Category: Other Series PR

Today’s IZOD IndyCar Series, Firestone Indy Lights and Mazda Road to Indy headlines:

1. If you missed it: INDYCAR Conference Call with Simon Pagenaud

2. Hinchcliffe to sport pink paint scheme for National Breast Cancer Foundation

3. Bourdais looking to continue success at Houston 

4. Garcia to finish out 2013 with Belardi Auto Racing

5. Dempsey lands at Team Moore Racing for Houston

6.  Foyt named grand marshal for Houston doubleheader

1. If you missed it: INDYCAR Conference Call with Simon Pagenaud: Earlier today, racing legend and IZOD IndyCar Series team owner A.J. Foyt participated in an INDYCAR Conference Call to discuss the Shell and Pennzoil Grand Prix of Houston. Selected quotes from the call are below. 

Q:  With three races to go, you’re strongly in the hunt for the championship.  Is the championship your goal or are you just focusing on finishing the season strong?  

SIMON PAGENAUD:   I think the championship is the goal.  We go racing to win races.  We’re fortunate that we’re in a really good position.  The team has been tremendous.  The HP car has been really fast on street circuits lately.  We scored two wins.  I don’t think it’s time to give up.  We’re going to try as hard as we can.  It’s going to be difficult.  We’re quite a ways down on Helio (Castroneves).  But we’re going to try.  If you don’t try, then there’s no reason to go racing. I’m excited about it.  I think it’s going to be a great weekend.  

Q: You mentioned that your car and team have been strong on street circuits.  Baltimore, you won at the doubleheader in Detroit.  What do you see as the biggest difference in your performance this year? 

SIMON PAGENAUD:  I think it’s a little bit of everything.  As a driver you get to understand the racing, the race craft, how aggressive you need to be, when you need to be aggressive, when not, when you can shave some time.  

So whether it’s in laps, out laps, the way you park the car in the pit box, those details are so important in INDYCAR nowadays.  The competition is very, very intense right now. 

Every little detail and more experience is always going to help. I drive better.  I also have a better car.  My whole team is broken in, I should say.  We’ve been the same group for two years now and I think it’s just paying off really well.  

Q: You have had a start in Atlantics and Champ Car at Houston.  What do you remember of racing at Houston and does that give you a little bit of an advantage?

SIMON PAGENAUD:   I don’t know if it does.  It was quite a while ago.  I remember the track being all concrete and quite bumpy, which should be similar to Baltimore.  I’m hopeful that we’re not going to have to change the HP car too much to be fast.  So I’m quite excited about it.  There isn’t much testing on a doubleheader.  You want to unload and be fast straightaway.  I really hope that’s going to be the case so we have a good chance to fight back in the championship.  

Q: For two years you’ve got some confidence going.  Could you talk a little bit about what that’s like over a long season, what it’s like to build the confidence and how that helps you going into a situation like when you get toward the end of the season and you really need to get some more wins to get that championship. 

SIMON PAGENAUD:   You go through ups and downs during the season.  It’s a long season.  It’s not just 10 races, it’s almost 20.  There are a lot of points available, a lot of points wasted also in bad races. The beginning of the season was tough, but it helped us as a team to just focus on what was essential.  We bounced back.  Lately we’ve been the strongest team, strongest combination with the most points scored in the last three.  We just need to keep going.  I think we’re going to keep the ball rolling.  I’m just very, very excited right now.  So excited, anxious to drive, and I’ve got nothing to lose.  It’s very simple for me.

Q: I’m curious, do you see yourself as the underdog coming into these last three races?  If so, do you relish to role, enjoy it?  

SIMON PAGENAUD:  I enjoy my position right now.  I enjoy it because nobody saw us coming.  That’s pretty enjoyable.  It’s not like we’ve not been competitive, but the tendency is to look at the big teams, the big names.  

I’m proud to be part of the HP team and show that we’ve put our head down and we’re here.  We’re within the mix between one Penske, one Ganassi, and two Andrettis.  I’m very proud of the team. 

Whether we finish fifth in the championship or first, I’m very proud of them.  I’m actually excited to be here seen as the underdog.  But I really don’t feel like one.  I feel like I have all my chances.  It’s up to me to drive as hard as possible this weekend and score maximum points to catch up on any of them.  

2. Hinchcliffe to sport pink paint scheme for National Breast Cancer Foundation:IZOD IndyCar Series race winner James Hinchcliffe and sponsor GoDaddy will trade the iconic “GoDaddy green” for a good cause at this weekend’s Shell and Pennzoil Grand Prix of Houston. 

The Chevy-powered No. 27 driven by the Canadian racer will take to the track on Friday with a pink paint scheme in support of the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

“Well, I’ve been told real men wear pink, so I am all for it,” Hinchcliffe said. “But seriously, it’s a great opportunity to support a fantastic cause and I’m really happy that GoDaddy has let us be a part of their campaign. They have been tremendous supporters of Breast Cancer Research in the past; it’s great to see them continue that and to help out in our little way. It is never hard to spot the GoDaddy green car on track, but don’t worry, the GoDaddy PINK car will be just as easy to see.”

GoDaddy, and the Public Interest Registry, which manages .ORG domain names, are donating $50,000 directly to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

In addition to the pink paint, the No. 27 will go one step – or wheel – further by displaying the support of Firestone Racing through pink sidewall racing tires. Hinchcliffe’s teammates Marco Andretti, E.J. Viso and reigning series champion Ryan Hunter-Reay will also sport the Firestone pink side-walls.

“Firestone Racing is proud to support Andretti Autosport and GoDaddy’s special pink paint scheme to raise funds and awareness for the National Breast Cancer Foundation,” said Lisa Boggs, Director of Bridgestone Americas Motorsports. “Andretti Autosport’s primary Firestone Firehawks for the Houston doubleheader will be pink to complement the livery and reinforce our collective commitment to this important cause.”

3. Bourdais looking to continue success at Houston: The 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series has seen 10 different drivers visit victory lane.

One driver who hopes to tie the record for most number of race winners in a season, (11), is Dragon Racing’s Sebastien Bourdais.

Bourdais, a four-time champion in the Champ Car Series, won the 2006 and 2007 races at Reliant Park, the site of the Shell and Pennzoil Grand Prix of Houston doubleheader.

“Obviously, the results of the start of the season have definitely set us back a lot,” Bourdais said recently. “We’re just going to take the events one by one, and we’re very much looking forward to the rest of the season, particularly if we can keep that kind of performance level.”

Bourdais has also been one of the series’ top performer on street courses. After starting deep in the pack at Baltimore, he challenged for the win before settling for third behind race winner Simon Pagenaud and Josef Newgarden. He finished on the podium in both races at Toronto, giving him three straight podium finishes in Dragon Racing’s No. 7 Chevrolet.

4. Garcia to finish out 2013 with Belardi Auto Racing: Belardi Auto Racing announced that Juan Pablo Garcia will drive the No. 5 International/Mapfre/Euclid Chemical/TVC + Latino/AutoShow TV/Belardi Auto Racing entry for the remaining two Firestone Indy Lights races.

Garcia is in his second full-time season in Firestone Indy Lights, and had competed most of 2013 with Team Moore Racing. He accumulated three top-five finishes with a high of fourth at St. Petersburg.

“I’m very happy to race for Belardi Auto Racing,” said Garcia, of Mexico. “This year Belardi has had several podiums and I hope to finish there during these couple of events. They are very professional and competitive. They’ve demonstrated that many times.”

Garcia did not compete in the series’ race at Baltimore after an early crash in practice ended his weekend. On Sept. 27, Belardi Auto Racing announced that funding had run out to field Freedom 100 winner Peter Dempsey, and Garcia was able to step in.

“It’s really great to have Juan Pablo join us for these last two races,” team owner Brian Belardi said. “He’s been great competition for us this season and now it’ll be interesting to see how he does on our team. With the Grand Prix of Houston being a new event for everyone, it’s going to be a pretty even playing field so he’ll have a chance to get comfortable in the car. It should be an exciting race leading to the finale in Fontana.”

5. Dempsey lands at Team Moore Racing for Houston: Peter Dempsey will compete at the Grand Prix of Houston after all. 

Dempsey, the Firestone Freedom 100 winner who is fifth in the Firestone Indy Lights championship standings, will drive the No. 2 TMR/Global Tubing/ALS Association car in the Oct. 5 race on the 1.683-mile, 10-turn street circuit.

“I could not be happier to be joining Team Moore Racing for the Houston race,” said Dempsey, of Ireland.  “TMR, Mark Moore, and Tom Wood are proven multiple race winners in the Firestone Indy Lights series and I am heading to Houston with great confidence that I am surrounded by the right people.

“I’m also really looking forward to having Conor Daly as my teammate for the weekend.  We are friends off the track and competitors on the track, so I think we will work really well together and hopefully be in the position to reward TMR with the results they deserve.”

Team Moore Racing announced last week that Daly, a former Firestone Indy Lights race winner and current GP3 driver who also made his IZOD IndyCar Series debut in the Indianapolis 500 in May, would drive the No. 22 entry at Houston.

Dempsey recorded the victory at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May along five other top-five finishes in 10 races for Belardi Auto Racing, which announced last week it didn’t have sufficient sponsorship to field the No. 5 car in the final two races.

“Team Moore Racing is giving me the opportunity to keep my title fight alive, and for that, I will always be thankful,” Dempsey added. “I’d really like to thank all of my team sponsors along with my personal sponsors for making this all come together.”

6. Foyt named grand marshal for Houston doubleheader: Houston native and racing legend A.J. Foyt will serve as grand marshal of the Shell and Pennzoil Grand Prix of Houston, which will be his first race back since the June 8 race at Texas Motor Speedway.  

Foyt spent the summer recovering from left hip replacement surgery on July 1. 

In addition to the command to start engines, Foyt will be presenting the A.J. Foyt Trophy – a resin cowboy boot featuring his autograph and mounted on a marble base –  to the winner(s) of both races. 

 ***

The next IZOD IndyCar Series race is the Shell and Pennzoil Grand Prix of Houston presented by the Greater Houston Honda Dealers doubleheader on Oct. 5 and 6 at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Speedway at Reliant Park. Both races will be televised live by NBC Sports Network (3 p.m. ET on Oct. 5 and 1 p.m. ET on Oct. 6) and broadcast by the IMS Radio Network, including on Sirius and XM Channels 211, www.indycar.com and the INDYCAR 13 App for most smartphones and tablets. The next Firestone Indy Lights race is the Grand Prix of Houston on Oct. 5 at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Speedway at Reliant Park. The race will be televised by NBC Sports Network at 4 p.m. (ET) on Oct. 6.

SHELBY TOWNSHIP, Mich.—Oct. 2, 2013 — After competing in three races on the same day on Sept. 21, Taylor Ferns is anxious to get back to the track. She has another three-race stretch lined up this week, but this set of races will be spread over three nights, as she heads to Tri-City Speedway in Pontoon Beach, Ill., for the running of the fifth edition of the DuPont Gold Crown Midget Nationals.

The DuPont Gold Crown Midget Nationals will be co-sanctioned by the Honda USAC National Midget Series and the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series. A pair of preliminary nights are set for Thursday, Oct. 3 and Friday, Oct. 4, with a full racing program contested each of those evenings. The finale of the Gold Crown Midget Nationals will take place on for Saturday, Oct. 5.

“What I always remember about Tri-City (Speedway) is that it goes dry/slick really quick,” said Ferns, who pilots the Motor City Transport Inc. Spike. “You have to either run way up at the top or be right on the bottom. It will definitely be a transition from the last race at Eldora (Speedway) where you are up on the cushion the whole race. I’ve raced the heavier cars quite a bit this year, so going back to the midget for the last few races this year will be a transition as well, with how light the midget is.”

The native of Shelby Township, Mich., made her first-career Honda USAC National Midget Series start at Tri-City Speedway in 2011, during the third running of the Gold Crown Midget Nationals, winning a heat race to earn a spot in the preliminary feature, and finishing16th in that contest. She also raced in the event last year, which was shortened to a two-night contest due to rain.

Ferns made her most recent start with the Honda USAC National Midget Series at the famed Eldora Speedway in Ohio, during the 4-Crown Nationals. She finished 11th in that race and followed that up with a career-best fourth-place performance with the Traxxas USAC Silver Crown Series. Ferns has made nine starts with the Honda USAC National Midget Series Dirt Championship this season at eight different tracks. She also has made five starts on the pavement in a midget, finishing fifth at Pikes Peak International Raceway in Colorado in June and seventh at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis in July.

“To race the same track and the same car three straight nights will be helpful,” she said. “I’ve enjoyed getting to race so many different cars this year, especially the day we ran three cars in one day, but to run the same one like this week, will help me improve in the midget for sure. I haven’t had the best of luck at Granite City (Tri-City Speedway) the last couple years, so having three straight nights in the midget should be a benefit and a good learning experience as well.”

Along with competing in Midget and Silver Crown races, Ferns also has made eight starts with the ARCA Racing Series Presented by Menards in 2013, finishing among the top-15 in seven of those races, including earning three top-10 finishes. In the two ARCA races on the dirt this year, she finished ninth at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield and was 10th at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds. Ferns ran ninth in her ARCA debut in March at Mobile International Speedway in Alabama.

“It was a lot of fun racing the ARCA car and the Silver Crown car this year,” Ferns said. “We had some good results and I learned new things at every track and that was the main goal we had going into the season. Finishing up the year in the midget, we just want to go out and improve each time we are on the track.”

Ferns was scheduled to race at Tri-City Speedway in the Hut Hundred earlier this season, but that event was postponed by race twice.

Taylor Ferns and Ferns Racing would like to thank their valued partners: Motor City Auto Transport Inc., National Auto Placement, FK Rod Ends, Lucas Oil, K&N Filters, Lansing Sanitary Supply (LSS), Simpson Race Products, Indy Race Parts, ButlerBuilt, Allstar Performance,Stanton Racing Engines, Hoosier Tire Midwest, Lyn St. James Women in the Winner’s Circle Foundation, Race4Girls and Racing2Cure.

On the air
Taylor Ferns was recently a guest on The Sprint Car Show on The Dirt Track Channel with host Shawn Wood. To listen to the show, visit:http://thedirttrackchannel.com/Webcast/tscsSep2413.mp3.

Keep up to date
For the latest news, results and information on Taylor Ferns and Ferns Racing and to view a full 2013 schedule, visit TaylorFerns.com. Follow Taylor on Twitter at @TaylorFerns and like her on Facebook.

NEW CASTLE, Ind. — Oct. 2, 2013— It takes some events years and even decades to be tabbed as a “Must See” event. The Gold Crown Midget Nationals at Tri-City Speedway have acquired this moniker in just its first few years of existence. With midget drivers from across the country gathering at the three-eighths-mile, the competition is some of the toughest all year and that’s exactly what Tracy Hines likes, to race against the best night in and night out. He’ll do that this week as the Fifth DuPont Gold Crown Midget National hit the track for three full nights of racing.

The DuPont Gold Crown Midget Nationals at Tri-City Speedway in Pontoon Beach, Ill., are schedule for Thursday, Oct. 3, Friday, Oct. 4 and Saturday, Oct. 5. The final night will feature a 40-lap $10,000-to-win A-Feature. The event will be co-sanctioned by the Honda USAC National Midget Series and the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series.

“The Gold Crown has turned into quite an event over the last few years,” said Hines. “It’s one of the last big events of the season in the Midwest and always draws a strong field of cars. Granite City (Tri City Speedway) really lends itself to good midget racing, with how much room there is on the track and the multiple grooves.”

Last season, Hines won the opener of the Gold Crown Midget Nationals aboard the Parker Machinery/Powered by Toyota Spike, leading all 25 laps of the preliminary main event. The win was the second of his career in a midget at Tri-City Speedway. Hines opened the night by coming from the fourth starting spot to win the third heat race. In the finale of the 2012 Gold Crown Midget Nationals, Hines finished ninth, with the second night of the three-night event rained out.

“We had a great car on the first night of last year’s event,” he noted. “It was a shame the second night got rained out. We were just a little off on the final night and with how deep the field was, it was tough to make up much ground in the main event.”

In 2011, Hines finished fifth on the first night of the Gold Crown Midget Nationals, with a stout 54-car field in attendance. He opened the night by finishing fifth in the fifth heat race, coming up just one spot short of transferring to the main event. The veteran driver would win the B-main to earn a spot in the 25-lap preliminary feature. On the second night, Hines raced his way from the C-main all the way into the A-Feature, eventually finishing 11th in that 25-lapper. The native of New Castle, Ind., came home third in the first B-main during the finale of the 2011 Gold Crown Nationals to earn a spot in the main event on Saturday night, where he would place 13th.

Hines also has competed on the former half-mile at Tri-City Speedway in a midget, scoring a win at the historic track in 2003. He enters the Gold Crown Midget Nationals this week third in points with the Honda USAC National Midget Series Dirt Championship, just two markers out of the second spot.

Last weekend, Hines raced with the Amsoil USAC National Sprint Car Series at Lawrenceburg Speedway in Indiana, finishing 22nd in the main event, after having mechanical problems in the main event. He opened the night as the 20th-fastest qualifier and won the fourth heat race.

Tracy Hines Racing would like to thank: Parker Machinery, Powered by Toyota, Hansen’s Welding Inc., Turbines, Inc., Afco Racing Products, Daum Crop Insurance, Schoenfeld Headers, Allstar Performance, Kenny’s Components, Race Bumpers and Bell Racing.

For more information on Tracy Hines Racing, visit http://www.tracyhinesracing.com. Follow Tracy on Twitter atwww.Twitter.com/TracyHinesRacin.

WATERTOWN, Conn. — Oct. 3, 2013— “The Grove.” Officially known as Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa., it’s hallowed ground in sprint car racing. Every fall, the East Coast’s most prestigious and historic sprint car event — the National Open — takes to the famed half-mile in Central Pennsylvania. David Gravel qualified for the main event of the National Open for the first time in his career last year and he looks to accomplish that feat again this weekend as the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series makes their final visit of the season to Williams Grove.

The National Open for the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series is set for Friday, October 4 and Saturday, October 5. A full race program will be contested each night, with a 25-lap A-Feature capping the opener, while the finale of the National Open will be 40 laps and pay $50,000-to-win.

“Williams Grove is definitely one of the toughest tracks in the country, and the National Open is the biggest race they have each year,” said Gravel. “There are going to be a lot of cars, so the pill draw will be important, as will qualifying and then transferring from the heat race to the feature. You can’t skip a beat when you go out there.”

Gravel has made two starts at Williams Grove Speedway thus far in 2013 aboard the FMR Racing/JRC Transportation/Musco Fuel/Model Craft J&J. He finished 17th in the spring at the half-mile and was 25th in July. The 21-year-old qualified 20th-fastest on May 17 at Williams Grove, just missing the 16-car heat race inversion by 98-thousandsths of a second. He lined up fifth in the fourth heat race and finished in that same position to earn a spot in the 25-lap main event.  In July at Williams Grove, Gravel was forced to use a provisional to start the main event in the 27th position. The finale of the spring event was rained out, as was the first night of the Summer Nationals, and neither was rescheduled.

“We’ll have a good car and motor this week, so we’ll just have to get the car right and I’ll just have to drive right,” he noted. “We were able to get in the invert and win a heat race last year, which helped quite a bit. Hopefully we can do that again this year and make the night go a whole lot easier. If not, we’ll work for it.”

The East Coast racer made a total of five starts at Williams Grove Speedway last year. He earned a best finish of ninth with the UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions. He finished 12th in his first start of the year at the half-mile in the spring in a weekly show. Gravel came home 12th again a few weeks later at the end of April in an All Stars event.

Gravel has competed in the National Open in each of the last three years. In 2010, he was the fastest qualifier of the 58 entries that were in attendance for the opener of the two-night event. After finishing sixth in the first heat that night, he raced his way into the main event by coming home second in the B-main. Gravel would finish 14th in the 25-lap A-Feature. He finished 17th in the main event of National Open in 2012, against a field of 53 cars.

“You get a little nervous, knowing it’s Williams Grove, especially with all the cars there, but you have to try to treat it as just another race,” explained Gravel. “You can’t get caught up in worrying about this or that or who is there to race, because then you get away from what you have to focus on with your car. It’s an intense weekend for sure out there and the best plan is to try and keep things simple and focus on your car and what you have to do to make that main event.”

Last weekend at Fremont Speedway in Ohio, Gravel finished 11th in a caution-filled 40-lap event at the one-third-mile bullring. He opened the night by turning the fastest lap in qualifying of the 46 entries to earn his second quick time award of the season. The East Coast racer finished sixth in the first heat race at Fremont, which put him in the B-main, which he won to earn a spot in the A-Feature.

Gravel has a pair of wins this season with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series, including on a half-mile at the legendary Knoxville Raceway in Iowa, on the first preliminary night of the Knoxville Nationals. He also was victorious at I-94 Speedway in Minnesota in May. Gravel has 24 top-10 finishes this season and is the leading contender for the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series.

Keep up-to-date with David Gravel and DDR Motorsports by visiting www.DavidGravel89.com. Follow David on Twitter @davidgravel89gand like David on Facebook.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind.— Oct. 3, 2013— Kraig Kinser has made a pair of trips to Williams Grove Speedway this season to compete with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series and has recorded a couple of solid finishes, including a seventh-place performance at the famed half-mile in the spring. One more trip is on-tap in 2013, as the National Open, one of the crown jewels of sprint car racing and highest paying events in the sport, awaits the third-generation driver this weekend.

The Morgan Hughes National Open at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa., is set for Friday, Oct. 4 and Saturday, Oct. 5. Each night will feature a full racing program with full championship points on the line. The weekend will culminate with the 40-lap, $50,000-to-win National Open.

“The National Open is one of the biggest races in our sport and definitely a race you want to have a good showing at,” said Kinser. “There are always a lot of cars at Williams Grove and probably the deepest field we face all year, other than at the (Knoxville) Nationals. You definitely have to be on your game when you go in there and also have a little luck on your side.”

Kinser has made two starts this season at the historic half-mile, piloting the Mesilla Valley Transportation/Casey’s General Store/Mesilla Valley Transportation Maxim. During the first East Coast Swing of the season, he finished seventh in the 25-lap main event. The native of Bloomington, Ind., opened that night by timing in 14th-fastest of the 46 entries. Kinser started on the pole of the second heat race, which he won to earn a spot in the dash. He started and finished seventh in the dash. The finale of that event was rained out and not rescheduled. Kinser returned to Williams Grove in July for the Summer Nationals, which also turned into a one-night event, due to rain. He would finish 15th in that main event.

“We’ve been working really hard on our program for Williams Grove the last few years,” he shared. “I think it’s really starting to show as we had a pretty good car there in the spring and came away with a strong finish. We were descent in the summer as well. It would have been nice to have gotten two nights in during each of those stops at Williams Grove, but Mother Nature didn’t cooperate. Hopefully, this weekend we get good weather and get two full shows in.”

Last year in the National Open, Kinser finished seventh in the opener and was 20th in the finale. He recorded the best finish of his career at Williams Grove in finale of the 2012 Summer Nationals, coming home fourth. He has nine top-10 finishes in his career at the unique and always challenging oval, including three in his last five starts at the track.

Kinser has made six starts in the A-Feature of the National Open. He finished ninth in the event in 2004, the same year he claimed the World of Outlaws Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award. To date, that is his best finish in the National Open.

Last weekend at Fremont Speedway in Ohio, Kinser came home 15th in a caution-plagued event. He was running eighth on the 22nd circuit when he spun. After restarting at the back of the field, Kinser was able to pass quite a few cars in the remainder of the rough-and-tumble event. He timed in 19th-fastest, which put him on the pole of the fourth heat race, where he ran second to earn a spot in the dash. Kinser charged from the 10th starting spot in the dash to finish seventh, earning a starting spot on the inside of the fourth row for the 40-lap main event.

Kinser is currently 11th in the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series championship standings, just five markers out of the top-10. He has one victory this season, along with 32 top-10 finishes, of which eight are top-five performances. A total of five nights of racing remain on the 2013 calendar.

“We only have a few more weekends left this year, so we want to make the most of them,” said Kinser. “We’ve been pretty fast and consistent the last few weeks, and just have had some bad luck like at Fremont (Speedway). You always want to finish the year on a good note to go into the off-season with some momentum.”

Kraig Kinser Racing would like to thank Casey’s General Stores, Mesilla Valley Transportation, King Racing Products, Maxim, Aerodine Composites, Sander Engineering, Integra Shocks, All Star Performance, FK Rod Ends, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Bell, KSE Racing Products, ButlerBuilt, Schoenfeld Headers, Donovan Engineering, Fel-Pro, Brodix, Wilwood, Dyer’s, Barnes Systems, Ringer Gloves, Jakes Custom Golf Carts, and Ben Cook Racing Limited for their continued support.

Kraig Kinser By the Numbers: National Open at Williams Grove Speedway
0.5– Distance around Williams Grove Speedway
2- Starts at Williams Grove Speedway this season
4- Nights of racing this season for the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series at Williams Grove
6- Career starts in the A-Feature of the National Open
7- Finishing position in the spring event at Williams Grove this season
8- Top-five finishes this season
11- Current position in the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series standings
16.140- Track record at Williams Grove Speedway
25- Laps led in A-Feature events this season
30– Career main event starts at Williams Grove, including preliminary features
32- Top-10 finishes this season
395- Miles from Fremont Speedway in Ohio where the World of Outlaws raced on Sept. 28 to Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa.
1963- Year of the first National Open at Williams Grove Speedway
2003– Year of first start at Williams Grove Speedway
8267- Points earned through Sept. 28

Keep up with all the action 
For the latest news on Kraig Kinser, visit the redesigned http://www.kraigkinser.com, and follow Kraig on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/kraigkinser11k and receive live updates from the track each and every race night.

Tune in
Listen live to each and every World of Outlaws event on DIRTVision.com with “The Voice of the Outlaws” Johnny Gibson on the call. Visitwww.DIRTVision.com for live audio of each and every World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series event.

Stroud, ON – A field of 22 OSCAAR Super Late Models invaded Sunset Speedway for the series’ fifth and final stop at the Innisfil, Ont. oval on Sunday night.

The 50-lap feature got underway just after 7:00pm, but at lap 20 it was cut short as the skies opened up and rain washed out the remaining 30 laps.

Under OSCAAR rules, a race must reach the halfway point in order to be considered official for drivers to earn points in the championship standings. The heat races were completed and drivers will receive the appropriate points for their heat race efforts. All drivers will receive 50 ‘show-up’ points towards their championship standings.

Derrick Tiemersma (No.7 Wayfreight) started on the pole for the main event of the Velocity Weekend with Jeff Hanley (No.70 Raylene Racing) to the outside of the front row.

Hanley jumped out to the early lead on the outside, while Brad Corcoran (No.05 Lancaster Tire Discounter Group) jumped up in to the second spot.

The first of three cautions came at lap six when Jeff Dunford (No.7T Lifestyle Home Improvements) spun in turn two.

Corcoran gained an advantage on the restart over Hanley to lead lap six. Hanley battled back on the outside to retake the lead.

Ed Bowlby (No.19) spun on the front stretch at lap 12 to bring out a second yellow flag. Hanley elected to restart on the outside groove for the second time with Tiemersma to his inside this time.

Tiemersma was able to take the lead on the bottom, but three laps later Brandon Watson (No.9 Shear Metal Products) took over the point at lap 16.

At lap 19, Andrew Gresel (No.81 Sauble Falls) got mixed up in turn four while running in the top-ten and it appeared there may have been contact with Glenn Watson (No.22 Line-X/Rival Office Solutions), but officials deemed it inconclusive.

One lap following the restart, the yellow flag was displayed for rain and the heavy shower forced track promoter Mark Dilley to end the race. Given the time of day, there was no opportunity to attempt to dry the track. After a short break, the rain continued for over an hour after the race was called.

Given the race did not reach the halfway point, it cannot be considered complete and full points will not be awarded.

The OSCAAR Super Late Model tour is next in action at the 21^st annual Autumn Colours Classic on October 12 and 13. Qualifying heats will take place on Saturday prior to the 50-lap feature on Sunday afternoon.

—

Running Order at Time of Rain (7:16pm – Lap 20)

1. 9 Brandon Watson; 2. 7 Derrick Tiemersma; 3. 22 Glenn Watson; 4. 70 Jeff Hanley; 5. 13 Gary Passer; 6. 05 Brad Corcoran; 7. 54 Mike Beyore; 8. 42 Tyler Hawn; 9. 82 Corey Jones; 10. 83 Ian Bourque; 11. 27 J.R. Fitzpatrick; 12. 7T Jeff Dunford; 13. 39 Shane Gowan; 14. 81 Andrew Gresel; 15. 48 Dwayne Baker; 16. 10 Jesse Kennedy; 17. 7m Brent McLean; 18. 63 Jim Bowman; 19. 19 Ed Bowlby (out); 20. 551 Quinn Misener (out); 21. 57 Craig Stevenson (out); 22. Kyle Passer (DNS).

Klotz Synthetics Canada qualifying heat races were won by Dwayne Baker, Brad Corcoran, and Jesse Kennedy.

The OSCAAR Super Late Model tour is presented by a number of dedicated sponsors throughout Ontario, including: Knightworks Design, Hoosier Racing Tire, Klotz Synthetics Canada, Race2way.ca, Dave Franks Photos, Dickson Printing, Finishline Fabrication, McColl Racing Enterprises, McGunegill Engine Performance, Stefko Racing Engines, VP Racing Fuels, OntarioOval.com, RaceTime Radio, Inside Track Motorsport News, Jenco Equipment, Midas of Orangeville, Reinhart Trailer Sales, North Toronto Auctions, and South Shore Services.

By Clayton Johns (@cjohnsmedia) – OSCAAR Media and Public Relations

Contact: oscaar.media@gmail.com

-30-

Stroud, ON – Gary McLean (No.8 McLean Industrial Design) claimed his 10^th career Rick Woolner Memorial win on Sunday afternoon, but the first at Sunset Speedway.

The event, which honours the late Rick Woolner who passed away in 1999 from lung cancer, is traditionally held at Varney Speedway Motorplex, but after the event was rained out on September 15, it was moved to Sunset.

McLean earned the pole for the race by winning Klotz Canada heat race number one on Saturday afternoon and would see sophomore driver Davey Terry (No.14 Wasteco) start to his outside after Terry claimed the in heat two.

The 40-lap feature got off to a clean start with a series-record 25 cars taking the green flag. McLean jumped out to the early lead but had Terry in tow as he sought his first career win with the series.

The top-five cars were ultra-competitive as McLean and Terry were trailed by Brent McLean (No.7 Bowmanville Home Building Centre), Justin Jones (No.92), and Shane Stickel (No.39 MSD Machine Tool).

Contact between Stickel and Justin Demelo (No.82 EMCO Waterworks) on lap eight shuffled Stickel back five positions to the middle of the pack.

At lap 14, rookie driver Mike Westwood (No.91 Stryker Chassis) spun on the backstretch. 13 year-old Dustin Jackson (No.61), who was making his OSCAAR debut, was the beneficiary of the yellow as he received the lucky dog award.

Stickel bounced back from the contact and began to move back towards the top-five when the caution flew on lap 19 as Brad Pearsall (No.1B Performance Signs) rolled to a stop in turn four. Originally thought to be a flat tire, Pearsall’s problems proved worse as the team would pull behind the wall to end the race.

One lap after the field got up to speed, contact was made in turn two between a pair of drivers, resulting in a flat left-front tire to Brent McLean. After Brent spun in turn two, Branden Bullen (No.67jr Alliston Transmission) spun on the backstretch in the midst of the incident, collecting Matt Barton (No.2 MDB Racecars) who had nowhere to go. Fortunately, all cars returned to the track.

The following restart would see Stickel fall off the pace, despite restarting just outside the top-five. Stickel would remain on track for the final half of the race, but clearly underpowered.

Another caution flew at lap 29 when Brian McLean (No.47 Bowmanville Home Building Centre) and Bobby Tolton spun in turn two, and again at lap 32 when Dave Osborne (No.11 O’Neil’s Farm Equipment) spun alone in the same spot.

The pair of cautions benefitted Max Beyore (No.91N) well as he had raced his way in to the top-ten and was given the opportunity to strike for the top-five. Beyore did just that, getting the better of Jones on the lap 29 restart.

With five laps to go, it was clear the race was for second as Gary McLean had checked out from the rest of the field.

The yellow was on display again at lap 36 when Brian McLean rolled to a stop with a flat left-front tire.

One lap following the restart, near contact between Terry and Beyore forced the field to check-up down the backstretch. Monty Kelly (No.96k At A Glance Printing) got the worst of the backlog as he was sent hard in to the outside wall.

The impact resulted in heavy damage to the right-front suspension of Kelly’s car, who had been running eighth at the time. Kelly had bounced back from a wreck in to the frontstretch wall on Saturday to run in the top-ten before ending his night.

The final restart yielded a green-white-checkered finish and Gary McLean sealed the victory.

Beyore completed the pass by Terry on the final restart to earn the second spot, while Terry finished third for his first podium finish of the year.

Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. native Justin Jones held on to the fourth spot in his second start with the tour this year.

Tonawanda, NY native Andy Jankowiak (No.57x) made series history as the first American driver to start with the OSCAAR Modified tour and earned a fifth-place finish after starting 24^th.

Matt Barton battled back from his spin to finish sixth while Brent McLean, Darryn Wright (No.62 Future Pro Goalie School), Branden Bullen, and Bobby Tolton complete the top-ten.

The OSCAAR Modified tour is back in action next Saturday for their second and final trip to Flamboro Speedway as part of the track’s Oktoberfest event. For more information, visitwww.flamborospeedway.ca.

—

Results: Rick Woolner Memorial (40 Laps) – Sunset Speedway (Starting Position in Parentheses)

1. 8 Gary McLean (1); 2. 91N Max Beyore (21); 3. 14 Davey Terry (2); 4. 92 Justin Jones (5); 5. 57x Andy Jankowiak (24); 6. 2 Matt Barton (15); 7. 7 Brent McLean (3); 8. 62 Darryn Wright (13); 9. 67 Branden Bullen (6); 10. 13 Bobby Tolton (22); 11. 91 Mike Westwood (10); 12. 34 Billy Zardo III (9); 13. 88 Ryan Dick (18); 14. 47 Brian McLean (12); 15. 61 Dustin Jackson (20); 16. 19 Dean Scott (25); 17. 11 Dave Osborne (17); 18. 39 Shane Stickel (4); 19. 96k Monty Kelly (23) (DNF); 20. 77 Chad Strawn (11) (DNF); 21. 82 Justin Demelo (8) (DNF); 22. 38 Rod Sauder (14) (DNF); 23. 1B Brad Pearsall (7) (DNF); 24. 79 John Harper (16) (DNF); 25. 48 Ted Patterson (19) (DNF).

Specialty Award Winners

Prelude to the Memorial Winner’s Bonus: Jim Brown Trucking ($250) (Sept. 14) – Gary McLean

Memorial Winner’s Bonus: Mike Allen ($250) – Gary McLean

Top Qualifier: Wasteco ($150) – Gary McLean

Most Laps Led (Both Races): Wasteco ($100) – Gary McLean (70 Laps)

Halfway Leader: Engines From Hal ($100) – Gary McLean

Highest Finishing Rookie (Both Races): Sheila Eccles of Craig McDonald Reddon Insurance ($50) – Sept. 14: Shane Stickel. Sept. 29: Branden Bullen.

Hard Luck Award: Bentinck Motors ($250) – Monty Kelly

Best Appearing Car: Knightworks Design ($100) – Davey Terry

Long-Haul Award: McLean Industrial Design Ltd. ($50) – Justin Jones

The OSCAAR Modified tour is presented by a number of dedicated sponsors throughout Ontario, including: Knightworks Design, Hoosier Racing Tire, Klotz Synthetics Canada, Race2way.ca, Dave Franks Photos, Dickson Printing, Finishline Fabrication, McColl Racing Enterprises, McGunegill Engine Performance, Stefko Racing Engines, VP Racing Fuels, OntarioOval.com, RaceTime Radio, Inside Track Motorsport News, Jenco Equipment, Midas of Orangeville, Reinhart Trailer Sales, North Toronto Auctions, and South Shore Services.

By Clayton Johns (@cjohnsmedia) – OSCAAR Media and Public Relations

Contact: oscaar.media@gmail.com

-30-

Concord, NC (September 29, 2013) – In just his second career NASCAR K&N Pro Series East event Justin Boston delivered a thrilling late race comeback Friday night nearly winning the K&N Series Drive Sober 150 event at Dover International Speedway.

Boston, driving his familiar Venturini Motorsports No. 25 Computer & Electronics Recycling Centers Toyota, drove his Camry back from the 18th position at the race’s midway point to challenge race winner Austin Hill and (Boston’s) VMS ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards teammate Kyle Benjamin (finished 3rd) on the final lap with a three-wide effort in turns three and four resulting in an exciting runner-up finish.

“I thought we were gonna pull it off and get the win. I had a real strong run on the 13 (Austin Hill) down the backstretch and drove my car in deep going into turn three but just couldn’t keep the momentum up on the bottom line and he cleared me just enough for the victory. It was a heck of a race! I couldn’t be more proud of my team’s effort. I was just in the wrong position going into the final lap. I knew the outside line was the preferred lane to pass all day, there was nothing I could do at that point,” said Boston.

Boston from nearby Baltimore, Maryland, qualified 12th for the event. He credits his team’s “refuse to lose” attitude and the combined efforts of VMS’s General Manager, Billy Venturini and crew chief Kevin Reed for giving him the chance to compete for the win at the end.

“We struggled during Thursday’s first practice session and never cracked the top-20 on the speed charts. I spent the entire first session getting comfortable learning the differences of running on Goodyear rubber versus the Hoosier tires we run over in the ARCA Series. The horsepower and tire difference between the two series put us a little behind at first, but by the second practice I felt we had a top-5 race car and had my confidence built up. Kevin (Reed) did a great job with late race adjustments giving me the car to drive back up through the field and gain the track position I was lacking all day long,” added Boston.

Boston, who currently leads ARCA’s Scott Rookie Challenge (Rookie of the Year Honors), returns to the track next weekend at Kansas Speedway (ARCA Kansas Lottery 98.9) hoping to put an exclamation point on his first full season in the series.

Boston who has accumulated an impressive stat sheet this year in the ARCA Series with (7) top-5 and (15) top-10 finishes in 20-events, occupies the third spot in the overall Championship point standings race going into the season finale.

The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Drive Sober 150 at Dover International Speedway (9/27 Tape Delay) will be aired on FOX Sports 1 Sunday, October 13th at 12:00pm.

About Venturini Motorsports
Venturini Motorsports (VMS), fielding cars for over 30-years in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, is one of the premier NASCAR driver development programs in the country. Multiple team championships and consistent on-track success, VMS has evolved into one of the most recognizable names in motorsports. Since 2007, VMS has assisted in the career development of notable NASCAR drivers such as Joey Logano, Justin Allgaier, Ryan Blaney, Alex Bowman, Brian Scott, Kevin Swindell, Miguel Paludo, John Wes Townley, Josh Richards and Johanna Long.

In 2012, VMS and the Venturini family was inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame and now find themselves enshrined with such sports icons as Joe DiMaggio, Mario Andretti, Vince Lombardi, Tommy Lasorda and Rocky Marciano, among others.

After nearly two decades away from NASCAR, 2013 marks VMS’s modern day return to the series with John Wes Townley driving the team’s familiar No.25 in selective NASCAR Nationwide Series events.

Official: www.VenturiniMotorsports.com  |  Twitter: @VenturiniMotor  |  Facebook: Venturini Motorsports

Concord, NC (October 1, 2013) – NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship contender Dylan Kwasniewski is set to make his first ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards Series start at Kansas Speedway with Venturini Motorsports (VMS) Friday October 4th.

 Kwasniewski will make his ARCA debut Friday night under the lights piloting the No.55 Royal Purple/Rockstar Energy Toyota during the Kansas Lottery 98.9 event.

Joining Kwasniewski at Kansas will be his current K&N Series (Turner Motorsports No.98) crew chief, Mardy Lindley, calling the shots for the VMS entry. Kansas will mark the third time this year Lindley has been tapped to crew chief the No.55 VMS entry. In two previous starts (Talladega/Iowa) with driver Caleb Armstrong the No.55 entry has earned 3rd and 11th place finishes respectively.

“Kansas is going to be fast,” said Kwasniewski. “I’m looking forward to running the bigger track and learning how the aero affects the race car at those speeds. I’ve driven an ARCA car at Michigan in a test, but a race at Kansas will be a great learning experience. Looking forward to connecting with the VMS team.”

Despite being 18-years old, Kwasniewski is already a force to be reckoned with in the NASCAR world. After becoming the youngest driver to win the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Championship in 2012, Kwasniewski is poised this year to make history with his second consecutive NASCAR K&N Pro Series championship.

In 43 career NASCAR K&N starts Kwasniewski has earned an impressive 10 wins, 28 top-5 and 35 top-10 finishes to go along with 10 pole position awards.

No stranger to the national spotlight Kwasniewski has been touted as one of NASCAR’s top Sprint Cup prospects by motorsports media’s Sporting News and Fox Sports.

During his young career Kwasniewski has claimed many top accolades. At 16-years old Kwasniewski became the youngest winner in K&N series history while earning the 2011 Sunoco Rookie of the Year title in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West. In 2012 he captured his first NASCAR K&N Pro Series West championship and was named one of NASCAR’s NEXT9 drivers. This year driving for Turner Motorsports, Kwasniewski has five victories to his credit and currently maintains 1st place in the K&N Championship point standings.

Off track, Kwasniewski is currently starring in an unscripted online documentary series called “FLAT OUT,” which premiered earlier this month on the AOL On Video channel.

The 10- episode series, produced by NASCAR Productions and Vuguru, details Kwasniewski’s balancing act of family, racing and impending adulthood as he tries to climb the NASCAR ladder. Go to http://on.aol.com/show/flat-out-517913071 to see “FLAT OUT” and Kwasniewski, one of today’s dynamic and emerging motorsports personalities.

The October 4th Kansas Lottery 98.9 is live on FOX Sports 1 at 8:30 p.m. EST. The event will also feature live timing and scoring of all on-track activities at ARCAracing.com.

About Venturini Motorsports
Venturini Motorsports (VMS), fielding cars for over 30-years in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, is one of the premier NASCAR driver development programs in the country. Multiple team championships and consistent on-track success, VMS has evolved into one of the most recognizable names in motorsports. Since 2007, VMS has assisted in the career development of notable NASCAR drivers such as Joey Logano, Justin Allgaier, Ryan Blaney, Alex Bowman, Brian Scott, Kevin Swindell, Miguel Paludo, John Wes Townley, Josh Richards and Johanna Long.

In 2012, VMS and the Venturini family was inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame and now find themselves enshrined with such sports icons as Joe DiMaggio, Mario Andretti, Vince Lombardi, Tommy Lasorda and Rocky Marciano, among others.

After nearly two decades away from NASCAR, 2013 marks VMS’s modern day return to the series with John Wes Townley driving the team’s familiar No.25 in selective NASCAR Nationwide Series events.

Official: www.VenturiniMotorsports.com  |  Twitter: @VenturiniMotor  |  Facebook: Venturini Motorsports