2019-04-19

25th Anniversary Season For The Sunoco American Late Model Series Begins April 26-27

25th Anniversary Season For The Sunoco American Late Model Series Begins April 26-27

Posted: 17 Apr 2019 12:00 PM PDT

I-96 Speedway to open the 2019 campaign followed by Eldora Speedway

CONCORD, NC — Apr. 17, 2019 — The Sunoco American Late Model Series will hit a milestone with the 2019 racing season. The Grayville, IL based series will celebrate its 25th anniversary throughout the calendar year beginning on Friday-Saturday, April 26-27. The DIRTcar Late Model cars and stars of the longest running tour in the Great Lakes region of the United States will kick off their season starting at I-96 Speedway (MI) on Friday, April 26. Then it's just over a 210-mile trip to the famedEldora Speedway (OH) on Saturday, April 27.

Sylvania, OH driver, Casey Noonan comes into the 25th anniversary season as the defending Sunoco American Late Model Series Champion. While not winning an event in 2018, the 39-year-old did record a pair of fourth place finishes with those coming at I-96 Speedway on May 25 and again on June 16 at Oakshade Raceway where is a former track champion from the 2009 season. He also bagged a fifth-place finish on September 1 also at Oakshade and was able to capture his first career Sunoco ALMS Championship despite a 15th place finish the next night at Eldora.

Over his Sunoco ALMS career, Noonan has collected seven career series Feature wins with his most recent occurring on May 28, 2017 at Eldora Speedway in the Johnny Appleseed Classic. Ironically his first ever Sunoco ALMS win was also at Eldora back on May 27. 2007. Noonan's other five checkered flags have all came at his home track of Oakshade.

For the first time in series history, the Sunoco American Late Model Series will kick off their new season in the state of Michigan as I-96 Speedway, located east of Grand Rapids and west of Lansing in Lake Odessa, MI starts the 25th anniversary campaign on Friday, April 26. The $2,000 to win season opener will be the first of two races at the fast 3/8s (0.375) mile high-banked dirt oval. A milestone will be reached in this event as well as this race will be the 25th all-time for the series at the West Michigan facility.

The series made three appearances during the 2018 racing season as two-time series champion, Brandon Thirlby scored his first victory in Sunoco ALMS competition in three seasons, since 2015, when he grabbed the checkered flag on May 25. Manhattan, IL invader, Mike Spatola recorded his first triumph in four seasons, since 2014, after winning on June 29 while four-time series champion, Rusty Schlenk went to victory lane on July 27. His win then, was on of two features in 2018 to give him win #26 and later #27 (At Oakshade Raceway on September 1) over his career in the series, good for fourth all-time and just two back of third, currently held by Matt Miller, who has 29 wins.

Over the years in the previous 24 Sunoco ALMS appearances at I-96, Jeep VanWormer leads the way with four victories while six-time series champion and former track champion, Kris Patterson as well as four-time series champion, Brian Ruhlman both have three wins apiece to sit tied for second all-time. Schlenk and Aaron Scott both have two triumphs to sit tied for fourth all-time.

There have been 15 different winners in the 24 races held at the track.  The first ever Sunoco ALMS race at I-96 was held back on April 27. 1996 in the series' second season. Alger, MI legend, Frank Seder won what would be his only Feature victory in the Sunoco ALMS.

The second and final appearance of the season for the Sunoco ALMS at I-96 will kick off the Labor Day Holiday Weekend of racing on Friday, August 30. The event will be the first of three races over the weekend and by the end of it, the 2019 Sunoco American Late Model Series Champion will be crowned.

The famed ½ (0.500) high-banked dirt oval of Eldora Speedway (OH), located just east of the Indiana/Ohio state line in Rossburg, OH will close out opening weekend on Saturday, April 27 as part of the tracks' 66th season opener. The $5,000 to win Late Model LidLifter will be the first of three appearances and the 95th race all-time for the series at the track that has hosted the tour the most of any other facility in the 25-year history of the Sunoco ALMS.

In three races held during the 2018 racing season, Nick Hoffman won the Late Model LidLifter back on April 28, his second triumph in two seasons in the first Late Model race of the season at Eldora. Eventual 2018 Track Champion, Devin Gilpin scored his first career series victory when he captured the Johnny Appleseed Classic back on May 27 while National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame legend, Billy Moyer, a six-time World 100 winner, won his second Baltes Classic in a row and fourth in nine classics held, back on September 2.

Overall at Eldora in Sunoco ALMS competition, Matt Miller is the all-time wins leader at the track in the series with 10 triumphs as he leads Jeep VanWormer who has eight of his 35 career Sunoco ALMS checkered flags, good for second all-time and all-time at Eldora. Moyer and Patterson are tied for third with six Feature wins each while Ruhlman and Jerry Rice both have five victories apiece and are tied for fifth all-time.

There have been 39 different winners in the 93 races conducted at Eldora. The first race held at Eldora was also the first ever event in series history back on April 22, 1995 as Rice would go down in the history books as the first ever Feature winner in the Sunoco ALMS. The Verona, KY driver would go on to win five total series checkered flags, all at Eldora with his last triumph coming in 2005.

All three Sunoco ALMS events at Eldora will pay $5,000 to win. The remaining two races for the Sunoco ALMS at Eldora Speedway are on Sunday, May 26 for the 49th running of the Johnny Appleseed Classic and on Sunday, September 1 for the 10th running of the Baltes Classic. The Labor Day Weekend event will also serve as the final race of the 2019 racing season for the Sunoco ALMS as the 2019 Series Champion will be crowned at the conclusion of the Baltes Classic.

In between opening weekend and the Baltes Classic is a 12-race schedule for the Sunoco ALMS teams. After opening weekend, the teams head west to the Prairie State for a pair of $10,000 to win events starting on Friday, May 10 at Farmer City Raceway (IL) for the Farmer City 74. The next night, Saturday, May 11 is a trip to Fairbury American Legion Speedway (IL) for the FALS Frenzy.

On Friday, May 17, Kankakee County Raceway (IL) will host the series for the first time since the 2017 season while the next night, Saturday, May 18, a trip back to Michigan and the first appearance since the 2007 campaign, a 12-year absence, at Thunderbird Raceway (MI). Series stalwart, Oakshade Raceway (OH) is on the schedule for their first of three races on Saturday, May 25 while the teams head south back to Eldora on Sunday, May 26.

Oakshade is right back on the calendar on Saturday, June 15 for the $5,500 to win Barney Oldfield Memorial Am extensive vacation for the teams won't see them in action until the Labor Day Holiday Weekend with dates at I-96 (Friday, August 30), Oakshade (August 31) and the 25th anniversary season finale at Eldora on Sunday, September 1.

For more information about the Sunoco American Late Model Series, visit the series website, which is located at: americanlatemodelseries.com. You can also follow the series on all Social Media outlets on Facebook and Twitter via the DIRTcar Racing pages using the hashtag #ALMS.


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Posted by Marc Patrick Roy at 19.4.19 0 comments

2019-04-15

UNE 43e SAISON POUR LE VÉTÉRAN CLAUDE LECLERC

De retour au champion American Canadian Tour (ACT)

UNE 43e SAISON POUR LE VÉTÉRAN CLAUDE LECLERC



 

Lanoraie 8 avril 2019- Le vétéran pilote Lanorois Claude Leclerc confirme son retour à la compétition pour la saison 2019 au volant de la voiture PROLON #11. Il sera de nouveau en compétition dans le championnat American Canadian Tour (ACT). Incertain il y a quelques semaines à peine, un récent périple en Virginie pour une épreuve hors-championnat l'a convaincu qu'il avait encore le feu sacré. Lors de ce récent voyage il agissait à titre de chef d'équipe pour un autre pilote québécois,  Jean-Philippe Bergeron lui aussi porte-couleurPROLON dont la préparation complète de la voiture est aussi sous la responsabilité du vétéran Leclerc.

 

Pour Claude, la saison s'amorce dès la semaine prochaine, à moins d'un report de dernière minute à cause de la température printanière qui tarde, à la piste d'Oxford dans l'état du Maine. Le calendrier 2019 compte 10 épreuves comptant pour le championnat,  dont une qui sera présentée au Québec, à l'Autodrome Chaudière de Vallée Jonction. Une épreuve importante à son calendrier puisqu'elle portera le nom de Claude Leclerc 150 ! Un hommage à sa longue carrière, sa persévérance et sa passion pour son sport.

 


Les épreuves du championnat le conduiront, en plus du Québec,  dans les États du Maine, New Hampshire, du Vermont et du Connecticut où sera présentée la dernière épreuve de la saison en octobre prochain.

 

« L'année dernière, devant l'incertitude d'un championnat provincial chez-nous au Québec, j'ai pris la décision de retourner là où tout a commencé,  en 1977 sous la bannière Nascar Nord, mais devenu ACT par la suite. Je n'ai jamais regretté ma décision et ma 7e place au championnat m'a comblé de joie tout comme l'ovation debout que m'ont réservée tous les convives lors du banquet annuel ACT présenté à l'issue de la dernière saison.  Même si, pour un pilote, c'est la victoire que nous recherchons tous, toute ma carrière a été basée sur la constance et c'est ce que j'ai l'intention de faire de nouveau cette année  et je vise cette fois un Top 5 au championnat et si jamasi l'occasion se présente pour y allez pour la victoire je n'hésiterai pas un instant » confiait celui que ses pairs américains surnomme « The Ironman » !

 

En plus du championnat ACT,  il confirme également sa participation au Bacon Bowl 200 présenté en Beauce au mois d'août prochain en plus de la course Jean-Paul Cabana 150 qui elle sera se tiendra le 2 juin au circuit Riverside de Ste-Croix de Lotbinière. Il complète son calendrier québécois avec une épreuve de 200 tours à l'Autodrome de Montmagny, mais il semble de plus en plus que « les astres s'alignent » pour participer également au lancement de la saison pour le championnat LMS Nascar de Vallée Jonction le 19 mai prochain. Le tout,  afin bien sûr de bien se préparer pour la course qui portera son nom à ce même endroit le 1er juin prochain.

 

Parlant préparation, le calendrier ACT prévoir trois épreuves avant même ladite course du 19 mai prochain et, pour ces trois courses il pourra compter sur la collaboration de Marie-Claude Durocher à titre d'éclaireur (spotter). Une collaboratrice d'expérience qui s'acquitte déjà de cette tâche, avec succès pour plusieurs pilotes québécois. Nous aurons l'occasion de revenir sur la composition complète et officielle des membres de l'équipe PROLON #11 lors des prochaines communications.

 

Pour la saison 2019 l'équipe Leclerc Motorsport  Prolon #11 peut compter sur un appui primaire de  Prolon, une florissante entreprise québécoise basée à Mirabel qui fabrique et distribue partout en Amérique du Nord, un système de régulation de zonage CVAC (commercial/résidentiel haut de gamme) conçu pour gérer des climatiseurs de toit ou tout autre unité de chauffage et climatisation, neuve comme existante. À l'aube de cette nouvelle saison, des pourparlers se poursuivent toujours et d'additionnels partenaires pourraient s'ajouter dans les prochaines semaines.

 

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Posted by Marc Patrick Roy at 15.4.19 0 comments

2019-04-05

Bruno Purchases King of Dirt Racing Series

Bruno Purchases King of Dirt Racing Series
Series founder Hazer to take on advisory role

For Immediate Release                                                                                                                                                                                  KOD-033119-1


Photo credit: Jeremy McGaffin

WEST HAVEN, Vt. – A new era for the King of Dirt Racing Series has begun.  Devil's Bowl Speedway owners Mike and Alayne Bruno and King of Dirt (KOD) founder Rob Hazer have agreed to terms of the sale and transfer of the Northeastern dirt track stock car racing organization, effective immediately.
Hazer created the KOD tour in 2015 to elevate teams in the Sportsman Modified division with a professional, affordable, and uncommonly competitive set of special events.  The cars, which utilize the popular and economical General Motors "602" crate engine, typically play a support role for Big Block and Small Block "358" Modifieds at weekly tracks in New York State but have taken hold as the headliner in Vermont and New Hampshire.
Under the direction of Mike Bruno, the King of Dirt Racing Crate Modified Series will continue to operate in 2019 with a six-race championship, along with single special events for 358 Modifieds and Pro Stocks; the same schedule that was previously announced by Hazer will remain in place.
Bruno was approached by Hazer in early March and the deal came together quickly.  Hazer chose Bruno specifically because of his commitment to the Sportsman Modified division and the GM 602 crate package; Bruno has promoted Sportsman cars as the weekly headline class at Devil's Bowl Speedway in West Haven, Vt., since 2012.
"I'm honored that Rob Hazer asked me to take the reins, and I sincerely appreciate his confidence and his friendship," Bruno said.  "He built the King of Dirt Racing Series and I hope to carry his vision forward, but I'm also excited to take it to the next level.  The KOD events at Devil's Bowl have been great, and our fans and officials have already gotten to know many of the drivers and teams.  I'm confident that we'll give KOD a good home, and I know that we're all looking forward to growing the series in the future."
Hazer cited a need to concentrate on a series of recent health issues as his motivation to transfer ownership.  Bruno, in turn, has asked Hazer to stay on the KOD team in an advisory role.  Hazer will continue to provide media and marketing support for KOD events, along with occasional race-day duties.
"King of Dirt Racing is a viable and recognizable brand," Hazer said.  "The series will be in good hands with Mike Bruno at the helm.  His group is a cohesive unit, and when you combine that with KOD's strong team of people, the sky is the limit.  I have to focus on my health, but I will remain involved and I truly appreciate Mike being so adamant that I stay on board.  I'll be more in the background, but racers can still contact me with questions if they want to.  I can't thank everyone who has been involved since the beginning enough, and I'm confident that Mike will take KOD into a positive and bright future."
KOD has crowned a Crate Modified champion each year since 2015 and will do so again in 2019.  Connor Cleveland and Rocky Warner have each earned two KOD Crate Modified championships, and Warner leads all drivers with 10 KOD wins.  Full-fender Pro Stocks were a KOD championship division in 2015-18 as were 358 Modifieds in 2017-18, but both have been scaled back to single special events in 2019.
The King of Dirt Racing Crate Modified Series schedule remains intact as previously announced and opens on Sunday, May 26 at Devil's Bowl Speedway with the "Memorial Day Kickoff 50."  The annual 30-lap "Friday Night Lights" race will be Friday, June 7 at Albany-Saratoga Speedway in Malta, N.Y., followed by the series' first trip north to New York's Plattsburgh Airborne Speedway and the 30-lap "Plattsburgh Border Brawl" on Monday, July 1.
Devil's Bowl hosts the "Leon Gonyo Memorial 40" on Sunday, August 11, followed by the prestigious "Mr. Crate Track USA" 30-lapper at Lebanon Valley (N.Y.) Speedway on Saturday, August 31.  The KOD champion will be crowned on Friday, September 6 in the "Northeast Crate Nationals 100" at Albany-Saratoga.
Albany-Saratoga Speedway is the site of KOD's special events for the Pro Stock and 358 Modified divisions; Stone Motorsports presents the $1,000-to-win, 35-lap Pro Stock race on Friday, July 19, and Lebanon Springs Excavating hosts the 358 Modifieds with a $3,000-to-win, 35-lapper on Friday, September 13.
Three of the six KOD Crate Modified Series races will run in conjunction with major Modified events; the KOD races at Airborne and Lebanon Valley both complement the Super DIRTcar Series, while the August 11 race at Devil's Bowl is held in conjunction with the inaugural "Battle at the Bowl" Big Block/Small Block Challenge event.
The King of Dirt Racing Series is online at www.KingofDirtRacing.com and can also be found via social media on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.  For more information, call Mike Bruno at (802) 236-9141, Media Director Justin St. Louis at (802) 355-3282, or email kodracingseries@gmail.com.

King of Dirt Racing Series 2019 Schedule
Day/Date – Track – Location – Division
1.       Sun., May 26 – Devil's Bowl Speedway, West Haven, VT – Crate Modified
2.       Fri., June 7 – Albany-Saratoga Speedway, Malta, NY – Crate Modified
3.       Mon., July 1 – Plattsburgh Airborne Speedway, Plattsburgh, NY – Crate Modified
4.       Fri., July 19 – Albany-Saratoga Speedway, Malta, NY – Pro Stock
5.       Sun., Aug. 11 – Devil's Bowl Speedway, West Haven, VT – Crate Modified
6.       Sat., Aug. 31 – Lebanon Valley Speedway, West Lebanon, NY – Crate Modified
7.       Fri., Sept. 6 – Albany-Saratoga Speedway, Malta, NY – Crate Modified
8.       Fri., Sept. 13 – Albany-Saratoga Speedway, Malta, NY – 358 Modified

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Posted by Marc Patrick Roy at 5.4.19 0 comments

2019-04-03

Peterborough Speedway is Ready to Rock for its 2019 Season

Peterborough Speedway is Ready to Rock for its 2019 Season

By Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media




Race fans in Central Ontario are waiting and very soon, their patience will be rewarded as Peterborough Speedway's 2019 schedule – with the Country 105 season opener, featuring free spectator grandstand admission – gets underway Saturday, May 18th. 5 regular home track classes and special guest divisions are set to tackle the venue known as Canada's Toughest 3rd of a Mile Paved Oval for a 52nd consecutive season of weekly racing action.


"It won't be long now before we're waving the green flag to kick-off a new schedule," said track owner and promoter J.P. Josiasse. "Just like the drivers and car owners, our promotional team is going through its pre-season checklist. We're registering cars, arranging sponsorships and taking care of all the final details we'll need to have in place before we swing open the gates to start the new year."


New teams have been confirmed for most of the divisions. There will be fresh faces in the Renegade Trucks, along with the return of Stacy Switzer, who'll be back at the track after the birth of her daughter. New drivers will also fill-out the Bone Stock and Mini Stock fields. Josiasse is excited about getting things rolling. Using last year's numbers – where close to 130 teams signed-up for action in the track's weekly classes – as template, speedway officials believe it'll be a strong season for fans at the tight, tricky bullring on Mount Pleasant Road.


"Social media profiles have already been buzzing with information as drivers and teams show the different stages of work on their cars leading-up the opening night," said Josiasse. "There are photos with exciting colour schemes and details about new and returning sponsorship partners. It's a great way to give the fans a glimpse into what they can expect once things get underway for the 2019 schedule."


After a strong showing that included several driver autograph sessions at the Motorama Custom Car and Motorsports Expo, Peterborough Speedway will continue its pre-season promotional tour at the 41st annual Kawartha Home, Cottage & Country Show – April 5th to 7th – at the Evinrude Centre. The track will also be featured April 7th through 13th at the Lindsay Square.


"These events always do a great job to help us spread the word and promote all the exciting events at the track this year, while giving the teams a chance to show-off the hard work they've done since the end of the last year."


Fans can keep up with the latest off-season news and information by checking www.peterboroughspeedway.com. The track's Facebook and Twitter social media profiles are also excellent news sources leading-up to the 2019 lid-lifter.


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


Tim (#83B) and Kyle Batty (#38B) will return to action in the Late Model division when the 2019 season takes the green flag – Saturday, May 18th – at Peterborough Speedway.


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


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Posted by Marc Patrick Roy at 3.4.19 0 comments

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