CASCAR: St-Eustache / Whelen 200 Event Preview

CASCAR Super Series // PREVIEW: Whelen 200 // Autodrome St-Eustache (June 4, 2005)

CASCAR returns to Quebec for the Whelen 200 Super Series race at Montreal’s Autodrome St-Eustache

LONDON, ON – Following a one-year hiatus, the CASCAR Super Series is set to return to Montreal’s Autodrome St-Eustache. This Saturday night (June 4), the Montreal-area oval will play host to the Whelen 200.

Heading into the 200-lap feature race, Ron Beauchamp Jr. leads the points chase on the strength of his victory in the season-opening MOPAR 250 at Delaware Speedway, on Victoria Day. The MOPAR Parts / Exide Dodge Charger driver has history on his side as he heads to the flat, 4/10th-mile Montreal track in search of his second-consecutive Super Series checkered flag.

Back in June of 1998, Beauchamp – who now has three career Super Series wins – won features on consecutive days (June 20 & 21, respectively) at Autodrome St-Eustache and Circuit Ste-Croix. Beauchamp is hoping that lightning strikes again for him in La Belle Province and that he is once again able to leave Quebec with a two-race winning streak intact.

But before he can do that, the Windsor, ON racer will have to overcome a determined field of rivals. Peter Gibbons has a pair of Super Series race wins at St-Eustache (’00 & ’01). The Canadian Tire Chevy driver has a knack for being strong at the end of races at the flat Montreal oval.

Castrol Dodge driver DJ Kennington won the last Super Series race at St-Eustache, in ’03. The St. Thomas, ON racer came home in front of Scott Steckly (Erb Pontiac) and Don Thomson. Thomson, incidentally, claimed the final podium position in that race while behind the wheel of Kennington’s back-up car, after his #4 Home Hardware Chevy was stolen the night before the race.

Avenue Motor Works Dodge driver Dave Whitlock heads to the Whelen 200 after a strong, second-place showing in the MOPAR 250. The three-time Super Series National champion scored a checkered flag following a rain-shortened race at Autodrome St-Eustache in 2002.

Another driver to watch will be Brad Graham. The driver of the Challenger / Logel’s Dodge looked set to collect his first-ever Super Series win in the St-Eustache event in ’03, but fate intervened and he fell out of the race after leading the first 167 laps of the 200-lap affair. According to the Glencoe, ON driver, “St-Eustache owes us one.”

Representing Quebec in the Whelen 200 will be André Coursol, who finished a solid third in the CASCAR Sportsman Series points last season. The St-Jerome, QC resident drives the CARQUEST Chevrolet Monte Carlo and is always a crowd favourite when Canada’s top racing circuit visits Quebec.

Qualifying for the Whelen 200 is scheduled to start at 6:45 p.m. on Saturday evening. The night’s racing card includes other regular St-Eustache hometrack classes. The 200-lap CASCAR Super Series feature will take the green flag at 9:00 p.m.

WHELEN 200 CASCAR SUPER SERIES EVENT SCHEDULE
AUTODROME ST-EUSTACHE // MONTREAL, QC
SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 2005
5:00 – 6:00 p.m. CASCAR Rotating Practice
6:40 p.m. CASCAR: All Cars on Grid for Qualifying
6:45 p.m. CASCAR Time Trials
7:15 – 7:45 p.m. Heat Races: ANCA Support Class
7:45 – 8:30 p.m. ANCA Features
8:30 p.m. CASCAR Super Series Driver Introductions
9:00 p.m. GREEN FLAG: WHELEN 200 CASCAR SUPER SERIES RACE


POINT STANDINGS:

CASCAR SUPER SERIES POINTS AS OF JUNE 1, 2005 (TOP 25): 1. #60 Ron Beauchamp Jr. (Dodge / 170 points); 2. #39 Dave Whitlock (Dodge / 164); 3. #4 Don Thomson Jr. (Chevrolet / 157); 4. #9 Mark Dilley (Dodge / 152); 5. #84 J.R. Fitzpatrick (Chevrolet / 144); 6. #25 Jim Lapcevich (Chevrolet / 140); 7. #52 Ron Sheridan (Pontiac / 138); 8. #1 Peter Gibbons (Chevrolet / 136); 9. #23 Jeff Lapcevich (Chevrolet / 134); 9. #14 John Fitzpatrick (Chevrolet / 134); 11. #28 Steve Robblee (Ford / 130); 12. #71 Bryan Cathcart (Dodge / 128); 13. #88 Dave Jacombs (Ford / 126); 14. #93 Joe Goncalves (Chevrolet / 124); 15. #42 Sean Stafford (Chevrolet / 122); 16. #41 Matty Tsoumaris R (Chevrolet / 120); 17. #17 DJ Kennington (Dodge / 118); 18. #37 R Tara MacLeod (Ford / 116); 19. #86 Kenny Forth (Ford / 114); 20. #20 Mark Swain (Chevrolet / 112); 21. #02 Kerry Micks (Ford / 111); 22. #19 Brad Graham (Dodge / 110); 23. #22 Scott Steckly (Pontiac / 108); 24. #44 Marv Wilder (Ford / 106); 25. #50 Pete Shepherd (Dodge / 103)

CASCAR WESTERN SERIES POINTS AS OF JUNE 1, 2005 (TOP 15): 1. #30 Derek Polack (Stony Plain, AB / Chevrolet / 175 points); 2. #79 Wade Lee (Calgary, AB / Chevrolet / 158); 3. #12 Ron Larson (Quesnel, BC / Dodge / 157); 4. #14 James VanDomselaar (Fort Sask., AB / Chevrolet / 151); 5. #26 Shaun Polack (Stony Plain, AB / Chevrolet / 148); 6. #36 Jim White, Kamloops, BC / Dodge / 140); 7. #87 James Ward (Kelowna, BC / Ford / 138); 8. #21 Jason White (Sun Peaks, BC / Chevrolet / 136); 9. #31 Sean Maltman (Vernon, BC / Chevrolet / 134); 9. #35 Kevin Dowler (Edmonton, AB / Ford / 134); 11. #6 Todd Nichol (St Albert, AB / Chevrolet / 132); 12. #96 Norman Hunger (Delta, BC / Pontiac / 128); 13. #69 Randy Kozek (Kelowna, BC / Pontiac / 126); 14. #4 Gil Gillett (Kelowna, BC / Chevrolet / 124); 15. #76 Dale Biesick (Winfield, BC / Dodge / 122)

CASCAR NOTEBOOK: The CASCAR Western Series will take its second green flag of the season next Saturday (June 11) at Bridge City Speedway in Saskatoon, SK. The CASCAR Power Water Series kicks off its six-race season on Saturday, June 18 at Mosport Speedway, northeast of Toronto.

CASCAR ON TV: The MOPAR 250 from Delaware Speedway will air at 11:30 a.m. on June 11 on SPORTSNET. For information regarding initial airings and replays of Super Series races on SPORTSNET, please check your local listings or visit http://www.cascar.ca/schedule/tv_schedule.html.

- Prepared by Inside Track Communications

RIVERSIDE SPEEDWAY OPENS SATURDAY WITH THE PIONEER COAL 100

Courtesy Joan Roué

JAMES RIVER, NS (2005 June 1) - Riverside Speedway will open this Saturday (June 4) for The Pioneer Coal 100, round two of 11 on the 2005 CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour. As many as 29 of the top stock car racers in the Maritimes are expected to enter the event including local favourites Donald Chisholm (Antigonish), George Koszkulics (New Glasgow), Rollie MacDonald (Pictou) and Mark Jordan (Stellarton).

Former series champions Wayne Smith, John Flemming and Shawn Tucker are also expected to be on the roster. Flemming won the 04 edition of the race, with Chisholm and Tucker also claiming wins at Riverside last year on the CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour. Smith won the season opener for the series this past Saturday at Scotia Speedworld and holds the championship points lead entering The Pioneer Coal 100.

Two rounds of qualifying (Motor Mart Time Trials and GM Goodwrench Service Heat Races) will set the starting grid for the 100-lap pro stock feature race. The show also includes heat races and a feature race for the Legends Tour.

Audience members will also have the chance to qualify to win a trip for two to a professional stock car race on October 15 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Ballots will be available at the PRO LINE tent in the grandstand midway area at Riverside Speedway. The trip will be drawn for at The PRO LINE 100 on August 6 at New Brunswick International Speedway (Geary, NB).The grandstand will open at 3 pm; Motor Mart Time Trials go at 5:20 and racing starts at 6 pm.

Grandstand admission is just $22 for adults, $5 for youth (8-15) and kids 7 and under get in free. Pit admission is $25 and restricted to those 16 and older. HST is included in all admission pricing. All children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Advance tickets are available starting Wednesday at the Antigonish Mall.The only other event currently scheduled for the 05 season at Riverside Speedway is The Antigonish Mall 100 on August 27, round 10 of 11 for the CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour.

With nearly 4,000 locations in North America, CARQUEST Auto Parts supplies the professional automotive service repair industry as well as do-it-yourselfers with replacement parts, tools and equipment.

The CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour is operated by Maritime Pro Stock Tour Limited and features an 11-race series at five different tracks in the three Maritime Provinces. Top drivers from all three provinces compete including former champions Wayne Smith, John Flemming and Shawn Tucker.

For more information on the CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour please visit www.MaritimeProStockTour.com or call our admin office Monday to Friday at (902) 481-2531.

Podium for Walker at Sanair in

Courtesy Russ Bond Agency

ST-PIE, QC-Travis Walker and his Netscape/Kensai Racing Acura RSX-Type S endured an up and down weekend in the second round of the FAQ (Federation Auto Quebec) Touring Hankook Championship, at Sanair. Team Manager, Ray Lee, called it a ‘Houdini’ like effort from Walker.



The weekend got off to a bad start when the 18-year-old Walker had a big crash in the raining Thursday night practice session. “There wasn't anything I could do,” Walker said. “I came through the fast chicane, it got loose, and backed into the tire wall.”

Extensive damage to the Netscape/Kensai Racing Acura RSX-Type S shifted the Kensai Racing crew into high gear. “They worked on it all night,” Walker said. “Even still, we had a bad shock, and a suspect brake master cylinder, but I went out and tried my best.”

The result was an 11th spot on the grid, and the team was just looking to finish the race, and score some points. With a new brake master cylinder in place, Walker had other ideas to repay his team for all their hard work during the weekend. “I had to give it my all with the bandaged up Netscape/Kensai Racing Acura RSX-Type S, to repay my team for all their hard work.”

Walker made a great start, and steadily moved up all race long, leaving the team wondering how a car in that shape could be so fast. Walker was hoping the Netscape/Kensai Racing Acura RSX-Type S would stay together for the full distance and the very second hand looking Netscape/Kensai Racing Acura RSX-Type S made it to the end in a fantastic third place.

“It was a magic act, like Houdini,” said Lee. “Travis did an amazing job with the car that he had under him.”

Walker was ecstatic with the finish, but he knew there was much work to do. “Car Magic is going to have a lot of work to do to repair the Netscape/Kensai Racing Acura RSX-Type S back to its original state. We are so lucky to have Car Magic on board, as I am sure it will look like new when they are finished with it.”

ONTARIO PRO CHALLENGE: LeLiever strong in Pro Challenge opener

Release prepared by Russ Bond Agency (www.russbondagency.com)

FLAMBORO, ONTARIO - Brad LeLiever officially made his first race appearance in his Holgate Motorsports Barrie Honda/Georgian Pontiac Chevy Monte Carlo at Flamboro Speedway on Saturday night.



LeLiever showed good speed in practice and was ready for the challenge of racing his new ride. "The Barrie Honda/Georgian Pontiac is running well," LeLiever said. "Even though because I am a rookie, I have to start at the back for the first three races, I am looking for a good finish tonight."

LeLiever started the first heat in eighth, and then was ninth in heat two. "I was in the pack, but it's the first race of the year, so I was just taking my time, waiting for the feature."

In the feature, LeLiever moved up to sixth in the first few laps before having contact with another car that brought out the yellow flag, sending LeLiever back to the tail end of the field.

"I just made a small mistake and spun," LeLiever said. "This takes a lot of patience, and I know now not to force the issue. Going back to the back after a good start didn't help our night."

LeLiever ended up ninth, but he is confident that when he gets off the 'rookie start' program in two more races, he'll be able to challenge for podium spots and race wins.

"We have a good car, and good team, so once we can start in our 'real' position, we should be ready to challenge."

The next race for LeLiever and the Barrie Honda/Georgian Pontiac is at Peterborough on June 11.

KARTING: LeLiever, Stovold take top 10's at Sutton

Courtesy Russ Bond Agency (www.russbondagency.com)

SUTTON, ONTARIO Holgate Motorsports had a busy weekend with the Sunoco
Ron Fellows Karting Championship presented by Toronto Star Wheels at Sutton, Ontario, and the Ontario Pro Challenge series opener at Flamboro Speedway on Saturday night.



Friday saw both Brad LeLiever and Matt Stovold immediately on the pace in the practice sessions for the Rotax Max class in the SRFKC. "We have them both going quite well," said team manager John Holgate.

With the speed in practice both drivers were looking for good qualifying efforts. Stovold slotted in seventh in the 39 kart field with a time of 37.232, just four tenths of a second off the pole. LeLiever was right behind his teammate in eighth, with a time of 37.240.

In the 30-lap final, LeLiever was on a charge as he methodically made his way to the front. LeLiever recorded the third fastest time in the race, and was up to fourth place when the checkered flag fell. "I could have used a few more laps, as I could see the drivers ahead of me slowing down," LeLiever said. "My Holgate Motorsports CMP was getting better each lap, I just ran out of time."

Stovold also had a good run to finish eighth, and that gave both drivers a much needed boost in the points. Both drivers now have a few weeks off before heading to their home race, the Cameron Motorsports Grand Prix of Barrie on June 24-26.

SHEDIAC CENTRE FOR SPEED: FERO GARBAGE TRUCK RACING FIRST OF MANY "NOVELTY RACES" FOR 2005

Courtesy Shediac Centre for Speed

May 31st, 2005 - If the rains stay away this Sunday the Shediac CENTRE for Speed will host it's season opener, after two previous attempts, this Sunday at 2 PM. This weekends event will feature more racing than usual due to the rain outs including the season opener for the AOW series, Sportsman, Street Stocks, and all Mini Stocks (ThunderCat and TigerCat Divisions). The Pro Stock Season Opener scheduled for last week has been rescheduled for June 12th.

Of special interest is the first of many scheduled novelty races, this week featuring the FERO Garbage Truck Drivers racing their big rigs around the speedway in a test of skill, efficiency and speed. Seems there may also be some ill feelings from last years inagural FERO Garbage Truck Race as they have asked to bill this event as a GRUDGE MATCH and the "Big Boss" says he'll "smoke up the tires" on his rig for the fans this weekend. Well, we'll see if that's just another racer talkin' the talk, or not, on Sunday, but it sounds like it'll be fun for the whole family at the CENTRE for Speed starting at 2 PM.

Pricing for this weekend is as follows: Adults - $10, Child - $5. Families can save $15 with the the Family Pass at $29 (including 2 Adults, 2 Children, 4 Pepsi and 4 Fries).

CANADIAN RALLY: TechWorks Engineering-RSport Rally Team Win Round 2 of the Western Canadian Rally

Courtesy RSport Rally Press (www.rmtcontracting.com)

CALGARY, AB - The Techworks Engineering-RSport Rally Team of driver Scott Trinder and navigator Bill Westhead virtually dominated the second round of the Western Canadian Rally Championship (WCRC) this past weekend at the Rocky Mountain Rally.



The team was the fastest amongst all the Western Championship entries on every stage of the rally, held near Calgary, Alberta in the foothills of the spectacular Rocky Mountains.

Spectators at the event witnessed firsthand Trinder's crowd pleasing hang-it-out and drift it style. It was clear to all that the team's right hand drive yellow Subaru WRX was getting a workout.

"After spending two events re-learning how to drive in this new car, I just wanted to go out this weekend and have some fun," Trinder commented. "I was also able to let go of the mental aspect of driving a right hand drive rally car," said Trinder.



"We were finally able to get the car to dance and it felt great!" said an exalted Trinder. "The roads at this rally were awesome and it was comparable to an epic day of powder snowboarding, which to me is what rally is all about!"

"Prior to the event Scott said to me that he wanted to try and really throw the car around and just go for it," said Westhead. "He kept repeating a line that he once heard Canadian Rally Champion Pat Richard say, 'Just giv'er and the tires will grip'...and grip they did!"

"It was obvious to me that Scott was having fun driving while keeping the car well within our limits," Westhead commented. "Yet he managed to do this while staying focused on our team's goal for the weekend: to earn points toward the WCRC Championship; which we did and are now leading!"



"Everyone here was quite impressed by their effort at this event," said Techworks Engineering President Tom Penner. "They had a plan from the outset and by sticking with their strategy, it really paid off with the best possible result."

"We are proud to partner with the RSport team and we're stoked to see them at the Blackfoot Motorcycle Park spectator stage," Penner continued. "They won both of the stages and put on quite a show for all to see. We expect to see more of this throughout the rest of the season."

With this victory, the Rsport Rally Team duo now stand atop the series points battle for the 2005 WCRC.

Meanwhile you can catch the team in action again at the next round of the WCRC: the 2005 Mountain Trials Rally, being held on June 18th in Merritt, BC.