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  • INDYCAR NEWS AND NOTES – June 25, 2013

    INDYCAR NEWS AND NOTES – June 25, 2013

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

    1. Iowa technical penalty update 

    2. Teams use test day to get to know Pocono 

    3. Franchitti gets his kicks with Philadelphia Union 

     

    1. Iowa technical penalty update: There were no technical penalties issued following the IZOD IndyCar Series race at Iowa Speedway on June 23.

     

    2. Teams use test day to get to know Pocono: Eight IZOD IndyCar Series teams took an opportunity June 25 to get a close-up look at Pocono Raceway during a test day at “The Tricky Triangle.”

     

    Seat time and race setups were the order of the day as Marco Andretti, James Hinchcliffe, Ryan Hunter-Reay and E.J. Viso (Andretti Autosport), Sebastian Saavedra (Dragon Racing), Ed Carpenter (Ed Carpenter Racing), Ryan Briscoe (Panther Racing), Simona De Silvestro and Tony Kanaan (KV Racing Technology), Helio Castroneves and Will Power (Team Penske) logged laps on 2.5-mile tri-oval as part of a Chevrolet manufacturer’s test.

     

    James Jakes and Graham Rahal of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and Josef Newgarden of Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing also tested their Honda-powered cars.

    An Open Test is scheduled for July 4 in advance of the Pocono INDYCAR 400 Fueled by Sunoco on July 7.

     

    “It’s always good to be out there,” said Castroneves, the IZOD IndyCar Series championship points leader. “It doesn’t matter if it’s today or next week. We’re always learning things that can help us. There aren’t 20 cars here, but (the test) gives you the knowledge of where to start for the race weekend. It’s a good opportunity.”

     

    While some drivers, such as Castroneves and Power, have been to Pocono for a Firestone tire test, it was the first chance for others to see the circuit that will host its first Indy car race since 1989. Newgarden came away impressed.

     

    “Pocono is pretty incredible,” he said. “I’ve never been to an oval like this. It’s a challenge and unlike anywhere we’ve been. It almost combines a bunch of ovals. You have one corner that’s like Milwaukee. Another corner that’s like Kentucky and one like Road America with a kink-like corner. It’s very unique and very difficult to get right.”

     

    Added Carpenter: “Turn 1 (at Pocono) is a beast in the IndyCar. It’s going to be a fun corner to drive in the race and I think the fans will enjoy watching it. It’s definitely different than any place I’ve ever been to. We were trying to compare it to places we’ve been in the past and it reminds me of Phoenix a little bit. It’s its own animal.”

     

    The race will be the middle leg of the Fuzzy’s Triple Crown, which carries a $1 million bonus if Kanaan can sweep the races at Indianapolis, Pocono and Auto Club Speedway. A driver who wins two of the three will receive a $250,000 bonus.

     

    3. Franchitti gets his kicks with Philadelphia Union: Three-time Indianapolis 500 champion Dario Franchitti dropped by the Philadelphia Union’s practice session June 24 on his way to testing at Pocono Raceway.

     

    Union defender and auto racing aficionado Ray Gaddis presented Franchitti a team jersey and gave him a few on-field pointers. For the record, Franchitti is a stout Celtic FC fan.

     

    The IZOD IndyCar Series competes at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa., on July 7 in the Pocono INDYCAR 400 Fueled by Sunoco. Watch the race on ABC (Noon ET). The Union (7-5-4 in the MLS) host FC Dallas on June 29.

    ***

    The next IZOD IndyCar Series race is the Pocono INDYCAR 400 Fueled by Sunoco on July 7 at Pocono Raceway. The race will be televised live at noon (ET) by ABC 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 Pocono 100 at 4 p.m. on July 6 at Pocono Raceway. NBC Sports Network’s coverage of the Sukup 100 from Iowa Speedway will be telecast at 11 p.m. (ET) on June 28.

  • OSCAAR Announces Biederman Memorial Format

    OSCAAR Announces Biederman Memorial Format

    By Clayton Johns (@cjohnsmedia) – The OSCAAR Super Late Model tour is pleased to announce a new format for the 15th annual Don Biederman Memorial, hosted by Sunset International Speedway on June 29 and 30. The new format will feature 50-lap main events on back-to-back nights along with a new qualifying procedure.

    The new format will feature time trials, a single round of heat races, and a last-chance qualifier race. All drivers in attendance will have two laps to lay down their best time in preparation for Saturday’s 50-lap feature. The Biederman event will mark the first time OSCAAR has used a time trial format since the series trip to Sauble Speedway in 2011.

    Knightworks Design has sponsored the Fastest Outlaw and will award a $500 bonus to the driver who posts the fastest lap in time trials. The driver who can post the second-quickest time will earn an extra $250. The driver who qualifies slowest will receive an additional $100 as the Hard Luck Qualifier. The top two drivers will be guaranteed their spots on the front row for the feature, however they will be required to start their respective heat races to avoid forfeiting their position.

    The results from time trials will help determine the starting order for the only round of Klotz Synthetics qualifying heat races. Each heat race will be 15 laps. The top-qualifier will earn the pole position for heat race one, while the second fastest qualifier will earn the top starting spot in the second heat race. The third-quickest driver will hold the top spot in the third heat. The remaining drivers will be placed in one of the three heats following the same format as the top three drivers (see below).

    The top four finishers from each heat race (12 drivers total) will automatically qualify into Saturday’s 50-Lap A-Main event. The remaining drivers will be forced to qualify and determine their starting position through the B-Main last chance qualifier race. The last chance race will determine positions 13-20. Two spots (position 21-22) will be left open as provisional for the drivers who currently sit highest in OSCAAR points who have yet to qualify. The final two spots (position 23-24) will go to the two quickest drivers who have yet to qualify for the main event.

    Sunday’s event will not include time trials. Instead, Saturday night’s feature finishing order will determine the starting order for the three heat races, following the same format as Saturday. The top-four drivers in each heat will qualify directly in to the feature. The remaining drivers will race their way in to the show through the B-Main, which will follow the same format as Saturday.

    The 2013 Don Biederman Memorial winner will be the driver with lowest combined finish from both Saturday and Sunday’s feature events.

    A full schedule of events with times for both competitors and spectators will be available later in the week.

    —

    Example: Klotz Synthetics Qualifying Heat Line-Up (Based on Time Trial Results).

    Heat 1: Pos. 1, Pos. 4, Pos. 7, Pos. 10, Pos. 13, Pos. 16, Pos. 19, Pos. 22, Pos. 25, Pos. 28, etc.

    Heat 2: Pos. 2, Pos. 5, Pos. 8, Pos. 11, Pos. 14, Pos. 17, Pos. 20, Pos. 23, Pos. 26, Pos. 29, etc.

    Heat 3: Pos. 3, Pos. 6, Pos. 9, Pos. 12, Pos. 15, Pos. 18, Pos. 21, Pos. 24, Pos. 27, Pos. 30, etc.

    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.

    -30-

  • Cox Steals Modified Victory at Delaware

    Cox Steals Modified Victory at Delaware

    Delaware, ON – Jamie Cox (No. 3 APC/Total Lubricants) made a thrilling move to the outside with two laps to go to get by race leader Justin Demelo (No. 82 EMCO Waterworks/CAT Toromont) to win his first career OSCAAR Modified tour victory.

    Cox used the outside line to his advantage all night, making several passes as he worked his way to the front of the field from his tenth-place starting spot. The outside only works, Cox said, if you’re willing to go there.

    “Part of it is you have to have the confidence to be out there,” said Cox. “I did it years ago. You lose a little bit, but you gain some as well.”

    It was an action-packed battle at the front of the field for the entire 30-laps. Demelo wasted little time getting to the front of the field after starting fourth, getting by Gary McLean (No. 8 McLean Industrial Design) within the first five laps.

    Demelo then grew his lead to nearly half a straightaway over McLean before the first caution of the race at lap 16 for Ryan Dick (No. 88 Johnston Bros Sand & Gravel) who spun in turn two.

    The caution flag tightened the field, with McLean running second, David McCullough (No. 39 Oak’s Auto) sitting third after starting on the pole, and Barry Newman (No. 1 Vipond Fire Protection) fourth for the restart.

    Demelo again got the better of the field, jumping out to a big lead once again, but was reeled in by a caution one more time on lap 19 when Brent McLean (No. 7 Bowmanville Home Building Centre) had problems with what appeared to be the left-front tire.

    The field was hardly up to speed when one lap later Davey Terry (No. 14 Wasteco/Brennan Haulage) and Dick got tangled in turn one.

    Demelo looked to be in control of the field on the restart with ten laps to go, but Cox continued to make a push through the field, passing Newman following the ensuing restart.

    Two more cautions at laps 24 and 27 for spins by Dick and Bobby Tolton (No. 13 Knightworks Design/Amsoil/At a Glance Screen Printing) prevented Demelo from cruising to a victory.

    The final caution with three laps remaining was the one Demelo wanted the least. Cox moved past Gary McLean just prior to the final yellow and had begun to chase down Demelo, but it looked as though he would run out of time, until the yellow flew.

    With Cox restarting on his preferred outside line, Demelo was in tough for the final three laps. After fending off the competition on each previous restart, Demelo wouldn’t be as lucky in his final try.

    Cox drove hard down the front stretch to glue himself to the outside of Demelo. The exit of turn two proved pivotal as Cox got the better run down the Delaware hill on the backstretch and had gained the lead entering turn three.

    Cox cleared Demelo as the field came to the line with two circuits remaining. Demelo made several attempts to retake the lead, but fell just shy and would have to settle for second.

    “It’s great to get that car out. I’ve wanted to race it, but with running the late model, it’s hard to do that,” explained Cox. “This was the week to do it. We pulled it out (of the shop) and pulled the win off.”

    Demelo fell just shy of his first OSCAAR Modified tour win once again after several trips to the podium in 2012 as well.

    “Jamie might have got on to the restart procedure I was doing,” said Demelo. “He has that big motor and could take off. I’ve only got a crate so restarts are tough on me because it takes a couple laps for the car to come in.”

    “Maybe if there was a couple more laps at the end we could have got by,” explained Demelo,” but it was a great run by all in the end.”

    Demelo felt he may have used up his tires growing a big lead in the early laps, which hurt his chances on the final restart.

    “We might have used up a little bit of the car, but overall it was still a fun race,” said Demelo. We’ll get them next time though. We have to work harder on the car and be more aggressive.”

    Gary McLean’s third place finish maintains his spot atop the championship standings and marks his third consecutive podium finish to start the season.

    “We had quite a bit of damage from last week at Barrie,” explained McLean. “The car was hurt pretty bad. We were surprised when we got looking at it. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t perfect. Then we lost power steering at the start of the race, and that’s brutal at this place with some of the bumps.”

    It’s no secret Cox and Demelo benefitted from having four fresh Hoosier tires for the feature in their first start of the season, while most of the tour regulars were only allotted one new tire.

    Newman had an impressive run to finish fourth. The Springfield, Ont. driver ran at the front of the field and contended for the lead early on before running out of laps to get to the front.

    Shawn Thompson (No. 72 Earl S. Ross Inc.) made his first career OSCAAR start and finished fifth. Of the top-five finishers, four were former Delaware Speedway Modified weekly regulars.

    The win by Cox marks only the second time in the tour’s history a  driver without the last name ‘McLean’ has won a feature event. Steve Smith is the other lone victor at Sauble Speedway in 2012.

    John Harper (No. 79 Transaxle Parts) suffered a hard hit during his heat race. Harper arrived with a brand new chassis and had very little chance to practice the car before getting it in to race action. Harper got in to the marbles in turn one before sliding up the race track and hitting the turn two wall hard. Harper suffered heavy damage to the entire front-end of the car, including the right-front suspension.

    The OSCAAR Modified tour returns to action next Saturday June 29 and Sunday June 30 at Sunset Speedway as part of the OSCAAR Super Late Model Don Biederman Memorial weekend. Both series will run complete shows on each night with two full payouts. For more details, stay tuned to www.modifieds.oscaar.ca and www.oscaar.ca this week.

    —

    Results: Delaware Speedway 30-Lap Feature – June 21, 2013 (Starting Position in Parentheses)

    1. 3 Jamie Cox (10); 2. 82 Justin Demelo (4); 3. 8 Gary McLean (2); 4. 1 Barry Newman (3); 5. 72 Shawn Thompson (8); 6. 2 Matt Barton (12); 7. 39m David McCullough (1); 8. 7 Brent McLean (6); 9. 19 Dean Scott (16); 10. 14 Davey Terry (7); 11. 88 Ryan Dick (5); 12. 13 Bobby Tolton (13); 13. 62 Darryn Wright (DNF) (14); 14. 47 Brian McLean (DNF) (11); 15. 22 Rob Fennema (DNF) (18); 16. 91 Mike Westwood (DNS); 17. 98 Steve Smith (DNS); 18. 79 John Harper (DNS).

    Heat Race Winners: 8 Gary McLean, 1 Barry Newman.

    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)

     

    -30-

  • OSCAAR Super Late Model News & Notes – June 23, 2013

    OSCAAR Super Late Model News & Notes – June 23, 2013

    The OSCAAR Super Late Model tour has had a week to gather itself following the series June 15 event at Barrie Speedway and a number of drivers are preparing for the two-day Don Biederman Memorial event at Sunset Speedway on June 29 and 30. The list of drivers with the intention to compete in the event continues to increase and some interesting developments have occurred over the past week ahead of the Biederman Memorial.

    Todd Campbell (#07 Campbell’s Sanitation) will have a new power plant next weekend at Sunset for the series’ biggest event of the year. The Guelph, Ont. driver is upgrading to a built motor from the Chevy crate motor he has run for the past two and a half seasons. Campbell will take the new motor to Sunset before a return to Sauble Speedway on July 13 where he earned his best career OSCAAR finish, a fourth-place result, last July.

    Despite intentions to run with OSCAAR this season, Don Thomson Jr. (No. 4) has sold his Super Late Model before entering in to active competition. Peterborough Speedway part-time driver Kelly Balson has purchased the chassis previously owned by Len Couvillon. Thomson, who is the crew chief for J.R. Fitzpatrick’s NASCAR Canadian Tire Series entry, felt he could not make the commitment to OSCAAR with the team’s current NCATS deal. He has not ruled out a return to OSCAAR in a different car next season.

    Balson, meanwhile, has said he will wait until the 2014 season to begin his OSCAAR Super Late Model career. Balson currently owns a Limited Late Model and a Lucas Oil Sportsman Cup (LOSC) car, which is piloted by his girlfriend Amanda Connolly. Unless the LOSC car sells before season’s end, Balson will wait a year to race the Super Late Model to avoid any potential problems that might occur in competition.

    Former Sunset Speedway mini-stock driver Rob Gibson (No. 3) will make his first career OSCAAR start this weekend at his hometrack. The Orillia, Ont. driver, who operates as driver and crew for his Super Late Model, has spent the last four months preparing the car on his own. Gibson intends to practice this Wednesday night at Sunset and, if all goes well, will attempt to make the field for the first 50-lap feature of the Don Biederman Memorial on Saturday night.

    Sophomore driver Paul Law (No. 72 Midas of Orangeville/Ron Little Trucking) has confirmed his intention to run in the Biederman Memorial as well. The 2012 Rookie-of-the-Year runner-up intended to make his debut at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park on June 1 before the event was rained out, and was unable to make the start at Barrie due to business commitments. Law will look to pilot his Jeff-Hanley built Chevrolet to a podium finish for the first-time in a young OSCAAR career.

    After making his first OSCAAR start of the season at Barrie last weekend, Ian Bourque (No. 83 Bourque Transmission) will be in attendance for the Biederman event at Sunset. Bourque, who has historically run a partial schedule with OSCAAR and who has been competing full-time in a Limited Late Model at Barrie this season, will look for his first career OSCAAR victory.

    Corey Jones (No. 82 RBC/Remax/Accountable Automotive) continues to be on track for his OSCAAR debut at Sunset this weekend. Jones’ car is being prepared out of the Shane Gowan (No. 39 Lucas Oil/Hallett Fabrication) racing stable with significant contribution from Gowan’s crew chief Kelly Hallett. Gowan will also pilot a new Port City Racecars chassis this weekend at Sunset.

    Stay tuned to www.oscaar.ca throughout the week for more information regarding the 15th annual Don Biederman Memorial weekend at Sunset Speedway on June 29 and 30, including race format, a probable entry list, a full preview, and the full schedule of events for race weekend.

    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)

     

    -30-

  • HINCHCLIFFE DOMINATES IOWA CORN INDY 250 TO SCORE THIRD WIN

    HINCHCLIFFE DOMINATES IOWA CORN INDY 250 TO SCORE THIRD WIN

    NEWTON, Iowa (Sunday, June 23, 2013) — James Hinchcliffe, who led 33 total laps on ovals in his previous two IZOD IndyCar Series seasons, led all but 24 to dominate the Iowa Corn Indy 250 presented by DEKALB at Iowa Speedway.

    The Toronto native, driving the No. 27 GoDaddy Chevrolet, earned his first victory on an oval. He’s the only three-time winner this season and seventh different winner through 10 of 19 races. This time he led Ryan Hunter-Reay across the finish line by 1.509 seconds for the second consecutive Andretti Autosport 1-2 sweep on the .875-mile oval.

    Indianapolis 500 champion Tony Kanaan, who had finished first, second and third the previous three outings at Iowa, placed third. Ed Carpenter finished fourth and Graham Rahal earned his second consecutive top-five finish of the season.

    “We have a great track record here, but this year with so many different things and a day race, everything was different,” said Hinchcliffe, who started second following qualifying that consisted of three 50-lap heat races and grid spot penalties because of unapproved engine changes that impacted six drivers. “We were trying to manage a gap on the guys behind us, trying to take care of the tires. At the end of the day the car was solid. Guys on the stand called it perfect, and I can’t thank them enough.”

    Hinchcliffe advanced five positions in the championship standings and is 66 points behind front-runner Helio Castroneves heading into the second half of the season that starts with the Pocono INDYCAR 400 Fueled by Sunoco on July 7 at the 2.5-mile Pocono Raceway.

    Castroneves’ nine points earned for claiming the Verizon P1 Award in the third heat race is the margin over Hunter-Reay in the standings. Castroneves, driving the No. 3 Hitachi Team Penske car, finished eighth. Marco Andretti, who finished ninth in the No. 25 RC Cola car, is third (-55 points). Seven different teams are represented in the top 10.

    “We drove as hard as we could today,” said Castroneves, who recorded his sixth consecutive top 10. “When they told me I came in eighth, I was like ‘What?’ I certainly felt we had a better car than that. I guess in traffic we got held up coming in and out of the pits, which cost us some positions. The Hitachi car really came alive with about 50 laps to go and it felt great. Maybe it was a little too late for us. But we still have the points lead and we will look for a better result in Pocono.”

  • Two Races, Two Top-Fives for Kraig Kinser at River Cities & I-94

    Two Races, Two Top-Fives for Kraig Kinser at River Cities & I-94

    BLOOMINGTON, Ind.—June 23, 2013 — A total of 19 drivers competed in both main events with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series over the weekend at River Cities Speedway in North Dakota, and I-94 Speedway in Minnesota. Just one of those competitors finished in the top-five both nights — Kraig Kinser. The native of Bloomington, Ind., was fifth at River Cities and finished in that same spot in the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series inaugural event at I-94.

    “It was a very good weekend,” said Kinser. “I’ve said it before that we always want to finish a few spots higher, especially when we are up front, but to come away with two top-five finishes against the competition that we did, I’ll take that any day of the week. We’ve been pretty good on the short tracks this year and seem to be gaining some ground on the three-eighths-mile as well, which is very encouraging.”

    On Saturday, June 22 at I-94 Speedway, a high-banked, three-eighths-mile, Kinser started sixth in the Casey’s General Store/Mesilla Valley Transportation Maxim. He gained a spot on the opening lap and ran fourth for the fifth eight laps of the 30-lap contest. The only caution flag of the night flew at the halfway point, with Kinser restarting fifth on the low side of the track. He got around Craig Dollansky on the restart to move into fourth before the latter got by him on the next lap. The pair would trade the fourth spot twice more over the next four laps, with Dollansky ultimately taking the position. Kinser would run fifth for the remainder of the race to earn his sixth top-five finish of the season.

    For Kinser, the night began at I-94 Speedway by timing in 11th and earning the pole position for the second heat race. He would finish second in that eight-lapper to earn a spot in the dash. Kinser would line up ninth in the dash and worked his way up to sixth, which put him on the outside of the third row for the A-Feature.

    “I-94 (Speedway) is a very nice track,” he shared. “They had a great crowd and I think the fans saw a pretty good show. We had a lot of green flag racing that kept us in lapped traffic. This was another night where we qualified in the right spot and were able to take advantage of that and get into the dash. We haven’t gotten in the dash as much as we would have liked so far this year, but it seems like every time we do make it in, we end up with a solid finish.”

    At River Cities Speedway on Friday, June 21, Kinser ran as high as second over the course of the 40-lap main event, which was slowed by four red flags and three yellow flag periods, before coming home fifth. The initial start took four attempts and Kinser found himself in fifth once a lap was finally completed. He was all the way up to fourth in the early going, before falling back to ninth. He worked his way back into the top-five by the 10th circuit and would run among the lead pack for the remainder of the distance. He battled eventual winner Cody Darrah for several laps for the second spot. The fifth-place showing was the sixth top-10 finish of his career at the ultra-racy bullring with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series.

    In qualifying at River Cities, Kinser was third-quickest of the 36 entrants. He started fourth in the third heat race and finished third to earn a spot in the dash. A dash inversion of eight put the 28-year-old on the outside of the fifth row. He would finish fifth in the dash.

    “River Cities is definitely one of my favorite tracks,” Kinser said. “The Mack family are good friends of ours and they do a great job up there. I’ve always run pretty well up there and that track really reminds me a lot of Bloomington Speedway back home. River Cities is a place where you can fall back a few spots like we did and then make it all back up and then some in a lap or two. I can’t wait to go back up there in August.”

    Kinser and his fellow World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series competitors return to the track next weekend with a trio of races at LaSalle (Ill.) Speedway, Beaver Dam (Wis.) Raceway and Cedar Lake (Wis.) Speedway. The third-generation driver is currently 11th in points on the strength of 16 top-10 finishes, with six of those being top-five showings, including a win at Orange County Fair Speedway in New York last month.

    “We have a few days this week to get prepared for the three races coming up, and the busy stretch that is coming up in July,” he noted. “The main thing right now is to qualify well and not put yourself in a hole at the beginning of the night. We qualified well both nights over the weekend and the results speak for themselves. We have to keep after it and keep qualifying up toward the top.”

    Kraig Kinser Racing would like to thank Casey’s General Stores, Mesilla Valley Transportation, 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.

    River Cities Speedway & I-94 Speedway Results

    Date Time
    Trials    		 Heat
    Start    		 Heat Finish Dash Start Dash Finish Feature Start Feature Finish Points
    June 21 3rd 4th 3rd 6th 5th 5th 5th 11th
    June 22 11th 1st 2nd 9th 6th 6th 5th 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.

  • Shepherd Making Winning A Full-Time Thing

    Shepherd Making Winning A Full-Time Thing

    Second Straight NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Victory For Part-Time Driver

    BOWMANVILLE, Ont. (June 22, 2013) – Pete Shepherd III keeps on showing up and he keeps on winning.

    The Brampton, Ont., native isn’t running for the championship in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1, but that hasn’t stopped him from collection winner’s trophies. He picked up another Saturday night in the Clarington 200 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.

    The victory on the facility’s half-mile oval was the second straight for Shepherd, who drove the No. 7 National Exhaust/Diamond Material Handling Dodge to Victory Lane last week at Delaware Speedway. It’s Shepherd’s fifth career win in 18 starts over the last four years.

    It was a particularly special win for the 26-year-old Shepherd, as it came on the final series race on the track’s oval. Canadian Tire Motorsport Park announced recently it was closing it to concentrate efforts on the world-class road course, which hosts the series twice this year.

    “What an honor it is to win the last race here,” said Shepherd, who was second there in 2011 and third in 2010. “I grew up watching my grandpa, my uncle, my dad race here – my mom, even – and this is such an historic race track and I love it to death. It’s my favorite track to drive on and it’s an honor to win here.”

    Scott Steckly rebounded from a slow start to the season to finish second. He had finished 21st and 24th in his two previous races.

    “It’s definitely a relief to finally finish a race,” said Steckly. “We actually had good luck. We actually didn’t have a second-place car tonight. But the crew worked really hard.”

     

    J.R. Fitzpatrick was third after leading three times for 48 laps. He gave up the lead to Shepherd on Lap 156 and fell back another spot in the closing laps. But after a pole position was sidetracked by mechanical problems just seven laps into the season opener on the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park road course, he was happy to come to the facility and pick up a podium finish.

    “When you’re starting from the bottom of the scale in points, you’ve got to think points,” Fitzpatrick said. “We’re really just determined to show people we’re determined to get back up there in the championship fight. And that’s what we’re doing.”

    Fitzpatrick was able to move up to sixth in points, just 12 points behind first-place DJ Kennington. Steckly is up to 14th.

    “The 7 (Shepherd) is not going for a championship and the 22 (Steckly) is probably a couple races behind because of a couple part failures, so if we just keep trucking like this, we’ll be back up front pretty soon,” Fitzpatrick said.

     

    For Shepherd, though, his limited schedule is out of necessity over desire. He hopes if he keeps winning, that will change.

     

    “I want to run for a title here really bad,” Shepherd said. “We’ve got National Exhaust on board and they help us – they fund us for these races, but in order to do the whole deal, we really need to have that big corporate sponsor on the car. … We really want it bad.

     

    “Whoever gets on the side of the car, they’re going to be running for championships for a long time.”

     

    Jason Hathaway’s fourth-place finish moved him to within a point of Kennington, while Steve Mathews rallied from engine problems in practice to finish fifth.

     

    Martin Roy, L.P. Dumoulin, Jeff Lapcevich, Hugo Vannini and Kennington completed the top 10.

     

    Kerry Micks was the fastest in qualifying and led a race-high 86 laps, but wound up 19th as ignition issues ended his nights after 146 laps. The race featured eight lead changes between four drivers. It was slowed six times for 34 caution laps.

     

    The Clarington 200 will air on TSN on Sunday, June 30 at 1 p.m. ET and on RDS on Friday, July 19 at 11 p.m.

     

    The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series will return to the road course with the Jiffy Lube 100 presented by Snap-on at Circuit ICAR in Mirabel, Quebec, on Sunday, July 7.

     

    For more information, contact:

    Shon Sbarra

    NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications

    (704) 309-5493

    ssbarra@nascar.com

     

     

    NASCAR CANADIAN TIRE SERIES-Clarington 200 Results

    Saturday

    At Canadian Tire Motorsports Park Oval

    Bowmanville, Ontario

    Lap length: 0.5 miles

    (Start position in parentheses)

    1. (2) Pete Shepherd III, Brampton, Ont., Dodge, 200 laps, 61.528 mph.

    2. (4) Scott Steckly, Milverton, Ont., Dodge, 200.

    3. (3) J.R. Fitzpatrick, Ayr, Ont., Chevrolet, 200.

    4. (13) Jason Hathaway, Dutton, Ont., Dodge, 200.

    5. (5) Steven Mathews, New Liskeard, On., Ford, 200.

    6. (11) Martin Roy, Napierville, Que, Dodge, 200.

    7. (9) L.P. Dumoulin, Trois-Rivieres, Que, Dodge, 200.

    8. (8) Jeff Lapcevich, Grimsby, Ont., Dodge, 200.

    9. (15) Hugo Vannini, Repentigny, Que., Ford, 199.

    10. (10) D.J. Kennington, St. Thomas, Ont., Dodge, 198.

    11. (18) Jason White, Sun Peaks, B.C., Dodge, 198.

    12. (17) Ryley Seibert, Williams Lake, B.C., Dodge, 198.

    13. (19) Dave Connelly, Arnprior, Ont, Dodge, 197.

    14. (20) Bradon White, Kahnawake, Que., Chevrolet, 196.

    15. (21) Ray Courtemanche Jr., Montreal, Que, Dodge, 196.

    16. (16) Noel Dowler, Sherwood Park, Alta., Dodge, 184.

    17. (12) Alex Guenette, Terrebonne, Que, Dodge, 149.

    18. (6) Ron Beauchamp, Jr., Windsor, Ont., Dodge, 148.

    19. (1) Kerry Micks, Mt. Albert, Ont., Ford, 146, ignition.

    20. (7) Larry Jackson, Oakville, Ont., Dodge, 81, suspension.

    21. (14) Trevor Seibert, Williams Lake, B.C., Dodge, 30, transmission.

     

    Race Statistics

    Time of Race: 1 hour 37 minutes 31 seconds

    Margin of Victory: 3.127 seconds

    Fastest Qualifier: K.Micks (82.865 mph, 21.722 seconds)

    Caution Flags: 6 for 34 laps.

    Lead Changes: 8 among 4 drivers.

    Lap Leaders: K. Micks 1-67; J. Fitzpatrick 68; S. Mathews 69-81; J. Fitzpatrick 82-88; K. Micks 89-106; P. Shepherd 107-115; K. Micks 116; J. Fitzpatrick 117-156; P. Shepherd 157-200.

    Standings: 1. D. Kennington, 115; 2. J. Hathaway, 114; 3. J. Lapcevich, 111; 4. L. Dumoulin, 110; 5. S. Mathews, 107; 6. J. Fitzpatrick, 103; 7. M. Roy, 103; 8. N. Dowler, 102; 9. H. Vannini, 102; 10. P. Shepherd, 95.

  • Venturini Motorsports Survives Inaugural Event at Road America; Justin Boston Top Team Driver with 8th Place Finish

    Venturini Motorsports Survives Inaugural Event at Road America; Justin Boston Top Team Driver with 8th Place Finish

    Plymouth, WI (June 24, 2013) – Venturini Motorsports (VMS) and the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards turned thier attention to road racing this past weekend for the first of two scheduled road courses on the schedule. After nine oval races the team rolled into the majestic grounds of Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin ready to face the 14 twists and turns making up the 4-mile course.

    VMS once again entered four teams for the event led by drivers Justin Boston, John Wes Townley, Milka Duno and AJ Henriksen. With two days of practice prior to Saturday’s running of the Scott 160 event at Road America the drivers took to the course to help familiarize themselves and get comfortable with the highly technical course.

    With no road course experience between them, teammates Justin Boston and John Wes Townley spent time at Bondurant Driving School, a high performance road course driving school based in Chandler, Arizona prior to the event. Drivers AJ Henriksen and Milka Duno both with road racing experience have also had prior track time at Road America.

    Qualifying took place Saturday morning prior to the afternoon start.

    AJ Henriksen the most experienced road racer of the group was top qualifier of the group starting his No.15 Engineered Components Toyota from the 7th position on the starting grid. Scott Rookie of the year contender Justin Boston (No.25 ZLOOP Computer and Electronic Recycling Toyota) started in the eighth spot and John Wes Townley (No.55 ZAXBYS Toyota) and Milka Duno (No.35 Cantv-Milka Way Toyota) started in the 13th and 15th spots respectively.

    With virtually a full field of circle track stock car drivers the green flag dropped on the 40 circuit event at Road America. Even with inexperience (road course) of most drivers the race was run clean with only one incident bringing out a 4-lap full course yellow.

    Venturini drivers would maintain solid track position throughout the day but never threatened for the top spot.

    The race would be a two car battle between Chase Elliott and road course specialist Andrew Ranger for most of the day but on the final lap of the race the two made contact negotiating one of the final turns allowing Chris Buescher to sneak bye and take the checkered flag after riding in the top-10 most of the day.

    Next up for the ARCA Series is the ultra-fast Winchester Speedway on Sunday June 30th at 2PM EST.

    Drivers Brennan Poole and Kyle Benjamin will be back behind the wheel for Venturini Motorsports joining teammates Justin Boston and Milka Duno.

    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

  • INDYCAR NEWS AND NOTES – June 24, 2013

    INDYCAR NEWS AND NOTES – June 24, 2013

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

    1. Iowa affirms Andretti drivers among championship favorites

    2. Teams take on tests before off weekend 

    3. Inside the box score: Iowa Corn Indy 250 presented by DEKALB

     

     

    1. Iowa affirms Andretti drivers among championship favorites: The competitiveness of the IZOD IndyCar Series is reflected in seven teams represented in the top 10 of the championship standings and seven different drivers having won the 10 races.

     

    Andretti Autosport happens to have won half of the events as the season rolled to the second half with the Iowa Corn Indy 250 presented by DEKALB on June 23.

     

    Third-year driver James Hinchcliffe, who had never won on an oval, added that accomplishment to the two street course victories from earlier this year. He led teammate Ryan Hunter-Reay, who’s recorded the other two wins, to the finish line by 1.509 seconds through 250 fast and furious laps on the .875-mile track.

     

    It was the second consecutive year for an Andretti Autosport 1-2 finish, and the fourth successive year an Andretti Autosport driver has hoisted the gas pump trophy in Victory Circle. Overall, the team has won five of the seven races in the heart of Iowa.

     

    The magic, team owner Michael Andretti reveals, is in the details. Debriefings, engineering meetings, driver input and openly sharing data between the four – all the things conducted after the spectators leave the grandstands.

     

    “Getting information is very important, and you need to get good, accurate information, and you need to have information that you can trust,” Andretti said. “That’s what we have with all four cars that are out there running all the time. We are getting four cars of data, and the four drivers and four engineers all work together and trust each other, and so we are getting four times the work done than if you had one car out there.

     

    “I think that’s the biggest thing. I don’t think we have any tricks. It’s just good, hard work and good teamwork.”

     

    It’s paying off, with reigning series champion Hunter-Reay only nine points behind front-running Helio Castroneves of Team Penske in the drivers’ championship. Marco Andretti is third (-55 points) and Hinchcliffe vaulted five positions to fourth (-66 points). E.J. Viso, who earned his third consecutive top 10 on three distinctly different ovals, is 11th in the standings.

     

    “Hopefully all four continue to finish races and continue to get points,” Andretti continued. “Races like (Iowa) where Marco didn’t have a great car but he still came home ninth and got some important points, that’s what it’s going to take. I think one of them has a chance at winning the championship.

     

    “Having said that, guys like Helio, with his experience and everything, it’s going to be really difficult. He’s going to make it go right down to the wire. But it’s always nice to have more than one bullet in the gun, and right now we have three real legitimate shots at winning the championship.”

     

    2. Teams take on tests before off-weekend: Following eight consecutive weekends of on-track activity, there’s one more point of business for most IZOD IndyCar Series teams this week before personnel grab a few days off. Manufacturer/private testing is scheduled for three venues – two of which are approaching on the schedule.

     

    “Pocono is our next big challenge; we need to turn our attention to that and try and be as fast as we can there,” Graham Rahal, driver of the No. 15 Midas/Big O Tires car for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, said about the 2.5-mile oval where he and teammate James Jakes will log laps June 25. “That’s the goal right now.”

     

    Open Tests during the week leading into races at Pocono Raceway (July 4; race July 7), Mid-Ohio (July 31; race Aug. 4) and Sonoma Raceway (Aug. 21; race Aug. 25) also are scheduled.

     

    The Pocono INDYCAR 400 Fueled by Sunoco (noon ET on ABC) will be the first Indy car race on the triangular oval since 1989, and is the second leg in the Fuzzy’s Triple Crown that will award the winner of all three races on the superspeedways $1 million. Tony Kanaan, the Indianapolis 500 winner, has a leg up. If a driver wins two of the three (the third leg is the season finale at Auto Club Speedway on Oct. 19), they’ll receive a $250,000 bonus.

     

    “The more testing you can do, the better it is going to be for everyone on the team,” said Jakes, driver of the No. 16 Acorn Stairlifts car. “I think it was a good to change from Mid-Ohio to Pocono as we only have one test there before the race, and having never been there before it could take a little bit of learning. Also if the pre-race test is rained out then it could have been very difficult so, for me, it was a good decision.”

     

    June 25 at Pocono (closed to the public)

    Andretti Autosport (Marco Andretti, James Hinchcliffe, Ryan Hunter-Reay and E.J. Viso)

    Dragon Racing (Sebastien Bourdais and Sebastian Saavedra)

    Ed Carpenter Racing (Ed Carpenter)

    Panther Racing (Ryan Briscoe)

    KV Racing Technology (Simona De Silvestro and Tony Kanaan)

    Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (James Jakes and Graham Rahal)

    Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing (Josef Newgarden)

    Team Penske (Helio Castroneves and Will Power)

     

    June 25 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

    Dale Coyne Racing (Justin Wilson)

     

    June 26 at Sebring International Raceway

    Target Chip Ganassi Racing (Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti)

    Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing (Charlie Kimball)

     

    “It will be hot down there, which will be good for (street course races at) Toronto, Baltimore and Houston,” Kimball said.

     

    Also on June 26, Power will participate in a straight line test at the GM Proving Grounds in Milford, Mich., in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske car.

     

    Additionally, Simon Pagenaud and Bourdais will continue racing this weekend. Pagenaud will drive a Honda Odyssey in the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, while Bourdais will travel from Pocono to Watkins Glen, N.Y., to compete in the Grand-Am race at The Glen.

     

    “(Racing) is what I love to do,” said Bourdais, who will drive his motor coach from Iowa to Watkins Glen (with a stop at Pocono for testing).

     

    3. Inside the box score: Iowa Corn Indy 250 presented by DEKALB: Some numbers to note from the Iowa Corn Indy 250 presented by DEKALB, the 10th race of the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series season.

     

    1.23 – Average running position of race winner James Hinchcliffe during the 250 laps.

     

    2 – Consecutive front-row starts for Will Power … Consecutive Firestone Indy Lights wins for Sage Karam.

     

    3 – Wins for James Hinchcliffe since the start of the season, most of any driver … Positions gained by Ed Carpenter in the final 25 laps of the race.

     

    5 – Podium finishes for Sage Karam during the Firestone Indy Lights season.

     

    6 – Consecutive top-10 finishes for Helio Castroneves.

     

    8.55 – Average running position of second-place finisher Ryan Hunter-Reay during the 250 laps.

     

    9 – Points separating Helio Castroneves and Ryan Hunter-Reay in the IZOD IndyCar Series standings.

     

    10 – Positions improved by Ryan Hunter-Reay, the most gained in the race.

     

    30 – Laps that Ryan Hunter-Reay improved his position over the 250 laps of competition, most of any driver.

     

    48 – Wins as a car owner by Michael Andretti, which ranks fourth all-time among Indy car team owners. Andretti is third among Indy car race winners with 42.

     

    148 – Consecutive Indy car starts for Scott Dixon dating to the 2004 race in Michigan. Dixon ranks seventh on the all-time list.

     

    206 – Consecutive Indy car starts for Tony Kanaan dating to the 2001 CART race in Portland. Kanaan is second to Jimmy Vasser’s 211 straight starts.

     

    226 – Laps led by James Hinchcliffe, more than twice the number of laps he had led in his career entering the race (99).

     

    1,423 – Laps completed by Helio Castroneves. He is the only driver to complete every lap of every race.

    ***

    The next IZOD IndyCar Series race is the Pocono INDYCAR 400 Fueled by Sunoco on July 7 at Pocono Raceway. The race will be televised live at noon (ET) by ABC 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 Pocono 100 at 4 p.m. on July 6 at Pocono Raceway. NBC Sports Network’s coverage of the Sukup 100 from Iowa Speedway will be telecast  at 11 p.m. (ET) on June 28.

  • INDYCAR UPDATES APPROVED ENGINE CHANGE OUT RULE

    INDYCAR UPDATES APPROVED ENGINE CHANGE OUT RULE

    INDIANAPOLIS (Monday, June 24, 2013) – INDYCAR announced today that it has added a rule relating to engine failure during approved INDYCAR on-track testing to the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series rulebook.

     

    Rule 15.5.8 (Approved Engine Change Outs): An Engine that fails during a Team Test, Rookie Test, Engine Manufacturer Test or straight line test may be changed with an Engine from the pool without penalty. This Rule will not apply to Engine failures at Open Tests in Pocono, Mid-Ohio or Sonoma.

     

    Engine failures that occur during Open Tests will still be subject to Rule 15.6 (Unapproved Engine Change Outs). Open Tests in advance of IZOD IndyCar Series races will be held July 4 at Pocono Raceway, July 31 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and Aug. 21 at Sonoma Raceway.