2017-02-03

NASCAR Announces 2017 Schedule For NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series

NASCAR Announces 2017 Schedule For NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series

Twelve-Race Calendar Slated For Latin America's Top Racing Series

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 1, 2017) – The return of the NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series will take the green flag in March in Monterrey, and the 2017 champion will be crowned in November at Mexico City, as part of a 12-race calendar announced today.

 

The schedule for the top racing series in Latin America features a challenging mix of six oval and six road-courses events, and includes stops at nine different venues throughout Mexico.

 

The NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series will open the season at Autódromo Monterrey, a 3.4 km (2.1-mile) road course in Apodaca, Nuevo León, on March 26. Daniel Suárez, a Monterrey native and the 2016 NASCAR XFINITY Series champion, is a two-time winner on the oval layout at his home track. The championship race for the NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series will take place on the 1.63 km (1.013-mile) road-course circuit at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City on Nov. 12. The track has been a staple of the series since its inaugural season under the NASCAR banner in 2007.

 

"As we enter a new era in the NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series, the 2017 schedule is a terrific blend of the top venues throughout the country," said George Silbermann, NASCAR vice president of weekly & touring series. "The fans will be treated with the exciting action that is the trademark of NASCAR racing, whether the drivers are speeding down the straightaways on the ovals or fighting for positions heading into the twists and turns of the road courses."

 

"The 2017 NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series season will strengthen our rich history in motorsports and provide us the opportunity to engage a growing and passionate fan base in Mexico," said Bryan Emrich, chief marketing officer at Old World Industries. "This year's schedule promises to deliver the best racing in all of Mexico and we are anxiously awaiting the start of this momentous season."

 

In addition to the 2017 schedule, Wednesday's announcement was also highlighted by the news of the official merger between the NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series and Súper Copa Telcel. The merger ensures the participation of the top drivers in Mexico as the series combine to form the national championship for stock car racing in the country.

 

"With the support of NASCAR and sponsors like PEAK, Telcel, FedEx and many more, the series is committed to offering fans all over Mexico great racing and family entertainment," said Jimmy Morales, NASCAR PEAK Series director general. "We are thankful for the effort, experience and hard work from the motorsports community to put this together for the benefit of everybody involved."

 

Other highlights of the 2017 schedule include:

·         The series will make two stops apiece Autódromo Miguel E. Abed in Puebla (May 14 and Oct. 15), and Autódromo Internacional Bernardo Obregón in Guadalajara (June 4 and Sept. 10). The Guadalajara venue is 1.207 km (three-quarters mile) tri-oval.

·         The May race at Puebla will be on the 3.363 km (2.090) road course, while the penultimate race of the season in October will be run on the 2.01 km (1.25 mile) oval. Puebla hosted the 2014 championship race, which was won by Homero Richards and featured the title coronation of Abraham Calderon.

·         Súper Óvalo Chiapas in Tuxtla Gutiérrez will host the Oct. 1 race. The 1.2 km (three-quarters mile) banked tri-oval was the site of the final race of the 2015 season, which saw current NASCAR K&N Pro Series East driver Ruben Garcia Jr. become the youngest champion in series history.

·         The Aug. 6 race site is still being finalized and will be either at Autódromo Potosino in San Luis Potosí or Autodromo Moisés Solana in Pachuca. Potosino, a .804 km (half-mile oval) will also run the series on April 23, while Solano is a 1.75 km (1.08 mile) road course,

·         In addition, the series will travel to Autódromo de León, a 1.2 km (three-quarters mile) road course on June 25; Autódromo Internacional de Aguascalientes, a 1.4 km (.875-mile) concrete tri-oval on July 16; and Autódromo del Ecocentro de la Unión Ganadera, a 1.275 km (.797) oval in Querétaro on Aug. 20.

 

The NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series television broadcast schedule on will be announced at a later date.

2017 NASCAR PEAK MEXICO SERIES SCHEDULE

Date

Track

Location

3/26

Autódromo Monterrey

Monterrey

4/23

Autódromo Potosino

San Luis Potosí

5/14

Autódromo Miguel E. Abed

Puebla

6/4

Autódromo Internacional Bernardo Obregón

Guadalajara

6/25

Autódromo de León

León

7/16

Autódromo Internacional de Aguascalientes

Aguascalientes

8/6

Autódromo Potosino / Autodromo Moisés Solana

San Luis Potosí / Pachuca

8/20

Autódromo del Ecocentro de la Unión Ganadera

Querétaro

9/10

Autódromo Internacional Bernardo Obregón

Guadalaraja

10/1

Súper Óvalo Chiapas

Tuxtla Gutiérrez

10/15

Autódromo Miguel E. Abed

Puebla

11/12

Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez

México City

SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

 

 

NASCARHomeTracks.com Links

View & Share This Release: http://hmtk.co/2kSl0bs

 

NASCAR ANUNCIA EL HORARIO PARA LA NASCAR PEAK MEXICO SERIES 2017

Calendario de Doce Carreras Para La Serie Líder de Latinoamérica

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (1 de febrero, 2017) –  El regreso de la NASCAR Peak Mexico Series tendrá bandera verde en Monterrey en marzo, y el campeón del 2017 será coronado en noviembre en la Ciudad de México, como parte del calendario de 12 carreras anunciado hoy. 

 

El horario para la serie líder en Latinoamérica incluye una mezcla de seis óvalos y seis circuitos de carreras, y paradas en nueve lugares diferentes a través de México.

 

La NASCAR Peak Mexico Series comenzará la temporada en el Autódromo Monterrey, un circuito de carreras de 3.4 km (2.1 millas) en Apodaca, Nuevo León, el 25 de marzo. Daniel Suárez, oriundo de Monterrey y el campeón de la NASCAR XFINITY Series 2016, obtuvo dos victorias en el ovalo de su pista natal. 

 

La carrera por el campeonato de la NASCAR Peak Mexico Series se dará a cabo en el circuito de carreras del Autódromo Hermanos Rodriguez en la Ciudad de México el 12 de noviembre. La pista de 1.63 km (1.013 millas) ha sido una pista constante en la serie desde la primera temporada bajo la NASCAR en el 2007.

 

"Mientras entramos en una nueva era de la NASCAR Peak Mexico Series, el horario del 2017 es una gran mezcla de las mejores pistas de a través del país," dijo George Silbermann, vicepresidente de NASCAR de la weekly & touring series. "Los fanáticos serán invitados a la emocionante acción que es el sello característico de las carreras de la NASCAR, así sea los pilotos corriendo a toda velocidad en las pistas rectas, en los óvalos o luchando por posiciones en las torceduras de los circuitos." 

 

"La temporada de 2017 de la NASCAR Peak Mexico Series fortalecerá nuestra amplia historia en el automovilismo y nos proveerá la oportunidad de atraer una creciente y apasionada base de fanáticos en México," dijo Bryan Emrich, jefe oficial de mercadeo de la Old World Industries. "El horario de este año promete entregar las mejores carreras en todo México y estamos esperando ansiosamente el comienzo de esta temporada trascendental."   

 

Además del horario del 2017, el anuncio del miércoles también fue destacado por la noticia de la unión oficial entre la NASCAR Peak Mexico Series y la Súper Copa Telcel. La unión asegura la participación de los mejores pilotos de México mientras las series se unen para formar un campeonato nacional de carreras de autos stock.

 

"Con el apoyo de la NASCAR y patrocinadores como PEAK, Telcel, FedEx y muchos más, la serie se compromete a ofrecerle a los fanáticos de todo México grandes carreras y entretenimiento para toda la familia," dijo Jimmy Morales, director general de la NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series. "Estamos agradecidos con el esfuerzo, la experiencia y el trabajo arduo de la comunidad automovilística para hacer esto posible para el beneficio de todos."

 

Otros puntos para destacar del horario 2017 incluye: 

 

·         La serie tendrá dos paradas en cada uno, Autódromo Miguel E. Aben en Puebla (14 de mayo y 15 de octubre) y el Autódromo Internacional Bernardo Obregón en Guadalajara (4 de junio y 10 de septiembre). La pista de Guadalajara es un trióvalo de 1.207 km (tres cuartas partes de una milla).

·         La carrera de mayo en Puebla será en un circuito de carreras de 3.363 km (2.090 millas), mientras que la penúltima carrea de la temporada en octubre se correrá en el óvalo de 2.01 km (1.25 millas). Puebla sostuvo la carrera de campeonato del 2014, cual fue ganada por Homero Richards e incluyó la coronación del título de Abraham Calderón.

·         El Súper Óvalo Chiapas en Tuxtla Gutiérrez llevará la carrera el 1 de octubre. El triovalo peraltado de 1.2 km (tres cuartas partes de una milla) fue el lugar de la última carrera de la temporada del 2015, cual vio al actual piloto de la NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Rubén García Jr. convertirse en el campeón más joven en la historia de la serie.

·         El lugar de la carrera del 6 de agosto aún está por finalizarse y será en el Autódromo Potosino en San Luis Potosí o en el Autódromo Moisés Solana en Pachuca. Potosino, un ovalo de .804 km (óvalo de media milla) también tendrá la serie el 23 de abril, mientras Solano es un circuito de 1.75 km. (1.08 millas).

·         Además, la serie viajará al Autódromo de León, un circuito de 1.2 km (tres cuartas partes de una milla) el 25 de junio; Autódromo Internacional de Aguascalientes, un trióvalo de concreto de 1.4 km (.875 millas) el 16 de julio; y al Autódromo del Ecocentro de la Unión Ganadera, un óvalo de 1.275 km (.797 millas) en Querétaro el 20 de agosto.

 

El horario de la emisión televisiva de la NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series será anunciado en una fecha más tarde.

Horario de la NASCAR PEAK MEXICO SERIES 2017

Fecha

Pista

Ciudad

26/3

Autódromo Monterrey

Monterrey

23/4

Autódromo Potosino

San Luis Potosí

14/5

Autódromo Miguel E. Abed

Puebla

4/6

Autódromo Internacional Bernardo Obregón

Guadalajara

25/6

Autódromo de León

León

16/7

Autódromo Internacional de Aguascalientes

Aguascalientes

6/8

Autódromo Potosino / Autodromo Moisés Solana

San Luis Potosí / Pachuca

20/8

Autódromo del Ecocentro de la Unión Ganadera

Querétaro

10/9

Autódromo Internacional Bernardo Obregón

Guadalajara

1/10

Súper Óvalo Chiapas

Tuxtla Gutiérrez

15/10

Autódromo Miguel E. Abed

Puebla

12/11

Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez

Ciudad de México

HORARIO SUJETO A CAMBIOS

 

 


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Posted by Marc Patrick Roy at 3.2.17 0 comments

Winter Meltdown And Rich SC History Meet In PASS Opener At Dillon

Winter Meltdown And Rich SC History Meet In PASS Opener At Dillon

 

  • For Immediate Release

 

CHARLOTTE, NC (February 2) – While New England and Canada's best dig out of the snow to make their way South, Pro All Stars Series (PASS) Super Late Model racers from across the Southeast prepare to greet them for this weekend's 4th Winter Meltdown at Dillon Motor Speedway.  While Dillon has hosted PASS as part of the South Carolina Clash event since 2008, this year's 200 lap Meltdown will be held there for the first time.  The Winter Meltdown has been dominated by New Englanders with Brad Leighton taking the checkered flag at New Smyrna in 2010 and Maine's Joey Doiron claiming the last two versions with wins at Auburndale and Greenville.

On Saturday afternoon, the Winter Meltdown and South Carolina Clash combine for a mega-event, which will feature over 300 laps of racing for the PASS Super Late Models, DMS Late Models, and Pro 4 Cylinders.  The South Carolina Clash at the Winter Meltdown will be 200 green flag laps and will double as the first race of the PASS National Championship Series and PASS South Super Late Model season.

Ever since the first South Carolina Clash was held at nearby Florence Motor Speedway in 2006, the event has been one of the featured races annually on the PASS South schedule.  In that race 11 years ago, the late Charlie Bradberry held off short track legends Mike Rowe and Freddie Query in a frantic battle to the checkered flag.

In 2008, the South Carolina Clash moved to the tough, egg-shaped Dillon Motor Speedway and has seen quite the list of winners.  Ryan Blaney leads all drivers with two victories, while Justin Wakefield, Ben Rowe, Preston Peltier, Austin Theriault, Daniel Hemric, Tyler Church, and Brandon Setzer have all visited victory lane there in the past.  Peltier looked to join Blaney as a two-time winner at Dillon, but was edged out by Theriault in 2013 for the closest finish in PASS South history.

            This year's South Carolina Clash at the Winter Meltdown gets under way Saturday at 2 PM as Tyler Church looks to repeat his emotional victory there from a two years ago. But, he will be joined by the strongest field of cars in Meltdown history including 4-time PASS National Champion, Ben Rowe, and fellow PASS South champions, Matt Craig and Tate Fogleman.  Championship contenders Jared Irvan, Kodie Conner, and Jimmy Doyle will be joined by fellow North Carolina drivers Chad McCumbee, Bradley McCaskill, and Mike Speeney.  Sarah Cornett-Ching and JP Josiasse will be making the long haul from Canada, along with New England drivers, Bryan Kruczek, Dave Farrington, Jr., Derek Griffth, and Joey Polewarczyk.  Transplanted New Englander Kyle Desouza will be chasing the PASS South title and will be joined by local favorites Hayes Goodson and Gus Dean.  USAC National Midget Champion, Tanner Thorson, will be making his first start in a stock car and will share company with Derby champ, Christian Eckes, and Late Model Stock title holder, Josh Berry.

The afternoon of racing will be filled out by the DMS Late Models racing for 75 laps with $1500 going to the winner and the Pro 4-Cylinders competing in a 40 lapper paying $600 to win.

            From Dillon, the series returns to Southern National Motorsports Park on Saturday, March 4 and the beginning of a new tradition with the birth of the Dogwood 300.  The PASS South Super Late Models will compete for 150 laps and will be joined by the NASCAR Late Model Stock cars in another 150 lapper at Kenly.

Just three weeks later, one of the most anticipated short track events of the Spring will go green on Saturday, March 25 as the Orange Blossom Special and PASS return to Orange County Speedway in Race 2 of the PASS National Championship Series.  The trip to Orange County will be the first race on "The Road To The Oxford 250," with the winner receiving a guaranteed starting spot for the $25,000 to win race in August.  And if the return of the "Original" Orange Blossom was not already big enough, the Southern Modified Racing Series returns the excitement of Tour Mods to the high banks.

            Action gets underway at Dillon Motor Speedway Speedway on Friday, February 3 with gates opening at 12:30 PM and rotating practice for the PASS Super Late Models, Late Models, and Pro 4s from 2 – 5 PM.  On Saturday, February 4, gates will open at 8 AM, with rotating practice from 10 AM – Noon, qualifying at 12:30 PM, and feature events, led off by the PASS Super Late Models, set to go green at 2 PM.

Entry forms for the PASS Winter Meltdown at Dillon Motor Speedway, along with the 44th Annual Oxford 250, can be found at ProAllStarsSeries.com.  The 2017 license forms for the PASS Super Late Models are also available at ProAllStarsSeries.com.  Drivers purchasing licenses for the 2017 season will receive bonus points for each race they are pre-registered for and will also save money towards any events that they enter early.

The Pro All Stars Series is recognized as North America's premier sanctioning body for asphalt Super Late Models and boasts such marquee events as the Easter Bunny 150 and the Mason-Dixon MegaMeltdown 300 at Hickory Motor Speedway and the legendary Oxford 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway.  For media or marketing questions, please contact Alan Dietz at 704-231-2039 or alandietzpass@live.com. Please visit ProAllStarsSeries.com for more information and don't forget to "Like" the Pro All Stars Series on Facebook or follow us on Twitter at @PASSSLM14 to keep up with breaking news as it happens.

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Posted by Marc Patrick Roy at 3.2.17 0 comments

2017-02-02

Donny Schatz To Carry Arctic Cat Colors in 2017

   

Donny Schatz To Carry Arctic Cat Colors in 2017 

 Leading Powersports Manufacturer Aligns with Tony Stewart Racing
And Eight-Time World of Outlaws Champion

INDIANAPOLIS (Feb. 2, 2017) – For the past 20 years, Donny Schatz has attacked the terrain of dirt tracks all across the United States in his quest to become the best Sprint car racer in the world. The driver for Tony Stewart-Curb/Agajanian Racing (TSR) is coming off his eighth World of Outlaws (WoO) Craftsman Sprint Car Series championship and is looking to continue raising the bar this season in grassroots racing's most challenging series with a new partner that shares his passion for reaching greatness and possesses a mindset without limits.


Arctic Cat, a world leader in designing, engineering and manufacturing all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), snowmobiles and recreational off-highway vehicles (side-by-sides or ROVs), announced today a partnership with TSR and Schatz that includes primary sponsorship of the TSR No. 15 Arctic Cat J&J that the Fargo, North Dakota driver will compete with at more than 90 races from coast to coast in 2017, beginning next week in Florida. In addition, Arctic Cat will also be co-primary sponsor on the TSR No. 14 that Tony Stewart will pilot in more than 50 races on dirt in 2017.

The relationship aligns Arctic Cat, one of the most widely recognized and respected manufacturers and marketers in the powersports industry, with the most decorated driver in short-track racing over the past decade.

"We are extremely excited today to announce the partnership between Arctic Cat and Tony Stewart Racing," said Greg Williamson, chief marketing officer, Arctic Cat. "This is  a truly unique opportunity, by partnering with Tony Stewart Racing, which sets the standard in short track racing, and Donny Schatz, the best driver in Sprint car racing, we continue to reinforce our commitment to be the best in everything we do.  Donny is not only a great racer, but an Arctic Cat customer who uses our vehicles both for fun and to get work done when he's not behind the wheel of his 900-horsepower Sprint car. He, along with the people who live and breathe Sprint car racing are a great fit for our brand. This partnership puts us in an ideal environment to showcase the Arctic Cat line of products and welcome everyone to the wide world of Arctic Cat."

 

The connection with Schatz was a natural for the Minnesota-based company as both share Upper Midwest roots and a passion for power sports.  Schatz has risen from a North Dakota teenager who learned his trade circling dirt tracks in his home state, as well as Minnesota and Wisconsin before heading out on the road and racing full-time with "The Greatest Show on Dirt". Through his unyielding desire to compete Donny has become the most accomplished driver over the past two decades with the WoO. After spending the first 11 years of his career driving for his family, Schatz teamed up with three-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Stewart and TSR in 2008, and he continues to build his legacy. He's won every major Sprint car race, including the sport's signature event – the 5-Hour Energy Knoxville (Iowa) Nationals – nine times, and has won eight WoO titles in the last 11 seasons, including the last three. Schatz is the third all-time winningest driver in the series' 39-year history with 229 triumphs and last season he became the first driver in series history to win more than 20 races in four consecutive seasons.

"I've been blessed to be around incredible people throughout my career and I'm so excited to be joining the Arctic Cat family," Schatz said. "It started with my parents giving me the chance to pursue a dream of becoming a World of Outlaws driver and then Tony coming along and bringing me into his organization. We've worked extremely hard to be the best and are always striving to find ways to get better. I'm not sure I have the words to accurately describe my emotions about getting to drive the Arctic Cat 15 this year. I'm blown away. They are a company that's from right up here in my neck of the woods and I've been on Cats for as long as I can remember. Whether we were working my grandpa's farm or tackling the snow for fun, Arctic Cat has been a big part of my life and now we get to venture into another chapter together. We've got a motivated group of people at TSR ready to attack dirt tracks across the country with a black and green racecar. I can't wait to start this ride."

 

The partnerships with TSR for Arctic Cat continue the brand's involvement in short-track racing. Both Schatz and Stewart will make their 2017 debut next week in the Arctic Cat All-Star Circuit of Champions-sanctioned Bubba Army Winter Nationals at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, Florida. The event also kicks off Arctic Cat's second season as title sponsor of the Sprint car series owned by Stewart. 

 

"I've been involved with racing most of my life and one thing that has been a constant throughout is the importance of relationships," Stewart said. "I've had the pleasure of working with and getting to know the people at Arctic Cat over the past decade and, like I said when they renewed their partnership with the All-Stars, we are family. To have Arctic Cat continue being part of the All-Stars' family for the next two years is something I'm really proud of. And I'm honored to see that relationship carry over to our TSR teams and have them aligned with Donny Schatz and the crew we've assembled on that 15 team. It's a potent combination and one that's aiming to continue to set the standard in Sprint car racing. I'm excited I get the chance to do some Sprint car racing this year myself, and having Arctic Cat as part of the ride is an added bonus. We're beyond honored to be part of something like this."

 

Fans are encouraged to follow the progress of Schatz, TSR and the No. 15 Arctic Cat J&J throughout the campaign on the Web and social media. More information can be found at www.TonyStewartRacing.com, www.arcticcat.com, and www.donnyschatzmotorsports.com.

Tony Stewart Racing: Facebook at www.Facebook.com/TonyStewartRacing or on Twitter and Instagram @TonyStewart_Rcg.
Donny Schatz: Facebook at www.facebook.com/DonnySchatzor on Twitter and Instagram @DonnySchatz.

Arctic Cat: Facebook at www.facebook.com/ArcticCat.Atv or on Twitter and Instagram @ArcticCat_atv @ArcticCat_Snow

 

Donny Schatz Driver of the No. 15 Arctic Cat J&J in the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series

Date of Birth: Aug. 10, 1977

Hometown: Minot, North Dakota

Residence: Fargo, North Dakota

Marital Status: Married, Erica

Children: Daughter, Savanna

Highlights: Eight-time and reigning World of Outlaws (WoO) Craftsman Sprint Car Series champion … Third all-time winningest WoO driver with 229 career WoO A-Feature victories … Only WoO driver in series' 39-year history to win more than 20 A-Feature triumphs in four consecutive seasons (2013-2016) … Nine-time Knoxville (Iowa) Nationals winner… Three-time and reigning Kings Royal champion… Nine-time $50,000 Sprintcar International winner in Sydney, Australia… Winner of every major Sprint Car race during his 20-year WoO career… 1997 WoO Sprint Car Series Rookie of the Year… 1996 WISSOTA National 360 Sprint Car Champion… Made his debut in Sprint Car as a 15-year-old at State Fairgrounds Speedway in Sedalia, Mo. in 1993. 

 

About Arctic Cat®

The Arctic Cat brand is among the most widely recognized and respected in the recreational vehicle industry. The company designs, engineers, manufactures and markets all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), side-by-sides and snowmobiles, in addition to related parts, garments and accessories under the Arctic Cat® and Motorfist® brand names. Arctic Cat Inc.'s world headquarters is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Its common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol "ACAT."

More information can be found at: www.arcticcat.com

 

About Tony Stewart Racing 

Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) is the title-winning World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series team owned by three-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart. The organization has captured 21 short-track racing titles (14 in the United States Auto Club and seven World of Outlaws) since its inception in 2001. In 2017, TSR will field a team for eight-time World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series champion Donny Schatz and also a team for Stewart. Based in Brownsburg, Indiana, TSR operates out of a 25,000-square-foot facility. For more information please visit us on the Web at www.TonyStewartRacing.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TonyStewartRacing, on Instagram at @TonyStewart_rcg and on Twitter at @TonyStewart_rcg. 

 

-TSC-

CONTACT:

Contact Bill Klingbeil with True Speed Communication



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Posted by Marc Patrick Roy at 2.2.17 0 comments

2017-02-01

JESSE LAZARE WINS ROLEX 24 HOURS OF DAYTONA


 

For immediate release: January 31, 2017

 

JESSE LAZARE WINS ROLEX 24 HOURS OF DAYTONA

Montreal racer Lazare part of fairytale underdog team that wins big

 

MONTREAL, QUEBEC – This past weekend, Canadian racer Jesse Lazare (middle, at right) was part of a team that stunned the racing world by scoring an underdog class win in the prestigious Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway.

"It was at the Porsche GT3 Cup banquet that I learned that I had been picked to join Carlos' [de Quesada] team to contest the Rolex 24," said Lazare.

It was a huge honour, a huge step forward, and a huge vote of confidence for the 19 year-old Canadian. His teammate for the Rolex 24 Hours, Daniel Morad summed it up perfectly, "Jesse got here on merit and talent; he has earned this opportunity."

Alegra Motorsports took possession of the new Porsche 911 for the GTD class just a few weeks before the big race. In two short tests, the team gelled together. It would consist of Carlos and his son Michael, Daniel Morad, and Porsche factory driver Michael Christensen.

The team had a solid plan entering the race, but it was clearly an underdog in the 26-car, GTD field. The team's plan was to stay in touch with the leaders until the morning, then look for an opportunity.

"It is much different," Lazare said. "I am used to driving just by myself. There is a whole new kind of pressure with this race. Carlos and the whole team put in such a big effort to get here, you don't want to be the one to mess it up for the whole team."

The team executed its plan perfectly, and in the late morning, luck shone on the emerging team. "We all did a great job," Lazare said. "We all stayed out of trouble. We all saved the car as much as we could. We all were focused on a common goal – and that was to get Michael the best car we could for the final stint." Lazare said.

Cue the racing luck…. "Really, I was so happy that a possible podium was in reach," Lazare said. "But then the leading Ferrari – which was quicker than us – suffered some problems. All of a sudden a win was possible!"

The car was handed over to Christensen for the final stint and he did the job. He brought the car home first in class, making Alegra Motorsports GTD champions for 2017. Lazare drove a total of five hours in four stints.

"I can't thank the team enough," Lazare said. "From Carlos, to all the team members, the helpers, the supporters, and also huge thank you to Dan [Morad]. I know he was a big factor in getting me here. Thanks also to my family and supporters back in Canada."

 

JESSE LAZARE QUICK FACTS: Jesse Lazare is a 19 year-old racer from Montreal, Quebec. 2016 was the third year for Lazare in GT3 Cup after a stellar karting career which included three Canadian National Karting Championships, along with representing Canada in the Rotax Max World Finals. Lazare finished second in the Porsche GT3 Cup USA series in 2015 and was invited to the Porsche Young Drivers Academy 2015.

Away from the track, Lazare enjoys skiing and hockey. Keep up with his latest news on the 'Fans of Jesse Lazare' Facebook page.

Lazare is supported by: Door Doctor (DoorDoctor.com), Porsche Prestige (PorschePrestige.com), Garaga (Garaga.com), Micanan (Micanan.com), TNR Doors (TNR.com), Olymbec (Olymbec.com), Smoke Show Sauce (SmokeShowSauce.com).

 

Release prepared by Russ Bond Agency 



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Posted by Marc Patrick Roy at 1.2.17 0 comments

2017-01-31

Airborne Park Speedway $20,000 Demolition Derby




PLATTSBURGH- Airborne Park Speedway Promoter, John Walker, has announced another demolition derby in his second season at the helm. The total purse will be $20,000, based on 300 participating cars.
The two-day event will be held at the Clinton County Fair Grounds and will occur on Saturday and Sunday, October 14 and 15. Included in the event will be action for four cylinder vehicles, six cylinder vehicles, eight cylinder vehicles, Truck competition, Women's competition, Imperial/Kicker competition and a Power Wheels derby for children.
Saturday's schedule will lead off with the children's Power Wheels derby at 1:00 p.m. The four cylinders, women's division and truck competition will also be on the card. Inspections will begin in the morning at 8:00 a.m. and ending at 12:00 p.m.
The four cylinder division will run heats with the top two cars advancing to the feature, along with a selected heavy hitter. The heavy hitter is awarded to the driver that is deemed to have the most impressive performance in their respective heat. There will also be a last chance consolation heat for drivers wanting a final shot at making the feature. Four cylinder heats will pay $300 to the winner and $200 to the runner up. The feature will pay $1,500, winner take all.
The Women's competition and Truck competition will each be a single event and pay $1,000 to the winner.
Sunday's schedule will feature six cylinder heats, eight cylinder heats, with a consolation heat for both and an Imperial/Kicker competition. The top two in the six and eight cylinder heats will advance to the feature, along with a heavy hitter. Inspection will start at 8:00 a.m. and end at 12:00 p.m.
First place for heats will pay $300 and second place will pay $200. The Imperial/Kicker competition pays $1,000 to win. The six cylinder feature will pay $2,500 to win and the eight cylinder feature will pay $3,500 to the winner.
The will be bonus money available both days. $500 will be awarded to the driver deemed the "heaviest hitter of the day." The bonus will be available on both Saturday and Sunday.
Airborne Park Speedway has partnered with the Econo Lodge Inn & Suites in Plattsburgh for a special lodging rate with rooms starting at $65.00 per night. Call (518)561-1500 to book your stay. When making the reservation, ask for the Airborne Demolition Derby rate.
More details and rules for the event are available under the "Driver Info" tab on our website airborneparkspeedway.com. Registration for the event will begin shortly and payout is based on 300 participating cars. Other stories and info can be found by visiting our Facebook page at Airborne Park Speedway.

*Attached: Dave Brown Photo*


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Lucas Oil soutient la Série Sportsman Québec pour une 11e saison


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Le 30 janvier 2017, Québec


Lucas Oil soutient la Série Sportsman Québec pour une 11e saison

 
C'est un privilège pour moi de pouvoir vous confirmer que Lucas Oil s'impliquera à nouveau pour une 11e saison auprès de la Série Sportsman Québec comme commanditaire principal. M. Jacques Sigouin, représentant au Québec pour Lucas Oil,  s'est dit très satisfait du calendrier 2017 de la Série et en particulier du retour sur le circuit de l'Autodrome Saint-Eustache. Une soirée qui réunira pour un même programme la Série Sportsman Québec Lucas Oil ainsi que les voitures de la classe Nascar Sportsman Lucas Oil. 
 
C'est en  1989 que Lucas Oil a été fondé par M. Forrest Lucas et sa conjointe Charlotte mais il faudra attendre en 1996 pour que les produits Lucas Oil soient introduits sur le marché canadien. Lucas Oil s'est rapidement démarqué par sa gamme de produits de lubrifiants et d'additifs de qualités. De 1996 à 2006, l'entreprise ne cesse d'accroître ses opérations au Canada si bien qu'en 2006, la ligne de produits est mise à la disposition de la clientèle dans les grands magasins de détail avec l'ajout des lubrifiants pour les motos ainsi que les véhicules récréatifs. 
Chef de file dans l'industrie, le succès de Lucas Oil s'est construit par un travail acharné, une ligne incomparable de produits haut de gamme et un engagement indéfectible envers la satisfaction client. Pouvant compter sur un excellent personnel et une technologie exceptionnelle acquise grâce à des années de recherche, c'est sans aucun doute avec cette formule unique que Lucas Oil mise pour assurer sa continuité.
Engagé auprès de la communauté et ainsi que dans le domaine de la course automobile nous pouvons être fiers de faire partie de la grande famille Lucas Oil.
Merci à vous de votre confiance !
Marie-Claude Levasseur, Relationniste 


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2017-01-30

Jesse Lazare, le pilote de l'équipe Motorsports in Action, remporte les 24 Heures de Daytona

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Jesse Lazare, le pilote de l'équipe Motorsports in Action, remporte les 24 Heures de Daytona

 

 

Montréal, Québec, Canada, le 29 janvier 2017.-Moins de 48 heures après avoir fait débuter l'une des deux McLaren 570S GT4 de l'équipe Motorsports In Action (MIA) dans la course de la série IMSA Continental Challenge, le pilote montréalais Jesse Lazare a remporté les 24 Heures de Daytona, en Floride. Inscrit dans cette légendaire épreuve au sein de l'équipe américaine Alegra Motorsports, Jesse et ses coéquipiers ont mis la main sur la victoire dans la classe GTD. Il s'agit d'un immense accomplissement pour le pilote et un grand honneur pour l'équipe MIA, qui engage Lazare à temps plein cette saison en série Continental Challenge.

 

Disputant pour la première fois de sa carrière les Rolex 24 Heures de Daytona, Jesse Lazare était en équipe avec les Américains Carlos de Quesada, son fils Michael, l'Ontarien Daniel Morad et le Danois Michael Christensen sur une Porsche 911 GT3-R inscrite par Alegra Motorsports. Cet équipage a triomphé avec une avance de seulement deux dixièmes de seconde au terme des 24 heures de course. Il se classe également dix-huitième toutes-catégories, sur 55 partants.

 

Pour Eric Kerub, le propriétaire de l'équipe MIA, l'honneur est grand de pouvoir désormais compter sur le vainqueur des 24 Heures de Daytona dans son équipe : « Jesse faisait un programme double ce week-end, en disputant d'abord la course de Continental Challenge sur une de nos voitures, puis en prenant part aux 24 Heures avec l'équipe Alegra. Il a été performant dans les deux courses et, je dois avouer que pour tous les membres de l'équipe MIA, de pouvoir dire aujourd'hui que nous avons avec nous l'un des vainqueurs des 24 Heures de Daytona 2017 est une immense fierté. Ça ne peut que décupler notre motivation à briller tout le reste de l'année, avec Jesse Lazare et nos autres pilotes ».

 

Jesse Lazare sera de retour aux commandes de la McLaren 570S GT4 numéro 69 Garaga/Pfaff de l'équipe MIA en mars prochain, lors du week-end des 12 Heures de Sebring.

 

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Jesse Lazare, Motorsports in Action Team Driver, Wins the 24 Hours of Daytona

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Jesse Lazare, Motorsports in Action Team Driver, Wins the 24 Hours of Daytona

 

Montreal, Quebec, Canada, January 29, 2017.-Less than 48 hours after his debut in one of the two Motorsports In Action (MIA) McLaren 570S GT4s in the IMSA Continental Challenge, Montreal driver Jesse Lazare won the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, in Florida. Entered in this legendary event as part of the American Alegra Motorsports team, Jesse and his teammates claimed victory in the GTD Class. This was a huge accomplishment for the driver and a great honour for the MIA Team, who have hired Lazare full-time this season for the Continental Challenge series.

 

Contesting the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona for the first time in his career, Jesse Lazare was part of a team comprising of Americans Carlos de Quesada and his son Michael, as well as Ontarian Daniel Morad and Michael Christensen, of Denmark, in the Alegra Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3-R. This team won with a margin of only two-tenths of a second, after a full 24 hours of racing.  Of the 55 overall starters, they finished eighteenth.  

 

For Eric Kerub, owner of the MIA Team, it's a big honour to be able to count on a 24 Hours of Daytona winner on his team : « Jesse was pulling double-duty this weekend, firstly contesting the Continental Challenge in one of our cars and then racing in this 24 Hours with the Alegra team. He performed so well in both races and I have to admit that all MIA team members are proud to say that one of our own won the 2017 24 Hours of Daytona. This can only further enhance our motivation to excel for the rest of the year, with Jesse and our other drivers ».

 

Jesse Lazare will be back behind the wheel of MIA's #69 Garaga/Pfaff McLaren 570S GT4 in March, during the 12 Hours of Sebring weekend.  

 

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Rolex 24 At Daytona 'Business Finished'

For Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R Team

Taylor Brothers, Angelelli, Gordon Finally Score Breakthrough Win

After Trouble-Free Performances the Previous Four Years Come Up Short

 

Date: Jan. 28-29, 2017

Event: 55th Rolex 24 At Daytona (Round 1 of 10)

Series: Prototype division of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship

Location: Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway (3.56-mile, 12-turn road course)

Start/Finish: 4th / 1st (Running, Completed 659 of 659 laps)

Winner: Ricky Taylor, Jordan Taylor, Max Angelelli and Jeff Gordon of Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R

Point Standing: 1st (35 points, three ahead of second)

 

The resounding theme for this year's 55th Rolex 24 At Daytona for the No. 10 Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi.V.R team and its drivers Ricky and Jordan Taylor, Max "The Ax" Angelelli and Jeff Gordon, and especially for team owner Wayne Taylor, was "unfinished business."

 

After the team turned in a trouble-free performance for the fifth consecutive year at this weekend's renewal of the traditional IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season opener, the Taylor brothers, the veteran Italian Angelelli and four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Gordon were able to seal the deal this time, albeit by surviving a wild sprint to the finish Sunday, in scoring an emotional Rolex 24 victory in numerous respects. Call it "business finished."

 

Ricky Taylor, who qualified fourth and got things off to a solid start Saturday afternoon during his opening stint, made a thrilling pass for the lead of fellow Cadillac DPi-V.R driver Filipe Albuquerque in the No. 5 Action Express Racing entry just five laps from the finish – with just six minutes to go in the 24-hour marathon. Taylor then held off Albuquerque the rest of the way and took the checkered flag by a .671-of-a-second margin of victory.

 

It went a long way toward erasing the relative agony of finishing second, second, third and second in the previous four Rolex 24s despite leading more laps in that time than any other team. With another race-high total of 263 of 659 race laps led this weekend, the team has totaled 963 laps led out of 3,539 total laps in the last five Rolex 24s – 27.2 percent. And, most importantly, the team finally got a well-deserved chance to celebrate in victory lane.

 

"It's unbelievable, I'm still shaking," said Taylor, who along with his younger brother upped his career victory total to 15. "It's so special, there are so many different storylines. You've got Cadillac's unfinished business from the LMP program which Max and my dad were both a part of the first go-round, and then wrapping that up by starting the new Cadillac program off with a win here at Daytona. And then to finish the way we did – I mean, it was an emotional day, regardless if we won the race, to have our last race with Max – but to win was really cool. And, obviously, we've got Jeff, as well. I mean, to add to his amazing career is a surreal experience. I'm just happy to be able to contribute to that."

 

Having clearly the most dominant car that was strong in dry conditions for the first six hours and final three-plus hours of the race, as well as in wet, sometimes treacherous conditions during the middle 14-plus hours, it was only by a sudden twist of fate with just more than an hour to go that Taylor found himself in position to have to make the late pass for the lead.

 

He had a comfortable six-second lead over Albuquerque when a large piece of debris on the backstraight of the Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway circuit led to a caution period. Albuquerque was in position to quickly dive into the pits for tires and fuel just before the caution flag flew while Taylor had already passed by the entry to pit lane. Taylor then had to make his pit stop under caution and restarted in second place with several lapped cars between him and Albuquerque. Taylor was never able to get closer than within five seconds of Albuquerque, but then came another yellow flag with 30 minutes to go for an incident on track.

 

When the race went back to green with 20 minutes to go, Taylor was able to dive underneath Albuquerque into turn one on the restart but was unable to complete the move. He held that thought, however, staying close over the next eight laps while awaiting his next opportunity to make a pass. Then, with just six minutes to go in the race, Taylor took advantage of a slight drift by Albuquerque into turn one and was able to muscle his way by for the lead.

 

"The way I saw it, we came through GT traffic and I was closer than I had been," Taylor said. "He'd been struggling in turn one. Their car didn't look very good there, and we were really strong on the brakes. I had thought about doing this for years and years, and this has always been something – people always open up after that little kink in turn one – they open their hands a little bit, and it's just so easy to release the brake there and pop in there. If you get enough alongside, you can make it work, and I think he saw me coming, he saw me committing, and he closed the door. If he knew I was committing, why would you close the door and make us crash? From my perspective, it's Max's last race. There are a lot of emotions going on. I wanted to win terribly. We were either going to make a move and do something and win, or sit there in second and wait for – wait until next year, basically. I didn't want to do that. It was Max's last race – and we've been family for 20 years now. He's taught us everything we know. We used to have classes with Max. He used to be the 'Professor Ax,' and he'd come over to our house, and we'd have a pen and paper, and he'd teach us about downforce and he'd teach us about overtaking. Today was a good example of one of those lessons, I think. That was an Ax move."

 

Angelelli certainly was proud of his protégés in his final career race as a driver. He won this race for the first time in 2005 alongside Wayne Taylor en route to that year's driver and team championships. Five years earlier, in 2000, he and their father started a three-year run campaigning the Cadillac Northstar LMP effort but did not experience the kind of success they had hoped for before the program was terminated. This weekend, Angelelli and the Taylors were back to debut the latest-generation Cadillac prototype program that the veteran Italian spent the last two years working behind the scenes with as program manager. He decided to make this weekend's Rolex 24 his swan song as a driver in order to devote full time to his Cadillac responsibilities. And what a swan song it was.

 

"Oh, it's just wonderful," said Angelelli, whose second Rolex 24 win was the 28th of his career overall – third-most all-time in North American sportscar racing. "I'm just speechless. I could not believe it. What better than this?  I'm very happy. Happy for what I did and what I've achieved with the boys and Jeff today, to finish my career with a win, a big win like this one in the Rolex 24, it's great. You know, I'm thankful to the Taylors, the family."

 

Jordan Taylor and Gordon were equally instrumental in keeping the Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R in the top-three for all but the opening four laps of the race. Taylor turned in his typically smart, steady performance and worked closely with Gordon in aclimating the retired NASCAR Cup Series driver to the Cadillac DPi.V-R.

 

"Yeah, the past four years, and now five with this year, we've had flawless runs," Taylor said. "We've never gone to the garage. We've never lost a lap. It's always just been tires, fuel and driver and, thankfully, we had another one of those days today."

 

Gordon, whose first and only other career sportscar race came at this very race in 2007 with this very team, when he co-drove with Wayne Taylor, Angelelli and Jan Magnussen to a third-place finish, this weekend's effort was much more satisfying, especially in light of the fact he was much more intensely engaged in the team's preparation effort.

 

"This is very surreal to me, this whole experience and moment, to have this on my résumé," said Gordon, who became only the fourth driver in history – joining A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti and Jamie McMurray – to win both the Daytona 500 and the Rolex 24. "It's a very elite group that's won the Daytona 500 and the Rolex 24 together. That's something I'm very, very proud of. But I think more than anything is this experience for me of – not to take anything away from 2007 with Max and Jan and Wayne –what amazing racecar drivers both Ricky and Jordan are and how difficult this race is. You know, this experience to me was about building this bond and this friendship that I didn't expect to happen because of the way they welcomed me in, and we had a lot of fun along the way. They answered all my questions because I had a lot of them, and they helped me adapt, and that's what helped us as a group, I think, to go out there and win. And then I was able to learn just how talented they are. I mean, I was so impressed while watching all night. I was glued to the TV every second, every lap. I couldn't sleep because I wanted to watch these guys do what they did in the rain, in the cold, in the most treacherous conditions, and they did it at a level, that I'll be honest, I'm not capable of doing, and I was so impressed. Then you go to the last stint of a 24‑hour race and you see it come down to that, and it was a thrill of a lifetime, and I'm just so honored to be sitting here and be a part of this experience."

 

Wayne Taylor, who won this race as a driver in 1996 as well as in 2005, was especially proud to be able to kick off his second tour of duty with Cadillac by scoring a historic win with his sons alongside his longtime co-driver and business partner Angelelli and with a four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion in Gordon. It was an emotional post-race celebration, to say the least.

 

"First, I've got to thank everybody certainly for being here," Taylor said. "You know, Cadillac, Max and I drove back in the early 2000s part of our career, and the program ended shortly after that, but I always believed and wanted to come back with Cadillac and have this unfinished business. And today with Ricky, Jordan, Max and Jeff, they gave it to me. It's just been such an honor to have Jeff on board. He came in 2007 with us, we finished third when I was still driving, and another special thing is that Max and I were teammates for so many years. We won the 24‑hour together in 2005, and we won the championship together, and now he wins the 24‑hour with my kids, which is really, really special. I just have to thank my boys and Jeff and Max and Konica Minolta and Cadillac and my friends Rick Taylor and Mike Mathe and everybody who has supported me over the years."

 

Round two of the 2017 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship is the 65th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring and Sebring (Fla.) International Raceway Saturday, March 18. Live FOX Sports television coverage times will be announced at a later date.

 

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