2012-08-14

NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 News & Notes: Montreal

For Immediate Release

 

Ranger: King Of The Road

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 13, 2012) – In just his third start behind the wheel of a stock car Andrew Ranger went to Victory Lane kicking off a remarkable streak of excellence in road racing.

 

Having made a single CASCAR start –on an oval – in 2006 that first win on the Road Course at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ont., was just his second in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 after making the full-time switch from the open-wheel ranks in 2007.

 

“Getting that first win was really amazing,” said Ranger (No. 27 Dodge/GC Motorsports Dodge). “I really didn’t know how to drive these cars yet.”

 

The Roxton Pond, Que., driver did not win again in 2007 but went on to claim his first series title on the power of three runner-up finishes in the other road-course events and solid performances in the oval races.


Two more road-racing wins came in 2008, but it all came together the next year for Ranger as he earned his second series championship. Unlike the path to his first title, Ranger’s 2009 campaign included a single-season series record six triumphs with three of those on road courses. A J.R. Fitzpatrick (No. 84 Equipment Express Chevrolet) win at Montreal kept Ranger from sweeping the four road-course events on the schedule.

 

While not a full-time competitor in the Canadian Tire Series in 2010 and 2011, Ranger still was able to fit select events into his schedule that included the NASCAR Nationwide Series, NASCAR K&N Pro Series and ARCA Racing Series presented by Mendards. Over the two seasons, he picked up five wins – all on road courses – in eight outings.

 

The 2012 season brought a full-time return to the Canadian Tire Series and a chance at another championship. While things have not gone as well as planned this season, Ranger occupies second-place in the championship point standings – 37 points in back of D.J. Kennington (No. 17 Castrol Edge/Mahindra Tractors Dodge), who rode a five-race winning streak to the top of the charts.

 

Still, Ranger has taken the checkered flag twice this season – June 3 at Circuit ICAR in Mirabel, Que., and Aug. 5 at Circuit de Trois-Rivieres (Que.). His other two road-course starts this season resulted in top-10 finishes, but an ill-handling race car prevented him from contending for the win on both occasions.

 

“I’m really comfortable on road courses,” stated Ranger. “I don’t know if it’s my background in karting or what. I can feel the balance in the car and get out of it all I can get.”

 

Ranger has 13 victories in 24 Canadian Tire Series starts on road courses with eight of those coming in his native Quebec. He is currently tied with Kennington atop the all-time wins list for the series at 16.

 

“Racing is really popular in Quebec and it’s always fun to win in front of the home fans,” said Ranger.

 

Ranger gets another chance to win at home on Saturday, Aug. 18 in the NAPA AUTOPRO 100 at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, where he is already a three-time victor and winner in each of the last two seasons at the famed track.

 

RACE: NAPA AUTOPRO 100

PLACE: Circuit Gilles Villeneuve – Montreal, Quebec

DATE: Saturday, Aug. 18

TIME: 9:30 a.m. ET

TV SCHEDULE: RDS, Sat., Aug. 18 9:30 a.m. ET (Live); TSN, Sat., Aug. 18, 12:30 p.m. ET; RDS2, Wed., Sept. 19, 9:30 p.m. ET

RADIO SCHEDULE: NASCAR Home Tracks Radio internet audio stream, Sat., Aug 18 at 9:15 a.m. ET, at www,NASCARHomeTracks.com.

TRACK LAYOUT: 2.709-mile temporary street course

2011 WINNER: Andrew Ranger

2011 POLESITTER: Andrew Ranger

EVENT SCHEDULE: Thursday, Aug. 16: Practice 4:50-5:50 p.m.; Friday, Aug. 17: Qualifying 2:35 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18: Pre-Race Ceremonies 9:15 a.m.

TRACK CONTACT: Marie-Pierre Laflamme at 514-350-4731 ext. 242 or mplaflamme@octanemanagement.ca

TWITTER: @napa200

EVENT TWITTER HASHTAG: #NAPA100

NASCAR IMC CONTACT: Shon Sbarra, (704) 309-5493 or ssbarra@nascar.com, Twitter: @ShonSbarra

If photographs or graphics are needed for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1, please contact Shon Sbarra at ssbarra@nascar.com or (704) 309-5493.

 

FAST FACTS

The Race: This is the ninth event of the 2012 season for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 and the fifth of five road-course events on the schedule. This is the series’ sixth visit to Île Notre-Dame in Montreal.

 

The Procedure: The starting field is 34 cars, including provisionals. The first 29 cars will qualify through NASCAR road race style qualifying. There will be two qualifying groups based on practice times. The remaining five spots will be awarded through the provisional process. The race will be 23 laps covering 100 kilometers (62.137 miles).

 

The Track: The 2.709-mile, 14-turn temporary road course is located in Parc Jean-Drapeau on Île Notre-Dame, a man-made island on the St. Lawrence River. The track was originally named Île Notre-Dame Circuit, but was renamed in 1982 following the death of legendary Canadian racer Gilles Villeneuve.

 

The Records: The one-lap qualifying record for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series is 104.900 seconds (93.003 mph) set by Andrew Ranger on Aug. 19, 2011. The race record also is held by Andrew Ranger at 54 minutes, 57 seconds established on Aug. 2, 2008 for an average speed of 68.058 mph.

 

The History: The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 has joined the NASCAR Nationwide Series in Montreal every year since 2007. In its previous five visits to Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, three drivers have visited the Canadian Tire Series’ Victory Lane – Andrew Ranger has three wins while J.R. Fitzpatrick and Kerry Micks have one each. A year ago, Ranger led every lap and beat Micks to the finish line by 2.734 seconds with Jason Bowles finishing third.

 

MONTREAL RACE NOTES

International Flavor: With the Summer Olympics just completed in London the spirit of international competition continues in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 NAPA AUTOPRO 100 at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Two U.S.-born drivers are on the entry list – Austin Dillon and Timmy Hill. Dillon, who was last season’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion and 2010 Sunoco Rookie of the Year, will be driving a Fitzpatrick Motorsports entry. Hill, last season’s NASCAR Nationwide Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year, will pilot a car out of the White Motorsports stable.

 

Race Crazy: Led by three-time Montreal winner Andrew Ranger, out of Roxton Pond, Que., the entry list for the NAPA AUTOPRO 100 includes 14 competitors from the Province of Quebec.

 

Expanded TV Coverage: RDS, the French-language sister to TSN, will carry the NAPA AUTOPRO 100 live with Didier Schraenen, Éric Descarries and Marc Cantin handling the action. Meanwhile, the race will be recorded and shown in its entirety on TSN at 12:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Aug. 18 preceding NASCAR Nationwide Series coverage from Montreal. Vic Rauter, Dave Bradley and Billy Rowse Jr. will have the call with Todd Lewis reporting from pit road.

 

Crowded House: With 37 cars officially entered into the race that equals the series record for entries into an event established a season ago in Montreal.

 

LAST TIME OUT: TROIS-RIVIERES

Kick The Habit: After three seasons of perfect summertime weather in Trois-Rivieres, Que., each of the last two NASCAR Canadian Tire Series events there have been impacted by rain. The rain began to fall during driver introductions last year and persisted into the race, but, this year, the storm packed more of a punch sending competitors and fans searching for cover. While it never rained once the race got underway, the cars competed with rain tires installed for the entirety of the race. The series has used rain tires under race conditions three times – Trois-Rivieres in 2011 and 2012 and at the Road Course at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ont., in 2008.

 

Home, Sweet, Home: Louis-Philippe Dumoulin (No. 47 WeatherTech Canada/Bellemare Dodge) continued his acclimation to stock-car racing with his first career pole win in front of his hometown fans and followed that up with a runner-up finish to Andrew Ranger (No. 27 Dodge/GC Motorsports Dodge) in the race to establish a career series-best finish. Dumoulin finished fourth on two occasions (2011 and 2102) at Circuit ICAR in Mirabel, Que., for his previous best finish.

 

All Good Things: Coming to an end in the JuliaWine.com 100 at Circuit de Trois-Rivieres was the five-race winning streak compiled by D.J. Kennington (No. 17 Castrol Edge/Mahindra Tractors Dodge) leaving him tied with Ricky Craven (NASCAR K&N Pro Series East), Herschel McGriff (NASCAR K&N Pro Series West), Richie Evans and Mike Stefanik (NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) for the longest modern era winning streak for a NASCAR touring series among currently sanctioned series.

 

Good Start: Francois Lessard, out of St. Joseph, Que., stepped into the No. 10 Ispeedzone Chevrolet at Trois-Rivieres with no NASCAR Canadian Tire Series experience and finished 13th – the highest-finishing rookie in the race.

 

NEXT TIME OUT: BARRIE

From the expanse of Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 moves to the cozy confines of Barrie (Ont.) Speedway on Saturday, Sept. 8 for the Wahta Springs 300. The .333-mile tri-oval always provides exciting action on the track in front of an enthusiastic crowd. Last year, hometown product Mark Dilley collected the win after some late-race fireworks between J.R. Fitzpatrick and Kerry Micks. Points leader D.J. Kennington paces the series with three Barrie wins while Scott Steckly has two.

 

 

 


Pour lire le reste / Read more...

Posted by Marc Patrick Roy at 14.8.12 0 comments

Bryan Mercer Carries Momentum into the Year's Final Events

By Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications

 

A fast car can help you win races.  Good work by the pit crew will get you to the front of the pack, but the most valuable component to assist any racer land a championship isn’t a wrench, screwdriver or anything they’ll find in a toolbox.  Its momentum.

 

With the exception of his 10th place showing in this year’s running of the Summer Sizzler, Bryan Mercer’s 2012 season has been made-up of top 5 finishes.  His #81 Sine’s Flooring/Durmach Excellence in Tooling Chevrolet Impala has logged some solid efforts and with just 3 events remaining on the current schedule – including a double point paying show Friday, August 24th – the Port Hope, Ontario speedster sits second in points and is within 20 markers of the lead in Kawartha Speedway’s headline division.

 

“There have been some rough spots along the way and nights when I didn’t think we had run as well as we could or should, but a number of drivers would like to have the year we’ve had so far,” said Mercer.  “I’ve always tried to maintain my composure, no matter what happens on the track.  Even when we won the main event Friday, July 27th, I didn’t get too excited because you never know what might happen the next time you’re on the track.”

 

After a weekend off for the Civic Holiday, Kawartha Speedway had planned to be back in action Friday, August 10th, but heavy rains and thunderstorms in the area changed that idea.  That means the next event on the schedule Friday, August 17th includes a 100 lap feature for the NAPA Auto Parts ACT Late Model teams.  Bryan Mercer is looking forward to running the extra distance show and with 2 his 3 most recent victories coming in races of 100 laps or more, he knows his team will be ready for whatever challenges might come their way.

 

“We’ll spend the early parts of the week going over our notes from last year’s first 100 lap show and Summer Sizzler, then take a look at how we prepared the car for this year’s race on June 15th,” said Mercer.  “Even though there are just 3 events left to decide the championship, I’m not planning to race any differently than I ever have before.  The goal every time I climb behind the wheel and fasten the safety harness is to try to pass one car at a time and hope for the best.  I know who is ahead of me and behind me in points and while I’d like to run better than each of those drivers, there’ll be about 20 cars in the starting field who want to run better than me.  No matter what happens, once everything is sorted out at the end of the season, it will have been a great year.”

 

For 2012, Bryan Mercer’s #81 Kawartha Speedway NAPA Auto Parts ACT Late Model is supported by Sine’s Flooring, Durmach Excellence in Tooling, Creative Edge Graphics, Jim’s Pizza, Appleman Carstar Collision, APX Racewear, B & G Equipment, Cressman Tree Maintenance, DenTec, Glass1Autoglass Mobile Service, LVG Auctions, Northumberland News, Quantrill Chevrolet-Buick-GMC-Cadillac, Reflection Glass and Accessories, UAP NAPA - Port Hope and Clarke Motorsports Communications.

 

Photo attachment:  Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications

Bryan Mercer is hoping to earn his second win of the season when the NAPA Auto Parts ACT Late Model teams run a 100 lap feature – Friday, August 17th – at Kawartha Speedway.

 

Prepared by:  Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications

 


Pour lire le reste / Read more...

Posted by Marc Patrick Roy at 14.8.12 0 comments

Buescher's Win the 30th for Roulo Brothers Racing

For Immediate Release:

Monday, August 13, 2012

 

ARCA Racing Series News & Notes from Berlin Raceway

 

(TOLEDO, Ohio) - When Chris Buescher took the lead from Erik Jones on Lap 184 of 200 in Saturday's Berlin ARCA 200 presented by Hantz Group at Berlin Raceway, he placed Roulo Brothers Racing on the fast track to a milestone reached by few ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards teams.

 

Buescher's (No. 17 Roulo Brothers Racing Ford) win - his third of the 2012 season - was the 30th for the Midlothian, Ill.-based Roulo team, which has fielded ARCA cars since the mid-1980s. With the victory, Buescher took another step toward becoming the team's all-time winningest driver, tying Dave Weltmeyer at eight. Those two trail Bob Strait, who won nine for the team.

 

The win was the team's first at Berlin but fifth in the state of Michigan, coming after three at Flat Rock Speedway between 1994 and 1996 and one at Michigan International Speedway this June.

 

"We were pretty good there at the beginning, and even in the long run we were staying right there with those two guys in third place," said Buescher. "I knew we had a good piece and the Roulo Brothers did a real nice job. We threw everything, including the kitchen sink, at it in practice to get it where we needed it to be. It really worked out there in the race."

 

If there's any question that Buescher can tie Strait on the all-time Roulo win list in short order, the schedule puts it to rest. Two of the series' remaining five races are on dirt, and Buescher won at DuQuoin, Ill. last season. The other three - Madison, Salem, and Kansas - are tracks where Buescher has either a win or a runner-up finish in the last year.

 

Sunday, the ARCA Racing Series will race in the Allen Crowe 100 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Ill., where Buescher finished eighth last year.

 

"We're sitting good right now, but it by no means is over," he said. "We've got some tough races coming up. Dirt races were two that I enjoyed last year so I'm looking forward to getting back to those. Hopefully, we can pick up where we left off and get another win. We're going to do everything we can. We can't relax. They're right there, and they're going to stay there until the end of the season. It's just a really nice job by all of our guys with not one sponsor on the car; solid white. We're looking, and days like this can only help."

 

After Buescher's 40 laps led, Roulo Brothers Racing has led 3904 laps in ARCA Racing Series competition.

 

He finished the race in one hour, nine minutes, and 45 seconds, establishing a new Berlin race record of 75.269 mph.

 

Points Lead Back to Buescher: In addition to the race record and his team's latest wins milestone, Chris Buescher turned a 15-point deficit to first place entering Saturday's race into the unofficial points lead over former leader Brennan Poole (No. 25 Adcetera.com/Midas Chevrolet).

 

Buescher qualified third to earn five bonus points, and earned another five points for leading laps. Then, he finished eight spots ahead of Poole in the race to leave with a 35-point lead, 3795-3760.

 

Frank Kimmel (No. 44 Ansell/Menards Toyota) used a runner-up finish to move to within 70 points of the series lead with five races to go. Alex Bowman (No. 22 St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Dodge) is fourth, ahead of Chad Hackenbracht (No. 58 CGH Motorsports Chevrolet).

 

Matt Lofton (No. 16 Strutmasters.com Chevrolet) stayed sixth, but the positions below him shuffled. Saturday's race was the 15th of the season, signifying the end to another five-race leg and marking the awarding of ARCA's traditional 250-point bonuses.

 

Spencer Gallagher (No. 23 Allegiant Air Chevrolet) moved up to seventh and Nelson Canache (No. 66 Venezuela Tourism Toyota) improved to seventh and eighth, respectively, having both earned the 250 points for entering and competing in each of the leg's five races. Tom Hessert (No. 52 Federated Auto Parts Chevrolet) dropped to ninth, and Ryan Reed dropped to 10th. Neither earned the bonus.

 

The full and official ARCA Racing Series standings will be released Tuesday.

 

Long Green Run a Record: In completing 160 laps without a caution flag to start Saturday's Berlin ARCA 200 presented by Hantz Group, the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards field set a record for most consecutive green flag laps contested on a short track.

 

Kimmel Dominant but Falls Short: Frank Kimmel led 110 laps in Saturday's Berlin ARCA 200 to take the Aaron's Lap Leader Award for the race, but the long green flag run and a tight car in the waning laps kept him from catching Chris Buescher for his 76th career victory.

 

Kimmel said shortly after climbing out of his car that he could have used the Lap 161 caution about "50 laps" earlier, as trailing cars were driving to pit road and putting on fresh tires to advance positions.

 

"It was a great car," Kimmel said. "Wow, what a neat deal to have a car run that good. When you're leading the race, you can't pit under green at a short track. About halfway, we had all but a few cars a lap down. It was really good, but it wasn't meant to be tonight. When we changed those four tires, the car got really tight. They were scuff tires from practice, and the car wouldn't turn very good, so we just held on. It's cool to have that good of a car."

 

His 12th top-10 of the season placed him within striking distance of the points lead and his 10th ARCA championship, and Kimmel is excited about the chance to drive on the dirt Sunday at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, where he won seven times between 2000 and 2008 and has 13 top-fives in 20 races.

 

"I can't wait," he said. "It's exciting to go to every race track now because we've got cars that can run up front and win. We showed it tonight; that's the first dominant race car we've had in a while. I can't wait to go to the dirt. We'll see how it does there."

 

Jones Earns Fourth Top-10, Leads More Laps: Sixteen-year-old Erik Jones (No. 55 Paragon Corvette Reproductions/CG Financial Services Chevrolet) continues to impress in the ARCA Racing Series after earning his fourth top-10 finish and leading 28 laps at Berlin Raceway Saturday.

 

In eight races, Jones has led in three for a total of 98 laps at the front. He started fifth and finished third Saturday - tying his career high - after losing the lead to Chris Buescher with 16 laps remaining.

 

"It was fun to come back to Berlin," said the Byron, Mich. driver, who raced at the track in his home state for the fourth time in 2012. "It's one of my favorite tracks to go to and I was really looking forward to it on the ARCA schedule. To come back here and have a good car and a good run is fun, but it hurts to be that close to it and not come away with it. We're just going to keep digging and we'll get one of these last two that we're going to here. We had a good day to build on, all in all, and it's something to build on for the last two."

 

Jones will also compete in the August 26 race at Madison International Speedway and the September 15 race at Salem Speedway.

 

Hessert Recovers from Motor Change: Tom Hessert's Ken Schrader Racing team had to change his motor early Saturday, leaving the ARCA veteran to start 27th in his 96th ARCA race. Hessert recovered, though, finishing the Berlin ARCA 200 fourth.

 

The 160-lap green flag run to start Saturday night's event did not surprise Hessert.

 

"The last two years, we've had long green runs here," he said. "I think it's awesome. It's hard on the cars and it's hard on the teams trying to figure out strategy but we were able to pit, run back up and get in the Lucky Dog position, and luckily got back on the lead lap. Our car was better on the long run than on the short run. I knew that with 24 to go, we weren't going to have too much for them, but I'm really happy with the guys' effort today."

 

Two Top-Fives in a Row for Mitchell: Just 18 years old, Mason Mitchell (No. 6 J&S Ag Services/Make-A-Wish Chevrolet) turned heads again in Saturday's race at Berlin Raceway. Driving for Eddie Sharp Racing, Mitchell finished fifth, matching his Lucas Oil Raceway result from July. Mitchell now has two top-fives and three top-10s in just three ARCA starts.

 

Asked whether his success and development have surprised him, Mitchell pointed out one area in which he could improve.

 

"I'm starting to get used to it more now," said the Iowan. "Tonight was pretty cool, running up there all night. I think we had the fastest car. I couldn't get the restarts down, just like Indy. I'm really looking forward to it if we can get a full season next year and I think we'll be tough to beat. It's awesome running up front."

 

King Strong Again: Clint King (No. 15 Speedrack Products Group Toyota) finished sixth in the Berlin ARCA 200, his fourth top-10 in five ARCA starts this season and the sixth top-10 of his young career. King will turn 17 in 13 days.

 

Unlike Tom Hessert, King was surprised by such a long green flag run to start the race.

 

"I knew we'd go quite a few laps, but not that long," he said. "Unfortunately, we might have waited just a little too long to pit. When we did pit, we came back out and made two laps up under green and we were about two laps away from being in the Lucky Dog spot when the first caution came out. It'd have been a different outcome if we'd had the first Lucky Dog instead of the last one. This was a great effort by the 15 guys, though. We just came up short but didn't catch the breaks we needed. We're right on the threshold of getting a win and we're knocking on the door."

 

King hopes to be able to race at Madison International Speedway in Wisconsin on August 26, his 17th birthday. King won the Menards Pole Award presented by Ansell in his series debut there last season.

 

Seventh "Fun" for Elliott: Chase Elliott (No. 9 Aaron's Dream Machine/Hendrickcars.com Chevrolet) finished seventh in Saturday's Berlin ARCA 200, his fourth top-10 in four ARCA Racing Series starts. Though the result was only his third best in those races, trailing a runner-up finish at New Jersey Motorsports Park and fourth place at Salem Speedway, Elliott still came away smiling.

 

"It was definitely the most fun I've ever had to finish seventh," he said. "On that first run, we just got extremely tight and wore the right front (tire) down to the cords. We all just thought we were done. We came in and (crew chief) Lance (McGrew) said, 'Throw on four,' so we threw on four tires and went back out and our car made up three laps under green. I don't really know how, or whatever. It was a lot of fun. I appreciate everybody not giving up on me. It was looking like it would be an ugly night. We didn't even get a top-five finish but I feel like I'm pleased with the way everything went and the effort by everybody."

 

Indeed, after being three laps down, Elliott drove back to the lead, passing Frank Kimmel for the lead on Lap 159. He led 14 laps.

 

Drivers Earn Career Highs: In addition to Erik Jones and Mason Mitchell tying career-high results in the Berlin ARCA 200, two other drivers performed their best within the top 20 at Berlin Raceway Saturday.

 

Ricky Ehrgott (No. 10 Fast Track Driving School Chevrolet) crashed on the final lap but finished 16th in his series debut. Tim Walter (No. 3 MPBToday.com/racersfoot Dodge) finished 20th.

 

Springfield in Six Days: Dirt racing is up next for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, with the Allen Crowe 100 taking place next Sunday, August 19, at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Ill. The race will be the first of two dirt events this year - preceding the September 3 race in DuQuoin, Ill.

 

Practice will begin at 9 a.m. and last for one hour, with Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell starting at 11. The 100-lap, 100-mile race will take place at 1 p.m. All times are Central. ARCARacing.com will feature live timing and scoring coverage throughout the day, and ARCA Racing Network hosts Charlie Krall and Tim Clagg will deliver a live audio call for the race on the site.

 

2012 is the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards' 60th Anniversary Season, featuring 20 races at 18 tracks. The complete 2012 event schedule is available at ARCARacing.com.

 

The ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards has crowned an ARCA national champion each year since its inaugural season in 1953, and has toured over 200 race tracks in 26 states since its inception. The series has tested the abilities of drivers and race teams over the most diverse schedule of stock car racing events in the world, visiting tracks ranging from 0.375 mile to 2.66 miles in length, on both paved and dirt surfaces as well as a left- and right-turn road course in its most recent season. This year, the series visited Alabama's Mobile International Speedway and Minnesota's Elko Speedway for the first time.

 

Founded by John and Mildred Marcum in 1953 in Toledo, Ohio, the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) is recognized among the leading sanctioning bodies in the country. Closing in on completing its sixth decade after hundreds of thousands of miles of racing, ARCA administers over 100 race events each season in three professional touring series and local weekly events.

 

CONTACT:

Griffin Hickman, ARCA

 

Don Radebaugh, ARCA

 


Pour lire le reste / Read more...

Posted by Marc Patrick Roy at 14.8.12 0 comments

Dix coureurs québécois rencontreront les amateurs ce jeudi 16 août lors de la « Journée Découvertes » du présenté NAPA Pièces d'auto 200 par Dodge

COMMUNIQUÉ                                                                                      Pour publication immédiate

 

Dès 9 h, admission gratuite au circuit Gilles-Villeneuve

 

Dix coureurs québécois  rencontreront les amateurs ce jeudi 16 août lors de la « Journée Découvertes » du présenté NAPA Pièces d’auto 200 par Dodge

 

Montréal, le lundi 13 août 2011 — Octane Management inc., promoteur du NAPA Pièces d’auto 200 présenté par Dodge, confirme aujourd’hui la tenue de sa  « Journée Découvertes », ce jeudi 16 août. Les amateurs de sport motorisé, tout comme les familles désirant profiter d’une journée de vacances des plus originales, seront admis gratuitement sur le site du circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, à compter de 9 h et pourrons vivre l’atmosphère d’un week-end de course automobile jusqu’à 18 h, ce jour-là. Les visiteurs pourront à loisir circuler sur le site et librement prendre place dans les tribunes pour observer le spectacle en piste et participer à des activités spéciales inscrites au programme de cette seule journée.

NEWS RELEASE                                                                                                For immediate release

 

Free Admittance at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve with Gates Opening at 9:00 am

 

Ten Québec Drivers to Meet Their Fans This Thursday August 16

at The NAPA Auto Parts 200 Presented by Dodge “Discovery Day”

 

Montréal, Monday, August 13, 2012 — Octane Management Inc., promoter of the NAPA Auto Parts 200 presented by Dodge, confirms today its 2012 ‘’Discovery Day’’, this upcoming Thursday, August 16. Motorsports fans and families wishing to enjoy a very special and different summer vacations day will be admitted free of charge at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Gates will be opening at 9:00 am and all visitors will have until 6:00 pm to live freely the atmosphere of an auto racing weekend. The fans will also have access to all areas of viewing around the circuit, including taking place in the grandstands to witness the action on track or choose to participate in some of the special activities of this “Discovery Day”.

 

Cinq heures d’action en piste : des essais libres, des qualifications et une première course

 

Dès 11 h, les quarante voitures ou presque de type Touring du CTCC prendront la piste pour une séance de qualifications de 30 minutes. À 13 h 20, les prototypes Daytona et les voitures sport de la série NASCAR Rolex Grand-Am s’installeront dans les stands pour leur première séance d’essais libres. Sur le coup de 15 h, nouveauté cette année, les coureurs du CTCC prendront place sur la grille de départ pour la première course du week-end. Par la suite, la série NASCAR Rolex Grand-Am reviendra en piste pour de nouveaux essais, puis pour une heure à compter de 16 h 50, les spectateurs pourront voir en piste les coureurs de la série NASCAR Canadian Tire, avec à leur tête Andrew Ranger et Louis-Philippe Dumoulin. Se joindront à eux notamment, les Québécois Jean-François Dumoulin, Martin Roy, Isabelle Tremblay, Patrice Brisebois et plusieurs autres.

 

À ne pas manquer : la toujours populaire séance d’autographes des coureurs québécois

 

Une autre belle tradition de la « Journée Découvertes » du NAPA Pièces d’auto 200 présenté par Dodge, revivra cette année. En effet, de 13 à 14 heures, sous une tente aménagée au centre du circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, les chasseurs d’autographes pourront rencontrer dix coureurs québécois participant au week-end de courses dans les différentes classes au programme. Les participants à cette séance spéciale sont :

 

…/ 2


2 /…

 

Marc-André BERGERON                Pilote de la Mazda # 47 du CTCC (Canadian Touring Car Championship).

Patrice BRISEBOIS                           Pilote de la Dodge # 71 de la série NASCAR Canadian Tire.

Patrick CARPENTIER                        Pilote de la Toyota # 99 de la série NASCAR Nationwide.

Jean-François DUMOULIN           Pilote de la Dodge # 04 de la série NASCAR Canadian Tire.

Louis-Philippe DUMOULIN        Pilote de la Ford # 08 de la série NASCAR Nationwide et de la Dodge # 47 de la série NASCAR Canadian Tire.

Andrew RANGER                            Pilote de la Dodge # 27 de la série Nationwide de NASCAR et de la Dodge # 27 de la série NASCAR Canadian Tire.

Martin ROY                                       Pilote de la Dodge # 90 de la série NASCAR Canadian Tire.

Alexandre TAGLIANI                     Pilote de la Chevrolet # 30 de la série NASCAR Nationwide.

Isabelle TREMBLAY                         Pilote de la Dodge # 07 de la série NASCAR Canadian Tire.

Jacques VILLENEUVE                      Pilote de la Dodge # 22 de la série NASCAR Nationwide.

 

Une chance aussi de rencontrer la talentueuse auteur compositeur interprète Marilou

 

Trente minutes après la conclusion de la séance d’autographes des coureurs de chez nous, au même endroit, les visiteurs pourront rencontrer la jeune, jolie et talentueuse auteur compositeur interprète québécoise Marilou. Pendant 30 minutes, celle qui avant le départ de la course principale du samedi 18 août, interprétera les hymnes nationaux, sera présente dans le stand jusqu’à 15 h.

 

On peut encore se procurer des billets pour le NAPA Pièces d’auto 200 présentée par Dodge, et y voir en piste les Kyle Busch, Danica Patrick, Elliot Sadler et autres étoiles des séries NASCAR se mesurer aux Québécois Patrick Carpentier, Louis-Philippe Dumoulin, Andrew Ranger, Alexandre Tagliani et Jacques Villeneuve. Pour commander, il suffit de composer le (514) 397-0007, de visiter le www.circuitgillesvilleneuve.ca  ou de se présenter à compter du 15 août entre 10 h et 18 h, à la billetterie située à la sortie de la station de métro Jean-Drapeau.

 

Promoteur exclusif de l’événement, Octane Management inc. est une entreprise canadienne membre du groupe de compagnies Octane, établi à Montréal. Le NAPA Pièces d’auto 200 présenté par Dodge apprécie le soutien de Développement économique Canada, de Tourisme Québec, de la ville de Montréal et de Tourisme Montréal.

- 30 -

 

Renseignements aux médias :

 

Marie-Pierre Laflamme

Chef des services médias

 

 

Five Hours of Action on Track: Free Trials, Qualifying and The First Race of The Weekend

 

The weekend official program will start at 11:00 am as the forty production touring cars of the CTCC will be on track for a 30-minute qualifying session. At 1:20 pm, the Daytona prototypes and GT cars of the NASCAR Rolex Grand-AM Series will come into the pits, getting ready for a first free trial session. At 3:00 pm, spectators will enjoy a novelty of this year event as they take place to witness the first of the two races the CTCC drivers will dispute this weekend. Following the race, the NASCAR Rolex Grand-Am Series will return on track for additional free trials and for one hour, starting at 4:50 pm, fans will have the opportunity to see the NASCAR Canadian Tire drivers going for their free trials. The group will be lead by local favorite Andrew Ranger, Series stars D.J. Kennington, Scott Steckly and J.R. Fitzpatrick and several other Quebec drivers, the likes of Louis-Philippe and Jean-François Dumoulin, Martin Roy, Isabelle Tremblay, Patrice Brisebois and many others.

 

The Always Popular Québec Drivers Autograph Session

 

Another fan favorite and great tradition of the NAPA Auto Parts 200 presented by Dodge ‘’Discovery Day’’ is back on the program. Once again, between 1:00 and 2:00 pm, in a tent erected at the centre of Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, autograph collectors are invited to meet ten Québec drivers engaged in the various classes of this weekend program. The drivers who will be in attendance are:

 

…/ 2


2 /…

 

Marc-André BERGERON                Driver of the Mazda # 47 in the CTCC (Canadian Touring Car Championship).

Patrice BRISEBOIS                           Driver of the Dodge # 71 in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series.

Patrick CARPENTIER                        Driver of tyhe Toyota # 99 in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

Jean-François DUMOULIN           Driver of the Dodge # 04 in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series.

Louis-Philippe DUMOULIN        Driver of the Ford # 08 in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and of the Dodge

# 47 in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series.

Andrew RANGER                            Driver of the Dodge # 27 in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and of the Dodge

# 27 of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series.

Martin ROY                                       Driver of the Dodge # 90 of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series.

Alexandre TAGLIANI                     Driver of the Chevrolet # 30 of the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

Isabelle TREMBLAY                         Driver of the Dodge # 07 of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series.

Jacques VILLENEUVE                      Driver of the Dodge # 22 of the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

 

An Opportunity to Meet The Talented Singer and Songwriter Marilou

 

Thirty minutes after the conclusion of the Québec drivers autograph session, at the same location, visitors are invited to meet the young, lovely and talented Québec singer and songwriter Marilou. The star singer knows for her radio hit single ‘’Wake Me Up on Friday’’ will be meeting the fans until 3:00 pm. On Saturday,prior to the featured NASCAR Nationwide race Marilou will be singing the national anthems.

 

It is still possible to purchase NAPA Auto Parts 200 presented by Dodge tickets to see the likes of Kyle Busch, Danica Patrick, Elliott Sadler and other stars of NASCAR sharing the track with Canadians Patrick Carpentier, Louis-Philippe Dumoulin, Ron Fellows, Andrew Ranger, Alex Tagliani and Jacques Villeneuve. To order, one should dial 514-397-0007, visit the le www.circuitgillesvilleneuve.ca  or go to the ticket office located at the exit of the Jean Drapeau subway station opening every day between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm, starting August 15.

 

Exclusive promoter of the event, Octane Management Inc. is a Canadian corporation, part of the Octane group of companies established in Montréal. The NAPA Auto Parts 200 presented by Dodge appreciates the financial support of Economic Development Canada, Tourism Québec, the City of Montréal and of Tourism Montréal.

- 30 -

 

Media Inquiries:

 

Marie-Pierre Laflamme

Media Services Manager

 


Pour lire le reste / Read more...

Posted by Marc Patrick Roy at 14.8.12 0 comments

Linc Brown Heads Into the Late Season Stretch With a Clean Slate

By Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications

 

Most people are familiar with the expression “keeping up with the Jones’s”.

 

Linc Brown’s goal heading into Kawartha Speedway’s 2012 season was to keep pace with the competition in the track’s headline NAPA Auto Parts ACT Late Model division.  With the exception of a couple of bumps in the road, the 47 year-old Colborne, Ontario racer is pleased with how things have progressed since the drop of the year’s first green flag.  His #99 Kawartha Metals/Rousseau Automobile Communications/The Wolf 101.5/Don Butt Auto Body/Mayhew Graphics/Clarke Motorsports Communications Dodge Charger currently sits 10th in points and with just 3 shows left on the schedule, Brown knows that anything is possible.

 

“A strong night could get us as high as 6th,” said Brown.  “The standings usually get pretty tight toward the end of the year and if things go the way I hope they will, I think we have the ability to gain a few spots before the season wraps up.  There is a double point show August 24th and that’ll help, but we can’t count on that one night to make all the difference.  The team needs to produce a consistent effort on a week-to-week basis.”

 

In his first season back at the track since 2008, Linc Brown has ridden the rollercoaster of racing luck.  During the Friday, July 27th event, the car felt great while running on old tires during the pre-race practice session and the team was excited about bolting on a fresh set of rubber for their qualifying heat.  Starting from 5th spot, the car was sluggish and couldn’t maintain the speed of the leaders.  Even though he’d advance to the feature, it was a matter of running a few laps after the green flag before pulling into the infield.

 

“It was something we didn’t experience during practice, so I was very frustrated with how the car ran in the heat race, consolation round and the feature,” said Brown.  “Back at the shop, we spent close to 2 days looking for the problem which involved taking apart almost the entire fuel system.  There were 2 cracks in the line, just under the top plate of the fuel cell.  It sucked air into the line, creating a bubble and robbed the car of power.”

 

Kawartha Speedway took a week off for the Civic Holiday weekend, but that break turned into a 2 week layoff when heavy rains forecast for across the province cancelled the Friday, August 10th event.  The next show on the schedule hits the track Friday, August 17th and features a 100 lap Late Model ‘A’ main.  Going through their extensive notes, Linc Brown is confident the team has found a set-up that will get the most from their equipment.

 

“There isn’t a car anywhere in the field that’ll be perfect,” said Brown.  “Once the race starts, you’re kind of stuck with what you’ve got so you work toward something that’s close and hope for the best.  The car will go through changes of its own as the race moves along.  Once the fuel load burns off, the rear weight will change.  Tires go through different heat cycles and depending on the length of the green flag segments, may never actually cool-down.  It’s a roll of the dice, but we’re all out there playing the same game.”

 

Photo attachment:  Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications

Colborne’s Linc Brown will be looking for some good racing luck when the NAPA Auto Parts ACT Late Models run a 100 lap feature – Friday, August 17th – at Kawartha Speedway.

 

Prepared by:  Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications

 

 


Pour lire le reste / Read more...

Posted by Marc Patrick Roy at 14.8.12 0 comments

Chase for Kawartha's Thunder Car Title Could be Decided in a Last Lap Shootout

By Jim Clarke, Kawartha Speedway PR/Clarke Motorsports Communications

 

Drivers in Kawartha Speedway’s Thunder Car division have formed a unique bond.  Heading into action Friday, August 17th 20 different teams have taken at least one green flag during the current campaign.  With just 3 events remaining on the schedule – including this week’s double point paying show – the battle for the season championship is one of the tightest in the history of the Fraserville, Ontario 3/8th miler.

 

The top 4 drivers in the standings are just 67 points apart and there has been only one repeat winner in the field.  Back-to-back victories by Oshawa’s John Baker Jr. made headlines but even a clean sweep in the remaining events won’t likely put him in contention for the title.  On the strength of an opening night win – his first at Kawartha – Matt Spence holds the top spot, with another first-time winner, Howie Crowe just 27 points behind.  Steve Mayhew, the 2007 Thunder Car track champion follows Crowe by 28 markers, while Dan Price is 12 points off Mayhew’s back bumper.

 

Consistency has been the key to Mayhew’s 2012 season.  Although winless thus far, the veteran wheelman from Cobourg is regularly a top 5 finisher.  With a background in what is now the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series and laps on nearly every paved oval in the province, Steve Mayhew is easily the most experienced racer in any of Kawartha Speedway’s 3 regular divisions.  While a number of drivers with his know-how might be close to retiring from the sport, the driver of the #14 Mayhew Auto/Mayhew Graphics/Benson Auto Parts machine says he has no plans to slow down.

 

“Every green flag is a new race, so I guess that means I’m just getting started,” said Mayhew with a smile.  “I’m still having fun and the car is running well enough to stay in the championship hunt, so why would I want to call it a career. I don’t play golf and I’m more comfortable at the racetrack than almost anywhere else, so chances are good they’ll have to drag me out of here kicking and screaming.”

 

Kawartha Speedway has joined forces with Capital City Speedway in Stittsville, Ontario for a 2 race Thunder Car mini series.  The 50 lap feature events will be staged Friday, August 24th at Kawartha and Saturday, September 8th at Capital City.  In addition to the regular race purse, drivers who run both races will be eligible for point fund bonus money of $250 for 1st and $150 for 2nd.  Every driver who starts each of the 2 races will pocket an extra $100.

 

Fans can always find the latest track news and details on the 2012 schedule at www.kawarthaspeedway.com.

 

Photo attachment:  Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications

With 3 races remaining on the schedule, Cobourg, Ontario’s Steve Mayhew is in the running for the 2012 Thunder Car track championship at Kawartha Speedway.

 

Prepared by:  Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications

 


Pour lire le reste / Read more...

Posted by Marc Patrick Roy at 14.8.12 0 comments

Anything goes in Airborne Modified "Run What Ya Brung"

For immediate release – Airborne Speedway – August 12, 2012

SOUTH PLATTSBURGH – Airborne Modified teams are taking the upcoming Saturday, August 18 “Run What Ya Brung” race seriously and having fun at the same time.

 

The only rules for the event, sponsored by Huntley Trucking of Cadyville, NY and Warren Tire of Plattsburgh are 1) a Modified-type chassis must be used and 2) the car must be deemed safe. Aerodynamic ingenuity is encouraged. A wide variety of wings and scoops are expected.

 

That’s fine with the Bartemy brothers, Aaron and Adam, whose TDI Repair and Towing race cars are being tricked out in consultation with Gary Balough.

 

The former NASCAR Winston Cup competitor and four-time Syracuse 200 winner and chauffeur of the famed Kenny Weld “Batmobile” has a wealth of “Run What Ya Brung” experience and a bagful of tricks available for trying to find the quickest way around the progressively-banked Airborne half-mile.

 

“Gary’s never lost one of these races that I’m aware of,” car owner Herb Bartemy said. “Both of our cars run different set-ups weekly and they’ll each have something different for this race. Adam (No. X) has been Dodge powered. Aaron’s B3 has a Chevy engine.”

 

The Bartemys have an “engine guy from Ohio” on his way to their Swanton, Vt race shop, but they’re hardly the only ones getting inventive in pursuit of the $1500 winner’s check.

 

Patrick Dupree, George Foley, Chris Cayea, Pat McGrail, Pierre Berthiaume, Mike Reyell, Craig Reyell and the most recent “Run What Ya Brung” winner, Leon Gonyo are among the Airborne regulars preparing irregular entries. Andy Powell of Hannibal, NY, who’s had a good deal of success in similar events in the past is also expected to compete.

 

“The whole idea is to have some fun and provide fans with a taste of the “old days”, promoter Mike Perrotte said. “That whole Bartemy/Balough collaboration is great, but I don’t think they’re going to just roll in and take the money. Nobody’s going to just pull over and let them go by. I think they’re going to have their hands full.”

 

“Nobody wants to get caught flat-footed,” Herb Bartemy said. “You’ve got to be able to show up and get dialed in to have a gun for the fight.”

 

Joyce Huntley of Huntley Trucking has put up a $500 bonus for the leader of an undisclosed lap which she present trackside after the race.

 

Airborne’s J&S Steel Limited Late Models, Adirondack Water Sportsman Modifieds, Key RD Trailer Sales Renegades and Busch Mini Modifieds will also be in action. Grandstands open at 4 pm – heats begin at 6 pm. Admission is adults/$12 – kids 12 and under free.

 

Airborne Speedway is located in South Plattsburgh on Broderick Road just off Rte 22 one mile south of I-87 exit 36. For additional information, visit www.airborneparkspeedway.com.

Contact: Tom Herzig

802-249-2850

Track phone: 518-561-3208

 


Pour lire le reste / Read more...

Posted by Marc Patrick Roy at 14.8.12 0 comments

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)