by Jay | Aug 30, 2009 | Canada, NASCAR
MONTREAL — Swear out a warrant.
On second thought, break out the champagne.
Carl Edwards’ grand larceny Sunday at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve ended with a back flip and a celebration, not a jail term.
With a pass for the lead on the final corner of the final lap of the Nationwide Series NAPA Auto Parts 200, Edwards capitalized on the only mistake Marcos Ambrose made all day to win his first road-course race in one of NASCAR’s top three divisions.
Running on rain tires after a mandatory change for the entire field on Lap 61, Edwards hounded Ambrose for both laps of a green-white-checkered-flag finish and made the winning pass after Ambrose’s car got airborne over the curbing and lost momentum in the final turn of Lap 76.
In collecting his third Nationwide Series victory of the season and the 23rd of his career, Edwards gave Roush Fenway Racing its first road-course win in the series.
“The two laps, Andrew Ranger (who finished third) and I went side by side into Turn 1 (on Lap 75),” said Edwards who trimmed the series points lead of 10th-place finisher Kyle Busch from 248 to 192. “He pinched me off into the grass—which I probably would have done if I was him, too—and I just drove into his door, and we came off of Turn 2 banging doors.
“It was wild, and I thought the whole time Marcos was going to get away with this thing. I broke away from Andrew, and I just gave it everything I had on that last lap, and Marcos just made that one mistake through the curves at the end and gave me the chance to get by.”
Former Formula One champion Jacques Villeneuve ran fourth to the delight of partisan Quebecers in the packed grandstands. Brad Keselowski came home fifth and tightened his hold on third place in the points standings.
Ambrose, who has finished seventh, third and second in the series’ three races at the 2.7-mile course was despondent at not closing out Edwards after leading 60 laps.
“I just made a mistake at the end there and lost the race,” Ambrose said. “Any other lap, any other corner, I would have got it straight back. It just happened to be the last corner of the race. We had a drag race coming off the hairpin. Carl got position on me, and I had to try to make sure I (outbraked) him.
“I feel pretty devastated, because I let my boys down. We came here to win, and anything less than that was a disappointment.”
Ambrose was in the lead and in control when NASCAR called the eighth caution of the afternoon after a shower hit the racetrack as the cars were working Lap 59. Two laps later, NASCAR ordered the cars to pit road and red-flagged the race while crews mounted rain tires and installed wipers and lights.
After refiring the engines, the field took the green flag double-file on Lap 64, with Ambrose in the lead and Ranger beside him on the front row. Ambrose held the top spot through three more cautions before Edwards, who led three times for three laps, made his move in the final corner.
by Jay | Aug 28, 2009 | Canada
Fredericton, NB – Travis Kittleson announced today that he will be entering the 9th Annual Peterbilt 250 at Speedway 660. Kittleson is a native of Merrit Island Florida, but now resides in Mooresville, NC. Regional fans have seen Kittleson at the last two Peterbilt 250s.
Most noticeably last year as he sat on the pole and dominated the early part of the race. Travis thought last year was going to seal the deal in his quest to win his first Peterbilt 250 but tire problems took him out of contention. “Last year we had a great car with the Cushman team. We really clicked and it was a ton of fun. I couldn’t wait to get back up here again ” says Kittleson.
With Cushman stepping back some from Pro Stock racing Kittleson decided to hook up with Lonnie Sommerville for this years 250. “Travis and I have been talking about this for several months and we are both really excited to get to the track on Labour Day weekend.” said Lonnie Sommerville
Travis has had some success in these Pro stock cars. In 2006, he was touted as one of the top Pro Stock/Super Late Model drivers in America. In 2005, Travis took part in Jack Roush’s Driver X Show and finished in the top 8 drivers vying for a chance to race a Craftsman truck for Roush racing. All totaled Travis has over 190 starts in Pro Stock and ASA Late Model events. 54 of those events he won!!! And was in the top 10 in 138 of the 190+ starts. He’s also had 35 poles and 87 top 5’s.
Most recently Travis has been running a Nationwide car as well as pounding the pavement in the NASCAR garages handing out resumes and securing interviews with car owners. More info on Travis can be found at www.traviskittleson.com
Please contact Angela Coffey at Speedway 660 at 506-455-3181 or [email protected] for any questions.
The Peterbilt 250
The 2009 Peterbilt 250 will take place on Sunday, September 6th, 2009 and will be the highlight of the 8th Annual SPEEDWEEKEND. The event will showcase the Speedway 660 Irving Lubricants Pro Stocks against the best of the Eastern Canada and New England. The purse for 2008 will be over $70,000 with a guaranteed $15,000 to the event winner and possible winner’s cheque of $28,000. Five years ago, the late Scott Fraser took home a record $25,400 including lap money. Only eight years old, the event as grown in crowd, atmosphere, and car count every year since its inception. Over 8,000 people attended the 2008 event to break attendance records at Speedway 660. Forty plus pro stock cars will be attempting to qualify for 28 spots on the starting grid.
by Jay | Aug 27, 2009 | Canada
(Shediac, N.B.) — The Centre for Speed, Atlantic Canada’s Super Speedway and “Metro Moncton’s Playground of Power”, will present a ‘double header’ of South East Challenge Series stock car points racing action, featuring the Eastern Well Drillers 50-lap features, followed by the Maple
Leaf Foods ‘Eve of Destruction’ full contact and demolition derby on Sunday, August 30th starting at 2 p.m.
As an added bonus, fans will be able to attend either or both events for a single regular price admission of $12 for adults and $5 for children.
“We’re very disappointed by the cancellation of the scheduled Saturday night
Monster Truck event due to a last minute change of promised competitors by Monster Truck promoter, Edge Motorsports,” said CFS promoter Tim Wile. “As a result, we want to give our loyal fans a special ‘double header’ treat by offering twice the motorsports action for the same price. Fans can therefore attend both events Sunday afternoon and simply pay the regular price of a single event.”
At 2:00 p.m., the green flag will drop on exciting South East Challenge Series stock car points racing action leading up
to the Eastern Well Drillers 50-lap features for Sportsman and Streetstock racecars. Regular points racing and features will also be on tap for the Mini Stock and Four Fun division racecars.
The Maple Leaf Foods ‘Eve of Destruction’ event will immediately follow, starting at approximately 4:30 p.m., with edge-of-your seat Full Contact racing, a Back-up Bag race, a 25-lap Enduro, Burnouts, capped off by a giant Demolition Derby with $1,000 available to the winner.
Full schedule details are available at www.centreforspeed.com
TRAVEL NOTE: Due to bridge construction
on Route #133, all CFS traffic must use Exit #43 (Grand Barachois) off Highway #15 until further notice. From this exit, traffic must turn left onto Route #133, at Gaudet Supermarket, and travel 2 km to the CENTRE.
About CFS
The CENTRE for Speed, built in 1996, is home to the Atlantic region’s largest and fastest paved 3/8 of a mile stock car oval as its
centerpiece. The CENTRE overlooks the Northumberland Strait and is located 5 kilometers east of Shediac’s Parlee Beach on Route #133 in the village of Grand Barachois.
by Jay | Aug 26, 2009 | Canada
Aug 26, 2009
Fredericton, NB – It’s that time of year again when Speedway 660 will crown its champions. It seemed like summer came late this year but at Speedway 660 the fun isn’t over yet. This Saturday night under the lights at Speedway 660 there will be a new champion crowned in the Coast Tire Street Stocks, Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman and the Irving Lubricants Pro Stock divisions. You can also catch the 4 cylinders here for their second appearance of 2009.
Race fans it is time once again to show you some appreciation for all the support you have shown this season at Speedway 660. This Saturday Fan Appreciation Day returns to the Geary Woods. It’s a chance for the fans to meet their favorite drivers in a pre-race autograph session starting at 6 pm. Fans will get to go trackside and get autographs, pictures and treats from their favorite drivers. Drivers get to see their fans before the last regular race of the 2009 season. There will also be prizes drawn throughout the day provided by our local sponsors.
This has been a long awaited day for the drivers. The points have heated up in the past couple of weeks. There are some repeat champions as well as some surprises in this year’s point standing. . Who will be the next champion?
In the Coast Tire Street Stock division, Brian Fox leads over Rick Cashol by only 9 points. Cashol has won many championships before and knows how to get it done. He has had some very strong competition knocking on his door each week with Jason Shannon only 17 points back.
Michael Banks is set to win his first Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman championship as well. Banks has been close in previous years but never won the illustrious crown. John Rankin has come on strong this season winning a couple features and has been very consistent throughout leaving him just 6 points back from Banks. He too would be a first time winner of the championship. Just behind these two top runners are few other well known names just waiting in the wings, Wade Harris, Brent Roy and Glen Nott all have legitimate shots at winning a championship on Saturday night. There are just 20 points between Michael Banks and fifth place Glyn Nott.
Defending champ Greg Fahey is exactly where he wants to be, in the same position, where he ended the season in 2008. Three-time champion Glenn Rasmussen is waiting for the chance to take the reins from Fahey and add another championship to his resume. Rasmussen is back this season racing full time and is in a good position just 12 points away from point’s leader Greg Fahey. Race fans have seen some great racing the last couple of weeks. These guys are racing hard in the Pro Stock division trying to gain those all-important points.
This will be the last regular point’s event of the 2009-racing season but it is not over. Next weekend is SPEEDWEEKEND from Sept 4th to Sept 7th headlined by the Peterbilt 250 on Sunday.
Race fans won’t want to miss it this Saturday night. Come out and meet your favorite driver and see who will be the next champion. Things are going to get exciting down at the Speedway 660. It will be WicKID Family Fun for sure.
Fan Appreciation Day
Saturday, August 29th at 7pm
Pit gates open at 2pm
Grandstands open at 5pm
Autograph Session at 6pm
Racing starts at 7p.m.
Note: Raindate Sunday, August 30th at 2p.m.
Regular points racing in the Coast Tire Street Stock Division (20 lap feature), Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman (30 lap feature), Irving Lubricants Pro Stocks (40 lap feature) and racing in the 4 cylinders.
Ticket Prices:
Adults (16 and over) $12
Youth (ages 9-15) $9
Children (ages 8 and under) FREE
Family Pass: Two adults, Two youth plus 4 pop and 4 fries for $35.
by Jay | Aug 19, 2009 | Canada
August 19, 2006
Fredericton, NB – Saturday night under the lights in the Geary woods will be the Faster Pastor’s + Fredericton Mitsubishi Weekly Points’ Racing + Mascot Night. Points are heating up in all divisions. Local Mascots will be out in full swing strutting their stuff in some crazy events to capture bragging rights for another year!
We have several pastors registered for the Faster Pastor event. This is a good opportunity to come out and support your Pastor as they will have a chance to get into a Street Stock car and race.
A number of Mascots are ready to compete in the Mascot Challenge including Speedway the Moose from Speedway 660, Sparky from the Office of the Fire Marshall, A&W Root Bear from A&W Prospect St., Georgie Bear from George Street Middle School, Huggy Lion from the Nashwaaksis Lions Club, Curly Top from DQ, and Hugs and Kisses from Jim Gilbert’s Wheels and Deals.
Along with the Mascot Challenge and Faster Pastor race, fans will see weekly points racing in the Coast Tire Street Stocks, Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman, Irving Lubricants Pro Stocks and the AOW division. With just two weeks left of points racing, things are really tight. Who will win? Will there be a first time champ? Will there be a repeat champion? The next couple weeks will tell the tale.
In the Coast Tire Street Stocks, the top three in the points are Brian Fox, Shawn Hyslop and Jason Shannon. They have just 18 points separating them.
In the Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman division, this may be the year we see a first time champion. Michael Banks has been so close in past years and this year might be his year. John Rankin, one of the great stories of 2009, has had a lot of success and is definitely a contender for the championship. Wade Harris is also hungry for a championship.
In the Irving Lubricants Pro Stocks, last year’s points’ champion, Greg Fahey, is at the top of the charts once again. Three time points Champion Glenn Rasmussen is just 7 points behind and ready to take another championship after only racing part time last year. Don’t count out Kevin Moore who has also had a good year and is nicely sitting in third in the points.
The points are too close to call. So don’t miss it race fans, the next two weeks will be exciting.
If you want to register a Mascot or if you are a Pastor who wants to race, you can still register. You can do so by contacting the Speedway.
Divisions Racing: Irving Lubricants Pro Stocks, Martins Home Heating Sportsman, Coast Tire Street Stock, AOW
Saturday, August 22nd @ 7:00p.m.
Pit gates open at 3pm
Grandstands open at 5pm
Racing starts at 7pm
Ticket Prices:
Adults (16 and over) $12
Youth (ages 9-15) $9
Children (ages 8 and under) FREE
Family Pass – Family Pass – $35 – Two adults, two youth plus 4 pop and 4 fries
by Jay | Aug 17, 2009 | Canada
(Shediac, N.B.) — Luc Bourgeois (#88) of Memramcook picked up where he left off last Sunday and captured a flag-to-flag win in the Maritime Super Series for Sportsman 75 to celebrate the Acadian Holiday on Saturday evening at the Centre for Speed (CFS), Atlantic Canada’s Super Speedway and “Metro Moncton’s Playground of Power”.
Meanwhile, Mike Rayburn (#98) of Hampton made a triumphant return to CFS by capturing the win in the Atlantic Open Wheel (AOW) Modified Series 35-lap feature. A few years ago, Rayburn was a regular driver in the Sportsman division at CFS where victory had always eluded him. On Saturday, he picked up his second career AOW win at the CENTRE crossing the stripe ahead of Shelley Stewart (#43) of Emerald,
PEI and Mark Price (#9) of Rothesay in the main event of the evening.
Stewart had earlier picked up a win in the first heat to go along with a very close second place finish in both the semifinal and feature. Price had als0o visited victory lane after capturing the second semi while Byron Bartlett (#77) of Saint John was victorious in both the second heat and first semi-final before a heartbreaking end to his evening in the feature. Bartlett and Price set the pace in the 35-lap main event and battled hard over the first 28 laps of the event. Coming out of turn #4 on lap #28, Bartlett and Price got together sending
Bartlett’s rear passenger-side wheel flying off into the corner. While he was able to drive the car on three wheels into the pit area, his crew could not make the necessary repairs and his evening was over. Price, who restarted at the tail-end of the lead lap was able to salvage a third place finish after the unfortunate collision.
In the Maritime Super Series 75, Bourgeois, who started on the pole, beat back all
challengers to capture his second consecutive Sportsman feature win at CFS to go along with his earlier win in the 10-lap heat. With the win, Bourgeois vaults from 5th to second position in the Series point chase heading into next weekend’s International 145 at Riverglade Speedway. Veteran Dan Bourque (#15) of Grande-Digue crossed the stripe second followed closely by Ken MacKenzie (#85) of Salisbury and series defending champ, Claude Gaudet (#22) of Grand-Barachois. Gaudet continues to lead the Super Series point standings with 91 points, 6 points up on the surging Bourgeois (85 points). Bourque now finds himself in the third spot with 81 points followed closely by MacKenzie at 79 points and Marc Gautreau
(#99) of Grand-Barachois at 74 points.
In Streetstock action, division points leader Victor Vienneau (#03) of Cocagne took advantage of a late race mishap to capture his third feature win of the season ahead of division rookie Gerald Brun (#33) of Moncton and Doug MacEwen of Charlottetown. Gary Stewart (#43) of Emerald, PEI had the car to beat in this division on
Saturday evening having captured wins in both the heat and semifinal. However, the racing gods had a different plan for him in the 25-lap feature. After once again setting leading the field for 22 laps, Stewart’s night came to a sudden end when he blew a rear tire and limped into the pit area in time to see Vienneau cross the finish line for the win.
Both the Mini Stock and Four Fun drivers had the weekend off.
Next Sunday, August 23rd at 2:00 p.m., the action switches to Riverglade Speedway for the 45th Annual International featuring Sportsman drivers from the Maritime Super Series for Sportsman in a 145-lap main event. Regular points racing in Streetstock, Mini Stock and Four Fun divisions will also be part of the program.
The next event at the Centre for Speed (CFS) will be the Maple Leaf MONSTER TRUCK Spectacular and ‘Eve of Destruction’ Demolition Derby on August 29th at 7 p.m.
Full schedule details are available at www.centreforspeed.com
About CFS
The CENTRE for Speed, built in 1996, is home to the Atlantic region’s largest and fastest paved 3/8 of a mile stock car oval as its centerpiece. The
CENTRE overlooks the Northumberland Strait and is located 5 kilometers east of Shediac’s Parlee Beach on Route #133 in the village of Grand Barachois.
