Another case of, 'Has it been THAT long..."

Greg Moore died on Halloween Day, 10 years ago. There's a story on AutoWeekRacing.com that pulls from a book by Dan Proudfoot and Gordon Kirby, written shortly after the Canadian's death.

UPDATE: Jeff Pappone of the Globe & Mail offers his memories of Greg Moore here. Toronto Star / Wheels writer Norris McDonald chimes in here.

Pro Stockers Reap Rewards At DIRTcar NE Night Of Champions!

Weedsport, NY – October 31, 2009 – By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing Northeast PR Director

The 34th Annual DIRTcar Racing Northeast ‘Night of Champions’ Awards Banquet arrives in just two more weeks. When the doors of the Turning Stone Resort & Casino swing open on November 14, top point chasers in the 2009 Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Pro Stock Championship Series will be in full force to share in a number of post-season awards.

“This has been our best season yet and we’re looking forward to continued growth in 2010,” remarked Pro Stock Series Director Brian Mulligan, who is already gearing up for his third full term guiding DIRTcar Northeast’s top full-fender touring division. “Increased car counts have generated plenty of interest this year which has helped attract more sponsorship support, something that all our teams can be very proud of.”

Mulligan spearheaded a special season-ending awards program that will reward nine drivers that comprised the list of those attending 100% of the events. Top wheelmen Pete Stefanski, Joey Ladouceur, P.J. Peters, Don Carlson, Dion Oakes, Rob Yetman, Stephane Lebrun, Roch Aubin and Sean Corr contended at all nine tour stops and will receive $50 certificates from Allstar Performance, along with three more drivers that will be recognized Saturday night for their own special achievements.

Partnering with EMS (Eric's Machine Shop) chassis builder and body dealer Eric Marin, marketing specialist Mulligan created a second special reward package for those same drivers that logged perfect attendance. The names of all nine will be thrown into a hat at the upcoming DIRTcar NE Banquet, with one drawn to receive a Five Star Body.

Throughout the season Mulligan also executed an exclusive ‘National Parts Peddler Halfway Bonus’ leader award presentation at each series show. Working closely with Corky Stockham to fulfill a program that rewarded every series race halfway leader with a $100 certificate, the complimentary certificates can be presented to any participating vendor for an equivalent discount at the 30th National Parts Peddler Trade Show & Auction, Nov. 20-22, at the New York State Fairgrounds.

NPPN Halfway Leaders in 2009 were overall Hoosier-VP Mr. DIRTcar Champion Stefanski (2 races), Ladouceur (4), Carlson, Jody Swamp and Ghislain Valade.

For additional information, please contact Pro Stock Series Director Brian Mulligan (613/938-6751) or call the DIRTcar Northeast office (315/834-6606) in Weedsport during normal business hours. Visit www.dirtcar.com online anytime to find race results, point standings, upcoming events and learn more about the entire circuit.

Memphis Motorsports Park closes.... NASCAR dates moved to Nashville and Gateway

Dover Motorsports, Inc. (NYSE-Symbol: DVD) announced today that it was ceasing all operations at Memphis Motorsports Park and that it would not be promoting any events in Memphis in 2010. As previously announced, the Memphis facility had been under an agreement of sale to Gulf Coast Entertainment but Gulf Coast was unable to secure financing.

“This was a difficult decision for us, but one that ultimately was dictated by economics,” said Denis McGlynn, President and CEO of Dover Motorsports.  “We greatly appreciate the many years of dedication shown by our Memphis employees and their efforts to make Memphis such a great destination for the racing community – from racing fans and drivers to sponsors, team owners and sanctioning bodies.  For all concerned, including the Memphis community, it is truly sad to see Memphis Motorsports Park taken off the racing schedule.  NASCAR has approved the realignment of our NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series events from Memphis Motorsports Park to our Nashville and Gateway facilities.”

The realigned events and dates are as follows:

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Nashville Superspeedway
April 2, 2010
(together with NASCAR Nationwide Series event on April 3, 2010)

NASCAR Nationwide Series
Gateway International Raceway
October 23, 2010

An ASA race scheduled for next weekend at Memphis Motorsports Park will still be held at the track. Ticket refunds for 2010 events will be mailed out to fans in the next few weeks. The Company is expected to release its earnings for the third quarter on Monday, November 2 and will disclose additional financial details relative to the closure of its Memphis facility shortly.

From Gary Camp │ Director of Public Relations // Dover International Speedway

Sunset Speedway Upgrade Gallery by www.davefranksphotos.com

This is a photo gallery from a few days ago at Sunset Speedway. Thanks to Dave Franks for sharing his work. You can see Dave's website here.

Potential Ban on Leaded Fuel Sales

Canada's Gasoline Regulations have prohibited the production, import and sale of leaded gasoline since 1990. Since 1994, the Regulations have exempted the use of leaded gasoline in competition vehicles. The exemption expires on December 31, 2009, after which time production, import or sale of leaded gasoline for use in competition vehicles will no longer be allowed in Canada.

Environment Canada intends to consult with stakeholders in early November 2009, on whether to continue to allow the use of leaded gasoline in competition vehicles.

If you would like to be included on the stakeholder distribution list, please send an email to OGAED@ec.gc.ca with your name and email or mailing address.

Mini Grid Halloween Sidewalk Sale takes place Oct. 31

On Saturday, Oct. 31 (from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) Mini Grid is hosting its Spookiest Sale Ever! You'll know you're close to the "The 50% OFF Sidewalk Sale" when you hear Scott Maxwell screaming about the low prices all the way up Mt. Pleasant Road (south of Eglinton Ave., in North Toronto).

Click on the image below to see the flyer for the event.

Info: 608 Mt. Pleasant Rd., Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4S 2M8
Phone 416-488-7663 // Fax 416-488-4292 // www.minigrid.com

NASCAR: Canadian J.R. Fitzpatrick Talladega Truck Series Advance

J.R. Fitzpatrick
#29 Equipment Express Chevrolet Silverado
Talladega Superspeedway Advance

Fitzpatrick To Make First Start at Talladega

CAMBRIDGE, ON (October 28, 2009) – J.R. Fitzpatrick will make his first start at the 2.66 mile Talladega Superspeedway this weekend in the Mountain Dew 250. That’s quite a contrast from his last time in the driver’s seat at Kawartha Speedway, a .375 mile oval and the last race on the NASCAR Canadian Tire series schedule.

“I can’t wait to get there and see this place first hand,” said Fitzpatrick. “I had great success at my first race at Daytona and love the superspeedway racing. I really enjoy the drafting and the whole chess match that takes place with this style of racing. Brad (Keselowski) and Wayne (Setterington) have been great to work with and I am really looking forward to giving them a good finish.”

Fitzpatrick will be driving the #29 Equipment Express Chevrolet of Brad Keselowski Racing. This will be the first time the two have worked together and the excitement is mutual.

“I am very excited about having J.R. in my truck,” said Keselowski, the 2008 Nationwide Series Champion. “I really like having a young, fresh driver in my equipment and think we really have a package we can win with. We have a really good truck and J.R. is a good superspeedway racer so maybe he can pull off a surprise win like I did in the spring Sprint Cup race here.”

Crew Chief Wayne Setterington had the same outlook. “I am really looking forward to this weekend. With the experience J.R. gained leading the most laps and finishing fourth at the Daytona race in the spring he gained a lot of experience. If we put ourselves in the right position I believe we have a shot at winning.”

About J.R. Fitzpatrick: John Ryan (J.R.) Fitzpatrick got is first taste of racing in karts at the age of six, moving quickly into CASCAR Juniors and late models by the age of 13. He is Canada’s youngest ever national stock car race winner and the youngest ever National Champion. Fitzpatrick began his NASCAR career in the Camping World Truck Series and recorded a career best 4th at his first Daytona start. In just a handful of starts he has 3 top ten starting positions. In 2009 he also competed in two Nationwide Series races and ran regularly in the top ten. He has one victory this season, in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series at the famed Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.


Pre-Race Schedule
Friday:    Final Practice: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., EST
Qualifying: 5:10 p.m., EST
·         TV: The Mountain Dew 250 can be seen on SPEED at 4:00 p.m., EST
·         Radio: The Motor Racing Network (MRN) will broadcast live at 4:00 p.m., EST

From Jason Sharpe // Fitzpatrick Motorsports // jasons@jrfitzpatrick.com 

TW Steel to Partner Renault F1 Team

Amsterdam, The Netherlands (28 October, 2009) – TW Steel, the international Dutch watch brand specializing in oversized watches, is pleased to announce a three-year partnership with the Renault F1 Team in which the brand becomes the Enstone-based squad’s ‘Official Timing Partner’.

While the deal is effective from 2010 through to 2012, TW Steel will actually make its Formula One debut with the Renault F1 Team at this weekend’s 2009 season finale, hosted at the brand new Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, Friday 30th October – Sunday 1st November.

TW Steel, the name meaning ‘The Watch in Steel’, will enjoy prominent branding at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on the R29’s nose cone, front-wing flaps, leading edge of the side-pods as well as on the drivers timing monitors and garage wall. As of next season and beyond, the brand logo will also appear on team uniforms and driver racesuits.

“I believe our partnership with the Renault F1 Team provides a tremendous global platform for TW Steel,” commented TW Steel Chief Executive Officer, Jordy Cobelens. “Formula One has immense appeal for a young, ambitious brand such as ours and we look forward to activating our relationship with the Renault F1 Team and ultimately engaging the consumer worldwide through a targeted marketing programme. This is an exciting time to be involved in Formula One and we look forward to continued success both on and off track through our new partnership.”

At the signing of the agreement, Renault F1 Team Managing Director, Jean-Francois Caubet said: “We are delighted to join forces with TW Steel as the official timing partner of the Renault F1 Team. Over the next three years we look forward to building a close and dynamic relationship as we strive to reach the highest level of performance on the racetrack. The partnership brings great value for both the Renault F1 Team and TW Steel and confirms the team’s positive outlook for the years ahead. I have no doubt that we will enjoy an exciting and successful future together.”

TW Steel leads the oversized watch market having launched in The Netherlands in 2005 with a simple four-watch collection. Despite rapidly emerging as an innovative, bold lifestyle brand, now available worldwide in over 50 countries, TW Steel’s roots are based firmly on family foundations.

The company is led by 27-year-old Jordy Cobelens, as Chief Executive Officer, while his father, Ton Cobelens, fulfils the role of Chief Design Officer. Together they ensure that TW Steel’s collections are reflective of, and available for all tastes and occasions without compromise to design or build.

Give PT some love

Paul Tracy is an active Twitterer. He's having some fun lobbying the folks at Monster Energy to step up and sponsor him, presumably in IndyCar next season. Who knows if it will help, but he thinks it is.

So why not give a fellow Canuck a hand and chime in with some comments of support? Click here (and then go to Shout Outs) to show PT some love in front of some people who can help.

Flamboro Speedway News - FROST FEST 150

Flamboro Speedway finale.... not final

HAMILTON, October 26, 2009 – Forget the cooling temperatures and the colour changing leaves, most Canadian stock car fans know that the summer season has come to an end when Flamboro Speedway closes the gates after the Oktoberfest Classic. 

The annual grass roots racing festival held at the corner of Brock Road and Concession 5 in Millgrove, attracts fans and competitors from all across the province to take part in what is regularly the last and largest racing event in southwestern Ontario.  The classic weekend this year was no exception, with hundreds of drivers competing in an exciting mix of races including two spectacular 50 lap main events for the Grisdale Late Models.  After a dismal summer of rain and wet, the blue skies and sunshine of Oktoberfest left fans and drivers wanting more from the 2009 season; And they’re going to get it.

This Sunday for only the third time in the past decade, Flamboro Speedway will host the late season FROST FEST 150.  The event will feature one hundred and fifty laps of main event competition, shared between the wild four cylinder racing Mini Stocks and Ontario’s favourite fender banging Thunder Cars.  Both classes provided highlight races at the Oktoberfest Classic weekend. 

Visiting driver Doug Butler of Holland Landing prevailed over local favourites Dave Bailey, Matt Dean and Willis Mahood in the Mini Stock main event, and the Flamboro drivers will have a second chance to finish their season in the winners circle.  The Thunder Car main event continues to raise chatter, after Bright’s Shawn Chenoweth dominated 39 and a half laps of the 40 lap race, only to be spun out by visiting driver Marty Monette in the final turn.  As both cars struggled for control to cross the finish line, newly crowned three-time division champion Randy ‘the Rocket’ Rusnell flew on to claim the checkered flag, climb the fence in victory and then celebrate further with a blinding burnout in front of the grandstand.

The newly scheduled Frost Fest was a late addition to the Flamboro Speedway schedule, only announced at the Oktoberfest Classic two weeks ago.  No sponsor support had been planned, but since the announcement of the continued racing season a number of community partners have joined the speedway to present the chilly November event.  Ray’s Towing of Hamilton and Burlington – who provide auto care and assistance for competitors at the speedway all summer long – have announced their participation; along with The Source For Home Comfort, providers of quality wood and gas fireplace products, from Greensville.  Hoosier Racing tires will also be partnering to present the Thunder Car races.

The new sponsor support has allowed the speedway to make available bonus cash prizes to the day’s competitors.  Should any one Thunder Car driver win all three of the 30 lap features in one car, he or she would claim an additional $3,000 prize on top of the event’s purse.  Similarly, should any one Mini Stock driver win both of the 30 lap features in one car, he or she will claim an additional $1,000 prize on top of the event’s purse. 

And in both cases, should no one driver complete this daring feat, then the bonus monies will be shared by the top five overall performers in each division.  Fans are welcome to visit the speedway’s website, www.flamborospeedway.itgo.com, for complete event and purse details.

The thunder will roar for a final time – we think – this Sunday, November 1st at Flamboro Speedway.  The competitor gates will open at 11am; the spectator grandstand will open at 1pm and the first race of the day is scheduled for a 2pm green flag start.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF WWW.DAVEFRANKSPHOTOS.COM

1) Randy 'the Rocket' Rusnell discusses the last lap turn of affairs that help put him in victory lane at the Oktoberfest Classic.

2) Four cars wide in just three lanes spells trouble for the Mini Stocks at Hamilton's asphalt arena, Flamboro Speedway.

From Joshua Paxton // The Branding Company, for Flamboro Speedway

Lonnie Sommerville Racing Wraps up 2009 Racing Season

Saint John, NB Canada 10/27/09- The 2009 racing season has finally come to a close for the Lonnie Sommerville Racing team. While a majority of his fellow Canadian competitors called it quits almost a month ago, Sommerville had a few PASS South events still left on his calendar. In the two events, Sommerville notched a pair of eleventh place finishes leaving the team a bit disappointed with their results yet satisfied knowing what departments of their race team they need to look at improving on.

“We had a real good car at both races, so that alone gets you pretty excited when you are down here racing against some of the best super late model racers in the country. Even though our finishes weren’t what we wanted it was still a good trip for us. We really learned some stuff that I know will make us a better race team come next season and at the end of the day that’s what its all about, improving to be the best,” stated Sommerville.

The first event of the team’s southern swing was the Mason Dixon 250 at Virginia’s South Boston Speedway, the same track that both Ward and Jeff Burton grew up racing at. A sixteenth place starting position would be where Lonnie would take the green flag from after winning the qualifying heat race for those who did not time trial inside the top fifteen. After methodically making his way up to the second position, Sommerville was hoping his team would catch a caution in the closing laps allowing his crate motor powered Chevy Impala to bolt on fresh rubber. However; the cautions didn’t fall as hoped putting Sommerville a lap down and out of contention for the win.

With the South Boston event in the books the Lonnie Sommerville Racing team knew that they would have their work cut out for them racing with a crate powered #23 A.E. McKay Builders Chevy machine around the half mile that makes up the Greenville-Pickens Speedway. As anticipated, a qualifying effort toward the middle of the pack would add to the team’s work load to get to the front. Time after time Sommerville would have to drive twice as hard to pass the higher horse powered machines. In the end, with only two cautions to slow the event, Sommerville made it to the eleventh place position to cap off the season.

“This wasn’t exactly how we wanted to finish out the year but overall in the grand scheme of things we had a great year. To win two of the three biggest short track races in the Maritimes this year was just awesome. My team worked hard all year long and put countless hours in this program all for the love of the sport and for me to say thank you would never be enough. My sponsor Andrew McKay and his A.E. McKay Builders company has done so much for this race team and really taken us to an elite level race team, not just here in Canada but throughout the states as well. Another aspect of this team this year has been the fans, I think sometimes in short track racing they get overlooked but for me they are a huge part of our team,” added Lonnie.

From Tex Motorsports Marketing // www.texmotorsports.com // Contact: Chris Ragle

Flamboro Frost Fest 150 this coming Sunday

One last chance to see some racing this season.... Sunday, Nov. 1 at Flamboro Speedway. Click here for a PDF of the weekend schedule.

DIRTcar: Black Rock '09 Sportsman Series Finale To Lawson, Raabe Retains Mr. DIRTcar Title

Dundee, NY – October 24, 2009 – By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing Northeast PR Director // Rick Young Photo Attachments

The 2009 Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Championship came to an end Saturday night at Black Rock Speedway and it was Donnie Lawson doing what he had done all season long to win the Owasco Beverage Labatt 30 Championship while Chris Raabe did all that he needed to capture a second straight overall season title.

As Lawson dueled with ’09 Black Rock DIRTcar track champion Todd Henderson to collect the $1,000 top-prize, Raabe kept series runner-up Ryan Susice in sight throughout the event to earn an even bigger honor when he sits at the head table during DIRTcar Racing Northeast’s ‘Night of Champions’ awards banquet in November.

“I’d have to say this is the biggest win of my career,” declared second-generation driver Lawson from Woodhull, N.Y. following his sixth DIRTcar victory of the season at the Yates County oval. “Even though we’ve won some 358 (Small-Block Modified) races, this has to rank right at the top being a tour show.”

Competing for just the third time ever at Black Rock, Raabe was content to escape with a 16th-place finish which was good enough to outlast Susice in the final points chase with only 45 marker separating the talented twosome after 17 extra-distance tour stops.

“We’ve had a lot of trouble here at Black Rock, flat tires and stuff, so going home in one piece and with another championship is still okay in the big picture,” figured Raabe, 18, after joining Steve Hall (1996 & ’98) and Russ Hefti as the only repeat Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman champions in 20 years, with Hefti (2005-06) the first driver to claim back-to-back titles. “It kinda stinks sometimes racing for points, you can’t take chances anywhere. When you get under a guy you gotta back out of it, so just finishing actually becomes more important than where you finish when its all over.”

Canadian invader Luke Carleton jumped out to an early advantage from his pole-position start and held off an early bid by third-place starter Lawson aboard his Morgan's Auto Repair no. 11 Bath Chiropractic Associates/TEO mount. Western New York traveler Mark Chiddy got upside to bring out a rare red flag on lap 4 and on the ensuing restart it was Lawson ducking under Carleton to take the top spot exiting turn two.

Unable to qualify through his heat and the consolation round, Raabe had filled out the final row of the 30-car starting grid then watched as Susice pitted after the stoppage to replace a soft tire and rejoin the rear of the field. Going into the event, Susice needed a victory to stand any chance of stealing away the overall Mr. DIRTcar points crown, while 20th or better for Raabe would lock up the title outright for the ‘Teenage Tornado’ from Napanee, Ont. aboard owner Gary McColman’s no. 01 Scott’s Industrial Services-TyRoute Communication/TEO entry.

Back under green with Lawson moving to the point, Carleton was quickly shadowed by Henderson, Steve Gray and Black Rock regular Loren Lincoln. Susice and Raabe were mired near the back of the pack in their own battle when the lone female qualifier, Katelyn Kane, was tapped from behind in turn four by Chris Silvers to require the only caution of the race on lap seven.

Henderson closed in on leader Lawson a third of the way through and when the halfway mark was reached had moved the HR3 no. 18H Valvoline/Bicknell machine out front in pursuit of his second checkered flag of the season. Henderson used the lapped car of Jeff Hand as a moving pick, sweeping high out of the fourth corner with Lawson sandwiched in between to nose ahead as the threesome crossed the stripe to complete lap 14. Lincoln, Carleton and Gray were scored next when the scoreboard flashed 15 with radar once again showing rain in the distance.

Traffic remained thick as the leaders navigated through the open lanes. This time it was Lawson blasting high out of turn four using the lapped car of Silvers to forge the final lead change as Henderson dropped to second with 19 laps complete.

With Lawson and Henderson running uncontested in the top two slots, Gray overtook Carleton for fourth on lap 22 and set his sights on third-place Lincoln in the closing stages. Not only did Gray complete his climb up to the show position on the final circuit, Justin Wright mirrored the move as he slipped past Carleton with 17 cars finishing the distance in the 25-minute main.

“I thought (Todd) had me, I’m not good in lapped traffic and he knows it,” remarked Lawson, following his 12th victory of the season in Dundee. “I was just able to get it back this time.”

“I knew there was a guy up high, so for him to get a shot up there would’ve been hard because there was a guy blocking the top lane. I Knew if I could just ride behind ---think it was the #65 car (Boyd MacTavish)--- I would be alright. Still wasn’t comfortable about it, saying I was would be a lie. You just hope it’s the right choice, and I’ve made the wrong decision in lapped traffic a lot of times in my life so far,” Lawson admitted.

Winner of a tour-best five Mr. DIRTcar Championship trail races this season, Raabe chose to ride it out once the feature got underway as a Top-20 finish was all he needed to claim the overall title.

“All in all it was a great season, 20 wins, a couple track titles and a 2nd consecutive Mr. DIRT Championship, that’s pretty neat,” said Raabe, who last year became the youngest overall champion in DIRTcar’s 34-year history, and this time around is now the youngest ever to garner consecutive crowns.

“Last year we had about the same number but this season we won more bigger races. We also won out West where Ryan was probably the favorite. Going in we were really looking to match what we accomplished last year so our success this season just reinforces what we did and shows it wasn’t a fluke,” added Raabe, who already plans to be back in 2010 trying to ‘threepeat’ unless additional sponsorship support during the off-season allows otherwise.

Finishing behind Raabe (1651) and Susice (1606) in the final 2009 Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Series Championship point standings are Jipp Ortiz (1494), Justin Wright (1074), Dan Wiesner (1316), B.J. Willard (1282), Adam Turner (1249), Greg Panunte (1243), Mark Chiddy (1156) and Sammy Reakes IV (1096), who won the ’09 opener at Black Rock in April.

IHRA: Three winners, three champions crowned at IHRA World Finals

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. - Three different winners and three different champions were crowned in the professional categories during final eliminations at the IHRA World Finals Sunday at Rockingham Dragway. Del Cox Jr. (Top Fuel), a rookie, and John Montecalvo (Elite Motorsports Pro Stock), a seasoned vet, each clinched their first career championships while Kenny Lang (Pro Mod) claimed his second consecutive title during the wild weekend.

And while all three were busy winning championships, Bruce Litton (Top Fuel), Chris Russo (Pro Modified) and Bob Bertsch (Elite Motorsports Pro Stock) took care of winning the race during the championship finals Sunday in Rockingham, N.C.

Less than favorable conditions on the track also created a unique situation as all of the classes were forced to switch to eighth mile racing to finish Sunday’s eliminations.

In other on-track action Davey Boyd picked up the win in the Summit SuperSeries No Box championship by defeating Todd Hohn and Scotty Phillips won the Summit SuperSeries Box championship with a win over Joey Anderson.

On top of picking up a championship, Lang also won the Mickey Thompson Ten Grand Slam over Tony Pontieri.

Despite three champions being crowned and five victories awarded, the finals of the Champion System Sportsman Nationals presented by VP still needs to be finished on Monday, along with the crowning of champions in all of IHRA’s seven sportsman categories, the Elite 8 Pro Stock Shootout and the Summit All-Star race.

Racing will get underway at 9 a.m. on Monday and will end with the crowning of sportsman champions Monday night.

TOP FUEL

Bruce Litton may not have had a shot at winning the championship on Sunday, but he did the next best thing.

With Del Cox Jr. locking up the 2009 IHRA Top Fuel World Championship on Saturday, Litton went out and made the best of his situation and took something into the offseason to build upon by winning the IHRA World Finals at Rockingham Dragway on Sunday.

Litton eliminated Cox in the semifinals and then took down top qualifier Todd Paton in the final to pick up his third win of the season and the 16th victory of his career.

“We didn’t win the war, but we won the battle here today,” Litton said. “We came here with the idea of doing the best we could, winning the race and maybe having a chance at the championship. That didn’t work out the way we had hoped, but we are pleased to be able to get the win here tonight.”

Litton ran a 3.327 elapsed time at 259.66 miles per hour to get around Paton who ran a 5.739 E.T. at 85.87 mph in the eighth mile final.

“I have won an eighth mile race before so that is a positive, but I also remember that the car that Del Cox drives had won an eighth mile event as well so that weighed on me a little bit,” Litton said. “But we were able to get it done and this gives us a lot of momentum going into next year.”

Litton defeated Paton, Cox and Dom Lagana to reach his sixth final of the season.

“Your last race is always one that sticks with you. Ending a season with a win will stick with you for a while,” Litton said. “You always want to end on a positive note and being such a short offseason we look forward to coming back and doing this again next year.

“I am just so grateful for Lucas Oil, Riley Children’s Hospital, United Trailers and all of the people who help make this operation what it is.”

While Litton took home the win, Cox picked up the championship in his first year on tour by winning four consecutive races starting at midseason. Thanks to that streak Cox was able to overcome a nearly triple digit deficit in early July and will now walk away from The Rock with a convincing championship victory.

“It is unreal. This has been a dream of mine since I was eight years old and now to be here now is just incredible,” Cox said. “I have to give it up for all these guys who have been working their butts off and for all of our sponsors. RG Industries, Bexar Waste, Lucas Oil, Setco – everyone has helped make this possible.

“And for Spencer and my entire family to be here and be a part of this is just incredible.”

All Cox needed to do to lock up the championship was get in the show and he did just that on Saturday with the No. 2 qualifying spot. He then dispatched of teammate Rhonda Hartman-Smith in the first round to officially secure the title.

“It is just like anything, you put your boxing gloves on and you put your faith in your team and that is how we were able to overcome where we were earlier this year,” Cox said.

Cox went into the weekend hoping to make it five wins a row on top of picking up the championship, but he went red against Bruce Litton in the semis.

“It is kind of hard for me because we are here to win and I hard the car to win the day, but I messed it up,” Cox said. “But if you don’t go red every once in a while you aren’t trying.”

While Cox picked up his first title, team owner Mitch King wrapped up his second consecutive team championship after winning the title last year with another rookie – Spencer Massey. Between Cox and Massey the Bexar Waste dragster has visited victory lane nine times in the past two years including five times this season.

“We were talking that my car alone has been to 11 finals in 20 races over the past two years. That shows how good this crew really is,” Cox said. “You have to give it up for Paul Smith, he is the brains behind the whole operation. And Mitch King owning the deal, I can’t say enough good things about him. Everyone here does an incredible job.”

Litton moved to the final with a victory over Del Cox Jr. as Cox left early and lit the red bulb. Despite the distraction Litton had a tremendous run in the semis with a 3.210 at 265.01 miles per hour. Paton moved to the final with a victory over Bobby Lagana Jr.

In the opening round of Top Fuel wins by Cox and Litton set up a semifinal matchup between the two best dragsters in IHRA.

After going head-to-head all season long it was only fitting the top two drivers in points meet on Sunday. Cox reached the semis with a win over Rhonda Hartman-Smith while Litton drove around Dom Lagana.

In the other semifinal matchup Lagana advanced when Mitch King failed to show and Todd Paton survived a scare against Smax Smith. While Paton made a very solid run, Smith ran into trouble at the eighth mile mark and darted across the centerline into Paton’s lane.

Neither car made contact, but Smith went up in flames moments after passing Paton.

PRO MOD

When it comes to consistency, no one is better than Chris Russo.

Not always the quickest or fastest during the race weekend, Russo makes a living by making consistent passes down the race track and so far that approach has worked wonders for him.

Already with one win this season using his conservative approach, Russo showed why is one of the best in Pro Mod racing today on Sunday with his second victory of the season at the IHRA World Finals at Rockingham Dragway.

“We know we might not always be the fastest, but we really try to put down consistent laps,” Russo said. “A lot of times consistency is just the way to go and today was one of those days. We caught it at just the right time and just built on it from there.”

Russo knocked off IHRA newcomer Adam Flamholc in the final with a consistent 4.142 elapsed time at 179.25 miles per hour while Flamholc ran a 6.005 after getting into trouble early.

“I never thought I would get one win in a season so getting two is just incredible,” Russo said. “When I was fortunate enough to get the win in Dallas I knew I needed to savor it because these things are so hard to get I knew I might never see it again.

“I know that sounds a little dramatic, but it is true. There are a lot of people who have raced for a lot of years who have never won one and to get two in our first year is amazing.”

Russo defeated Flamholc, Kenny Lang, Benny Alfonso and Andrew Parise to take home his second career victory.

“We spent most of the year struggling. We would qualify well and then lose in the first round. We just couldn’t put it together until tonight,” Russo said. “I didn’t think we had much of a chance coming into this weekend, but sometimes it is just your day.”

Missing from the final was IHRA World Champion Kenny Lang who wrapped up his second consecutive championship on Saturday. Lang was looking for his ninth consecutive final and fourth consecutive victory, but fell short when his car wiggled against Russo in the semifinals.

Despite not going to the final Lang still accomplished what he set out to do and that was win a second IHRA championship.

“It is great to be able to get back-to-back championships. Winning a championship is something that is so rare and we were able to accomplish twice,” Lang said.

All Lang needed to do to seal the title was show up and he did just that and more, taking the No. 1 qualifying spot on Friday and advancing to the semifinals on Sunday to run away from a once tight points battle with veteran Ed Hoover.

Hoover, who held a slim chance at the title entering this weekend, failed to qualify on Friday.

 “It has been great racing him all season long. It was a shame he didn’t make the field this weekend,” Lang said. “We enjoyed racing him this year and he made it incredibly tough on us, but our team came together and put together a great finish to the season.

 “Last year was great, but this seems so much sweeter. To go to eight final rounds and win as much as we did is incredible.”

In the quarterfinals Lang continued to march through the field with a win over Harold Martin, while his opponent Russo advanced over Benny Alfonso. In the other semifinal match it was a pair of newcomers battling to advance to their first final in IHRA competition.

Flamholc advanced to the final with a win over Fred Scriba while Farber defeated the turbocharged machine of Andy Jensen.

ELITE MOTORSPORTS PRO STOCK

No class in all of IHRA drag racing produced more drama this season than the Elite Motorsports Pro Stock class.

And that certainly didn’t change on Sunday.

With three drivers in contention for the championship at the start of the day it was only fitting that it would all come down to one race to decide the 2009 IHRA World Championship as John Montecalvo held on for his first career championship and Bob Bertsch took home the victory Sunday at the IHRA World Finals at Rockingham Dragway.

Even more ironic is the fact that it was Bertsch’s final round appearance that clinched Montecalvo’s championship.

Needing to keep even with Frank Gugliotta or advance farther to clinch, Montecalvo was upset in the quarterfinals when he shook the tires and Ned Katuran moved on.

Moments later Gugliotta won his quarterfinal matchup, leaving him one round away from overtaking the points lead and claiming the ’09 championship.

“I couldn’t leave the trailer. What was I going to do? Frank is a friend of mine so if he lost I am not going to jump up and down and if he won I couldn’t just go to the tower and jump off – even though that is what I felt like doing – I just stayed in the trailer and waited,” Montecalvo said.

But in the semifinals Bertsch was able to drive around Gugliotta in a tremendous drag race, advancing to the finals and giving Montecalvo his first championship after nearly two decades behind the wheel.

“I really didn’t believe it had happened. All I heard was ‘we won’ and everyone came back to the trailer screaming and I thought this couldn’t be,” Montecalvo said. “When I finally realized it was true I really didn’t know how to react. This is something I have been after for so long and to be able to finally get it done is just overwhelming.”

Bertsch then advanced to the final where he met and defeated Pete Berner after Berner went red. Bertsch ran a convincing 4.124 elapsed time at 176.10 miles per hour in the final.

“It is just hard work by my crew and me working on myself. It is a good way to go out at the end of the year,” Bertsch said. “We have been working all year little by little, we haven’t made any drastic changes, it has just come together really well over the last three races.”

Bertsch defeated Berner and Gugliotta – both championship contenders – Rocky Watford and Carl Baker to pick up his second win in the last three races.

And all eyes were on Bertsch’s semifinal matchup with Gugliotta.

“I knew whatever I did one group of people was going to be happy and another group was going to be a little sad, but I try not to focus on that and simply race the track. That is what I did tonight,” Bersch said.

When all was said and done, however, it was Montecalvo’s championship that stole the show.

After nearly two decades trying to be a world champion Montecalvo was finally able to see his dream realized thanks to a little help from his friends.

“So many people came up to me and said it is not over and that was just very hard to believe. When I finally found out, I really didn’t believe them at first,” Montecalvo said. “I have got a lot of racing friends up in the sky and every time I race I pray to them to keep me safe and successful and I truly believe they were looking over me today.”

Montecalvo spent most of the season trailing the field, but was able to take the points lead for the first time last month when Gugliotta suffered his third first round loss in four races. He then did just enough to assure that his name would go down in history as the 2009 IHRA Pro Stock champion.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet. Over the years it has been one thing or another that has prevented us from winning it, but this is finally our time,” Montecalvo said.

Bertsch put an end to Gugliotta’s championship hopes in the semifinals with a solid run as Gugliotta left the line late and wiggled down the track to give Bertsch the win and Montecalvo the championship.

Bertsch ran a 4.101 to Gugliotta’s 4.205.

In the other semifinal matchup Berner easily dispatched of Ned Katuran with a blistering 4105 second pass in the eighth mile.

While two of the three professional categories had their champions locked up entering Sunday, the Elite Motorsports Pro Stock bunch still had unfinished business and it all started in the semis.

Needing just one round win to seal his first ever championship, Montecalvo smoked the tires in his semifinal matchup with Ned Katuran and Katuran easily picked up the victory and in turn opened the door for Gugliotta.

Gugliotta kept himself alive with a win over Trevor Eman. In the other two semifinal matchups Berner won a close one against Richard Freeman and Bob Bertsch easy got around Rocky Watford.

From Larry Crum / IHRA

Rick Young's 'Rick at the Races' Oct. 17-18, 2009 at Brockville Ontario Speedway

PIC 1   A band playing on the front stretch provided pre race entertainment

PIC 2  'Girl  Power' , SPORTSMAN action with # 66 Tabatha Murphy and # 52 Jessica Power

PIC  3  Chris Raabe # 01 wins the SPORTSMAN DIRT SERIES race

PIC 4   Sprint Car action

PIC  5  Jessica Zemken after her Sprint Car 'Dash for Cash' win'

PIC  6  Glenn Styres wins the Sprint Car feature

PIC  7  That's me with former 'Gater' columnist Nicole Perault

PIC  8  358 Modified action

PIC  9  Inside Track Magazine editor Gregg McPherson

PIC 10  # 22 Mario Clair goes high, while # 77x Dale Planck stays low

PIC 11  Mario Clair wins the 358 SUPER DIRT SERIES race

PIC 12   Dale Planck becomes the 2009 Mr DIRT Smallblock Champion

PIC 13  Joey Ladouceur in action in his Pro Stock

PIC  14  Joey Ladouceur wins the DIRTCAR Pro Stock Series race.

PIC  15 Pete Stefanski becomes the 2009 Mr DIRT Pro Stock Champion

PIC  16  STREET STOCK action

www.rickattheraces.com

17/18 Oct Brockville Ontario Speedeway - The 2009 NorthEast Fall Nationals

Usually on the weekend that follows SUPER DIRT WEEK , you will find me, like many other Canadian dirt racing fans heading down to the Eastern States Championships at the Orange County Fair Speedway , Middletown, NY, but not this year !

In the recent past this great event has been the final round of the various Mr Dirt Series races. Well, in 2009 the OCFS was not part of the DIRTCAR organzation, so the weekend became vacant. This year the DIRTCAR 358 Modifieds and the DIRTCAR Pro Stocks had their final points races at the Brockville Ontario Speedway, along with the penultimate round for SPORTSMAN ( their final round is at the Black Rock Speedway, Dundee, NY this coming weekend)

Brockville promotors Paul and Cheryl Kirkland took on the ambitious task of hosting this major DIRTCAR 2009 curtain closer which went under the title of 'The North East Fall Nationals' . Not only were there three DIRTCAR divisions on the two day program, but Sprint Cars and Street Stocks too.

My Saturday morning (17 Oct) started with a mandatory safety meeting I had to attend at work in Cornwall (Ont) . These are always a 'pain' but thankfully only last a few hours. It was over by 11-00am and I was soon heading down Hwy 401 on the short journey to Brockville. The weather forecast was for sunshine all weekend and on arrival I found the pits were already filling up with race cars. It was a bit chilly, but heh ! What do you expect for mid October?

Saturdays show consisted of a full program for Sprint Cars, a SUPER DIRT SERIES event for SPORTSMAN, plus the qualifying heats for Sundays 358 Modified SUPER DIRT SERIES race.

In the SPORTSMAN 50 lapper, current Mr Dirt, Chris Raabe made it look easy, taking the checkers after fending off an early challenge by Justin Wright. Up until this point everything was going smoothly, but during the SPORTSMAN race, electric power in the area surrounding the track went out. By now it was late afternoon/early evening and it was almost time to put the floodlighting on. There was still the Sprint Car feature to run but time was running out. The victory photos of Raabe were quickly done, while he sat in his car on the center, as the Sprints were hastily brought out on the track.

The Sprint Car drivers gave the thumbs up, that conditions were OK and the race was started. It was completed just in the nick of time before it became too dark. The race was won by Oshweken Promotor, Glenn Styres who was followed over the line by runner up Steve Poirier and Jessica Zemken in third, who'd earlier won the 'Dash for Cash'.

Now that Saturday's show was in the bag, it was time for the partying to begin. The field adjacent to the track had been turned into a camp ground and I was staying overnight in my buddy Roger Aubin's motor home. Beef on a Bun was on offer to the revellers and a band played aloft a flat bed trailer. To keep everyone warm a bon fire had been lit. During the socializing it was good to meet up with my old friend Nicole Perault, a former writer for the Gater Racing News. Nicole from Iberville, Quebec has been absent from the Dirt tracks for a while due to work commitments . The little bit of racing she has seen , has been restricted to the paved stuff at the Thompson Speedway in Connecticut.

Sunday, as the weather men predicted, was another sunny day, and a little bit warmer. Power to the area had been restored and we were all set for another great day.

The Sprint Cars and SPORTSMAN, had departed and the 358 Modifieds were joined in the pits by Pro Stocks and Street Stocks. Like Saturday, I stationed myself on the center close to the fourth turn to snap the action. It was here I met up with my friend Gregg McPherson, editor of INSIDE TRACK RACING NEWS. He was in the area for family function, so took time out to take in some dirt action. He seamed to be enjoying it.

First of the feature races to be run was the 100 lap 358 SUPER DIRT SERIES event. From the green flag Quebec's Mario Clair took the lead which he kept until lap 47 when New York's Dale Planck took over. Clair had been riding the top groove while Planck preferred the bottom, then following a caution on lap 77 the Frenchman regained the lead. Planck's preferred groove wasn't as quick, and the high riding Clair went on to take the checkers. Plancks second place was enough to clinch the 2009 Smallblock Mr DIRT SERIES.

The Pro Stock feature was next and the sports top two drivers Joey Ladouceur and Pete Stefanski, both drew front row positions. With this kind of scenario, the 50 lapper as you'd expect , wasn't too exciting as Ladouceur claimed a flag to flag victory. Dave Bissonnette was second and Dion Oakes was third. Stefanski had slipped back to sixth, but I'm sure he didn't mind ! It was good enough to claim for the 2009 Mr DIRT Championship for Pro Stocks.

The final feature of the weekend was for the Street Stocks which was won by Steve Billings.

The inaugural staging of the NORTH EAST FALL NATIONALS was a great success and I have to compliment Paul and Cheryl Kirkland for taking on such a big gamble, and making it such a memorable occasion.

As I mentioned in my last report, it has already been announced that for 2010 the Big Block Modifieds will be part of the show.

Meanwhile, down in Middletown, NY, Sundays Eastern States 200 lapper had to be postponed due to bad weather.

Goodyear and American Canadian Tour reach agreement through 2014

Waterbury, VT – The American Canadian Tour (ACT) sanctioning body announced today that they have renewed an agreement with Goodyear Racing to utilize various Goodyear produced racing tires through 2014.

Tom Curley, President of the ACT, and managing partner of Thunder Road Speedbowl in Barre, Vermont said, "Goodyear is known the world over as the pre-eminent racing tire. The introduction of the Goodyear brand has been one of the most important decisions we have made over the past decade. The various Late Model tracks that have joined the ACT business model have made Goodyear their tire of choice, and race teams unanimously have endorsed this decision."

ACT was instrumental in working with Goodyear engineers and marketing personnel in the research and development of the 8" slick currently used at ten (10) ACT affiliate tracks and on both the ACT US Touring Series and Série ACT Castrol in Canada.

"I remember the first test we did on this tire six years ago. It was early November and we had to shovel the snow off Thunder Road to get the test conducted. We ran that first tire test for what seemed like 500 laps under pretty awful conditions, and then tested again in the Spring after the engineers 'tweaked' a few things. The Goodyear tire and ACT crate motor, along with the other cost-saving systems that have been implemented, have turned out to be the best thing that has happened to racing in our region," said Late Model driver Joey Laquerre, a fifty year veteran of stock car racing.

Laquerre also tested the seven inch (7") treaded tire for the popular "Tiger Sportsman' division at Thunder Road. "We have now been on the tire for a couple of years and it works great", he said. The 7" treaded tire, which is being used at both Thunder Road and Airborne Park Speedway, services a limited Late Model type car.

Scott Junod, Goodyear Sales Manager, Short Track Racing, said, "We have enjoyed tremendous growth in the Northeast short track market over the past five race seasons with our ACT affiliation. All of us, including Goodyear Race Tire engineers Graham Carney and Joel Reichert, have especially enjoyed and appreciated working with the ACT teams in the continuing development of both our Late Model units and the Sportsman tire."

The Goodyear model D2672 and D2882 model tires are used at Thunder Road Speedbowl in Barre VT, New Hampshire tracks Lee USA Speedway, White Mountain Motorsport Park, and Twin State Speedway. Oxford Plains Speedway in Maine, as well as Seekonk Speedway in Massachusetts are also part of the ACT Late Model program. Tracks using the Goodyear brand through the ACT program in Canada include Capital City Speedway in Ottawa and the Kawartha Downs Speedway in Ontario. Both the ACT US Tour and the Série ACT Castrol utilize the Goodyear slick.

Circle J Tires is the supplier of Goodyear tires on behalf of ACT in the United States. Contact number is 802.244.6964. For more information on Goodyear racing tires visit the Goodyear web page at www.racegoodyear.com.

For additional information contact the ACT office at 802.244.6963 or media@acttour.com 

PRIZE FUND VALUED AT $1.5 MILLION DISTRIBUTED DURING POST-RACE AWARDS CEREMONY FOR 2009 STAR MAZDA CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY GOODYEAR

Chateau St. Julien / Carmel, CA – Hours after concluding the 2009 season in the most dramatic fashion possible, with a hard-fought, championship-clinching victory by English racer Adam Christodoulou, drivers, teams, crew and officials of the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear gathered at the Chateau St. Julien winery in the scenic Carmel Valley for the Series awards presentation ceremony.

In addition to the fully-sponsored ride in the 2010 Atlantic Championship won by the Series champion, the $575,000 in cash and prizes presented to the top-15 finishers and various other prizes awarded both at the ceremony and on a race-by-race basis during the season, the 2009 Star Mazda Championship prize fund totaled $1.5 million.

The Top-3 Finishers / $971,000 total
Christodoulou, with a season record of three wins, two poles and nine podium finishes driving the #11 JDC Motorsports / Molecule / Alpinestars / Miller Milling Company Mazda, won not only the series championship but also 'Rookie of the Year' and collected checks for $100,000 and $10,000 respectively. He also collected a $1,000 check for being the top-finishing driver participating in the Racing for Kids program, with the presentation made by RFK public relations director Ron Hingst. An equal amount was donated to the children's hospital of Christodoulou's choice.

His big prize, valued at $750,000, came in the form of the ceremonial presentation of a MAZDASPEED driving suit and helmet that symbolizes a full-season sponsorship in the 2010 Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda. Christodoulou will test with several Atlantic teams and an announcement concerning his 2010 plans will be made in coming weeks.

The Star Mazda Championship is a major rung on the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Driver Development Ladder, the only automaker-supported ladder system in auto racing today that reaches all the way from karting to the top levels of the sport. 2008 Star Mazda champion John Edwards won the 2009 Atlantic Championship in the season finale at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Star Mazda Championship graduates also include Indy Racing League stars Marco Andretti, Graham Rahal and Raphael Matos (the 2005 Star Mazda champion), as well as rising NASCAR stars Michael McDowell (the 2004 series champion) and Colin Braun. 2007 champion Dane Cameron currently races full-time in the #30 Racers Edge Mazda RX-8 GT1 car.

Finishing second, with a record of five wins, five poles and six top-10 finishes, was Peter 'The Irish Steamroller' Dempsey, racing the #3 Juncos Racing / The Collection / Motorsport Ireland / Queyside.ie Mazda. Heading into the season finale at Mazda Raceway, Dempsey was the championship leader and needed finish only sixth or better to clinch the championship. After qualifying on the pole, Dempsey (who won four Star Mazda races in 2008) was spun out on the first lap by contact from another car, ending his championship hopes. He still collected a check for $70,000 and his attention-getting performance this season makes it highly likely he will advance his career next season.

Finishing third in the championship and collecting a check for $50,000 was Conor Daly, the 2008 Skip Barber Pro Series champion and winner of the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Driver Development Ladder scholarship that provided funding for his 2009 Star Mazda Championship season at the wheel of the #22 Andersen Racing / College Network / Indeck / Cytomax Mazda. Daly, the son of racing legend Derek Daly, scored one win, one pole and six podium finishes in his rookie season in the Star Mazda Championship. He tested open-wheel cars in Europe between races toward the end of this season and seems firmly on the path to a career in Formula One.

It's also worth noting that the two young Americans who won the Team USA Scholarship to race in England's prestigious Formula Ford Festival and Walter Hayes Trophy in coming weeks – Skip Barber Pro Series champion Connor De Phillippi and Jim Russell Championship racer Bret Smrz – are driving cars fielded by Cliff Dempsey Racing (Peter Dempsey's father). De Phillippi will race in the Star Mazda Championship in 2010 with backing from the MAZDASPEED Ladder program.

4th through 15th-place finishers/ $296,500 total
More than 35 drivers participated in one or more Star Mazda Championship races during the 2009 season, with a top field of 33 cars (a number equaled only by the Indy 500) in Round 3 at Miller Motorsports Park. The Series pays prize money down to 15th place in the points, including;

4th / $40,000 -- Alex Ardoin driving the #51 JDC Motorsports / Oral & Facial Surgery Center / Twister Trailer Mazda (one win, five podiums, six top-5s and ten top-10s)

5th / $35,000 – Joel Miller driving the #2 Andersen Racing / Doug Mockett & Co. / Allied Interior Products Mazda (three podiums, seven top-5s, nine top-10s)

6th / $30,000 – Anders Krohn driving the #27 Mundill / Trallfa / Colosseum Mazda (one win, one podium, three top-5s and nine top-10s)

7th / $27,000 – Richard Kent driving the #33 Andersen Racing / Traka Allied Interior Products Mazda (two wins, four poles, two podiums, six top-5s and nine top-10s)

8th / $25,000 – Caio Lara driving the #19 JDC Motorsports / MLD / ATW/ Molecule Mazda (four top-5s, eleven top-10s. He also won the VP Fuel "Most Improved Driver Award" worth an additional $5,000)

9th / $22,500 – Jorge Goncalvez driving the #72 AIM Autosport / Mazda (three top-5s, seven top-10s)

10th / $20,000 – Michael Furfari driving the #13 Team Mundill / Furfari Paving Mazda (eight top-10s)

11th / $18,000 – Denis Navarro driving the #21 Andersen Racing / Navarro Medicines Distribution / Allied Interior Products Mazda (eight top-10s)

12th / $16,000 – Rusty Mitchell driving the #66 Mitchell Motorsports / Motorola Mazda (one pole, one podium, two top-5, four top-10s. He also won the Quartermaster "Clutch Performer Award" worth an additional $5,000)

13th / $14,000 – David Ostella driving the #71 AIM Autosport/Global Precast Mazda (one podium, six top-10s)

14th / $12,000 – Toshihiro Deki driving the #80 Juncos Racing /D-Techniques Mazda (five top-15s, nine top-20s, three in-class victories in the Expert Series (drivers 30-44 years old). He also won the BBS "Hard Charger Award" worth $5,000 and was second in the Expert Series for an additional $5,000)

15th / $10,000 – Kevin Toledo driving the #77 Eliseo THL Mazda (two top-10s, ten top-20s)
Experts and Masters / $35,000 total

The Star Mazda Championship is unique in featuring race-within-a-race categories for more mature drivers in whom the competitive fire still burns brightly. The Expert Series is for drivers 30-44 years of age and the Master Series is for drivers 45 and older. In 2009, Chris Cumming, the Vancouver, B.C. resident who drives the #16 World Speed Motorsports Mazda scored seven in-class wins and won a repeat of his 2008 championship; he collected a check for $10,000. Finishing second was Japanese racer Toshihiro Deki, driving the #80 Juncos Racing / D-Techniques Mazda. In addition to finishing 14th overall in the series, he scored three Expert Series victories and won $5,000. Finishing third was Californian Patrick O'Neill who scored two in-class victories driving the #64 Mundill / O'Neill Construction Mazda.

In the Master Series, Californian Mike Guasch clinched the championship early, with a win in Round 10 on the road circuit at the legendary Grand Prix de Trois Rivières in Quebec, Canada. Driving the #91 JDC Motorsports / Molecule / MG4 Manufacturing Mazda, Guasch scored six in-class wins and won $10,000. Finishing second was North Oaks, Minnesota resident Gerry Kraut, co-owner of the championship-winning JDC Motorsports team and CEO of a venture capital firm. Driving the #55 JDC Motorsports / Dougherty & Co. / Dougherty Funding LLC Mazda, he scored three in-class wins and won $5,000. Finishing third was Tarpon Springs, Florida racer Walt Bowlin, driver of the #23 Team Mundill / Hooters / Tampa Bay Jaw Surgery Mazda. He scored six in-class top-3 finishes and was awarded $2,500.

Team Championship / $22,500 total
The Star Mazda Championship 'Team Championship' is based on points earned by each team's two highest-finishing cars. Even in the case of larger teams, only the top-2 count toward the championship. Smaller, one-car teams get a bonus of 5 points per race to compensate and allow them to compete against larger teams.

Winning the team championship, and a check for $10,000, with a total of 366 points was JDC Motorsports. The team, co-owned by John Church and Master Series racer Gerry Kraut, won the series championship with Adam Christodoulou and JDC drivers took two poles (Christodoulou) and won four races in 2009 (three of Christodoulou and one for Alex Ardoin); JCD also won the team and overall series championship in 2007 with Dane Cameron.

Finishing second in the team championship was Andersen Racing, last year's series and team championship winner with John Edwards, who went on to win this year's Atlantic Championship. Andersen Racing drivers won five poles (four for Kent and one for Daly) and four wins (three for Kent and one for Daly). Andersen Racing scored 333 points and won $7,500.

Awards of Merit / $19,000 total
The Quartermaster "Clutch Performer Award" is designed to keep drivers motivated in the home stretch by scoring the most points earned by a competitor in the final six races of the season. The trophy and check for $5000 was presented to Rusty Mitchell, driver of the #66 Mitchell Motorsports / Motorola Mazda.

The BBS 'Hard Charger Award" is scored over all 13 races during the season and is presented to the driver who gains the most places in total from the beginning to end of the races. The prize, a custom-made coffee table made from a polished BBS wheel and etched glass top, plus a set of four BBS racing or BBS road car wheels (valued at $5,000), was presented to Toshihiro Deki.
The VP Fuel "Most Improved Driver Award" is a consensus award that is nominated by all participants, drivers and teams, in the Star Mazda Championship. It is awarded to the driver who has shown the most growth and improvement as a driver. A trophy and check for $5,000 were presented to Brazilian racer Caio Lara, driver of the #19 JDC Motorsports / MLD / ATW/ Molecule Mazda.

The Performance Friction Company "Crew Member of the Year Award" is also the result of nominations from all Star Mazda Championship participants and is awarded to the team member who has done a consistently outstanding job throughout the season. The award, and a check for $1,500, was presented to Lead Mechanic Allen Oppel of Andersen Racing.

The President's Cup, also known as the "Spirit of the Star Mazda Championship Award" is also a consensus award, ultimately decided by the President of the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear, Gary Rodrigues. It, along with a check for $2,500, is awarded to the person who most typifies the qualities and character that the Star Mazda Championship values and promotes; for 2009, that person was Ricardo Juncos, owner of the Juncos Racing team that so nearly won the championship in its first year of Star Mazda competition with driver Peter Dempsey.
________________________________
For more information on the Star Mazda Championship and its drivers, as well as the Mazda Motorsports ladder system, please visit http://www.starmazda.com/ and http://www.mazdausa.com/. For information, interviews and photos, contact Star Mazda Communications Director Peter Frey at (818) 398-5733 or StarMazdaPR@aol.com.
________________________________
On any given weekend, there are more Mazdas on the road-race tracks of America than any other brand of vehicle. At the track, you’ll see MX-5 Miata, RX-8, MAZDA3, MAZDA6, RX-7 and other vintage Mazda models competing, because every Mazda has the Soul of a Sports Car.
For more information on the various Mazda spec series, visit:
http://www.atlantic-championship.com/ http://www.skipbarber.com/ http://www.mx-5cup.com/

Leaf Racewear 25th. Anniversary Open House & Sale

Leaf Racewear is pleased to announce that our 25th Annual Open House & Sale begins this Saturday, October 24, 2009 and runs through Saturday, October 31.

In the past this sale has offered our customers HUGE SAVINGS on all our products and this year will be no different! Everything will be marked down and our website Product Clearance section will have more product priced to sell!

Orders may be placed over the phone, fax, email, website or in person at our London, Ont. factory. If ordering online through our website, sale pricing will be calculated by one of our sales staff once the order has been received and we will send a confirmation email and/or phone call to confirm the sale pricing with you.

Sale pricing will be available on line online at www.leafracewear.com by Thursday evening. This is a great time to take advantage of these once a year saving and get a jump on the 2010 season.

For more information please visit : www.leafracewear.com or contact us at (800) 731-7735.

Inside Track Canadian Racers Contingency Program

For those of you who have displayed Inside Track decals on your racing vehicle this past season (Thank you!!) and who are eligible for free 'Thank your sponsor(s)' ads in Inside Track Motorsport News, it's time to complete and submit your information sheets and high-resolution JPG images. Instructions on what we need to produce your ad are on the forms. Click on the image above to review the eligibility guidelines.

CLICK HERE to download a PDF of the submission form.

Or CLICK HERE to download the form in MS Word form.

Part of being eligible for a free ad ($400 value) is to be a subscriber in good standing to Inside Track, so if you ran the decal but have not yet subscribed, CLICK HERE to download a copy of the subscription form or call (416) 962-7223.

Remember, this program is open to all Canadian grassroots racers (not just stock cars). Thank you to everyone who displayed Inside Track decals this season! A sample of what the eventual ad will look like is below.

BROCKVILLE: Ladouceur Dominates BOS Fall Nationals, Stefanski Wraps Up Record 4th Mr. DIRTcar Pro Stock Championship

*Rick Young Photo Attachment // Brockville, ONT – October 18, 2009 – By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing Northeast PR Director

Second-generation standout Joey Ladouceur finished right where he needed to in capturing the inaugural DIRTcar Northeast Fall Nationals 50-lap Pro stock title race Sunday evening at Brockville Ontario Speedway.

And so did Pete Stefanski as his sixth-place feature finish locked up an unprecedented fourth straight overall Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Championship in the 2009 full-fender finale.

“Pete’s been tough the past four years, we’ll just have to come back next season and give him another run,” remarked Ladouceur, 33, who offered Stefanski his stiffest competition yet in the new millennium. Despite scoring five wins and posting six fast times in the nine-race championship series, the Alexandria, Ont. pilot still fell 13 points shy of a second title while extending his DIRTcar rule with an eighth top-10 finish. “Its just been a dream year any other way you look at it.”

“I like the slick stuff we had out there today, kinda separates the men from the boys a little bit. For me, I like when you gotta be consistent and smooth. This is a good series we got racing against a solid group of guys. I’m happy to be a part and have some success in it as well,” said the 2004 Mr. DIRTcar champion who now ranks third all-time with 13 series victories.

Veteran Dave Bissonnette was the closest to Ladouceur over 2.3-seconds behind, while ’06 DIRTcar division rookie Dion Oakes, Stephane Lebrun and first-year tour follower Rob Yetman filled out the front-five just ahead of Stefanski.

“We knew Joey would be strong here, just like he has been everywhere else this year,” said Stefanski, 39, who opened the series with a pair of wins to increase his career-high total to 23. Stefanski and Ladouceur also rank 1-2 all-time on the DIRTcar Northeast circuit scoring 88 and 72 Pro Stock wins respectively.

“It just comes down to one or two races, whether you have good luck or bad luck. We both had our share this season, we’re just fortunate to come out on top.”

The pre-race draw among the top-12 heat race qualifiers unfolded just like nearly every event on this year’s Pro Stock tour, with Ladouceur snatching up the pole and Stefanski selecting #2 to join his modern-day rival on the front row. Earlier in the day Ladouceur had set fast time and ran away with his heat while Stefanski won his own qualifier after running 16th-fastest under the clocks in the familiar Sunrise Racing no. 2 San Ter Sewing-PJ NFB Auto Sales/Chevrolet Monte Carlo/EMS.

As soon as the initial green flag dropped down from the starter’s stand Ladouceur was able to open up a commanding lead. And despite nine caution periods slowing the action on the slippery 3/8-miler, he repeatedly pulled away at will on every ensuing restart aboard his sleek Coffrage 20-20 Minimax Express no. 92 Cadillac-STS Stinger X machine.

“It should be good but sometimes its tough starting up front, you can’t see what the other guys are doing behind you,” noted Ladouceur, after extending his DIRTcar Northeast best Pro Stock win total to 15. “Nobody ever showed me anything so we just kept doing what we started and it worked out perfect.”

After suffering a flat tire to bring out a second yellow flag after just two laps around, Bissonnette was able to charge back to second, while Stefanski stayed in his runner-up slot only a few laps before experiencing a gradual descent the remainder of the way.

“I just tried to stay in the top-5 but towards the end of the race we started pushing a bit,” added Stefanski, after the Wheatfield, N.Y. driver finished out of the front-five for just the second time on tour all season. “With all the lapped cars getting up in there they caused a lot of melee that almost took us out.”

“One of the front runners ran into a lapped car and got him sideways, then put him in my lane and he turned back across. It was just rough and we were getting bounced around a little back there. For the most part we were playing a little conservative, when the opportunity was there we were ready to go for it,” Stefanski said.

With the race well in hand for Ladouceur from lap one, the action in his rear-view mirror provided plenty of position swapping among the top-10 racers. At the halfway mark Louie Jackson held down second followed by Oakes, fast-moving Bissonnette and Stefanski, while Yertman and Lebrun looked for room both high and low as the laps dwindled.

The biggest scare for Stefanski came with just eight laps to go as Central New Yorker Jack Terrell got wide exiting turn four right in front of the Wheatfield, N.Y. chauffeur and the resulting front-end contact shuffled him from fourth to sixth. Harvey Arquette stopped high out of turn two to incur the final caution period giving Stefanski ample time to regroup for the lap 47 restart.

Finishing behind Stefanski (1157) and Ladouceur (1144) in the final 2009 Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Pro Stock Series Championship point standings are P.J. Peters (1021), early race casualty Don Carlson (1009), Dion Oakes (956), Rob Yetman (954), Stephane Lebrun (923), Dave Bissonnette (876), Roch Aubin (817) and Sean Corr (805).

BROCKVILLE: Clair Wins BOS Battle, Planck Wins Points War In Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Ranks

*Rick Young Photo Attachment // Brockville, ONT – October 18, 2009 – By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing Northeast PR Director

Sunday was a day of firsts on the DIRTcar Racing Northeast circuit as Dale Planck clinched his first-ever Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Championship following the inaugural DIRTcar Northeast Fall Nationals staged over the weekend at Brockville Ontario Speedway.

And in a fitting ending when the first time an overall Mr. DIRTcar champion was crowned on Canadian soil, Frenchman Mario Clair scored a victory in the 100-lap Small-Block finale to collect $4,000 for his initial tour triumph north of the border.

“Beating someone of Dale’s caliber is truly a great honor,” was Clair’s translation in victory lane made by Canadian Series Director Brian Mulligan following the St-Edmond, Quebec driver’s second career win on tour. A weekly runner at autodromes Granby and Drummond during the summer, 2007 Mr. DIRTcar titlist Clair scored his first series win in 2008 at Mohawk Int’l Raceway.

“We’ve been running so many tracks the last few years trying to improve. This is certainly a big win for us with such good drivers in competition. I like coming here and hopefully I can continue to do well following this exciting series,” Clair continued through an interpreter.

Overtaking race-long leader Clair just shy of the halfway mark before giving back the point 30 laps later, Planck held off Clair’s teammate David Hebert for the runner-up spot while the Canadian contingent of Pat O’Brien (Ontario) and Yan Bussiere (Quebec) filled out front-five positions in the Brockville season-finale.

With time trials and qualifying heat races run off the day before, a draw for the top-12 starting positions was held minutes before the first green flag dropped to begin the 100-lap 358-Modified main. Clair was the last man in line finishing third in the fourth heat and waiting for him was the #2 as he joined the youngest of three racing brothers, Tim O’Brien, on the front row to head the 32-car field.

Clair was up to the task from lap one, putting his Resist O no. 22 Batiments JDL-Motel Drummond/Bicknell mount far ahead in the early stages while a shift in second-place status carried through during the first half of the race. Fourth starting Stewart Friesen held down second before Planck used the low lane to take over on lap 21 and set his sights on the French favorite who was successfully navigating the high line around Brockville’s smooth 3/8-miler.

With six caution periods all for minor spins slowing the pace during the first third of the race, Planck kept the RezX Racing no. 77x Grow It Hydroseeding/TEO entry glued to the inside groove waiting patiently for his chance to overtake Clair. That opportunity finally arrived as the veteran open-wheel pilot from Cortland, N.Y. ducked low out of turn four to forge his first lead on lap 48.

At the halfway point Clair remained a solid second followed by Pat O’Brien, Bussiere and Hebert, while Tim O’Brien, Friesen, Planck’s closest contender in points Pete Bicknell, rookie Jeremy Wilder and Pierre Dagenais rounded out the top-10. Two-thirds of the way through, 13 cars remained on the lead lap with fellow Frenchmen Martin Gagne and Clement Therrien, along with popular Port Colborne, Ont. driver Larry Lampman Jr. able to keep the leaders in sight.

The yellow lights flashed for the 12th and final time on lap 74 when Dagenais looped his no. 124 Bicknell machine in turn three to tighten the field for the last restart. And that’s all that Clair needed as he blasted by as soon as the green flag reappeared and only needed to navigate lapped cars as the remaining laps clicked off.

And late race traffic was just what Planck was banking on to provide a final chance to pick up his first series win of the season. With just three laps to go, Clair closed in the quartet of Kyle Dingwall, Bobby Herrington, Dagenais and Therrien as Planck put himself in prime position to take advantage of any sudden miscue. Yet that opening never materialized and Clair actually crossed the finish line pushing Therrien under the checkers as Planck trailed by .25-second at the stripe.

“The fact that David finished third in my other car makes this even more special,” smiled Clair, who celebrated his 37th birthday in victory lane at Brockville after his first career victory at the ‘City of the 1000 Islands’ oval that closed out its own 40th Anniversary season of racing. “After Syracuse I heard he was all done for the season so I gave him my back-up. I only warned him not to pass me, that was good for me today.”

Planck settled for the runner-up position for the fourth time this season in 11 series stops, adding in eight more top-10 finishes to put him on top in the final Hoosier-VP Mr. DIRTcar point standings.

“Mario had a helluva run on the outside, I was just waiting for someone to go up top,” remarked Planck, 39, a winner of six 358-Modified features at Brockville, all in 2000. “I played it kind of safe down there on the bottom most of the way. Just wanted to finish this race in one piece so second is all good.”

“Mario is always fast so I can’t really ask for much more. The track was in great shape , good on the top, bottom and in the middle, so we got to put on a heckuva race. This is a great way to cap off a season, especially here in Canada,” Planck said.

Added Herbert after posting his third top-five finish in just five series events, “I wish I had a few more laps to get a little closer to Dale at the end. Mario gave me a great car, I think I could’ve done better with more time out there.”

Following Dale Planck (1262) in the final 2009 Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Series Championship point standings are Pete Bicknell (1180), Larry Lampman Jr. (1143), Danny O’Brien (1118), Mario Clair (1042), Carey Terrance (1028), Chad Brachmann (1023), Jeremy Wilder (983), Mat Williamson (938) and Lance Willix II (930).