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July 23, 2008

 

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DRAG RACING NEWS

CONNOLLY, HIGHT, SCHUMACHER EARN NO. 1 QUALIFIERS, CRUCIAL POINTS
ENTERING SUNDAY'S RACE NEAR SEATTLE

KENT, Wash. - Tony Schumacher has been in the final round in Seattle every year since 2004. Out of four consecutive final rounds here, he's won three. He looked primed to add a fifth after qualifying No. 1 Saturday at the 21st annual Schuck's Auto Supply NHRA Nationals, piloting his U.S. Army dragster to a 3.802-second pass at 316.90 mph in prime conditions Friday for his fourth No. 1 qualifier of the season and the 51st of his career.

"We've been lucky at a lot of tracks," Schumacher said. "Indy's (O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis) another good track for us, and this is one. If you can hand-pick a few, the Western Swing is a beautiful place to have a good streak on and so is Indy. I'm not going to complain about it and I'm sure not going to look for answers. I'm just going to let them ride out the storm here and enjoy it. It's fantastic."

Robert Hight and Dave Connolly also will lead their respective categories into Sunday's eliminations on the power of the No. 1 qualifiers they earned during prime weather conditions of the first day of qualifying, on Friday.

Schumacher and competitors in every category got a sneak preview Saturday of what race conditions may be like on Sunday at the Pacific Raceways dragstrip in the NHRA POWERade Series event when final eliminations start at 11 a.m.

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CONNOLLY, HIGHT, SCHUMACHER POWER TO PROVISIONAL NO. 1s AS QUALIFYING
ENTERS FINAL SESSIONS

KENT, Wash. - Dave Connolly entered the 21st annual Schuck's Auto Supply NHRA Nationals near Seattle 53 points below the Top 10 cut in the points - the line that in just one month will separate those who will battle for the 2008 world championship titles from those who won't.

Since his return at the Atlanta event in April, Connolly has hunted his way up the point standings with one win in three final-round appearances and it appears he's not ready to stop. Connolly turned in a blistering track-record time of 6.573 seconds at 209.49 mph behind the wheel of his Charter Communications Chevy Cobalt to lead the Pro Stock field into Saturday's final qualifying sessions Friday at Pacific Raceways, where Tony Schumacher and Robert Hight also were qualifying leaders in their respective categories.

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A Double Dip for Richard Hartman
Tunes Bruce Litton (Top Fuel) and Andy Kelley (Nitro Funny Car) to #1 qualifier positions at Mopar Canadian Nationals

Grand Bend, Ont. (July 19, 2008) – Richard Hartman spend a good portion of the day running back and forth between the pits of Bruce Litton and Andy Kelley. As Crew Chief on both cars he has little idle time, working with both teams to get them ready between afternoon and evening qualifying sessions.

At Grand Bend Motorplex for the Mopar Canadian Nationals Hartman was on his game. He put Andy Kelley on top of the Torco Pro Nitro Funny Car qualifying sheet with a 5.013 at 294.31 mph. Then, when rain washed away the final Top Fuel session, Bruce Litton became the second Hartman-tuned nitro car to find the top of the qualifying sheet…this time in the Torco Pro Nitro Top Fuel class.

“Richard is so great for our team,” Kelley said. “He is such a great tuner who really knows how to get a car down the track, but he also knows how to tune on a budget. We don’t try to set any records or set the world on fire, we just try to get from A to B effectively. Richard put us on the right track this year and things are paying off.”

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Bruce Litton Heads Friday Top Fuel Qualifying in Grand Bend
Andy Kelley (Nitro Funny Car), Mike Janis (Pro Modified), Rob Atchison (Alcohol Funny Car) and Rob Mansfield (Pro Stock) also claim provisional #1 qualifying spots at Mopar Canadian Nationals

Grand Bend, Ont. (July 18, 2008) – Defending World Champion Bruce Litton (Indianapolis, Ind.) moved to the top of the provisional Torco Pro Nitro Top Fuel behind the wheel of his Lucas Oil Canada Hadman Dragster qualifying sheet with his 4.743 pass at 302.75 mph. Litton was in the last pair of cars that went down the track in Friday’s Top Fuel qualifying session and was just looking to get his feet under him at Grand Bend Motorplex. He ended up on the top of the list heading into Saturday’s pair of qualifying sessions at the Mopar Canadian Nationals.

“The track was a little green last year, so we walked the track this morning and felt like it was in good shape,” Litton said. ”We just tried to get down the track and make the best of things. (Crew Chief) Richard (Hartman) and (Tuning Advisor) Nicky Boninfante made some great calls and things worked out.”

Though Litton was in Grand Bend, his thoughts were in Western Canada where fellow 2007 World Champion Dale Creasy Jr., the Nitro Funny Car champ, lay in a hospital bed still recovering from his accident in Edmonton.

“I spoke with Dale about a half-hour before I got in the car and he seemed to be in good spirits,” Litton said. “He’s expecting to go home tomorrow, but he said he’s really missing all of us right about now. I pray for a speedy recovery for him and hope he’ll be back with us real soon.”

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BROWN FINISHES THIRD IN MATCO TOOLS CAR AT SEATTLE

KENT, Wash. (July 19, 2008) - Antron Brown drove his David Powers-owned Matco Tools dragster to the No. 3 qualifying position Saturday afternoon at Pacific Raceways. The 18-time NHRA winner used a qualifying-best elapsed time of 3.831-seconds to finish third in the 16-car order at the Seattle NHRA race.

Brown, who is making his first career start at Pacific Raceways, posted his best qualifying time on Friday evening at the Seattle track when he used a Lee Beard tune-up to power the bright blue Matco Tools rail to a run of 3.831 seconds at 312.06 mph. It is Brown's quickest and fastest run under the new 1,000-foot racing rule. The Matco dragster overpowered the Pacific Raceways strip on Saturday's first attempt, and Brown posted a run of 3.937 at 295.21 on his final qualifying run. It is the first time he will start from the No. 3 position this season. Brown has now qualified for 159 consecutive races.

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FULLER FINISHES FOURTH AT SEATTLE FOR N C MACHINERY

KENT, Wash. (July 19, 2008) - Rod Fuller raced his David Powers-owned N C Machinery-backed dragster to the No. 4 qualifying position Saturday afternoon at Pacific Raceways. Fuller's best qualifying elapsed time was 3.841-seconds.

Fuller, who has seven career Top Fuel poles, including the Norwalk, Ohio race in late June, clocked his best qualifying effort on Friday evening at Pacific Raceways when the Las Vegas driver used a tune-up from crew chief Rob Flynn to power the N C Machinery car to a run of 3.841 seconds at 313.73 mph. On Saturday's first qualifying attempt, the Caterpillar car suffered an ignition problem and did not make a run. Fuller then posted a time of 4.902 at 142.42 on his final qualifying pass. The N C Machinery car dropped a cylinder on Saturday's second pass. It is the eighth time that Fuller has qualified in the top half of the field this season and first time he'll start from the No. 4 position in 2008.

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Rain Washes Out Second Friday Qualifying Session at CARS RV & Sport & Marine Rocky Mountain Nationals

EDMONTON, Ab. (July 4, 2008) – The main attractions of the first day of action at the Rocky Mountain Nationals, the Top Fuel and Nitro Funny Car qualifying sessions, were set to go just as an aggressive storm front struck, lashing the area with heavy rain and steady flashes of lightning.

The rain eventually subsided, and for a time officials were optimistic that the day’s qualifying could be salvaged. But a second front blew in and the decision was made to call it a day.

“We consulted all the weather outlets looking for any possible way we could get the program in, but we just could not see any window of opportunity,” said Skooter Peaco, IHRA Vice President of Racing Operations. “In fact, there was more severe weather coming our way, so we unfortunately made the decision to pull the plug.”

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IHRA Swings into Canada for Rocky Mountain Nationals in Edmonton
Fifth race of 2008 season will provide halfway point of IHRA Nitro Jam Schedule

Norwalk, Ohio (June 19, 2008) – With the 2008 season championship points races heating up IHRA will head to Canada for the first of two Canadian races this season July 4-6. The CARS RV & Marine & Motorsport Rocky Mountain Nationals Presented by Torco Racing Fuels at Castrol Raceway in Edmonton will bring the thrill of the Knoll Gas Nitro Jam to the rabid racing fans in Western Canada for the sixth time since the race’s inception in 2003. It is one of the hottest tickets in town and consistently sets attendance records as each year the nitro frenzy grows in what is known as “Festival City” and one of the largest cities in North America area-wise.

While the City of Edmonton has embraced IHRA and the Rocky Mountain Nationals, the drivers have slowly warmed to Castrol Raceway. The longest haul on the circuit for most racers, many drivers have been reticent to make the long trip over the years. Those who have been to the facility, and have experienced the passion and enthusiasm of the drag racing fans in Alberta, would not miss the race for the world.

“I absolutely love that place,” Torco Pro Nitro Top Fuel Top Fuel driver Bobby Lagana Jr. said of Castrol Raceway. “The fans are unbelievable. My entire life my one true love has been drag racing and coming to a city like Edmonton, where it seems like the entire town is in love with drag racing, always makes for a special weekend. Every year so many fans thank us for coming out there to race. Heck, we should be thanking them for coming out to watch us. Drivers who complain about the long tow should stop and think for a minute about how rabid and appreciative the fans in Edmonton are. I love it.”

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ASHLEY FORCE AND TONY SCHUMACHER NOMINATED FOR 2008 ESPY AWARDS

GLENDORA, Calif. (July 2, 2008) -- Second-year Funny Car phenom Ashley Force has been nominated for the ESPY Hummer Like Nothing Else Award and five-time NHRA POWERade Series Top Fuel world champion Tony Schumacher was nominated for the ESPY Best Driver Award, it was announced this week by ESPN.

The ESPY Awards, for Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly, was created by ESPN in 1993. Sports fans can vote for Force, Schumacher and other sports heroes in each category via an online poll.

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HERBERT RACES TO EMOTIONAL TOP FUEL VICTORY AT SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA NATIONALS
T. Pedregon, Anderson and Arana also win at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park

NORWALK, Ohio – Doug Herbert raced to an emotional Top Fuel victory Sunday at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals and dedicated his first win of the season to the memory of his two young sons who were tragically killed in a highway auto accident in late January.

Tony Pedregon, Greg Anderson and Hector Arana also were winners of the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park.

Herbert, who has titled his season campaign “For My Boys,” powered his SnaponFranchise.com dragster to a 4.636 second run at 311.70 mph to beat final-round opponent Brandon Bernstein, who posted a 4.611 at 313.58 in his Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster. It was Herbert’s 10th career victory and first since the 2007 season.

“It’s such an emotional day and I’m just happy to get the job done,” said Herbert, who beat Troy Buff, David Grubnic and Rod Fuller in earlier rounds, and moved to eighth overall in the point standings. “Going up there (for the final round) I knew I was going to dig down and give it everything I had. I just wanted to do everything I could to win because I didn’t want to have a mistake that I made cost us the race. Luckily I have my little lucky charm (daughter Jessie) with me, and we did a lot of thinking about her brothers (Jon and James) today, and I’m sure they were riding with me on that final-round win.

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JOHNSON DRIVES MOPAR TO K&N CHALLENGE VICTORY
Fuller, Hight, Line and Krawiec claim No. 1 qualifying honors at Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals

NORWALK, Ohio – Allen Johnson drove his Dodge Stratus to the $50,000 K&N Horsepower Challenge victory Saturday at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park.

In other racing, Rod Fuller, Robert Hight, Jason Line and Eddie Krawiec claimed No. 1 qualifying positions and will lead their respective categories into tomorrow's 11 a.m. eliminations for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals. It is the 12th of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event.

It was the first win for Johnson in the special bonus event for the eight quickest Pro Stock teams from the last year. If Johnson can win in tomorrow he could earn an additional $25,000 from NHRA for sweeping both races, bringing his potential weekend earnings to more than $100,000.

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FRIDAY'S RACING CANCELLED AS WATER SEEPAGE PROBLEM SURFACES ON TRACK
Stevens and Smith are leaders in shortened Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying

NORWALK, Ohio -- NHRA officials cancelled most of Friday's professional racing portion of the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park due to a water seepage problem on the racing surface.

Track officials estimate that more than 13 inches of rain has fallen on the track in the last week, creating a large water table surrounding the quarter-mile dragstrip. As the sun came out today and heated the track surface, water began to seep up through cracks in the track surface at various spots, including a large area just past the finish line.

NHRA and track officials worked for more than five hours to try and fix the situation, using multiple methods including backhoes, concrete drills and ditch-digging machines, but despite their tireless efforts could not get the track surface completely dry.

Before racing was delayed and ultimately cancelled, Matt Smith rode his Buell to the top spot in Pro Stock Motorcycle, covering the distance in 7.059 seconds at 187.23 mph in the only pro category that got in a full session of qualifying.

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FULLER DRIVES H.O. PENN DRAGSTER TO SEMIFINALS AT ENGLISHTOWN

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (June 22, 2008) - Rod Fuller powered his David Powers-owned H.O. Penn CAT dragster to a semifinal finish Sunday afternoon at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. Fuller moved to fourth place in the NHRA POWERade Top Fuel standings to equal his highest ranking in the points race this season.

After starting from the No. 6 spot for the sixth time in his professional career with a 4.551-second qualifying elapsed time, Fuller defeated Morgan Lucas and veteran racer Doug Herbert before falling to Brandon Bernstein in the semifinals.

Facing off against Lucas for the third time this season, Fuller labored to his 100th career round win. The Las Vegas racer powered the H.O. Penn CAT dragster to a performance of 4.963 seconds at 245.23 mph after suffering a malfunction with the fuel system. Lucas' red and white rail dropped cylinders and carded a pass of 5.245 at 209.49. Fuller earned his 100th round win in his 76th Top Fuel start.

Matched up against Herbert for the 14th time during eliminations, Fuller used a tune-up from crew chief Rob Flynn to notch the wire-to-wire win. The 13-time NHRA sportsmen winner (Super Comp/Gas), carded the quickest and fastest pass of the round, 4.594 at 319.75, to earn the trip to the semifinals. Herbert raced his red and white dragster to a run of 4.691 at 309.84. Fuller is now 11-3 versus Herbert during eliminations.

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BROWN RACES MATCO TOOLS RAIL TO QUARTERFINALS
IN FRONT OF HOME CROWD AT NEW JERSEY

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (June 22, 2008) - Antron Brown and his David Powers-owned Matco Tools team put on an impressive show at the New Jersey native's hometown track. The two-time Top Fuel winner powered his Matco Tools rail to a quarterfinal finish Sunday afternoon at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

One day after earning his 13th career pole and second No. 1 qualifying award in Top Fuel with a pass of 4.502-seconds on Friday evening at Raceway Park, Brown edged five-time Top Fuel winner J.R. Todd in the first round of eliminations before narrowly falling to five-time series champion Tony Schumacher in the second round.

Squaring off against Todd for the first time this season, Brown used a Lee Beard tune-up to clock the quickest pass of the opening round of eliminations. Todd got the jump at the start in his blue and white dragster, but Beard gave Brown the horsepower he needed to drive around and score the win in the Matco Tools/iLocate GPS rail. Brown earned a run of 4.567 seconds at 322.73 mph to advance beyond the opening round for the 10th time in 11 races this season.

Paired up against the Alan Johnson-tuned U.S. Army dragster for the fourth time this season, the drivers used solid reaction times as Brown blasted the Matco Tools/Go Fast car to a performance of 4.621 at 316.75. Schumacher was slightly quicker at 4.618 at 319.07 to earn the trip to the semifinals. Brown now has a round-record of 19-9 this season in the Matco/Valvoline dragster.

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Litton Takes Over Points Lead with Final Round Appearance in Maryland
Indianapolis-based Top Fuel driver qualifies #1, falls to Bobby Lagana Jr. in final round of President’s Cup Nationals

MECHANICSVILLE, MD (June 16, 2008) – Bruce Litton fell one round short of claiming his second consecutive IHRA national event victory, but he did not leave Maryland International Raceway empty-handed as his strong showing during qualifying, coupled with two round wins, put him on top of the IHRA Top Fuel championship points standings.

Litton carded a 4.699 pass at 287.90 mph during the Friday evening qualifying session to move to the top of the qualifying sheet and no one would catch him. Litton’s Friday pass was also the quickest winning pass of Friday’s elimination session, earning him IHRA’s Last Man Standing honors and five bonus points. It was a great way for Litton to start the weekend.

“Those Last Man Standing bonus points are very important,” Litton said. “Five points up for grabs during each evening qualifying session of the season can really add up. We always go hard, but those evening qualifying sessions make us go just a little bit harder.”

In the first round Litton stopped Kevin Jones in a very tight race. He ran a 4.896 at 288.09 mph to hold off Jones, who was charging hard at the finish line. Jones ended up posting a 4.950 at 297.88 mph in the loss.

“Kevin has a strong team behind him an they are always a threat,” Litton said, “Mike Sipple and that crew have that car running very well, we were glad we were able to get by them.”

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Creasy Cruises to First Win in 2008
Bobby Lagana (Top Fuel), Laurie Cannister (Alcohol Funny Car), Mike Castellana (Pro Modified) and Frank Gugliotta (Pro Stock) also claim Ironmen at IHRA President’s Cup Nationals

Mechanicsville, Md. (June 15, 2008) – Last season Dale Creasy Jr. was a regular visitor to the winner’s circle at IHRA Nitro Jam events. He won six times during the 2007 season in easily cruising to his second consecutive world championship.

This season things have not come quite as easily for the Beecher, Ill. resident. Through three national events heading into the President’s Cup Nationals, Creasy had failed to find his way through the field and into the winner’s circle. That all changed when he knocked off Todd Simpson in the final round to claim the Ironman at Maryland International Raceway.

“Today was a day we have been looking for,” Creasy said. “This morning I was wondering if this was going to be a ‘go fast’ kind of race track or if it was going to be tricky. Either way we thought we had something for everyone else. It worked out well. We have a tune-up we run at Grand Bend for a hot race track that we’ve been working on for two years. All the tracks are good until it gets this hot. You can’t do anything with a 140-degree race track.”

Creasy’s ’08 Impala was the strongest car all weekend. He qualified on top of the qualifying sheet before marching through the rounds of eliminations. He defeated Mike Smith in the first round when Smith rolled through the beams and posted a -.217 red-light. Creasy then knocked off Andy Kelley in the semifinals with a 5.118/293.73 pass to Kelley’s 5.323/280.14. He then marched past Todd Simpson in the final round, posting a 5.080 at 294.95 mph while Simpson shook the tires in the other lane.

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IHRA Video Flashback Pro Mod's

Carl Spiering crashes his Pro Mod Corvette while racing Kenny Lang at the 2006 San Antonio Nitro Jam (IHRA Video's)

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Canadian Late Model Touring Series
Hosts Civic Holiday Challenge

By James Baker

BLENHEIM, ON, CANADA - Canada's only touring series for dirt late model racers, the "Ontario Dirt Late Models," will take national stage on the coming civic holiday week-end with a two-day show set for two Ontario speedways.

"The Civic Holiday Challenge" opens at the 3/8 mile dirt oval Merrittville Speedway in Thorold, ON on Saturday, August 2 and concludes Sunday August 3 at another nearby 3/8 mile dirt oval, Humberstone Speedway in Port Colborne, ON.

In an effort to increase the series' visibility on a national level, the "Ontario Dirt Late Models" have invited 37 of Canada's top dirt late model drivers to compete in the organization's 2008 events. The invitation to western province drivers is the first step in eventually crowning a true Canadian national dirt late model champion.

Included in the invitees are Thunder Bay, ON drivers Tom Nesbitt, Joel Cryderman, Danny Young and Bob Slater and Manitoba racers Mike Balcaen of Winnipeg, MB, Ricky Weiss of St. Francois Xavier, MB, Dave "Turk" Tyrchniewicz of St. Andrews, MB, Kevin Sexton of Lorette, MB, Mike McCaughan of St. Francois Xavier, MB, Shawn Holden of Winnipeg, MB, Scott Greer of East St. Paul, MB, Jeff Pritchard of Carman, MB, Les Pritchard of Rolland, MB, Tom Balcaen of Winnipeg, MB, Gord Hochkevich of Winnipeg, MB and Terry Newhouse of Brandon, MB.
 
 
SCHUMACHER CONTINUES DREAM-TEAM SEASON AS BARTONE,LINE ALSO WIN IN SEATTLE

KENT, Wash. - After a shaky first half of the season that included six DNQs, Tony Bartone raced to his first NHRA POWERade Series victory Sunday at the 21st annual Schuck's Auto Supply NHRA Nationals after more than six years of professional racing.

Bartone defeated veteran driver Ron Capps, also looking to break out of a winless streak that dates back to Richmond 2007, in the final round. Bartone powered his Canidae Pet Foods Chevy Monte Carlo to a 4.454-second pass at 238.17 mph to get the long-awaited win, while Capps posted a 4.708 at 227.46 in his NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger R/T.

Tony Schumacher and Jason Line also were winners at scenic Pacific Raceways, the 14th of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Series. Before beating Capps in the final, Bartone outran Gary Scelzi, Mike Neff and Tony Pedregon in earlier rounds.

"Looking back at last weekend in Denver, we had an extreme amount of trouble getting down the track," Bartone said. "We blew up and were on fire many times, and we were able to turn our program around and put together a pretty good racecar to race with today and we went the four rounds and brought home the bacon. We made the qualifying passes on Friday and we chose to sit out yesterday in the heat, and we were lucky enough to come up with a good race-day tune-up today. It wasn't perfect, but it went rounds."
 
 
McMillen Thunders to Top Fuel Ironman
at Grand Bend Motorplex
Paul Noakes’ Alcohol Funny Car win completes dream weekend for McMillen’s Hoosier Thunder Motorsports

Grand Bend, Ont. (July 20, 2008) – Terry McMillen was not satisfied with one Ironman. After watching Paul Noakes, driving his Amalie Oil InstiGator, claim the Alcohol Funny Car championship at the Mopar Canadian Nationals, McMillen figured he might as well put the icing on the proverbial cake. He knocked off rookie Spencer Massey in the Torco Pro Nitro Top Fuel final round to put a second Hoosier Thunder Motorsports car in the winner’s circle at Grand Bend Motorplex.

“What a weekend…this is something you can just dream about,” McMillen said. “Getting both cars to the finals was a goal, to be fortunate enough to have both cars win is really amazing.”

McMillen (Elkhart, IN) defeated Spencer Massey in the Top Fuel final while Noakes knocked off Larry Dobbs in the AFC class. Noakes drives the car McMillen left behind when he stepped into a Top Fueler, a car McMillen never took to the winner’s circle.

“My hat is off to Les Mellows, Paul’s crew chief, and his entire crew for what they were able to accomplish this weekend,” McMillen said. “I also have to give the credit to my team here and the entire gang at the shop back home. (Crew Chief) Doug Kuch gave us the power and all my guys busted their butts and they never gave up their faith in this team. And here we are. They deserve all the credit, I’m just the nut behind the wheel.”

McMillen, who broke Clay Millican’s 2-year-old track speed record in his first elimination round against Kevin Jones, ran a 4.867 at 278.52 mph in the final to top Massey’s tire-spinning 5.393/201.43 pass. His first-round 322.42 pass set the new Grand Bend Motorplex speed standard.
 
 
ODLM Looks for National Exposure;
Invites Western Drivers to 2008 Shows

By James Baker

BLENHEIM, ON, CANADA- Canada's only dirt late model touring series, the "Ontario Dirt Late Models," has invited the top drivers from the western provinces to participate in the series' 2008 events. Included on the invite list are top late model drivers from Manitoba, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Thunder Bay, Ontario.

The effort is the first step in eventually crowning a true Canadian national dirt late model champion.

Heading the list of invitees are Tom Nesbitt and Joel Cryderman, both from Thunder Bay, ON , Mike Balcaen of Winnipeg, MB, Ricky Weiss of St. Francois Xavier, MB and Dave Smith of Edmonton, AB.

The 68-year old Nesbitt, a 2005 National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame inductee, began racing in 1959 and has won 601 features. Cryderman has won 175 main events and eight track championships in a career that began in 1979.

Balcaen is a six-time track champion at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, ND while Weiss captured the 2007 track title at Red River Co-Op Speedway in Winnipeg, MB. Smith was the 2007 track champion at Castrol Raceway in Edmonton, AB.

Also invited were Dave "Turk" Tyrchniewicz of St. Andrews, MB, Kevin Sexton of Lorette, MB, Mike McCaughan of St. Francois Xavier, MB, Shawn Holden of Winnipeg, MB, Scott Greer of East St. Paul, MB, Jeff Pritchard of Carman, MB, Les Pritchard of Winnipeg, MB, Tom Balcaen of Winnipeg, MB, Gord Hockevich of Winnipeg, MB, Terry Newhouse of Brandon, MB, Brad Cameron of Virny, AB, Stewart Hayward of Calgary, AB, Ed Turnbull of Estevan, SK, Danny Young of Thunder Bay, ON and Bob Slater of Thunder Bay, ON.
 
 
4th Annual NAPA Auto Parts
Mid-Canada Sprint Car Challenge
Mark Dobmeier # 13 of Grand Forks, North Dakota is shown going through turn four at Winnipeg's Red River Co-op Speedway. Mark would later go on to win the 25 lap, NAPA Auto Parts Mid-Canada Sprint Car Challenge. Fargo, ND racer, Wade Nygaard # 9 swapped the lead a number of times with Dobmeier throughout the feature race, but had to settle for a 2nd place finish. Winnipeg's Lou Kennedy Jr. # 21k, a three time winner of this race crossed the line in 3rd place. (Photo by Tim Johnson)
 
 
Red River Co-op Speedway set to host the 4th Annual
NAPA Auto Parts Mid-Canada Sprint Car Challenge
Winnipeg's Red River Co-op Speedway will be the site for the 4th Annual NAPA Auto Parts Mid-Canada Sprint Car Challenge this Thursday July 10th. Advance tickets are available at the NAPA Auto parts stores in Winnipeg. As an added bonus, customers buying their advance tickets at the NAPA stores will be entered into a draw for a 250cc quad, to be given away at the race. Veteran Sprint Car racer, Lou Kennedy Jr. will be behind the wheel of the famous # 21k. Lou has won the race three times and will be looking for his fourth win on Thursday night. Last years race saw the Sprint Car Racing debut of Lou's eldest son, and 3rd generation racer, Thomas Kennedy driving the # 20k. This years race will see the debut of another racer, Lou's second eldest son, Sean.
Pictured above from the left, the man who started it all Lou Kennedy Sr.,
Lou Kennedy Jr. #21k, Louie Kennedy, Sean Kennedy #32k,
and Thomas Kennedy #20k. (Photos by Tim Johnson)
 
 
DRIVEN TO PERFORM
Congratulations to Catherine for being named "Miss DTP Winnipeg" at the Convention Center last night. (Photo by Tim Johnson)
 
 
A Second Home Track: Kinser Looks for Third Consecutive Win at Tri-State Speedway

Haubstadt, IN— July 5, 2008—Bloomington Speedway is Steve Kinser’s home track, though Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Indiana can also be considered a home track as well for the native of Bloomington, Indiana. The high-banked ¼-mile is just a about a 100-mile jaunt from his home, and he and his family has many ties to the track, which is in its 51st year of operation this season.

Over the years, Kinser, the 20-time Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series champion has had unmatched success at Tri-State Speedway. He made his first start at the track in 1976, finishing sixth in that event, and since that time has racked up 34 Top-Five finishes at the track, including 21 wins. In his last two starts with the World of Outlaws at the track, he has led all 80 laps of A-Feature competition to pick up two wins.

He will look for his third consecutive win at Tri-State Speedway this weekend, as the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series make their annual visit to the always racy southern Indiana track on Sunday, July 6 for an event which was postponed by rain earlier this season. It will be the second consecutive event on a ¼-mile for the series, after a race at Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Arkansas on Saturday.
 
 
Dustin Daggett Dominates Opening Night of ASCS Northern Summer Nationals at Ohsweken
By Rich Vleck,
OHSWEKEN, Ont. (July 4, 2008)- Dustin Daggett was one of the strongest cars all night long at Ohsweken, but he needed a big chunk of luck early in the feature to open up the door to his fifth career win at his favorite racetrack.

Daggett was the beneficiary of a lap seven crash, which took out the top three runners and opened up the track to one of Ohsweken's Most Dominant Cars. The Portland, MI driver, who had captured the last four ASCS Sprints on Dirt Features at Ohsweken, pulled away over the final 18 laps through expert maneuvers for the win.

"I just love this race track," said the driver of the Mott Motorsports No. 2M in Victory Lane. "Those three guys getting caught up in that wreck made it a lot easier for us."
 
 
Wayne Johnson Snaps ASCoT Slump
with Lakeside Fireworks!
By Lonnie Wheatley,
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (July 4, 2008) Oklahoma City native Wayne Johnson snapped a victory drought spanning more than a year's length in O'Reilly American Sprint Cars on Tour National action by wiring the field in Friday night's 25-lap main event atop the ½-mile Lakeside Speedway clay oval.

The 2000 ASCS National champion muscled past Natalie Sather for the lead on the opening circuit and never looked back en route to his first ASCoT checkered flag since June 20 of last year in Brainerd, MN.

"It's about time," a relieved Johnson commented in victory lane. "It sure didn't hurt starting near the front either."

Moments after Johnson flashed underneath the checkered flag in Mike and Tim Hammers' Wesmar-powered H&H Enterprises/Pearson Farms No. 94 Maxim, Jesse Hockett got a head start on the night's fireworks by plowing into the frontstretch wall exiting turn four while trying to dodge a disabled lapped car. Hockett climbed from his mangled and charred mount uninjured.

Still carrying 2008 ASCoT title aspirations, Johnson gridded the feature field inside the second row as reigning ASCS Midwest Region champion Sather led the way to the green flag with Chris Walker alongside on the front row.

While Sather gunned into the lead in the opening pair of corners, Johnson wasted no time making his move. First, Johnson disposed of Walker for second in turn one. Then, Johnson pounced on the 23-year-old Fargo lass, diving to the low side of turn three to take command on the opening round.
 
 
Sherman Wins ASCS Canyon Region Firecracker 40
By Lonnie Wheatley,
PHOENIX, Ariz. (July 4, 2008) - Reigning Discount Tire Co. American Sprint Car Series Canyon Region champion Jeremy Sherman kicked off the Fourth of July Weekend double header by racing to victory lane in Friday night's Firecracker 40 atop Manzanita Speedway's 1/3-mile clay oval.

After starting the 40-lapper from the third position, Sherman made his way past front row starters Bob Ream, Jr., and Ken Caskey in the early going and led the rest of the way aboard Fred Bryan's Wesmar-powered F&E Development No. 77 for his fifth series triumph of the season.

Sherman was chased across the line by fellow second row starter Charles Davis, Jr., with Shon Deskins taking the show position. Ream was fourth, with Mike Leslie rounding out the top five.
 
 
UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals Night 15: Moyer Sets New Track Record On Way To Tri-City Speedway Victory

PONTOON BEACH, IL – July 4, 2008 – By Kellen Burns/DIRTcar Racing P.R. -

Records are meant to be broken.

But when it comes to Billy Moyer, he doesn’t just break records, he shatters them.

Moyer smashed the one-lap Super Late Model standard for the three-eighths-mile Tri-City Speedway in qualifying on Friday night, then backed it up by pulling off an memorable outside pass to win the 40-lap UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals A-Main.

The Batesville, Ark., legend’s lap of 14.144 seconds during the 51-car group time-trial session reduced the existing track record of 14.526 seconds that had been held by Wes Steidinger of Fairbury, Ill.

Things certainly didn’t go all Moyer’s way throughout the night, though. While he dominated the first heat from start-to-finish to emerge victorious, his Victory Circle M1 Chassis suffered a broken rearend as he crossed the finish line.
 
 
ANTRON BROWN 2008 NHRA MIDSEASON RECAP
BROWNSBURG, Ind. (July 4, 2008) - Four wheels or two, no problem for Antron Brown. After a decade as one of the elite riders in the Pro Stock Motorcycle category, Brown was tabbed to drive the David Powers-owned Matco Tools dragster. Making an unprecedented move, Brown earned the pole at the 2008 season-opener at Pomona, Calif. and won in just his fourth Top Fuel start by edging two-time series champion Larry Dixon in the final round at Houston Raceway Park on March 30. Brown didn't look back, advancing to three consecutive final rounds where the Matco Tools driver earned the trip to the winner's circle twice. After 12 of 24 races on the 2008 NHRA racing schedule, Brown finds himself trailing only five-time champion Tony Schumacher in the Top Fuel standings. In this Q&A, the former college track star discusses his move to Top Fuel, what it's like working with his crew chief, Lee Beard, and teammate, Hot Rod Fuller, and the second half of the '08 NHRA racing season.
 
 
HOT ROD FULLER 2008 NHRA MIDSEASON RECAP
BROWNSBURG, Ind. (July 3, 2008) - A season ago, Hot Rod Fuller was playing the lead part in what turned out to be a dramatic finish to the 2007 NHRA racing season. Now the fiery Las Vegas racer has a new role, that of the hunter. Through the first 12 races of the 2008 NHRA racing season, Fuller and his David Powers-owned Caterpillar Top Fuel team rank fourth in the arduous Top Fuel division. With the bulls-eye no longer on his back, Fuller and his Rob Flynn-led Caterpillar team overcame a slow start to the 2008 NHRA season and have moved within striking distance of the second and third place drivers, Antron Brown and Larry Dixon. The former Super Comp and Gas stalwart has one win and one pole this year along with recording low E.T. and top speed honors multiple times. In this Q&A, Fuller talks about his first-half performance and his outlook on year two of NHRA's Countdown to the Championship.
 
 
RED RIVER CO-OP SPEEDWAY
Mid-Canada Sprint Car challenge coming to RRCS July 10th. Contact the track for more info. RRCS  (photo by Tim Johnson)
 
 
NHRA SHORTENS RACE DISTANCE FOR TOP FUEL
AND FUNNY CAR CLASSES TO 1,000 FEET
AS INTERIM SAFETY STEP WHILE KALITTA
ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION CONTINUES
 
GLENDORA, Calif. (July 2, 2008) -- As the investigation continues into the tragic accident that took the life of driver Scott Kalitta, NHRA announced today that beginning at the Mopar Mile High Nationals in Denver, Colorado, both the Top Fuel and Funny Car classes will race to 1,000 feet instead of the traditional 1,320 feet or one-quarter mile. This is an interim step that is being taken while NHRA continues to analyze and determine whether changes should be made to build upon the sport's long standing safety record, given the inherent risks and ever-present dangers associated with the sport.

This interim change was made by NHRA in collaboration with professional race teams. NHRA believes that racing the Top Fuel and Funny Car classes to 1,000 feet will allow NHRA and the racing community time to evaluate, analyze and implement potential changes based on the safety initiatives outlined last week.

With the change, fans will still be able to enjoy the sights, sounds and thrill of NHRA nitro racing with speeds around 300 mph and quick elapsed times to 1,000 feet.

Over the years, NHRA has implemented many initiatives to enhance safety including measures to limit speeds from increasing, personal protective gear, vehicle improvements, and track enhancements such as sand traps, catch nets and concrete barriers the entire length of the drag strip.
 
The Show-Me State and the Fourth of July Holiday
await the ASA Late Model Series Northern Division
This Weekend!

Lexington, Michigan (Friday, July 4, 2008): Happy Birthday to the United States of America! Our great nations 232nd birthday celebration is here and the cars and stars of the ASA Late Model Series Northern Division Presented by GM Performance Parts will help bring in the Fourth of July Holiday Weekend in the Show-Me State!

The ASALMS Northern Division family of Crews, Drivers, Fans, Officials, and Teams are on the road and heading over to Odessa, Missouri for one of the biggest and pivotal races of the 2008 racing season!

The wicked-fast high-banks of I-70 Speedway, located East of Kansas City in Odessa, Missouri will serve as hosts for the extended distance Light Up The Night 150 on Saturday, July 5, 2008. This is the ASALMS North's fourth race of the 2008 campaign and there will be an optional Practice Day on Friday, July 4, 2008 during the late afternoon / early evening hours.

ASALMS Northern Division Points Leader, Eddie Hoffman, the winner of the first three North races of the season, will go for an unprecedented fourth straight Feature Win to start off the season, but he'll have to deal with the likes of 2007 ASALMS Northern Division Champion and Two-Time I-70 Feature Winner last year. Trent Snyder!
 
 
The “Old School-RacersReunion.com Shootout”
comes to Music city Motorplex, Nashville, TN July 18, 2008

Mooresville, NC (July 2, 2008) - Old school Racing (OSR) will bring retired NASCAR legends back to the track for its inaugural event on July 18th. The “Old School-RacersReunion.com Shootout” will be held at the famed Music City Motorplex (MCM) in Nashville, TN as apart of MCM’s 50 Years of Asphalt Racing Celebration, July 18-20, 2008.

OSR, in conjunction with RacersReunion.com, will bring the July 18th event live to the web with the veteran racing analyst Randy Pemberton in the broadcast booth with many special guest that will bring the fans racing stories that may never be heard again. Fans not attending the event will be able to view it live in it’s entirety along with some special surprises at www.RacersReunion.com 

Some of the greatest drivers of all time have been slated to compete in this long anticipated inaugural event. They include names such as; Harry Gant, Sterling Marlin, Geoff Bodine, Dave Marcis, Jack Ingram, Larry Pollard, James Harvey Hylton, Charlie Glotzbach, Joe Ruttman, Ronnie Thomas, Tommy Houston, and Randy Lajoie.
 
 
Huge Advance Sale for Biggest Race
in Nitro Jam Schedule
Record-setting ticket sales to provide festive backdrop for
CARS RV & Sport & Marine Rocky Mountain Nationals
Presented by Torco Racing Fuels
NORWALK, OHIO; June 30, 2008 – The Canadian fans that pack Castrol Raceway in Edmonton for the Rocky Mountain Nationals keep upping the ante. For the third consecutive season the advance ticket sales are off the charts, setting records for duckets sold. The Rocky Mountain Nationals have come to the forefront as the premiere event on the IHRA Knoll Gas Nitro Jam schedule due to a variety of factors…the rabid passion of the fans, the hard work and forward thinking of track operators Rob and Kim Reeves and the commitment IHRA has made to making the Rocky Mountain Nationals something special.

“NHRA has the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis and the rest of their events kind of lead up to that one,” IHRA president Aaron Polburn said. “We have the Rocky Mountain Nationals. While our other national event venues are strong with great fans, there is just a different kind of feeling when you walk into Castrol Raceway on race day. Rob Reeves and his entire team put on a great show but, honestly, you can find the major difference in the stands. Those fans are unbelievable.”

Case and point, Dr. Tom Carter has a memory of Castrol Raceway he will never forget.

“This was a couple of years ago. It was raining really hard and there was no way we were going to race for quite some time,” the Alcohol Funny Car driver from Cuero, Texas said. “I looked up in the stands and there were hundreds, literally hundreds, of fans sitting there having a great time. There was no shot we were going to get any racing in for hours but they were there having a blast. You just don’t find passion for drag racing like that anywhere else.”
 
 
Late Move Nets Jason Johnson ASCoT Loot at Huron!
By Lonnie Wheatley,
HURON, S.D. (June 28, 2008) - The annual ASCS Northern Swing ended in spectacular fashion on Saturday night as Jason Johnson nabbed his sixth O'Reilly American Sprint Cars on Tour National victory of the year with a late move in traffic to top the 25-lap feature event at Dakota State Fair Speedway.

Johnson snared the point from race-long leader Garry Lee Maier on the 23rd lap and then fought off Maier as well as Wayne Johnson over the final two circuits to claim his 34th career ASCS National Tour feature win aboard Lanny Row's Wesmar-powered The Shop Motorsports/Custom Equipment Design No. 41 Eagle.

Maier and Jason Johnson led the feature field to the green flag, with Maier gunning into the early lead and pacing the early rounds aboard Scott Brown's ASI-powered Lubbock Wrecker Service No. 11x Maxim.

The initial ASCS National champion never could rest easy though, as Jason Johnson kept the pressure on throughout. In fact, Johnson briefly took the lead away from Maier on the ninth lap when he slid into the top spot in turns one and two. Maier wasted little time returning the favor however, racing back into the lead a half lap later in turns three and four.
 
Tony Stewart Racing - WEEKLY REWIND
Week of June 29
 
 
Northwest Speedweek will be busy and fast

By ASCS Northwest Region Media

The inaugural ASCS Northwest Region season has been somewhat slow in getting started.

That changes soon.

The American Sprint Car Series Northwest Region kicks into high gear with Northwest Speedweek July 14-19.

Over the span of six nights, the top 360 Sprint car drivers in the Northwest will be racing six nights.

In the past, Speedweek included a night off for teams to regroup. But not this year.

Teams started the season with a May 24-25 Memorial Day weekend doubleheader at Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma, Wash.
 
 
World of Outlaws Event at Red River Valley Speedway Tonight, Postponed by Inclement Weather
& Dangerously High Winds

West Fargo, ND— June 28, 2008— Persistent rain along with dangerously high winds, gusting up to 50 and 60 miles per hour have forced the postponement of the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series originally scheduled for tonight (Saturday, June 28) at Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, North Dakota. The event has been rescheduled for Tuesday, August 12.

The Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series has three events remaining in the Gerdau Ameristeel Northern Tour which kicked off last night at River Cities Speedway. In addition to the rescheduled finale of the Duel in the Dakotas at Red River Valley Speedway on August 12, the series will make their inaugural visit to Dacotah Speedway in Mandan on August 16, followed by a stop at Nodak Speedway in Minot on August 17.
 
 
Patience, Perseverance & A Little Luck Pay Off for Schatz on Wild Night at River Cities Speedway
Grand Forks, ND— June 27, 2008— On the second lap of the first heat race on Friday at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, North Dakota, Donny Schatz’s night took an unexpected turn, which could have been disastrous. After setting fast time and lining up fourth in the heat race, he was battling for the lead when Jac Haudenschild spun, leaving him no place to go and severely damaging the front end of his car.

The two-time defending Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series champion was forced to race his way into the A-Feature by way of the B-Main, which he handily won. He used a little luck late in the 40-lap A-Feature to inherit the lead when Jason Meyers and Kerry Madsen got together, while they were battling for the lead. He had a late battle with Craig Dollansky to pick up his series leading eighth A-Feature win of the 2008 season, in the opener of the 2008 Gerdau Ameristeel Northern Tour which also served as the opener of the Duel in the Dakotas.

“It was a good night,” said the winner after conquering the high-banked three-tenths mile. “The car really came on at the end and we had a very good car late in the race. We could roll through the middle in (turns) one and two. We need lapped traffic and we got it. That allowed us to get some spots and watch the battle-fest with the 14 (Jason Meyers) and 55 (Kerry Madsen).”
 
 
A Perfect Fit: River Cities Speedway
Suits Haudenschild Just Fine
 
Grand Forks, ND— June 26, 2008—If ever there was a track that was perfectly suited for Jac Haudenschild’s always aggressive, no holds barred, take no prisoners driving style, it would River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The high-banked three-tenths-mile bullring lends itself to side-by-side racing with blazing fast speeds as the drivers run just inches off of the wall, with all of this happening in just about 10 seconds each lap.

Haudenschild will visit River Cities Speedway for the second consecutive season with the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series on Friday, June 27 in the opener of the Gerdau Ameristeel Northern Tour which will encompass a total of four events in the state of North Dakota this weekend, along with the final two races in August. This weekend’s race will be part of the Duel in the Dakotas which will wrap up at Red River Valley Speedway on Saturday, June 28. Haudenschild won the overall title for the Duel in the Dakotas last season, after finishing second at River Cities Speedway and winning at Red River Valley Speedway.

“Short tracks are always fun to race on,” said the veteran driver in regards to his return to River Cities Speedway. “They have always put a good show on there in the past and I imagine it will be the same way this year. We can’t wait to get up there.”

River Cities Speedway is one of just three tracks on the 2008 Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series schedule at which the drivers turn sub-10 second laps. Last season, the quickest lap in time trials at the high-banked track was 9.952 seconds, while the track record is 9.66 seconds. Haudenschild would like nothing more than to break the track record on Friday night, as the best sprint car drivers in the world invade the track for a full night of racing, capped off by a 40-lap main event.
 
 

 

 

 

 

 
Dirt From The Stands
 

2008 -  Schedules

Sprint Car

Late Model

Dirt Tracks

Pro Series

Drag Racing

 

Red River Co-op Speedway

Feature Winners - 7/17/08

 

Kevin Sexton - Modified

 

Luke Dykstra - Super Stock

 

Dave Buffie - Super Truck

 

Henry Peters - Street Stock

 

 

Red River Co-op Speedway Race Results... Click Here!!!

Updated July 23, 2008

River Cities Speedway Race Results... Click Here!!!

Updated July 22, 2008

Canadian Racer Spotlight

Canadian Late Model Racer - Chris Ross

 

By James Baker
 WALLACEBURG, ON, CANADA- Aspiring race drive Chris Ross lives in southwestern Ontario, a region that does not offer many opportunities to run a dirt late model.
 
 Few tracks there feature the late models as part of their weekly racing programs, leaving the "Ontario Dirt Late Models" series as the only avenue for an Ontario driver to race in his own province. The "ODLM" is Canada's only dirt late model touring series and has offered race dates at select Ontario tracks since 2003.
 
 Ross began his racing career in 2000 and has gained his share of success over the past eight years. The 27-year old Wallaceburg, ON resident started with a steel-block motor, limited late model and began racing with the now defunct "Great Lakes Late Models" series. He found victory lane often, winning four features at Ohsweken (ON) Speeedway and 11 main events at South Buxton Raceway in Merlin, ON from 2000 through 2003.
 
 Ross owned his first ride in 2000 but drove for his stepfather, Garry Lemesurier for the next six years.
 
 In 2003, Ross was crowned the champion of the "Great Lakes Late Models" and also captured the track championship at South Buxton Raceway.
 
 But Ross was not satisfied.
 
 It was always his dream to move on to bigger and better things in the dirt late model world. He had hopes of one day racing with the "World of Outlaws" and winning races in the United States.
 
 After several more developmental years, Ross moved up the ladder to the costly aluminum-block engines and into the very competitive arena of the super late models. In 2006, he began to travel to the states and raced at tracks like Oakshade Raceway in Wauseon, OH, the famous Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, OH, Butler Motor Speedway in Quincy, MI and I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa, MI.

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