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Category: Other Series Racing

Other series racing

  • Dario Franchitti Leads First Practice For MoveThatBlock.com Indy 225

    In the first practice at New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the MoveThatBlock.com Indy 225 on Thursday, Dario Franchitti led the way with a lap of 21.5665 seconds (171.099mph).

    “My first order of business today was to learn the track and the first run felt good,” Franchitti said. “It is definitely a lot easier to learn a place when the car is doing what you want it to. I think we are in good shape now and we will be chasing the track a little bit. We’ll see if we can continue this form into the weekend.”

    His lap is only a tenth off of the record at New Hampshire, which was set by Andrew Riberio in 1995 at a lap of 21.466 seconds. Ribeiro is now the manager for series driver Ana Beatriz.

    Franchitti’s Ganassi teammate Scott Dixon was in second (21.6204 seconds), followed by Graham Rahal (21.6644).

    “The car felt good today,” Dixon said. “We struggled at the beginning of the day with a few set-up changes we had to go through. Traffic is chaotic here because it seems like some cars are very slow and you catch them fast. So must of the challenge is dealing with that. We spent a lot of time on working on the race car and I feel pretty comfortable now. The Target cars were quick today and so was Graham (Rahal) so we are in good shape for now but we will see what happens Saturday and Sunday.”

    KV Racing Technology-Lotus teammates Tony Kanaan (21.7368) and Taku Sato (21.7713) rounded out the top five. The top 10 in the 27-car lineup were separated by less than four-tenths of a second.

    “We had a pretty solid day today,” Kanaan said. “We took our time to go out in the morning practice, but we were fast right away and kept improving the car during the afternoon run. I think that there are some minor tweaks that we can try on Saturday before qualifying to see if we can get the car a little bit faster, but overall I’m happy with how the day went.”

    “It was a good first day,” Sato said. “We ran a lot of miles and I learned a lot.  This track is quite unique, but we were up to speed very quickly and worked on various things.  It was a very productive day.”

    During the session, Pippa Mann made significant contact with the wall, however was cleared to drive for the rest of the weekend by medical staff.

    “We worked very hard throughout the morning on making the car better and the RLL guys made some really good changes to the car that felt like they were going to help us,” she said. “We found some grip and some stability and were working on gathering speed over the bumps when we had our incident. I am disappointed but I know that the whole team will work very hard to get everything where we need it to be for Saturday’s qualifying!”

    The race on Sunday August 14th marks Team Penske’s 1,300 start in open-wheel racing and Helio Castroneves is set make his 200th career Indy car start for the team.

    “Our Guidepoint Systems Team Penske car still needs a little something,” he said. “We me made a lot of changes today and we learned a few things. Now we just have to sort through the data and take the next step. We will be ready to go on Saturday.”

    There are two practice sessions Aug. 13 prior to two-lap qualifications with no practice planned for Friday August 12th.

  • Faces of Vietnam Veterans to Grace Army NASCAR, NHRA Cars

    FORT KNOX, Ky. (Aug. 12, 2011) – The U.S. Army, in conjunction with Stewart-Haas Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Don Schumacher Racing in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, will run special paint schemes honoring the 50th anniversary of the start of the Vietnam War on the Soldiers’ race cars during Veterans Day weekend.

    In honor of these Veterans’ service and sacrifice, selected photos will be featured on the hood, trunk, side panels and bumpers when Ryan Newman gets behind the wheel of the No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet at the Nov. 13 Kobalt Tools 500k NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway. Tony “The Sarge” Schumacher’s U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster will don the custom paint scheme when he straps in at Pomona, Calif., for the Nov. 13 Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals.

    Beginning today, Vietnam Army Veterans, along with their families, friends and loved ones, can go online and submit photos of the men and women who have embraced the call of duty and helped build and protect our country at www.goarmy.com/yourphotohere. All Vietnam Veterans shown in uniform are eligible for inclusion among the photos in the special paint scheme. Images will be collected through Sept. 16.

    “What a cool way for us to say ‘thank you’ and honor the Vietnam Veterans,” said Newman, a 15-time NASCAR Sprint Cup race winner. “History tells us that many who served in Southeast Asia were not properly recognized upon their return. It will be our sincere privilege to commemorate the Army Strong Vietnam Soldiers who fought bravely for democracy.”

    For seven-time NHRA champion Schumacher, driving the U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster is always a powerful reminder of what it means to be Army Strong.

    “It’s truly inspiring to represent our Soldiers who served in Vietnam,” Schumacher said. “Many of the Vietnam Veterans are drag-racing fans who grew up at the height of the muscle-car and hot-rod era. We see many Vietnam Vets at our NHRA races, and that’s why this paint scheme will carry a special meaning for our U.S. Army team.”

    The special paint scheme will serve as an extension of Veterans Day (Nov. 11) when, as a country, we honor and remember the heroism, courage and dedication displayed by our Veterans. While the nation remembers the service of its Veterans, the millions at home and at the track watching Newman and Schumacher will get a chance to see some of the faces who represent true heroes.

    “Every time these guys drive with the Army colors, they represent the more than one million men and women who proudly serve our nation,” said John Myers, Director, Strategic Communications and Outreach, U.S. Army Accessions Command. “For these races, with these paint schemes, we pay tribute and say thank you to our Vietnam heroes as well as all past and present Soldiers and their families. Each picture, each face, is a reminder of the sacrifice and service of the millions who have made our Army strong and our nation free.”

    About U.S. Army Accessions Command

    The U.S. Army Accessions Command (USAAC), a subordinate command of U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, meets the human resource needs of the Army by transforming volunteers into officers, warrant officers, and enlisted Soldiers. In providing the force, the 18,400 men and women of Accessions Command prepare these future Soldiers and leaders for their initial military training. Commanded by Lt. Gen. Benjamin C. Freakley, USAAC is located at Fort Knox, Ky.

  • Wallace and Beggarly in tight battle for Gibbs ASA National Championship

    Wallace and Beggarly in tight battle for Gibbs ASA National Championship

    DAYTONA BEACH, FL (Wednesday, August 10, 2011) – For the second week in a row, Chrissy Wallace is the leader in the Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil ASA Member Track National Championship standings. Wallace’s sixth place finish in the Late Model feature last Saturday night has tightened up her lead over Barry Beggarly. But Shelby Stroebel’s win last Saturday could bring him into the hunt.

    [media-credit name=”Tim Berrier” align=”alignright” width=”224″][/media-credit]Wallace She started 13th and finished sixth in the feature event on Saturday night. She only has a 15-point lead over Ken Dickinson in the Late Model standings at Lebanon I-44 Speedway in Lebanon, MO. She has a national average of 4.2506.

    Barry Beggarly finished fourth after a wild feature event last Friday night.
    He only has a two-point lead over Jason York in the Late Model standings at Ace Speedway in Altamahaw, NC. Beggarly is second overall in the national standings with an average of 4.2320.

    Shelby Stroebel has a comfortable points lead in the ASA Modified division at Meridian Speedway in Meridian, ID. He is focused on what it will take to win the National Championship as he picked up another feature win this past Saturday night. He is third overall with an average of 3.8027 and will continue make a charge to the front until the finale on September 25, 2011.

    Wayne Webb moved ahead of David Flynn in the Late Model Sportsman standings at Newport Motor Speedway in Newport, TN. His lead is only two points over Flynn and has a 12-point lead over Zack Franks. Webb has a national average of 3.7578. One side note, if Flynn were in the lead at Newport, he would be third overall in the national standings with an average of 3.8109.

    Mike Reichenberger holds a four-point lead over Dillon Kralovetz in the Late Model standings at Norway Speedway in Norway, MI. Reichenberger is fifth in the national standings with an average of 3.3211.

    Michael Hale opened up his point lead over Tyler Whetstone from 5 to 29 points after their feature event this past Saturday night. Hale has a national average of 3.1669.

    Ryan Stiltner had his win streak stopped this past weekend in the Charger division at Lonesome Pine Raceway in Coeburn, VA. He has fewer events on record at this time as the top-five but could catch up, as they will have more events coming up this month and next month. He has a national average of 1.9560.

    Mark Mackesy also has fewer events on record then his fellow ASA Member Track point leaders. He continues to lead the point standings in the Late Model division at State Park Speedway in Wausau, WI. His national average is 1.9206.

    Mother Nature has not been good to Randall Wilhorn, the current Late Model point leader at Marshfield Motor Speedway in Marshfield, WI. Their last two events have been rained out. He continues to have a national average of 1.8371.

    Mark Shackleford finished second in the Super Late Model feature this past Saturday night at Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino, CA. He rounds out the top-ten with an average of 1.4055.

    “This is going to be very interesting to watch over the next seven weeks as our ASA Member Tracks who started later will be catching up with their events and champions are being crowned,” Dennis Huth, ASA President said. “Many of our competitors are close to reaching the 14 event mark which could drastically change the look in the standings. We set up the National Championship average to be precise when at least 14 events are on record. All of their events will count towards the National Championship, but reaching 14 events will give us an honest look at who could get the opportunity to tryout with Joe Gibbs Racing.”

    Fans can look at their favorite driver statistics by visiting SpeedNetDirect.com’s Championship Insider at www.championshipinsider.com. It is a free membership site, sign up today!

    Drivers from participating ASA Member Tracks across the United States have chosen one of their divisions as their premiere divisions. Those drivers in the premiere division, who are ASA members in good standing, will compete at their ASA Member Track to first win their track championship. Once they accomplish that goal, they will then be matched up against the other premiere division champions to determine the National Champion.

    ASA has once again teamed up with speednetdirect.com to create a proprietary point system that is much like a batting average in baseball. Some of the factors used to create an average are wins, number of cars passed, finishes, car count, and number of events. No one knows what has more of a factor over another.

    Race fans and competitors can follow the standings on www.speednetdirect.com. The opening page shows the current track point leaders that would be eligible for the National Championship if it ended today. The East and West Region standings give a complete listing of all of the drivers participating this season.

    Past National Champions are Cary Stapp, Thunderhill Raceway (2008), Tommy Cloce, Adirondack Speedway (2009), and Bryan Wordelman, Rocky Mountain Raceways (2010).

    Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil, sponsor of the American Speed Association National Short Track National Championship, is the same oil developed and used by Joe Gibbs Racing. The team sells the oil so racers across the country can have access to the latest technology in racing lubricants.

    Joe Gibbs Racing is one of the premier organizations in NASCAR, currently fielding three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams, two NASCAR Nationwide Series teams and a driver development program. Based in Huntersville, N.C., and owned by Joe Gibbs – a three-time Super Bowl champion as head coach of the Washington Redskins and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame – JGR has competed in NASCAR since 1992, winning three Cup Series championships and more than 80 NASCAR races, including three Brickyard 400s and the 1993 Daytona 500.

    The ASA Member Track program sanctions dirt and asphalt short tracks along with road courses around the United States, as well as a variety of regional and national touring series. For more information call (386) 258-2221, or send an email to info@asa-racing.com. The latest news and information from all the racetracks and tours involved in the ASA can be found by visiting www.ASA-Racing.com.

    JOE GIBBS DRIVEN RACING OIL
    ASA MEMBER TRACK NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
    (As of 8/10/11)

    1. Chrissy Wallace (Lebanon I-44 Speedway) – 4.2506
    2. Barry Beggarly (Ace Speedway) – 4.2320
    3. Shelby Stroebel (Meridian Speedway) – 3.8027
    4. Wayne Webb (Newport Motor Speedway) – 3.7578
    5. Mike Reichenberger (Norway Speedway) – 3.3211
    6. Michael Hale (Rocky Mountain Raceways) – 3.1669
    7. Ryan Stiltner (Lonesome Pine Raceway) – 1.9560
    8. Mark Mackesy (State Park Speedway) – 1.9206
    9. Randall Wilhorn (Marshfield Motor Speedway) – 1.8371
    10. Mark Shackleford (Orange Show Speedway) – 1.4055

  • Tomas Scheckter To Fill In For Justin Wilson at New Hampshire

    Dreyer and Reinbold Racing General Manager Larry Curry announced that Tomas Scheckter will be filling in for Justin Wilson, behind the No. 22, in the MoveThatBlock.com Indy 225 this weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Scheckter has 116 IndyCar Series starts, including two victories and 44 top 10 finishes, most recently the Indianapolis 500 this year. He has made 14 starts in the past with Dreyer and Reinbold Racing.

    “Even though we get that extra run time there Thursday (practice day), we have to cut to the chase fast,” Curry said. “We know him and he knows us, and it will take him only two or three laps to know what he needs out of the car and how we can adjust it.

    “It was more of a choice based on who was available and who we had a relationship with. That was pretty simple actually.”

    Wilson will miss New Hampshire after suffering a stable burst fracture of the fifth thoracic vertebra during practice at Mid-Ohio on August 6th. Wilson was release from an Indianapolis hospital on August 9th.

    “Obviously, I have a little bit of a backache, but I’m just frustrated to not be at the racetrack,” Wilson said. “I think that we just started to get our season turned around and the car was really good at Mid-Ohio and I’m disappointed about that. I know that I’m going to miss the ovals and I think we’ve found some good stuff that was going to help our oval performance.

    “So I’m just disappointed to not be the car, but my back is the most important thing. I’m going to try and get that to heal and get back to 100 percent as soon as possible and get back in the car. Also, the response has been incredible and it’s really nice to see that rather it’s on Twitter from the fans, or drivers and ex-drivers. Everyone has been really supportive, so thank you to all of them.”

    IndyCar medical director Dr. Michael Oliger says Wilson will be treated with a back brace and be out for at least three months. Curry said that team co-owners Dennis Reinbold and Robbie Buhl haven’t selected a driver for the races past New Hampshire. The schedule includes three road/street courses and two ovals after New Hampshire.

    “We are talking about a lot of things on how we want to approach the rest of the year with the three road courses,” Curry said. “The next time we see our trucks in Indy will be after Labor Day, and then we only have four days to have the stuff ready for Japan. So we have to make some decisions quickly for the Infineon test.”

  • Robin Buck Conquers GP3R 100 at Circuit de Trois-Rivieres in the rain

    Being a road course instructor has it perks as Robin Buck was able to use those skills on his way to dominating the GP3R 100 at Circuit de Trois-Rivieres on Sunday. This marks the second win of the season for the driver from Campbellville, Ontario.

    Buck quickly made his way to the front, passing L.P. Dumoulin on lap six and led the rest of the event on the 1.53-mile temporary street course. Dumoulin was able to take the lead early in the going on lap two when pole sitter Andrew Ranger made a pit stop due to not having good visibility. Ranger was able to work his way back through the field and finish in second after winning the three previous races at Trois-Rivieres.

    The event saw two cautions as the first was for J.R. Fitzpatrick and Dave Thorndyke making contact on lap 11, followed by a second caution at lap 35 for debris. The second caution set up a green-white-checkered finish in the 40 lap race, in which Buck was able to hold off Ranger.

    Points Leader Scott Steckly finished third after solidly running in the top 10 throughout the entire the race following a 20th place finish in Saskatoon. Jeff Lapcevich finished fourth, followed by Dumoulin, Jason White, Derek White, John Farano, DJ Kennington and Dave Connelly. With his finish of third, Steckly extended his points lead to 47 points over Kennington.

    The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series is in action next on Saturday, Aug. 20 for the NAPA Autopro 100 at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

  • Dillon Takes Third Straight Win in Pennsylvania 125, Gives RCR 2011 Sweep

    Dillon Takes Third Straight Win in Pennsylvania 125, Gives RCR 2011 Sweep

    Ty Dillon Takes Third Straight Win in Pennsylvania 125, Gives Richard Childress Racing 2011 Sweep at Pocono

    (LONG POND, Pa.) – Following a season-low 11th-place finish at Berlin Raceway on July 9, Ty Dillon’s focus has centered on putting a bad day – by his standards – behind him and aiming for the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards championship. He continued a scorching streak this morning in the Pennsylvania ARCA 125, giving Richard Childress Racing a sweep for the year at the 2.5-mile Pocono Raceway.

    Dillon (No. 41 RCR/CIPT Chevrolet) led the final 34 laps of a 50-lap shootout, and held off teammate and June winner Tim George Jr. (No. 31 Applebee’s/Potomac Family Dining Group Chevrolet) to win by 0.833 second. Dillon’s win was his series-leading seventh of the season and his ninth in 16 career starts.

    Following his wins in Iowa and Indianapolis in the last three weeks, Dillon became the first driver to win three consecutive races in the ARCA Racing Series since Parker Kligerman won four in a row two seasons ago.

    “Since we unloaded here at Pocono, I’ve had the same feeling I had at Iowa and Lucas Oil Raceway,” said Dillon, who became the 30th different driver to win in the ARCA Racing Series at Pocono. “I was really confident in the race car right after qualifying. Even though we qualified second, I knew we had a piece that could win again. We’ve had such a great year and been so patient as a young team that just got put together. (Crew chief) Scott Naset’s done an awesome job of preparing these race cars.

    “Getting seven wins in any series is such an accomplishment, and three in a row is incredible.”

    Dillon’s ninth win ties him with five other drivers for 33rd on ARCA’s all-time win list. He now leads Grant Enfinger (No. 36 Hoosier Tire Midwest/RaceTires.com Dodge) atop the series standings by 410 points with six races remaining.

    Menards Pole Award presented by Ansell winner Max Gresham (No. 25 World Crown 300 at Gresham Motorsports Park) started quickly, moving to a 0.586-second lead over Dillon and the rest of the field by the conclusion of the first lap. Running 13th to start Lap 2, Tom Berte (No. 35 CGS Premier/Stay Tuned Customs Chevrolet) lost control and made contact with Kyle Martel (No. 43 Hanover Cold Storage/Finish Line Express Chevrolet).

    The crash set off a multi-car incident that also sent Brent Brevak (No. 3 Brevak Racing Dodge) and Brandon Kidd (No. 7 Brioschi Chevrolet) reeling, and Buster Graham (No. 59 Batter’s Dream/Dodge) skidding toward a retaining guardrail on the infield. Just before he would have contacted the wall, Graham’s car struck a paved path and launched over the rail. The car spun and came to a rest inside the guardrail after sliding through grass, with the car’s rear end resting on the top of the barrier.

    After approximately 20 minutes of review under the yellow flag to ensure that no drivers were seriously injured and to clear the race track, the field drove to the green flag again to start Lap 14. Gresham opened a short lead yet again, but Dillon looked to the inside and passed for the lead as he and Gresham drove into Turn 3 on Lap 17. Dillon led the lap by 0.372 second, and extended that advantage by nearly a half-second by the next trip past the start/finish line.

    With Chad Hackenbracht (No. 58 Tastee Apples Chevrolet) passing Casey Roderick (No. 08 Randy Hill Racing Ford) for third behind him on Lap 20, Gresham narrowed Dillon’s advantage.

    By the time Chad McCumbee (No. 1 ModSpace Ford) followed around Roderick for fourth and Chris Buescher (No. 17 David Ragan Ford/Reliance Tool Ford) did the same for fifth, Dillon had built his advantage back to nearly one second.

    After falling back, Roderick elected to pit to close Lap 25, sending him off of the lead lap at the race’s halfway point. Though Gresham edged his nose to Dillon’s tail, Dillon continued to lead. Just after Robb Brent (No. 6 Eddie Sharp Racing Toyota) passed Buescher for fifth, James Hylton (No. 48 Radon.com Ford) slowed to a stop on the grass just inside the track between the first two turns. Dillon led by 0.623 second as the race’s second caution flag flew.

    Dillon, Gresham, and the other leaders pitted to close Lap 28. Those two drivers left the pits first and second, and Tom Hessert (No. 52 Federated Auto Parts Chevrolet) exited third.

    The green flag flew on Lap 32, and trouble struck right away. Roderick, running one lap down, spun after contact from Gresham in Turn 1. The incident yielded the race’s third caution flag, and during the caution period Gresham and Hackenbracht elected to pit.

    Dillon cleanly led the field through the Lap 36 restart. Behind him, Buescher and George passed Brent to make a run at the third spot. However, as Lap 36 closed, Nick Igdalsky (No. 23 Fox Realty Chevrolet) contacted Michael Leavine (No. 95 WRL Construction/Royal Purple/Conroe Welding Chevrolet), causing Leavine to spin. Just behind Leavine, Gresham just missed the crash. Frank Kimmel (No. 44 Ansell/Menards Ford) also narrowly avoided being involved, driving just to the inside.

    Dillon led Hessert, Buescher, George, and Brent when the green flag flew for the final time at Lap 40, and there would be no catching the rookie points leader. Buescher passed for second one turn after the green flag and looked inside Dillon, but Dillon maintained control, leading the first green lap by 0.364 second.

    George passed Buescher for second on the next lap, and it was his turn to set his sights on his teammate. Dillon’s lead grew back to one second, however. Though he could not truly pull away from George over the final 10 laps, he maintained his advantage and drove to Victory Lane for the seventh time in 2011. George finished second for his seventh top-five finish of the year, and Buescher was third – his ninth top-five of 2011.

    Hessert ended the race fourth, a season high, and Enfinger scored his third top-five in the last four races.

    Gresham completed his day in sixth place, and he was followed by Hackenbracht, Brent, Ryan Wilson (No. 32 Champion Oil Toyota), and Kimmel in the top 10.

    The race finished in one hour, 11 minutes, and 47 seconds, at an average speed of 104.481 mph. The four caution flags slowed the race for a total of 24 laps. After being scheduled to run Saturday afternoon, the race was delayed until just after 10:15 a.m. today by heavy rain in eastern Pennsylvania. ARCA teams took the track after the conclusion of the postponed NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race.

    With 13 pavement races down, the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards will move to the dirt in two weeks, as the series next races in the Allen Crowe 100 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Ill. Twenty-eight previous ARCA races have been contested on the dirt mile, and nine-time ARCA Racing Series champion Frank Kimmel is the all-time win leader in Springfield with seven wins between 2000 and 2008.

    Practice begins at 9 a.m. on Sunday, August 21, and will last for one hour. Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell is scheduled for 11 a.m., and the 100-lap, 100-mile race will start at 1 p.m. ARCARacing.com will feature live audio and timing and scoring coverage. All times are Central.

    The race will be the 14th of 19 in the 2011 ARCA Racing Series season.

    The ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards features 19 events at 16 tracks on its 2011 schedule. The series has crowned an ARCA national champion each year since its inaugural season in 1953, and has toured over 200 race tracks in 28 states since its inception. The series tests the abilities of drivers and race teams over the most diverse schedule of stock car racing events in the world, annually visiting tracks ranging from 0.4 mile to 2.66 miles in length, on both paved and dirt surfaces as well as a left- and right-turn road course.

    Founded by John Marcum in 1953 in Toledo, Ohio, the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) is recognized among the leading sanctioning bodies in the country. Closing in on completing its sixth decade after hundreds of thousands of miles of racing, ARCA administers over 100 race events each season in two professional touring series and local weekly events.

  • Dave Blaney’s Son Ryan Plans on Being NASCAR’s Next Generation Ambassador

    Dave Blaney’s Son Ryan Plans on Being NASCAR’s Next Generation Ambassador

    Ryan Blaney is not just NASCAR Cup driver Dave Blaney’s son. The seventeen year old up and coming driver hopes to be NASCAR’s ambassador to the next generation of stock car racing fans.

    [media-credit name=”Photo Credit: Ryan Blaney Racing” align=”alignright” width=”216″][/media-credit]The young Blaney has gotten his career off to a pretty good start, scoring a second place finish in just his second ARCA start at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis this past weekend.

    Blaney, behind the wheel of the No. 15 Seal Wrap Chevrolet for Venturini Motorsports, was good as soon as he arrived at the track. He was also able to hold his own with some of the ARCA Series regulars, including Richard Childress talent and grandson Ty Dillon, who he battled for the win.

    “We were decent off the trailer,” Blaney said. “We qualified second into the race and in the early part of the race, I thought we had the best car.”

    “We would have had some rubbing going on for me to get by Ty,” Blaney said of his battle with eventual race winner, Ty Dillon. “So, I was happy to finish second and see that I can really run with those guys in the series.”

    “Overall it was a pretty good weekend for us.”

    Although still quite young, in fact so young that he cannot yet run many of the tracks on the ARCA Series schedule, Blaney has progressed steadily up the racing ranks. He started racing quarter midgets at the age of eight and then moved up to Bandeleros, Legends and Late Models.

    But this year, with his father’s advice and counsel, young Ryan decided to do something different and move to a heavier car in preparation for the next step in his career.

    “Me and my dad were talking and saying that we think it’s time to move up and try to get into heavier cars,” Blaney said. “He really wanted to prepare me.”

    “The worst thing that can happen is to jump in a car when you’re not ready and look bad,” Blaney continued. “We made sure that I had enough experience to really go out there and look good. I think we timed it just right.”

    “Next year I’m hoping to run a Truck and being full-time in a Truck would be awesome,” Blaney said. “If not, we will try some Truck and ARCA races to get as much experience as I can.

    “This is really what I want to do and what I have a passion for,” Blaney continued. “My dad has put so much time and money into me that I’d be disappointed in myself if I didn’t make it worth it.”

    “And I’m trying my very hardest to make it and pay him off some day.”

    Does the young driver feel pressure, especially in light of his father’s Cup career? Not on your life according to Ryan Blaney.

    “I don’t really feel pressure at all,” Blaney said. “If anything, it motivates me even more to be like him and actually try to be better than him.”

    “He’s never pushed me and he’s always making sure that I’m sure about it,” Blaney said. “I accept the challenge of trying to be like him and get where’s he’s at and what he’s accomplished.”

    Not only does Ryan Blaney strive to follow in his father’s footsteps, but he readily admits that his dad is indeed his racing hero.

    “He is my main racing hero,” Blaney said of his dad. “He grew up on dirt and that’s what he lived for over 30 years and made a career out of that.”

    “Then he jumped into NASCAR and had a career in that,” Blaney continued. “That’s what’s really special to me and impressive to me.”

    As proud as Ryan is of his dad, the feeling is more than reciprocated by his proud papa. But dad Dave said, with a chuckle, that his son probably said those things “because he’s scared of me.”

    “He’s been doing really well,” Dave Blaney said of son. “This year we’ve gotten him in a couple of K&N Series races and he ran well. And he’s run real well in his two ARCA starts.”

    “Ryan’s coming along real well,” Blaney continued. “He’s only seventeen years old so he’s got lots of time.”

    “He might actually be better than me now.”

    As much as he wants to follow in his dad’s tire tracks, Ryan Blaney has another real ambition of his own. He wants to also attract the next generation to the sport of NASCAR that he loves so much.

    “A lot of kids at school follow me and it’s cool how they’ve turned into race fans,” Blaney, who is going into his senior year in high school, said. “Last year, they didn’t know anything about racing and now they’re asking me how I did at the track.”

    “They even know more about my stats than I do,” Blaney continued. “It’s cool how I have friends that can relate to me and not talk just about football.”

    “I’m a seventeen year old that is trying to come up through the ranks,” Blaney said. “And I hope I am an ambassador for the next generation of NASCAR fans.”

  • Max Gresham and Ty Dillon Make Up Front Row For Pennsylvania ARCA 125

    Max Gresham and Ty Dillon Make Up Front Row For Pennsylvania ARCA 125

    Max Gresham captured the pole on Friday for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards Pennsylvania ARCA 125 at Pocono  Raceway with a lap of 53.535 seconds.

    This marks the second Meanards Pole Award presented by Ansell for the 18-year old Georgia driver of the No. 25 World Crown 300 at Gresham Motorsports Park Toyota in 10 career starts. It also marks the third pole for Venturini Motorsports at Pocono in the past two years as Mikey Kile won the pole last June while Brennan Poole won the pole this June. Venturini Motorsports has won the Menards Pole Award now four times this year with four different drivers: Josh Richards, Poole, Ryan Blaney and now Gresham.

    “It was a dandy of a lap,” Gresham said. “Everything just lined up perfectly, and (Venturini Motorsports general manager) Billy (Venturini) had the car just right and we had the clouds perfect. The Toyota Camry was on a rail and I drove it for everything it had. Billy’s really happy with it right now. Hopefully, the car’s as good tomorrow as it is right now. I’m looking forward to having a good run tomorrow.”

    The car that Gresham is driving is the same car that he drove to a second-place finish earlier this year at Michigan International Speedway in June, when he got passed on the last lap by rookie Ty Dillon.

    “Michigan was 100 laps, and that’s 75 more miles – a two-pit stop race,” he said. “This one’s only one, so you only have one chance to get the car right if you need adjustments so it makes it a little more difficult. I’ve got to make sure I relay all of the info I need to Billy, and make sure I tell him everything I need for the race and throughout the race, so when we make our one pit stop, we’ll be ready.”

    Dillon would qualify second after holding the provisional pole most of the session, 0.011 seconds off of his third consecutive pole in the series.

    “I guess when it’s that close, it’s not too bad of a heartbreaker,” the driver of the No. 41 RCR/CIPT Chevrolet said. “Our car’s really fast, so this doesn’t discourage me much. (Venturini) has really fast equipment too, and they were one of the fastest cars here last time. We brought a brand new car, which I believe is twice as fast as the car we had here last time.

    “We were able to lead laps and run up front the whole time last time, so we ought to be able to lead all the laps. I’m so confident in this race car. I can’t thank (crew chief Scott) “Flash” (Naset) and all the guys enough and I’m just so happy for the team.”

    With the qualifying points in the books, Dillon extends his points lead over nine-time series champion Frank Kimmel to 370 points. Kimmel qualified the No. 44 Ansell/Menards Ford in 11th.

    Casey Roderick, making his first start with Randy Hill Racing, qualified third (53.967 seconds), followed by Chris Buescher and Ryan Wilson. Gresham’s teammate Kyle Fowler would qualify sixth, followed by  Tim George Jr., Grant Enfinger, Chad McCumbee, and Tom Hessert comprise the remainder of the top 10.

    The Pennsylvania ARCA 125 begins at 3 p.m. tomorrow, with live television coverage airing on SPEED. ARCARacing.com will feature live timing and scoring coverage of the 50-lap, 125-mile race, which will be the 53rd for the ARCA Racing Series on Pocono’s 2.5-mile triangle.

    2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards Event #13
    Pocono Raceway, Long Pond Pennsylvania, 8-6-11
    Pennsylvania ARCA 125
    August 5, 2011 / 6:48 PM
    POS NO DRIVER/HOMETOWN TIME SPEED
    1 25 Max Gresham/Griffin GA 53.535 168.114
    2 41 Ty Dillon/Lewisville NC 53.546 168.080
    3 08 Casey Roderick/Lawrenceville GA 53.967 166.769
    4 17 Chris Buescher/Prosper TX 54.242 165.923
    5 32 Ryan Wilson/Randleman NC 54.290 165.776
    6 55 Kyle Fowler/Smyrna GA 54.331 165.651
    7 31 Tim George Jr./New York NY 54.411 165.408
    8 36 Grant Enfinger/Fairhope AL 54.509 165.110
    9 1 Chad McCumbee/Holden Beach NC 54.629 164.748
    10 52 Tom Hessert/Cherry Hill NJ 54.692 164.558
    11 44 Frank Kimmel/Clarksville IN 54.749 164.387
    12 58 Chad Hackenbracht/New Philadelphia OH 54.761 164.351
    13 82 Sean Corr/Goshen NY 55.184 163.091
    14 6 Robb Brent/Shelby Township MI 55.517 162.113
    15 15 John Blankenship/Knoxville TN 55.613 161.833
    16 35 Tom Berte/New Berlin WI 55.754 161.423
    17 68 Will Kimmel/Sellersburg IN 55.803 161.282
    18 59 Buster Graham/Lafayette LA 56.027 160.637
    19 57 George Cushman/Waterville NY 56.249 160.003
    20 43 Kyle Martel/Lebanon PA 56.431 159.487
    21 5 Bobby Gerhart/Lebanon PA 56.502 159.286
    22 7 Brandon Kidd/Manlius NY 57.015 157.853
    23 03 Kory Rabenold/Slatington PA 57.058 157.734
    24 3 Brent Brevak/Ashland WI 57.113 157.582
    25 63 Milka Duno/Caracas Venezuela 57.451 156.655
    26 23 Nick Igdalsky/Long Pond PA 57.539 156.416
    27 12 Maryeve Dufault/Sorel Quebec 57.780 155.763
    28 50 Steve Fox/Hazleton PA 58.192 154.660
    29 07 Brian Kaltreider/Reading PA 58.413 154.075
    30 28 Ron Cox/Soddy Daisy TN 58.799 153.064
    31 34 Darrell Basham/Henryville IN 59.091 152.307
    32 75 Benny Chastain/Tallahassee FL 59.326 151.704
    33 11 Ed Pompa/Ballston Spa NY Provisional
    34 48 James Hylton/Inman SC Provisional
    35 10 Rick Clifton/Circleville OH Provisional
    36 06 Don Thompson/Carlisle PA Provisional
    37 26 Brad Smith/Shelby Township MI Provisional
    38 94 Con Nicolopoulos/Columbus MI Provisional
    39 69 Brent Cross/Cortland NY Provisional
    40 29 Rob Jones/Bowie MD Provisional
    41 95 Michael Leavine/Bullard TX Provisional

  • Race No. 8 of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Season: GP3R 100 at Trois-Rivieres

    Ashley McCubbin | SpeedwayMedia.comFor race no. 8 of the 12 race schedule, the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series will be heading to Circuit de Trois-Rivieres for the CP3R 100. This marks the fourth road course for the Canadian Tire Series drivers this year and fifth time they’ve been to this particular track in series history.

    In three of the past four races on the 1.530-mile temporary road course, Andrew Ranger has come out victorious. The 24-year old has led 47 laps in route to those three wins, along with a second place in 2007 to Kerry Micks. Ranger is one of the best road course racers as in 17 series career starts, he has only finished outside the top three just twice. The two-time series champion has also won nine of the last 12 road course races he has entered, including Toronto this year.

    The one driver looking to knock him off the top who has struggled this year is part-time NASCAR Nationwide Series driver J.R. Fitzpatrick.

    Back at Toronto last month, Fitzpatrick was set to restart second to Ranger on the restart when he had to pit due to a flat tire.

    “That’s how it has been – completely frustrating,” the 23-year old said. “Those two laps would have been completely wild. I don’t know how it would have turned out, but it would have been fun for everybody.”

    No matter where Fitzpatrick seems to go run this year, there seems to be struggles as this past weekend while the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series was off, he competed at Sunset Speedway on Sunday where he was forced to pit in the 50 lap feature with a flat tire.

    “I definitely want to beat him and end his winning streak at Trois-Rivieres,” Fitzpatrick said. “I need to get our season turned around and that would be a great place to start.”

    The two drivers have butt heads on many times, always putting on a show for the fans, but Fitzpatrick says he’s not ready to share a win this weekend.

    “We push each other – no doubt,” Fitzpatrick said. “It seems like we are always near each other on the race track which causes each of us to go that much harder. There is no give from either of us.”

    The other driver who could possibly knock Ranger off of his throne is Kerry Micks, who won the first race at Trios-Rivieres. Last year, he finished second to Ranger while finishing ninth and sixth the previous two years.

    While the focus will be on who can take the win, some people will be watching the championship chase closely.

    After finishing 20th at Saskatoon, Scott Steckly now only sits 20 points ahead of defending champion D.J. Kennington.

    Steckly’s best finish at Trois-Rivieres is a second that came in 2008, to go with the eighth and sixth place finishes from 2007 and 2010. However, in 2009, he finished 27th. Steckly is going for his second series championship after picking up two wins this year already – Motoplex Speedway and Mosport Speedway.

    Meanwhile, Kennington has had a lot of success at Trois-Rivieres as he has inished in the top five in his last three starts there.

  • Win-Tron Racing Gives Ryan Wilson Another Shot At Pocono Raceway

    LONG POND, Pennsylvania (August 4, 2011) – – Even though Ryan Wilson and Win-Tron Racing didn’t capture the finish they rightfully deserved last week at Lucas Oil Raceway (LOR), the duo will seek redemption as the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards tackles Pocono (Pa.) Raceway for Saturday’s Pennsylvania ARCA 125.  

    Wilson, the winner of last fall’s Richard Petty Driver Search II made his 2011 ARCA Racing Series debut at the historic short track under the guidance of veteran crew chief Mike Chaffee. Despite his inexperience with the track, Wilson surpassed the team’s expectations in practice and qualifying, where he lined up a career-best sixth.  

    During the Ansell Protective Gloves 200, Wilson was holding steady and running competitively in the top-10 before a deflated tire under racing conditions sent the No. 32 Champion Brands Toyota Camry to pit road. Still proving he had a fast racecar; Wilson continued to climb through the leader board only to be setback once again after being involved in a skirmish with just two laps remaining.  

    Finishing 21st, Wilson and his team are back and ready to attack in the 13th race of the season.  

    “I wasn’t scheduled to drive this weekend at Pocono, but I’m thankful to be asked by Nate (Thiesse, co-car owner) to wheel their No. 32 Champion Brand Toyota Camry,” Wilson said. “The guys gave me such a stout racecar at Lucas Oil Raceway. Unfortunately, we were not able to capitalize on it because of the setbacks we faced.”  

    With no prior experience around the track nicknamed the “Tricky Triangle”, Wilson will rely heavily on the expertise of his Lakeville, Minnesota-based to put the team in contention for their second win of the season.  

    “I’ve done a lot of practicing at Pocono, but it’s all been simulated,” Wilson explained. “I know that track is very unique and it is a driver’s racetrack. I’m going to take it easy for the first couple of laps just to get comfortable. Then, we’ll hammer down and focus on our qualifying and race runs.”  

    Unlike June’s Pocono ARCA 200 at the 2.5-oval, Saturday’s contest consists of a much shorter event. With only 50 laps to get to the checkered flag first, Wilson knows that strategy will be everything.   “It’s a short race,” he said. “It reminds me of the Late Model races I run back in North Carolina. The good thing for me is that the Win-Tron Racing bunch has plenty of experience at Pocono, so that’s a huge bonus. I’m going to try and mingle with some of the other drivers just to see if I might be able to learn a thing or two.”  

    Before strapping in his No. 32 Champion Brands Toyota Camry on Saturday afternoon, Wilson will carefully watch the Good Sam RV Emergency Road Service 125, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series contest that serves as the preamble for ARCA’s second go-around with Pocono (Pa.) Raceway this season.  

    “I think it’s important for me to watch as many cars on the track as possible, because I’m bound to learn a lot. My goal on Saturday is just to put Win-Tron Racing back in the top-10 and help them in the owner’s points,” sounded Wilson.  

    ARCA’s return to Long Pond, Pennsylvania signifies the 12th race that Champion Hi-Tech Lubricants, a division of Champion Brands will heed the role as the primary sponsor for the Lakeville, Minnesota-based team. Headquartered in Clinton, Missouri, Champion Brands LLC produces and blends more than 300 products including fuel, oil and engine additives and lubricants for the automotive, heavy truck, agricultural and specialty markets.  

    “Once again, it’s a great honor be representing Champion Hi-Tech Lubricants and their brands this weekend at Pocono. I was hoping to give them a little better finish last Thursday at Lucas Oil Raceway, but I think the bad luck is behind us and we can deliver them a strong finish in the No. 32 Champion Brands Toyota Camry.”  

    Thiesse says it was an easy decision to select Wilson to drive the team’s entry this weekend.  

    “Ryan is a great kid,” he said. “We went into Lucas Oil Raceway with an open-mind and he blew us away. His feedback was great, his passion was evident and his drive to succeed is irreplaceable. He was pretty disappointed with how everything worked out at LOR, but we told him not to get discouraged, because he did a phenomenal job. There’s no doubt in my mind that we’ll see even more drive and motivation from Ryan this weekend at Pocono.”  

    In addition to Champion Brands, Win-Tron Racing and Wilson will bring awareness and attentiveness to the Trinity Children Foundation, which focuses on the issues of child abuse and neglect. Through faith, hope and love the foundation the foundation addresses the need for food, clothing, shelter and health care for children while providing for emotional stability for orphans, underprivileged, and at risk children.   

    The Pennsylvania ARCA 125(50 laps / 125 miles) is the 13th of 19 events on the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The 53rd ARCA race at Pocono Raceway is a two-day show. Practice begins Friday, August 5 with a one hour and twenty minute practice session planned from 1:40 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Menards Pole by Ansell qualifying is slated to begin later in the day at 5:40 p.m. The field will take the green flag shortly after 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 6. The event will be televised live on SPEED. Live timing and scoring throughout the 1,325th race for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards since it was formed in 1953 will be available through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.compresented by ARCANation.com.  All times are local.  

    Further information including driver opportunities with Win-Tron Racing is available by visiting win-tronracing.comor contacting Nate Thiesse at 612.306.1641  

    For more on Champion Brands LLC and their extensive line of products, please log on to championbrands.comor championsusechampion.com.