DAMS Lucas Oil showed solid pace as Jak Crawford picked up points in both races in Round 11 of the 2024 FIA Formula 2 Championship at Monza.

Crawford battled into the top-10 from 13th on the grid during an exhilarating Sprint Race, making numerous overtakes to secure sixth, while Juan Manuel Correa finished in 17th.

In Sunday’s Feature Race, Crawford navigated his way through a chaotic start to gain seven places on the opening tour, pitting on Lap 8, just before a Safety Car. The intervention allowed drivers from behind to jump the Aston Martin Driver Development Programme member, although he showed great determination to make his way back through the field to finish ninth.

In the #8 car, Correa was third of the alternate strategy runners, fighting hard with those around him, but retired on Lap 17 with a technical issue.

#7 Jack Crawford

“I’m pleased to score points in both races across the weekend and happy we could turn it around after a tricky Friday. The race pace was strong again, especially on Saturday, allowing me to battle my way up to P6. On Sunday, we got unlucky pitting a lap before the Safety Car, meaning we lost a handful of places, but P9 was still a respectable result.”

Results
Qualifying: 14th
Sprint Race: 6th (+3 points)
Feature Race: 9th (+2 points)

#8 Juan Manuel Correa

“It was a tough weekend from the outset as we’ve been managing a straight-line speed issue. Due to this, the pace wasn’t there and alongside damage suffered in the Feature Race it led to the retirement. I’m hopeful that we can fix this problem before Baku and enjoy a more successful round there.”

Results
Qualifying: 18th
Sprint Race: 17th
Feature Race: DNF

Charles Pic

“I’m happy that we achieved points finishes in both races with Jak, but we know that there are still improvements to be made. Qualifying was tricky, however, Jak showed strong race pace to be in the top-10, and without a poorly timed Safety Car today it could’ve produced an even better finish. With JM, we were managing a straight-line speed issue throughout the round, which affected his performance and with the front-wing damage picked up on Sunday it was safer to retire the car. We’ll analyse and look to come back even stronger for Baku in two weeks time.”

Drivers’ Championship

1. Isack Hadjar 165
2. Gabriel Bortoleto 154.5
3. Zane Maloney 135

-5. Jak Crawford 105
-17. Juan Manuel Correa 31

Teams’ Championship

1. Invicta Racing 228.5
2. Campos Racing 208
3. MP Motorsport 179.5
4. Rodin Motorsport 164

-7. DAMS Lucas Oil 136

About DAMS
DAMS is a professional racing team founded in 1988 by Jean-Paul Driot, currently competing in FIA Formula 2, F1’s main feeder series. Ahead of the 2022 season, ex-F1 driver Charles Pic took control of the team. So far, 33 DAMS drivers have reached F1, with many more going on to become professional racing drivers. In its history, DAMS has won 15 drivers’ titles, 16 teams’ championships and has scored over 170 race victories.

Solid Sixth-Place Finish for Jake Drew; Rear-End Issue Ends Boris Said Jr.’s Day

Overview:
Date: Aug. 31, 2024
Event: CTMP SpeedTour (Round 10 of 12)
Series: Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli
Division: Cube 3 Architecture TA2 Series
Location: Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario
Layout: 2.459-mile, 10-turn road course
Format: 41 laps or 75 minutes
Weather: Sunny, mid-70s
TA2 Winner: Rafa Matos

Silver Hare Racing:

● Jake Drew – Started 8th, Finished 6th (Running, completed 41/41 laps)
● Boris Said Jr. – Started 10th, Finished 12th (Rear end, completed 18/41 laps)

Noteworthy:

● Drew’s sixth-place finish was his seventh top-six in nine races this season.

Jake Drew, Driver, No. 7 Silver Hare Racing/Franklin Road Apparel Chevrolet Camaro:

“This track tested all of us, for sure. We all worked really, really hard to find some speed. We came out of the gates really good on Thursday and just kind of seemed to lose touch with some of the cars out there on Friday. Looking at the times we were running during the race, it looked like the speed was there by the end of it. But starting where we did and not many opportunities to pass, it made it difficult to fight our way up there. Nonetheless, it was a good race. It seemed like fourth through about seventh or eighth we were all stacked right on top of each other the whole time. I want to thank Laura and Maurice (Hull) and the whole Silver Hare team, Nik Middleton at Cube 3 Architecture, and Ken Thwaits with Franklin Road Apparel for making everything happen, and of course my family and friends and this whole crew for all the hard work and support and everything else that goes with living this dream. Now we get a little break, get a little reset, and we’ll have two more chances.”

Boris Said Jr., Driver, No. 75 HendrickCars.com/Silver Hare Racing Chevrolet Camaro:

“I really like this racetrack. I was really looking forward to coming here and it was a blast to get to learn it in practice and qualifying. Obviously disappointed the rear-end issue ended our day so early in the race. But it is what it is. The team worked really hard to give us a solid HendrickCars.com Chevrolet that would work for us on the long run. But things happen and we’ll learn from it and move on to the next one.”

Laura Hull, Co-Owner, Team Manager, Silver Hare Racing:

“First, I want to thank all the fans here at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. I can’t believe all the people from Canada who came out to watch us race. The fans are friendly and I’ve got to say everybody’s been extraordinarily nice. We really appreciate that. It was a little frustrating. There are some teams that showed some incredible speed, and we did all we could to bring good, clean, fair cars to run. We may have missed the setup a little bit. We were plagued by rear-end issues in Boris Said Jr.’s car but he gave it every effort that he could. Jake Drew drove probably one of the best races he has all season. Toward the end, his car was coming in and he was running some of the fastest laps of the race. We’re very proud of him.”

Next Up:

Next up for the 2024 Cube 3 Architecture TA2 Series competitors is the VIR SpeedTour, round 11 of 12 on the season set for Oct. 3-5 at High Point, North Carolina-based Silver Hare Racing’s home track, Virginia International Raceway in Alton. The three-day weekend kicks off with a pair of TA2 test sessions Thursday (Oct. 3) at 12:20 and 4:20 p.m., EDT. Official TA2 practice is set for 11 a.m. Friday (Oct. 4), followed by TA2 qualifying at 4:30 p.m. Race time Saturday (Oct. 5) for the 31-lap, 75-minute race around the 3.27-mile, 17-turn circuit is 12:35 p.m. Series partner MAVTV will provide live television coverage augmented via live video stream on the Trans Am channel on YouTube.

About Silver Hare Racing:

Silver Hare Racing is a fulltime competitor in the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli’s Cube 3 Architecture TA2 Series. The multicar team has won the TA2 Masters class championship three times (2018, 2019 and 2020) with driver and team co-owner Maurice Hull. Under the leadership of Hull’s wife, co-owner and team manager Laura Hull, Silver Hare Racing provides a variety of services that includes private testing and arrive-and-drive programs. The team offers six professionally built and maintained TA2 chassis from Howe Racing and operates from a state-of-the-art facility in High Point, North Carolina. For more information, call 336-870-5151, or visit SilverHareRacing.com.

Patrick Woods-Toth Dominates at CTMP to Win Race 1

BOWMANVILLE, Ontario, Canada (August 31, 2024) – Patrick Woods-Toth (No. 27 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) dominated in the Formula Regional Americas Championship presented by Mosport Karting Centre (FR Americas) on Friday afternoon to win Race 1 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP). Leading from lights to checkers, the Saint-Lazare, Quebec native drove away with the win while holding a 0.616-second margin over second-place finisher Titus Sherlock (No. 31 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3).

Notes of Interest:

• Patrick Woods-Toth earned his sixth win of the season with his victory in Round 15 at CTMP. The 20 year old currently leads the FR Americas field in wins this season.
• Titus Sherlock recorded his sixth podium of the season with his runner-up finish.
• Jett Bowling’s third-place result marked the fifth podium finish of his career.
• Landan Matriano Lim recorded a career-best finish with his fourth-place result in today’s race. Previously, his best finish was fifth, which he’s recorded three times.
• Nova Scotia native James Lawley earned the best finish of his career with a fifth-place result. Previously, his best finish was sixth, recorded in Round 14 at New Jersey Motorsports Park last month.
• Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport swept the podium, with Woods-Toth winning, Titus Sherlock finishing second and Jett Bowling in third.
• After securing the pole during this afternoon’s qualifying session, Woods-Toth led the field down the starting grid. When the lights went out, he got a solid jump off the starting block to take command of the race. With a 1.035-second gap after the first lap, Woods-Toth methodically hit his marks to slowly build his lead over second-place Sherlock. However, that lead was erased as the race neared its halfway point and the safety car deployed for a full-course caution. When racing resumed a few minutes later, Woods-Toth led the field across the restart line with just 0.230 seconds back to Sherlock. Behind them, Jett Bowling (No. 02 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3), Landan Matriano Lim (No. 73 739Racing Ligier JS F3) and James Lawley (No. 77 Kartbahn Racing Ligier JS F3) all rode in their wake. As the clock ticked down, the field once again began to spread out, leaving them to cross the finish line in the same order they started—Woods-Toth was out front, with Sherlock in second and Bowling in third.

“Today was a battle of managing the tires,” said Woods-Toth atop the podium. “We’ve had some blistering on the rears all weekend, so we just had to keep it calm. Titus [Sherlock] was pressuring me, which was hurting my tire saving. But honestly, I think our tires are the best out of the three of us, so it was a good race for us. I have to thank Ron Fellows—thanks to him, I got my first seat in a racecar. And, of course, Orlando, who has been sponsoring us for the last two years. Those two have done the world for me, and I can’t thank them enough. My team at Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport, my friends, my family and all the fans here—thank you to everyone.”

FR Americas will contest Race 2 at CTMP tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. ET. Live timing and scoring for all of this weekend’s sessions will be available on the Race Monitor App, with additional news and updates posted on the series’ social channels: Facebook, Instagram and X.

BOWMANVILLE, Ontario, Canada (August 30, 2024) – Canadian Patrick Woods-Toth took the pole in Formula Regional Americas Championship presented by Mosport Karting Centre (FR Americas) competition on Friday afternoon after leading practice at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP). Posting a 1:14.846 lap during qualifying, Woods-Toth (No. 27 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) led his Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport teammates, with the powerhouse organization taking the top-four qualifying spots. After each topping the speed charts during yesterday’s test sessions, Titus Sherlock (No. 31 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) and Jett Bowling (No. 02 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) rounded out the top three—both within a half second of Woods-Toth. Landan Matriano Lim (No. 73 739Racing Ligier JS F3) was fourth, with Nova Scotia-native James Lawley (No. 77 Kartbahn Racing Ligier JS F3) completing the top five, just 1.203-seconds behind the leader.

Earlier today, Woods-Toth topped the leaderboard for the lone FR Americas practice session at CTMP. A native of Saint-Lazare, Quebec, Woods-Toth recorded a 1:14.598 lap, beating Bowling by more than a half second. Lawley, the only driver in the field with previous experience at CTMP after competing in a first-generation Ligier JS F4 at the track last year, rounded out the top three.

Lights out for Race 1 at CTMP is scheduled for today at 4:30 p.m. ET. Live timing and scoring for all of this weekend’s sessions will be available on the Race Monitor App, with additional news and updates posted on the series’ social channels: Facebook, Instagram and X.

CTMP – Round 15 Official Grid
1 27 Patrick Woods-Toth/St-Lazare CAN Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport 1:14.846 118.275 –
2 31 Titus Sherlock/Prosper Texas Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport 1:15.130 117.828 0.284
3 02 Jett Bowling/Dallas Texas Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport 1:15.266 117.615 0.420
4 73 Landan Matriano Lim/Shreveport La. 739Racing 1:16.022 116.445 1.176
5 77 James Lawley/Halifax CAN KartBahn Racing 1:16.049 116.404 1.203
6 25 Ricco Shlaimoun/Los Angeles Calif. Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport 1:16.610 115.551 1.764
7 3 Hayden Bowlsbey/Folson La. IGY6 Motorsports/Save22 1:17.043 114.902 2.197
8 24 Kevin Janzen/Deerfield Beach Fla. US Power Group/ Data Center Solutions 1:17.052 114.889 2.206
9 6 Nicole Havrda/Courtenay CAN Valley Kitchens /Colonial Countertops 1:17.354 114.44 2.508
10 07 Anthony Autiello/Cranston R.I. Momentum Motorsports 1:22.147 107.763 7.301

Portland, Ore. (August 30, 2024) – Australian driver Lochie Hughes successfully clinched the 2024 USF Pro 2000 Championship presented by Continental Tire with a stellar performance at the Continental Tire Grand Prix of Portland season finale, also securing the first championship win for Turn 3 Motorsport. Hughes’ triumph marks a significant milestone for the 22-year-old and the team, as he now advances with a scholarship prize valued at $681,500 to compete in the INDY NXT series, the final stepping stone to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and the iconic Indianapolis 500.

Hughes’ remarkable rookie season was capped off with multiple accolades, including four pole positions, five wins, six additional podiums, and the Rookie of the Year award, which comes with a $7,500 prize. Turn 3 Motorsport also shined off the track, with Neil O’Donovan and Matthew McComish earning the Makita Tools Mechanics of the Year award, and Peter Dempsey receiving the inaugural Marelli Engineer of the Year honor, a distinction given to one standout engineer across the entire USF Pro Championships ladder.

RACE 1 RECAP:

Race 1 at the 1.964-mile, 12-turn road course of Portland International Raceway kicked off under challenging rainy conditions, with a wet track causing multiple cars to spin and slide off at the start in Turn 1. Hughes managed to navigate the #44 car through the treacherous opening laps and settled into third place, displaying caution and long-term strategy as the race continued to unfold.

Danny Dyszelski also made it through the opening lap disarray, moving up to fifth, while Tyke Durst followed suit and climbed up to tenth.

Following a restart on Lap 4, Hughes carefully maintained his position amid the chaos, ultimately dropping to sixth over the following laps but keeping his eye on the bigger prize. With his main championship competitor Jace Denmark spinning out and falling a lap down after the restart, Hughes knew he just needed to finish the race at that point to lock in the championship title. And that he did; a sixth place finish in Race 1 secured the championship title for Hughes with one race still to go, a testament to his consistency and skill throughout the season.

Meanwhile, Dyszelski fought hard to hold his ground in the remaining laps and brought the #3 car home in a well-earned seventh position, crossing the finish line just behind Hughes.

Durst had worked his way forward to a season-high eighth position on track, but unfortunately faced setbacks after missing the corner in Turn 1, forcing him to relinquish his gains temporarily and ultimately placing him 12th for Race 1.

44 Lochie Hughes // USF Pro 2000

Private Wealth Planning / The McGinley Group / Grip Auto Timepieces
“2024 Champions!” said Hughes. “We did exactly what we needed to do in Portland to seal the deal. I can’t thank my Turn 3 Motorsport family enough for everything they have done for me this year. I say family because it really is one. To see the whole team crying after we won was something I’ve never seen before, and it shows how much it means to everyone involved. I’m incredibly proud to have driven for this team, and I’m sad it’s over but so grateful to everyone at Turn 3 for this incredible season.”

3 Danny Dyszelski // USF Pro 2000

Vera Guitars / Formula Imports / Charlotte Mechanical
“It was a decent end to a very strong rookie season,” said Dyszelski. “I made a mistake in qualifying which ended up hurting our overall results for this weekend, but we were still able to bring home a pair of top-ten finishes to end the year. I’m super proud of the incredible car Turn 3 Motorsport gave me all year and happy with the results we were able to achieve in our rookie season.”

33 Tyke Durst // USF Pro 2000

FHI / Relay Payments / Drive Toward a Cure
“Portland was a tough one,” said Durst. “We had decent pace and made up positions in the starts of both races, but unfortunately, mistakes I made took us out of easy top-ten finishes. This year has been incredibly challenging as a driver. There were many races that were looking good until something happened. I’ll take those lessons to heart this off season and get after it going into 2025. A huge thank you to Turn 3 Motorsport for always giving me a great car and for all the support in my rookie season.”

Team Owner, Peter Dempsey
“First off, I’m very proud of the effort that Lochie (Hughes) and all of our drivers put into this year,” said Team Owner Peter Dempsey. “We were very fortunate to have such a great group of drivers this year from start to finish. I’m super thankful that Lochie was able to win the championship—the first one for our team. It’s a moment that will never be forgotten. He truly deserves his prize, and I want to wish him the best moving forward into 2025 and beyond. It was a pleasure to work with him through the year, and we truly enjoyed every moment.”

“A huge thank you also to all the effort our whole crew put in all year long to be able to pull this off,” continued Dempsey. “I’m thankful for every person who was a part of our team from the start of the season until the end. None of this would be possible without the people we had in our program this year. I’m grateful to have such a strong group of people to allow us to perform at the highest level as a team.”

“Thank you also to my wife and team co-owner Mandy (Dempsey) who is the glue to this whole program. Her efforts have never gone unnoticed throughout the season. Now we turn our attention to 2025, and I know how determined we are as a team to keep this momentum going. It was an amazing year, and now we are aiming to come back even stronger in 2025.”

With the conclusion of the 2024 USF Pro 2000 Championship season, all focus shifts forward into post-season testing and the series-wide Fall Combine event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway October 19-20.
To stay up to date on Turn 3 Motorsport, follow the team on social media using the handle @turn3motorsport.

For more information or images, please contact Mandy Dempsey at turn3motorsport@gmail.com.
About Turn 3 Motorsport: Turn 3 Motorsport is a full-service operation specializing in racecar preparation, engineering, and driver development. Founded and managed by racecar driver and coach Peter Dempsey, T3M is focused on professional service, team member growth, and high-level performance across multiple racing series.

In 2019, the team secured the Blue Marble Cocktails Radical Cup North America championship titles in the 1340cc, 1500cc, and overall classes. Later that year, Peter and Turn 3 Motorsport achieved a record-breaking win at the NASA 25 Hours of Thunderhill endurance race, piloting the #10 Eastern Racing / Turn 3 Motorsport Radical SR3 RSX 1340 to a dominating win, leading 638 out of 672 laps, and becoming the first car under two liters to achieve the overall win.

In the team’s rookie season, Turn 3 Motorsport attracted attention out of the gate by winning the season opener of the 2020 Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires in a sweeping performance with Singaporean driver Danial Frost. Frost and the team went on to achieve a pole position, six podium finishes, and third overall in the championship in 2020.

In 2021, T3M expanded its presence in the Road to Indy by introducing a two-car program into the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship alongside its Indy Pro 2000 Championship campaign. In its debut USF2000 season, the team found victory at the season finale with American driver Josh Green as well as earning an additional podium and fifth overall in the championship. The team earned further accolades in the Indy Pro 2000 series with a race win at the season finale by Irish driver James Roe as well as a pole position at World Wide Technology Raceway and seventh overall in the championship.

In 2022, T3M showed its strength and teamwork by achieving a podium, win, and/or pole at 7 of the 9 events on the Road to Indy calendar with rookie drivers Josh Green, Jonathan Browne, and Christian Weir each earning the aforementioned results across two different series (USF2000 and Indy Pro 2000).

In 2023, T3M tied for the most amount of wins in the USF Pro 2000 season with drivers Michael d’Orlando and Christian Brooks earning a total of five wins for the team. The team also earned seven pole positions, the most of any other team, and finished second overall in the Team Championship.

BLUFF CITY, TN (Aug. 28, 2024) – When Tri-Cities native Nate Monteith made a series of starts in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, it was the culmination of a dream, and a proud moment for the Mountain Empire. Furthermore, when Sevierville native Blake Jones raced in the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series, it was yet another statement about the racing talent grown in northeast Tennessee.

This weekend, both families will converge to further the career of another racing generation. Under the guidance of Blake Jones and Nate Monteith, Brayden Monteith will make his first full-size stock car start at the Birthplace of the Stars, Hickory Motor Speedway in North Carolina, driving a pro late model against some of the discipline’s toughest teams. Hickory has been the launchpad for many famous racing families careers including the Earnhardts, Jarretts, Pettys, Houstons and dozens more.

“I won’t lie, I’m a little nervous simply because he’s my son and I have all the feelings any dad would in this situation,” said Nate Monteith, who most recently raced in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series across the years of 2007-2013. “But this is what he wants to do, and he has put in the work and done the things he needs to be successful, and that says a lot to me, especially for him being only 12 years old.”

Monteith will be racing in the Carolina Pro Late Model Series on Saturday night at Hickory, against teams with backing from national driver development programs and NASCAR Cup Series teams. The series is one of the more popular feeder series in the region, leading many of its competitors directly into the ARCA Menards Series and ultimately the NASCAR National Series. One of the drivers Monteith will be competing against on Saturday has already signed a development contract with Joe Gibbs Racing, a NASCAR Cup Series team which fields four cars for drivers such as Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell.

“I’ve worked with a lot of kids since I got away from racing full-time years ago, but his ability to adapt to a pro late model after never being in a full size stock car was what caught my attention,” said Blake Jones, who has two years of NASCAR Cup Series starts from 2018-19 and is serving as Monteith’s spotter and driver coach. “With how quick he found speed and ran consistent laps, his raw speed was very impressive.

“You wouldn’t think a kid as young as he is would be able to test only three or four times and be ready to race,” he continued. “It’s usually a long transition from Legends or Bandoleros or karts, or whatever you’re racing, to a full size car. It’s usually a lot because of the physical demands, mental toughness, the speed, and the fact it’s a lot heavier car, but I believe he’s ready for this next step.”

In private testing, Monteith’s lap times were on pace or faster than pole speeds from previous Carolina Pro Late Model Series events at Hickory over the past season. Before jumping into the pro late model, Monteith raced traditional-style karts across the country and outlaw wing karts on dirt. Other drivers who began their careers on a similar path include Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, Ty Gibbs and more. He also has spent time in INEX Bandoleros, a stepping stone used by drivers such as Joey Logano, Kyle Busch and dozens more before they ascended to the NASCAR Cup Series. Brayden became the youngest winner in Kingsport (TN) Speedway history with a win in Bandolero competition early in his career.

“We’ve raced for 20 years after starting the moonshine business, keeping Blake too busy to race, so we have missed going to the track,” said Teddy Jones, Blake’s father and car owner for Monteith’s first career stock car start. “When Brayden started racing in the lower classes, we kind of caught the bug again after seeing him race; we have raced long enough to know talent when we see it. Like the great Dale Earnhardt once said, ‘They either have it or they don’t; you can’t put it in them and you can’t take it out,’ and this kid has definitely got it. Who knows where this ends, the last time we made it to the Cup level with Blake. Only time will tell if Brayden is the next superstar.”

Adding more resources to the team, the Jones family has secured the expertise of former and multi-time Kingsport Speedway track champion Wade Day, who has his own record of success with two NASCAR Xfinity Series Starts in 2005. Day is considered by many within the industry to be a late model expert and will serve as crew chief and another mentor for the young racer during this stage of his career.

“The sky’s the limit,” the younger Jones commented. “Nate and I have always been close, he helped guide me a bit as I was working up through my starts in the Xfinity Series and the Cup Series, and from that there is so much knowledge we can point toward kids like Brayden. Ultimately, it’s all about securing sponsorship. Brayden could be in the Cup Series in ten years. We’ve been there and know what it takes, we just have to get all the pieces of the puzzle together at the right time. If he continues to put the work in and stays hungry, anything is possible.”

The upcoming Carolina Pro Late Model Series race with Brayden can be seen LIVE with a subscription to Pit Row TV (pitrow.tv) and viewed through the channel’s various apps and OTT platforms.

Teams prepare for October 26 exhibition race

MARTINSVILLE, Va. (Aug. 28, 2024) – The Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin welcomed teams and drivers to an open test at Martinsville Speedway on Monday in preparation for the series’ oval track debut on October 26. The highly competitive series, which traditionally stages races on a select schedule of some of North Americas most compelling road and street circuits, will innovate with a first-ever oval event at the revered half-mile Virginia bullring.

More than 20 drivers participated in the test and included a mix of Mazda MX-5 Cup regulars as well as drivers with ARCA, CARS Tour and other oval experience, but zero time in a MX-5 Cup car.

The test consisted of two, two-hour long sessions, the second of which was held in the evening and under the lights. The second session also gave competitors the chance to practice race starts.

The Virginia is for Race Lovers event at Martinsville Speedway partners MX-5 Cup with the Whelen Modifieds Tour on October 26. The race will be a non-points race for MX-5 Cup, and instead offer prize money including $15,000 to the winner. A livestream will be available on the RACER and IMSA YouTube channels.

Quotes from Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup test at Martinsville

Nate Cicero, No. 83 McCumbee McAleer Racing
“I’ve never driven anything on an oval at all, so this is a really cool experience. The cars are actually pretty fun to drive. You just have to treat it like regular corners on any other track. But I think it’ll be pretty difficult to race and pass with how close everyone’s gonna be, but I think it’ll be super cool.”

Jared Thomas, No. 96 JTR Motorsports Engineering
“I’d say the biggest difference that I found was just the changing groove, or the groove that you’re running and how it affects the race car. It’s something I played around with as we went through the tire life changing. Where you ran on the track really adjusted how the car drove. You know, not saying it’s faster slower, but getting comfortable with it.”

“I would expect it [the race] to be pretty racy. I got out there and passed some cars and ran side by side, and the cars seem to run well. The top groove is definitely there, and the guy who’s on top can make it very, very difficult for the car on the bottom. I think it’ll put on a good show.”

Sally Mott, No. 15 Spark Performance
“I think that Martinsville is really fun. Definitely a different driving style, but it’s more about digging and getting the most out of the car and the track. I thought it was fun. I’m having a good time and I think the racing will be interesting.

“I think right now, it’s getting off the brake and trying to carry as much mid-corner speed as possible. We’re also working on the setup, which we’re finding some nuggets of speed everywhere. So, yeah, it’s just about getting the car to turn as fast as possible without scrubbing off too much speed.”

Brandon Pierce, No. 2 Carroll Speedshop in CARS Tour
“I got introduced to this because of Chad [McCumbee]. I raced with him on the CARS Tour and in the late model stock stuff. Weeks ago, back at the track he asked me if I’d be interested. I told him, ‘are you serious?’ And he’s like, ‘heck yeah.’

“It’s kind of like a full-blown mini stock I guess, would be the closest thing us oval track guys would convert it to, but they’re a ton of fun to drive. For me, in the late model stock stuff, we don’t downshift any during the race, so that’s been the biggest learning curve for me. Towards the end of that first session, I started kind of getting the hang of it, and we’re in the ballpark. The main thing is just having fun and these little cars are a lot of fun to drive. It’s just a joy to be here and do something different from what I’m accustomed to.”

Jonathan Applegate, Senior Manager, Mazda Motorsports
“If the test was this much fun, I can’t wait until we’re racing. We’re so grateful for everyone that made this test possible. It confirms what we thought; that MX-5 Cup drivers would take quickly to Martinsville and be very close in lap times. It was great to see some new faces from other racing series join us for the test and we’re getting ready to announce some special entrants that the fans are going to love.”

About: The Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin is the signature spec series for Mazda Motorsports. The series has been operated by Andersen Promotions since 2017 and is currently sanctioned by IMSA. Mazda-powered grassroots champions can earn Mazda scholarships for this pro-level series. The Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup awards more than $1 million in prizes and scholarships.

Find out more at http://www.mx-5cup.com.

Pro-Am Challenge Leader Barry Boes Welcomes Back 16-Year-Old Julian DaCosta

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (Aug. 28, 2024) – Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario, which began its life as an iconic road-racing circuit known as Mosport Park, plays host to its first Trans Am Series Presented by Pirelli headline event since 2014 this weekend, and TeamSLR and its M1 Racecars equipment are ready for the challenge with drivers Barry Boes, the TA2 Pro-Am Challenge-class frontrunner, and 16-year-old Julian DaCosta, who will be making his second career TA2 start.

When Trans Am competitors last turned laps on the 2.459-mile, 10-turn circuit about an hour’s drive north and east of Toronto eight seasons ago, it was Canadian road-racing veteran and former NASCAR road-course ringer Ron Fellows who scored the victory. Just two of the 27 drivers entered in Saturday’s 41-lap, 75-minute race took part in that 2014 race – Amy Ruman in the TA class, who was runner-up to Fellows by a scant 1.892 seconds, and Tom Sheehan, who with Boes is chasing this year’s Pro-Am Challenge championship.

Boes, driver of the No. 27 Accio Data/SLR-M1 Racecars Ford Mustang, hits town this weekend with a 102-point lead in the Pro-Am Challenge standings after scoring his fifth class win in nine races this season last Friday at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International. Boes’ most recent class victory came after he was spun from behind on the second lap of the race, then forced to limp his racecar back to the pits with a flat right-rear tire for a quick tire change before resuming on the lead lap in 26th place. He made a determined drive the rest of the way, picking up 16 spots en route to his top-10 overall finish. He looks to continue that momentum this weekend in his first career visit to Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, just two races removed from his first career Cube 3 Architecture TA2 Series Western Championship victory July 27 at Portland (Ore.) International Raceway, and his fourth-place finish with co-driver Greg Biffle the previous weekend in the SpeedTour All-Star Race at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Connecticut.

Joining Boes and TeamSLR in the M1 Racecars camp for the second time this season is DaCosta, who enjoyed a solid, workmanlike TA2 Series debut April 13 at NOLA Motorsports Park in Avondale, Louisiana. The teenage driving prodigy from Myakka City, Florida, who’ll be behind the wheel of the No. 17 Powered by Hixon/Austin Hatcher Foundation/SLR-M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro this weekend, qualified ninth and fought his way to an 11th-place finish after getting shoved off the track in the opening laps of the race at NOLA. DaCosta hopes to benefit from recent experience at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park this weekend. A fulltime competitor in the Mazda MX-5 Cup Series this season, he took part in the series’ weekend doubleheader at the track July 13-14, scoring an impressive runner-up finish from the 20th starting position in the second of two races.

Riding along with this weekend’s TeamSLR drivers and their M1 Racecars, as it has all season long, is Nashville, Tennessee-based Franklin Road Apparel Company, which has been a longtime team supporter.

M1 Racecars was represented on the podium at 12 of the 13 TA2 rounds in 2023, highlighted by a pair of victories by Rafa Matos for Peterson Racing. Team SLR’s Dillon Machavern and Thad Moffitt both scored podium finishes, as did Connor Mosack at the season-opening event at Sebring, when he qualified on the pole and led the first 19 laps of the race before finishing third. Evan Slater earned TeamSLR’s first podium finish of 2024 Memorial Day weekend with his second-place finish at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Connecticut, and Kvapil followed with his podium in the series’ inaugural race at Pittsburgh. Austin Green of Peterson Racing added a podium finish of second for M1 Racecars last weekend at Watkins Glen.

This weekend’s CTMP SpeedTour kicks off with a three-pack of test sessions Thursday at 10 a.m., noon and 2:40 p.m. EDT. Official practice is set for 11:50 a.m. Friday, followed by qualifying at 3:50 p.m. Race time is 2:15 p.m. Saturday with live television provided by series partner MAVTV, augmented by live-streaming video on the Trans Am and SpeedTour channels on YouTube. MAVTV will air a 60-minute race show at 8 p.m. EDT on Thursday, Sept. 12.

Barry Boes, Driver, No. 27 Accio Data/SLR-M1 Racecars Ford Mustang:

Your overall thoughts as you head to Canadian Tire Motorsport Park for the first time this weekend?

“It looks like a really fun track, and it starts with a really interesting turn one. It’s blind, it’s fast, it crests over a hill, there’s a wall on the other side of it, and you have to carry a lot of speed through it because there’s kind of a straight after you get through it. You’ve got to work your way up to it, but once you get your confidence up on your way through it, then it’s go time. I’m going to have to get up to speed quickly since I’ve never been there before. But we have more than the usual amount of track time, so that’ll definitely help.”

What are your impressions of the track based on your preparation?

“I’ve watched videos, it looks like a tricky track, it looks like a fun track, there’s a lot of blind stuff, and there are some nice concrete walls that I really don’t want to have to encounter. There are plenty of sim resources out there, but the sim resources, when you go to a track that doesn’t have a lot of concrete walls everywhere, work a little better because the walls can appear a little intimidating. But that was the case before I first went to Watkins Glen back in the day and it turned out pretty well.”

What’s your approach to getting up to speed on a track you’re driving on for the first time?

“I’ve actually gotten pretty good at finding success at tracks my first time there. The first time I ever went to Portland (in July), I actually won there. I’ve been to enough different kinds of tracks that usually ‘this is like that,’ and ‘that is like that from another track.’ And you kind of put it all together in your mind after you go around there a few times, and kind of a la carte you pick and choose how you get through best at those kind of segments at other tracks.”

How does it change the complexion of the race when you have all of the Trans Am classes on track at the same time, and how do you deal with it?

“Well, I have excellent spotters, and having fantastic spotters is an absolute must this weekend. The TA cars come up on you fast, and it is essentially a sprint race and they don’t have time to wait for you to get out of their way. So you’ve got to know when they’re coming and you’ve got to be prepared for where you’re going to go, and you have to let them by when they get to you whether it’s convenient or not. You can drive in your mirrors the entire race and you can get wrecked, or you can have great spotters, and having great spotters is what I’ve got and it’s the best way to go.”

Julian DaCosta, Driver, No. 17 Powered by Hixon/Austin Hatcher Foundation SLR-M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro:

You’ll be one of the few drivers in the race this weekend with any firsthand experience on the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park circuit after your successful Mazda MX-5 Cup Series weekend there in July. Your thoughts?

“When we were there with IMSA, race one didn’t go our way and I ended up starting race two from the back and ended up finishing second. That race was really good, obviously. It lifted our spirits up from the day before, when we didn’t even finish. It’s a really fun track, so I’m pretty excited.”

Based on your experience on that track, how are you expecting things to go in your TeamSLR M1 Racecars equipment there?

“I definitely think it’s going to be different in TA2 just because of how the car is, fundamentally, but I think there are a lot of things that I can transfer over, especially momentum. TA2, obviously you have a ton of horsepower and it’s a big car, so a lot of people assume you can just throw it in and drive it out. But at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, I’m pretty confident that whoever can roll the most speed is going to be able to build a pretty good gap. I guess we’ll see, but that’s what I think it’s going to come down to. I’ve looked over the entry list and I think there are a good many drivers who are going to be able to do that.”

Your first race with TeamSLR at NOLA in April was the typical race with all TA2 cars in the field. This weekend, there will be five different classes of racecars, from the big TA cars to the various GT classes. How are you preparing to deal with that?

“To be completely honest, I’m not really thinking about that much. For me, that’s something you get on track – you think about it before you get on track and before the race about what to expect from some of the fast cars and the slower cars. Obviously, you go into the race cautiously and knowing there’s going to be different speed variations, but it’s not something you can really plan beforehand. NOLA for us was really good. Obviously, being our first race in TA2, it went well. The team did a great job putting the car together and getting me comfortable. In the race, we had a pretty good start up until turn one – we got turned going into turn one – and we made it back to finish 11th. Obviously that’s not where we wanted to be, but I think it was a pretty solid run for our first race. The team did great. I loved the environment, everything about it, they did a great job on the car throughout the whole weekend. I’m really looking forward to this weekend, especially knowing this track and how these cars are going to handle on this track.”

About TeamSLR:

TeamSLR (Scott Lagasse Racing) competes fulltime in the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli’s newly renamed Cube 3 Architecture TA2 Series in a multifaceted effort that includes dedicated entries in the TA2 division, customer programs, driver coaching and car construction. Its history dates back to 1985 and covers a wide spectrum of motorsports, including NASCAR, IMSA, SCCA, ARCA and ASA. TeamSLR is a family-owned organization run by Scott Lagasse Sr., and Scott Lagasse Jr., The father-and-son duo have combined to win more than 120 races and seven championships across a variety of series and styles of racecars, from paved ovals to road courses to dirt tracks. For more information, please visit us online at www.TeamSLR.com, on Facebook, on Twitter, on Instagram and on LinkedIn.

Event		WeatherTech 200
Track		Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (Bowmanville, Ontario), September 1st, 2024
Broadcast		TSN + app (live) | TSN (tape delayed) | RDS (tape delayed) | FloRacing (USA)
Race		2:00 PM E.T. – nascar.ca/race-center/

Trois-Rivières (Quebec), August 27th, 2024.- After the ICAR event unfortunately shortened by a mechanical failure last Saturday, Louis-Philippe Dumoulin will be on track this weekend as part of a very important race for the NASCAR Canada series and especially the driver of the #47 WeatherTech Canada | Groupe Bellemare | Omnifab car: the WeatherTech 200 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP), located northeast of Toronto, in Bowmanville.

The legendary track formerly known as Mosport, which has hosted the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Canada eight times and where Louis-Philippe Dumoulin has won multiple times, including four in the NASCAR Canada series, is hosting another major motorsport event this weekend, featuring the legendary American Trans Am series, where Louis-Philippe Dumoulin has also competed in recent years, and the NASCAR Canada series, which will be the eleventh of thirteen 2024 races.

“Our expectations were high for the race at the Complexe ICAR last Saturday, unfortunately an engine failure put an early end to our race. What more can I say except that it’s part of motorsport? We now have to focus on the WeatherTech 200. I’ve won four times in NASCAR Canada at CTMP and finished on the podium the last two times I’ve raced there, so of course my expectations are high,” said Louis-Philippe Dumoulin. He specifies: “The doubt is the engine change. Will the new engine be as efficient as the one we had in previous races? We obviously hope so. I don’t start a NASCAR Canada race to finish sixth, I always want to win. We are facing a challenge that the entire Dumoulin Compétition team and the people who work on the #47 WeatherTech Canada | Groupe Bellemare | Omnifab car want to resolve brilliantly.”

Third in the season-opening race last May at the CTMP and second in the WeatherTech 200 last year when he had fought a very spectacular battle for victory until the last corner, Dumoulin does not hide his ambitions: “we will do everything to bring the WeatherTech 200 trophy, with the colours of our main sponsor, at home!”

Despite his retirement at ICAR, Louis-Philippe Dumoulin is still in fourth place in the drivers’ championship standings, but the 7-point gap on third place has now increased to 30. Winning a fourth title is now unrealistic, but the hope of winning in the next rounds remains the driver and his team’s motivation.

This Saturday, August 31, free practice will take place at 12:50 p.m. before qualifying session is scheduled for 5:25 p.m. The WeatherTech 200, the final road race of the 2024 NASCAR Canada season, will start on Sunday, September 1 shortly after 2 p.m.

ABOUT PARTNERS

WeatherTech is committed to designing, engineering and manufacturing the finest products possible for your vehicle, home and your pet. From the industry leading FloorLiner to the 100% non-toxic Pet Feeding System, WeatherTech has dedicated itself to exceed customer expectations of quality, craftsmanship and environmental sustainability for over 30 years. To see the full line of automotive, home and pet products that are guaranteed for life, visit weathertech.ca

Groupe Bellemare is a 3rd generation family business that has been serving clients since 1959. Today, the company has more than 500 employees and provides them with an innovative work environment facilitating work-family balance and a healthy and safe quality of life. With over a half century of experience and its sustained R&D efforts, the Company offers high-quality products and services in areas as diverse as concrete, abrasives and minerals, dimensional load transportation, and recycling. Groupe Bellemare is also very involved in its industry and attaches great importance to its social and environmental role as a member of the business community. Groupe Bellemare makes a positive contribution to the quality of life of citizens in the communities it serves by supporting numerous social causes and promoting local purchasing through its responsible procurement practices. For more information, visit groupebellemare.com

Omnifab has joined Dumoulin Compétition in June 2023.In less than twenty years, Omnifab has made its place in the mechanical manufacturing industry in Quebec. They have earned this place by offering a unique turnkey solution to large companies and SMEs that want to modernize their production line or have their industrial equipment repaired. No matter your industry, you can count on Omnifab team to manufacture custom industrial machinery or solve your mechanical problems with great precision, in a timely manner and with quality components, as pledged. Visit omnifab.ca for more information.

Rousseau Metal has been manufacturing high-quality products for 70 years. Over the years the company become known as a leader in storage solutions. The quality, durability and reliability of their products have earned them a reputation as being among the best in the industry. Over the years, the quality of Rousseau products and excellence of the company’s business practices have been recognized through various certifications and membership in industrial and automotive organizations. To learn more about the company and its products, visit rousseau.com

Dumoulin Competition

Jean-François and Louis-Philippe Dumoulin founded the Dumoulin Competition Race Team in 2009. Working with financial, marketing, logistics and sports management experts, they built up a solid business structure. Dumoulin Competition prepares its own race cars in-house since 2016. Their motto: “Passion – Performance – Partnerships” expresses their will to perform on the track and offer their partners maximum visibility and profitability in return for their commitment. Their vision: To become Canada’s leader in motorsports through on-track performance, an entrepreneurial spirit and human values. dumoulincompetition.com