Category: Other Series PR

The Canadian Racing Season Begins February 7, 8, & 9, 2014 at Toronto’s International Centre

(TORONTO, ON // JANUARY 6, 2014) For more than 30 years, the philosophy of Leaf Racewear has been ‘to provide the ultimate in protection at affordable prices with superior customer satisfaction and service.’

Remaining true to that goal has allowed Leaf Racewear to grow into a worldwide-recognized company, with their hand-tailored, custom fitted race suits and team outfits found at motorsports venues around the globe.

 

Leaf Racewear will display its wares at the upcoming Canadian Motorsports Expo Powered by Inside Track Motorsport News. The CME takes place February 7, 8 & 9 in Hall 5 of the International Centre, across from Toronto’s Pearson Airport.

 

“We produce complete, head-to-toe Nomex and Proban race suits for everyone from the world’s top professionals to the budget racer,” states Leaf Racewear President Colin Grandy. “And we have the capability of manufacturing suits to meet the requirements of virtually any racing discipline.”

 

With the ability to appeal to such a broad range of customers, Grandy feels that the upcoming Canadian Motorsports Expo is the perfect venue for Leaf Racewear personnel to reconnect with past clients, as well as meeting with new customers who will be exposed to Leaf’s extensive line of suits, gloves, footwear and team and safety gear.

 

“It’s a good time of the year for racers to see what’s out there, to see what’s new for 2014,” comments Grandy. “It’s kind of a handy shortcut for the drivers, too. They can come to the Expo with orders in hand instead of driving to our London (Ontario) shop to get fitted.”

 

Canadian racers Andrew Ranger and Isabelle Tremblay proudly wear and promote Leaf Racewear driving suits, but the appeal of the apparel line extends well beyond the boundaries of the NASCAR stock car racing fraternity.

 

Leaf Racewear suits can also be found on competitors participating in disciplines ranging from entry-level karters, to off-road dirt and Baja stars, to Monster Truck drivers, sports car competitors, boat racers and IndyCar drivers.

 

And, just in time for the Canadian Motorsports Expo, Grandy and Leaf Racewear will have something new and special to display to the drag racing crowd.

 

Explains Grandy, “We’ve developed a new, lightweight multi-layer drag racing suit that should be of interest to a lot of drivers. The older style suits were bulky and heavy. We believe these new, lightweight suits will be the suits of the future.”

 

In addition to their new suits geared to drag racers, Leaf Racewear will also be featuring its full line of racing fire suits, gloves, boots, Nomex undergarments and Sublimated team shirts at the CME. Leaf will also feature its line of Canadian-manufactured seatbelts and restraint harnesses.

 

“Our knowledgeable staff will be on hand to answer any questions,” concludes Grandy. “And if a driver arrives looking for a specialty suit or matching team wear, we can take care of him right on the spot.”

 

ABOUT LEAF RACEWEAR: Since 1984 Leaf Racewear and Safety Equipment has been providing the ‘Ultimate in Protection’ to the racing fraternity from their base in London, Ontario. Leaf Racewear products have been designed to meet and exceed current SFI Quality Assurance specifications and requirements for virtually any form of racing competition. Manufacturing, distributing and shipping their safety equipment and apparel worldwide, Leaf Racewear customers include racers from the ranks of NASCAR, ARCA, IMSA, NHRA, IHRA, SCCA, CASC, Monster Trucks, boat racing, Sprint Cars, as well as DIRT and Baja.

To contact Leaf Racewear, call toll-free, at (800) 731-7735 or email leaf@leafracewear.com. To view their website, and to see a copy of their on-line Elite Series Race Suit Brochure, visit them at www.leafracewear.com.

ABOUT THE CME: The 8^th Annual Canadian Motorsports Expo Powered by Inside Track Motorsport News takes place February 7, 8 & 9, 2014 at Toronto’s International Centre, adjacent to Pearson International Airport. The show features motorsport content geared to racers, fans and automotive enthusiasts. NASCAR Sprint Cup racer Ryan Newman will be at the CME on Saturday, February 8. For information about the show, including news, exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities, call (416) 962-7223, or email info@CanadianMotorsportsExpo.com. The CME’s website is located at www.CanadianMotorsportsExpo.com.

The OSCAAR Modified drivers, car owners and teams are very excited to announce that Hanover Holidays as the official title sponsor of the series in 2014.

Hanover Holidays has been providing residents of Ontario the finest in motor coach tours since 1974. Through out the years as the company continued to grow their focus has never changed, the people that they happily serve each and every day.

The management team at Hanover Holidays would be happy to discuss any travel plans to the many unique destinations they offer. Whether you are looking to escape the cold of winter, or planning a great summer holiday, Hanover Holidays will be there to serve you.

The sponsorship is the perfect match with the OSCAAR Modifieds as the young series continues to grow and live by the same theory, keeping the race fans happy each and every week.

OSCAAR would like to welcome Jim and Diane Diebel and all employees of Hanover Holidays to their series and look forward to representing their name for the 2014 race season.

All race fans are encouraged to view the Hanover Holiday website, at www.hanoverholidays.com and plan their next well deserved holiday.

Solid start for new Chevrolet Corvette C7.Rs in Roar Before the 24

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan 5, 2014) – Corvette Racing moved a step closer toward its return to the Rolex 24 At Daytona over the weekend with a successful three-day test at Daytona International Speedway. Oliver Gavin in the No. 4 Chevrolet Corvette C7.R set the weekend’s second-best time for the GT Le Mans class during the Roar Before the 24 with a 1:45.743 (121.200 mph). It’s the annual test that serves as the last tune-up before the opening round of the new TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.

Gavin partners with full-season teammate Tommy Milner and Robin Liddell in the No. 4 Corvette for the Rolex 24. Jan Magnussen was third-fastest in the class with a 1:45.792 (121.143 mph) in the No. 3 Chevrolet Corvette he shares with Antonio Garcia and Ryan Briscoe. Both Corvettes set their fastest times in Friday’s opening session.

The three days in Daytona Beach were focused on constant development and establishing a baseline setup on the Corvette C7.Rs, which will make their competition debuts for the twice-around-the-clock race on Jan. 25-26. The Corvette Racing crew progressed through a comprehensive list of settings and adjustments on the high banks at Daytona.

Sunday’s two sessions were the final ones before Corvette Racing and its two new-for-2014 Corvette C7.Rs return for the 52^nd running of the Rolex 24. The event is an important part of Corvette Racing history for multiple reasons. In the team’s last appearance at Daytona, Corvette Racing won the 2001 race overall with a Corvette C5-R. The Rolex 24 also was the site of Corvette Racing’s debut on Jan. 31, 1999. Since that first event, the team has competed in 150 other events around the globe with 90 victories worldwide, 10 team and manufacturer championships in the ALMS and seven victories at the Le Mans 24 Hours.

The TUDOR Championship is the result of a merger between the ALMS and GRAND-AM’s Rolex Sports Car Series. Corvette Racing will compete in 11 races around North America plus the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

 

ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“So far we have been running our development program and learning everything we can on the car. Being here and racing here for the first time in many years, we don’t have any backup data on how the C6.R performed here. It is brand new for us, but everything has gone very well. Being a new car, we don’t know if we will lack any information or experience here. The way the car has run, it’s obvious everything is evolution from the C6.R and it’s progressing well. Part of our focus was getting Ryan comfortable, and we wanted to help him with any questions he had. At end of the day, he is a professional driver and has fit in very well.”

JAN MAGNUSSEN, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

““For us it this was an important weekend. It has been a productive couple days. This was the first time we got a chance to see how we stack up against the rest of our competition. But the main program has been to continue the development of the car. Come race time, hopefully we will be where we need to be. It’s still early days but everyone will be very close during the race – as it has always been in GT racing. We’ve run through several of our development packages with the new car and gotten Ryan up to speed with the team and the car. It’s all gone well. It’s very exciting what’s going on with the merger of the two series. I think everything looks great with a really cool field of cars. It’s different for me this time as it is the beginning of a championship. Usually all the other years I’ve been here, I’ve been a third driver. Now there is more on the line than trying to win the Rolex 24. For sure this is the start of a long, hard championship.”

 

RYAN BRISCOE, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“The car was a lot of fun to drive. I would say it exceeded expectations on grip level, handling and overall performance. The team worked great, and it was a fantastic experience. I got plenty of miles in the car and came away feeling very comfortable. I did my first run Friday, and that was a great chance to get a good impression. The next time I got in, I felt like my lap times were becoming competitive. I was able to start feeling balance changes. We actually went through quite a bit of setup work over the three days. For me, the good thing was getting out there and being used to the car with traffic, in different temperatures and a couple different tire compounds from Michelins. It was really good getting a feel for the car in the all the situations we will face in the race. I feel like I checked all the boxes.”

 

OLIVER GAVIN, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“This has been a pretty good test. It was a little unusual in that the conditions were very cold for the first two days. That was a little bit of a challenge trying to get the car right. We’ve managed to get it comfortable and nice to drive. Every driver has been through in the car and got to a good level of comfort. We are still looking to improve it in areas, but I think we have our base setup for here. Let’s see what the weather does for that week at the end of the month. You’re never really too sure how that’s going to turn out. Today, it was a good 10-15 degrees warmer than anything we saw the first two days.”

 

TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“I think we are in good shape for the race. Throughout all of the testing that we’ve done so far, the car has been reliable. The same was the case here. It was quick and it was reliable. We had no real mechanical issues that – on the surface – that we should be worried about come race time. All in all, it was a great three days for us. This was a great test for us.”

 

ROBIN LIDDELL, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“It’s been a very productive test. Having done this event enough times, you get a sense for how these type things go. We’re working toward our own agenda and making sure the car is comfortable and consistent for a 24-hour race. With additional classes, it’s the Daytona 24 Hours of old. It’s important for all of us to keep focus on the bigger picture. This team has huge amounts of experience and fantastic results and achievements in the past. They know how to win races. The car feels very good, well-balanced in the infield, good under braking. At this point, I think we are very happy with things. It was a little frustrating with the number of red-flag periods and traffic, it’s quite helpful in terms of getting accustomed to how things will go during the race.”

 

DOUG FEHAN, CORVETTE RACING PROGRAM MANAGER

“Coming into the Roar, Corvette Racing had a very comprehensive test program in place. The constant change in weather conditions was a challenge, as was dealing with the number of on-track incidents. However that is the nature of endurance racing. We are satisfied with the work that the team accomplished and feel like we are on solid ground for the race in three weeks.”

 

Corvette Racing History at Daytona

Year	Class	Drivers	Result	Car	Notes
1999	GT2	Fellows/Kneifel/Paul Jr.	3rd	Corvette C5-R
		Pilgrim/Collins/Sharp	12th	Corvette C5-R
2000	GTS	Fellows/Kneifel/Bell	2nd	Corvette C5-R
		Pilgrim/Collins/Freon	10th	Corvette C5-R
2001	GTS	Fellows/O’Connell/Kneifel/Freon	1st	Corvette C5-R	Overall win
		Collins/Pilgrim/Earnhardt/Earnhardt Jr.	2nd	Corvette C5-R

 

Connect with Corvette Racing and Team Chevy on social media.  Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TeamChevy, follow us on Twitter @CorvetteRacing and @TeamChevy, and add +TeamChevy into your Google+ circles.

 

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4.5 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design, and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

No. 5 Action Express Corvette DP leads Chevrolet contingent in testing for Rolex 24

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 5, 2014) – The final on-track preparations for Chevrolet’s Corvette Daytona Prototype teams are complete ahead of the opening round of the inaugural TUDOR United SportsCar Championship. Christian Fittipaldi in Action Express Racing’s No. 5 Corvette DP set the fastest time for the three-day Roar Before the 24 at Daytona International Speedway – the annual test that serves a dress rehearsal for the Rolex 24 At Daytona.

Fittipaldi’s best time of 1:38.630 (129.940 mph) came in the Roar’s opening session Friday morning. The Brazilian led a contingent of Corvette DPs that held five of the six fastest speeds during the three days.

“We applied everything that we learned in the sessions we had prior to today – once in November and twice in the beginning of December,” said Fittipaldi, who drove with full-season teammate Joao Barbosa and Sebastien Bourdais. “The car felt pretty good. I think that the track conditions were a little bit strange (with the changing weather). We need to make the best of it because when it comes down to race time, maybe we are going to have exactly the same stuff out there. I have raced here before where we have had even colder weather. So we pretty much need to be prepared for all kinds of stuff out there.”

Richard Westbrook was second-quickest on the weekend in the No. 90 Spirit of Daytona Corvette DP with a 1:38.989 (129.549 mph) lap. He drives with full-season teammate Michael Valiante and Mike Rockenfeller.

“It has been a very productive three days at Daytona for the Corvette Daytona Prototype teams in preparation for the Rolex 24 Hour race, said Jim Lutz, Chevrolet TUDOR Championship Daytona Prototype Program Manager. “All of the teams had the opportunity to work with the latest technical regulations IMSA has put in place thus far for the class. Every driver for each of the teams was able to get ample seat time throughout the three-day test.

“Additionally, the varying weather conditions have allowed the teams to work on setup for the numerous scenarios that can occur during the race. We know we will have to adjust to the final set of regulations prior to the race, but our Chevrolet teams made great progress during the weekend, and we feel like we have the reliability and preparation necessary for the race.”

Chevrolet enters this year’s Rolex 24 off two consecutive DP engine manufacturer titles in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series. The championship merged with the American Le Mans Series to create the TUDOR Championship, which features DPs as part of the top-level prototype class.

As the season continues following the Rolex 24 Hours the Corvette DP teams – Action Express, Spirit of Daytona, 2013 DP team champion Wayne Taylor Racing, GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing and Marsh Racing – will lead Chevrolet’s fight for additional victories and championships. Chevrolet ended Rolex Series competition with 20 Daytona Prototype victories – 16 by Corvette DPs since it debuted in 2011 – and nine in GT. The Bowtie brand also captured DP engine manufacturer championships in both 2012 and 2013, plus the 2011 GT title.

 

RICHARD WESTBROOK, NO. 90 SPIRIT OF DAYTONA CORVETTE DP

HOW DO YOU FEEL THE THREE DAYS OF TESTING HAVE GONE? “We have turned up with a really good car, and the team is working just great. I just have to really thank all the boys on the team. The new staff as well. Everything seems to be clicking into place. We’ve just kept our head down, fine-tuned and the results seem to be coming toward us. We have a really nice, comfortable car to drive that seems to be quick. Just really nice working with the two Michaels – Mike (Rockenfeller) and Michael (Valiante). There is a great atmosphere in the team. Looking forward to the 24 (Hours).”

 

IS IT GOOD FOR THE TEAM WHEN YOU TEST IN SUCH VARYING TEMPERATURES AND WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR THE RACE? “What was very encouraging is normally in our car, we’re not very good in the heat. The hotter it gets, the worse we get. The car felt really good when it got hot. That is really encouraging.”

 

JORDAN TAYLOR, NO. 10 WAYNE TAYLOR RACING CORVETTE DP

TALK ABOUT THE PROGRESS MADE WITH THE CAR HERE DURING THE THREE-DAY ROAR: “This is our first test really with all the updates. We did a test in December with half of the updates for the car, so now these three days we’ve really spent a lot of time getting to know what the car is going to be like this year. For the drivers, there is a little bit to get used to – mainly with braking. But for the engineers and the crew, they had a lot more to do just to understand the car; how it works and how to prepare for a 24-hour race. I think we did learn a lot. All the drivers are now comfortable in the cars. I think the crew has a much better understanding of what it is going to do for 24 hours and I think it makes us a lot more excited now that we know what to expect going into the 24 Hour.”

 

MENTALLY WHAT DO YOU DO BETWEEN NOW AND WHEN YOU JUMP IN THE CAR FOR THE FIRST PRACTICE OF THE RACE WEEKEND? “We have data to go over. I think the biggest thing is mentally preparing for the long race. Obviously physical training. We have a lot of data to go over for drivers to get to know: maybe I am losing a little bit here; maybe I’m a little bit better there. On-board cameras to study. I always like to watch the previous year’s race so every time I am around the TV, I’ll turn it on to watch it and learn interesting passing places that you wouldn’t really think of – where people are usually going off; where they are making passes in traffic. You can learn a lot from historical races.”

 

RICKY TAYLOR, NO. 10 WAYNE TAYLOR RACING CORVETTE DP

TALK ABOUT THE CHANGING WEATHER DURING THE TEST AND HOW THAT HELPS PREPARING THE CAR FOR POSSIBILITIES DURING THE RACE: “It has helped the drivers I think. The team focuses on mostly the weather conditions that are going to be related to the race conditions. But the drivers through the 24 Hour go from daytime when it is normally warm, to nighttime and it is freezing cold, then to daytime when it warms up again. No matter what the car is setup to do, we have to be able to deal with all the conditions. We got a bit of everything this weekend, so if we have a car setup for the cold, we know what that is going to be like in the cold and then to the hot. And vice versa; if we have a car setup for the hot, we know what it is going to be like in the cold. So we know how to drive a good car and a bad car.”

 

THERE ARE FOUR DRIVERS, ALL WITH DIFFERENT STYLES, PREFERENCES ETC.  HOW HARD IS IT AND WHAT COMPROMISES DO YOU HAVE TO MAKE AS A DRIVER TO GET A CAR THAT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY? “There has been a little bit of compromise here and there – a little bit of differences in what we all want. But I don’t think there has been much sacrifice. I think we still are improving the car more and more. We haven’t taken any steps backward to suit a driver particularly. We are moving down a good road, and making the car a better race car.”

Connect with Team Chevy on social media.  Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TeamChevy, follow us on Twitter@TeamChevy, and add +TeamChevy into your Google+ circles.

Team Chevy racing photos are available at: public/us/en/gmracing/photos.html

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4.5 million cars and trucks a year.  Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design, and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

Corvette C7.R to make public debut at ‘Roar Before the 24’ ahead of TUDOR Championship

DETROIT (Dec. 31, 2013) – A new beginning for Corvette Racing is on the horizon with a new car set to debut in a new season for a new championship. The Roar Before the 24 at Daytona International Speedway will be the site of first public laps for the Chevrolet Corvette C7.R. The Jan. 3-5 test is a dress rehearsal for the 52^nd Rolex 24 At Daytona – the first race for the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.

The two Corvettes will compete in the TUDOR Championship’s GT Le Mans class for the full season. After winning back-to-back driver’s, team and manufacturer’s titles in the American Le Mans Series’ GT category with the venerable Corvette C6.R, the C7.R has big shoes – errr, tires – to fill. The C6.R won 55 races around the world: four at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and 51 in the American Le Mans Series.

“It will be fantastic to finally see the Chevrolet Corvette C7.R on the track alongside our competition in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship,” said Mark Kent, Director of Chevrolet Racing. “This should be another season of the extremely competitive GT racing that we have become accustomed to seeing. The C7.R is the result of a massive amount of teamwork between our Corvette design team at Chevrolet, Pratt & Miller Engineering and GM’s Powertrain group. We hope their collective efforts will provide Corvette Racing a successful debut season with the C7.R.”

The faces behind the wheel remain largely intact from a year ago. Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen – ALMS GT champions with three victories in 2013 – will team again in the No. 3 Chevrolet Corvette. Tommy Milner and Oliver Gavin – the 2012 ALMS GT champions – are back together in the No. 4 car winning twice last season. For both the Rolex 24 and Sebring 12 Hours, Ryan Briscoe will join the No. 3 lineup with Robin Liddell in the No. 4 Corvette.

With the full unveil of the Corvette C7.R set for Jan. 13 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the two race cars will run in camouflage livery for the three-day test. Aside from private testing of the C7.R earlier this year, the Roar will mark Corvette Racing’s first time at Daytona International Speedway since the team won overall at the 2001 Rolex 24. Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell, Franck Freon and Chris Kneifel drove the victorious Corvette C5-R.

The Rolex 24 also was the site of Corvette Racing’s debut on Jan. 31, 1999. Since that first race, the team has competed in 150 other events around the globe with 90 victories worldwide, 10 team and manufacturer championships in the ALMS and seven victories at the Le Mans 24 Hours.

The TUDOR Championship is the result of a merger between the ALMS and GRAND-AM’s Rolex Sports Car Series. Corvette Racing will compete in 11 races around North America plus the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

 

ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“It’s definitely a step forward and in the right direction on everything we were probably lacking from last year. We still need to get used to knowing how the car behaves. It’s definitely an important time now to learn every single aspect of the car. Now it’s time to really try different things on our side – driving style and everything else to see if we need to change or adapt a few things to be more efficient in this car. The good thing is that we have been able to improve the whole package. It feels more or less like driving the C6.R but one step above on every single thing. Now we may be in the same spots as the C6 but have to improve on other points. Now we need to improve so we can be better in every area. The transition has been very good. Whatever we were working on and were limited on with the C6, we’ve been able to produce a new car that will launch us forward.”

(Participating at the Roar) “It’s important to know where everyone stands. In the end, these are all different cars and they behave differently. We need to know where we are strong and where we are lacking against the competition. The Roar will be the first step for us to learn where we are and where we stand after a short offseason. The Daytona 24 Hours will be the real test to know where everyone stands.”

 

JAN MAGNUSSEN, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“This is an evolution and next step for Corvette Racing. Everything has been improved on the car. So far we’ve really felt a lot of the improvements – on the engine side, in the chassis and aerodynamics. It’s a good step forward. The old car was really suffering at the end. We won some races but it wasn’t for being the fastest car. To go into a 24-hour race as the first for the car will be a difficult situation for us. But I’m very confident that if anyone can do it, we can.”

(What’s new) “It’s all the small things that have been improved… and there are a lot of small things! We’ve all driven the car now and everyone has the same sort of feedback: that it’s a little bit easier to drive, it has less movement and you can feel the stiffer chassis. We are still early with the new direct injection engine but are making progress there also. We haven’t really hit on something where we think, ‘Eh, this isn’t going to work.’ Everything is going in the right direction. We will see what the competition has for us when we get to Daytona. But at the very least, we will go there with a better car than we had last year.”

 

RYAN BRISCOE, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“I haven’t driven the car yet so I’m really looking forward to getting in there and getting a feel for what it will be like. The car is extremely advanced. From talking to the other drivers, it sounds like they have made gains from last year’s car to the new C7.R. I really want to get out there and get comfortable in the car. I’ve got two amazing teammates in Antonio and Jan. I want to do my part – be smooth, consistent and fast when I need to be. Hopefully I can be the guy they need me to be to win these long races.”

(Providing input) “I fully expect there to be a lot of discussion on things like setup direction and things that the team may not be used to with the old car. We will have to be prepared to adjust and make changes – maybe more than would have typically been done last year. Having said that, having input from someone like myself from the outside and not necessarily based on last year’s car could be helpful. It sounds like everyone has been pretty excited so far with the first on-track sessions. We hope it keeps going smoothly and we get plenty of track time with it.”

 

OLIVER GAVIN, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“As a team, 2013 was a very successful season. Corvette Racing and Chevrolet won every championship we possibly could. Now the focus has completely shifted to 2014 and the Corvette C7.R. It is something the team has had a focus on for most of the last year. The first time I sat in the car at Pratt & Miller was seven months ago, and it’s been exciting to have to gone through the process – from a base chassis and the car being built up to finally seeing it testing on the race track. I’ve been involved with that pretty much every step of the way. It’s been great to be a part of that and see the beginning of another fantastic season in the world of Corvette Racing.”

(2014 outlook) “This certainly looks to be one of the most exciting years of racing I can remember. We all are looking forward to getting on track and seeing where we stack up to our competition. Developing the new Corvette C7.R has been a fantastic experience although we really are still in the early days. The results have been encouraging as the car is an upgrade in many key area and will be important given what we will face this year in the TUDOR Championship and at Le Mans.”

 

TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“The first impressions have been really good. I felt really comfortable right away with the car. Initially it was very well connected and well-balanced. It gave me a lot of confidence. Right away, that was a nice feeling. You can tell it’s a Corvette. It still feels similar in some ways (to the C6.R) but you can tell it’s the next generation of car. It does certain things better than the last generation.”

(Team continuity) “Having the same fundamental people that helped build the C6.R GT car and now have done the C7.R is evident. In my first test, I did an hour-and-a-half  in the car with zero issues and that allowed me to get used to things. I didn’t have to think about new teammates, a new engineer… that has been typical for me in my racing career. I’d be with a team for two or three years and go elsewhere for other opportunities. I can definitely see the differences that (continuity) brings and that helps me get up to speed with the program quicker. I was ready to start making changes to the car to help the balance after 10 laps. That’s a testament to the team at Corvette Racing and Pratt & Miller for building a car that is much better in many areas.”

 

ROBIN LIDDELL, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R

“We’re all looking very much forward to the first two endurance races. Daytona is a track that I know very well. I’ve raced there every year for the last 10 years plus have done loads of testing. We have all the sum parts. I don’t feel any kind of undue pressure to do well. We have all the tools we need to do it. The team has been very good in helping me to integrate myself in and acclimate myself to the car. All the pieces are there to do a fantastic job and achieve great results.”

(His initial test) “Testing the car for the first time was quite challenging. With the car being new and not being rubbed on very hard, it was a great test and shakedown. At the end of the day, there is a little bit of work on balance and handling. The good news is that the things I was feeling and were sort of finding a little tricky were some of the same things that Olly and Tommy were seeing. So we have a little bit of work to do but that’s to be expected because the car is completely new.”

 

DOUG FEHAN, CORVETTE RACING PROGRAM MANAGER

“The 2014 season is one of the most highly anticipated moments in the storied history of Corvette Racing. Building and testing a new car in such a compressed time frame has been a monumental task. But challenge is what fuels the efforts from the groups at Chevrolet, Pratt & Miller and GM Powertrain. As Jan. 25 approaches, the Corvette C7.R stands ready to write yet another chapter in Chevrolet racing history. Debuting the C7.R in Daytona is fitting as it comes precisely 15 years after Corvette Racing’s debut at the Rolex 24. We are truly excited to return and start the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship in spectacular fashion.”

 

Roar Before the 24 (all times ET)

Friday, Jan. 3

• ·         TUDOR Championship, Practice 1: 10:15 a.m.-noon
• ·         TUDOR Championship, Practice 2: 2:45-5:15 p.m.

 

Saturday, Jan. 4

• ·         TUDOR Championship, Practice 3: 9-10:45 a.m.
• ·         TUDOR Championship, Practice 4: 1-2:30 p.m.
• ·         TUDOR Championship, Practice 5: 4-5 p.m.
• ·         TUDOR Championship, Practice 6: 6:30-8 p.m.

 

Sunday, Jan. 5

• ·         TUDOR Championship, Practice 7: 10:15 a.m.-noon
• ·         TUDOR Championship, Practice 8: 2:30-3:30 p.m.

 

Corvette Racing History at Daytona

Year	Class	Drivers	Result	Car	Notes
1999	GT2	Fellows/Kneifel/Paul Jr.	3rd	Corvette C5-R
		Pilgrim/Collins/Sharp	12th	Corvette C5-R
2000	GTS	Fellows/Kneifel/Bell	2nd	Corvette C5-R
		Pilgrim/Collins/Freon	10th	Corvette C5-R
2001	GTS	Fellows/O’Connell/Kneifel/Freon	1st	Corvette C5-R	Overall win
		Collins/Pilgrim/Earnhardt/Earnhardt Jr.	2nd	Corvette C5-R

 

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About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4.5 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design, and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

Start of TUDOR Championship sees strong contingent of Corvette Daytona Prototypes prep for Rolex 24

DETROIT (Dec. 31, 2013) – Chevrolet is ready for a landmark season of sports car racing in North America with a strong complement of Corvette Daytona Prototypes that will compete in the inaugural year of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship. Six Corvette DPs are set to compete this season at some of the continent’s top road courses starting with the 52^nd Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 25-26.

Prior to that however, Corvette DP teams will take part in the annual Roar Before the 24 three-day test at Daytona International Speedway from Jan. 3-5.

The sports car landscape has changing significantly since Wayne Taylor Racing’s Jordan Taylor and Max Angelelli won in September at Lime Rock Park to clinch the Rolex Series’ DP driver’s championship. The Rolex Series and American Le Mans Series officially merged with DPs in the new top-level prototype class. In order to balance the cars in the prototype category, the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) has made a number of technical adjustments to Daytona Prototype cars including new aerodynamics and brake systems, and additional horsepower from 2013.

“This is one of the most highly anticipated and exciting starts to a season of sports car racing in many years,” said Mark Kent, Director of Chevrolet Racing. “We are looking forward to another year of close racing in the prototype class as our strong lineup of teams compete to defend Chevrolet’s Manufacturers Championship.”

Six Daytona Prototype entries from five teams will take to Daytona International Speedway for this week’s three-day test: Spirit of Daytona Racing, Wayne Taylor Racing, Action Express Racing (with two Corvette DPs), GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing and newcomer Marsh Racing – stepping up from running a GT Corvette to the Corvette DP.

Those efforts will lead Chevrolet’s fight for additional victories and championships in the top level of North American sports car racing. Chevrolet ended Rolex Series competition with 20 Daytona Prototype victories – 16 by Corvette DPs since it debuted in 2011 – and nine in GT. The Bowtie brand also captured DP engine manufacturer championships in both 2012 and 2013, plus the 2011 GT title.

“There are been a huge amount of work and cooperation between our teams, IMSA and our technical partners in advance of this season,” said Jim Lutz, Chevrolet TUDOR Championship Daytona Prototype Program Manager. “Headed into the Roar Before the 24, we feel like our DP teams are good positions to make their final preparations for the start of the season. As always, Daytona International Speedway presents a significant challenge given the track’s banking and high speeds. Given the new technical regulations and adjustments for 2014, reliability will take on added importance. That will be a key focal point for this year’s Roar.”

2014 Corvette DP Lineup – Roar Before the 24 – TUDOR United SportsCar Championship

Car No.	Team	Drivers	Owner
5	Action Express Racing	Joao Barbosa/Christian Fittipaldi/Sebastien Bourdais	Bob Johnson
9	Action Express Racing	TBA	Bob Johnson
10	Wayne Taylor Racing	Jordan Taylor/Ricky Taylor/Max Angelelli/Wayne Taylor	Wayne Taylor
31	Marsh Racing	Boris Said/Eric Curran/Max Papis/Bradley Smith	Ted Marsh
90	Spirit of Daytona	Richard Westbrook/Michael Valiante/Mike Rockenfeller	Troy Flis
99	GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing	Jon Fogarty/Alex Gurney/Memo Gidley/Darren Law	Bob Stallings

 

Roar Before the 24 (all times ET)

Friday, Jan. 3

• Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, Practice 1: 9-10 a.m.
• TUDOR Championship, Practice 1: 10:15 a.m.-noon
• Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, Practice 2: 1:30-2:30 p.m.
• TUDOR Championship, Practice 2: 2:45-5:15 p.m.

 

Saturday, Jan. 4

• TUDOR Championship, Practice 3: 9-10:45 a.m.
• Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, Practice 3: 11 a.m.-noon
• TUDOR Championship, Practice 4: 1-2:30 p.m.
• Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, Practice 4: 2:45-3:45 p.m.
• TUDOR Championship, Practice 5: 4-5 p.m.
• TUDOR Championship, Practice 6: 6:30-8 p.m.

 

Sunday, Jan. 5

• Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, Practice 5: 9-10 a.m.
• TUDOR Championship, Practice 7: 10:15 a.m.-noon
• Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, Practice 6: 1:30-2:15 p.m.
• TUDOR Championship, Practice 8: 2:30-3:30 p.m.

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About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4.5 million cars and trucks a year.  Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design, and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

The 2014 season is quickly approaching and all teams are hard at work on the shop preparing for the biggest season yet in modified racing.

In just two short years drivers and fans have brought modified racing back to the forefront of racing in Southern Ontario. No other series in Canada has seen this kind of growth in such a short period of time and it only going to continue in 2014.

Sunset Speedway was the host for the very first OSCAAR Modified series event back in May 2012. It is also the site that currently holds the record for car count, as 26 Modifieds started the feature at last year’s Velocity Weekend. It is also the track that the first American competed with the OSCAAR Modifieds. The final distinction it holds is the youngest driver Dustin Jones at age 14 took his first green flag of his OSCAAR career.

Sunset has continued to show its support for the series by having the OSCAAR Modifieds at the track five times in 2014. The series will start off their third season joining the super late models on May18th for a 30 lap feature event. Although the spot light maybe on the super late models for the Bierderman Memorial weekend, the Modified drivers will be sure to put on some great wheel to wheel action on both days of competition on June 28th -29th. After a long summer of racing the Modifieds will once again tackle Sunset Speedway on August 23rd in preparation of the upcoming Velocity Weekend on Saturday September 27th and 28th

The OSCAAR Modifieds have only had a chance to compete on the fast Kawartha Speedway once in each of the past two seasons. Well 2014 that is all going to change as the Modifieds will be tackling the speedway not once but twice. The first opportunity will be early in the season on June 1st as the mods will join the Super Lates and the mini stock nationals for a 25 laps feature event. Sunday July 13th is shaping up to be one of the biggest racing events of the summer at Kawartha Speedway. Not only will fans witness the Super Lates, the Mini Stocks, and the Pro Dirt Late Models, the OSCAAR Modifieds will be looking to build off the green to checker run of last year’s feature event.

The first of two stops at Peterborough Speedway in 2014 will occur on August 2nd as part of the touring series Chase for the Colours. As with the Super Lates this year’s feature winner and second place will be guaranteed a starting spot for the prestigious Autumn Colours of no worse than 5th and 6th. This will be the only time for teams to test and prepare for the annual Thanksgiving weekend Classic in which the 2014 season champion will be crowned.

When you bring the OSCAAR Modifieds to Barrie Speedway you can be assured of some close quarters racing. Combine a very tight ¼ mile track, open wheels and the desire to win fans will be treated to some good old school “rubbin is racing”. Fans will not want to miss June 14th as the Modifieds will make their only stop of the year at Barrie Speedway.

July means only two things 1. Sunshine and hot temperatures 2. OSCAAR Modifieds are heading to Sauble Beach. On July 26th the OSCAAR Modified Drivers will leave the relaxing beach and head to the track for a 30 lap feature event.

The only Friday night event in 2014 will take place on August 15th at Delaware Speedway. Always a favorite with the drivers the fast yet tricky track always provides some great racing action. This year the OSCAAR Modified Drivers will be able to showcase their talent to a standing room only crowd as they share the stage with the stars of the ISMA Super Modified Series.

The most prestigious event that every modified driver wants is the Rick Woolner Memorial Championship. 2013 saw the event grow into a two day event with the Prelude to the Memorial Saturday and the Memorial on Sunday. With both events full points paying shows and the ultra-fast and tight confines of Varney Speedway, it really is a racing spectacle to witness this event. Last year’s event paid out over $1900.00 to the winner and over $500.00 to start making it the biggest event in modified series history, fans will want to circle September 13th and 14th on their calendars.

Open wheel fans can rest assured that the 2014 season will again provide the great racing action that people expect for the OSCAAR Modifieds

News and Notes: As of right now three Rookie of the Year Candidates have registered: Gary Elliott (#36) has recently purchased his new Modified, Drew Stieler (#99) is preparing for his first season , Dustin Jackson (#61) at 15 years of age is ready to showcase his talent. JR Fitzpatrick (#84) is putting the finishing touches on his new mod and Mike Westwood (#91) busy preparing his new ride, Chad Strawn (#77) will compete for his first OSCAAR Modified Championship in 2014, Adam Adams (#51) is set to return to action in 2014.

Since the last checker flag waved at Autumn Colours work has been ongoing in preparation for the 2014 race season.

The 2014 season will mark the 24th anniversary of the series. It has evolved from a weekly racing at Mosport Speedway to the top traveling series in Ontario. The cars have gone from the template bodies to the wild looking outlaw style. But the one thing that has remained the same is the excitement that the OSCAAR Super Late Models bring to the track each week.

In what has become a tradition in the past few years, the Outlaws will open their 2014 campaign at Sunset Speedway on May 18th with a 50 lap feature event. Mark and Steve welcomes back the series for the Biederman Memorial for two days of super late model racing on June 28th-29th. After the success of last years’ event which saw record car counts, a new track record in time trials and Dwayne Bakers name added to the memorial trophy, fans will want to circle that weekend on their racing calendar. A tune up for the season ending Velocity weekend will see the supers tackle Sunset on Saturday, August 23rd. In what it is turning into one of the must see year end specials the super late drivers will be chasing every point at the Velocity weekend on September 28th with a fifty lap feature event.

After a very successful event in 2013, Kawartha Speedway will host the OSCAAR Outlaws on two separate occasions in 2014. The first event will take place on Sunday June 1st. This track is a favorite with drivers and fans alike and the racing action never disappoints. The Outlaws will get a second chance to show off the horsepower under the hoods on Sunday July 13th. Joining the supers at both events will be the Mini Stock Nationals, sanctioned by OSCAAR. One of the most talked about races in 2013 was the dirt late models as they cleaned the clay off their cars and hit the asphalt for the first time in history. With the success of the first event the dirt guys are eager to try again in 2014 and will join OSCAAR on July 13th. There has been some early interest from dirt drivers from Ontario and New York State.

Peterborough Speedway will host the Super Late Models for three shows in 2014. The first of which is the Annual Chase for the Colours event on Saturday, August 2nd. This year will see a slight twist in the format as the winner and second place finisher in the chase will be guaranteed of a starting sport no worse than 5th and 6th at the Autumn Colours Classic. The Super Lates close off summer with their annual Labour Day weekend event on the 30th of August. The 2014 champion will be crowned as always at the conclusion of the feature event of Autumn Colours, on Thanksgiving Weekend.

Barrie Speedway was the sight of one of the most exciting OSCAAR feature events in 2014. The tight confines of Barrie can be intimidating to the best of the drivers but also provides the door to door racing that fans love. If you are not sure what to get your dad on Father’s Day bring him to Barrie Speedway June 14th for some great OSCAAR racing.

If you are a race fan, what better way to spend a July weekend than heading to Sauble Beach for the day, and then to Sauble Speedway for a great night of OSCAAR racing. Always a very popular event at Sauble Speedway, fans will want to book their holidays for the weekend of July 26th.

News and notes: OSCAAR Super Lates have three Rookies ready to tackle the series in 2014. Late model stand out Kelly Balson (#b10) CVM Champion Corey Jones (#82) and Thunder Car legend Dave Doucette (#44). Jesse Kennedy (#10) hopes to celebrate his 30th year in racing with his first OSCAAR Championship. After a year off Dave Taylor (#51) will once again tackle the series. TJ Woosley will return in 2014 to compete with the Outlaws… and rumour has it but it has not been confirmed that Jeff Hanley (#70) may compete for his first OSCAAR Championship in 2014.

Steckly First To Three; Hathaway Ends Drought

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 27, 2013) – Tight competition has been the name of the game since NASCAR moved into Canada in 2007 and the 2013 campaign was as hotly contested as any in the sport.

Scott Steckly continued his ping-pong match with D.J. Kennington by winning his third NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 title. Steckly has won titles in 2008, 2011 and 2013 while Kennington, who narrowly missed his chance at a third this year, claimed crowns in 2010 and 2012.

 

However, the season was not just the Steckly-Kennington show. The rookie-of-the-year battle between Alex Guenette and Ryley Seibert was decided by a single point and went down to the final lap of the season. Jason Hathaway returned to Victory Lane after a 59-race drought. And Louis-Philippe Dumoulin proved he had the capacity to win races.

 

The remarkable consistency of Steckly and Kennington, though, remains a high hurdle to clear for championship contenders, but the 2013 season presented multiple candidates who were ready, willing and able to make a run in 2014.

 

Top Driver

Scott Steckly: After starting the season with a pair of finishes outside the top 20, Steckly returned to form with a three-race win streak, behind the wheel of his No. 22 Canadian Tire Dodge, to get back into the championship conversation. But work remained heading into the season finale at Kawartha Speedway. Trailing Kennington by five points, Steckly needed to win the race and lead the most laps to render any Kennington result moot which was the end result. The Milverton, Ont., driver won four times this season to go along with eight top-five and nine top-10 finishes.

 

D.J. Kennington (Honorable Mention): With less than a handful of slight changes to the season, then these two entries would be reversed. That’s how close it was. Four points is all that separated Kennington from his third championship. The wins didn’t come as frequently, but the ability of the St. Thomas, Ont., driver to maximize point totals each and every race is uncanny. The No. 17 Castrol Edge/Mahindra Tractors Dodge picked up a series-best 11 top-10 finishes and even though it won just once it came in dramatic style against a stacked field at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres.

 

Comeback Driver of the Year

Jason Hathaway: The difference between a top-10 driver and a top-five driver can sometimes be miniscule – a bobble here; a slip there – but more often than not it comes down to winning races, and not, which is huge. At Riverside International Speedway, Hathaway won for the first time since the 2008 season finale this year to end a 59-race winless streak. And to prove it wasn’t a fluke the driver of the No. 3 Snap-on Tools/Rockstar Energy Drink Dodge emerged victorious at Barrie Speedway just two races later. Consequently, the Dutton, Ont., driver improved his career-best finish in the point standings from sixth (2010) to third.

 

Top Team

22 Racing: A third Canadian Tire Series championship in the last six seasons is probably enough to garner this accolade, but the team also fielded a car for Louis-Philippe Dumoulin, who finished fifth in the final point standings. All told, the team went to Victory Lane five times in 12 races this season. The 22 Racing team also prepared entries for former Formula One and Indy 500 champion Jacques Villeneuve and 2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion James Buescher.

 

DJK Racing (Honorable Mention): The bell cow of the team is the No. 17 of Kennington, but it’s the star power of its No. 28 entry that makes the difference here. The likes of IZOD IndyCar Series star Alex Tagliani, two-time Canadian Tire Series champion Andrew Ranger and the NASCAR K&N Pro Series’ Cameron Hayley, who is a member of the selective NASCAR Next program, drove DJK’s second car this season. In the end, seven different drivers wheeled the No. 28 Dodge out of the championship-winning DJK stable.

 

Top Breakthrough Performance

Louis-Philippe Dumoulin: Being a driving instructor and getting tagged with the ‘road-course ace’ label isn’t enough to win races in the Canadian Tire Series – road course or otherwise. Dumoulin, of Trois-Rivieres, Que., got over the hump in the season opener at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and duplicated that effort at the same track in September as 36 cars lined up to start the race. For the season the driver of the No. 47 WeatherTech Canada/Bellemare Dodge picked up two wins and four top-five and six top-10 finishes.

 

Alex Guenette (Honorable Mention): The 17-year-old from Terrebonne, Que., was a Canadian Tire Series rookie in every sense of the word this season. With little or no prior exposure to the series’ cars or tracks, Guenette proved to be a quick study and earned series rookie-of-the-year honors. All told, he drove his No. 39 Motos Illimitées/DLGL Dodge to a 10th-place finish in points with a season-best finish of second in July at Autodrome St. Eustache.

Top Races

Pinty’s 250, Kawartha Speedway, Sept. 22: With the series championship in the balance, seven drivers led a lap, but it was pole sitter Steckly with the most to gain. In order to erase a five-point deficit and control his own destiny in the title hunt, Steckly needed to win the race and lead the most laps. After wrestling the lead from Pete Shepherd III on Lap 225, Steckly was able to complete his mission and edge out Kennington for the series crown by just four tallies.

 

JuliaWine.com 100, Circuit de Trois-Rivieres, Aug. 11: In front of a capacity crowd in excess of 30,000 fans and a field that included many of Canada’s best road racers, Kennington got around Jacques Villeneuve on Lap 38 and survived a green-white-checkered finish to extend his all-time series record for career wins to 19.

 

Hudco Electric Supply 300, Barrie Speedway, Sept. 8: Few tracks provide as much excitement as the cozy .333-mile tri-oval in Barrie, Ont., and the 2013 installment for the series was no exception. The lead changed hands 10 times among seven drivers with four of them – Hathaway (80), Steckly (79), J.R. Fitzpatrick (68) and Kennington (62) – leading more than 50 laps. Hathaway paced the final 20 circuits to capture his second win of the season.

(DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – December 22, 2013) – Drivers from 28 states, four Canadian Provinces and Sweden, England and Australia converged on Daytona Beach, Florida for the annual ARCA Test leading to the Feb. 15 Lucas Oil 200 presented by MAV TV American Real at Daytona Int’l Speedway. Over 70 drivers took part in the three-day test, which saw 49 different race cars on track. There were no on-track incidents.

Venturini Motorsports led the speed charts overall with 2013 SCOTT Rookie of the Year Justin Boston, who circled the 2.5-mile superspeedway in 49.019 seconds, a top speed of 183.602 mph. Defending race winner, John Wes Townley, gave the Venturini team a clean sweep of the top two positions with the second best speed – 183.501 mph.

The Daytona ARCA event will open the season for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards for the 51stconsecutive season in 2014. Bobby Gerhart brought four Lucas Oil-MAV TV Chevrolets to the test in his effort to grow his all-time record eight victories in the Daytona ARCA race, first run in 1964.

Cunningham Motorsports also made a big splash with four drivers testing, including rookies Tyler Reddick (fifth fastest), Austin Wayne Self (ninth fastest), Shannon McIntosh, and veteran Tom Hessert. Reddick recorded the most laps in any of the six different sessions, making 57 circuits on the final afternoon session Sunday.

ARCA’s Road To Daytona initiative brought touring series champions Travis Braden (ARCA CRA Super Series) and Dan Fredrickson (ARCA Midwest Tour) to Daytona to gain experience on the famed high banks. In its second year with support from Fast Track High Performance Driving School, Roush Yates Engines and Hoosier Racing Tire, Braden and Fredrickson were guided by program administrator and spotter Andy Hillenburg, the 1995 ARCA Racing Series champion and a two-time Daytona ARCA 200 winner.

The familiar red Mallory Ignition trays, standard issue to ARCA teams since 2005, were being swapped out for yellow Accel Ignition brand products. Both brands are owned by Mr. Gasket Company. The brand change coincides with significant technological advances to the ARCA-mandated ignition systems. Major features of the new and improved systems are greater protection internally to prevent overvoltage charges, a design enhancement to reduce overheating of the systems and lightening the system from 16 pounds to 11 pounds. Graham Fordyce and Chris Whitworth represented Accel at the test.

Chase Elliott had an impressive lineup of Hendrick Motorsports mechanical talent assisting his Daytona ARCA Test effort including Jim Long, Billy Wilburn and Lance McGrew.

Justin Allison, who posted the third best speed overall in Saturday’s drafting practice session, had help beyond the Howard Bixman-Grant Enfinger led BCR Ford team. His grandfather Donnie Allison, who nearly won the Daytona 500 in the now famous battle with Cale Yarborough which ended with Donnie and his brother Bobby Allison scuffling with Yarborough, was an interested observer at the test and enjoyed offering his insight.

USAC Midget, Sprint Car and Silver Crown legend Dave Darland, whose accomplishments are well documented in the USAC record book, made his initial laps at Daytona and plans to return to race in February.

Rich Lushes, car chief of the 2013 ARCA Racing Series championship team of owner Duke Thorson and driver Frank Kimmel, has moved to Venturini Motorsports to join the crew chief lineup. Venturini Motorsports fielded the full time effort of 2013 SCOTT ARCA Rookie of the Year Justin Boston. Venturini Motorsports brought five teams to the test including ZLOOP sponsored Boston, Zaxbys driver John Wes Townley, Mark Thompson, Leilani Munter (sixth fastest) and Michael Self (seventh fastest), all of whom logged many laps at the test.

Joey Coulter, whose career advanced through the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards en route to his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series success, was on hand spotting for Allegiant Travel Chevrolet driver Spencer Gallagher, who was fourth fastest overall. Newcomer Scott Sheldon also tested a Gallagher Motorsports entry, ending up eighth fastest overall.

Thomas the ‘Moose’ Praytor gave Wayne Hixson’s car a good ride with the 10th best speed overall among the 77 drivers who posted time and speed Friday through Sunday.

NASCAR Sprint Cup veteran Carl Long was at Daytona assisting in the efforts of Empire Racing and driver Sean Corr.

James Hylton combined efforts with the Empire Racing Ford team at the test and may be looking at plans to work together with the John Corr owned, John Bellesfield managed team for the full 2014 season.

1989 ARCA Racing Series champion Bob Keselowski was in the garage working with Matt Kurzejewski. Keselowski’s son Brad is the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion and son Brian is a multi-time winner in ARCA Racing Series competition.

NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series driver Joe Nemechek brought his son John Hunter to gain experience, working with veterans Del and Rick Markle and the John Fox Motorsports team.

Two teams notably absent from the Daytona test indicated they will do private testing at Talladega Superspeedway in January to prepare for the Daytona ARCA race. Win-Tron Racing’s Nate Thiesse indicated Frank Kimmel would be at the wheel of the Win-Tron owned #44 Ansell Menards Toyota. Stange Motorsports crew chief Larry Moore was at Daytona and said MaryEve Dufault would be at test the team’s Fords at Talladega in January as well.

---

Daytona Int’l Speedway
ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards
Overall Combined Test Results (12-20/21/22-13)
POS	NO	NAME	TIME	SPEED
1	25	Justin Boston	49.019	183.602
2	15	John Wes Townley	49.046	183.501
3	88	Justin Allison	49.053	183.475
4	23A	Spencer Gallagher	49.057	183.460
5	22A	Tyler Reddick	49.068	183.419
6	55	Leilani Munter	49.099	183.303
7	35	Michael Self	49.105	183.281
8	23	Scott Sheldon	49.152	183.105
9	22	Austin Wayne Self	49.163	183.064
10	2	Thomas Praytor	49.206	182.905
11	39B	Alex Guennet	49.224	182.838
12	39A	Mario Gosselin	49.246	182.756
13	82B	Jacob Engle	49.250	182.741
14	12	Kody Weisner	49.268	182.674
15	22B	Shannon McIntosh	49.270	182.667
16	12A	Jared Marks	49.276	182.645
17	77	Tom Hessert	49.299	182.559
18	38	Clay Rogers	49.304	182.541
19	82A	Cole Powell	49.313	182.508
20	23B	Joey Coulter	49.330	182.445
21	48	Sean Corr	49.336	182.423
22	75	Benny Chastain	49.342	182.400
23	56	Derrick Lancaster	49.342	182.400
24	98	Mason Mitchell	49.342	182.400
25	69A	Will Kimmel	49.346	182.386
26	5	Bobby Gerhart	49.399	182.190
27	86	Bobby Grewohl	49.472	181.921
28	9	Chase Elliott	49.515	181.763
29	75B	Scott Green	49.525	181.726
30	99	Buster Graham	49.530	181.708
31	2	Josh Williams	49.543	181.660
32	40C	Kelly Admiraal	49.613	181.404
33	97E	Friday Hassler Jr	49.678	181.167
34	57	Bryan Dauzat	49.713	181.039
35	90	Grant Enfinger	49.721	181.010
36	12C	Tanner Berryhill	49.769	180.835
37	97	Dominick Casola	49.776	180.810
38	40B	Justin Lloyd	49.806	180.701
39	54	Matt Kurzejewski	49.854	180.527
40	11	Travis Braden	49.854	180.527
41	68	Michael Lira	49.907	180.335
42	69B	Chris Bailey Jr	49.928	180.260
43	40A	Rick Clifton	49.939	180.220
44	5B	Scott Hubler	49.961	180.141
45	57A	Andy Seuss	49.962	180.137
46	5B	Scott Edwards	49.982	180.065
47	54	Mark Thompson	50.004	179.986
48	32	Terry Jones	50.015	179.946
49	40G	Mark Meunier	50.024	179.914
50	32	John Hunter Nemechek	50.036	179.870
51	40	Josh Reeves	50.061	179.781
52	40E	Alx Danielsson	50.141	179.494
53	57A	Doug Barnes Jr	50.229	179.179
54	5c	Jacob Severen	50.256	179.083
55	97D	Jami Weimer	50.259	179.072
56	5A	Michael Lia	50.269	179.037
57	39	Darin Matthews	50.331	178.816
58	5A	Casey Hillenburg	50.460	178.359
59	69E	Brian Finney	50.484	178.274
60	69C	Sara Elrod	50.496	178.232
61	40D	Josh White	50.509	178.186
62	11B	Dave Darland	50.554	178.027
63	97B	Kris Martin	50.618	177.802
64	97B	Jerry Tunney	50.683	177.574
65	10B	Ed Pompa	50.739	177.378
66	10	Ethan McMillian	50.766	177.284
67	3B	Tim Viens	50.805	177.148
68	10A	Richard Doheny	50.886	176.866
69	11A	Dan Fredrickson	50.903	176.807
70	7	Brent Cross	51.107	176.101
71	3A	Kevin Powell	51.110	176.091
72	10C	Tyler Speer	51.117	176.067
73	97A	Andrew Portter	51.205	175.764
74	3	Sarah Cornett-Ching	51.242	175.637
75	3C	Karl Weber	51.274	175.528
76	97C	David Sear	52.730	170.681
77	12B	Rachel Marks	53.901	166.973