Category: Other Series PR

MARTINSVILLE, Va. (October 3, 2012) – Any concerns about the new format for the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300 at Martinsville Speedway on October 21 were dashed during Wednesday’s practice session for the prestigious NASCAR Late Model Stock car race.

More than 85 teams showed up for the practice day, countering the notion the new all-heat race formula to set the field would keep them away.

At the end of the day, some familiar names were at the top of speed charts, with a few fresh faces mixed in.

Former Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300 winner and four-time national champion Philip Morris had the fastest speeds of the day, topping the chart at 92.493 mph (20.473 seconds). Kris Bowen and Jeff Oakley weren’t far behind him at 92.420 mph and 92.411 mph respectively around the .526-mile oval.

Mike Looney of Roanoke was fourth fastest in a Chevrolet, followed by former national champion Peyton Sellers, also in a Chevrolet.

Despite sitting atop the speed chart, Morris wasn’t totally happy with his car.

“It was an up and down day … that’s the way it always is here at Martinsville,” said Morris, who is from Ruckersville. “You make big swings and sometimes you go the wrong way and sometimes you go the right way. By the end of the day today, I felt like we had pretty good balance in the car, though.”

Lee Pulliam, the defending Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300 champion who recently captured the NASCAR Whelen All-American national championship, ran among the leaders all day, but thinks he has to find a little more speed before the race on October 21.

“We tried a lot of different things, different combinations,” said Pulliam, who won 22 out of the 36 races he started this season. “But I think we found a happy balance for the race car. There was a lot of experimenting going on today to figure out where we need to be when we come back. I think we have a good idea, but we still have a little more work to do before we come back.”

For the first time the starting lineup will be determined solely from heat races. There will be four heat races on October 21, with the top eight finishers in each race advancing to the 150-lap feature. For the first time, the remaining 10 spots in the 42 car field will be filled through a 50-lap last-chance race, open to any cars which aren’t already in the field.

“I think it’s going to make for some exciting racing for the fans,” Pulliam said of the new format. “I think sometimes you need change to re-energize things. It’s the same for all of us. We just have to adapt to conquer it. However it is, it’s Martinsville. It’s still just as cool to win. It’s the most fun place we run.”

There are two big weekends of action coming up at Martinsville Speedway, the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300 on October 21 and the TUMS Fast Relief 500 weekend Oct. 26-28. Tickets for all of the fall events are on sale and may be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX or by visiting www.martinsvillespeedway.com online.

TOLEDO, Ohio – October 3, 2012) – The ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards will make its first appearance at Road America in Wisconsin next summer, ARCA officials announced today.

This morning, ARCA received from the track a sanctioning agreement that ensures the scheduling of the stock car series’ first event at the 14-turn, 4.048-mile road course between Milwaukee and Green Bay on Saturday, June 22, 2013.

“ARCA Racing Series road course events have proven to be highly entertaining and competitive, while also opening our level of competition to different racers and teams,” said Ron Drager, president and CEO of ARCA. “Planning an event at Road America ensures that ARCA will continue its position as the most versatile sanction in stock car racing. We look forward to adding Road America to our road course history. Likewise, we will soon announce the date for our sixth consecutive annual event at New Jersey Motorsports Park, which will give us multiple road course races in the 2013 season.”

Opened on over 640 acres of Wisconsin farmland in 1955, Road America hosts over 400 events each year. The track, located near the popular tourist destination of Elkhart Lake, Wis., will be the 10th different road course to host the ARCA Racing Series since the series’ first road race in 1958.

“We are very excited to have the ARCA Racing Series at Road America in 2013,” said Road America president and general manager George Bruggenthies. “Our track is fast and challenging, with sweeping corners followed by heavy braking. Every driver loves the elevation changes and the layout, which has remained unchanged since it was first built. You’ve got to have finesse to be quick, but also guts to get through the Carousel and the Kink – one of the most intimidating corners in the world. We are also excited to be providing non-stop racing action throughout the weekend with the NASCAR Nationwide Series and Trans-Am Series. It will be awesome to watch all these racers and experience all the sights, sounds, and thrills that stock car racing brings to a road course.”

Recently, the ARCA Racing Series announced its renewal of a partnership at Mobile International Speedway in Alabama for a Saturday, March 9 event. Additional race dates for the 2013 season will be released shortly.

[media-credit name=”Jim Clarke” align=”alignright” width=”400″][/media-credit]By Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications – You can take the boy out of Peterborough, but it’s hard to take the ‘Peterborough’ out of the boy.  With the biggest racing event of the year – the 20^th Annual Autumn Colours Classic, presented by Lucas Oil Products at Peterborough Speedway – just days away, Josh Gruntz thinks it would be the perfect time to score the first open wheeled modified feature race win of his freshman season.

“I used to watch this race as a kid, but even though it’s my home town and the track is about 15 minutes from my house, I’d never raced there before this year,” said Gruntz.  “It’s a tight little bullring and you really need to be on your toes.  So much can happen in a hurry and when you’re running the modified in a close pack, you can easily get caught-up in someone else’s problem.”

The 30 year-old pipefitter’s rookie campaign in the new division has been split between the Techtonix Series, based atCanadianTireMotorsportParkand OSCAAR’s inaugural open wheeled touring shows.  Events at the former Mosport oval helped Gruntz build his confidence and accumulate some solid set-up notes, while the road trips gave him laps at different tracks he’d heard about, but had never seen throughout the year.  The driver says running with both groups wasn’t an easy choice to make, but was the best option for his development as a racer looking to gain experience with a new car.

“There was so much that I needed to learn.  Getting experience, whenever and wherever I could was my primary goal,” said the driver of the #31 Maple Key Landscape/SB Cleaning Service/Ultimate Car Care machine.  “About halfway though the season, I really started to feel comfortable in the car and managed to pick-up a qualifying event win at Peterborough Speedway Sunday, August 19^th with the OSCAAR modified tour.”

The equipment Josh Gruntz will take into battle during the 3 day, late season extravaganza is a proven piece on the 1/3^rd mile oval.  At the end of last year, after 2 years running a Thunder Car at Kawartha, Gruntz purchased the machine that Tyler Hendricks steered to victory lane during the 2011 edition of the Autumn Colours Classic.

Peterborough Speedway owner/promoter J.P. Josiasse says that the pit area at the track will be open Thursday night (October 4^th) for any teams interested in claiming a weekend spot.  Pit gates open all 3 days at 10:00.  Friday, October 5^th, practice rounds start at 1:00 and racing at 6:00.  Saturday, October 6^th, practice begins at 1:00 and racing at 3:30.  Sunday, October 7^th is a full day of feature race action beginning at 12:30.

For more information on the 20^th Annual Autumn Colours Classic – presented by Lucas Oil Products – October 5^th, 6^th and 7^th at Peterborough Speedway, see www.peterboroughspeedway.com.

Photo attachment:  Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications

Peterborough’s Josh Gruntz is looking forward to running his #31 modified during the 20^th Annual Autumn Colours Classic – October 5^th, 6^th and 7^th – at Peterborough Speedway.

Prepared by:  Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications

TALLADEGA, Alabama (October 2, 2012) – – T3R Racing and driver Bryan Silas will promote upcoming and future races at Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway this weekend at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway with their No. 99 Ford F-150 in Saturday’s fred’s 250 Powered by Coca-Cola.

Next year’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) event at the historic 1.0-mile oval will adorn the hood of the team’s entry while next month’s the Classic 3 Championship presented by RCR Racing Museum will accompany the truck bed.

The second-annual Rockingham Speedway 200 is set for Sunday, April 14, 2013 while the Classic 3 Championship consisting of the UARA-STARS Late Models, NASCAR K&N Pro Series East (NKPSE) and the Frank Kimmel Street Stock Nationals will roar to life next month on Saturday, November 3.

“It’s been a long road back since we bought this race track in 2007,” said Rockingham Speedway president Andy Hillenburg. “There were a few times along the way where I wasn’t sure we were going to make it. But when I looked up in the grandstands during driver introductions in April, it made me extremely proud. That was a very important day in the history of Rockingham Speedway, but it was just one step on the road. We’re moving forward, and I look forward to packing the grandstands next month and again next April.”

Stuart, Florida native Bryan Silas nearly echoed Hillenburg’s sentiments.

“We’re excited to promote some great racing coming to Rockingham Speedway,” he said. “The track is embedded with a lot of race history and memories. It’s an awesome feeling to know that “The Rock” is going to be the home of some great season finales that will give them momentum heading into the 2013 racing season. Hopefully we can have a good race on Saturday afternoon to help boost the awareness of the races.”

The fred’s 250 Powered by Coca-Cola (94 laps / 250.04 miles) is the 18^th of 22 races on the 2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series tour. The lone practice session of the weekend is set for Friday, October 5^th from 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Qualifying is set for later in the day set to launch at 4:10 p.m. The field will take the green flag on Saturday, October 6^thshortly after 3:00 p.m. with live coverage on SPEED, the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Satellite, Channel 90). Pre-race coverage of the contest lifts off at 2:30 p.m. also on SPEED. All times are local (Central).

For more on Bryan Silas please visit, BryanSilasRacing.com.

New Castle, Ind.—Oct. 3, 2012— Each year Tracy Hines circles a few select midget races on his calendar. A couple have historic significance and prestige, while others are high-paying events. The Gold Crown Midget Nationals at Tri-City Speedway in Pontoon Beach, Ill., has elements of both. While in just its fourth edition, the event is quickly becoming a must-see late season event for midget fans from coast-to-coast, and the three-day contest also pays ones of the largest purses of the season for a midget race.

Hines opens the 4th DuPont Gold Crown Midget Nationals in his Parker Machinery Toyota-powered midget on Thursday, Oct. 4, with a full night of racing, including a preliminary feature. Another complete racing program is set for Friday, Oct. 5. The three-day event culminates on Saturday, Oct. 6, with a 50-lap, $10,000-to-win A-Feature. The Gold Crown Midget Nationals will again be sanctioned this year by the USAC Mopar National Midget Series.

“The Gold Crown Midget Nationals are definitely one of the biggest midget events of the year,” said Hines. “It’s great to have a high-paying race like this toward the end of the season. There is always a very strong field of cars at the event, so you have to be on your game and race as hard as you can each time you hit the track.”

Last season Hines was fifth in the preliminary feature on the first night of the Gold Crown Midget Nationals, with a stout 54-car field in attendance. He opened the night by finishing fifth in the fifth eight-lap heat race, coming up just one spot short of transferring to the main event. He would win the B-main to earn a spot in the 25-lap preliminary feature.

On the second night at Tri-City Speedway last year Hines raced his way from the C-main all the way into the A-Feature, eventually finishing 11th in that 25-lapper. The native of New Castle, Ind., came home third in the first B-main during the finale of the Gold Crown Nationals to earn a spot in the 50-lap main event on Saturday night, where he would place 13th.

“Heat races are pretty important in an event like this,” he noted. “With a bigger field, you have to finish in the front few spots to transfer, so there isn’t much time to be patient, especially if you are starting toward the back of a heat. The heats and consolation races provides some of the best racing all night, as everyone battles for a spot in the main event.”

In 2010, the native of New Castle, Ind., finished 11th in the opener of the Gold Crown Midget Nationals and was seventh on the second night. Both of those preliminary features were 25 laps in distance. Hines wrapped up the second edition of the marquee event in 2010 with a ninth-place showing in the 50-lap main event.

The 2009 Gold Crown Midget Nationals were rained out and not rescheduled. Hines recorded a 13th-place finish in the weekend finale of the inaugural Gold Crown Midget Nationals in 2008. He also raced on the former half-mile at Tri-City Speedway in a midget, scoring a win at the historic track in 2003.

“We have a handful of midget races left this year and we definitely want to pick up another win or two,” said Hines. “I won on the half-mile at Granite City a long time ago, and it would be great to add another to that this weekend. It’s always been a fast track, even since they reconfigured it, and we have a good set-up for the bigger, wide open tracks.”

Last weekend the veteran driver competed in a pair of sprint car events in his home state of Indiana. On Friday, Sept. 28, Hines finished eighth at Gas City I-69 Speedway, piloting the No. 24 Parker Machinery/Turbine Inc./Support Esophagus Cancer Stanton Mopar DRC. He competed with the USAC Amsoil National Sprint Car Series on Saturday, Sept. 29, at Lawrenceburg Speedway, where he also finished eighth in the MP Environmental DRC.

Hines enters the 2012 Gold Crown Midget Nationals second in the USAC Mopar National Midget Series championship standings. He has scored three wins this season, including at Dodge City Raceway Park in Kansas, which is a three-eighths-mile dirt oval, similar to Tri-City Speedway. Hines also took the checkered flag first on the pavement at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indiana twice, including in the famed Night Before the 500.

Tracy Hines Racing would like to thank: Parker Machinery, AFCO Racing Shocks, Bell Race Gear, FatHeadz, Kenny’s Components, Race Bumpers, Rod End Supply, Schoenfeld Headers and Stanton Racing for their continued support.

For more information on Tracy Hines Racing, including a complete 2012 schedule, visit http://www.tracyhinesracing.com. Follow Tracy on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/TracyHinesRacin.

Kansas City, KS (October 3, 2012) — Brennan Poole, by one measure, has been the best speedway driver this season in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards. Today, the 21-year-old showed the way in testing at Kansas Speedway.

Poole, testing his No. 25 Venturini Motorsports Toyota on the 1.5-mile oval, finished with the best lap of the morning session, and then the afternoon session as well, to lead a group of 28 entries that made laps throughout the day.

At 29.954 seconds (180.276 mph), Poole’s best morning lap was the only one to break 30 seconds, but one of 16 to go faster than Ken Butler III’s existing track qualifying record of 30.799 seconds (175.33 mph), set in 2008. Poole led the afternoon session – and therefore, the full day – with a late lap of 29.733 seconds (181.616 mph), helping him top Frank Kimmel, Kevin Swindell, Grant Enfinger, and Alex Bowman. Kimmel and Bowman are both past Kansas winners.

As was the case at Pocono Raceway and Michigan International Speedway earlier this season, new pavement at Kansas made for times much faster than any seen before. When all was said and done for the day, the top 20 of 28 entries on the board today were faster than Butler’s 2008 ARCA qualifying record at Kansas.

Poole’s No. 25 car will enter the Kansas Lottery 98.9 on Friday, October 19 with a 95-point advantage in the Hoosier Tire Superspeedway Challenge over ThorSport Racing’s No. 44 car, driven by Kimmel. Of six speedway races this year, Poole has won one, at Pocono in June.

In the sixth spot for the day was NASCAR Camping World Truck Series veteran Matt Crafton. He was followed by Ryan Reed, ARCA points leader Chris Buescher, Mason Mitchell, and Matt Lofton.

The full listing of best times and speeds for each entry is available below.

The Kansas Lottery 98.9 will be the final race on the 2012 schedule, but not the next one. The DuQuoin State Fairgrounds dirt in Illinois will host ARCA on Sunday, October 14 in a makeup of a rained-out race from Labor Day weekend.

ARCARacing.com will feature live timing and scoring coverage throughout the day, and ARCA Racing Network hosts Charlie Krall and Tim Clagg will deliver a live audio call for the 3 p.m. ET (2 p.m. local) race on the site.

Five days later – on Friday – the season will close at Kansas, with race action starting at 8:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. local) on SPEED. ARCARacing.com will also feature live timing and scoring coverage for the season finale.

About Venturini Motorsports 
Venturini Motorsports (VMS), fielding cars in the ARCA Racing Series, is one of the premier NASCAR driver development programs in the country. The 2012 season marks the team’s 30th Anniversary of competition in the ARCA Series. 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, Steve Arpin, Brian Scott, Max Gresham, Miguel Paludo, Josh Richards, Ryan Blaney, and Scott Lagasse, Jr.

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

(Phoenix, Ariz.) – Three-time boxing world champion Fernando Vargas can add another title to his long list of honors. Vargas has been named Honorary Pace Car Driver for the inaugural NASCAR Mexico Toyota Series race at Phoenix International Raceway on Friday, March 1.

“We are honored to have Fernando Vargas as our Honorary Pace Car Driver for the debut of the NASCAR Mexico Toyota Series,” said Phoenix International Raceway President Bryan R. Sperber. “We know he will bring a lot of energy to this event and the fans will be tremendously excited to see him in person.”

As honorary pace car driver for NASCAR Mexico Toyota Series’ debut on U.S. soil, Vargas will rev up the crowd by leading the field to the green flag on their inaugural trip around PIR’s famed 1-mile oval. He will also work with PIR officials and the NASCAR Mexico Toyota Series team to help welcome fans, drivers, and competitors to Phoenix for the landmark event.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the field to the Green Flag at the first NASCAR Mexico Toyota Series race at PIR and see my Arizona fans,” said Vargas. “Truly another crowning moment in my life where I’m careful to give all the praise to my maker Jesus Christ. I look forward to seeing everyone in March.”

Vargas, also known as ‘El Feroz’ or ‘Ferocious’, has enjoyed a successful career as a Mexican/American professional boxer. He holds a 31-5-22 professional record and also won a bronze medal as an amateur at the 1995 Pan American Games

About Phoenix International Raceway

Since 1964, Phoenix International Raceway has served race fans as the premier motorsports venue in the Southwest. Watch the Semi-Final Race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup at PIR on Sunday, Nov. 11. Tickets for the entire Nov. 8-11 NASCAR event weekend at Phoenix International Raceway can be purchased online at PhoenixRaceway.com/Tickets or by calling 1-866-408-RACE (7223). For more information, visit PhoenixRaceway.com, Facebook.com/PhoenixRaceway and Twitter.com/PhoenixRaceway.

[media-credit id=4 align=”alignright” width=”266″][/media-credit]By Clayton Johns (@cjohnsmedia) – Fraserville, ON – Gary McLean (#8 McLean Industrial Design Chevrolet) won his seventh OSCAAR Modified race of the inaugural 2012 campaign in the tour’s only stop at Kawartha Speedway. The race, originally scheduled for June 1, was rescheduled four times previously due to inclement weather before finally being run on Friday night without the threat of inclement weather.

Davey Terry (#14 Wasteco/Castrol Canada/Brennan Haulage Toyota) earned his second consecutive runner-up finish to McLean, while Justin Demelo (#82 EMCO Waterworks/CAT Toromont/Demar Aggregates Chevrolet) rounded off the podium.

Brent McLean (#7 Bowmanville Home Building Centre/Pro FX Signs/McLean Farms Chevrolet) finished fourth and Justin Jones (#77j Union Cab Chevrolet) completed the top-five.

Gary wrestled the lead from polesitter Demelo in the early stages of the race to lead the most laps before making the trip to Knightworks Design victory lane for the seventh time of the season.

With the win, Gary grows his lead in the championship standings with just one race remaining over cousin Brent.

In the rookie-of-the-year standings, Terry extended his lead over Tim Burke (#99x Lynval Contracting Chevrolet) by finishing as the top rookie. Burke would end the night in the 12^th.

The OSCAAR Modifieds are back in action for their final event of the inaugural 2012 tour on Friday night for the first round of qualifying at the 20^th annual Autumn Colours Classic. The second set of heats will run Saturday afternoon before the finale 50-lap feature to close out the season and crown the firs champion. For information on gate and start times, please visit www.peterboroughspeedway.com .

OSCAAR Modifieds

Friday, September 28, 2012 – Kawartha Speedway

Results: Kawartha 25

1. #8 Gary McLean; 2. #14 Davey Terry; 3. #82 Justin Demelo; 4. #7 Brent McLean; 5. #1b Brad Pearsall; 6. #31 Josh Gruntz; 7. #99x Tim Burke; 8. #77s Brian Strawn; 9. #47 Brian McLean; 10. #46 Darren Kearnan; 11. #77j Justin Jones; 12. #79 John Harper; 13. #65 Bill Burrows; 14. #51 Adam Adams (DNS).

Klotz Synthetics Heat Race Winners: #8 Gary McLean; #82 Justin Demelo

Updated championship standings to follow at modifieds.oscaar.ca

[media-credit id=4 align=”alignright” width=”266″][/media-credit]By Clayton Johns (@cjohnsmedia) – Fraserville, ON – Brandon Watson (#9 Shear Metal Products/Royal Distributing/Barrie Frame and Alignment/Knightworks Design Chevrolet) took advantage of his pole starting position as he lead all 75 laps en route to victory at the 14^th annual Don Biederman Memorial. Watson survived late race challenges from Rob Clarke (#49 London Mechanical/Melcher’s Contruction/HRP/Cars by Clarke Chevrolet) to claim his third victory of the season and grow his lead in the championship standings.

Watson was followed across the line by Clarke and John Owen (#2 DRV Quality Masonry/Owen Performance Engines Chevrolet) to complete the podium.

Charlie Gallant (#40P South Shore Services/East Point Marina Chevrolet) and Derrick Tiemersma (#7  Wayfreight/Spira Fire Protection Chevrolet) rounded out the top-five.

There was guaranteed to be a different winner in the 2012 edition of the event asfive-time defending race winner Jeff Hanley was not in attendance to challenge for a sixth Biederman title.

Watson becomes the eighth winner in the event’s 14 race history. The win is also Watson’s third on the 2012 tour.

The race had serious implications in the championship standings as contenders George Wilson (#77 Port City Racecars/Morollo Racing Engines/Let the Fur Fly Pet Salon Ford) and Glenn Watson (#22 Rival Office Solutions/Race2way.ca/Williamson Uxbridge/Shane Michaels RV Chevrolet) both suffered DNFs, allowing Brandon to grow his lead.

Jesse Kennedy (#10 Bev’s Auto Body/Cameron Crane/Quality Collision/GRE Chevrolet) entered event 10 of 11 on the tour with a 10 point lead in the Rookie-of-the-year standings. As the second highest finishing rookie, Kennedy extended his lead in the rookie standings over Paul Law (#72 Midas of Orangeville/Ron Little Trucking Chevrolet) to an unofficial 12 points. The most points a rookie driver can claim in a single event is five. As a result, Kennedy has secured the 2012 Rookie-of-the-year title with one race remaining.

The OSCAAR Super Late Models are back in action for their final race on the 2012 schedule at the 20^thedition of the Autumn Colours Classic at Peterborough Speedway. Qualifying heat races for the Super Late Models will take place on Saturday afternoon before the final 50-lap feature event of the season on Sunday afternoon. Please visit www.peterboroughspeedway.com  for gate and start times.

OSCAAR Outlaw Super Late Models

Friday, September 28, 2012 – Kawartha Speedway

Results: 75-Lap Don Biederman Memorial

1. #9 Brandon Watson; 2. #49 Rob Clarke; 3. #2 John Owen; 4. #40P Charlie Gallant; 5. #7 Derrick Tiemersma; 6. #27 Roy Passer; 7. #45 Mark Dilley; 8. #13 Gary Passer; 9. #10 Jesse Kennedy; 10. #54 Mike Beyore; 11. #04 Rudy Oppersma; 12. #5 Quinn Misener; 13. #05 Brad Corcoran; 14. #69 Mike Bricknell; 15. #29 Shawn Chenoweth; 16. #77 George Wilson (DNF); 17. #72 Paul Law (DNF); 18. #83 Ian Bourque (DNF), 19. #42 Tyler Hawn (DNF); 20. #03 Shane Maginnis (DNF); 21. #51 Dave Taylor (DNF); 22. #63 Jim Bowman (DNF); 23. #22 Glenn Watson (DNF).

Klotz Synthetics Heat Race Winners: #22 Glenn Watson, #49 Rob Clarke, #77 George Wilson

Updated championship standings to follow at oscaar.ca