Category: Featured Other Series

On Thursday Oct. 30th, INDYCAR officials unveiled the 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series schedule, that will see the open-wheel cars race a diverse set of tracks from March to August.

“The Verizon IndyCar Series calendar represents another step forward in our strategy to grow the series,” Mark Miles, CEO of Hulman & Co., the parent of INDYCAR and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, said. “There were several factors that led to the positive momentum we experienced in 2014 and we will continue to execute on those initiatives – continuity in our broadcast schedule, strategic growth of our schedule and improvements to how we promote our events. The continued support from our television partners at ABC and NBCSN, and the ongoing collaboration with promoters, teams and sponsor partners gives us a lot of confidence about our future.”

The season will begin with the series’ first visit to Autódromo Internacional Nelson Piquet in Brasília, Brazil (March 8, NBCSN). IndyCar has gone to Brazil over the years, however did not make their annual trip south of the North American border in 2014. Brazil fans are passionate about open-wheel racing as both Tony Kanaan and Helio Castroneves come from Brazil.

“It’s great to see the Verizon IndyCar Series going back to Brazil and expanding internationally,” Andretti Autosport team owner Michael Andretti said. “Having a presence outside of the U.S. is important for the health of the series and a necessary part of growing the visibility and awareness opportunities in our industry.”

The Streets of St. Petersburg will slot in as the second race on the schedule, with the race still hosted on it’s usual weekend at the end of March (March 29th).

April will begin with the series’ debut trip to New Orleans’ NOLA Motorsports Park on the 12th, which was announced earlier this year in April. The state committed to making advancements to the track, worth $4.5 million, over the course of this year to have the newly-configured 13-turn, 2.67-mile road course ready. The race will be featured among a festival that includes food, music and other forms of entertainment. April will then end with Long Beach (April 19th) and Barber Motorsports Park (April 26), as the same with the season prior.

For the second straight year, the Month of May at Indianapolis Motor Speedway will kick-off with the Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis (May 9) and will be followed by Indy 500 qualifications (May 16-17)  before ending the month of racing on Memorial Day weekend with the 99th Running of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race (May 24) on the famed 2.5-mile oval.

The Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix returns as a doubleheader event (May 30-31) and is followed on the calendar by a night race at Texas Motor Speedway (June 6). The race on Streets of Toronto has moved (June 14) to accommodate the Pan American Games that are taking place throughout July and August. Notably, the streets of Houston will not return to the 2015 schedule.

Following Toronto, the series will head to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (Aug. 2) as it returns to its familiar date on the calendar.

While Auto Club Speedway hosted the season finale this past season, it will now be moved to June 27th, kicking off a four-race oval swing that includes the Milwaukee Mile (July 12) and Iowa Speedway (July 18) before heading to Pocono Raceway on August 23rd. There were concerns as to whether the series would return to Pocono Raceway in 2015 after discussions surrounding poor attendance, however the track remains on the 2014 schedule.

“Returning to Pocono in 2015 is great news,” Tony Kanaan, 2004 Verizon IndyCar Series champion and former Indianapolis 500 winner, said. “The ‘Tricky Triangle’ is a very challenging racetrack for us and it provides great racing and excitement for the fans. Continuity is the key word to rebuild our fan base for that region and INDYCAR and Pocono are working very hard and thankfully making it happen. I’m obviously happy to be able to return in 2015 and finish the strong race we had in 2014.”

The season will end with a trip to Sonoma Raceway on August 30th to crown the series’ champion, marking the first time an IndyCar Championship will end the season on a road course, versus ending at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Fontana Speedway in seasons prior.

“Sonoma has always been a great circuit for the Verizon IndyCar Series,” Scott Dixon, a three-time Verizon IndyCar Series champion and Indianapolis 500 winner, said. “People always ask what my favorite track is and I often say ‘the last one I won at’ so it’s perfect for me and Team Target. It’s a very technical and challenging track and the site of the biggest Target weekend each season from a partnership perspective.”

2015 Verizon IndyCar Series Schedule

Schedule subject to change

This past weekend at Peterborough Speedway, OSCAAR and the Hurricane Midgets announced a merger of the two traveling series, with the midgets now known as the OSCAAR Midgets.

The Hurricane Midgets have been under the direction of Charles Priestley over the past five years, expanding their traveled tracks and driver count over the years. Per the series press release, “this next step will bring the club and its drivers to the next level of promotion and recognition with the fans and tracks alike. It will also provide the Midgets with the staffing and tech crews required to properly manage this ever expanding group of racers”.

With the merger, OSCAAR president Dave Gainforth will become the day-to-day manager of the midgets, with Priestley remaining in the background to help the drivers during the transition.

“I’m very proud to take over the series,” Gainforth commented on Sunday. “It’s going to get bigger and better in 2015, and it’s our 25th anniversary so we’re very proud of how things have gone so far.”

The announcement makes OSCAAR the biggest touring series in southern Ontario as the midgets join the Super Late Models and Hanover Holiday Modifieds under the OSCAAR banner. Since the inception of OSCAAR, Gainforth has been able to take the SLMs to a wide variety of tracks, with some events featuring more than a full-field of 24 cars. The Modifieds just completed their third year under the OSCAAR banner, with more interest being generated for young drivers to join the ever-growing series.

On Sunday afternoon, Andrew Gresel would lead flag-to-flag en route to winning the OSCAAR Super Late Model Autumn Colors Classic 50 for the second straight year in a row. As a result of his solid season all year long with no finishes outside of the top six, he would be crowned the 2014 OSCAAR Super Late Model Champion.

Gresel got to start on pole alongside of Jesse Kennedy virtue of their one-two finish in the Chase for the Colors event during the summer. Kevin Cornelius would start third, followed by Corey Jones, Shawn Chenoweth, Mike Beyore, J.R. Fitzpatrick, Kelly Balson, John Owen, Jeff Dunford, Mark Dilley, Tyler Hawn, Dwayne Baker, Charlie Gallant, Kevin King, Brent McLean, Glenn Watson, Shane Gowan, Justin Jones, Gary Passer, Rob Bickle, Dave Doucette, Donny Varco, Craig Stevenson and Paul Harris. Before the green flag even dropped, there’d be problems for Cornelius as he would have to head down pit road to get the battery changed in his super late as a result of electrical problems. As a result, he would have to drop to scratch on the field.

Once the green flag fell, there’d be problems for the competitors as Beyore would get sideways off the corner, resulting in contact behind that sent both Corey Jones and Charlie Gallant around for the spin. There would then be a second caution at lap three for Cornelius getting into Bickle, sending Bickle down into the grass and collecting Justin Jones, Corey Jones and Doucette. With 47 laps to go, Gresel led Chenoweth, Fitzpatrick, Kennedy, Balson, Owen, Dilley and Baker.

The first attempt at a restart would bring forth the second caution as Stevenson would lose a tire, collecting Harris and Doucette in his mess. Cornelius would use the caution as an opportunity to try and diagnose his electrical issue. Fitzpatrick would be brought down pit road by officials to check whether he was leaking after some smoke was seen, but there’d no issues and he’d be allowed to return to the third spot. So now with 47 laps to go, Gresel led Chenoweth, Fitzpatrick, Kennedy, Balson, Owen, Dilley, Baker, Gallant, Watson, Gowan, Passer, Varco, King, Bickle, Beyore, Justin Jones, Hawn, Corey Jones, McLean, Dunford, Doucette and Cornelius.

Gresel would get a good restart to keep his advantage ahead of the field, while Cornelius would head down pit road at lap five, electrical issues still plagging the KDR Motorsports team. Chenoweth, Fitzpatrick and Kennedy would continues to run solid times, though Gresel would start to extend his lead ahead of the field a little. Behind them, Owen would begin his march towards the front, passing Balson for fourth before the caution flew at lap 17 for Justin Jones spinning, virtue of contact from Gowan. With 33 laps to go, Gresel led Chenoweth, Fitzpatrick, Kennedy, Owen, Balson, Dilley, Watson, Gallant, Gowan, Baker, Varco, Passer, Beyore, McLean, Corey Jones, Hawn, Bickle, Dunford, King and Doucette.

Gresel got another good restart, though it wouldn’t last for long as disaster would strike the entire field. Fitzpatrick’s super late would jump out of gear heading into turn one on lap 20, resulting in him slowly drastically. With some competitors not prepared for him slowing, contact would be made, with both Gallant and Varco catching some air in the process. In total, seven cars would get catch damage – Baker, Corey Jones, Varco, Passer, Gallant and McLean. With 31 laps to go, Gresel led Chenoweth, Kennedy, Owen, Dilley, Watson, Beyore, Gowan, Doucette, Bickle, Dunford, Corey Jones, Baker, Balson, King and Hawn.

Gresel would hold his advantage on the restart, staying in front of Chenoweth while Owen was able to get by Kennedy to move into third. Dilley would hold down fifth all the way till the caution flew at lap 26 for Hawn going flying off the turn one opening, as if he missed the turn. Hawn would get his car turned around, returning to the track. With 24 laps to go, Gresel led Chenoweth, Owen, Kennedy, Dilley, Watson, Beyore, Gowan, Doucette, Balson, Dunford, Bickel, Baker, King, Fitzpatrick and Hawn.

Another restart equaled another good job done by Gresel as he continued to hold the advantage over the field with Chenoweth and Owen keeping their spots, respectively. Kennedy’s car would start to fall off as he’d start to drop off the pace of the leaders, falling into the clutches of Beyore and Gowan. Meanwhile, both Baker and Fitzpatrick didn’t have the runs that they wanted as damage brought Baker to pit road at lap 33, with Fitzpatrick coming to pit road at lap 40 as a result of mechanical issues. The problems for competitors would continue with Doucette, King and Dunford getting tangled up together for a caution at lap 43. That’d be followed by a caution at lap 46 for Dunford going off the track in turn one. With four laps to go, Gresel led Owen, Chenoweth, Beyore, Gowan, Dilley, Watson, Kennedy, Balson, Bickel, Doucette, Hawn and Jones.

Andrew Gresel would get a good restart to claim his second straight Autumn Colors Classic victory. Shawn Chenoweth would get by John Owen in the late going to finish second, while Mike Beyore and Shane Gowan rounded the top five. Glenn Watson finished sixth, followed by Mark Dilley, Jesse Kennedy, Kelly Balson, Dave Doucette, Tyler Hawn and Rob Bickel.

After taking the lead at halfway, Brent McLean wouldn’t look back as he would lead the rest of the way en route to scoring the victory in the OSCAAR Hanover Holiday Modified Autumn Colors Classic 50.

“I was sick to my stomach in what could happen,” Brent commented post-race. “I just wanted it over with our luck for this year. I didn’t know what way it’d go. I may have run him a little high, but it’s the Classic and I wanted it badly.”

While Brent celebrated in victory lane, uncle Gary McLean would be officially crowned the 2014 OSCAAR Hanover Holiday Modified Champion, marking his third straight series championship.

When the feature started, it’d be Max Beyore and Davey Terry starting on the front row after finishing one-two at the Chase for the Colors in August. Matt Barton started third, followed by Gary Elliott, Dustin Jackson, Gary McLean, Brent McLean, Chad Strawn, Cory Horner, Drew Stieler, Tommy Robb and Erin McLean. Beyore would pull out to the early lead on the start ahead of Terry and Barton. Elliott would fall back after being passed by Gary Mclean before the first caution flew at lap three as a result of Horner spinning. Strawn would run sixth, followed by Brent McLean, Jackson, Brian McLean, Erin McLean, Ryan Dick, Stieler, Nick Lees, Terry Baker, Robb, Daniel Bois, Dean Scott, Duane Cinnamon, Bill Burrows and Richard Warnes.

The first attempt at a restart brought forth a caution as Gary McLean would spin Beyore out while the pair battled with Terry for the lead. Under caution, both Cinnamon and Warnes would stop in turn four. The second attempt at a restart would be messy as well, with Elliott taking a trip through the grass; Elliott would keep it clean and going, though, resulting in no caution.

Meanwhile, Barton would get by Terry to take over the lead in the event. Brian McLean’s poor luck at Peterborough would continue as he’d get backflagged for smoking on lap nine. Both Burrows and Cinnamon would go a lap down, making it dicey for the leaders as they went by. With the pair of lap cars battling for position, it blocked up the track and resulted in a chain reaction deal that sent Stieler for the spin at lap 20. With Stieler down out of the way in the grass and getting it back going, there would once again be no caution. The caution would fly two laps later, though, as a result of Dick stopping in turn two. Under the caution, Strawn would head down pit road with a motor issue. With 28 laps to go, Barton led Terry, Brent McLean, Baker, Lees, Gary McLean, Jackson, Beyore, Scott, Robb, Elliott, Bois, Stieler, Dick, Erin McLean, Strawn, Cinnamon and Burrows.

Brent McLean would get a good restart, clearing Terry for second before passing Barton for the race lead at the halfway mark at lap 25. He would be dealt a restart three laps later as the caution would fly for Gary Mclean going sliding through the infield grass and into the inside retaining wall, virtue of contact from Terry. With 22 laps to go, Brent McLean led Barton, Baker, Lees, Jackson, Beyore, Scott, Elliott, Robb, Horner, Dick, Terry, Stieler and Erin McLean.

Brent McLean would get a good restart ahead of Barton, Baker and Lees while Beyore would be able to get by Jackson for fifth before the next caution. The fifth caution would fly at lap 34 as a result of Scott spinning on the backstretch and collecting Horner and Cinnamon. With 16 laps to go, Brent McLean led Barton, Baker, Lees, Beyore, Jackson, Elliott, Robb, Terry, Dick, Bois, Stieler, Horner, Erin McLean, Scott, Burrows and Cinnamon.

Brent McLean would get another good restart and looked to be set to grab the checkered flag without anymore drama, though wouldn’t have it go as smoothly as he wanted. The caution would fly on the last lap when Jackson would spin, collecting both Burrows and Terry. As a result, there’d be a green-white-checkered.

Brent McLean mastered the GWC, running Barton up the track a little, picking up the victory. Max Beyore would get second after getting into Terry Baker on the final lap and sending him up the track. Nick Lees finished third, followed by Matt Barton, Gary Elliott, Tommy Robb, Cory Horner, Ryan Dick, Drew Stieler, Daniel Bois, Erin McLean, Terry Baker, Dustin Jackson, Dean Scott, Duane Cinnamon and Bill Buorrows.

In the final event of the season, James Rodgers got to feel what its like to visit victory lane as he would score the victory in the Autumn Colors Classic feature at Peterborough Speedway.

After flipping over at Sunset Speedway, Larry Lawson bounced back to pick up the victory in the first heat, ahead of Shawn Gardner, Josh Read, Ryan Brown, Brad Holmes, Katherine Summers, Dave Burrows, Shawn Stanley and Eric Davis.

Mike Bradley would win the second heat ahead of Lorne Van Dusen, Adam Carrothers, David Gallinger, Robin Mclean, James Stanley, Robert Summers and the 37.

The final heat would go to Rodgers ahead of Brian Woodland, Rob McCall, Jamie Bound, Paul Draganac, Richard Woodland, Owen Elliott and Mike McLaughlin.

Owen Elliott would win the b-main ahead of McLaughlin, Stanley, Robert Summers, Eric Davis, the 37 and Dave Burrows. Jessica James would pull off on lap two with a mechanical issue.

Come feature time, it’d be Jessica James starting on pole ahead of Larry Lawson, Ryan Brown, David Gallinger, Mike Bradley, James Stanley, Robin McLean, James Rodgers, Rob McCall, Paul Draganac, Richard Woodland, Jamie Bound, Adam Carrothers, Shawn Gardner, Owen Elliott, Mike McLaughlin, Shawn Stanley, Robert Summers and Eric Davis.

The action would break out immediately with a multi-car wreck on lap two involving the 92, McCall and Robin McLean. McCall and McLean would head down pit side due to damage, while Elliott would get the hook due to his damage. Once back under green, the battle for the lead took off with Lawson taking the lead on lap four, before Rodger took the lead on lap five. Bradley would head down pit road at lap eight due to issues, however wouldn’t make it all the way into the pits so therefore the officials would throw the flag. With 22 laps to go, Rodgers led Draganac, Brian Woodland, Lawson, Carrothers, Brown, Bound, Gallinger, Stanley, Dusen, Read and Richard Woodland.

Rodgers would get a good restart to hold on to the lead while Doug Galt would run into mechanical issues at lap 10. the caution would come out with five laps to go as a result of Brown spinning around in turn three and four. With five laps to go, Rodgers led Dragnac, Brian Woodland, Carrothers, Bound, Richard Woodland, Read, Dusen, the 87, Lawson, Stanley, McLaughlin, Summers and Davis.

James Rodgers would get a good restart to take home the victory for his first career Hurricane Midget feature victory. Paul Draganac would finish second ahead of Brian Woodland, Adam Carrothers and Richard Woodland. Jamie Bound would finish sixth to be crowned the 2014 Hurricane Midget Champion.

After a season filled with action across the board, the OSCAAR Super Late Models are set for their final event of the year – the Autumn Colors Classic. With the championship standings on the line, as well as the bragging rights for the ACC, everything was on the line during qualifying.

J.R. Fitzpatrick would win the first heat ahead of Corey Jones, Dwayne Baker, Kelly Balson, Dave Taylor, Justin Jones, Keith King, Dave Doucette and Gary Passer.

The second heat featured a quick caution at lap six when the 5 spun in turn three. Then on the last lap, the 5 would get together with Rob Bickle. Jesse Kennedy picked up the heat victory ahead of Mike Beyore, Kevin Cornelius, Charlie Gallant, Glenn Watson, Mark Dilley, Brent McLean, Bickle and the 5.

The third heat also had some tense moments with Tyler Hawn getting into Shane Gowan on lap two, resulting in a pile-up in turn three/four with Hawn, Gowan and Shawn Chenoweth. Then on the lap four, the 94 would go around in turn four. Andrew Gresel picked up the victory ahead of John Owen, Chenoweth, Hawn, Jeff Dunford, Gowan and the 94.

The fourth heat had plenty of action with Baker being turned into the turn three/four grass area virtue of contact with Justin Jones. He was able to keep it cleaned, though stopped just out of four to draw the caution. Fitzpatrick for the daily double ahead of Balson, King, Corey Jones, Passer, Baker, Justin Jones and Doucette.

Mark Dilley would win the fifth heat ahead of Beyore, Cornelius, McLean, Kennedy, Gallant, Watson, Bickle and the 5.

Jeff Dunford won the final heat ahead of Chenoweth, Hawn, Smith, Gresel, Gowan, the 94 and Craig Stevenson.

With the championship almost set in stone, Gary McLean is set to chase his third straight Autumn Colors Classic Championship. Of course, to win, he needs to have a good qualifying spot, considering he isn’t one of the two drivers locked in the front row. Chase for the Colors winner Max Beyore has that honor, with Davey Terry in second. So with that said, qualifying for the modifieds on Friday and Saturday was busy.

It didn’t go as Daniel Bois would’ve hoped as he would have a flat tire. Richard Warnes didn’t have luck either, going for a spin in turn two. Then on the restart, Warnes would spin Drew Stieler around. Brent McLean went on to score the victory ahead of Beyore, Cory Horner, Stieler and Warnes.

The second heat didn’t go smoothly, either, with the 67 going for a spin in turn two. Gary McLean picked up the victory ahead of Matt Barton, Ryan Dick, Tommy Robb and the 67.

The third heat would bring a tangled mess in turns three and four involving Erin McLean, Chad Strawn and John Harper, which would result in Harper climbing the wall. Gary Elliott would pick up the heat win ahead of Nick Lees, Dustin Jackson, Strawn, Mike Hearty and Erin McLean.

Brent McLean would go for the daily double ahead of Bois, Horner, Beyore, Terry Baker, Stieler and Warnes.

Matt Barton would pick up the win in heat five ahead of Gary McLean, Dick, Brian McLean, Dean Scott, the 67 and Robb.

The final heat would feature a huge wreck when Mike Hearty would be turned into the outside frontstretch wall by Lees. Lees would be blackflagged for rough driving, while Hearty will be left having to redo the clip on his brand new modified as this was the first event for him with the car. Dustin Jackson picked up the win ahead of Strawn, Elliott and Erin McLean.