Marks, while day to day operations will be overseen by veteran crew chief Larry Moore, who will manage the car preparations out of the teams shop in Toledo, Ohio. |
Team Owner Tony Marks has been involved in a variety of racing endeavors over the past 25 years and after a late season ARCA Series test at Rockingham Speedway he was keen to expand his racing peration. "Last season tested at Rockingham Speedway and saw very promising results," said Marks. "Through our relationship with Dodge and our interest in expanding our racing program, we were presented with an opportunity and pursued conversations with Maryeve to join our team and put together a full season entry for 2011. Maryeve had displayed great ability in her outing at Montreal and we look forward to putting her in the position to be successful in 2011 with the Tony Marks Racing team."
Dufault was sponsored by the Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, and Ram Quebec Dealers Association for the 2010 Canadian events and despite a tough outing in the Montreal race where she finished her day with heavy contact and was unable to complete the race, her driving skill impressed a Dodge racing representative who then facilitated an introduction to Tony Marks Racing. The team will begin their 2011 preparations in earnest with a three day closed test scheduled for December 11-13, 2010 at the ½ mile oval at New Smyrna Speedway in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. During the three day test, the team plans to run Maryeve Dufault in the ARCA entry as well as test driver Jared Marks, son of team owner Tony Marks, in both an ARCA and late model car. The team will continue their testing program at the ARCA Series test at the Daytona International Speedway January 11-13, 2011 in preparation for the season opening ARCA event on February 12. About Tony Marks Racing (TMR): Tony Marks Racing was founded in 2009 through the passion for racing of team owner and former driver Tony Marks. Marks is the successful owner of TMT, Inc., a logistics, warehousing and packaging company with over 400 employees whose customers are mainly comprised of Fortune 100 companies. Marks began his racing career in 1985 getting behind the wheel of everything from drag racers, Dirt Late Models, SCCA Formula Fords, USAC F2000 Open Wheel and ARCA cars. Tony personally raced until 2005 amassing numerous wins, championships and track records along the way until he then changed his focus from driver to owner and began building racing programs for his children Jared (16 years old) and Rachel (13 years old). Under the auspices of TMR, Jared began his racing career in 2002 in quarter midgets and now competes in late model, CRA, ASA and ARCA Series events while Rachel continues her development program racing quarter midgets and Bandoleros. |
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2010-12-06
ACT - GOODYEAR TO PRESENT THE ACT SPEEDWEEKS CUP
For Immediate Release ACT – 120610-65 Waterbury, VT – The American Canadian Tour (ACT) has announced that Goodyear, the official tire of the 25 year-old short track sanctioning body, will be the presenting sponsor of the first ever “southern swing” for the ACT Late Models on Sunday, February 13 and Monday, February 14, 2011. Last month officials from ACT and New Smyrna Speedway in New Smyrna, Florida announced that the ACT Late Model teams would become part of the historic World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing (WSASCR) at the well known ½ mile speedplant. |
For over four decades northern race teams and fans from Maine to Minnesota have made the annual pilgrimage to the ‘World Series’ at New Smyrna during Speedweeks at Daytona. “In the old days, the late Richie Evans would run out of the NASCAR Wednesday night awards banquet and rush down to make sure he was in the feature at New Smyrna that night. Junior Hanley, Gary Balough and a whole host of modified and late model racers made New Smyrna their ‘off-season home’. It is going to be a lot of fun to bring our northern ACT Late Model teams to Florida,” said Tom Curley, President of the American Canadian Tour. “ACT race teams have supported Goodyear for the past seven seasons and we are really pleased to be the presenting sponsor of the first Goodyear ACT Speedweeks Cup,” said Scott Junod, Goodyear Sales Manager, Short Track Racing. “I have seen a lot of ACT events over the past few years, and I think the fans going down to Speedweeks and the World Series of Asphalt Racing at New Smyrna are going to be in for a terrific short track show. When ACT announces the format for the two 100-lap events it should be a whole lot of fun to be a spectator. Goodyear is happy to be a part of this inaugural ACT event in February during Speedweeks,” concluded Junod. Over thirty teams from throughout the Northeastern United States and Canada have indicated they have interest in attending the Goodyear ACT Speedweeks Cup event at New Smyrna Speedway. “We feel confident that we will get the 24-26 teams we are hoping to have for this event, and as soon as teams see what the interesting format and purse structure is going to be, we expect to be able to release a very competitive field of entrants by the first of the year,” said Nick Bigelow, spokesman for the American Canadian Tour. Entries for the New Smyrna event will be sent in mid-December, and more information will be forthcoming throughout January 2011. For additional information contact the ACT office at 802.244.6963, www.acttour.com, or media@acttour.com. -30- |
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Autodrome St-Eustache - Abandon de la bannière NASCAR
Réunion Sportsman du samedi 4 décembre à l'ASE. Les dollars resteront 100% au Québec ! C'est sous le signe de la détente et de la convivialité qu'un peu plus d'une quarantaine de personnes faisant partie de plus d'une vingtaine d'équipes ont répondu à l'invitation de la direction de l'ASE et se sont présentés à la réunion de la division Sportsman tenu samedi après-midi au VIP de l'Autodrome St-Eustache. La majorité ce ceux-ci se sont même présentés en fin d'avant-midi, répondant à l'invitation de prendre le dîner sur place, servi par Madame Ladouceur et sa fille Annie. |
Beaucoup de bonnes nouvelles bien accueillies par les équipes de courses ont été annoncées. Parmi celles-ci celle de l'annonce de l'abandon de la bannière NASCAR qui fera économiser dès leur adhésion de 350 à 400$ par équipe au niveau de l'achat de licences et permis de puits et surtout un fond de points qui bondira de 10 000$ à 26 200$ pour les onze courses de la saison 2011. « Nous avons apprécié les années passées sous la bannière NASCAR, nous avons accumulé de l'expérience, mais nous sommes d'avis que le retour d'argent dépensé par les pilotes et l'organisation de l'ASE pour détenir cette bannière, un retour qui se situe aux environs du tiers de ce nous (et les équipes) envoyons aux USA, était devenu insuffisant et c'est pourquoi nous avons décidé de payer nous même le fond de points et de distribuer directement aux équipes de courses une grande partie des sommes qui étaient payées à NASCAR…. » de préciser le directeur des opérations courses de l'ASE, Yves Ladouceur, le tout sous l'œil approbateur du président-fondateur de l'ASE, Monsieur Claude Aubin, qui nous a honoré de sa présence, et du président actuel Alan Labrosse, ainsi que d'une partie de l'équipe des officiels qui seront en place en 2011. Étaient sur place, des recrues qui s'illustreront en 2011 telles que l'équipe 422 du jeune Marc-Antoine Demers, l'équipe 73 de Steve Lagacé, le 71 de Claude Charest et Stéphane Aubin qui a annoncé « publiquement » son arrivée en Sportsman avec l'ancienne voiture du champion Steve Côté. Parmi les autres. Martin Goulet et Mario Bergeron qui ont été les premiers à se procurer leur licence ANCA SPORTSMAN 2011, Dave Coursol, André Coursol, Cindy et Mathieu Francoeur, Jason Labrosse, Sébastien Joseph qui pilotera l'ancienne voiture de Jonathan Bouvrette, Sébastien Dussault, Jean-François Bouvrette, Isabelle Tremblay, Benoît Juteau, Jonathan Bouvrette qui devrait faire quelques apparitions en 2011, une présence remarquée et appréciée a également été celle de Mario Carrier qui nous a annoncé son retour en 2011. L'équipe de Maxime Pelletier, le nouveau papa, était également représenté par Mario Lajoie. D'autres pilotes qui pourraient bien revenir plus régulièrement assistaient également à cette rencontre, parmi eux Normand Lavigueur qui n'a pu participer autant qu'il l'aurait voulu en 2010, et un autre qui n'est pas passé inaperçu, Guy Jubinville qui travaille très fort pour conclure une entente et revenir en piste en 2011. Il faut préciser que l'implication de NASCAR dans le système se situait exclusivement au niveau de la gestion des points et du paiement du fond de points. Le reste de la gestion (procédures de courses et règlementation) a toujours demeuré sous sanction ANCA même sous la bannière NASCAR. D'autres mesures économiques ont également été annoncées dont un système de gestion restrictif et contrôlé d'achat de pneus en 2011, et l'acception d'une deuxième marque de carrosseries moins dispendieuses. Quelques procédures de courses ont également été améliorés, parmi celles-ci, le fait que les points iront aux équipes qui pourront se doter d'un pilote de réserve qui leur permettra d'accumuler quand même des points en l'absence du pilote attitré, le tout sujet à certaines conditions qui seront déterminées un peu plus tard cet hiver. Le système ANCA prévoit également un système de pointage pour les qualifications, ce qui n'était pas le cas en NASCAR et un retour aux positions de départ déterminées par les moyennes inversées des trois dernières finale, tel qu'appliqué à toutes les autres classes de l'ANCA. En ce qui concerne le nombre de tours des finales, ils seront de 75 tours par finale qui comportera une interruption de 6 minutes au 50e tour et dont les 25 derniers tours seront disputés sur le vert. La confrontation ASE 150 sera également de retour en 2011. Cette confrontation en sera une de « voitures » qui mettra aux prises les SPORTSMAN et les SUPER-SPORTSMAN de l'est du Québec dans une finale mixte de 150 tours. « Nous avons en main une entente avec Monsieur André Poulin, Président des SS qui nous assure sa collaboration et la présence de vingt pilotes et plus de cette populaire organisation » de renchérir Yves Ladouceur. Il a également été annoncé que la série LMS de M. Tom Curley sera de retour à 3 reprises en 2011 et que la course NCATS sera remplacée par le St-Eustache 200 ACT le 16 juillet avec possiblement un ou deux gros noms qui se joindraient à nos vedettes de l'ACT comme participants à cette épreuve. En résumé, les changements et dispositions qui ont été favorablement accueillis par les équipes présentes et une confirmation qui rassurera tout le monde : NOS SPORTSMAN SONT LÀ POUR RESTER, une citation qui était attendue et qui en a rassuré plus d'un.
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2010-12-01
CURLEY'S CORNER - NEWS & NOTES
SOURCE: ACT CURLEY’S CORNER NEWS & NOTES DEC 2010 First, a very happy holiday season to all ACT members and your families and teams. Thanksgiving is now past and we look forward to the Christmas holiday season with gratitude for all the support we have been given over the years, especially during these past couple of difficult economic years. We look forward with a great deal of optimism toward the coming race season. |
NEW HAMPSHIRE MOTOR SPEEDWAY We announced in early November that ACT Late Models would be returning to NHMS for a second event over ‘Indy weekend’, August 12 & 13. This has come about as a result of the great effort that many teams have put into having successful Late Model events in the ACT Invitationals over the past two years. New Hampshire is posting over $100,000.00 in purse money for this ‘short track’ ALL STAR event next August. What is really going to create a lot of interest, besides just the opportunity to compete at the Magic Mile, is that the purse and format will be unlike anything ever seen at New Hampshire, let alone in the short track Late Model division anywhere in the country. There will be $40,000 of the posted purse dedicated to just the heat racing and last chance races! That’s right, this will be a ‘short track’ kind of event with everyone having an opportunity to race your way into the feature event. That will leave the feature with a lucrative $60,000 purse! Our goal at ACT with this event is that every team that attempts to qualify will have a great race experience and also make enough money to help defray some expenses even if not qualified for the main event. We will have complete details and entry information available to Late Model competitors in January. Eligibility will be fair but strict in the interest of safety. There is an optional open practice at NHMS for ACT Late Model teams (not mandatory for anyone who has participated in either of the first two ACT Invitational events or practice sessions over the past couple years). This one day practice is scheduled for Tuesday, August 2, 2011 and the only charge will be a team fee of $100 to pay for the safety equipment and daily costs at NHMS. (Goodyear has agreed once again to pay ½ of the practice fee on behalf of all competitors, thus it is only a $50 per team fee). Practice tires can be used from the August 2 session for practice at the ALL STAR event on August 12/13. There have been a few changes to the Invitational to be held again on NASCAR Chase Cup weekend, Saturday, September 24, 2011. The only difference in 2011 will be starting time will be pushed up to afternoon for tires, etc. Hopefully, this should make for a more reasonable time frame for teams to be able to schedule their participation in the third annual Invitational. More information on both the NHMS events can be expected in January 2011. OXFORD TD 250 The next big announcement that has come out of the ‘off-season’ came from Oxford Plains Speedway. The announcement that there would be a PASS event on the eve of the ‘250’ certainly got the rumor mill flying. Let me assure you that Bill Ryan continues to be a strong supporter of Late Model racing, both weekly at OPS and also the ACT US. With that said I do think we supporters of Late Model racing should make an extra effort to support this great event. It still is the richest event on the Late Model calendar and an experience unlike any other short track race. I remember what a great thrill it was when the announcement came several years ago that the ‘richest one day short track race in America’ was being changed to a Late Model race. As one of ACT racing’s strongest allies, we hope that many teams will take in the TD 250 in 2011. Oxford management has made a number of changes over the past few years to make this event more in keeping with Late Model teams overall racing philosophies. I still believe that this event can be done very economically as a one-day event, like most other ACT events. Arrive Sunday morning, practice for a couple hours and then go through the process. We fully support the changes made last year - that teams could purchase tires after qualifying if they made the show, and the ‘no going down in the pits after the pits are open on a yellow”. In fact, we only had two teams that raced at Beech Ridge the following weekend that used tires from the 250. There is a message in there somewhere. Mark July 24, 2011 on your schedule of races to support this coming season. It is the ultimate ‘catch the golden ring’ event! FLORIDA—NEW SMYRNA SPEEDWAY (NSS) This was one of those promotions that was the true ‘flyer of an idea’. I remember throwing out the idea of taking teams to Florida as a ‘racing holiday’ during Speedweeks at Daytona. I really did not think we would get a lot of commitment. I thought this would be a fun way to break up the long winter months, and also show a whole lot of people, from many disciplines of asphalt racing who participate or watch the World Series of Racing at New Smyrna, what Late Model racing with heats to qualify really is. I am especially anxious to showcase the respectful kind of racing we have enjoyed over the past years. There will be a lot of attention for this effort. Over 700 promoters from throughout the country will be attending the national convention in Daytona over the two days we will be racing, and many will be at NSS to watch our shows. Modifieds, ASA Late Models, Super Late Models etc. will all be part of the marathon that is the World Series. We were very surprised to get over 30 teams to commit to this project!! It certainly put me on the hot spot to try and get the races booked after we received support from so many teams. It took some doing and some help to get the purses put together. Realistically, with the program NSS has, it was not like they were looking for another event to fill an already full schedule over the 10 days of the WSASCR. But they have been gracious enough to slot us in for a couple of 100 lap events, which certainly puts some pressure on their schedules and also complicates an already filled pit area, but we will make it work. Entries for the NSS events will be going out before Christmas, but we encourage teams to make some reservations as soon as possible. Daytona and surrounding areas have ‘relaxed’ their room requirements from years past…and during this time frame there are some great events to take in at the Speedway, ARCA race, Bud Clash, and Twin 125’s if you stay until Thursday, etc. Obviously Disney World, etc. is down the road if you are planning a family kind of winter vacation. NSS World Series opens on Thursday, February 10th and runs through the 19th. The ACT events will be Sunday and Monday nights, February 13th and 14th respectively. We have heard from some teams that they have rooms for as little at $57 per night on Daytona Beach! ACT has booked officials rooms in the Orange City/Deltona area (about 20 min from NSS) for around $75 from Friday-Tuesday. Hopefully this will give teams an idea of what to expect. Again information will be sent to teams that committed before Christmas break. Any other teams that are still interested please contact the office as soon as possible. 2011 SCHEDULES Late Models Putting together the 2011 schedules has been a difficult process. We appreciate all the responses that we received to the survey we sent from the office at the conclusion of the 2010 race season. After reviewing them, we have tried to stay as close as possible to requests for events that the majority of teams (as well as the ACT staff and officials) indicated they felt were do-able for them in 2011. The final schedules, as of Friday, November 19th, for both the US and Castrol Series actually ended up being 12 each, plus the four specials (250, Invitational, Showdown, Milk Bowl). We had requests for a half dozen more events in 2011, but could not reasonably schedule them in the best interest of teams, and weekly racing, which still remains a priority at ACT. The combination events at Riverside, QC, the August 13th event at NHMS, and the Airborne Fall Foliage 200 are partially as a result of honoring prior commitments, as well as providing the most assurance for success at showcase events like the NHMS event and the Fall Foliage at Airborne. Bond/Wix Tiger Sportsman Series The TS Series has some changes to its schedule coming out before Christmas. It now looks like there will be 5 events in the TS series this coming season, including a date correction. I will be holding a ‘pre-season’ meeting sometime in late March or early April with TS teams to see if we can work out some of the issues that are currently affecting the TS division. I have every confidence that we can make 2011 into a great race season for TS teams if we address some of the problems of the past couple seasons. I am looking forward to seeing this division get back to the positive spirited division it has been known for over the past 40-plus years. RULES LATE MODEL Rules meetings have been completed and rules should be published on the ACT and Thunder Road web sites, hopefully before Christmas. The Late Model division had very few changes. A couple of issues that need to be dealt with are noted below: FORD There has been lots of discussion about the Ford project now being the ‘car of choice’. This project is and continues to be a ‘work in progress’. It took a full three years to get the Chevrolet crate to its successful state, and I anticipate that by the end of 2011 we will have the Ford program exactly where it is needed within the philosophy and guidelines of ACT racing. 1.The GM crate is the baseline motor for ACT Late Model racing. 2. Nothing will change on the GM program at the present time. 3. If necessary, the Ford will continue to have changes made as deemed for finding ‘parity’ with the GM crates. 4. If the Ford does not appear to be compatible from a competition standpoint, we will continue to take steps to make improvements. 5. If the Ford appears to have been given ‘too much of an advantage’, we will take steps to bring the program back in compliance with the original intent…that being two different manufacturers’ engines capable of winning races and being competitive with each other. In 2010, ACT sanctioned and/or promoted 48 stock car events. Fords won 4 of those events, GM crates won 44. Some very good race teams converted their programs to Fords in 2010, it would be unreasonable to expect that they would not be competitive or win some races. We will monitor the Ford vs. GM situation very closely during the upcoming season. [It almost feels like Dave Dion and Jr. Hanley have returned to create panic in the age old Ford vs. Chevy debate!!! Can’t we all just get along??!!] CRATE REBUILDS This is a notice regarding the ACT policy on rebuilding your crate motors. The chief architect of the ACT engine program for the past decade was and continues to be Dave MacMaster of Butler & MacMaster in Hallowell, ME. 1. At the present time if you own a MacMaster built crate motor, he is the only authorized dealer to ‘rebuild’ or service your engine program, unless a unique situation comes up and is approved by ACT. 2. The other dealers that have been approved as satellite dealers using the same procedures that MacMaster has developed are: RPM Nat’s Goyette Stefco West Carleton Automotive Please be advised that if you purchased your engine from these satellite dealers they are the dealers to service your engines. At the present time, only Butler & MacMaster is the authorized dealer for the ACT FORD crate engine program. If you have any questions, please contact the ACT office. TIGER SPORTSMAN There are virtually no rules changes in 2011 for the Tiger Sportsman division. STREET STOCK/WARRIORS We have had some meetings during the off-season to address the rules on a regional basis for 4-cyl divisions in general. The response has been very positive from various promoters and we are continuing these discussions. We have targeted January 15th as a date to complete some kind of ‘universal’ rules for five or six tracks in our region that are interested in this project. We will have a meeting with Street Stocks and Warriors in January as soon as these discussions are completed and go over what decisions have been made. We are hoping that this will solve many of the problems in the area that presently exist with the variety of rules that exist and in turn boost car counts and give the 4-cyl teams more opportunities with their race programs. Again this has been one of the busiest and productive ‘off-seasons’ as we try to continually improve our race programs for fans and participants. Thank you for all of your past efforts and we look forward to the coming race season. Best wishes for the holidays and we look forward to seeing you at the up-coming Banquets or when the snow melts in the Spring. |
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