Fredericton, NB – Mother nature has not been to kind to us lately as it has rained on our parade or so to speak the past couple weekends. She did not win this weekend. All week the forecast has been showing rain for this weekend. Track officials made the decision to wait until later in the day to make the decision whether to race or not to race. The right decision was definitely made as the races went on and what exciting racing it was.
It was the first FANFEST 2009 presented by Sojourn Signs + Weekly Racing event at Speedway 660 and it was a huge success. Drivers, crews and race fans of all ages were admitted into the track for FREE. This was a great opportunity to show appreciation for all the support that the drivers, crews and fans show each and every week. It was good to see a lot of regular race fans and a lot of new faces in the crowd tonight. Guaranteed they will become regulars now that they have seen what they have been missing. Racing is a wonderful sport and one that can be very addictive once you have heard the cars, and have seen racing from some of the finest drivers in Canada each and every week.
In the Coast Tire Street Stock division, Rick Cashol came out strong winning his heat, dash and feature and taking home the Robin’s Inn Hat Trick Award. Cashol is a contender each and every week. He had a little weight lifted off his shoulders tonight as he was not pulling double duty by racing in both the Coast Tire Street Stock and Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman divisions. It was reported that Bradley Logan was in the # 54 Sportsman car tonight. Logan has filled in for a few drivers this season. Finishing a strong second was Trent Noble and Matt Matheson also with a strong podium finish in third.
In the Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman Division, John Rankin was the big winner of the evening. Rankin has had a very good season thus far. Ranking finished second in the heat and dash and quickly moved though the field in the 30-lap feature to battle Dave Biggar for the lead. Rankin had a huge lead until the caution came out. Rankin got back out front and never looked back. This is a very exciting and al competitive division and tonight was a great show. Dave Biggar also had a very good night winning his heat, dash and coming in third in the feature. Glyn Nott passed Dave Biggar to take second place.
In the Irving Lubricants ProStock division, Robert Tomlinson came out strong in the heat until the last lap when Brad Mann took the lead and went on to win the race. Tomlinson also lead the first part of the feature until the first caution when a couple of cars got together and spun. Brad Mann sprinted out to take the lead on the restart. Mann got shuffled back in the pack but came back to take fourth. Big Kevin Moore was the big feature winner of the evening. Greg Fahey challenged Mann but came up a little short ending up with a second place finish. Glen Rasmussen had a good night finishing in third. There were a couple familiar faces on track tonight as Dan Eddy and Jerry Curtis were in the Pro Stock field.
Next weekend will be the TWIN 100s-COAST TIRE "Best of the Best" Pro Stock 100 + Martins Home Heating Sportsman 100. Fans will see some exciting racing for sure.
From www.speedway660.com
SPEEDWAY 660: Fan Fest a big hit
NASCAR SPRINT CUP: Stewart Wins Wild Coke Zero 400 at DaytonaPowered By Coca-Cola
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The 51st annual Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola produced a thrilling finish as Tony Stewart captured his third career win in the mid-summer classic at Daytona International Speedway.
With the checkered flag in sight, Stewart, running second, attempted to pass leader Kyle Busch. Busch’s No. 18 and Stewart’s No. 14 Chevrolet made contact and Busch spun into the outside wall in the tri-oval.
The victory was Stewart’s third in July in the last five years and his 14th overall win at “The World Center of Racing.”
Stewart started on the pole after qualifying was rained out and the field was set according to point standings. He stayed near the front of the field all evening with the help of quick pit stops and led a race-high nine times for 86 of the 160 laps.
The Indiana native has now led 345 laps in the summer contest, the most of any active driver and sixth on the all-time list. The win also marked the second time Stewart has won the race from the pole, the most times of any driver.
“We had a strong car for sure,” said Stewart, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points leader. “It was nice to be able to drive away in a line up front and get away from the crowd in the back.”
Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top three and Busch, the defending winner of the race, was relegated to a 14th-place finish.
Hamlin, who seemed to have one of the strongest cars from the drop of the green flag, picked up his first top-10 finish in a points race at “The World Center of Racing”.
“Yeah, I don’t know how to finish in the top 10 here,” said Hamlin who led six times for 63 laps. “I can run up front for 95 percent of the time but can’t finish. I don’t think I’ve ever had a car this strong on a superspeedway. I’m proud of our whole team.”
Defending Daytona 500 champion Matt Kenseth kept his No. 17 Ford in the top 10 throughout the night and finished eighth.
This year’s race marked the 25th anniversary of Richard Petty’s 200th win. The milestone event took place July 4, 1984 with President Ronald Reagan in attendance – the first time a sitting President of the United States attended a NASCAR race.
Kyle Petty, former NASCAR driver and Richard’s son, served as Grand Marshal, giving the 43-car field and his dad the command to start their engines. Petty led the field during the parade lap in a replica 200th winning No. 43 car.
Daytona Beach native and NBA star Vince Carter served as Honorary Pace Car driver and Tampa Bay Buccaneer tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. was an Honorary Race Official. Papa John’s founder John Schnatter served as Honorary Starter.
Grammy-nominated rock band “Buckcherry” performed a pre-race concert and the National Anthem was sung by the 82nd Airbourne Chorus out of Fort Bragg, N.C.
From www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com
Cordeiro report; Things are looking greener!
Over 25 percent of sales were Clean Diesel TDI's
HERNDON, Va., July 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Volkswagen of America, Inc. today announced June 2009 sales of 19,027 units, representing an 18 percent decrease over June 2008. However, Volkswagen's award winning clean diesels posted their best sales month since their re-launch with 5,072 units, representing an impressive 26 percent of total sales.
The Jetta SportWagen once again posted its best sales month ever with sales of 1,982 units. Clean diesel TDI's accounted for 81 percent of SportWagen sales, 40 percent of Jetta sedan sales, and 29 percent of Touareg sales.
"Volkswagen of America is encouraged by the momentum of our clean diesel TDI sales," said Mark Barnes, Chief Operating Officer, Volkswagen of America, Inc. "It appears that U.S. consumers are starting to realize the many benefits of today's clean diesels--vehicles that attain more than 30 percent better fuel economy while emitting 25 percent less greenhouse gas emission, all without sacrificing driving dynamics," Barnes added.
Volkswagen also announced today that they have been named a corporate leader in Strategic Visions Total Quality Index® (TQI). For 2009, Volkswagen has the most models across the segments that were measured than any other brand--New Beetle, Rabbit, Jetta, CC, and Tiguan were all recognized as TQI leaders in their respective segments.
Visit Volkswagen of America online at vw.com or www.media.vw.com to learn more.
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Delaware Speedway: Night of Destruction this Friday
From John Houghton
NewsTalk 1290 CJBK night will be an evening not to be missed at Delaware Speedway. Friday night is the first scheduled Throne King’s RV Ramp Jump of the year. Kevin Overholt plans to pilot his Crown Victoria jump car, launch it over a set of ramps and straight through a pair of trailers.
Running support for the ramp jump will the wild Ultimate Sandblasting & Coating Chaos Cars in a special Friday night format. The last time the Chaos Cars hit the track, Gary Triska’s Blue Thunder took the win and moved to within striking distance of his chief rival, points leader Spencer Rabideau and his car Bush Bomb. What format the Chaos Cars run will remain a surprise until the day of the event, but fans can be sure it will be full of the crazy barrel turns and bus stops they have come to expect.
The evening, as well as a “night of destruction,” is aimed at supporting the Canadian Diabetes Association Clothesline Program, which hopes to collect four million kilograms of clothing during their 2009 campaign.
The Clothesline Program provides Canadians the opportunity to donate their reusable clothing and household items. It’s a free and convenient way for individuals to donate to the Canadian Diabetes Association, while doing their part to preserve our planet. 100% of the proceeds from clothing, which are sold at wholesalers across Canada, are used to support the Association’s mission of promoting the health of Canadians through diabetes research, education, service and advocacy.
Race fans and speedway staff are being asked to bring their reusable items to the race track that night to help the Diabetes Association reach its goal. Items accepted as donations include clothing, linens and shoes. The Diabetes Association will have trucks and staff on site to accept donations in support of Clothesline.
Also appearing at the track in support of the Canadian Diabetes Association and the Clothesline program initiative is Strongman Len Elliott of London, Ontario. At 6’2, 375 lbs Len is the third strongest man in Ontario in Strongman competitions and the oldest competitor in the series at age 42. A strongman is person who performs feats of strength such as pulling trucks, farmers walk (walking distance with weights), grip holds events, Hercules holds, dead lifts (lifting weights off the ground) and much more.
“Six years ago I found out I am a type-2 diabetic,” explained Elliott. “This means I am dependent on insulin, but I do maintain my sugar with diet and other pills. Having learned that I tried out for strongman in 2004 for the first time ever. I trained for two months and placed seventh. Today I am the third strongest in Ontario.”
Len will be performing some of these feats of strength on the spectator hill throughout the evening, and plans to pull a truck down the front straightaway before the ramp jump.
“After getting the education from the diabetes association and seeing how valuable they are, I got involved volunteering doing presentations and weightlifting demonstrations for schools and groups,” said Elliott. “My principal message it to ‘get off your but’ - - I mean the ‘buts’ the prevent us from doing the things that contribute to a healthy lifestyle: ‘but, I’m busy, but I’m tired, but my tv show is on, but there’s not enough time’. The answer is to get off your butt and actually do something to be somewhat active. You don’t have to do what I do as a strong man, it’s about living a healthier lifestyle.”
The Throne Kings Ramp Jump itself will conclude the evening. Kevin Overholt has jumped through an RV once before, at the Delaware Speedway season finale last September. Overholt is very enthused about this jump and has been working hard this season to bring the jump to the track.
“There are many partners who came together to make this a reality,” said Overholt. “Ofners Auto Sales, Whitworth Towing, BDS Frame & Alignment, Rona (Commissioners & Highbury), A Daisy Limousine Services, Stewart Automotive, Paint Plus, AutoTrim Design, Ponderosa Campgrounds Thamesford, Crazy Night Productions, Cathcart Autoparts have all helped to make this possible.”
The main racing program on Friday will feature NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action. The Demar Aggregates Trucks, Delaware Super Stocks and POWERADE Modifieds will all be running their weekly racing programs. Gates open at 6:00 pm, racing starts at 8:00 pm. Tickets are available in advance through the speedway’s website www.delawarespeedway.com.
Four Nights of DIRTcar Series Racing On Tap for Chris Raabe (June 30, 2009)
From Craig Revelle – Finish Line Web Design
The “Teenage Tornado” will be in full force this weekend, with Four consecutive nights of Mr. DIRTcar series racing, beginning on Thursday, July 2nd at the Rolling Wheels Raceway in Elbridge, New York. From there, the series will shift northeast to the Brewerton Speedway, just north of Syracuse on Friday, July 3rd.
On Saturday, July 4th, Raabe will make his season debut at the Brockville Ontario Speedway, where he is the defending winner of the Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman series race, and also reigning track champion. The weekend will wrap up on Sunday July 5th, for the inaugural stop on the series at the Cornwall Speedway.
Last weekend, on Friday night at the Can Am Motorsports Park, after an hour and a half delay due to rain, Raabe finished fourth in his qualifying heat, and lined up 12th in the 25-lap feature event. As the race started, a light rain began to fall over the Speedway, and after just 11 laps of racing, track officials were forced to postpone the remaining laps until Friday night, July 10th.
Saturday night, at the Thunder Alley Speed Park, Raabe took the lead on lap nine and never looked back as he drove his 2006 Scott Industrial Services, Kingston RV, Tyroute Telus, Corcoran Excavating, McColman Media, Kwik Load Products, Canadian Tire Cataraqui, Kingston Hyundai, Word for the World Ministries, Aaron’s Sales & Leasing, Endura Paints, Brunet Plumbing, Waste Management and Finish Line Web Design sponsored TEO car to victory lane for the third time in 2009 at Thunder Alley, and fifth time overall in 2009. With the win, Raabe now moves into the points lead.
After this week, and the four nights of Mr. DIRTcar tour racing, the 01 team will then shift its focus to the newly acquired asphalt car. The first race on the schedule for Raabe will be Saturday, July 11th at the Peterborough Speedway in Peterborough, Ontario. Chris will be making his debut in the Ontario Sportsman Series, and they will be running twin 50 lap features. More details can be found at www.peterbouroughspeedway.com.
Depending on sponsorship, the team hopes to run at least two more races with the Ontario Sportsman Series and then the final two events in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series. Those events are September 12th, at the Barrie Speedway in Barrie, Ontario and September 26th at Kawartha Speedway, near Peterborough, Ontario.
The team would like to thank its sponsors, fans and friends for their support throughout the 2009 season. Due to the economy, and lack of funding, we haven’t been able to run as many pavement races as we had originally planned, but we now have the car, and are very excited about the coming weeks.
The Chris Raabe t-shirts will be available shortly. Last week, there was a mix up at the printer, which delayed the process another week. Once they are done, they will be available for purchase at the team hauler on race night, as well as chrisraabe.com.
For more information on Chris Raabe, please visit www.chrisraabe.com.
PHOTO: Chris Raabe in Victory Lane at Thunder Alley (Rebecca Eisele Photo)
Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship: Round 4 report - Mirabel ICAR
Mirabel, Quebec - Canada's Best Drivers Racing Today's Hottest Touring Cars gave the fans what they paid to see & more during Round Four of the Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship presented by Toyo Tires this past weekend at the Jacques Villeneuve Mirabel Grand Prix at Circuit ICAR just north of Montreal. On the Mirabel Airport facility’s technical 3km tarmac road course, 30 drivers put on a pair of ‘shows’ in front of the large contingent of race fans.
To open Saturday afternoons heat race, GT Racing’s BMW drivers Greg Pootmans and Etienne Borgeat led Auto Analyser Lexus IS 300 pilot Andrew Wojteczko and Lombardi Racing’s Nick Wittmer and the other 26 drivers to the green flag and down into tight turns one & two. As Pootmans was forced wide in turn one Wojteczko, Borgeat and Wittmer were able to jump out ahead of him forcing him back to 7th position that would take Pootmans another 7 laps to fight his way back to 3rd place. Another GT Racing driver, David Bensadoun ran his BMW hard and was able to put himself in the top 5 in the Super Touring class for the end of the race.
The typical yet extremely exciting Touring Class battles began early as class pole sitter Alain Lauziere put his MINI Cooper right where he needed to be just ahead of Acura driver Nigel Heron & class points leader Anthony Rapone in his Honda Civic SI. On lap 11 Silvain Laporte & Patrick Seguin battled each other in their Honda’s to round out the top 5.
Sunday’s feature race was held under beautiful sunny skies as 27 drivers made the call to start the 30-minute race. Starting from the front row, Super Touring class drivers Andrew Wojteczko and Etienne Borgeat led the tightly packed field to the green flag. Borgeat suffered a mechanical failure on the second lap forcing him to park his BMW. Greg Pootmans always ready to pounce on an opportunity put his NorthWest Value Partners sponsored BMW into the 2nd spot and battled Wojteczko and his Lexus IS 300 for the balance of 19-lap race. Pootmans teammate Paul Dalla Lana charged into the number three position on lap two and never looked back. Eight Legs Racing’s Eric Hochgeschurz and Arek Wojciechowski brought their pair of BMW’s from their 8th & 9th starting positions and battled not only each other but GT Racing’s David Bensadoun for the entire race.
The intense battle in the Touring class was between MINI Cooper driver Alain Lauziere, Honda driver Anthony Rapone & Nigel Heron in his Acura Integra had the crowd on their feet the entire race. Lauziere broke out into an early lead leaving Rapone & Heron to battle amongst themselves for the first 11 laps. Lauziere’s gamble to get an early lead cost him dearly when his tires started to “go away” allowing Rapone & Heron to make up valuable lost ground. The last eight laps saw some of the closest, cleanest racing as Rapone did everything he had to keep Heron at bay with Lauziere waiting to pounce on any mistakes the two class front runners might make.
Tom Kwok ran his Honda Civic SI hard from the 26th starting position to gain eight positions putting him just behind Bully Clutch sponsored Patrick Seguin to round out the top five for the day.
During the podium festivities everyone in attendance was extremely delighted to have Canadian racing icon Jacques Villeneuve on hand the present the trophies to the class winners. Drivers & the fans alike were treated to autographs and pictures with the racing superstar.
The drivers and crews now prepare for one of the championship’s premiere road course events, The Honda Indy Toronto, July 10-12 2009.
Round Two Results
Saturday June 27th Heat Race
Super Touring Class
1st Place Andrew Wojteczko Caledon ON Lexus
2nd Place Etienne Borgeat Montreal, QC BMW
3rd Place Greg Pootmans Toronto, ON BMW
4th Place Nick Wittmer Montreal, QC Honda
5th Place David Bensadoun Montreal, QC BMW
Touring Class
1st Place Alain Lauziere Vaudreuil, QC MINI
2nd Place Nigel Heron Verdun, QC Acura
3rd Place Anthony Rapone Thornhill, ON Honda
4th Place Silvain Laporte Montreal, QC Honda
5th Place Patrick Seguin Rockland, ON Honda
Sunday June 28th Feature Race
Super Touring Class
1st Place Andrew Wojteczko Caledon ON Lexus
2nd Place Greg Pootmans Toronto, ON BMW
3rd Place Paul Dalla Lana Toronto, ON BMW
4th Place Arek Wojciechowski Toronto, ON BMW
5th Place Eric Hochgeschurz Toronto, ON BMW
Touring Class
1st Place Anthony Rapone Thornhill, ON Honda
2nd Place Nigel Heron Verdun, QC Acura
3rd Place Alain Lauziere Vaudreuil, QC MINI
4th Place Patrick Seguin Rockland, ON Honda
5th Place Tom Kwok Markham, ON Honda
The Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship Presented By Toyo Tires is Canada's Premiere Touring Car Series and features Canada's Best Drivers Racing Today's Hottest Touring Cars. The Championship is showcased at eight event weekends in Quebec and Ontario will marquee events at Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres and Honda Indy Toronto.
For further information check out www.touringcar.ca for the latest championship news.
For more information on Toyo Tires, please visit www.toyotires.ca. Toyo manufactures and distributes a complete line of replacement tires for high performance cars, luxury vehicles, light trucks and SUVs as well as tires for commercial trucks, buses and off-road and construction applications.
From Perry Iannuzzi // Communications Director
Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship Presented By Toyo Tires
Canada's Best Racers Driving Today's Hottest Touring Cars
www.touringcar.ca
