Category: Other Series PR

SHELBY TOWNSHIP, Mich.—Sept. 19, 2013 — Kentucky Speedway and Eldora Speedway are about as opposite as tracks could be. Same goes for an ARCA stock car, a USAC Silver Crown car and a USAC Midget. Kentucky Speedway in a banked 1.5-mile, paved superspeedway, while Eldora Speedway is a high-banked, dirt oval. An ARCA machine weights about 3,400 pounds and puts out over 800 horsepower, while a Silver Crown car is 1,500 pound and has around 700 horsepower. Last but not least, is a Midget, which tips the scales at 900 pounds and is around 300 horsepower. Each takes a unique driving style and Taylor Ferns has acquired that trait and will use it this week as she races at each of the aforementioned venues in the three types of racing machines listed.

The weekend will begin for the native of Shelby Township, Mich., on Friday, Sept. 20 at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, with the ARCA Racing Series Presented by Menards, and the running of the ZLOOP 150. A two-hour practice session in the afternoon will open the event, with qualifying to follow, and the 134-lap event, which will air live on Fox Sports 1, slated for 8 p.m. Eastern. Ferns will then head to the famed Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, on Saturday, Sept. 21 for the Traxxas USAC Silver Crown Series and Honda USAC National Midget Series portions of the 4-Crown Nationals.

Ferns has made seven total starts with the ARCA Racing Series Presented by Menards this season, piloting the No. 55 National Auto Placement Toyota for Venturini Motorsports. She made her debut back in March at Mobile International Speedway in Alabama, qualifying fifth and finishing ninth in that 200-lap event. The 17-year-old also finished among the top-10 on the dirt at the Illinois State Fairgrounds and at the DuQuoin (Ill.) State Fairgrounds, both one mile facilities. She has qualified 11th or better in five or her seven starts and has finished among the top-15 in six of those races.

In her last ARCA start at Iowa Speedway on Sept. 7, Ferns finished 13th. She qualified 15th at the seventh-eighths-mile paved oval located in Newton, Iowa, and ran near the top-10 for a large portion of the event. That race marked the fifth pavement start of the season for Ferns with the ARCA Racing Series Presented by Menards.

“Racing at Iowa (Speedway) should definitely help, heading to Kentucky (Speedway) this week,” said Ferns. “I don’t get to race on bigger tracks every week, so having laps at a place like Iowa (Speedway) where you carry a lot of speed around a higher-banked track should translate to this weekend. Running the longer races this year, I’ve learned how to be conservative and be there at the end.”

Ferns has recorded three top-10 finishes in five starts in 2013 with the Traxxas USAC Silver Crown Series in the No. 35 Motor City Transport Inc. Toyota-powered Beast. She finished a career-best fifth at the DuQuoin (Ill.) State Fairgrounds in her most recent start with the series on Sept. 1. Prior to that she ran 10th at the Illinois State Fairgrounds and also was 10th on the pavement at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis in late July.

“Eldora is so fast and has so much banking,” she noted. “It’s a unique track and there is really nowhere else like it. I learned a lot there last year, so hopefully I can use some of that this year. Eldora is half the size of the other dirt tracks I’ve races the Silver Crown car on this year, so it will be a learning experience for sure.”

With the Honda USAC National Midget Series Dirt Championship in 2013, Ferns has competed in eight races. She took part in Indiana Midget Week for the second consecutive year, which is comprised of five races in five nights at Hoosier state ovals. Ferns made her most recent pair of appearances on the dirt in a midget in early July at Belle-Claire Speedway in Illinois.

“In a midget at Eldora (Speedway) you go all out, every lap,” said Ferns. “The track is so banked and you carry so much speed. You try to get everything you can out of the car and that’s how it seems to be at Eldora. I’ve been watching some videos of races at Eldora online, so that should help as well. Hopefully I’ll have a better weekend and run in the midget than we did there last year.”

Entering this weekend’s event at Kentucky, the No. 55 Venturini Motorsports team is seventh in owner points with the ARCA Racing Series Presented by Menards. With the Traxxas USAC Silver Crown Series, Ferns is ninth in the standings.

“I want to run up front all weekend at both Kentucky and Eldora,” stated the high school senior. “I want to win every time I am on the track, but I have to be realistic about my goals, especially in the Silver Crown car. This will be my first time on a smaller track in one of those cars. Learning a lot, pacing myself and being there at the end will be the game plan this weekend.”

Tune in and see Ferns compete in the ZLOOP 150 from Kentucky Speedway live on Fox Sports 1 at 8 p.m. Eastern on Friday, Sept. 20.

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.

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.

Concord, NC (September 18, 2013) – This week at Kentucky Speedway, 23-year-old Aaron Grosskopf will have an experience that would be a mere dream to most race fans.

Grosskopf, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at age 1 but works today to help the disabled get behind a wheel and race, has been named the grand marshal for Friday’s ZLOOP™ 150 at Kentucky Speedway.

In the past year, Grosskopf has struck a friendship with ARCA rookie and ZLOOP™ Racing competitor Justin Boston, leading to Friday’s opportunity in Kentucky.Raised in Morehead City, N.C., Grosskopf recently moved to the Charlotte area to begin in earnest his work as the founder of DisabledRacers.com.

The site aims to build awareness for the needs of disabled people who wish to get involved in simulated racing, and to provide a place where those racers can communicate and work together to find resources for equipment.

“When somebody like me wants to start sim racing, they’re going to search for equipment and there’s no affordable, disabled-ready wheel out there,” said Grosskopf. “There’s not a whole lot of equipment with the hand controls where you can be competitive. When I started, there was no way I could do it and race all day.

“I’m trying to get companies to realize that they’re leaving disabled people out of sim racing. The way I think about it, there are people my age coming back from war, losing limbs, and they’re just as bored as I am. If not for video games, I’m not sure I’d be here right now. I’d go crazy.”

Grosskopf said that doctors told his family he would never walk upon his cerebral palsy diagnosis as an infant, but something close to a miracle happened in his teen years.

“From the time I was 1, I crawled and used a walker and randomly, around my grandpa’s birthday when I was 13, I just started walking one day,” he said. “I came to the point in my life where I could actually play my favorite sport. It was my number one sport before I got into this whole racing trip; I used to play baseball.”

But the increased activity became too much for Grosskopf. Wear and tear on his body from walking, and the ensuing medical consultation, led Grosskopf and his family to believe surgery was necessary. He had surgeries in his sophomore and junior years of high school in an attempt to correct his problems.

“Those actually set me back further than I would ever imagine,” he said. “I can walk a little bit, but I’ve got no balance. That’s what’s keeping me from walking today.”

As he continues to search for the final pieces to overcome his setbacks and make Disabled Racers a true success, Grosskopf remains optimistic.

“I take all the bad things in my life and turn them into good things. I haven’t quite found the right person to make the custom ideas I have in my head, and it’s going to be a long process. I just want disabled people to feel like they can race.”

Grosskopf has found several people willing to provide support. One donated to Grosskopf a button box, which combines multiple keystrokes into single buttons to make certain functions in simulated racing easier. Grosskopf also received a new wheel, which he mounted onto an existing wheel to make his passion for racing easier to handle.

“I treat it as a job,” said Grosskopf, who also pointed out that he has written several articles for iRacing.com, a leading racing simulation service.

“The paperwork and finances are in process, and I’m working for it every day. Everything I’m doing revolves around the sim racing thing. It’s turning into a multi-million dollar industry, and it’s getting more real every day.”

One major supporter of Disabled Racers is Venturini Motorsports driver Boston, who met Grosskopf online through simulated racing approximately one year ago.

“In the offseason, or whenever I get time, I like to go on iRacing and learn new tracks,” said Boston (No. 25 ZLOOP™ Computer & Electronic Recycling Centers Toyota), who currently stands third in ARCA Racing Series points. “It just so happened that I met Aaron there. He sent me a message on Facebook a few days later and told me his story and all the things he’s gone through, and it really struck a chord with me. The Facebook messages became texts, and texts turned into phone calls, and I talk to him at least a few times a week. He helps me out with whatever I need, and he’s a person I can go to whenever I need something done. More importantly, he’s been a really good friend.”

Indeed, the partnership in pursuit of resources for the disabled has turned into more. Boston says Grosskopf helps him today with website updates, and that Grosskopf’s graphic design knowledge has contributed to some new logos, Boston’s new Twitter background, and forthcoming T-shirt and hat designs.

Earlier this year, Boston made travel arrangements for Grosskopf to attend the ARCA Racing Series event at Talladega Superspeedway, where Grosskopf got the chance to meet some people he’d previously raced against online. One, Grosskopf said, was Boston’s Venturini Motorsports teammate Erik Jones.

“It was cool for me,” he said. “I’d been to maybe three races up to that point, and that was a long time ago, maybe like 2003. It was an awesome experience meeting people I raced with before I met Justin.”

Boston was happy to show his new friend around.

“I think it probably meant the world to him,” the rookie driver said. “He hadn’t been to a track in 10 years. He rode to Talladega with me to spend the weekend with all the guys. I couldn’t tell you how many times he thanked me; it was a really good experience for me and for him. He’s been begging me to be able to come back, so to get to come to Kentucky is a big deal for him. It’s a big deal for us to have him at the race track; he’s really motivational.”

Likewise, Grosskopf has only good things to say about his relationship with Boston and ZLOOP™ Racing.

“ZLOOP™ has paid for the majority of what I have,” he said. “The same paint scheme Justin runs, I run on all my cars. When I look at Justin, I know he’s different. It’s the way he’s gone out of his way for me. He’s a genuine person. He breaks the stereotype. You know, it’s such a hassle to get me anywhere, so he’s giving money for my friend to drive me to Kentucky and back.

“We’re just really good friends. It’s a fun relationship.”

In his rookie season, there’s one thing Boston has yet to accomplish, and that’s a trip to Victory Lane. He’s been close, finishing in the top five in four of his last seven starts, and third or better in three of those. Should Boston win Friday’s ZLOOP™ 150 at Kentucky Speedway, Grosskopf has one celebratory promise:

“If he wins, and I’m there, I’m tearing the place apart.”

The ZLOOP™ 150 at the 1.5-mile Kentucky Speedway will air live on Fox Sports 1 at 8 p.m. Friday. Practice will begin at 1 p.m., and qualifying will follow at 5:15. ARCARacing.com will carry live timing and scoring coverage of all on-track activity throughout the day.

About ZLOOP™ Computer and Electronics Recycling Centers
ZLOOP™ Computer and Electronics Recycling Centers (ZLOOP™) make eWaste recycling easy. Founded in Hickory, North Carolina in 2012, ZLOOP™ guarantees eWaste is recycled domestically and that computer hard drives are permanently purged of all information. ZLOOP™ is extremely mobile and able to handle any size job on-site with a commitment to security, speed and auditing. ZLOOP™ also is compliant with federal, state and local government regulations for the safe and secure destruction of highly sensitive data, and is working toward certifications from the Responsible Recycling Practices for Electronics Recyclers (R2), U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), Department of Defense, National Security Agency, Department of Homeland Security, ITAD, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACIA), Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA). For more information on ZLOOP’s eWaste recycling services, call today at 1-855-WHY-EASY (1-855-949-3279) or visit the website, zloopit.com. eWaste is Serious Waste. Recycle™.

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 Scott Lagasse, Jr. In 2012, VMS was inducted into the National Italian Sports Hall of Fame, and 2013 will highlight the team’s debut in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

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

WATERTOWN, Conn. — Sept. 18, 2013— David Gravel has visited quite a few new tracks this year as he has competed full-time with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series, and while he has gotten up to speed pretty quick at most of those facilities, it’s always a little bit of an advantage for him to race at venues that he has turned numerous laps at in the past. Two such tracks are the famed Eldora Speedway in Ohio and the historic Lernerville Speedway in Pennsylvania, the site of this weekend’s pair of events for the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series.

The World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series portion of the 4-Crown Nationals at Eldora Speedway is set for Friday, Sept. 20. Gravel will then make the trek north to the Pittsburgh area for the Commonwealth Clash at Lernerville Speedway on Saturday, Sept. 21, piloting the FMR Racing/JRC Transportation/Musco Fuel/Model Craft J&J.

Gravel has made four starts at Eldora Speedway this season, earning a pair of top-10 finishes. In July, he qualified for the main event during the Kings Royal for the first time in his career and powered his way from the 19th starting position to finish ninth, earning the KSE Racing Products Harder Charger Award in the process. Gravel finished seventh in his first start of the year at the half-mile, back in the spring, while filling in for the injured Bill Rose. Last season at Eldora, the 21-year-old was fastest in time trials on three separate occasions with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series.

“Eldora is always a challenging place and you never know who will be there, so you have to definitely be on your game,” Gravel said. “I have a lot of laps there and have had some good runs, so we always feel pretty good when we go over there. The main thing is keeping up with the track all night, because it changes from the time we go out for hot laps until the main event.”

The native of Watertown, Conn., finished fifth in the finale of the Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup Twin 30s in July. After getting caught up in an accident in the B-main that night, he was forced to use a provisional and worked his way from 26th to finish 18th in the first feature and was on the lead lap, which put him on the front row for the second Twin 30. Gravel also earned a top-five finish in the opener of the Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup Twin 30s in 2012.

“We had tough luck last time we were at Lernerville, but we had a fast car and were able to run up front in the second feature,” he shared. “Lernerville is a racy track where you really get up on the wheel and it seems to fit my driving style pretty well. We know we are capable of running up front there and the goal is to put together a complete night.”

Last weekend, Gravel made his return to competition with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series, after missing a month of action, due to a bout with mononucleosis, an enlarged spleen and a double ear infection. In his first race back at Clay County Fair Speedway in Iowa, Gravel finished 11th. The following night at Deer Creek Speedway in Minnesota, the East Coast racer was 14th.

“It felt good to get back in the car last weekend,” he noted. “We qualified well both nights, which is always good and made it into one of the dashes. I was a little rusty on the starts and restarts, but by the end of each night I improved and felt pretty comfortable in the car again.”

Gravel enters this weekend’s pair of races as the leading contender for the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series. He has two victories this season, including winning on the first preliminary night of the Knoxville Nationals. He also found himself in the winner’s circle at I-94 Speedway in Minnesota in May. Gravel has 24 top-10 finishes thus far in 2013, with seven of those being top-five showings.

“We want to be as competitive as we can down the stretch this season,” Gravel said. “We really want to win another race before the year ends and are sure going to give it everything we got. Making every feature is out first objective each night and then from there we can focus on making the right adjustments to hopefully be in contention.”

Keep up-to-date with David Gravel and DDR Motorsports by visiting www.DavidGravel89.com. Follow David on Twitter @davidgravel89g and like David on Facebook.

Bloomington, Ind.— Sept. 18, 2013— After the frenetic pace of races the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series saw recently during the West Coast Swing, just eight races left in the 2013 campaign. Kraig Kinser looks to finish the season on a strong note and is seeking to break into the top-10 in the series standings. He’ll have two chances this weekend to gain points as he visits two of the most historic tracks on the circuit — Eldora Speedway and Lernerville Speedway.

The World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series portion of the 4-Crown Nationals at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio is set for Friday, Sept. 20. The series then heads to Western Pennsylvania on Saturday, Sept. 21 for the Commonwealth Clash at Lernerville Speedway just outside of Pittsburgh.

Kinser has made four starts this season at Eldora Speedway in the Mesilla Valley Transportation/Casey’s General Store/King Racing Products Maxim. His best finish this season at the half-mile was a sixth-place effort in the Kings Royal in July. Kinser lined up 11th for that 40-lap contest and made up quite a bit of ground late in the race. He opened the event as the 11^th-fastest qualifier and finished second in a heat race to lock himself into the fabled event.

The native of Bloomington, Ind., has made a total of 42 main event starts with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series at the half-mile in his career, including in preliminary features. He has recorded 13 top-10 finishes at Eldora, with four of those being top-five performances. He finished a career-best third in the spring of 2005 at the half-mile.

“We had a good run in the Kings Royal for the second straight year,” said Kinser. “Obviously, the track is a little different when we come back now in the fall versus in the heat of the summer. There are probably going to be quite a few cars at Eldora this week, so qualifying is going to be just as important as ever, as is getting in the dash.”

Kinser visited Lernerville Speedway earlier this season for the Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup Twin 30s. He lost a right rear tire while running second in B-main and thus did not qualify for the main event. Last fall, the third-generation driver, finished ninth in the Commonwealth Clash at Lernerville. Kinser came home a career-best fifth at the high-banked, four-tenths-mile in the 2011 Commonwealth Clash. He has made a total of 17 main event starts in his career at Lernerville.

“It was definitely tough sledding at Lernerville in the summer,” he shared. “We had a pretty fast car and just had no luck on our side and got caught up in a couple of tough situations and unfortunately didn’t have a chance to make the feature. The folks at Lernerville always do a great job preparing the surface, so we know we’ll have plenty of racing room.”

Kinser, the 2005 winner of the Knoxville Nationals, is 11th in points with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series entering this weekend, just 13 markers out of the 10th spot. He has one victory this far in 2013 to go along with 32 top-10 finishes, of which eight are top-five performances.

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: Eldora Speedway & Lernerville Speedway
0.4– Miles around Lernerville Speedway
0.5- Distance around Eldora Speedway in Miles
1- A-Feature win thus far in 2013
3- Best-career finishing position at Eldora, coming in 2005
4- Top-five finishes in his career with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series at the half-mile
5- Nights of racing at Eldora this season for the World of Outlaws
8– Races scheduled in the state of Ohio for the World of Outlaws in 2013
12– Career top-10 finishes with the series at Eldora Speedway
12.334– Track record at Lernerville Speedway
12.707- Track record at Eldora Speedway
17- Main event starts with the World of Outlaws at Lernerville
32- Top-10 finishes earned this season
43– Career World of Outlaws starts at Eldora, including preliminary features
2001– Year of first start with the World of Outlaws at Eldora Speedway
2004- Year of first start at Lernerville Speedway
8147- Points earned through Sept. 14

Keep up with all the action 
For the latest news on Kraig Kinser, visit 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 STP Sprint Car Series event on DIRTVision.com with “The Voice of the Outlaws” Johnny Gibson on the call. Visit www.DIRTVision.com for live audio of each and every World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series event.

Varney, ON – Gary McLean (No.8 McLean Industrial Design) bounced back from a rough outing last Sunday to earn a win on night one of the 2013 Rick Woolner Memorial Saturday night at Varney Speedway Motorplex.

The veteran driver and nine-time winner of the Memorial race set the quick time in time trials to put himself on the pole for Klotz Canada qualifying heat race one. The win in the heat race would translate to the pole position for the 30-lap main event.

Starting inside the front row for the main event of the evening on a frigid September night, Gary was able to hold off cousin Brian McLean (No.47 Bowmanville Home Building Centre) for the entire 30 laps as the two ran first and second, respectively, all night long.

The win is Gary’s fourth of the 2013 season and comes after the team fought back from a wicked wreck last week at Flamboro Speedway. With the win, Gary receives a $250 bonus courtesy of Jim Brown Trucking.

The race was slowed by caution periods four times, with the first coming on lap 13 when Justin Jones (No.92 Superior Maple) spun in turn four.

No sooner had the green flag dropped on the following restart, Branden Bullen (No.67 Alliston Transmission) and Darryn Wright (No.62 Future Pro Goalie School) got tangled on the frontstretch before another lap was complete.

Davey Terry (No.14 Wasteco) used the ensuing restart to get underneath Brian McLean for the second position. Terry ducked beneath the No.47 on lap 14, but the two made light contact on the frontstretch, which forced Terry to the infield grass.

Terry was able to gather his car back to the racing surface, but not before falling back to seventh. The Erin, Ont.-based driver would fight his way back to a fourth-place finish.

The third yellow of the night came on lap 23 when Jones spun in turn three. The Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. driver was under heavy fire when he attempted to yield the bottom lane to race leader Gary Mclean, but got the car in to the marbles in the process.

The restart gave Brian McLean his best chance at overtaking the top spot, but it was not meant to be. Brian explained following the race a problem with his right-front shock hurt the car’s performance through the corner.

The final yellow flag of the night came on lap 29 just as the field had taken the white flag when Dean Scott (No.19 Little Tracks Petting Zoo) spun in to the turn four grass.

The fourth yellow of the night led to a single lap dash to the finish, where Gary would hold off Brian for the victory. Brent McLean would finish third to complete the all-McLean podium for the second time in OSCAAR history at Varney.

Terry would finish fourth, narrowly edging Monty Kelly (No.96k At a Glance Screen Printing) who completed the top-five.

Shane Stickel (No.39 MSD Machine Tool) was the top finishing rookie with a sixth-place finish, receiving a $50 bonus courtesy of Sheila Eccles of Craig McDonald Reddon Insurance.

The OSCAAR Modified tour is back in action on Sunday afternoon at Varney Speedway Motorplex for night two and the 50-lap Rick Woolner Memorial. Racing begins at 4:00pm.

—

Results: Rick Woolner Memorial Night One – 30 Lap Feature (Starting Position in Parentheses)

1. 8 Gary McLean (1); 2. 47 Brian McLean (2); 3. 7 Brent McLean (3); 4. 14 Davey Terry (4); 5. 96k Monty Kelly (5); 6. 39 Shane Stickel (7); 7. 1B Brad Pearsall (8); 8. 48 Ted Patterson (10); 9. 13 Bobby Tolton (11); 10. 67jr Branden Bullen (12); 11. 19 Dean Scott (9); 12. 88 Ryan Dick (13); 13. 92 Justin Jones (15); 14. 91 Mike Westwood (6) (DNF); 15. 62 Darryn Wright (16) (DNF); 16. 79 John Harper (14) (DNF); 17. 4 Mike Ford (17) (DNF); 18. 22 Rob Fennema (DNS).

Time Trial Results

1. Gary McLean (Conn, ON) 12.575 seconds; 2. 14 Davey Terry (Erin, ON) 12.663; 3. 7 Brent McLean (Conn, ON) 12.724; 4. 47 Brian McLean (Conn, ON) 12.767; 5. 96k Monty Kelly (Mitchell, ON) 12.799; 6. 1b Brad Pearsall (Gilford, ON) 12.888; 7. 39 Shane Stickel (Kitchener, ON) 12.973; 8. 91 Mike Westwood (Milton, ON) 13.065; 9. 19 Dean Scott (Woodstock, ON) 13.264; 10. 48 Ted Patterson (Mount Forest, ON) 13.345; 11. 13 Bobby Tolton (Guelph, ON) 13.404; 14. 67jr Branden Bullen (Bradford, ON) 13.719; 15. 92 Justin Jones (Sault Ste. Marie, ON) 13.858; 16. 4 Mike Ford (Walkerton, ON) 14.717. No Time: 22 Rob Fennema (Harrow, ON); 62 Darryn Wright (Watford, ON).

Klotz Synthetics Qualifying Heat Results

Heat 1 (Odd Qualifiers to Determine Odd Number Starting Positions)

1. 8 Gary McLean; 2. 7 Brent McLean; 3. 96k Monty Kelly; 4. 39 Shane Stickel; 5. 19 Dean Scott; 6. 13 Bobby Tolton; 7. 88 Ryan Dick; 8. 92 Justin Jones; 9. 22 Rob Fennema (DNS).

Heat 2 (Even Qualifiers to Determing Even Number Starting Positons)

1. 47 Brian McLean; 2. 14 Davey Terry; 3. 91 Mike Westwood; 4. 1B Brad Pearsall; 5. 48 Ted Patterson; 6 67jr Branden Bullen; 7. 79 John Harper; 8. 62 Darryn Wright; 9. 4 Mike Ford.

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

 

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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Sept. 15, 2013— The pace of the racing programs this past weekend for the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series were complete opposites. On Saturday, Sept. 14 at Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn., the event was run in hurry-up mode with rain surrounding the area, with the checkered flag ultimately flying at 8:38 p.m. Central. On Friday, Sept. 13 at Clay County Fair Speedway in Spencer, Iowa, a couple hours delay early in the night to get the track service in racing shape, paired with a number of cautions in the main event, along with a fuel stop, pushed the completion of the program to well past midnight. The results were the same each night for Kraig Kinser though, as he crossed the line eighth aboard the Mesilla Valley Transportation/Casey’s General Store/King Racing Products Maxim.

Kinser took the green flag for the 35-lap main event that capped the Asgrow/DeKalb Clash at the Creek at Deer Creek Speedway from the 14th spot. He lost a position on the opening lap and was running 15th when the first caution flag of the night flew on the third circuit. On the ensuing double file restart, he was able to gain a couple of spots and had worked his way up to the eighth spot by just the sixth lap.

The race was slowed twice more for caution flag periods, with single file restarts being used from this point on due to track conditions. Kinser fell back to ninth on the 10th go-around, but would gain the eighth spot back on lap-14 and would remain there for the duration of the 35-lapper, which was run with light rain falling the entire time, to earn his 32nd top-10 finish of the season.

“We were definitely glad to get the race in,” said Kinser. “It’s always tough when you know rain is coming and when it starts falling a bit that makes it even tougher. Everyone did a great job to speed the program through and get all 35 laps in for the fans, which is the main thing. We were able to move forward in the feature on a very tricky surface, so all in all, it was a decent night for us.”

The native of Bloomington, Ind., was 14th-quickest in qualifying at Deer Creek Speedway. He lined up fifth in the second heat race and wound up sixth to earn a spot in the main event. When the field assembled for the 35-lap A-Feature, the third-generation driver found himself on the outside of the seventh row in the 14th starting spot.

The 30-lap Arnold Motor Supply Shootout at Clay County Speedway on Friday night began with a yellow flag on the initial start for an accident, with a complete restart in order. On the second start, the caution came back out and led to a third start. On the third start, Kinser started to work his way forward and was up to eighth by the third lap. He found himself sixth just before the halfway point of the 30-lap contest. Kinser then was engaged in a spirited battled with Kerry Madsen for the fifth position, taking that spot for a few laps. Late in the going, Kinser raced Cody Darrah for seventh, and wound up finishing eighth to earn his 31st top-10 finish of the season.

The 2005 winner of the Knoxville Nationals opened the night at Clay County by timing in 13th-fastest, missing the heat race inversion by just one spot, which equated to two-thousandths-of-a-second. He charged from the fifth starting spot in the first heat race to finish second, which put him in the dash. The dash saw Kinser line up 10th and he was able to gain one position in that six-lap contest, and earn a starting spot the inside of the fifth row for the 30-lap Arnold Motor Supply Shootout.

“I’ve always run well at Spencer (Clay County Fair Speedway),” he noted. “We had a good heat race and were able to get in the dash and that’s always important. We just missed the heat race inversion in time trials by a hair, so to be able to come from fifth to second in the heat was great. The track was challenging in the feature, but we were able to maintain and come away with a solid finish.”

Kinser will return to the track next weekend at the famed Eldora Speedway for the running of the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series portion of the 4-Crown Nationals, followed by a trip to Lernerville (Pa.) Speedway for the Commonwealth Clash. The third-generation driver is currently 11th in the series standings. He has one win this season, along with 32 top-10 finishes.

“We are excited to get back to the shop and spend the week catching up on things and working on some things,” said Kinser. “It’s always nice to sleep in your own bed as well and for all the crews, this week will provide a well-deserved break, after all the long hours they have put in the last few weeks and all of the miles driven as well.”

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.

Clay County Fair Speedway & Deer Creek Speedway Results

Date	Time Trials	Heat Start	Heat Finish	Dash Start	Dash Finish	Feature Start	Feature Finish	Points
Sept. 13	13th	5th	2nd	10th	9th	9th	8th	11th
Sept. 14	14th	5th	6th	N/A	N/A	14th	8th	11th

Keep up with all the action 
For the latest news on Kraig Kinser, visit http://www.kraigkinser.com, and follow Kraig on Twitter at http://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.

NEW CASTLE, Ind.— Sept. 15, 2013— Consistency has been the name of the game for Tracy Hines with the Amsoil USAC National Sprint Car Series over the second half of the season, as he has racked up eight top-10 finishes in ninth starts, since the beginning of August. He extended his current streak of top-10 runs to seven consecutive races on Saturday, Sept.14, by finishing eighth at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Ind., in the Haubstadt Hustle, which was co-sanctioned by the Amsoil USAC National Sprint Car Series and the Midwest Sprint Car Series (MSCS).

Hines started the 40-lap A-Feature on the outside of the front row aboard the Hansen’s Welding Inc./The Carolina Nut Company DRC. The native of New Castle, Ind., took the lead at the start, but Brady Short reclaimed the top spot by the time they crossed the start/finish line to complete the opening circuit. The first caution flag of the night flew on the second go-around. A long green flag stretch of racing followed, with Hines running among the top-eight for the duration of the contest.

The Haubstadt Hustler was run under the MSCS format, with drivers drawing for starting positions in the heat races and then passing points earned, and used to line up the main event. Hines started on the outside of the front row in the second 10-lap heat race and won that contest to lock himself into the 40-lap A-Feature. Being among the top-six in points after the heat races, Hines was part of the re-draw for the main event.

The 2002 champion of the Amsoil USAC National Sprint Car Series is currently sixth in the standings, with six nights of racing remaining for the series in 2013. Hinnes has a pair of wins this year, along with 15 top-10 finishes.

Hines will be back in action next weekend at the famed Eldora Speedway in Ohio for the running of the 4-Crown Nationals. He will compete with the Amsoil USAC National Sprint Car Series, Traxxas USAC Silver Crown Series and Honda USAC National Midget Series.

Tracy Hines Racing would like to thank: Hansen’s Welding Inc., Parker Machinery, Powered by Toyota, 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. — Sept. 15, 2013— David Gravel sure was glad to return to the track this past weekend and climb into his racecar and get back in the swing of things. He was able to make a pair of starts with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series at Clay County Fair Speedway in Spencer, Iowa, and Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn. While he is always looking to contend for wins, his main objective this past weekend was to get seat time and re-acclimated with the rigors of competing with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series, after a month out of the seat, while recovering from a bout of mononucleosis, an enlarged spleen and a double ear infection. Gravel recorded an 11th-place finish at Clay County and was 14th at Deer Creek in the FMR Racing/JRC Transportation/Musco Fuel/Model Craft J&J.

At the drop of the green flag in the Arnold Motor Supply Shootout at Clay County Fair Speedway on Friday, Sept. 13, Gravel used a strong start to power his way into the top-10, when the first caution flag of the night flew. The field re-racked and took the green for a second time, with Gravel again charging forward, only to have the caution flag displayed. The third start stuck, and Gravel found himself eighth on the opening lap.

The 21-year-old worked his way past Kraig Kinser and Cody Darrah on the second circuit and was up to seventh at that point. Gravel fell back a couple of spots over the ensuing laps and was running ninth when the red flag was displayed on lap-7. He then fell back a few spots and ran 13th for a number of laps in the middles stages of the 30-lapper and worked his way into 12th on lap-18. Gravel was 11th just two circuits later. The East Coast racer ran 11th for the final 10 laps and crossed the finish line in that same position.

Gravel timed in ninth-quickest of the 27 drivers that took to the clock at the historic fairgrounds oval in northwest Iowa. He started on the outside of the front row in the third heat race and finished third to earn a spot in the 30-lap main event. When the A-Feature of the Arnold Motor Supply Shootout assembled on the three-eighths-mile, the native of Watertown, Conn., lined up 12th.

The event at Deer Creek Speedway on Saturday, Sept. 14 was expedited due to impending rain in the area, which began falling just as the cars took to the track for the 35-lap main event. Gravel took to the three-eighths-mile in the seventh spot and ran among the top-10 for the first few laps, before losing a handful of positions He would fall back to 17th just before the halfway point of the race and then steadily worked his way back forward running as high as 13th with just two laps to go, before finishing 14th.

Gravel opened the Asgrow/DeKalb Clash at the Creek at Deer Creek Speedway by turning in the 10th-fastest time in qualifying, which put him on the pole for the first heat. He would finish second in that eight-lapper to eventual race winner Ian Madsen. That earned Gravel a spot in the dash, where he came home seventh, after starting eighth.

Gravel will be back in action next weekend at the famed Eldora Speedway in Ohio, for the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series portion of the 4-Crown Nationals. He will then head north to Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa., for the annual Commonwealth Clash. Gravel has a pair of wins this season, including on the first preliminary night of the Knoxville Nationals. He has picked up 24 top-10 finishes in World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series competition, with seven of those being top-five performances.

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

Concord, NC (September 16, 2013) – Fifteen-year-old rookie sensation Kyle Benjamin won his second race of the season Saturday night by winning the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA Fall Classic presented by Federated Car Care at the Salem Speedway.

 Benjamin, who won last month at Madison International Speedway to become the youngest ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards winner in series history, once again dominated the race driving his No.15 Renton Coil Spring-Cometic machine to victory lane leading 70 of the 200-lap event.

“We went up against an incredibly strong field of cars tonight and to get the win is just awesome! My crew chief (Kevin Reed) did a great job with tonight’s set-up, the car got better and better as the night went on and the entire team was flawless,” said Benjamin.

Benjamin’s victory gave Venturini Motorsports (VMS) their sixth victory of the 2013 ARCA season. Each of the team’s victories has gone way of a multi-driver rotation, each driving VMS’s No.15 car with crew chief Kevin Reed at race controls.

“It’s been a special year, I can’t give enough credit to Billy for giving me everything we need to build and prepare these race cars. There’s a ton of financial commitment that goes into building a winning team. The Venturini’s support everything we need to make it work,” says Kevin Reed, crew chief of the No.15 VMS team. “We’ve got great team balance and amazing guys back in the shop to make this happen. I couldn’t ask for anything more.

VMS has won this year on virtually every discipline of track style; superspeedway, intermediate, short track and dirt track.

In all, four different VMS drivers have found victory lane this year.

NASCAR/ARCA driver John Wes Townley kicked off the season in dramatic fashion winning at Daytona International Speedway in his No.15 Zaxby’s Toyota.

ARCA veteran Brennan Poole found victory lane twice, once at Michigan International Speedway and again at the Springfield dirt mile.

Rookie Erik Jones won his first career ARCA race in his home-state of Michigan at Berlin Raceway.

And most recently, Kyle Benjamin joined Poole with multiple season victories behind the wheel of the No.15 car at Madison International Speedway and again this past weekend at Salem Speedway.

“I’ve been fortunate to work with great drivers. John Wes (Townley) has done an amazing job driving for us on the speedways and continues to get better behind the wheel every time out. Brennan (Poole) is a threat every week he gets behind the wheel. Erik (Jones) never won before Berlin but I always knew he was capable. He’s obviously a strong driver with bright career ahead of himself,”added Kevin Reed.

“Kyle (Benjamin) won a lot in late models but we just weren’t sure if his age and inexperience would translate into success so early in the ARCA series. He’s definitely proven his abilities. I spend a lot of time with all the drivers making sure everyone is prepared and comfortable each and every week.”

Reed will reunite with Erik Jones (No.15) this weekend in hopes of continuing their winning ways when the series returns to Kentucky Speedway for the running of the ZLOOP 150 and John Wes Townley will drive the 15-car during the season finale at Kansas Speedway on October 4th. Both races will be aired live on Fox Sports 1. 

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

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

1. Montoya looking forward to challenge of INDYCAR 

2. Mastering new venue vital in championship race

 

1. Montoya looking forward to challenge of INDYCAR: What started as a casual pit lane conversation between Penske Racing president Tim Cindric and Juan Pablo Montoya, has blossomed into the return of Team Penske’s third full-time IZOD IndyCar Series entry. 

Montoya, the 1999 CART champion and 2000 Indianapolis 500 winner, will drive the No. 2 Team Penske Chevrolet for the full 2014 season alongside Will Power and three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves.

 

“Juan is a proven winner at all levels of motorsport,” said Roger Penske. “He has won a lot of races and championships and he has an extremely passionate fan base. We look forward to building on his successes together and we believe he will be a great addition to Team Penske.”

 

Montoya, a 37-year old native of Colombia, is one of the most accomplished drivers in the world.   His career highlights include race wins in Formula One, NASCAR and Indy car. He is the only driver to produce victories in the Indianapolis 500, the 24 Hours of Daytona and the Monaco Grand Prix. Montoya earned 11 IndyCar wins over two seasons as he captured the CART Series title in his rookie season of 1999 followed by a victory in the Indy 500 in 2000.

“I am really excited,” Montoya said. “If you dream of any ideal position for any driver, driving for Penske would be No. 1. When I became a free agent, I said my No. 1 choice was to be in a winning car. When this opportunity came around, I didn’t have to think about it. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

 

Montoya says adapting back to an open-wheel can and all the changes that have occurred since he last drove an Indy car in 2000 will be a test, but he’s always been a quick study. Montoya added he has been training with an eye towards racing an Indy car and has “plenty of time before the first race to get there.”

 

“The conditioning is big part of it,” he said. “Since the moment I became a free agent I was looking at open-wheel and training really hard. I know the conditioning it takes to be a champion and I’m working to that goal.”

 

Team Penske is one of the most successful teams in the history of professional sports. Competing in a variety of disciplines, cars owned and prepared by Penske Racing have produced 377 major race wins, 433 pole positions and 24 National Championships. The team has also earned 15 Indianapolis 500 victories in its storied history. 

 

“Juan has been a winner in everything he’s been in,” Cindric said. “We didn’t have to drag him along and convince him that Indy was different than NASCAR. This was about him saying: ‘I want to drive for you guys and I want to figure out how to win with you guys.’”

 

2. Mastering new venue vital in championship race: With three races to go in the IZOD IndyCar Series season, a doubleheader at Houston’s Reliant Park – the series’ newest venue – may seem like a curveball for the 10 drivers eligible for the title. 

 

But new venues late in the season aren’t a rare occurrence. The series’ first stop at Baltimore in 2011 and the return of Auto Club Speedway to the schedule in 2012 are among the recent races that have played a role as the series decided its champion. 

 

To some drivers, racing at a new venue isn’t that much of a disadvantage after the first practice session.

 

“We’ve done (new races) a couple of times recently,” four-time series champion Dario Franchitti said. “It requires a different mindset to go in there, particularly when you are racing guys that have experience there.”

 

Only six drivers expected to compete at Reliant Park have previous Indy car experience at the 1.7-mile temporary street circuit, and of the 10 drivers still mathematically eligible, Simon Pagenaud, Will Power and Justin Wilson have started there in Indy cars.

 

“There’s not much to take out of 2007; it’s completely different,” said Pagenaud, who the year before earned the Champ Car Atlantic Series championship. “What we think is going to work needs to be the thing that is going to work. The rest will come down to the driver.”

 

NEW VENUES 2010-2012

Year	Venue	Type	Winner
2013	Pocono Raceway	Superspeedway	Scott Dixon
2012	Auto Club Speedway	Superspeedway	Ed Carpenter
2011	Twin Ring Motegi	Road Course	Scott Dixon
2011	Streets of Baltimore	Street Circuit	Will Power
2011	New Hampshire Motor Speedway	Short Oval	Ryan Hunter-Reay
2011	Edmonton City Centre Airport	Temporary Circuit	Scott Dixon
2010	Streets of Sao Paulo	Street Circuit	Will Power
2010	Barber Motorsports Park	Road Course	Will Power

 

 

***

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 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 Houston’s Reliant Park. The race will be televised by NBC Sports Network at 4 p.m. (ET) on Oct. 6