Royal Distributing / Factory Recreation Pro Xtreme Team Demolishes at the Derby!

From Mark Fries // VP; Royal Distributing

EAGLE RIVER, WISCONSIN – The boys unloaded at the Eagle River Derby and were just plain FAST. Only a small mechanical problem usurped what would have been another perfect weekend for Team Royal!

In Friday Night Thunder at the Derby, Pro #93 Iain Hayden continued his winning ways, taking the checkered in both PRO OPEN and PRO 440. Iain dominated the finals and at times had lapped the field to fourth place. The press from winning at the Derby makes for lots of exposure! Semi Pro #202 Joey Sagan continued to impress by bumping to Pro for the evening and ran 4th in PRO 440 and 6th in PRO OPEN finals.

In the Sunday Snowcross finals, Joey went back to back to BACK in SEMI-PRO 600, and SEMI-PRO 440, and SEMI-PRO OPEN, taking all three final wins. Joey is now 9 for 9 in his last 9 SEMI-PRO finals south of border. Joey also bumped up to PRO OPEN and stood on the podium running a strong third against the pros.

Iain continued to dominate and easily won PRO 440 and had a comfortable lead in PRO OPEN, when a faulty rad-hose took away the win, Iain ended up in 5th place in PRO-OPEN. All in all, 6 of 7 final wins and a podium in the 7th. A very successful trip to the Eagle River Derby! This weekend is the CSRA season opener in Owen Sound! STAY TUNED!

Final placement PRO 440 (SEMI PRO ALLOWED) FRIDAY NIGHT
Bib # Last Name First Name City State Make
1 93 HAYDEN IAIN ESPANOLA ONT SKI-DOO
2 85 John Trevor Sheridan IL SKI-DOO
3 79 ZELINSKI JOSHUA EAST LANSING MI SKI-DOO
4 202 SAGAN JOEY ELMVALE ONT SKI-DOO
5 991 KAFKA CHRIS STRATFORD WI POLARIS
6 224 Barany Darren Ashland WI SKI-DOO
7 741 Tiede Ricky Hope MI POLARIS
8 923 Keckeisen Justin Three Lakes WI SKI-DOO
9 188 RYDEN CODY HAZELHURST WI ARCTIC
10 442 Kuhn Ryan Slinger WI SKI-DOO

Final placement PRO OPEN (SEMI PRO ALLOWED) Friday Night
Bib # Last Name First Name City State Make
1 93 HAYDEN IAIN ESPANOLA ONT SKI-DOO
2 79 ZELINSKI JOSHUA EAST LANSING MI SKI-DOO
3 991 KAFKA CHRIS STRATFORD WI POLARIS
4 85 John Trevor Sheridan IL SKI-DOO
5 254 Boussum Rob Crystal Falls WI ARCTIC CAT
6 202 SAGAN JOEY ELMVALE ONT SKI-DOO
7 112 Tinus Jason Oconomowoc WI SKI-DOO
8 99 STREGE JESSE LANCASTER MN YAMAHA BACKROW
9 125 Kilinski Korey Wausau WI SKI-DOO
10 522 Hemauer Dusty Hampton MN SKI-DOO BACKROW
11DNF 741 Tiede Ricky Hope MI POLARIS

2006 DERBY SUNDAY SNO-CROSS RESULTS
January 15
Final placement PRO 440 FINAL
Bib # First Name Last Name City State Make
1 93 IAIN HAYDEN ESPANOLA ONT SKI-DOO
2 85 Trevor John Sheridan IL SKI-DOO
3 79 JOSHUA ZELINSKI EAST LANSING MI SKI-DOO
4 991 CHRIS KAFKA STRATFORD WI POLARIS
5 224 Darren Barany Ashland WI SKI-DOO
6 141 Brett Hass Malone WI SKI-DOO
7 125 Korey Kilinski Wausau WI SKI-DOO
8 119 Tim Bock Cary IL ARCTIC CAT
9 DNF 112 Jason Tinus Oconomowoc WI SKI-DOO

Final placement SEMI PRO 440 FINAL
Bib # First Name Last Name City State Make
1 202 JOEY SAGAN ELMVALE ONT SKI-DOO
2 224 Darren Barany Ashland WI SKI-DOO
3 741 Ricky Tiede Hope MI POLARIS
4 183 Eric Koehler Wausau WI
5 292 Brad Richardson Ham Lake MN POLARIS
6 141 Brett Hass Malone WI
7 125 Korey Kilinski Wausau WI SKI-DOO
8 923 Justin Keckeisen Three Lakes WI SKI-DOO
9 815 Jordan Joswick Rhinelander WI ARCTIC CAT
10 dnf 442 Ryan Kuhn Slinger WI SKI-DOO
11 dnf 206 jared selsmeyer crandon WI ARCTIC CAT

Final placement SEMI PRO 600 FINAL
Bib # First Name Last Name City State Make
1 202 JOEY SAGAN ELMVALE ONT SKI-DOO
2 512 Bill Smith Stanley WI SKI-DOO
3 741 Ricky Tiede Hope MI POLARIS
4 815 Jordan Joswick Rhinelander WI ARCTIC CAT
5 442 Ryan Kuhn Slinger WI SKI-DOO
6 923 Justin Keckeisen Three Lakes WI SKI-DOO
7 141 Brett Hass Malone WI SKI-DOO
8 125 Korey Kilinski Wausau WI SKI-DOO
9 dnf 254 Rob Boussum Crystal Falls WI ARCTIC CAT
10dnf 183 ERIC KOEHLER WAUSAU WI ARCTIC CAT

Final placement SEMI PRO OPEN FINAL
Bib # First Name Last Name City State Make
1 202 JOEY SAGAN ELMVALE ONT SKI-DOO
2 741 Ricky Tiede Hope MI POLARIS
3 254 Rob Boussum Crystal Falls WI ARCTIC CAT
4 522 Dusty Hemauer Hampton MN SKI-DOO
5 125 Korey Kilinski Wausau WI SKI-DOO
6 815 Jordan Joswick Rhinelander WI ARCTIC CAT
7 188 CODY RYDEN HAZELHURST WI ARCTIC
8 616 Ryan Kniskern Marinette WI ARCTIC CAT
9 132 Mark VanRite DePere WI POLARIS
10 206 jared selsmeyer crandon WI ARCTIC CAT
DNS 785 Chris Rieschl Rice Lake WI SKI-DOO

Final placement PRO OPEN
Bib # Last Name First Name City State Make
1 85 John Trevor Cross Lake MN SKI-DOO
2 991 KAFKA CHRIS STRATFORD WI POLARIS
3 202 SAGAN JOEY ELMVALE ONT SKI-DOO
4 79 ZELINSKI JOSHUA EAST LANSING MI SKI-DOO
5 93 HAYDEN IAIN ESPANOLA ONT SKI-DOO
6 254 Boussum Rob Crystal Falls WI ARCTIC CAT
7 99 STREGE JESSE LANCASTER MN YAMAHA
DNS 112 Tinus Jason Oconomowoc WI SKI-DOO

SOS: Good news... Tim Phillips set to return

From the SOS Insider,

SOS competitors, officials and fans will be excited to see the #21 back on the track in 2006. Tim Phillips has been a regular with the SOS for many years but was unable to compete in 2005 as he battled prostate cancer.

For Tim it was a successful fight as he is ready to get back behind the wheel full time. A local Grand Island, NY newspaper along with several others in the area ran a story about Tim and his victory over cancer.

To read the story visit http://www.southernontariosprints.com

LUCAS OIL WWS: A year of change

By Josh Paxton, WWS

While the fundamentals remain undisturbed, ‘a year of change’ will best describe the upcoming sophomore season of Canada’s Weekend Warrior Series.

When we last left Canada’s first ever league of grassroots stock car racing, the inaugural Lucas Cup Champion was crowned at Peterborough Speedway. Tom Walters of Barrie, recognized in Ontario stock car racing circles as both “Stompin’ Tom” and “Mr. Saturday Night,” fought for six long months against top competition, including a ferocious battle with fellow Barrie driver and former CASCAR competitor John Gaunt, to climb the proverbial mountain and claim the first ever Canadian Grassroots Stock Car Racing title.

Walter’s Eastern Conference equivalent, David Elliott of Acton, used his open-wheel experience and determined grit to put top contender, former CASCAR driver Pete Vanderwyst of St. Thomas, behind him to claim the Conference title.

More than two hundred other Late Model race car drivers challenged for a spot in the top ranks of the Weekend Warrior Series. Now, three months later, the awards banquets of the participating speedways are a memory of the past, and a fresh page awaits the next chapter of WWS Canadian grassroots stock car racing history.

The WWS administration, Paxton Motorsports Marketing, has had no off-season. Immediately following the close of the competitive racing season it was time to retrieve feedback from all available parties: sponsors, competitors, promoters, and fans. The first year involved a lot of learning, and WWS co-founders Joshua and Gerry Paxton continue to nurture the ‘evolution’ of this grassroots stock car racing league.

One of the more major projects was the development of a new look for the WWS. Set to be unveiled in the week of January 23rd, the all-new http://www.weekendwarriorseries.com/ website is not just a move, but a leap to a more professional and entertaining window into the workings of the program, and the lives of those people involved. Said Joshua, “We are taking the image of Canadian grassroots stock car racing to a whole new level. We want to share our passion with the nation. There are amazing stories of competition, teamwork, rivalry, and family, that happen each weekend, right here in Ontario, that get overlooked for imported stories. We’re looking to bring attention to the Canadian product.”

The website will also be introducing a new logo for the WWS program. “We’ve kept the theme of a warrior’s shield, and the original colours, but we really wanted to emphasize the pride of being a Canadian brand.” Heading into ’06, the Weekend Warrior Series is proud to announce the return and continued support of Lucas Oil Products.

When asked, Paxton Motorsports responded that the WWS is in the midst of developing additional added-value partner programs to supplement the Lucas Oil support. “Absolutely we are working to add partners. We’re working on a couple of associates to promote the two Ontario conferences, as well as working to develop additional programs to meet the needs of interested parties.”

Unfortunately it appears that not everyone shares the ambitious vision of the WWS. Earlier this morning it was announced that Mosport Speedway of Bowmanville had been released from the stock car racing league. WWS Director of Operations Gerry Paxton stated that following a performance review, and several conversations with Mosport Race Director Brian Bassett, “it became apparent that this particular speedway was not living up to its obligations as a member of the WWS.” The Weekend Warrior Series will post a further release regarding the dismissal of Mosport Speedway on its new website, to address the reasons and reactions to this decision.

The WWS is very positive about the outlook for the 2006 Canadian Grass Roots Racing program. The WWS league moves forward with a roster of seven Ontario-based asphalt speedways, including markets in Peterborough, Barrie, Hamilton, and London, as well as a new headquarters in Toronto. The weekly grassroots stock car racing program surrounds the Golden Horseshoe, encompassing some 12 million people, all of which the Paxton's refer to as ‘closet race fans’.

The idea is that racing offers something for everybody. For the thrill seeker there’s the speed, close passes, and big time wrecks. For the coach, there’s the reinforcement of team work and community. For the desktop designer there are the flashy colours and bright designs of paint schemes and logo work. “Our job is to find out what it is about racing that gets a person excited, and then get them out to experience it live.”

There’s already a lot of excitement surrounding the upcoming WWS racing season. Competitors and fans alike await the release of the 2006 event schedule, slated for release in February. There’s a lot more to come from WWS in ’06, so stay tuned.

For more information, contact Paxton Motorsports Marketing, Josh Paxton via email jp@weekendwarriorseries.com or Gerry Paxton at gerry@weekendwarriorseries.com.

FOR SALE: Dave Franks' Hot Rod

Dave Franks is selling his hot rod. If you've been at an Ontario short track in the past few years, you've seen it.

FOR SALE: 1927 Ford "T"

• Good runner
• 33,000 miles
• 2300 cc four-cylinder engine
• C4 Transmission.
• New NASCAR tires with yellow lettering
• Fully upholstered
• AM / FM radio
• NASCAR-style fuel cell to enhance safety
• Asking $13,000.00 (US)

Those interested in the car should contact John at JB Street Rods.

Par For the Course for Ryan Litt

From Litt P.R. (January 11, 2006), by Tommy Goudge

Another race in Fort Wayne, another 6th place finish for Ryan Litt. The 18 year old racer from Lyons, Ontario was placed in 6th in last year’s Rumble in Fort Wayne event after being penalized. This year, however, he finished there without any controversy.

Brake issues slowed the Eddie Griffith owned Ford Focus USAC Midget on the first night. After a fine 7th place showing in time trials, the heat race was a total write off as the #41 was run into from behind on two separate occasions. Ryan bounced back in the B-Main with a fine drive, but fell short of a transfer spot, finishing in 3rd.

The second and final night proved to be more successful for Ryan as he time trialed 6th, took home the win in his heat after the two leaders tangled, and finished 6th in the feature.

“In the Feature we started 4th row inside beside Tony (Stewart),” said Ryan later. “The car was pretty good but the track was in such good shape that the big motors had an advantage, and I could never pull them coming off the corner. Last year the rubber peeled away and the big cars couldn’t use all their motor, but this year it was different. So I just tried as hard as I could and tried to pass and stay close to other cars, and most of all stay out of wrecks.”

Ryan would like to thank Eddie Griffith for another fun weekend racing indoors in his #41 Beast chassis Ford Focus powered USAC Midget, as well as the crew and his many sponsors: BRR Media, Kolors by Kropy, Velocity Wings, BOC Gases, and BS&B Radiator.

A big sponsorship announcement for the #07 Sprint Car is forthcoming in the next few weeks. Ryan will be piloting the family owned #07 Beast/Claxton sprinter in all Auto Value Super Sprints events this coming season and taking aim at the rookie of the year award. Follow his news and progress throughout the season on Ryan’s official website, www.RyanLitt.com.

MIS ANNOUNCES THE RETURN OF POPULAR ‘RACE TO WIN’ CONTEST

FANS CAN VISIT WWW.MISPEEDWAY.COM TO INSTANTLY WIN DAILY PRIZES

BROOKLYN, Mich. – Due to its popularity with fans in 2004, Michigan International Speedway has announced that it will bring back the MIS ‘Race to Win’ Instant Win Game presented by AAA. Starting on Saturday, January 14, fans can visit www.MISpeedway.com to participate in the daily game, which is being announced in conjunction with tickets officially going on sale for both the June and August NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races at MIS this summer.

‘Race to Win’ will give MIS fans a chance to instantly win daily prizes along with a daily entry towards the Grand Prize drawing of “Free Sunoco Gas for a Year.”

Fans can log on to www.MISpeedway.com and play Michigan International Speedway’s ‘Race To Win’ every day to instantly win prizes such as tickets to all 2006 events at MIS, including NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, NASCAR Busch Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, ARCA RE/MAX Series and IRL IndyCar® Series races. Additional prizes include free AAA memberships, GFS Marketplace gift cards, AutoWeek Magazine prize packages, Auto Value/Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts Stores gift packages and Pepsi products, in addition to the Grand Prize. The MIS ‘Race to Win’ contest ends Friday, April 14.

“More and more fans continue to visit our website to view 3D seating maps and purchase tickets, merchandise and obtain information about MIS events,” said MIS Director of Ticketing John Moreland. “Along with our growing MIS Fan of the Month and Fan of the Year awards, this is just another way to thank the fans for visiting our website. Not only is the ‘Race to Win’ contest fun and interactive, but each day fans visit www.MISpeedway.com they could be an instant winner and earn entries towards this very exciting Grand Prize of Free Sunoco Gas for a Year.”

The ‘Race to Win’ promotion is once again being run by Farmington Hills, Mich. based company ePrize, the industry leader in interactive promotions. Clients of ePrize include large companies such as General Motors and Northwest Airlines. Other major clients include Federal Express, AT&T Wireless, Orbitz.com, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and Domino’s Pizza. The company also has satellite offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and London.

“The MIS ‘Race to Win’ promotion is at the forefront of the interactive promotions industry,” said Bob Marsh, VP of Business Development for ePrize. “The world’s largest brands turn to us, and to again work with someone in our own backyard is very exciting. What’s unique about ‘Race to Win’ is the fact that it reaches people offline and brings them online to the MIS official website, www.MISpeedway.com. Plus, the fact that fans can come back every day to be an instant winner is highly compelling.”

MIS has worked with several key partners for this year’s ‘Race to Win’ contest, many of which have supplied great prizes. In addition to “Free Gas for a Year,” from Sunoco, other ‘Race to Win’ sponsors include: AAA Michigan, Auto Value/Bumper-to-Bumper Auto Parts Stores, AutoWeek Magazine, GFS Marketplace and Pepsi.

Tickets and camping for both NEXTEL Cup Series races at MIS, the June 18 Michigan 400 and the August 20 GFS Marketplace 400, will go on sale at 8:00 AM EST on Saturday, January 14 at MIS’ official website, www.MISpeedway.com, or by calling the MIS ticket hotline at 1-800-354-1010. Tickets will be available at www.MISpeedway.com 24 hours a day, seven days a week, starting January 14. Tickets to all other events, which include the IRL IndyCar Series, NASCAR Busch Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and ARCA/REMAX Series are also now available.

For tickets and information regarding events at MIS, log on to www.MISpeedway.com, or call the MIS ticket hotline at 1-800-354-1010.

Return To Eldora Highlights Solid 2006 Advance Auto Parts Modified Series

By DIRT MotorSports PR

WEEDSPORT, N.Y. (January 15) – Highlighted by a return trip to Eldora Speedway over the summer, the 2006 Advance Auto Parts Modified Super DIRT Series schedule boasts one of the most expansive efforts put forth by DIRT MotorSports NorthEast officials in the new millennium. The Advance Auto Parts SDS remains a major component of the overall Hoosier Tire-Sunoco Race Fuels Mr. DIRT Modified Championship, which continues to be recognized as one of the most prestigious titles a driver can hold in auto racing today.

"The addition of Eldora makes the Advance Auto Parts Series even more attractive and its already got our teams and race fans excited for the start of the season up north," said Tonya Moschell, DIRT MotorSports NorthEast General Manager. "We had great runs the last two times there and it's hard not to expect more of the same when our top touring stars make another visit in August."

With the 31st Mr. DIRT Championship at stake, the 2006 edition of the Advance Auto Parts Modified Super DIRT Series will now be contested at 19 tracks throughout New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and Ohio, along with the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Twenty-seven scheduled tour events will carry valuable points counting directly towards the coveted title, with the champion crowned after eight months of ground-pounding short-track activity.

"Track promoters have really stepped up to the plate this year to give teams more high-paying events to run and offer fans more chances to see their favorite drivers around
the entire circuit," Moschell added. "There's a good mix of new events combined with standard stops to entice even more fans in the Northeast to be part of our big show."

The tour opens for a second straight year with the Advance Auto Parts Florida Tour four-race mini-series at Volusia Speedway Park in February, with points awarded only towards the 35th Winter Nationals Championship. Farther north, Hagerstown is once again set to kick off the big-block points chase in late March. The traditional New York State lid-lifter is the 26th Annual DIRT Challenge Cup at Rolling Wheels in May while the DIRT Hall of Fame Classic fills out the festive Memorial Day Weekend card at DIRT NorthEast's hub in Cayuga County.

Making a return to the AAP Super DIRT Series line-up for the first time since Brett Hearn captured the 1998 special, Susquehanna is back on the schedule and paired with Lernerville in mid-June to comprise the initial tour doubleheader of the season in Pennsylvania. The first month of summer closes out in the Empire State with a second twin-bill hosted by Fulton in Central New York and Ransomville out west.

The Independence Day holiday leads off with the 37th Annual 'Firecracker 100' at Rolling Wheels followed on the Fourth of July by the big-block tour debut at Paul Kirkland's Brockville Ontario Speedway. The Canadian swing continues north of the border the second weekend in July with the popular Cornwall/Drummond double dip. Final Advance Auto Parts SDS events of the month run back-to-back at Grandview and Orange County, which will mark the 40th tour stop at the historic Middletown hard clay oval after a one-year layoff.

August action begins with a return engagement at the nationally acclaimed Eldora oval now owned by reigning Nextel Cup Champion Tony Stewart, who also owns one DIRT Modified victory at Lebanon Valley in the small-block ranks. Under the direction of legendary track owner Earl Baltes, Brett Hearn (2002) and Danny Johnson (2003) scored thrilling victories in the two Advance Auto Parts specials held at the highly regarded Western Ohio speedplant. Fast time trialer Hearn pitted prior to the halfway mark then charged back to overtake Bob McCreadie on lap 90 and cruise home for a dramatic victory in DIRT NorthEast's debut. The following season Johnson overtook rookie teammate Matt Sheppard with 14 laps left to triumph in the second Eldora Fall DIRT Big-Block 100.

Merrittville follows up Eldora with the first big-block event staged since 1992 as the Thorold, Ont. oval continues in celebration of its 55th successive season of operation. That same year Niagara Frontier favorite Ron Smoker pulled off a last turn-last lap pass of perennial power Hearn to win the dramatic Modified main event.

With Nextel Cup competitors in town at nearby Watkins Glen, Canandaigua hosts DIRT NorthEast's premier traveling tour the second Thursday in August. Consecutive mid-week appearances by AAP Super DIRT Series racers are slated for New Egypt in New Jersey and Brewerton back in New York to close out the final full month of summer.

Another traditional DIRT doubleheader arrives on the extended Labor Day Weekend with the 33rd Northeast 100 at Cayuga County piggy-backed by the 35th Petrocci Memorial at Rolling Wheels on Monday. The first post-regular season 200-lapper is scheduled at Lebanon Valley with double century grinds closing out the '06 open-wheel campaign at Rolling Wheels, Fulton, Syracuse and Orange County, where the champion will be declared during the 45th running of the Eastern States 200. Also in the autumn mix midway through September and October are 100-lappers at Canandaigua and Williams Grove.

Further additions to the big-block agenda are still pending at this time although the complete 2006 Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series is expected to be posted prior to the end of January.