NCATS: RON VAN ES FINISHES 18th AT TROIS-RIVIERES AFTER JUMPING A RESTART

STONEY CREEK, ON – On Sunday, Ron Van Es took part in the fourth and final NASCAR Canadian Tire Series road race on the 12-event (total) 2007 schedule. The Stoney Creek, ON driver started 21st in the 28-car field at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres and made considerable progress until an overzealous restart drew the attention of race officials, who tagged the #11 Chevy driver with a drive-through penalty, which knocked him to 18th at the finish of the 41-lap race.

All in all, Van Es was pleased with his weekend and the progress he and his team have shown in their road course outings this summer. The Trois-Rivieres, QC street circuit has unique challenges, but Van Es and company rose to the occasion.

“The car wasn’t handing very well in practice [on Friday] because it wasn’t gripping the road very well,” said Van Es, who competes with associate sponsorship from Marshall Truck & Trailer Repair, Ingersoll Rand and G.P.I.C.S. Truck & Trailer Parts. “We made some changes after our crew chief Alex Nagy settled on a plan; and those changes worked well. After that, it was time for qualifying. The track at Trois-Rivieres is extremely tight with walls everywhere. You can try to put down a fast lap, but you can never forget about having to keep it off the walls.”

For the first few laps of Sunday’s main event – in which Van Es started 21st – the #11 team had a plan. “Our goal early was just to stay clean. Last year, there was a big wreck at the start of the race and we were really trying to avoid that this time. That worked out, but we started to get a little more aggressive on some of the later restarts.

"Guys were checking up on the way to the green flag and a few times I got a really good run on the inside of a bunch of guys. On one of them, I guess I pushed it a little too much and I passed about four cars before getting to the restart line. We got busted for that by NASCAR and we had to come through for a drive-through penalty.”

And while Van Es agreed that the penalty was likely warranted, the result was that he was facing a big challenge to recover the lost ground.

“With road course racing being all about track position, it really knocked us down a bunch of spots. After that, I pushed hard to stay on the lead lap, and we were able to do that until the next caution came out, so we dodged that bullet. But we were still at the end of the line and losing so many spots really hurt. But we were able to come back up to 18th.”

Over the summer, Van Es has developed a degree of confidence in the road course events, which allowed him to push the envelope at Trois-Rivieres. “We were really trying hard in this race. We set our goal to get a top 10 finish and I was really getting aggressive on the restarts. But they got me for that. I was trying, anyway. I got away with it a few times, but when I passed four and didn’t give any spots up… I kind of wondered, ‘I don’t know if I’m going to get away with that one.’ And sure enough, half a lap later, Alex [Nagy] came on and told me I’d made up too many spots and was getting a penalty. We were running pretty good lap times at the end, which was important to us. We got three good road course runs under our belts this year, which was good experience for our team.”

NEXT UP: CAYUGA SPEEDWAY:
And while all of the road course races on the 2007 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series schedule are now in the history books, four oval track races remain, including the Sept. 23 finale at Kawartha Speedway.

Next up, however, is a 200-lap race on Saturday, Sept. 1 at Cayuga Speedway. In the season opening event at the 5/8-mile speedway, located south of Hamilton (ON), Van Es started on the outside of the front row thanks to a spectacular qualifying effort, and briefly held the lead after passing eventual race winner Don Thomson.

“We’re hoping for another strong outing at Cayuga, on Labour Day,” said Van Es. “We started on the front row and we were able to drive around Donnie [Thomson] and lead for a few laps. The track conditions will be different at this time of year, but Alex Nagy knows that place like the back of his hand, so I’m sure we can get a good setup there. It’s kind of our ‘home’ racetrack.”

TROIS-RIVIERES RACE SUMMARY: Kerry Micks continued his dominance of Quebec road course races by winning another NASCAR Canadian Tire Series nail-biter over Quebec racer Andrew Ranger, on Sunday at Trois-Rivieres. Micks, from Mt. Albert, ON, edged Ranger at the finish line by 0.012 of a second after re-taking the lead on the last lap in a carbon copy of their recent battle at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Third place in the event went to BC racer Trevor Seibert.

PHOTO of Ron Van Es at Trois-Rivieres courtesy of Chris Mann

Prepared by Inside Track Communications. For more information about Van Es Racing, contact Jolene Convery at Van Es Racing at (800) 263-4884. For more information about the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, visit www.nascar.ca

NCATS: Broken bolt sours Mark Dilley’s run at Trois-Rivières

BARRIE, ON – While Mark Dilley’s Dodge-sponsored #9 Dodge Avenger was very competitive through practice, qualifying and the first third of Sunday’s 41-lap NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières, it was the proverbial ‘10 cent part’ that spoiled his run.

The Barrie, ON racer qualified 10th-fastest in the field of 28 for the fourth and final road course race of the Canadian NASCAR season. The #9 Dodge / Mobil1 / Exide / MOPAR / Leland / Wild Wing / CRS Dodge Avenger was up to seventh when a bolt that attaches the shifter to the transmission let go during the lap 12 restart, ending Dilley’s hopes for a top finish.

The temporary street circuit puts a heavy strain on a racecar and the broken bolt resulted in the loss of third gear. Unfortunately for Dilley, that’s the gear that is used most often in Trois-Rivières. From there, the #9 Dodge-sponsored Avenger went on to a 19th-place, lead-lap finish.
“A bolt broke off of the shifter where it’s connected to the transmission,” said Dilley. “The shifter got loose and that’s why it wouldn’t go into gear. Eventually, it ripped third gear out of it because it would only get partway in.”

The Dodge driver continued, “Our Avenger was very good during practice and qualifying. I time trialled 10th fastest and we were seventh-best in practice. I had a good racecar, but it was just some bad luck that got us in the race.”

The eight races that made up the first two-thirds of the season included four oval events and four road course races. Dilley is pleased that the final third of the NASCAR schedule will feature exclusively oval races, starting with the Labour Day event at Cayuga Speedway (near Hamilton, ON) where he finished second in the season opener, in May.

“We’ve been pretty good on the ovals so far this year, so we’re looking forward to the last four races of the season. We’ve been on the podium for every oval race except for Vernon (BC). We’re very excited about going back to Cayuga where we came home second in the spring. We’re looking to boost our position in the points chase before it’s finished,” concluded Dilley, who sits seventh in the overall point standings thanks largely to three top-three finishes (at Cayuga, Barrie and Mosport) so far in ‘07.

“Our car has been very strong all summer and we know our Dodge-sponsored Avenger can put on a great show for the fans and our sponsors in the final four races of the season.”

TROIS-RIVIÈRES NOTEBOOK: Veteran stock car driver Kerry Micks has a thing for racing in Quebec. Following his win in Sunday’s Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières, the Mt. Albert, ON racer has gone to victory lane three times in the past year in La Belle Province.

Last year, he bested Robin Buck in the CASCAR Super Series race at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. And just a few weeks ago, Micks came out on the winning end of a late-race battle with stock car rookie Andrew Ranger at the same facility, during the NASCAR Busch Series race weekend.

On Sunday at Trois-Rivières, Ranger was once again fell victim to Micks’ last-lap heroics. The two banged doors to the finish line, with Micks crossing just 0.012 in front of Ranger, the crowd favourite. The final podium position went to Williams Lake, B.C. resident Trevor Seibert, who started eighth in the field of 28 for the 41-lap chase around the 1.53-mile street circuit.

LOOKING AHEAD: Cayuga on Labour DayAfter a busy three-week stretch, the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series will be off this coming weekend to prepare for the Saturday, Sept. 1 race at Cayuga Speedway. The Subway 200 will be Round #9 of the 12-event 2007 schedule. In the NCATS season opener, back in late May, Mark Dilley finished second in the Dodge Dealers 200 at the 5/8-mile speedway.

PHOTO of Mark Dilley at Trois-Rivières courtesy of Chris Mann.

Prepared by Inside Track Communications // For more information about the #9 Dodge team and its sponsors, visit www.whitlockmotorsports.com. For more on the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, including complete race results, reports, point standings, event schedules and upcoming broadcast times for races on TSN, see www.nascar.ca

Raceway Park Up Next For CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour

Halifax, NS (August 22, 2007) – Raceway Park in Oyster Bed Bridge, PE is the site of round 9 of the 10 event CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour this Saturday, August 25th.

There is more excitement in the air as the 2007 CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour winds down and fans are anticipating lots of action in the CARQUEST Auto Parts 100. Teams are looking to move up the point’s ladder and consolidate their positions in the $50,000 year-end point’s fund.

A pair of Shawn’s continue to occupy the top two spots, Shawn Turple of Enfield, NS holds a 33-point lead over Shawn Tucker of Fredericton, NB. Wayne Smith of Timberlea, NS, by virtue of his win at the Antigonish Mall 100 last Saturday night, moves into third place, vaulting ahead of Kent Vincent of Crapaud, PE. Chris Hughes of Winsloe, PE holds down fifth place. A mere 79 points separate the top five drivers on the competitive CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour.

With just two races remaining, the teams are checking their cars and them checking them again. A self-inflicted mechanical problem would dash their hopes for a strong finish and the corresponding championship points that go along with the finish. Plainly put, the teams don’t want to beat themselves. They want to give their driver the best possible car they are capable of giving and let the driver work his magic on the track. Expectations are high for all the teams, which leads to that famous ABC television expression – “the thrill of winning and the agony of defeat”.

Lonnie Sommerville of Saint John, NB continues to hold down the top spot on the EIT Race Radios Rookie of the Year race. Daren MacKinnon of Winsloe, PE and Dean MacInnis of Whococomagh, NS follow Sommerville. Gary Bursey of Moncton, NB actually has more points than MacKinnon and MacInnis, but has had a non-rookie driver in the car for three races, forcing him to drop the points earned in those races.

The Atlantic Tiltload Time Trials are set for 5:10 pm, with full racing scheduled for 6 pm. The pole challenge is in effect Saturday night, offering five of the top drivers a financial and point incentive to start in the feature in the 24th position.

The Urquhart MacDonald Associates B feature is expected to complete the starting grid for the CARQUEST Auto Parts 100. Gary Bursey of Moncton, NB sits atop the Urquhart MacDonald Associates B Feature standings. Mike Stevens of Riverview, NB and Roger Crane of Montague, PE round out the top three positions.

From Ken Cunning

NCATS: BROWN RECOVERS FOR SEVENTEETH PLACE FINISH IN TROIS RIVIERIES

Doug Brown recovered from a late race spin when clipped from behind then held on to finish seventeenth in the “GP3R 100” at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres on Sunday. Although the veteran driver was disappointed with the results, he’s now glad to be through with road course racing, at least for this season, and keenly looking forward to the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series’ return to the more familiar oval track scene for the final four events on the 2007 schedule.

“Trois Rivieres has a lot of narrow, tight racing areas and we just couldn’t get into position to make any major strides forward during the event”, the Brantford driver lamented in reviewing the results. “We did move up to fourteenth place from our twenty-fourth starting position, but contact with another car cost me three spots in the finishing order. It was just one of those incidents that happen on circuits such as this. The motor was also a bit sluggish so I just tried to play it safe, stay in line and make the best of a tough situation”, he added. “It was virtually a single file run for those of us behind the first half dozen leaders”.

When the season began, the Haldex /NAPA Autopro driver’s goal was to finish in the top-ten positions of the standings. He currently sits 14th in the points’ race and remains determined to move up a spot or two as the schedule moves into the final segment. He also knows it will take a steady performance in each of those events to gain ground on those who are immediately ahead of him in the tightening standings.

The Brantford-based team's next action comes on Saturday, September 1st when the Series returns to Cayuga Speedway for its second appearance of the season.

Brown had led that May season opener on two occasions and was battling competitively with the leaders during the late stages of the 200-lap event until he got involved in a incident that not only forced him off the track but also caused an electrical problem ending his run12 laps from the finish.

“Hopefully we can repeat and even better our performance this time out”, Brown remarked optimistically in looking ahead to the Labour Day Weekend special. “We could sure do with some better luck,” he noted in reflecting upon the problems that have foiled some strong efforts over the season todate.

Kerry Micks of Mt. Albert edged his way past local favourite and current points’ leader Andrew Ranger of Roxton Pond, Quebec to win the race in Trois Rivieres and in doing so moved into fourth spot in the standings. Trevor Seibert of Williams Lake, BC finished third.

Ranger’s points’ lead grew to 91 over Don Thomson Jr. of Ayr, Ontario with Thomson’s teammate JR Fitzpatrick of Cambridge holding down third place with a margin of just five over the fast charging Micks.

HB Motorsports is pleased to have Haldex Limited as its Title Sponsor with NAPA Autopro supporting team programs through its role of Major Associate Sponsor role. Bicknell Racing Products; World of Graphics; HurryPrint Imaging Centre; WIX Filters; KWIC Internet; Gates Canada; BOC Gases; Brochures etc; Leitch Performance Engines; Strodes BBQ & Deli; and BrentZone Graphics are also valued members of our Associate Sponsorship Marketing team

Prepared by: Ken Spencer // Marketing and Media Relations // HB Motorsports

Mosport RaceFest '07 - Photo Gallery

Earlier today, our own Rob Morton and Mike Galipeau were at Toronto's Metro Hall Square for Mosport's RaceFest '07, in advance of this weekend's ALMS race at the legendary road course.

Drivers Ron Fellows and Tony Burgess were on hand for the event, which kicked off the Princess Margaret Hospital Cash & Cars Lottery.

For more info on this weekend's action at Mosport, click here.

Ron Fellows to be honoured with corner naming at Mosport this weekend

BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO – Canadian roadracer, Ron Fellows is to be honoured this weekend at the Mosport International Karting Academy with a corner – corner 7 – named after him. The new name for what is now referred to as the ‘bowl’ turn will be “The Ron Fellows Bowl”.

“Ron Fellows has accomplished many great things in racing,” Ken Flute, managing director of Mosport International Karting said. “From the top levels of the sport, all the way down to the roots of racing – karting – Ron continues to leave his mark as a great Canadian. We are very proud here at Mosport International Karting to be able to honour him with ‘The Ron Fellows Bowl’ as part of our karting track.

The Mosport International Karting Academy is located on the outside of turn 8 of Mosport International Raceway, and The Ron Fellows Bowl is widely regarded as the toughest section of the track. Fellows will be on hand this weekend as he does battle in the C6 Compuware Corvette in the ALMS Series, and in the factory Cadillac CTS-V in the Speed GT Championship.

In addition, the fifth round of the Sunoco Ron Fellows Karting Championship presented by Toronto Star Wheels will be in action this weekend at the Mosport Driver Development track.
“I want to thank Ken Flute and Mosport International Karting for the renaming of the ‘bowl’ to ‘The Ron Fellows Bowl’,” Fellows said. “Mosport is my home track, and the new karting complex, where we ran round four of the Sunoco Ron Fellows Karting Championship, is a fantastic facility.”

For more information, contact Ken Flute at Mosport International Karting Complex at 905-983-9500.

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

Formula BMW USA: Last hurrah for Pelletier in Canada

Montreal, August 22nd, 2007. – Maxime Pelletier’s venture in Formula BMW USA ladder series will come to an end this coming weekend when he completes the last double header of the season on the fabulous roadracing facility at Mosport, just an hour north of Toronto, Ontario. At the helm of the FB02 #10 HBR Motorsports single seater for the last two rounds, the Montreal 16-year old driver wants to go out in style and will not make any prisonners come Sunday night. Presently in fourth place in the standings, Pelletier still has in mind to finish on the final podium, with third place only 15 points away, and clinch his first victory in the process.

“I still have in mind the stupid move the leader in the standings (Daniel Morad) pulled on me in Road America, said a bitter Pelletier. He ruined deliberately my hopes to become the series vice-champion. But I can still earn enough points to finish third or even second with a good weekend. I will definitely give (Esteban) Gutierrez and (Alexander) Rossi a run for their money. I will not drive foolishly but agressively in Mosport: I had good results last year and my team, HBR, won a round. So, I think I can run right up there at the top of the charts. It is still my goal to win a round and prove the series officials they made the right decision last year when they awarded me a BMW Scholarship.”

“I know Mosport to be a demanding track for the driver and the machine. But my HBR crew has given me fast material all season and Mosport is a track where courage turns into extra speed. I want to go out in style and thank my team with a victory in the last rounds.”

A test day before the regular schedule: Regular race schedule will start with the last test day on Thursday. The official activities will take place Friday with three sessions : free practices from 9:35 to 10:00 and 12:55 to 1:20 PM. And finally the first qualifying sessions from 5:15 to 5:40. It will be Saturday for the second qualifying session from 8:00 to 8:25. Reds will go out for the start of the first race in the afternoon at 5:00 sharp. The curtain will fall on the season finale on Sunday at 1:30 PM. “They better watch out because I’m going to give it my best, and last shot”, concludes Maxime.

Maxime Pelletier is completing his second year in the North American premier ladder series Formula BMW USA after being nominated Junior driver last year. He is racing with the Austrian HBR Motorsports team. Mosport is the seventh and last double header programs in the 2007 schedule. Pelletier is fourth in the 2007 standings only 15 points away from third. His future plans will be announced later but different avenues are being considered in Europe and America. He may be reached at maxime@maximepelletier.com

Source: Michel Poirier-Defoy