Category: Other Series PR

The OSCAAR Modifieds make their first ever trip to Flamboro Speedway this Saturday night, with several big names set to do battle. Open-wheel modifieds have never competed at Flamboro under OSCAAR sanctioning, but several drivers have previous experience at the 1/3-mile Millgrove, Ont. oval. The series was originally scheduled to make its Flamboro debut on July 20, but a power outage in the Hamilton-area forced the event’s cancellation.

This weekend’s stop is the first of two this season at Flamboro for the Modified tour, which will also compete at the speedway’s signature Oktoberfest event on October 5.

The tour has been off since competing at Delaware Speedway on August 17 where Justin Demelo (No.82) was victorious for the second-time this season. Demelo will compete this Saturday at Flamboro in hopes of completing the hat-trick and has announced he will donate all of his race winnings to the purse for the 2013 edition of the Rick Woolner Memorial at Varney Speedway Motorplex on September 14 and 15.

Reigning series rookie-of-the-year Davey Terry (No.14) is preparing for a strong run at his family’s home track. Terry, a cousin of Flamboro’s popular Shaw family, is coming off a fifth-place result in his fourth-career start at Delaware. Look for the ‘Erin Express’ to be back inside the top-five again this weekend.

Current points leader Gary McLean (No.8) extended his points lead at Delaware with a second-place finish. McLean is among the drivers with experience at Flamboro and will look to use his pedigree as an advantage.

Brent McLean (No.7) currently sits second in the championship standings despite a DNF at Delaware. The third-year modified pilot has two wins this season, but has not had the same success he experienced in the first-half of late. McLean won an unsanctioned open-wheel modified event at Flamboro last fall. Look for the Bowmanville Home Hardware sponsored entry to get back on track this weekend.

Shane Stickel (No.39) earned an impressive sixth-place finish at Delaware three weeks ago, and is in good position to earn another top-five this Saturday. Stickel has plenty of Flamboro experience in a Vintage Modified, but none of yet in an OSCAAR Modified. Regardless, Stickel is capable of transferring the skills to his new MSD Machine Tool/Creative Edge sponsored ride.

Tim Tolton (No.13) will make his first career OSCAAR Modified tour start this Saturday in place of son Bobby. The younger Tolton will be out of action after the birth of his son, Chase, on Thursday. Tim has experience competing in open-wheel cars with the Varney Outlaw Modifieds, but has not yet piloted Bobby’s Knightworks Design sponsored machine. Look for a solid performance from the veteran pilot.

Despite having very limited practice at Delaware, Branden Bullen (No.67jr) had a 10^th-place finish. Bullen also ran well at Kawartha Speedway on August 11, so another top-ten will be good for the rookie driver’s lead at the top of the rookie standings.

Dave Osborne (No.11) is also expected to return to active competition after missing the series’ last two races. The Brantford, Ont. driver last competed with the tour at Peterborough where he finished 10^th, but was collected in a mid-race incident which ended his night. Expect the ‘Wild Child’ to rebound with a solid finish at his former home track.

Directions: For directions to Flamboro Speedway, located in Millgrove, Ont. visit the following link: http://flamborospeedway.net/?page_id=60

Tickets: For ticket pricing and information, please visit: http://flamborospeedway.net/?p=919.

The OSCAAR Modifed 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

Photo Credit: Dan Little Jr.

-30-

INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, Sept. 6, 2013) – INDYCAR officials have fined IZOD IndyCar Series driver Scott Dixon $30,000 and placed him on probation through Dec. 31 for comments made following the Sept. 1 Grand Prix of Baltimore presented by SRT.

Dixon violated Rules 9.3.1.8 and 9.3.7 when he made disparaging remarks toward INDYCAR officials and other competitors after the race.

9.3.1.8. Using improper, profane or disparaging language or gestures in reference to Officials, Members or action or situations connected with INDYCAR, the IZOD IndyCar Series, or any Event.

9.3.7. If any Member uses improper, profane or disparaging language or gestures and references a specific Official by his/her name, such Member may be find a minimum of $25,000 and may be subject to additional penalties based upon the particular circumstances.

Because of the public display of these actions, Dixon will be able to work off the fine by making a public appearances on behalf of INDYCAR.

The member may contest the imposition of the penalty pursuant to the procedures and timelines detailed in the protest and appeal procedures of the IZOD IndyCar Series rulebook.

NEW CASTLE, Ind.—Sept. 5, 2013— The Mid-South has a long and storied history when it comes to sprint car racing. Much of that history has been written at the legendary Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Ark., while a number of chapters have been added more recently at I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Ark. Tracy Hines, who is well-versed in the laurels of Midwest sprint car racing tradition, got his first taste of racing in the Mid-South last year and will return this weekend to compete at both Riverside International Speedway and I-30 Speedway with the Amsoil USAC National Sprint Car Series.

The weekend opens for the driver of the Hansen’s Welding Equipment DRC on Friday, Sept. 6 at I-30 Speedway and concluders on Saturday, Sept. 7 at Riverside International Speedway. A full racing program is set for each night, with a 40-lap main event capping each program as the stretch run of the 2013 campaign begins.

Hines got his first look at the quarter-mile I-30 Speedway last season with the Amsoil USAC National Sprint Car Series, though Mother Nature interrupted the event. Hot laps and qualifying were completed as well as two heat races before rain forced the cancellation of the remainder of the racing program. Hines opened the night by turning the third-fastest lap in time trials of the 31 drivers in attendance.

“It will be nice to get a full show in at Little Rock (I-30 Speedway),” said Hines. “That’s a pretty racy track and the fans there don’t get to see our style of racing very often. We ran well on the second two nights at Kokomo (Speedway), so hopefully we can carry some of that momentum and use what worked there at another smaller track that is similar.”

At Riverside International Speedway in 2012, Hines was caught up in an accident on the third lap of the A-Feature that ended his night, after starting in the 10th spot. The 2002 Amsoil USAC National Sprint Car Series champion was 10th-fastest in time trials and followed that up with a third-place finish in the second 10-lap heat race, which earned him a spot in the 40-lap main event at the quarter-mile bullring.

“We were pretty good early in the night at West Memphis (Riverside International Speedway) last year and just didn’t have too good of luck in the feature,” he noted. “Things happen in a hurry there and it is a multi-groove place. You have to be on your toes and try to keep your nose clean, so that you can be around during the last 10-15 laps of the race.”

Hines enters this weekend’s pair of races sixth in the Amsoil USAC National Sprint Car Series standings. He has won twice in 2013 and has earned 12 top-10 finishes as he continues to climb in the standings. The veteran driver has recorded four straight top-10 finishes with the series.

“We’re getting down to that point where there aren’t too many races left,” Hines said. “We’ve moved up a couple of spots in points the last few weeks and want to move up a few more and pick up a couple more wins before the season is over. It’s been since the beginning of the year that we won a sprint car race and we’ve been knocking on the door several times here lately.”

Tracy Hines Racing would like to thank: Hansen’s Welding Inc., Parker Machinery, 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.

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

1.      Fantasy football stirs IZOD IndyCar Series drivers’ competitive juices

2.      Baltimore technical penalty update

3.      Firestone Indy Lights Houston broadcast to follow second IZOD IndyCar Series race

1. Fantasy football stirs IZOD IndyCar Series drivers’ competitive juices: Sitting in the transporter, Ed Carpenter is intently studying information on his personal computer.

The IZOD IndyCar Series’ lone team owner/driver had completed his qualifying runs through the streets of Baltimore and could be studying data that will help him in the 75-lap race. Instead Carpenter is doing research for a fantasy football draft.

Carpenter is one of the many football fans who participate in fantasy football each year. The Indianapolis 500 pole winner takes it seriously. Carpenter studies flow charts, statistics and magazines to develop his fantasy strategy.

“I am pretty into my fantasy team and the league,” said Carpenter. “I’m just in one ‘keeper’ league now. I used to be in several leagues when (wife) Heather and I didn’t have all of the kids (three children now). This will be my sixth season with my brother-in-law, Will (Younger). We are co-owners of our team and we keep players from year to year. We make our picks as well as future picks, so it’s very cool to study up on it.”

Carpenter isn’t the only fantasy football owner in the INDYCAR paddock. Ryan Briscoe, who drove for Chip Ganassi Racing and Panther Racing in 2013, owns two teams in two separate leagues.

“There’s a lot of pride involved with the fantasy football league,” Briscoe said. “It’s so much fun. I love it but it’s difficult because I still don’t know all the players. There’s some fierce rivalries, especially with (wife) Nicole. We’re actually in two leagues, together, battling against each other. We’re a lot like Kevin and Jenny on the (FX) show ‘The League.’”

Briscoe, a fan of the Green Bay Packers, only chose wide receiver Randall Cobb for his own teams.

“I didn’t have top picks, so I had to make do,” he said. “I’m hoping for a lot from (Detroit’s) Calvin Johnson this year in one league and I had a draft (Sept) and I got C.J. Spiller, the running back. I only have one Packer, so I guess I’ll be cheering for a lot of other teams this year.”

Carpenter’s draft was scheduled for NFL Opening Night on Sept. 5, but with the rigors of the IZOD IndyCar Series and moving into a new home, Carpenter found himself behind.

“Usually, I’m a little further along with my draft preparation than I am right now,” he said. “We do our draft the night of the first regular-season NFL game. We have been in a part of the IndyCar Series schedule where I have longer air flights and I can do some more studying for the draft. 

“With the three kids, I haven’t had the night time availability to study like I used to. But we had flights to San Francisco and Baltimore recently and I was able to study on the planes.  I used to spend a lot of time on the computer at night time when the kids went to bed.  Since Cruz was born (on 12/12/12), it is busy at that time now with the three little ones.” 

An Indianapolis Colts fan, Carpenter acknowledges he doesn’t like to draft Colts players for his fantasy team. It takes away from his rooting interests.

 “We picked up Reggie (Wayne) late last year (in a trade), but I would rather watch the Colts games and not worry about my fantasy team during the games,” he said. “I almost try to avoid the Colts in the draft.” 

2. Baltimore technical penalty update: There were no technical penalties issued following the Grand Prix of Baltimore presented by SRT on the streets of Baltimore on Sept. 1.

3. Firestone Indy Lights Houston broadcast to follow second IZOD IndyCar Series race: The NBC Sports Network broadcast time of the Firestone Indy Lights race in Houston has moved to 4 p.m. (ET) Oct. 6, following live coverage of the second IZOD IndyCar Series race on the street circuit.

NBCSN’s broadcast of the Firestone Indy Lights Grand Prix of Baltimore on Sept. 1 delivered the highest viewership in 10 races this season.

***

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 noon on Oct. 6.

SHELBY TOWNSHIP, Mich.—Sept. 4, 2013 — There is just something about one-mile dirt ovals that agrees with Taylor Ferns and her driving style. After making her first start on a track that size back in May at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, she has made four more appearances on historic fairgrounds ovals and has finished in the top-10 in each subsequent start, including finishing fifth in the Ted Horn 100 with the Traxxas USAC Silver Crown Series at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds in Illinois on Sunday, Sept. 1, which marked her best-career finish with the series. The 17-year-old followed that up with a 10th-place finish on Labor Day with the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards

“The mile tracks are great to race on, especially in the Silver Crown cars.” Ferns said. “I watched a lot of film in preparation for the miles and I think that helped me adapt to them quick. Everyone said DuQuoin is one of the trickiest tracks, so I was a little surprised that I picked it up so quickly. I really enjoy racing on the mile dirt tracks and have had fun on each of the three I raced on this year.”

Ferns opened the Traxxas USAC Silver Crown Series portion of the event at DuQuoin by recording the seventh-fastest lap in time trials. She circled the one-mile oval in 31.772-seconds, which put her on the inside of the fourth row for the 100-lap main event. The native of Shelby Township, Mich., ran among the top-10 for the entire race aboard her No. 35 Toyota-powered Beast. Several cautions slowed the field and fuel mileage came into play as well in the late going. Along with marking the best finish of her career in a Silver Crown machine, the fifth-place showing was the third straight top-10 finish with the series for Ferns.

“With people running out of fuel at the end, I was definitely concerned about it,” she noted. “Ever since we were running fourth at Pikes Peak (International Raceway in June) and ran out of fuel late in that race, it’s always on my mind late in the races. With about six laps to go at DuQuoin we started to run out of fuel and kind of coasted around there and tried to get as much fuel into the line as we could. It was a good finish and we raced against some of the best drivers in USAC.”

On Labor Day, the high school senior was 18th in qualifying for the ARCA event, which put her on the outside of the ninth row for the Southern Illinois 100 presented by Federated Car Care. She quickly began moving toward the front of the field and ran as high as fifth in the latter stages of the 100-lap contest. Following a late pit stop, Ferns restarted 16th and was able to work her way back up to 10th to earn her second straight top-10 finish on the dirt in ARCA competition in the Motor City Transport Inc./National Auto Placement Toyota. She has three top-finishes in six ARCA starts in 2013.

“We had a solid top-10 finish in the ARCA race, but not quite the finish we were looking for,” said Ferns. “I just messed up in qualifying and that set us back and then we were running fifth and had a bad pit stop and lost a bunch of spots. We were able to make up quite a few positions at the end and came away with another top-10, so I can’t complain.”

Ferns moved up a spot in the Traxxas USAC Silver Crown Series point standings and is currently ninth. She has made a total of five starts in the “Big Cars” this season. In the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, the No. 55 Venturini Motorsports Toyota is seventh in owner points. The winningest female driver in USAC history will return to action this coming weekend in an ARCA event at the Iowa Speedway in Newton on Saturday, Sept. 7. She made her Traxxas USAC Silver Crown Series debut at the seven-eighths-mile paved oval last year and finished 10th.

“The main goal at Iowa (Speedway) is to take care of the car and get a good finish,” she stated. “It will be good to get back on the pavement and back to Iowa. I’ve heard a lot great things about the past ARCA races there and am looking forward to it. I ran well there last year in the Silver Crown car and that should give me a good baseline for the ARCA race. We’ve had a few top-10s and we’ve run in the top-five, so we know we can do it and a top-five is what we are shooting for.”

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.

INDIANAPOLIS, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2013 – IZOD IndyCar Series drivers Graham Rahal and Ryan Briscoe participated in a test organized by Indianapolis Motor Speedway and INDYCAR to gather information about the current road course layouts as IMS considers changes and upgrades.

Speedway officials plan to invest nearly $100 million in the facility as part of a long-term master plan that could include modifications to the road course to allow it to accommodate INDYCAR testing or racing in the future.

MotoGP and GRAND-AM Road Racing use sections of the infield course for their races at IMS, with MotoGP competing at the track since 2008 on a counter-clockwise (MotoGP) version of the circuit and GRAND-AM since 2012 on a clockwise (Grand Prix) layout. Formula One raced on the IMS road course from 2000-07.

“We wanted to evaluate the racetrack as it is,” said Derrick Walker, president of competition and operations, INDYCAR. “There are a number of ideas to improve overtaking and making the racing more interesting perhaps than it was during the Formula One days. I’m not sure the Speedway needs to make monster changes. There could be some alterations that would improve the racing short term, and then if the fans come, you keep doing more and keep doing more. I think you could develop a really unique racetrack out of the infield.”

Rahal and Briscoe quickly warmed to the concepts as they logged laps clockwise and counterclockwise, utilizing Turn 1 of the oval and the existing Turn 1 of the Grand Prix road course.

“It’s a little different going the opposite way around, but it’s actually not a bad track,” said Rahal, who competed on the Grand Prix layout in Formula BMW in 2004 and Firestone Indy Lights in 2006. “Everybody knocks it, but I’ve had some fun. You’re sliding around; there’s not a lot of grip. The track layout as it is, would it be great for passing? There are really only two spots. But that’s why we’re trying a lot of different configurations to analyze and potentially help.

“I suggested a few things already, and IMS and INDYCAR want input. When I showed up, I thought we shouldn’t use Turn 1 at Indy. We shouldn’t run on the oval at all. But I think that’s what is going to make the racing so good. If you’re leading on the last lap you’re bound to get passed by anyone within eight carlengths. The tow someone would get down the frontstraight would be massive.

“How do you put a quick lap in? Do you set up the car to go for the frontstraight or the infield? That could be an intriguing mix race day. Having a straightaway this long, with the top speed of about 190 (mph), it’s quite a mix. I think that would make the racing extremely exciting here.”

Added 2012 Indianapolis 500 pole sitter Briscoe: “The track as currently set up has a lot of high-speed corners, and going clockwise gives you a different feel. There are a couple of areas that could be addressed to increase passing zones, which would make the racing great.”

A potential IZOD IndyCar Series race on the road course as early as 2014 has been discussed among INDYCAR and IMS officials, which Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing co-owner and 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal endorses.

“I feel privileged to be a part of (the test day) and excited about the idea,” Bobby Rahal said. “Just as Daytona has a number of events leading up to the ‘500,’ why not Indianapolis with a road course race in early May? I was very much a traditionalist until the stock cars came here. They’ve had Grand Prix races, GRAND-AM races, bike races and even the mini-marathon, and I understand why it’s become a multi-event facility. I’m all for it.”

Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles said he’s heard from ticket-holders who have lobbied for a third race using the road course featuring the IZOD IndyCar Series.

“We have a great facility right in the middle of Indianapolis, where many teams are based, so even if you were to use it for testing throughout the season it would be nice to have,” he said.

“We think we have a big fan base in Indianapolis that loves to see the Indy cars run. Yes, it’s a break from tradition, not running on the oval, but that’s why we’re here to test. We’ve already heard great things from the drivers, and that’s part of the next step in deciding how we use the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.”

The only other time an Indy car was tested on the IMS road course was in fall 2011 when two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon tested the current IZOD IndyCar Series Dallara chassis that debuted in 2012. Wheldon ran the 13-turn layout in clockwise direction only during the session, which was used to develop the car, not for track information purposes.

Shepherd Accepts, Not Embraces, Part-Time Role

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 26, 2013) – A part-time schedule is not ideal, but Pete Shepherd III has gotten practically every ounce of success out of it.

In the two NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 starts this season, the Brampton, Ont., driver has a perfect record with June wins at Delaware (Ont.) Speedway and the half-mile oval at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park near Bowmanville, Ont. Add in the final few races of last season and the 27-year-old has three victories in his last four efforts. Despite the limited opportunities, Shepherd is not surprised at the success.

“I’m not surprised at all,” he said. “We work hard on the car and behind the scenes a lot goes on for us to stay in step with the teams that race more often.”

Five total series wins in just 22 starts is more than staying in step. The results beg the ‘what if’ question, but Shepherd doesn’t spend a lot of time dwelling on that.

“I can only do what I can do,” he said. “We try to make the most of what’s available and we’ve done pretty well with that recently.”

However, it doesn’t mean that he doesn’t get frustrated at times especially when watching television.

“It doesn’t matter if I’m watching a Canadian Tire Series race or a (NASCAR) Sprint Cup Series race, it eats at me that I can’t get out there more.”

Shepherd had some opportunities in the U.S. in his younger years, but the time wasn’t right he laments in retrospect.

“I was just too young. Today, there are some young guys doing some great things, but that wasn’t really the case when I was down there,” he said. “I’ve matured so much and learned so much as a driver. So, yes, it bugs me.”

The undefeated driver comes into the Hudco Electric Supply 300 presented by G-Oil at Barrie (Ont.) Speedway as the defending champion and for as physical as the racing is on the .333-mile tri-oval Shepherd likes the fact that early trouble doesn’t necessarily spell doom.

“It’s tough racing there, that’s for sure, but you’re never out of it there,” he said. “I think last year we were down a couple laps early on. As long as you stay with it and protect your equipment as best you can, then you always have a chance there.”

Having not raced since mid-June, the driver of the National Exhaust/Diamond Material Handling Dodge is ready to get back on the track.

“I can’t wait,” he said. “The crowd at Barrie is always great and the racing is never dull. I wish the race was tomorrow.”

Race: Hudco Electric Supply 300 presented by G-Oil

Place: Barrie (Ont.) Speedway

Date: Saturday, Sept. 8

Time: 7 p.m. ET

TV Schedule: TSN2, Sat. Sept. 24, 2 p.m. ET; RDS2, Fri., Oct. 4, 8 p.m. ET

Track Layout: .333-mile asphalt tri-oval

2012 Winner: Pete Shepherd III

2012 Pole Sitter: Steve Mathews

Event Schedule: Practice 1-1:30 p.m.; Final Practice 2-2:30 p.m.; Qualifying 4:45 p.m.; On-Track Autograph Session 5:30 p.m.; Driver Introductions 6:30 p.m.

TRACK CONTACT: Diane Cunningham at 705-487-0279 or diane@barriespeedway.com

TWITTER: @BarrieSpeedway

EVENT TWITTER HASHTAG: #Hudco300

NASCAR IMC CONTACT: John Tejeda, (386) 500-3015 or jtejeda@nascar.com, @OnTheGoJT

FAST FACTS

The Race: This is the 11th event of 12 in the 2013 season for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 and the seventh of eight oval track events on the schedule. This is the series’ ninth visit to the Barrie track.

The Procedure: The starting field is 24 cars, including provisionals. The first 21 cars will qualify through two-lap time trials while the remaining three spots will be awarded through the provisional process. The race will be 300 laps covering 99.99 miles.

The Track: Barrie Speedway opened in 1965 and has had substantial improvements made since 1999. At that time, the track was widened and lengthened from a .25-mile oval to its current unique .333-mile tri-oval configuration. The tri-oval and pit road are situated on the backstretch.

The Records: The one-lap qualifying record for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series at Barrie is 13.903 seconds (86.226 mph) set by Don Thomson Jr. on June 28, 2008. The 300-lap race record is held by D.J. Kennington at 1 hour, 40 minutes, 8 seconds established on Sept. 11, 2010 for an average speed of 59.860 mph.

The History: Barrie Speedway has hosted more NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 events than any other track. Kennington leads all drivers with three wins including both visits in 2007 – the series’ inaugural season. Last year, Pete Shepherd III won a typically exciting race that was delayed a day due to rain.

BARRIE RACE NOTES

Dodge Dominant: Dodge has won seven of the eight previous Barrie Speedway events with D.J. Kennington (No. 17 Castrol Edge/Mahindra Tractors Dodge) and Scott Steckly (No. 22 Canadian Tire/Sylvania Dodge) accounting for five of those. The only non-Dodge winner was the Chevrolet of Don Thomson Jr. in Sept. 2009.

Little Separation: Barrie Speedway is close quarters competition from start to finish. Kennington holds the series mark for both largest and smallest margin of victory. He outdistanced Dave Whitlock by 1.453 seconds in Sept. 2007 and Thomson by a scant .015 seconds in the 2010 event.

Long And Short Of It: The 300-lap Hudco Electric Supply-sponsored event in Barrie is one of three races scheduled for that number of laps. The Canadian Tire Series went 300 laps in July at Motoplex Speedway in Vernon, B.C., and on Aug. 17 at Riverside International Speedway in Antigonish, N.S. Barrie and Riverside are .333-mile tracks while Motoplex is a half-mile circuit.

Home Tracks Update: Gord Shepherd leads the Wahta Springs Limited Late Model division by 34 points over Ron Quesnelle. In the Canestoga Property Management Thunder Cars Darryl St. Onge leads Rick Walt by just three points and Dave Doucette, in third, sits only five points back. Mike Gettliffe and Doug Butler are in a dead heat in the St. Onge Recreation Pure Stock division.

LAST TIME OUT: Pinty’s presents the Clarington 200

New Leader: With a fourth-place finish at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park D.J. Kennington took over the lead in the championship point standings by three over Scott Steckly. L.P. Dumoulin moved into the third spot – 21 points behind the leader – with the victory.

Elite Group: Dumoulin joins J.R. Fitzpatrick and Andrew Ranger as multi-time winners on the road course at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. The three drivers account for seven of the eight series wins at the track with Kennington claiming the remaining victory.

High-Water Marks: Martin Roy established a new career-best finish with a runner-up finish on the road course at CTMP. His previous high was fifth on four occasions. Marc-Antoine Camirand (6th) and Gary Klutt (7th) also established new career marks.

Long Field: Thirty-six cars started the Pinty’s presents the Clarington 200. It was the largest field for a series race since 37 cars started at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Aug. 2011.

NEXT TIME OUT: Pinty’s 250 at Kawartha Speedway

As it has for the past six seasons, the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 wraps up its season and crowns a new champion at Kawartha Speedway near Peterborough, Ont. The racy .375-mile oval will play host to the Pinty’s 250. A season ago, D.J. Kennington left nothing to doubt by winning the race to clinch his second series championship in three seasons.

NEW CASTLE, Ind. — Sept. 2, 2013 — It wouldn’t be a USAC event at the Terre Haute Action Track in 2013, if Mother Nature wasn’t involved. As has been the case every time this season when the open wheel drivers have rolled into the famed half-mile, rain was on horizon. Run in hurry-up mode, the full show was completed, including all 30 laps of the Tony Hulman/Jim Hurtubise Classic for the Amsoil USAC National Sprint Car Series, and when the final checkered flag flew, Tracy Hines found himself on the podium in third. He preceded that with a seventh-place finish to open the weekend at 34 Raceway in Iowa.

The native of New Castle, Ind., opened the night at Terre Haute on Saturday, Aug. 31, as the second-fastest driver in time trials of the 23 entrants. He charged from the sixth starting position to win the second heat race. Hines lined up fifth for the 30-lap main event and powered his way up to third on the opening lap and chased eventual winner Jerry Coons Jr. and Brady Bacon for the remainder of the contest, piloting the Carolina Nut Company/Hansen’s Welding Inc. DRC.

Hines came home seventh on Friday, Aug. 30, at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa, with the Amsoil USAC National Sprint Car Series. The veteran driver kicked off the night by recording the ninth-quickest lap in qualifying. He followed that up by running second in the third heat race. Hines took the grid eighth for the 30-lap A-Feature and ran among the top-10 for the duration of the race at the three-eighths-mile in Eastern Iowa.

Engine problems sidelined Hines in the Traxxas USAC Silver Crown Series event at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds in Illinois on Sunday, Sept. 1. He was fastest in the first practice session aboard the Lightfoot Racing Beast at the one-mile dirt oval and encountered engine woes during the final practice, which prevented him from both taking a lap in time trials and from starting the Ted Horn 100. He was credited with a 14th-place finish in the main event and fell from the points lead to third, 16 markers out of the lead, with one race remaining.

Hines returns to action this coming weekend with the Amsoil USAC National Sprint Car Series at I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Ark., and Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Ark. The 2002 series champion is currently sixth in the standings on the strength of two wins and 12 top-10 finishes.

Tracy Hines Racing would like to thank: Hansen’s Welding Inc., Parker Machinery, 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.