(BOWMANVILLE, ON – May 13, 2009) Canada’s Fastest Half Mile Oval, Mosport Speedway, will be alive with the sounds of roaring stock car engines this Saturday night when the Auto Workers Community Credit Union Saturday Night Racing presented by PartSource kicks off its 2009 season.
Three of Mosport’s four home grown classes are in action at Coca-Cola Opening Night, with new rules, new names and bigger purses. The biggest changes are evident within the Bob’s Towing Sportsman division (formerly ThunderCars), which has opened up the rules to allow more eligible cars, which should result in bigger fields and lots of close, exciting racing.
The Late Model class (which has dropped the “Limited” from its moniker) has introduced a significant rule change this season that will allow teams to use a crate engine from General Motors by mid-season. A key benefit of this change is a much more cost-effective engine program for the racers. Late Models using this new crate engine will also be given a 100 pound weight break, which should encourage more teams to use it as an alternative.
The THORSONS EVT 6 or Less class, the most affordable form of stock car racing at Mosport, returns relatively unchanged, featuring a large field of drivers, including defending champion Ryan Oosterholt, a 17-year old from Blackstock, ON.
The R.P. Oil Modified division (their season kick-off is in two weeks) has also undergone some major rule changes during the off-season. This year, teams are permitted to change the appearance of the car with the addition of front fenders and a full front bumper cover and is sure bring in new challengers for two-time defending champion, Jim Rossiter.
In addition to the four home-grown classes, Mosport Speedway will feature a host of visiting specials in 2009, headlined by the return of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series on Aug. 8 for the Mosport Speedway 200. Featuring many of Canada’s finest stock car talent, such as 2007 champion Andrew Ranger, defending title-holder Scott Steckly and perennial contenders D.J. Kennington and Dave Whitlock, the Mosport Speedway 200 provides a gruelling test of skill and race strategy.
Other fan favourites will include stops by the Lucas Oil Sportsman Cup (June 13), the OSCAAR Super Late Models (July 11 and Aug. 22), and the Ontario Legends cars (May 30, June 20 and July 25).
On top of all the great racing lined up for 2009, the Speedway will once again give its fans the chance to feel like a real racer on the famous half-mile every week, with the Old Dutch Snacks King of the Hill competition. Using their own street cars, fans race two at a time around the Speedway for one lap, with the winner moving on until the evening’s “King of the Hill” champion is crowned.
Two Fan Appreciation Nights are on the schedule, at the midpoint and season’s end (July 4th and Sept.12th). One of the Speedway’s most popular nights, Fan Appreciation allow teams and drivers to acknowledge the fans by bringing lining their race cars on the front straight and inviting spectators to join them. Pictures and autographs are available and kids take home huge bags full of candy and other goodies given away by the teams.
Tickets for the Auto Workers Community Credit Union Saturday Night Racing presented by PartSource are available at the Speedway’s front gate. Prices are $13 for adults, $8 for youth 13-16 and kids 12 and under are free. The gates open at 5:30 p.m. and the racing starts at 6:30 p.m., except on Fan Appreciation nights which begin at 6 p.m.
Advance tickets for the Mosport Speedway 200 are $25 until Aug. 5 and are available through the Mosport Hotline at (905) 983-9141(Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm ET) online at www.mosport.com and through Ticketmaster.
Photo: The Late Models get ready to take the green flag at Mosport Speedway. // Credit: Mosport
From Mosport
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