| Recent Delaware Speedway champions from the APC NASCAR Late Model division, such as Steve Robblee, Jesse Kennedy, Scott Lindsay and DJ Kennington will lead an elite field into this unprecedented showcase event.
“It will be a privilege to have them (Busch, Reutimann and Smith) come up, to introduce them to Delaware and to find out what they’re about,” said Robblee, a 9-time Delaware Speedway Champion and current NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Canadian National Champion. “I think it will be a good deal for Delaware and its competitors. I don’t see how we can go wrong. The fans are in for a treat.”
Kennington, who has competed against Busch and Smith in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, is looking forward to having those drivers come north. “For me it’s gonna be awesome because they get to kick my butt every week down there (in the United States) and we hope this will even out the playing field a little.”
The excitement over the event has even caused a “rift” in the house of Ron Sheridan, one of Delaware Speedway’s most popular and competitive drivers over the last ten years. “My son Jake says he doesn’t know who to cheer for now because he’s a Kyle Busch fan,” laughed Sheridan. “But I think it’s great. It’s very exciting. It’s great for the racers, great for the speedway and great for the fans.”
An exhibition (non-points) event, the “Delaware Summer Showdown” will see Busch, Reutimann and Smith compete in a 35-lap feature race against an elite field of Delaware Speedway competitors. The NASCAR Stars will drive in the same Late Model-style car as the Delaware Speedway drivers.
Specifics about the event format and driver qualification (including the possibility of competitors from other tracks to participate) will be announced separately.
As for whether or not the NASCAR Sprint Cup stars will adjust to both the Late Model-style car and the race track itself – which is renowned in stock-car circles for being a little tricky to navigate – Delaware’s top drivers don’t seem to be concerned.
“I don’t think it’ll be a big deal for them,” said Robblee. “They grew up racing cars like that. I’m sure they’ve driven lots of late model cars.”
Asked if they’re ready to take on some of NASCAR’s best, Kennington was quick to respond: “Game on.”
Regarding the visiting drivers:
Many know Kyle Busch as a brash, outrageously talented and outspoken competitor. Perhaps NASCAR’s fastest rising star, he is a driver whom many fans love to hate for his hot temper mixed with magic on the track. Busch is thee only NASCAR driver to win races in two of its national touring series on the same day, winning the Camping World Truck Series and Nationwide Series races held on February 21, 2009.
Currently driving for Joe Gibbs racing, Busch won five races at NASCAR’s highest level in 2009 including one of the Daytona “Duel” events in Florida as well as wins at Richmond, Las Vegas and both races at Bristol which, like Delaware Speedway, is a half-mile oval.
“They’re the same as we are,” Kennington said of Busch, Reutimann and Smith. “Kyle’s actually a really funny guy, really down to earth. It will be cool to have him here.”
David Reutimann is a Florida native, and a third generation driver who races for Michael Waltrip in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and for Braun Racing in the Nationwide Series. He drives the #00 in Sprint Cup, the same number used by his father, Emil “Buzzie” Reutimann during his driving career. He was the Truck Series’ Rookie of the Year in 2004, won his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pole Award in 2008 and earned his first Sprint Cup victory in May of 2009 in a rain-shortened event at Charlotte. He ended the season in 16th place in championship points.
Regan Smith began his NASCAR career racing in the Craftsman Truck Series in 2002 and moved to the Busch (now known as Nationwide) Series full-time in 2006. Last year, Smith ran in 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races. However, he has a lot to look forward to in 2010 as Furniture Row Racing has announced that it will run the full 36-race schedule with Regan Smith at the wheel. Smith’s crew chief, Ryan Coniam, is from Burlington, Ontario.
“What pleases us most about this event is the opportunity to showcase the competitors that have supported Delaware Speedway for so long, and to give their loyal fans a great show,” said track General Manager, Joe Czernai. “We are committed to building awareness of our NASCAR Whelen All-American Series and its competitors and creating added value for the many corporate partners that help keep the race teams coming to the track each week. We believe this is another step in the right direction.”
“This is a sign of how far the speedway has come,” Sheridan said. “I love the format of a Wednesday night race. It’s gonna be a fun day. It’s going to be great for the speedway.”
General admission tickets for the event will soon be available online at www.delawarespeedway.com and will also be available at Delaware Speedway’s display at the CPT Racing Experience trade show, this Saturday and Sunday (January 16 and 17) at the Western Fair Agriplex, as well as at the track’s display at the Canadian Motorsports Expo in Toronto, January 22 – 24, 2010.
More information about Delaware Speedway is available online at www.delawarespeedway.com, through the track’s new Official Facebook Group or via Twitter “@DelawareSpdwy”.
For further information: Kevin Bulmer, CPT Entertainment // Cell: (519) 280-8301 // mail: kevin@cptentertainment.com |
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