Category: Other Series PR

July 12, 2012. Sun Peaks, BC – Last year at the A & W Cruisin’ the Dub 300 at MotoPlex Speedway local racer Jim White had a memorable return to action posting a top ten result.  Once again as the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series makes its annual visit to the track near Vernon, BC Jim White will get back in action piloting the #24 Sun Ridge Equipment Dodge Challenger.

Jim White has been away from the racetrack for some time to focus on his business, but when the opportunity came up to once again race with the premier series in the Country he couldn’t resist.  “I started thinking about it a few months ago” said White.  “I talked with my former Crew Chief Tyler Case who now works for Scott Steckly and it was Tyler who really made this happen and has prepped the car for this weekend” he added.

While this will be just the 6^th NCATS race White has participated in he has a wealth of experience and success.  Jim White is a former Super Modified Champion and a former CASCAR Champion and is anxious to build on last year’s result.  “Having worked with Tyler and knowing the equipment we’ll have for the #24 Sun Ridge Equipment Challenger I think we can have another great result” he stated.

Participating in this event wouldn’t be possible without the support of numerous parties.  In addition to Sun Ridge Equipment White will be backed by other local businesses.  “Its great how people have jumped on board with this effort” said White.  “JT White Trucking, Harrison Industrial and Norgaard Redi Mix have all pitched in to make this possible.  We wouldn’t be here without them”.

The race this Saturday will be another opportunity for Jim White to race against his brother Jason White, a full time competitor in the series.  “Jason and I had such a good time last year, I finished one position ahead of him and he’s going to want to beat me this year, but I’m going to do my best not to let that happen” said Jim White.

Racing action at MotoPlex Speedway begins with practice Saturday afternoon followed by qualifying at 5:15PM.  The on track autograph session with the drivers begins at 7PM and the green flag flies for the A & W Cruisin’ the Dub 300 at 8:15PM.

You can get the latest information about the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series at www.hometracks.nascar.com

RANDLEMAN, North Carolina (July 13, 2012) – – After battling through a variety of scenarios to finish a respectable 10th at Caraway (N.C.) Speedway last Wednesday night, NASCAR Whelen All-American Series (NWAAS) driver Ryan Wilson (@RyanWilson12) and his Ryan Wilson Motorsports (RWM) team resume racing action this Saturday night for a double-dose of 75 laps of competition at Southern National (N.C.) Motorsports Park (SNMP).

The Thomasville, North Carolina-based team will make just their fourth start at the historic short track this weekend but are in search of their second win of the season and first podium run since the team’s season debut at the 4/10-mile oval back in March. RWM, a family-owned operation has shown immense speed throughout the year.

Unfortunately, the team hasn’t always had the finishes to show for their performances as trouble has often snakebitten Wilson and his posse through 13 races this year. Still, the team has amassed eight top-fives and 12 top-10 finishes including a win at the team’s hometown track of Caraway on April 7.

“For the most part, our finishes have been good,” said Wilson, the 2010 fall winner of Richard Petty Driver Search II. “Together though, as a team at this point, we expect to be more than good, we really expect to be virtually unbeatable. We still can get there. I know there’s still a lot of racing to be had this season and we’re hoping that our trip back to Southern National will yield good luck and put our No. 12 Southern Pharmacy Services / Randolph Bank Toyota Camry back on the map.”

The avid race car driver continued, “I especially was disappointed with our 10th place run at Caraway on July 4. It was a special race for us having a unique paint scheme and all to celebrate our Country’s independence but we were plagued with some issues after qualifying and I wasn’t feeling the best. Still, no one ever gave up and we took the checkered flag and even gained some points on our competition – so it wasn’t too bad in the grand scheme of things. Saturday though, we’re looking to add some more top-fives and maybe even two wins to our credit – because I know that our RWM team is more than capable of pulling it off.”

When it comes to seeing the checkered flag in both feature events this weekend, the 20-year insisted that patience will be vital towards finishing near the front. “75 laps go by quick at SNMP,” he said. “So, it’s important that you qualify near the front and finish without tearing up the car but also keeping all of the other components in the race car intact. Kirk (Bryant, crew chief) and the guys have done an incredible job all season long with giving me extremely fast No. 12 Southern Pharmacy Services / Randolph Bank Toyota Camrys, so I’m eager to see what this weekend brings.”

Action begins at Southern National (N.C.) Motorsports Park on Saturday, July 14. Practice begins at 2:00 p.m. sharp followed by qualifying at 5:00 p.m. and racing by 7:00 p.m. that night. The team will take advantage of an open-practice on Friday, July 13 beginning at 4:00 p.m.

Join the team on Facebook by clicking here(Ryan Wilson Motorsports).

Tweet with Ryan Wilson through Twitter at @RyanWilson12.

For more on Wilson, RWM, sponsorship opportunities and the team’s 2012 event schedule, please logon to RyanWilsonMotorsports.com.

Sign on to the home of extra-mile banking of Randolph Bank by clicking on Randolphbank.com.

NEWTON, Iowa (July 11, 2012) – – For some, Friday the 13th ignites superstitions to their fullest potential but for Tom Hessert III (@TomHessert) it proposes the scenario and opportunity to roar his No. 52 Federated Auto Parts Chevrolet into victory lane at Iowa Speedway in the running of the Prairie Meadows 200.

Superstitious or not, Hessert returns to the track that brought him his first career ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards victory in 2010. Two years later, the Cherry Hill, New Jersey native is still in search for another victory but leans on the .875-mile paved oval as the right place to take Ken Schrader Racing (KSR) back to victory lane as well.

Rewinding back to July 10, 2010 – Hessert qualified on the outside pole before thrusting his race car into the lead virtually putting a whooping on the field by controlling the race for 126 of the events 200 laps. Last season, the 26-year old had high hopes for of backing up the victory but instead had to swallow one of his 13 top-10 finishes of the year after netting eighth at the finish line.

This weekend though, Hessert is reminded that the 11th race of the season will be run under the lights – the same conditions that propelled the former NASCAR Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series driver to his inaugural ARCA triumph and that could be bad news for the rest of the competitors.

“Iowa Speedway is a special place for me for obvious reasons,” Hessert remarked. “You never forget the place of your first victory – no matter what series it comes in. Since then though, we’ve been doing everything in power to put ourselves back in contention for another win. We’ve come close, real close but could never seal the deal. We’ll be racing on Friday night under similar race conditions from 2010, so hopefully the game plan that Donnie (Richeson, crew chief) and I will pay off big.”

When asked about his intuition of possibly winning twice in his fifth try at Iowa Speedway, Hessert commented, “Sometimes, the second victory is almost as big as the first. I can’t tell you how many races we’ve been in contention for over the last two years and something goes wrong and keeps it from becoming a reality. A couple weeks ago, we were sitting pretty and ready to take home the checkered flag at New Jersey but some overaggressive driving from other competitors kept that from happening.”

He continued, “New Jersey’s outcome was so frustrating – because we had such a great No. 52 Federated Auto Parts Chevrolet. Victory should have been ours – but again it was one of those things where obstacles out of control prevented that from happening. Friday night marks the start of the second-half of the season – so it’s no holds bar as far as we’re concerned and we feel like we’re coming with a setup similar to what we had in 2010, so that could spell danger for the rest of the competition.”

After 10 races, Hessert occupies sixth in the championship standings and has posted three top-fives and six top-10 finishes thus far in 2012.

Entering Iowa, Hessert has 93 career ARCA Racing Series starts. In those outings, he has maneuvered two poles, one win, 22 top-fives and 49 top-10s.

The Prairie Meadows 200 (200 laps / 175 miles) is the 11th of 20 events on the 2012 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The seventh ARCA race at the Rusty Wallace-designed racetrack is a one day show. Practice begins Friday, July 13 with an hour and a half session planned from 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. A final practice is scheduled from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Menards pole qualifying presented by Ansell is set for later in the day slated to begin at 4:30 p.m. The event will take the green flag under the lights shortly after 8:00 p.m.  The race will be televised live on SPEED with additional coverage including timing and scoring will be available through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com. All times are local (Central).

For more on Tom Hessert III, please visit tomhessert.com.

Hessert has joined the Twitter crave. Follow and connect with him @TomHessert.

NEWTON, Iowa (July 11, 2012) – – After a likely top-10 finish was derailed in the most recent ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards race at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP) a few weeks ago, Josh Williams (@Josh02Williams) and his Josh Williams Motorsports (JWM) return to the circuit refreshed and energized for Friday night’s Prairie Meadows 200 at Iowa Speedway.

The family-owned team is relying on a Ford Fusion that the team has nicknamed “Bertha” for their fourth top-10 finish of the season. The unique name for this race car doesn’t come without a story. At the tender age of 16, Williams began working on this automobile with then JWM crew chief Barry Owen and the duo built this machine from the ground up.

Williams, driver of the No. 02 Southwest Florida Cable Construction Ford Fusion utilized the machine last year at the .875-mile paved short track. After strong practice results lifted the spirit of the Port Charlotte, Florida native, he battled a loose racecar in qualifying which dropped the teenager in an unwanted position for the start of the race. Once the green flag dropped though, the No. 02 was on a mission. Like a jet with its afterburners at maximum power, the team quickly reached the top-10 only to be sidelined due to brake issues relegating them to a less than enthusiastic finish.

Still, dubbed as one of the best Ford Fusions in their fleet of nine cars, Williams will bring “Bertha” back to life for the first time in 2012 and hope for an eye-catching performance under the Friday night lights.

“Obviously, this is a special race car to me,” said Williams. “Barry (Owen) taught me a lot about the fundamentals of building a car, so if everyone thinks I’m a little overbearing to this car I feel like I have good reason to be,” he laughed. “In all honesty, it’s a strong car and we intentionally let it sit for this particular race. I feel that we had one of the strongest cars in the field last year, but circumstances beyond our control stopped us from showing that. From then, we’ve gone over Bertha with a fine tooth comb making sure she’s armed and ready for battle on Friday night.”

The Floridian added, “I like Iowa. Always have. It’s a short track that allows space to race but still put on a good show between the other drivers for the fans. Last year, it was incredibly, unbearably hot – but we raced during the day. This year, it’s a night race, so that’s a little bit of a soothing feeling but we also know that will affect the way we work on the race car throughout the day. We’ll practice and qualify during the day but I expect the track to change as night falls – so we just have to stay ahead of the game for that. Looking at the bigger picture, we’re just hoping for a nice rebound from New Jersey and put Bertha in the hunt.”

Not only will Williams unveil one of his favorite rides for the first official night race of the 2012 season, but the 18-year old will also sport a new helmet signifying his involvement with RAD (Racing Against Drugs). A slick Simpson helmet decked out in a stimulating and gasping design by Mooresville, North Carolina-based Shell Shock, Williams will wear the piece through the month of July before auctioning it off at the beginning of August with the proceeds being directly donated to the RAD program.

“This is something we’ve been putting together for a month or so,” Williams explained. “RAD is such a great program and their techniques really do help make you think before choosing a path you may not want to follow. I enjoy my affiliation with them and we hope to gain them some additional attention with our month long tribute.”

The Prairie Meadows 200 (200 laps / 175 miles) is the 11th of 20 events on the 2012 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The seventh ARCA race at the Rusty Wallace-designed racetrack is a one day show. Practice begins Friday, July 13 with an hour and a half session planned from 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. A final practice is scheduled from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Menards pole qualifying presented by Ansell is set for later in the day slated to begin at 4:30 p.m. The event will take the green flag under the lights shortly after 8:00 p.m.  The race will be televised live on SPEED with additional coverage including timing and scoring will be available through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com. All times are local (Central).

For more information on Josh Williams, his Josh Williams Motorsports team and sponsorship opportunities for the 2012 and 2013 seasons please connect to the team’s official website at Joshwracing.com.

Williams has joined the Twitter crave. Follow and connect with him @Josh02Williams.

No. 44 Ansell/ Menards Toyota Camry ARCA RACING SERIES – RACE 11 OF 20 – IOWA SPEEDWAY

For the seventh time in the track’s history, Iowa Speedway will host the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, this year on Friday the 13th. In the previous six events, Iowa has seen unpredictable races, results, and six different winners, including Frank Kimmel in 2007. Kimmel has been a model of consistency at Iowa, scoring finishes of 7th or better in the five most recent ARCA Racing Series events at the .875 mile oval.    Kimmel has been a player at each short track event thus far in 2012, scoring two runner-up finishes at Salem and Toledo. Chassis A-1 was the Ansell/Menards Toyota that the nine-time champ piloted to those season best finishes, and will race the same Thorsport Racing Toyota at Iowa this weekend. Kimmel has led laps at two of the last three short track races for a total of 61 laps, including two top five finishes (2nd – Toledo, 4th – Elko).

As the 2012 season has reached the halfway mark, Kimmel finds himself in the thick of the championship battle chasing a record tenth championship. Kimmel and team have made the most of tough days through the early portion of the year, and capitalized on opportunities with solid performances as well. This week, Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell is holding additional importance for the #44 Thorsport team. Five of the six Iowa race winners, including Kimmel, have started in the top four. Additionally, Kimmel can tie Iggy Katona’s all-time pole record of 43 poles in the ARCA Racing Series by setting fast time on Friday afternoon at 4:30 pmCT.

TOP TEN STREAK: Through six ARCA Racing Series races at Iowa Speedway, Kimmel has finished in the top ten in the last five events at Iowa, dating back to his win in 2007. Kimmel and the Ansell/Menards team began another streak of top tens after a 7th place at New Jersey Motorsports Park.

CLOSE TO THE RECORD: Kimmel can tie Iggy Katona’s all-time record of 43 pole awards this weekend during Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell on Friday afternoon at 4:30 pmCT. In addition, Kimmel’s 74 career wins is five behind Katona’s all-time wins record in the ARCA Racing Series.

POINTS REPORT: After 10 of 20 races, Kimmel sits third in ARCA Racing Series points at the halfway mark of the season, and trails point leader, Brennan Poole, by 160 points. Thus far, Kimmel has scored three top five finishes, and seven top tens.

 

IOWA PERFORMANCE: Since the inaugural event at Iowa in 2006 when he finished 32nd, Kimmel has scored a win and never finished worse than 7th in the following five races. Kimmel’s Iowa win came in 2007 when he led 94 of the 250 laps.

CHASSIS CHOICE: Kimmel will race Thorsport Racing’s A-1 chassis for this weekend’s Prairie Meadows 200. Chassis A-1 has been raced four times in 2012 at Mobile, Salem, Toledo, and Winchester.

THORSPORT AT IOWA: Thorsport Racing and driver, Matt Crafton, visited victory lane last summer at Iowa in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Thorsport’s #88 NCWTS team has been servicing Kimmel’s #44 Toyota on pit road all season long, and look to bring Thorsport and Menards back to Iowa’s victory lane for the second consecutive year.

IOWA MENARDS APPEARANCE: Kimmel will visit the Altoona Menards location on Thursday, July 12th, from 6-7:30 PM. Kimmel will sign autographs for fans while the #44 Ansell/Menards showcar will also be on display. The Altoona Menards location is at 370 36th Avenue SW Altoona, IA 50009.

 

THOUGHTS FROM THE DRIVER: Frank Kimmel

GIVEN YOUR TRACK RECORD, DOES IOWA FIT YOUR DRIVING STYLE MORE THAN MOST TRACKS? “I really like the racetrack. I think it’s the perfect size. It’s not so fast that aerodynamics is the most important thing, and it’s short enough that huge horsepower isn’t a necessity. Iowa is about the guy that makes the car handle well and get through the corner. The track has some bumps with it aging and it’s changed over time. We put pressure on ourselves to run well and we’ve had good luck there the past few years.”

DOES BRINGING A PROVEN CHASSIS GIVE YOU ADDITIONAL CONFIDENCE? “I’m really excited take chassis A-1 there. We’ve been using it on most of the short tracks this year and has run very well each time out. We’ve got a lot of time and laps in the car, so we have a good history on it. The entire team works really hard on preparing the car and we have a good understanding of it too. I do have a lot of confidence taking that car to the racetrack, and know that there will be a good setup under it.”

WHAT WOULD TYING THE ALL-TIME ARCA POLE RECORD MEAN? “It would be very important for myself, as well as the team. We’re continuing to learn about each other and what to do to the racecar each week. I think it would show how much we’ve made strides with our racecars I’m working on qualifying better every race. A pole would be a great shot in the arm. Tying the record would be great, but it would be satisfying to show that we’re a team capable a winning poles and races every week.”

 

Race Info

July 13th, 2012 Iowa Speedway

.875 Mile Tri-Oval

Prairie Meadows 200 200 Laps/175 Miles

Broadcast Info:

Live Timing & Scoring at ARCARacing.com

Friday July 13:

Practice – 10:30AM – 12 Noon CT

Final Practice – 1 – 2PM CT

Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Menards – 4:30 pmCT

Race – 8 pmCT – LIVE ON SPEED

Team Facts:

Current Driver Point Standings: 3rd

Chassis: A-1 (Recently Raced at Winchester – 11th)

Engine: TRD (Toyota Racing Development) & TRIAD

Frank Kimmel ARCA RACING SERIES results at Iowa Speedway:

WINS: 1

POLES: 0

Top 5s: 2

Top 10s: 5

Total Appearances: 6

 

ABOUT MENARDS: With 263 stores in 13 Midwestern states, Menards has the tools, materials and supplies for all your home improvement needs whether just needing a light bulb or can of paint to building a deck or new home.  Menards is known throughout the home improvement industry as the low price leader; it’s no wonder their famous slogan – “SAVE BIG MONEY” – is so widely known and easy to remember.  Menards does things right – the company’s strength and success can be seen in the well-stocked and maintained stores, the lowest prices in town and the way guests are always treated like family in a hometown hardware store atmosphere.

ABOUT ANSELL: Ansell is aglobal leader in protection solutions, with operations in North America, LAC, EMEA and Asia-Pacific.  Ansell designs, develops, manufactures and markets a wide range of surgical, examination, industrial and household gloves, protective clothing and condoms. People in over 100 countries around the world put their trust in Ansell’s innovative, high-quality solutions to offer superior protection, combined with high levels of comfort and performance.   Ansell holds its operational headquarters in Red Bank, NJ, USA and its parent, Ansell Limited, is registered  in Melbourne, Australia. Worldwide, the group employs over 10,000 people in 33 countries. In its Fiscal Year 2011, Ansell achieved sales of USD 1.2 bn. For more information visit www.ansell.com, www.safetypro.com,www.activarmr.com and www.ansellconstruction.com.

Concord, NC (July 03, 2012) — The storyline leading up to the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards “All American Race Weekend” event at New Jersey Motorsports Park was mostly focused around the annual road course event and how Venturini team drivers would adapt to the unfamiliar track configuration.

For team Venturini however the focus would unexpectedly shift gears before the weekend even started. Just like any other constant in life, our world is made up of a series of ever changing events, which cause us to adapt and overcome obstacles thrown our way.

This was evident Saturday morning just after midnight when Mother Nature set her sight on the Mid-Atlantic States delivering a direct blow to southern New Jersey in form of a rare storm, known as a Derecho – a straight-line wind storm that sweeps over a large area of land at high speed with little warning.

The freak storm hit the team’s hotel in Vineland, New Jersey around 1:00am knocking out power and causing wide-spread damage with hurricane strength winds estimated at 90-100 mph.

Even though the visible effects left in the wake of the storm’s path was obvious, it was the unseen loss of electricity that highlighted the strength of the storm as extreme temperatures left many with nowhere to hide from the near 100 degrees temperatures plaguing the area.

The undesirable temperatures parlayed with the lack of power and air conditioning offered little refuge for those seeking the basic comforts typically taken for granted. While some team members relocated to hotels in the Philadelphia area (60 miles away) the majority of the team stayed behind and rode it out making the best of the situation.

Once the weather related disruption subsided the team was able to get back to business, focusing on the rare road course event at New Jersey Motorsports Park. Venturini Motorsports unloaded Saturday morning with four drivers ready to take on the 2.3 mile sidewinder offered up at Thunderbolt Raceway.

Brennan Poole, ARCA’s Championship point’s leader at the mid-way point in the 2012 season, made his first career road course start driving his No.25 Country Music Artist – CJ Solar Band backed Toyota. Poole, who struggled to find his rhythm during practice, found himself in foreign territory on the road course yet managed to turn in a respectable 11th place qualifying effort.

Resigning to the fact his road course inexperience would be a major hurdle to overcome for his bid to claim his third series victory of the season, Poole relied on his mild manner to stay calm and focused on his primary weekend goal of gaining experience and completing all 67-laps of the scheduled event. His game plan proved to pay dividends as the leading Rookie finished a team high 6th position and claimed his 8th top-10 finish of the season maintaining his series points lead.

Leading the way in practice and qualifying for Venturini Motorsports was 23-year old Kevin Swindell (No.55 Curb Records Toyota) from Germantown, Tennessee. Although a relative newcomer to the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, Swindell is considered to be one of the top rated driver prospects in the country, widely known for his remarkable three consecutive Midget National victories at the famed Chili Bowl in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Swindell, who qualified fourth for Sunday’s race, relied heavily on his diverse driving background. He jumped out early as he’s done in his previous three 2012 races, positioning his Curb Records sponsored machine among the leaders turning consistent fast laps around the 2.3 mile course.

However, in bizarrely coincidental fashion to his other previous career ARCA starts, Swindell’s chances evaporated due to circumstances out of his control when a lap car off the pace slammed into his car as the leaders were in line navigating their way around the track. Once again he found himself out of contention and questioning when his stock-car luck would change for the better. After several trips to pit road for repairs, Swindell was able to limp home and salvage a 19th place finish.

South American driver, Nelson Canache, wheeling his No.15 Venezuelan Tourism Ford entered the weekend as the only Venturini driver with extensive road course experience. As a two-time Venezuelan driving champion, Canache has spent nearly his entire career turning right. His cumulative stock-car career to date consists of several 2011 late model starts for Lee Faulk Racing and just ten races in the ARCA series this season with Venturini Motorsports.

Still getting comfortable driving his 3,400 pound stock-car, Canache was able to use his familiarity and claim his career best ARCA qualifying effort with his 8th place start.

Teaming up with veteran crew chief, Keith Hinkein, Canache showed balance as he displayed a comfort level unseen yet on the ovals this year. Highlighting his talent, Canache showed discipline and drove the best race of his young ARCA career. Running in the top-10 most of the day, Canache made it all the way up to the fourth position before giving back the positions on lap 55 of 67 during a late race, single car yellow flag pit stop to address a front end suspension issue that plagued his car’s handling performance.

Although disappointed with the outcome, Canache was still able to earn his best career finish crossing the stripe in the 12th position. Rounding out the field of Venturini entries this past weekend was ARCA veteran driver, AJ Henriksen from Elgin, Illinois driving his No.66 Engineered Components Chevrolet. Henriksen qualified 20th, advancing two positions for an 18th place finish.

This was Henriksen’s second start for Venturini in 2012. Earlier this year at Pocono Raceway, Henriksen qualified 12th and finished 8th during his season debut. Henriksen’s career best finish came in 2003 at Charlotte Motor Speedway where he finished second.

Sunday’s 150-mile road course event at New Jersey Motorsports Park’s Thunderbolt Raceway was just the 16th road event in ARCA’s 60-year history. The road race and diversion from the typical oval track competition along with two series events on the dirt at the Illinois State Fairgrounds and the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds later this summer make the ARCA Racing Series the most diverse national touring racing series in the country.

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

INDIANAPOLIS (Monday, June 25, 2012) – INDYCAR announced today that the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series schedule will remain at 15 races.

INDYCAR was exploring a potential replacement event after it announced June 13 that its inaugural race in China, scheduled for Aug. 19, had been canceled.

“After carefully considering all possible options for an additional race, we felt it was in our best interest to keep our schedule at its current 15-event lineup,” said Randy Bernard, CEO, INDYCAR. “We want to make sure that when we add events to our roster they have long-term potential and are given every opportunity to be successfully promoted. The more we explored, the more we felt like we were rushing what could be good, long-lasting opportunities for the sport.

“I thank all of the promoters who entertained the possibility of hosting the IZOD IndyCar Series this season. It certainly validated what we already knew – there’s a lot of interest from venues across North America in hosting our sport.”

Series entitlement sponsor IZOD, a Heritage Brand in the PVH Corp. portfolio, supports the decision to cap the 2012 schedule at 15 events.

“As the entitlement partner of the series, we agree that it is in the best interest of the series to focus on a long-term strategy for the future schedule instead of a quick fix for this year,” said Mike Kelly, Executive Vice President, The PVH Marketing Group.

The 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series season finale will be held Sept. 15 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. Officials announced today that the race distance will be extended to 500 miles. Auto Club Speedway last played host to a 500-mile Indy car race in 2002, which was won by Jimmy Vasser.

“We wanted to do something special to enhance the excitement to the season finale and renew the tradition of 500-mile open-wheel races in Southern California,” said Bernard. “We think it’s something our fans will enjoy and adds another element to what is already shaping up to be an exciting championship battle.”

INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, June 26, 2012) – INDYCAR, the sanctioning body of the IZOD IndyCar Series, announced today a penalty following post-race technical inspection June 23 of the Iowa Corn Indy 250 at Iowa Speedway.

The No. 77 entry of Schmidt Hamilton Motorsports driven by Simon Pagenaud has been fined $5,000 for not complying with Rule 14.7.2.

14.7.2 Fuel System (Updated March 15, 2012 via Bulletin)

The maximum capacity of the fuel cell shall be 18.5 U.S. Gallons.

INDYCAR officials determined that the discrepancy in the size of the fuel cell had no impact on the race result of the No. 77 car.

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.

INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, June 27, 2012) – Push to pass will return to the IZOD IndyCar Series for the five remaining road/street course events on the 2012 schedule, beginning with the Honda Indy Toronto on July 6-8.

The overtake assist feature, introduced to the series in 2009, allows a driver to add turbocharger boost and additional RPM with the press of a button on the steering wheel to complete a pass.

“It will be similar to what it was in the past because we know that model worked,” said Will Phillips, vice president of technology, INDYCAR.

The additional boost is added for a pre-determined amount of time which will be determined by INDYCAR depending on the circuit. The sanctioning body will also determine the total amount of time available, recharge time and any delay in the system prior to each activation, though the engine manufacturers may adjust the settings below the requirements to optimize their engine’s performance.

Push to pass will not engage until a certain throttle position is reached and will disengage if the driver lifts or presses the button again.

As part of the introduction of push-to-pass, the base turbocharger boost level will decrease to 150 kPa. When the system is engaged, the boost increases to 160 kPa on the 2.2-liter V6 engines supplied by Chevrolet, Honda and Lotus.

Teams will have the opportunity to test the system during the event weekend on the streets of Exhibition Place before the Honda Indy Toronto.

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

[media-credit name=”IZOD IndyCar Series” align=”alignright” width=”287″][/media-credit]1. Franchitti nominated for ESPY Award

2. Day, Belardi part ways

3. Yacaman meets president of Colombia

4. Breeden joins INDYCAR staff

5. Webb to participate in Goodwood Festival

1. Franchitti nominated for ESPY Award: Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti is one of four champion racers nominated for best driver at the 2012 ESPY Awards.

The three-time Indianapolis 500 and four-time IZOD IndyCar Series champion winner is joined by NASCAR champions Tony Stewart, Formula 1 champion Sebastien Vettel and NHRA champion Del Worsham in the category which will be awarded July 11 in Los Angeles.

On May 27, Franchitti became the sixth driver to win the Indianapolis 500 for a third time. In 2011, Franchitti earned his third consecutive IZOD IndyCar Series championship and fourth overall.

The ESPYS will be hosted by actor/comedian Rob Riggle and televised live (9 p.m. ET, ESPN). Voting for the award is underway at ESPN.com/ESPYS.

2. Day, Belardi part ways: Belardi Auto Racing and Alon Day have mutually decided to cut short their Firestone Indy Lights program together. Both parties remain content and respectable for the efforts made by all those involved and parted company on amicable terms.

A decision was made soon after qualifying for the Sukup 100 in Iowa last weekend, and the No. 9 car was withdrawn from Saturday’s race. A replacement driver for the No. 9 entry will be announced in the coming days.

“It is very unfortunate that we could no longer continue our business relationship with Alon,” said Brian Belardi, team owner of Belardi Auto Racing. “We very much appreciate all of Alon’s hard work and time with the team and wish him the very best in the future. He is a talented young man, and we expect to see him succeed wherever he goes.”

Day, the first Israeli to ever compete in open-wheel racing on American soil, completed six races and acquired four top-10 finishes for Belardi Auto Racing. He acquired his highest finish at Barber Motorsports Park with a sixth place finish back in April.

“Alon shall be taking no further part in the 2012 Firestone Indy Lights Championship with Belardi Auto Racing,” a representative for Day said. “We are truly grateful to all the guys at Belardi Auto Racing for making Alon’s transition over to the USA smooth and comfortable. Alon plans to keep in touch with Brian and the team and wishes them all the very best of luck with their future endeavors.”
3. Yacaman meets president of Colombia: Before he traveled to Iowa Speedway for what was to be his second podium finish of the season, Firestone Indy Lights driver Gustavo Yacamán traveled to his home country of Colombia for a very special meeting.

Yacamán met with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, fulfilling his commitment to personally thank the President for the country’s support of his career.

“I want to thank you for your time and give gratitude for the support that I have thanks to the efforts of Colombia Brand and Coldeportes,” Yacamán said. “The changes in the global economy have transformed the racing world. Your support has been vital to continue my steps towards professionalism. I am very proud of my country.”

The meeting, held at Casa de Nariño in the Emerald Hall, was a pleasant conversation between President Santos and Yacamán. The President congratulated him on his promising career, thanking him for the excellent example he gives to the youth of the country. He also stressed the importance of representing Colombia throughout his career.

Yacamán told President Santos all about his current season and the great work being done this year to reach the pinnacle of open-wheel racing in the U.S., the IZOD IndyCar Series.

Yacamán has four top-five finishes this season and has finished in the top 10 in all seven races so far. His win at the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix street circuit on June 2 was his second career Firestone Indy Lights win.

“It is a pride for the country to have an ambassador like him around the world, it is important to highlight the great work done in this sport and how it has led Colombia to the top of the podium,” President Santos said. “Yacamán’s charisma and dedication is an example and is important to recognize.”

Crepes & Waffles, a private company that sponsors Yacamán’s career, received the thanks of the President and Colombia Brand for their great support.

“We are very proud to be Gustavo’s sponsor,” said Crepes & Waffles representative Beatriz Fernandez. “His message with the sport and his youth are fully identified with us. Our philosophy and our image are very well represented by this young driver.”

4. Breeden joins INDYCAR staff: Matt Breeden, a respected attorney and business advisor, has joined INDYCAR as Vice President of Business Affairs.

Breeden will help lead development of strategic and business plans for INDYCAR, sanctioning body for the IZOD IndyCar Series, Firestone Indy Lights and the Mazda Road to Indy driver development ladder as well as oversee and monitor sanction agreements and contracts between INDYCAR and its partners.

“Matt’s experience and background in racing as well as his reputation as an attorney makes him an ideal fit for INDYCAR,” said Randy Bernard, CEO INDYCAR. “I’m confident that our partners and promoters will learn what we already know, that he is a valuable addition to our team.”

Breeden served as Vice President & General Counsel for Champ Car World Series LLC, where he managed all of the legal affairs for Champ Car, as well as the Toyota Atlantic Series, Trans-Am Series and certain other affiliated entities. He also served as counsel during the unification of open-wheel racing under the INDYCAR banner. He joins INDYCAR from his own private practice – Breeden Legal.

“There was not much that would entice me to leave my law practice, but when the opportunity to work at INDYCAR reared its head it was one of those things I couldn’t pass up,” Breeden said. “I’ve been around Indy car racing my entire life and this position matches up with my skill set very well. I’m really looking forward to helping INDYCAR grow.”

5. Webb to participate in Goodwood Festival: Oliver Webb will take advantage of the off weekend to participate in the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England.

The Sam Schmidt Motorsports driver will race the BAC Mono, a lightweight, high-performance, street-legal single-seat supercar, up the hill during the famed event, the largest car culture event in the world.

“Very very excited to race the @DiscoverMono up the Famous hill of @fosgoodwood this weekend!” the 21-year-old Englishman tweeted on June 26.

Webb, who is seventh in Firestone Indy Lights points, has been a test driver for the Mono, which made its public debut at last year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed.

***

The 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series race continues with the Honda Indy Toronto on July 8 at the Streets of Toronto’s Exhibition Place. The race will be televised by ABC at 12:30 p.m. (ET) and broadcast by the IMS Radio Network on SiriusXM (XM 94 and Sirius 212). The next Firestone Indy Lights race is the Toronto 100 on July 7 on the Streets of Toronto’s Exhibition Place. The race will be televised by NBC Sports Network at 5 p.m. on July 12.