Rolfsracing.com - News Blog

 Canadian Tire Motorsport Park unveiled its exciting new logo today in advance of the 2012 season which will kick off with the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series opener at the Victoria Day SpeedFest Weekend presented by Castrol Edge on May 18-20.
The new logo features the iconic Canadian Tire triangle to reflect a recently announced long-term partnership. Also included in the design is the outline of the historic 3.957 km grand prix circuit, which has played host to virtually every major motorsport event in its rich 52 year history.
“We wanted the new logo to reflect our new partnership with Canadian Tire as well as incorporate the historical aspects of the park with use of the track outline,” said Myles Brandt, President and General Manager of Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
“We’re looking forward to an exciting new chapter in the facility’s history that begins with the season opening NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race on the Victoria Day Weekend.”
“For Canadian Tire, this new logo reflects our commitment to motorsport in Canada and the strength of our partnership with Mosport Park – an institution on the Canadian racing scene,” said Allan MacDonald, Senior Vice-President Automotive, Canadian Tire. “We’re looking forward to the 2012 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series opener at the new Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.”
The Victoria Day SpeedFest Weekend will also feature the Trans-Am Series, Canadian Touring Car Championship, Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada, and the F-1000 Championship Series.

Ryan Chalmers, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park Media

Canadian Tire partners with Mosport International Raceway.

BOWMANVILLE, Ontario

Canadian Tire today announced a long term partnership with Mosport International Raceway, a renowned racing facility located in Bowmanville, Ontario. The track will be renamed Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. As part of a commitment to further establishing itself as Canada’s automotive authority, Canadian Tire is increasing its investment to support motorsports in Canada through this partnership.

“As Canada’s largest automotive retailer, Canadian Tire has a long tradition of supporting auto racing and motorsports in Canada,” said Allan MacDonald, Senior Vice President, Automotive. “Canadian Tire is excited to give back to the racing community by working with Mosport International Raceway to improve this racing landmark in Canada and create an enhanced experience for both drivers and fans.”

Canadian Tire Motorsport Park is home to some of the biggest races in Canada, hosting the only Canadian stop for North America’s premiere sports car championship – the American Le Mans Series.  The facility will also host two races in the 2012 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series.

“We are thrilled to partner with Canadian Tire, an important supporter of Mosport and auto racing fans for many years. Together we’re building a world-class facility that will draw racing enthusiasts and grow our fanbase which continues to evolve year over year,” said Myles Brandt, President and General Manager of Mosport International Raceway.

Support from Canadian Tire will continue to help upgrade the facility and improve the experience for spectators, participants, race teams and corporate partners. Spectators and fans will be able to see the improvements first-hand at the Victoria Day SpeedFest Weekend, which also kicks off the start of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series.
The new partnership is one of many initiatives that showcase Canadian Tire’s commitment to its automotive customers. Last year Canadian Tire launched a new automotive concept store in four different locations as well as the online tires and wheels store allowing customers to make informed tire purchases from their home. Canadian Tire also launched the all-new Driver Magazine, which is poised to become one of Canada’s leading resources for all things automotive. The third issue of Driver is slated to launch this April.

Ryan Chalmers, Mosport Media

Munich,

This year’s trophy for the most successful private BMW driver is heading to Canada: BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt presented Paul Dalla Lana (CA) with the winner’s cheque for 30,000 Euros at the 50th BMW Sports Trophy Award Ceremony, held in the Double Cone building at Munich’s BMW Welt. Dalla Lana’s 23 starts with the BMW M3 in the GT class of the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series and the GS class of the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge allowed the Canadian to score 517.47 points in BMW’s privateer competition over the course of the season.

BMW SPORTS TROPHY WINNER PAUL DALLA LANA AND BMW MOTORSPORT DIRECTOR JENS MARQUARDT

Photo courtesy:BMW AG
“Congratulations to Paul Dalla Lana,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. “He caused a sensation in several classes in the GRAND-AM Series, in which he was a regular on the podium. It is no coincidence that a driver from Canada tops our privateer standings this year. The interest in motorsport across the Atlantic is immense, and the drivers in the North American series are also well aware that driving a BMW car significantly increases their chances.”

Speaking after the Award Ceremony, Dalla Lana said: “I didn’t expect to win the BMW Sports Trophy. We had a fantastic 2011 season, but this comes as no surprise when you work with BMW, a team like Turner Motorsport or drivers like Bill Auberlen and Joey Hand. It just feels great to be part of the BMW family. From talented young guns to true-blood professional drivers, everybody comes together here. Being part of it makes me proud.”

The runner-up spot behind Dalla Lana went to Ricardo van der Ende (NL), who triumphed in the GT4 European Cup and Dutch GT4 Championship at the wheel of his BMW M3 GT4. The Dutchman was followed by Robert Driscoll (US) in third place. Driving a BMW 323i, Driscoll tasted success in both the American Pro IT Series and North Atlantic Road Racing Championship in 2011.

Two hundred and thirty five participants – more than ever before in the history of the competition – entered the 50th edition of the BMW Sports Trophy, each looking to earn themselves a share of the 250,000 Euros prize money. Marquardt said: “Even after 50 years, the BMW Sports Trophy still retains its appeal for drivers around the world. We once again had a record number of participants in 2011. A closer look at the list of entrants shows the many different ways in which drivers and teams can race successfully with BMW cars: 27 different models were in action in over 40 racing series across four continents, winning an impressive nine titles. Every driver competing in the BMW Sports Trophy is part of the BMW Motorsport family. The participants have come to value this for half a decade. They are fantastic ambassadors for BMW.”

Among the ambassadors in 2011 was once again Franz Engstler (DE), who has won the BMW Sports Trophy on two occasions in the past and finished in 19th place this year. In the 16th round of the World Touring Car Championship in Oschersleben (DE), Engstler claimed the maiden World Championship victory for the BMW 320 TC, with the win coming just six days after his 50th birthday.

In recognition of his performances over countless seasons as a BMW privateer and representative of BMW customer racing, the experienced driver was presented with the “Honorary Sports Trophy” by Marquardt.

As well as the opportunity to win a substantial amount of prize money at the end of the year, participation in the BMW Sports Trophy also offers drivers many other benefits. Particularly attractive are the many partnerships that BMW Motorsport enjoys with selected companies as part of its customer racing programme.

MOSPORT’S 2012 MAJOR EVENT SCHEDULE FEATURES BEST VARIETY OF RACING IN CANADA

Two Fan Favourites Switch Dates

(BOWMANVILLE, ON – December 1, 2011)   Mosport International Raceway announced its 2012 major event schedule today.  The six-event line-up will once again feature the only Canadian stop for North America’s premiere sports car championship – the American Le Mans Series as well as two rounds for both the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series including a move to Mosport’s Victoria Day SpeedFest Weekend for their season opening round.

The Victoria Day SpeedFest will get Mosport’s 2011 season underway, May 18-20, with the thundering stock cars of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series.  Also in action for the unofficial kick-off to summer are fan favourites, the SCCA Pro Racing Trans Am Series, Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship, Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada and new to Mosport, the F1000 Pro Series.

“The Victoria Day SpeedFest Weekend has been a long standing tradition at Mosport as we get our racing season underway with one of the biggest camping weekends of the year,” said Myles Brandt, President and General Manager of Mosport International Raceway.

“It will give all new and returning Mosport customers their first look at the facility improvements that the new ownership group, consisting of Carlo Fidani, Al Boughton and Ron Fellows, have undertaken since the end of the 2011 season. Once again, we will provide our fans with top notch racing all at a great value.”

Other events on new dates include the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series making their second appearance, this time at Canada’s fastest half-mile paved oval, Mosport Speedway, on Father’s Day Weekend (June 16) and the Pirelli World Challenge Series (GT, GTS, Touring and B Spec) will headline Mosport’s Sports Car Doubleheader Weekend on June 22-24.

The American Le Mans Series will headline the Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport (July 19-22) for the 13th straight season.  The top sports car drivers in the world will be joined by other top series’ such as the Cooper Tire Prototype Lites, Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada, IMSA GT3 Challenge and the Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship.

“Next season, we will once again have the best variety of top road racing in the country,” said Brandt.  “We also look forward to showcasing Canada’s top race programs such as the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada, Canadian Superbike Championship and the Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship.

All major race events at Mosport include these value-added benefits with paid admission:

• kids 12 and under admitted free  (with a paid adult admission)
• free access to the Race Team Paddock
• free access to the Mosport Motorsports Expo and Marketplace
• free access to the Saturday Night Stock Car Racing at Mosport Speedway
• free parking

Camping has always been a popular part of the Mosport experience with general camping and RV camping available for all of Mosport’s major event weekends, starting with the unofficial kick-off to summer on the Victoria Day long weekend.

_____________________

May 18-20        Victoria Day SpeedFest Weekend

NASCAR Canadian Tire Series; SCCA Pro Racing Trans-Am; Castrol Touring Car Championship; Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada; F1000 Pro Series

June 15-17        33rd Annual Int’l Vintage Racing Festival

This year’s featured marque is Corvette.  Regular classes include Historic & Vintage Production; Sports Racers; Group 70+; Open Wheel

June 16        Mosport Speedway 200 (at Mosport Speedway)

NASCAR Canadian Tire Series returns for second date, this time at Canada’s fastest half-mile paved oval

June 22-24        Mosport Sports Car Doubleheader Weekend

Pirelli World Challenge (GT, GTS, Touring, B Spec); Porsche 944 Cup

July 19-22        Mobil 1 Presents The Grand Prix of Mosport

American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón; Cooper Tires Prototype Lites; Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada; IMSA GT3 Challenge; Castrol Touring Car Championship

August 24-26    Mosport Superbike Doubleheader Weekend

Pro Superbike; Pro Sport Bike; Amateur Superbike; Harley-Davidson XR1200; Honda CBR250R Challenge; BMW Motorrad SummerFest

Mosport International Raceway will have a new look when it opens for business in 2012.  The first arches were put in place on November 15 as the construction of the new tunnel between Corners 9 and 10 nears completion.  The tunnel will accommodate two-way traffic for tractor trailers as well as pedestrians.

The Mosport LMP1 Show Car sits atop the first arch in the new tunnel approximately 4.3 m (14’) above the ground.

Photo courtesy:John Walker/ Mosport Media

 Since Canadian Motorsport Ventures (CMV), a group comprised of Orlando Corporation CEO and Chairman Carlo Fidani, Al Boughton, President and Managing Partner of Trailcon Leasing and Canadian road racing legend Ron Fellows, took over ownership of Mosport back in June, their immediate goal was to improve the experience for spectators, participants, race teams and corporate partners.

The Mosport LMP1 Show Car is placed at the bottom of the tunnel to show the height (4.3 m) and width (11.582 m) of the 37.194 kg arches.

Photo courtesy:John Walker/ Mosport Media

 ”This is just the first step to turning Mosport into a state of the art facility,” said one of Mosport’s owners, Ron Fellows.  “We feel that this necessary change as well as future projects will be well received for all involved as we strive to upgrade the foundation and rich history that Mosport already has.”
The new tunnel, which consists of 17 arches each weighing an impressive 37.194 kg each is an impressive 35.052 m (115′) in length, has an external width of 11.582 m (38′) and measures in at 4.3 m (14′) in height.
“This new tunnel along with our expanded entrance will allow Mosport to function much more efficiently for our existing events and will prepare us for future major events,” said Myles Brandt, President and General Manager of Mosport International Raceway.

MOSPORT’S 2012 AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES DATE IS JULY 20 WEEKEND

(BOWMANVILLE, ON - With the American Le Mans Series, presented by Tequila Patron wrapping up its 2011 season with the 14th Annual Petit Le Mans this weekend, the Series has announced that the 2012 date for the Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport will be the July 20 weekend.

Mosport’s round will give Series participants a much welcomed two week break until the next event at Mid-Ohio, August 4.

The 11 race schedule starts March 17 with the 60th anniversary of the Mobil 1 - 12 Hours of Sebring and closes at Road Atlanta, October 20 with the 15th running of the Petit Le Mans. The remaining events feature a familiar mix of North America’s best permanent road courses and high-profile street circuits.

“We’re really pleased that Mosport has again landed a coveted summer date on the 2012 American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patron schedule,” said Mosport’s president and general manager, Myles Brandt.

“I think our move to a new July date last season proved to be successful.  With the 2012 date remaining in July, our fans and corporate partners can mark that date on their calendars now and start making plans to be at Mosport.”

2012 AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES PRESENTED BY TEQUILA PATRON

March 17   Sebring International Raceway Sebring, Fla.
April 14   Long Beach Street Circuit Long Beach, Calif.
May 12     Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Monterey, Calif.
May/June   TBD
July 7     Lime Rock Park Lakeville, Conn.(Live)
July 21    Mosport International Raceway, Bowmanville, Ont.
Aug. 4     Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Lexington, Ohio
Aug. 18    Road America Elkhart Lake, Wis.
Sept. 1    Baltimore Street Circuit Baltimore, Md.
Sept./Oct. TBD
Oct. 20    Petit Le Mans Braselton, Ga.

June 12, 2011 - 24 HR LE MANS WINNING CAR - AUDI R18 TDI
AUDI SPORT TEAM JOEST

In June Audi celebrated its tenth victory with the R18 TDI diesel race sports car and ultra-lightweight technology in a dramatic race at the famous Le Mans 24 Hours. Likewise, on October 1st, Audi Sport Team Joest is aiming for the brand’s tenth triumph at the U.S. counterpart, the “Petit Le Mans” at Road Atlanta in the state of Georgia.

Nine times Audi has won the event which alongside the Daytona 24 Hours and the Sebring 12 Hours is the most important endurance race in North America. From 2000 to 2005 the Audi R8 was unbeatable at the race that is run over 1000 miles or for a maximum of ten hours. In 2006, 2007 and 2008 the Audi R10 TDI triumphed three times in a row. After unfortunate defeats in the past two years with the R15 TDI, Audi is set on returning to victory lane with the new R18 TDI at Road Atlanta.

Audi Sport Team Joest is fielding two vehicles at the first overseas event of the R18 TDI. Each will car will have three drivers due to the length of the race. Timo Bernhard and Marcel Fässler, who have been forming a driver team in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (ILMC) since the round at Imola and have been on the podium twice, will be supported by Romain Dumas. Joining Le Mans record winner Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish will be Dindo Capello - the most successful driver of the American classic with a track record of five overall victories (2000, 2002, 2006, 2007 and 2008).

Last year the Italian became the victim of a strange incident. While he was leading the race an insert in his helmet that is prescribed by the regulations came loose and caused the fireproof balaclava to slip over his eyes. The unscheduled pit stop cost Audi a possible victory.

Minute details could also be crucial this year. At Le Mans Audi triumphed in June after 24 hours with an advantage of merely 13.854 seconds. At the 6-hour race at Silverstone the fastest lap times of the top four vehicles were within 202 thousandths of a second. And with 56 teams having submitted entries, the track at Road Atlanta will be pretty packed, with numerous overtaking maneuvers posing a permanent risk of body contact.

After third place at Imola and second place at Silverstone there is just one goal for Audi at the U.S. classic on October 1st: victory. Therefore, Audi Sport Team Joest will already be testing on the weekend before the race at Road Atlanta in order to set up the R18 TDI as perfectly as possible for the special characteristics of the track and not leave anything to chance.

Nothing was left to chance either by the engineers from Audi Sport who developed the new diesel race sports car. The Audi R18 TDI is packed with innovative technology - from the compact 3.7-liter V6 TDI engine with a mono-VTG charger, the full LED headlights through to ultra-lightweight design that is becoming increasingly important in production cars too.

Tens of thousands of spectators lining the track at Road Atlanta will be watching the two R18 TDI cars with their whispering V6 TDI engines. Since its inaugural round in 1998, “Petit Le Mans” has evolved into one of North America’s biggest racing events that is meanwhile attracting more than 100,000 fans.

Kevin Hinds, John Baker Jr. And Jim Rossiter Crowned Division Champions

Bowmanville, ON - Mosport Speedway closed out the 2011 season in style, as Bruce from Red Beard’s Sports presented trophies to a handful of feature race winners and helped to crown three deserving Mosport class champions on the final Fan Appreciation Night of the year.

LATE MODEL
“The past five or six nights, we’ve sucked, real bad,” declared Jim Rossiter. “I was ready to leave the car on the trailer. But my team and everyone who has helped me all season long, including my wife and my students, have put so much work into this racing effort that I had to keep pushing for them.”

Despite heading into the final night of Late Model competition down four points to season long rival Todd Delisle, Rossiter’s decision to complete the battle paid off, as he was rewarded for his determination with his second consecutive Late Model title, and his fifth Mosport championship in a row.

Reclaiming the points lead following the two heat dashes, Rossiter’s third place feature result (behind winner Dwight Brown and runner up Darren Kearnan) was enough to earn him the 2011 championship. Leading the opening 15 laps (of 25) in the season finale, Rossiter relinquished the point willingly to preserve his point’s advantage.

“I saw Dwight coming, looking for the lead, so I said ‘Take it’. I was thinking ‘big picture’ and the championship.”

BOB’S TOWING SPORTSMAN
For the third time this season, ‘Big John’ Baker Jr. claimed a racing hat trick, sweeping victories in both the Bob’s Towing Sportsman heat sprints, and then claiming the win in the 20 lap feature contest.  The #63 Marksmen Club Chevy took the checkered flag eight car lengths in front of the #78 Rapid Racing Monte Carlo of Oshawa’s Bob Kish.  Defending series champion Bill Northam (#85 Five Points Mall/ Bill Shackleton Re/Max Pontiac) rounded out the podium positions on the final night on the 2011 calendar.

With his victory, Baker secured the 2011 Bob’s Towing Sportsman class championship. After destroying a set of tires with his post race burnouts, ‘JBJ’ took time to thanks the fans for their support.

“We come here every week to put on a show, because we couldn’t do what we do without the fans in the stands. They’re the ones who make this racing thing all possible.”

PURE STOCK
Past Mosport champion Ryan Oosterholt made a rare return visit to the Speedway last Saturday night, and powered away with the Pure Stock feature victory, leading the #57 RadMan Pontiac of Kevin Hinds to the checkered flag.

But it was Hinds who celebrated the most, as with a season long record of 11 heat race wins, coupled with four feature victories, the Whitby resident claimed his first Mosport Pure Stock championship.

“I’ve been at this for six years, and it’s always been ‘Checkers or Wreckers’ before,” laughed Hinds. “This year, I focused on staying smart on the track, and it paid off with the title.”

Kyle Hope (#03 Sensational Signs/ PS Auto Wreckers Cavalier) took Saturday’s checkered flag immediately behind Hinds’ #57 Grand Am, locking up second place in the year end Pure Stock standings.

OPEN WHEELED MODIFIED & PRO CHALLENGE
Mosport Speedway concluded the 2011 schedule by also hosting a pair of events for guesting series, with the Techtonix Open Wheeled Modifieds and the Ontario Pro Challenge series filling the evening’s race card.

In the 20 lap Modified finale, Delaware Speedway regulars Tyler Hendricks and Justin Demelo took the checkered flag in a bumper to bumper finish at the front of the open wheeled field, with Jim Rossiter in the Warnes Racing #90 edging Darren Kearnan (#46) for the final podium position.

As has been the case eight times in as many years, Dennis Thomson (#02 Ford Taurus) dominated the Ontario Pro Challenge field at Mosport Speedway, taking the lead on lap three of 25, and turning that into a four car length margin of victory over series points leader Tim Norris (#88) and youngster Josh Nicholson (#66).

The Championships Will Be Decided On Redbeard’s Sports Night At Mosport Speedway

Bowmanville, ON - Mosport Speedway will bring down the curtain on an action packed 2011 Saturday Night Stock Car Racing season with the eagerly anticipated Fan Appreciation Night on September 10.

This will be the second Fan Appreciation Night at the half mile paved oval this year.  It will give all the new and returning fans an opportunity to head down on track and meet all of the teams and drivers during an extended intermission break.  Children will receive autographed hero cards, treat bags given out by the driver’s and much more.

The full line up of racing will include the return of the Techtonix Open Wheeled Modifieds and Ontario Pro Challenge along with Mosport’s three home divisions, the Pure Stocks, Bob’s Towing Sportsman and Late Models as the season long battles for the championships will be decided on the final night of nose to tail racing.

Defending champion Jim Rossiter, who made the successful switch from Modifieds to the Late Model class in 2010 will be trying to catch Port Perry driver Todd Delisle who holds a slim lead.  Mosport veteran Dwight Brown will be looking to use the momentum from last week to move up the leaderboard as he chases down the driver’s at the top.

It’s been a back and forth tussle at the top of the Bob’s Towing Sportsman division and could come down to the very last race of the season to crown a champion.  Former Mosport champions John Baker Jr. and Bill Northam are separated by just 12 points.

In the popular Pure Stock division, Whitby native Kevin Hinds has a commanding lead as he looks to secure his first championship.  His consistent top finishes throughout the 2011 season has given him a total of 481 points, 48 more than his nearest competitor.

Redbeard’s Sports will be the night’s Corporate Sponsor.  They have three giant locations in Barrie, Belleville and Kingston.  Redbeard’s will be holding a tent sale at the Speedway as well.

“Feed The Need In Durham” will once again be on hand at Mosport Speedway this Saturday night. You can help out by donating canned food items upon entering Canada’s fastest half mile paved oval.

For the finale, the gates will open at 5:00 pm and the green flag drops on the evening’s first race at 6:00 pm.  Admission for adults is just $15 and as always, children 12 and under are free with a paid adult admission.

PURE STOCK FEATURE WINNERS - SEPTEMBER 3, 2011
WINNER-ROB FINDALL (M), 2-RYAN DIBELLO (L), 3-KEVIN HINDS (R)

Photo courtesy:Peter Brand/ Mosport Media
Bowmanville - Mosport Speedway’s three home divisions took to the track at the next to last race weekend of the 2011 season at Canada’s fastest half mile paved oval on September 3.

BOB’S TOWING SPORTSMAN
Continuing his late season surge, John Baker Jr. piloted his #63 Marksmen Club Monte Carlo to a pair of heat race victories, and was looking to make it a three race sweep on the night. But Oshawa’s Bob Kish had other ideas.

Launching past pole sitter Anthony DiBello at the drop of the green flag, Kish took control of the 20 lap contest, leading every lap on his way to his first Sportsman class feature race victory of the season.

Fending off repeated challenges from Baker and the #85 Five Points Mall Pontiac of Bill Northam, Kish led the three-car pack to the stripe, earning the win in a bumper to bumper sprint to the checkered flag.

“Man, that John Baker is hard to beat,” exclaimed the driver of the #78 Professional Collision Clinic/ Rapid Racing Chevrolet from the Winner’s Circle. “I had just enough to match him on the straight, but a couple of times I was right down to the pit wall to hold the low line. But that’s short track racing; we did what we needed to do to win.”

So frantic was the pace set by the race leading trio, only six cars finished on the lead lap in the caution free contest. Dale Wood (#10) crossed the stripe in a lonely fourth spot, with Shaw and Ken Huntington (#27X) rounding out the top, half dozen finishers.

LATE MODEL
It was a past champion’s duel for Late Model class honour’s on Saturday night, with Dwight Brown and Todd Delisle sharing in heat race victories, setting up the rubber match in the 25 lap feature dash.

With defending titleholder Jim ‘the Professor’ Rossiter holding the early race lead, the running order was scrambled following a Turn Four, lap two collision between Scott Harrison and Late Model newcomer Craig Perry resulting in the race’s only caution.

Back again under green, Rossiter’s #66 Roy Nichols Motors Impala immediately came under pressure from Brown’s #12 Monte Carlo, Brown using the low groove through Turn One to snatch the lead away on lap six, dragging Delisle’s #22 Ontario Motor Sales/ Metals Plus Impala along with him.

With an open track in front of them, Brown and Delisle set a frightening pace, the two leaders running in lockstep ad leaving the remainder of the field in their wake.

Taking the White Flag still locked in bumper to bumper fashion, Delisle saw his challenge fall a half lap short as the #22 Impala coasted to a stop in Turn Three, a victim of a melted and destroyed coil, allowing Brown to coast on to his second, consecutive feature race victory.

“I kind of feel ripped off,” laughed Brown from Victory Lane. “It was going to be a heck of a finish. But the only way Todd was going to get me on the inside was for him to go down pit lane.”

Tyler Betts (#86 Pingles Farm Market/ TOREION Impala) scored his second podium result in two weeks, taking advantage of Delisle’s misfortune to claim a career-high runner-up result. Rossiter held off a persistent Darren Kearnan (#55) for third place while Delisle was credited with a top five finish.

PURE STOCK INVITATIONAL
Mosport Speedway hosted their third annual Pure Stock Invitational last Saturday, and it was an invader from the dirt track ranks who powered away with the Victor’s Laurels.

Rob Flindall, a Peterborough High School Auto Shop teacher, followed in his father’s footsteps and developed his race craft on Brighton Speedway’s quarter mile clay oval. But the lessons learned there have obviously transferred to the pavement wars.

Wrestling the lead away from Mosport Pure Stock points leader Kevin Hinds on lap four, Flindall opened up a healthy advantage over challengers Anthony DiBello (#16 DiBello Towing) and Hinds, holding the point until a lap 20 red flag. John Baker Jr., at the wheel of the #40 Honda CRX had climbed to fourth place from his tail end starting position, but on lap 20, the power plant screamed ‘enough’, expiring dramatically on the back straight, necessitating a massive cleanup.

On the restart, DiBello got the better launch to grab the lead, but Flindall would not be denied, reclaiming the point on lap 24 and running out the remaining 11 tours at the front of the back, and taking the feature race victory.

“I banged the wall on the restart and I thought I was done,” admitted Flindall. “But once I knew everything was still straight, I put my head down and went for it. That was an amazing race, and gives us the first win for the Sidey NAPA/ State Farm Insurance team.”

DiBello defended the home track’s reputation with a well deserved second place result, crossing the stripe just two car lengths behind Flindall, with Hinds piloting his #57 RadMan Grand Am to a top three finish. Duane Jeffery, making his Mosport return at the wheel of his recently acquired #0 Pure Stock, took the checkered flag in fourth place, Henk Mulders (#99) rebounding from being a lap down to round out the top five.

ONTARIO LEGENDS MOSPORT FEATURE WINNER DAVE RIOPELLE, AUGUST 27, 2011

Photo courtesy:Peter Brand/ Mosport Media

Bowmanville, ON - Saturday night at Mosport Speedway was the perfect night for any motor head with everything from electric scooters to brand new Corvettes and Camaros on display, all brought to a captive audience courtesy of the evening sponsor, Roy Nichols Motors. There was some pretty fancy racing machinery on hand as well, with the Ontario Legends Series joining the Mosport Pure Stock and Late Model competitors.

LATE MODEL
Coming off of a victory in the previous week’s 50 lap feature, Todd Delisle in his #22 NAPA (Port Perry)/ CCS Industrials, SignWorks Impala kept his winning streak alive by claiming victory in a pair of Late Model qualifying sprints.

Looking to make it a clean sweep, Delisle set his sights on making it to the front of the Late Model pack from his fourth row grid position where he would be forced to track down the race leading #12 Monte Carlo of Dwight Brown.

Starting one row in front of Delisle, Brown threaded the needle; shooting up through the middle between front runners Tyler Betts and Bob Kish (#33) to grab the lead on lap three.

With Delisle engaged in his own mid pack battle, Brown extended his advantage with a clear track in front of him. On lap 8, Delisle took the long outside line around Turn Four to wrestle second place away from the #86 Pingles Farm Chevy of Betts and set off in pursuit of Brown’s Monte Carlo, slowly drawing nearer to the distant leader.

Delisle got his hope for break when Jim Rossiter spun in Turn Two, bringing out the yellow flag, regrouping the pack and allowing Delisle to close right up to Brown’s back bumper. In two attempts at a green/white/checker finish, Brown did eventually prevail, taking the feature race victory by a car length from Delisle, Tyler Betts rounding out the top three finishers.

“Someone was trying to get me with those late race restarts, I don’t like playing the restart game,” said Brown from Victory Lane. “But once I got in front, I could run my own line and hold the lead.”

Delisle’s runner-up result, coupled with Rossiter’s seventh place finish, produced a swing in the overall Late Model standings, with Delisle, the 2007 champion heading into the final two nights of racing now holding a slim points lead over the defending title holder.

PURE STOCK
It was ’share and share alike’ for Kyle Hope and Kevin Hinds, as these two Pure Stock rivals split Saturday’s four heat dashes, each claiming a pair of victories. But sharing obviously only goes so far for racing drivers, as Hinds took control of the Pure Stock feature contest on lap 6 and greedily held on to come home with win in the 20 lap finale.

Tracking down early race leader Jeff VanDeBelt (#33), Hinds assumed the point as the pair entered Turn Three and then concentrated on extending his gap over the 16 car field. A lap 11 caution period negated his advantage and the restart allowed Anthony DiBello (#16 DiBello Towing) to slip into second place, with Ryan Oosterholt (in Jeff Scott’s #96 Sunbird) following suite and filling the third place position. A pair of late race cautions gave Hinds some concern, but he was able to hold on, driving his #57 RadMan Pontiac into the Mosport Winner’s Circle for the fifth time this year.

“Every time we get a win, we get hit with some penalty weight, and my car got real fat. I told myself that I didn’t want to have to add any more weight, but once you’re out front, it’s hard to slow down,” said Hinds.

DiBello crossed the stripe two car lengths in arrears of the race winner, with Oosterholt completing the podium positions. Kyle Hope (#03 Sensational Signs Cavalier) worked his way forward from the back of the grid to take a well deserved fourth place result. The three way battle for a top five finish was won by Nick Mulders by half a car length from his father Henk, with Jeff VanDeBelt rounding out the top half dozen finishers.

ONTARIO LEGENDS

In the third and final appearance for the Ontario Legends series at Mosport Speedway this year, the night escalated from blown motors and mangled metal mayhem to a heart stopping three wide scramble for the feature race victory, the checkered flag falling over series invader Dave Riopelle (#92) at the end of the entertaining, 20 lap finale.

Local driver Wes Cuthbertson (#12) used hometown advantage to claim a pair of heat race wins, and it initially appeared that older brother Adam would earn race glory of his own as he took control of the feature contest, handily leading until a lap 13 caution period restart.

Leading the Legends pack into Turn One, Adam Cuthbertson was the first one to discover some residual oil dry, and slid wide, allowing Bill Mason (#4) and Riopelle to snatch away the race lead. Battling back, Cuthbertson engaged his rivals in a three-way, door handle to door handle scrap, Riopelle wrestling the point away from Mason with two-to-go, dragging Cuthberton’s #79 along behind him and into second spot. Side by side the pair took the checkered flag, Riopelle’s half car length advantage giving him his first Mosport victory.

“Man, these guys play rough. I’ve been turned around more times today than I have in my entire career,” stated Riopelle.

On the penultimate lap, Wes Cuthbertson snuck into the fray, grabbing third place away from Mason, with Paul Pierik, and Andy Warbutton, in Riopelle’s backup car, rounding out the top six finishers.

PURE STOCK FEATURE WINNER JUSTIN VANDEBELT, AUGUST 20, 2011

Photo courtesy:Peter Brand/ Mosport Media
Bowmanville, ON - Rain clouds threatened the action at Mosport Speedway on Saturday, August 20, however, shortly before the 6 pm start, Mother Nature intervened and the green flag was able to drop uninterrupted for another great night of exciting racing at Canada’s fastest half mile paved oval. With only three race dates left on the calendar, the action was intense in the Pure Stock, Bob’s Towing Sportsman and the Late Model divisions.

LATE MODEL
The Late Model division was busy on Saturday night, returning from a one week absence for a 50 lap feature.

Port Perry’s Todd Delisle in the #22 Control Panel Systems Impala continued his assault on point’s leader and defending champion Jim Rossiter, who coming into the evening held a 13 point advantage in the race for the Late Model crown.

Delisle got to work early, winning the first heat race and finishing as the runner up to Rossiter in the second. This close racing set the stage for an exciting feature, which saw the #22 car swept into victory lane for the third time in 2011. Starting on the pole, Delisle gained control of the pack right from the waving of the green flag.

Dwight Brown’s #12 machine started in third position and quickly moved through the field, overtaking Rossiter’s #66 on Lap 3, setting up furious action between Delisle and Brown as they battled for the lead.

Burketon’s Darren Kearnan, driving the #55 Cal Jessup Trucking/Harrington Mobile Truck Repairs Impala jockeyed for the fifth position with Hampton’s Tyler Betts and his #86 Pingle’s farm Market Impala throughout the opening 15 laps.  While the battle for fifth was being waged, Delisle and Brown continued to battle atop the leaderboard. Brown closed the gap to less than a car length behind Delisle, and on Lap 41 the #22 driver got loose coming out of Turn 2, but Brown was unable to pull the trigger and ran out of time as Delisle won by two car lengths. Brown claimed the runner up spot with Rossiter finishing third, followed by Kearnan and Harrison.

Brown was a fixture in the rear view mirror of Delisle all night long, and that seemed to sit well with the Port Perry driver.

“We earned this one,” Delisle said in victory lane. “There’s no one I like to race more than Dwight, and we earned every inch tonight.”

BOB’S TOWING SPORTSMAN
‘Big John’ Baker Jr. came into Saturday night looking to continue his winning ways from the past two weeks, when he was able to sweep the Bob’s Towing Sportsman events on both occasions.

Point’s leader Bill Northam of Oshawa claimed the first of the heat races, but Baker Jr. was able to take the checkered flag in the second, setting the stage for an exciting 20 lap feature.

Bob Kish and his #78 Rapid Racing Monte Carlo lead the first four laps of the race before Baker Jr. was able to overtake him through turn 4 on Lap 4 for the lead.

Baker and Kish continued to battle at the front of the pack and by Lap 9, Baker’s #63 car had opened a four car length advantage.

On Lap 15, Baker Jr. began weaving his way through lapped traffic and was able to put some extra distance on the #78, claiming his third consecutive Bob’s Towing Sportsman feature and taking over the championship points lead.

“It looked pretty dismal with the rain earlier, but we were able to hold it off and get in another great night of racing,” Baker said following the race.

PURE STOCK
The action continued in the Pure Stock division as three different drivers took the checkered flag in the four heat races.

In the night’s feature race, the #00 Oshawa Auto Parts Neon of Bowmanville’s Justin Vandebelt started in the fourth position, but was able to move up quickly and grab the lead on the opening lap and despite some great pressure was able to hold on for his first feature win.

Last week’s feature winner, Corey Hayward and his #70 Prelude were also busy moving up through the pack. Although he started at the back of the field, by Lap 5, Hayward had moved into third position and by Lap 8 had moved into second just behind Vandebelt.

From there, Hayward tried desperately to get around Vandebelt, but the #00 had an answer for everything thrown at him and was able to squeak out a narrow victory.

“We worked all week getting the car running better and faster and we wrecked it again,” Vandebelt said following a fracas on the front stretch involving a lapped car. “This wasn’t quite the way I envisioned winning.”

PURE STOCK FEATURE WINNER CORY HAYWARD, AUGUST 13, 2011

Photo courtesy:Peter Brand/ Mosport Media
Bowmanville - Fortunately, the professional efforts of the evening’s sponsors, Waste Management Systems, were not needed last Saturday, as for the most part; the gathered stock car competitors survived a night of heated, bumper to bumper action under a full moon at Mosport Speedway. But, with only four race dates remaining on the 2011 calendar, the intensity is ramping up and a sense of urgency was evident throughout the Pure Stock, the Bob’s Towing Sportsman and the open-wheeled Modified paddock.

TECHTONIX OPEN-WHEELED MODIFIEDS
Two weeks ago, Burketon’s Darren Kearnan suffered a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of Delaware Speedway regular Tyler Hendricks.

Determined to endure no such fate in the return engagement, Kearnan and the crew of the #46 TTR Transport Yellow Jacket spent long hours in the shop, rebuilding the braking system and fine tuning the power plant in Kearnan’s Modified mount.

Having missed the practice sessions due to a prior engagement, Kearnan was originally unsure of the changes made to his car, but making adjustments as the night progressed, the championship winning (2004) Modified carried Kearnan to victory in the evening’s 20 lap feature contest.

“We still have some braking issues, but the extra work we did on the motor over the past two weeks paid off,” said Kearnan.

Having survived a Heat One, opening lap incident that sent the #62 Modified of Randy Hollingsworth hard into the front straight wall, Kearnan claimed a pair of top four results in heat races (won by Rob Warnes and Hendricks). Lining up alongside of pole sitter Bill Pickford (#61) for the start of the feature, Kearnan immediately jumped into the race lead with Hendricks following through in second spot. Stretching his advantage over the 20 lap finale, Kearnan dominated, taking the checkered flag by 10 car lengths in front of the London area driver.

“This kind of makes up for the last time when he beat me by a couple of feet,” laughed Kearnan.

The closest battle of the night was waged between Warnes Racing teammates Jim Rossiter and Rob Warnes. Battling some early engine issues, Rossiter led Warnes in a bumper to bumper dice throughout the opening dozen laps, but faded towards the end, allowing Warnes in the red #95 Modified to snatch away third place on lap 13. Rossiter held on to a top four result, crossing the stripe ahead of Bill Pickford and the ageless Bill Burrows.

PURE STOCK
Saturday night, birthday boy Anthony DiBello stretched his Pure Stock division winning streak to eight races, taking a pair of victories in the 8 lap heat dashes. His streak unfortunately came to a halt on lap 10 of the feature when DiBello was forced into the pits to have a dangling rear bumper removed from the #16 DiBello Towing Honda, the stop relegating him to the tail end of the 16 car field and handing the point to Kevin Hinds and his #57 RadMan Pontiac.

On a lap 11 caution period restart, Hinds suddenly found himself in the crosshairs of the charging #70 Prelude of Corey Hayward. Crossing the starting line in a dead heat on lap 13, Hayward out braked Hinds into the first turn, emerging with lead, translating the move into the race win, his first feature victory of the season.

“We just picked this car up a couple of weeks ago and we’re still trying to get the bugs out of it,” laughed Hayward. “Our goal was just trying to get this thing to the finish.”

Once relegated to the runner up position, with two to go, Hinds had to concern himself with the resurging ex Shannon Kimmerly #16 Honda of DiBello. In a nose to tail finish, Hinds held on to second place, DiBello completing his comeback with a well deserved third place result. Kyle Rose (#03) crossed the stripe in fourth spot while Justin VanDeBelt (#00) pipped Heath MacDonald on the last lap for a top five finish.

BOB’S TOWING SPORTSMAN

‘Big John’ Baker Jr. continued his efforts to wrestle the Bob’s Towing Sportsman championship trophy from the hands of Bill Northam.

On Saturday night, Baker in his #63 Marksmen Club Chevy edged points leader Northam for the wins in each of the evening’s heat races, and the Oshawa driver was looking for his second consecutive Hat Trick as the rivals lined up side by side to begin the 20 lap Sportsman finale.

A Turn Two, five car scramble reshuffled the running order and when the dust had cleared, it was Baker’s orange and black mount emerging in the race lead.

“I don’t know who to thank for that mess,” laughed Baker. “Guys were bouncing off each other and the wall. I was lucky enough to have room to haul it down to the low line and get away from everybody.”

A lap two caution brought out for a Ken Huntington spin allowed the Sportsman drivers to catch their breath and calm their nerves. Once again under green, the game belonged to Baker, the remaining 18 laps run ‘Clean and Green’ with JBJ earning the win.

Bob Kish in his #78 Rapid Racing Monte Carlo, recovering from distributor problems in Heat Race One, was a constant presence in Baker’s mirrors, eventually taking the checkered flag three car lengths in arrears of the leader. A victim of the opening lap melee, Northam was able to wrestle his #85 Five Points Mall/ Bill Shackelton Re/Max Pontiac past Dale Wood (#10) on lap 8, this pair, along with the #2 Monte Carlo SS of Tom Cormier, rounding out the top five finishers.

MIKE PODD - FEATURE WINNER, MOSPORT - AUGUST 6, 2011
photo:Peter Brand, Mosport Media

Bowmanville, ON - Roka TIM-BR Mart has been a longtime supporter of Mosport Speedway, and of the local community. Their contributions were recognized and welcomed last Saturday as their staff, friends and customers were on hand to witness some thrilling stock car racing action from the Late Models, Pure Stocks and the Canadian Vintage Modified competitors.

LATE MODELS
Coming off of a victory in last week’s Late Model feature race, Burketon’s Darren Kearnan saw his opportunity to repeat come to a premature end as the power plant in the #55 Impala exploded dramatically in the first heat race.

His absence however, proved to be of little consequence to fellow Scugog-area resident Todd Delisle, as the driver of the #22 Schooner Fish & Chips/ NAPA (Port Perry) Chevrolet put on a driving clinic, sweeping to victory in the night’s opening heat race and then won the 25 lap feature, going flag-to-flag for the Late Model victory.

Taking the green flag from the pole position, Delisle used a clear track to claim the lead. Steadily increasing his lead over the course of the 25 lap event, Delisle in his #22 Impala took the checkered flag.

“We had issues in practice with a new rev limiter that wasn’t working right,” said Delisle. “We disconnected it for the race and everything worked great after that. When you build up that much of a lead, you start to hear strange things from the car, but you have to tune them out and focus on your driving.”

Behind the race leader, Jim ‘the Professor’ Rossiter enjoyed no such luxury of tuning things out, the driver of the #66 Roy Nichols Motors Impala SS facing constant pressure from the #68 of Scott Harrison and Tyler Betts’ #86 Chevy.

In a closely knit, three car train, Rossiter, Harrison and Betts ran in lockstep, closing out the 25 lap feature covered by the proverbial blanket. Dale Laking (#44 Branson Machine and Tool Dodge) completed the top five.

PURE STOCK
To claim a Racing Hat Trick, scoring two heat race victories followed by a win in the feature, is an accomplishment to be proud of. To do it twice in two consecutive weekends is virtually impossible.

But on Saturday night, Cannington’s Anthony DiBello scored the Double/ Triple using his DiBello Towing mount to sweep the Pure Stock contests.

Starting the 20 lap Pure Stock feature from the outside of Row Five, within three laps DiBello had moved forward to challenge the race leading #70 Acura of Corey Hayward. Stalking the leader for four full laps, on the eighth circuit DiBello made his move, wrestling the point away from Hayward as the leading duo exited Turn Four. Surviving a Lap 14 caution period restart (the yellow brought out to recover the front wheel less #63 of Ray Smith from the Turn Four wall), DiBello, Hayward and the quickly closing #57 RadMan Grand Am of Kevin Hinds made it a three car dash to the checkers, DiBello securing his second feature win in a row.

Unfortunately for Hayward, he was penalized in post race technical inspection moving Hinds into the runner up spot, with the #03 of Kyle Hope claiming the final podium position.

LUCAS OIL VINTAGE MODIFIEDS
In racing, timing, with a side order of luck, is everything. Saturday night Mike Podd’s crystal ball was working perfectly as the driver of the #5, 1934 Ford Vintage Modified made a pass for the race lead just two laps before the Red Flag brought a premature end to the CVM feature race.

Shane Stickel (#39 Ford) had grabbed the point from early race leader Corey Jones (#71 Dodge) on lap four, and immediately found his mirrors filled with Podd’s #5 Ford and most recent Mosport victor Chris Milwain (#21). On lap 20, both Podd and Milwain snuck low past Stickel heading down the long Mosport back straight to assume the front running positions.

On lap 22, defending series champion Jason Keen looped his #18, 1931 Chevy out of fifth place in Turn Two, bringing out the yellow flag. On the ensuing restart and at full chat, Jones suffered a massive radiator failure, the front straight and Turn One receiving an extensive coating of engine coolant. With an extended cleanup looming, the checkered flag was thrown, with Podd credited with the race victory, Milwain and Stickel settling for the runner up podium positions.

JULY 30, 2010 OPEN-WHEEL MODIFIEDS WINNER TYLER HENDRICKS (CENRTE)
WITH DARREN KEARNAN (LEFT) AND JIM ROSSITER (RIGHT)

Photo credits: Mosport Media/ peterbrand.ca

Bowmanville, ON - To quote the advertising motto from Port Perry’s Great Blue Heron Charity Casino, “Ladies and Gentlemen, We Have A Winner.”

In fact, there were four winners crowned last Saturday night, as the local Casino along with Mosport Speedway, presented the Pure Stocks, the Bob’s Towing Sportsman, the Late Models and an open wheeled Modified Invitational 25 lap feature event.

PURE STOCK

Anthony DiBello has stepped up his racing programme this year, and has been a regular competitor in Mosport’s Sportsman division. But over the past couple weeks, Anthony has been competing as the team driver for Matt Boyce, running his new Pure Stock car as the #94.

In a recently acquired, unfamiliar and untested Honda, Anthony was put to the test on Saturday night. But the Cannington resident managed to ‘keep his foot in it’ and came away with a three race sweep on the evening, claiming not only both heat race victories (each time over Ryan Oosterholt), but also the win in the 20 lap feature as well.

Starting from the inside of the second row, DiBello leapfrogged past the suddenly ailing #99 Sunbird of pole sitter Henk Mulders to snatch the lead on the opening lap. With Corey Hayward’s #70 Prelude filling his mirrors, DiBello watched as Oosterholt in Jeff Scott’s #96 mount, joined the now three car fray.

On lap nine, Oosterholt slipped past Hayward in Turn Three to claim the runner up position, and although he was able to edge ever closer to the race leader, his charge fell short, DiBello taking the checkered flag six car lengths in front of the red, Nofty’s Fries #96.

“Not a bad result for throwing this car back together last night. We worked on this thing till four o’clock this morning to get it ready,” said DiBello.

Hayward faded slightly, but held on for a third place result, and was able to maintain a healthy (1/2 track!) advantage over fourth place finisher Heath MacDonald (#69). In a tight scramble for a top five finish, Bryan Holmes (#82) fought off the #63 Sable of Ray Smith and Jeff VandeBelt’s #00 Dodge for the position.

BOB’S TOWING SPORTSMAN

John Baker Jr. continues to edge ever closer to Bob’s Towing Sportsman points leader Bill Northam and on Saturday night, ‘Big John’ used a hat trick of race wins to narrow the gap even further.

The top three in points, Northam, Baker, and Bob Kish (#78 Rapid Racing Monte Carlo) all finished in the top three in every contest, with Baker leading the dominating trio.

In the 20 lap feature, contest, all three took turns leading the race, but it was Baker in his #63 Marksmen Club Chevy closing the deal on lap five, squeezing low past Northam’s #85 Five Points Mall Pontiac as the pair entered Turn Three to assume the point.

Running ‘Clean and Green’ to the checkered flag, Baker brought out his broom as he made a clean sweep of the evening’s Sportsman events.

“I haven’t done a hat trick in over two years, and (wife) Sarah missed it,” exclaimed Baker. “She pushed me harder than anyone, this race is for her.”

LATE MODEL

Four drivers, including pole sitter Shannon Kimmerly, Tyler Betts and defending series champion Jim ‘the Professor’ Rossiter all took turns leading the 25 lap Late Model feature race, but at the checkered flag it was the #55 Cal Jessup Trucking Impala piloted by Darren ‘Not The Kid Anymore’ Kearnan who claimed the well deserved victory.

Moving into second place behind Rossiter, thanks to contact between then-leader Tyler Betts (#86 Pingle’s Farms) and the #68 of Scott Harrison on lap 15, Kearnan stalked the Late Model point man, eventually sneaking low through Turn Three to grab the race lead.

A five car breakaway pack then formed headed by Kearnan, with Rossiter, division points leader Dwight Brown (#12), Todd Delisle (#22) and Paul Law (#72) all sitting within easy striking distance. A Turn Four bobble behind the leader with two to go allowed Kearnan to open up his advantage slightly, the Burketon driver taking the checkered flag four car lengths in front of Rossiter’s #66 Roy Nichols Motors/Matco Tools Impala.

“I didn’t have a lot left at the end,” admitted Kearnan. “The other guys took themselves out of the chase which made me feel a little better on the last lap.”

Todd Delisle (#22 NAPA-Port Perry Chevy) was able to pip Dwight Brown for the last step on the podium on the final lap, Delisle, Brown and Paul Law crossing the stripe in a bumper to bumper finish.

OPEN-WHEEL MODIFIEDS INVITATIONAL

The Open Wheeled Modifieds made their second appearance of the season at Mosport Speedway on July 30, the field filled with Mosport regulars along with competitors from the Delaware and Varney Speedways.

Using the same car (#46 TTR Transport) and talent that carried him to the 2004 Mosport Modified title, Kearnan appeared on his way to a well deserved feature win, but a determined Tyler Hendricks (#38 Vertec Contracting) and a soft brake pedal ultimately spelled Kearnan’s doom.

Taking the lead on lap four, Kearnan, followed closely by Hendricks, were the class of the Modified field, gapping their rivals until a series of yellow flags regrouped the pack. In a three lap shootout following the last of the caution periods, Kearnan and Hendricks continued their battle at the front, but having just taken the white flag, Hendricks got the better launch off of Turn Two, and grabbed the low line as the duo entered Turn Three. In a drag race to the checkered flag, Hendricks prevailed, taking the win a quarter car length in front of Kearnan.

“There was a couple of times I might have had a shot at him, but I didn’t want to get into him,” explained Hendricks. “I had the pedal all the way down, all race, that’s all she had.”

An obviously disappointed Kearnan conceded, “This will stick with me a long time, I really wanted this one.”

Only slightly further back, a three car battle for third place raged, with Jim Rossiter in the Warnes Racing #95 edging Delaware Speedway’s Stephen Richmond (#24) and Rob Warnes (#95) for the final step on the podium.

“We were down a little on power, I had nothing for the leaders,” admitted Rossiter. “But I sure had the best seat in the house to watch them.”