Late Model Series - 2012:

      Interest and excitement has been growing after the announcement of the updated Late Model races planned for 2012 at Western Speedway. The schedule is set so that it will not interfere with the BC Advance Testing Tour that sees these drivers compete at other tracks throughout BC with their Championship race held at Western Speedway and the Canada 200 last season.

      Mike Haslam is said to be returning to Late Model racing helping with a car owned by Melvin Pallister. They plan on racing the Series at Western Speedway and some ASA events. Mike is no stranger to the Late Models or Western Speedway as he spent several years on the Langford oval and has also raced at the Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

      Aaron Wilkie is said to be driving the #45 car that Rob Haslam drove last season. Wilkie will move from the Stock Car Series where he has spent the last several years driving and had one of the faster cars chasing Ryan Wade for the Championship in that Series.

      Local Late Model drivers, Darrell Midgley, Brandon Carlson, Jason Terasenko, Dave Hemrich, Korbin Thomas, and Tom Berrow plan on driving in the Fall Classic at the Bullring in Las Vegas on November 5th. Each one of these drivers have Championships and Feature event wins in the Northern Provincial Pipeline series, Katana Boat Sportsman Series, local Late Model racing, Saratoga Speedway events and the Canada 200 held at Western Speedway.

      Steve Copp said of the new format: We have had a great time with the planning of the 2012 Late Model Series at Western Speedway 2012- I'm impressed with the amount of interest in this new series- locally / sponsors are all over this/ racing its wild the amount of emails of guys from all over BC that want to come and run." This bodes well for an exciting series beginning in 2012 for this Late Model racing.

A big sponsor announcement is anticipated with-in the next few weeks for this series and Copp is excited about it.

Another announcement is that OK Tire has donated two free tires to be given to a lucky winner determined by a draw of all competitors in each night of the events.

Steve Copp is also set to join the ranks of Late Model racing as he purchased Bart Smith's #20 Late Model car.

      The main goal is to accommodate all BC Late Models and promote and bring back a strong Late Model show to Vancouver Island. There will be updates on local race sites and news media as time goes forward but for any questions you can contact Daryl Crocker, Steve Copp, or Bill Smith Jr.

Steve Copp phone: (250) 920-9004 email: stevecopp@shaw.ca

Daryl Crocker: (250) 361 6359 email: crockerd@uvic.ca

2012 OK TIRE CHALLENGE SERIES SCHEDULE

AGASSIZ FUN TIME OCT. 29

 mckellar photo

NASCAR SUNDAY

 nascar/getty

BC DRIVERS TO COMPETE IN LATE MODEL PORTION

NASCAR SATURDAY

 nascar/getty

Flyin Ryan Wade

By Ken Keating

 

There is a valid reason why this driver is called "Flyin" Ryan Wade. Out of the last two seasons and eighteen races, Ryan has compiled an impressive twelve victories driving in one of the most competitive series racing at Victoria's Western Speedway. In 2010, he drove to five Feature event wins in a row to end the season and then put together six more consecutive wins in 2011. This amazing consecutive streak of eleven victories in twelve races, with him behind the wheel, was interrupted during the last race of 2011 when mechanical problems with the rear end finally done him in as Ryan was driving toward the front of the pack and running in third position. In 2010, nine races were run with Ryan winning a total of six and 2011 saw him or his car win eight of ten races. That is some kind of driving.

Ryan got hooked several years ago when his brother was racing and he, his dad, along with his brothers used to go to races quite often that included trips to the Daytona 500. Racing is something he always wanted to do but playing hockey took precedent as he could not take the chance on getting hurt running fast cars and his summers were taken up for training. He raced Claimers for a bit and had his first win there and then bought a Stock Car and has raced in that Series for the last seven years. His first season he placed third in points and then sixth in his second year and since then has put together five Championship seasons in a row. No one had done this in one Series alone. Tim Christy had three consecutive Championship in Thunder Cars between 1996 and 1998 and then followed with three straight Championships in a Late Model Series, or Sportsmen as they were called at the time, between 1999 and 2001.

When Ryan was growing up he used to love to get involved in fixing his car or working on it. He syas; "Now days, if something breaks kids just throw it away and get something else. They don't get so involved with cars as they are all computerized and you take them to a shop to be fixed." There is so much more for kids to be involved with that there is only a few coming up that really get involved with fixing cars but its not like it used to be. We were "Chomping at the bit" to get into a Claimer or race car and fix it and then drive it.

Ryan points out that his winning is a group thing with Steve Green, Danny Thomas, Matt & Rick Stidston, along with his family maintaining the car to a high standard and gives him a great car to drive. "This is a great testament to the crew guys to go so many races with no mechanical problems until that last race." he says. When Ryan was with the hockey team, he placed Robbie Haslam, his brother Lance, and Kirk Rompain behind the wheel and those drivers done a great job in getting points and keeping his car in contention for his return. Lance, incidently, won a Late Model Championship, Kirk is a long time Late Model competitor, and Robbie; a former Demo Car Champion, has raced everything from Demo Cars to the WilRoc Lite Series in his resume as well. His main challenge for the Championship came from Aaron Wilkie in last year's campaign as these two drivers battled every week and every race running bumper to bumper and side by side. The Championship came down to the last race of the season with Ryan holding a very slim lead over his rival. Ryan won that event with Wilkie finishing second and only forty-one points behind. This season, Wilkie again proved to be fast and they put on quite a show when both were racing but the Championship points race was not nearly as close as Wilkie did not make each event.

 

In 2010, Ryan tried his hand with a WilRoc Lite car and drove in a couple of races and set fast time in his second attempt. On July 2nd, 2011, Ryan must have stopped at a local Tim Horton's for a large double double as he drove to a victory in the Stock Car and then turned the same trick in the Lite Series on the same night, a night he says is the highlite of his career. He says, "I didn't know if we had it in the Lite car but I knew we had a good car and it was fast and it was a lot of fun to win with the Stock Car and then again in the Lites Car on the same night." Ryan also made his mark on other tracks as he raced in Port Angeles last season and placed third, raced at Saratoga in a points race and won that, then this season went to Penticton and crashed the first night and placed second on the second night with twenty-eight cars on the track. These are just a few other highlites racing with other good Stock Cars on other tracks but the double win really stands out.

Commenting on the Lites car, Ryan thinks they are a finicky car and if you drive them in too fast they will swap ends pretty quick and you use a lot of throttle and have to baby them a bit and they are a driver's type of car. They are definately not a learners class as you have to be into other cars before and so much different to what the Stock Cars are but a lot of fun. You have to use some caution as you can't touch wheels like you do in a Stock Car and you can't see them so it makes it interesting and takes some adjustment to run Lites. 

 

At this point Ryan is not quite sure what 2012 will bring as far as racing is concerned. He is starting a new job in Vernon and if he can make it work, look for Ryan to be back at the track. He will pick and choose spots for racing at Vernon, Penticton, or Agassiz and maybe a few races at Victoria if a full season is not in the cards. He now works for a private hockey academy called the Pursuit of Excellance and does volunteer work for the Kelowna Rockets of the W.H.L. in the Interior of BC. Ryan was a star himself playing centerman with the Victoria Salmon Kings and scored the very first goal for that team against Bakersfield in California and then came home and scored the first goal at Bear Mountain Arena in Victoria. In eight years Ryan took a lot of pride in his hockey as the Kings went from the laughing stock of the league to the Western Conference final and very close to going to the Kelly Cup. "It was kind of tough to see the Salmon Kings leave." he says. He was drafted by the Calgary Flames at one point and hockey sort of interfered with racing due to the risk of getting hurt. Ryan shares a lot of love for both racing and hockey but hockey is his job in one way or another and racing is the fun part and sort of a hobby. Hopefully his hobby will lead him back to the track in 2012.   

BOYS WILL BE BOYS

By Gord Craig

EDMONTON, AB (October 25) - The month of October has not been kind for two Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series competitors.  Both Kevin Wheeler and Jason Beaulieu are nursing cracked and broken bones in separate off-season motocross incidents in their home provinces.  Wheeler crashed hard at an Alberta Oldtimers Motocross Association event on the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend.  Two weeks later Beaulieu went down at a motocross track near his Campbell River, British Columbia home.  "My entire side is still bruised," says Wheeler from his home in Whitecourt, Alberta, "I also cracked a couple of ribs."  After a second and third place finish in the first two races at the Antler Lake track near Sherwood Park, Alberta, Wheeler went down the third race of the day. The driver of the #3 KW Mechanical Dodge is known to have a pretty good sense of humor. Wheeler however was not laughing in the days following the crash.  "It hurt to laugh, it hurt to sneeze.  I'm still pretty sore right now.  My hip is not as bad but my ribs still hurt." Wheeler joked about his future as a motocross racer. "You probably won't see me competing at any more motocross events...... but never say never."
 

 
WHEELER AND BEAULIEU ARE BATTERED AND BRUISED

Jason Beaulieu meanwhile shattered his left wrist in a wicked motocross crash on October 15th.  "I just got back into riding (non-competitive) about 7 months ago to keep in shape," indicates the 2007 NPP Series Champion, "I gave it up 10 years ago after a bad crash.  It was nasty.  I broke my ankle, broke several ribs, tore my ACL and bruised my kidney."  Beaulieu and his soon to be son-in-law (Colton Mclean) were riding at the Campbell River Motorcross track.  "We basically were playing follow the leader.  He led and I followed.  I did keep pace with him for two laps," laughs Beaulieu,  "but I quickly found out why he's a pro and I'm not."  Beaulieu was tossed off his bike after a hard landing.  Ironically this crash was exactly ten years to the day of his last big motocross crash.  "I knew something broke.  I got my helmet off, scraped the sand out of my eyes and all I saw were bones coming through my wrist."  Beaulieu underwent surgery less than 24 hours after the crash. "I had pin's in my wrist and a cast up to my shoulder when I woke up."  Beaulieu planned on racing his open wheel modified at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Duel In The Desert event next month.  "The cast comes off in three weeks.  I still plan on being at this race.  If I don't feel up to it, the backup plan is my son Chris will race."  The 14th annual Duel in The Desert features over 200 IMCA Modified competitors from all over North America.         

4 WIDE BACK IN 1969

 1969 minnesota dragway

Tentative Schedule for 2012 WESTERN SPEEDWAY

May 2012

Date	Race
May 5th	Demo Season Opener
May 12th	Late Models Twin 50′s, Non Wing Sprints, Stock Cars  Season Opener
May 19th	Princess & Pirate Night: Demo, Boat Race, Fireworks
May 26th	Non Wing Sprints, Stock Cars, Dwarf Cars, Old Timers

June 2010

Date	Race
June 2nd	Demo
June 8th	NSRA ??? Strawberry Cup Winged and Non Wing Sprint Cars, Old Timers
June 9th	NSRA ??? Strawberry Cup Winged and Non Wing Sprint Cars, Old Timers
June 16th	Late Models Twin 50′s, Stock Cars, Mini Stocks, Dwarf Cars
June 20th	Hornets
June 23rd	Elton John Night: Demo, The Crusher, Total Destruction
June 27th	Hornets
June 30th	Non Wing Sprints, Stock Cars, Dwarf Cars, Mini Stocks

July 2012

Date	Race
July 4th	Hornets
July 7th	Late Models Twin 50′s, Stock Cars, Mini Stocks, Dwarf Cars
July 11th	Hornets
July 14th	Eve of Destruction and Mascot Night: Demo, Boat Race, Limo Jump, Fireworks
July 18th	Hornets
July 20th	Kershaw Cup Winged and Non Wing Sprint Cars, Stock Cars
July 21st	Billy Foster Memorial Winged and Non Wing Sprint Cars, Stock Cars
July 25th	Hornets
July 27th	Weekend of Mayhem: Monster Trucks, Demo, Crazy Canuck
July 28th	Weekend of Mayhem: Monster Trucks, Demo, Crazy Canuck

August 2012

Date	Race
August 1st	Hornets
August 4th	Concert
August 8th	Hornets
August 11th	Late Models Twin 50′s, Stock Cars, Mini Stocks, Dwarf Cars
August 15th	Hornets
August 17th	Daffodil Cup: NSRA Winged Sprint Cars, Non Wing Sprint Cars, Old Timers
August 18th	Daffodil Cup: NSRA Winged Sprint Cars, Non Wing Sprint Cars, Old Timers
August 22nd	Hornets
August 25th	Canada 200 Late Models, Stock Car Open
August 26th	Canada 200 Late Models, Stock Car Open
August 29th	Hornets
August 31st	Big Rigs Demo?????

September 2012

Date	Race
September 1st	Big Rigs Demo??????
September 8th	Non Wing Sprints, Stock Cars, Old Timers, Dwarf Cars
September 15th	Demo
September 22nd	Championship Night Late Models 75 laps, Stock Cars, Mini Stocks
September 29th	Demo Championship Night

View other schedules:

WINTER HORNETS – APRIL – MAY – JUNE – JULY – AUGUST – SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER

THE REAL RACING STARTS SOON

 

Chris Trotman/Getty Image

AGASSIZ FUN TIME OCT.29

WESTERN SPEEDWAY HORNETS WINTER ENDURO

WESTERN SPEEDWAY HORNETS

 illusion photo

EASTERN CANADA RACE ACTION

Agassiz Speedway 2011 Special Awards

By Agassiz Speedway

Agassiz Speedway 2011 Final Point Standings

By Agassiz Speedway

Congratulations Geoff Morris 2011 ASA Advance Testing Champion!

McKellar/ASA Photo

HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA

 fox sports

NASCAR SATURDAY

  Talladega Oct NCWTS Mike Wallace Ron Hornaday Victory Lane

10/22/2011 | Chris Graythen/Getty Images

DONNIE ALLISON AT THE TRACK

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JASON NEEDS YOUR NASCAR VOTE

VOTE FOR JASON WHITE
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SHAYLEN RAYE MOTORSPORTS TROPHY CUP UPDATE

(Tulare, CA) 10/22/11 by Kelly Hart – Racinghartmedia

 

Last night the Shaylen Raye Motorsports #18 360 Sprint car driven by Travis Jacobson was in action at the 18^th Annual running of the Trophy Cup in Tulare, CA. The reigning Skagit Speedway 360 division and two-time defending 360 Nationals Champion timed in 11^th out of 70 entered cars.

 

That qualifying lap landed Travis a 5^th place start in his heat. Trophy Cup heat races invert 6 and take the top 3 direct to the A feature event. A 7^th place finish in the heat earned the team a C main starting position. After a 4^th place finish in the C main, the Shafer Concrete sponsored #18 had worked his way up to a 6^th place spot in the B main and transfer into the A main when a spin took the car out of contention. Travis was on the move starting 9^th in the B and had the spot locked up with just two laps remaining.

 

The Shaylen Raye Motorsports team finds itself outside the top 20 in points with night number two underway later today.

 

Shaylen Rae Motorsports would like to thank sponsors Shark Racing Engines, Shaffer Concrete, Wilson Concrete, Performance R/C, Anderson Pressure Washing, SignMart, TMM, Andgar Metals, Burlington Collision, Doyle Guffie’s Rallye Auto Sales, Heavy D, Barlow Escrow, SpeedMart, Bardahl and China City Restaurants two locations on Whidbey Island  for all they do to make racing such an enjoyable experience.

 

NASCAR FRIDAY

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DAN WHELDON TRIBUTE DECAL

Cameron Hayley and the No. 24 Cabinets by Hayley Toyota at AAS

Antelope, CA– Cameron Hayley, driver of the No. 24 Cabinets by Hayley Toyota Camry for Bill McAnally Racing brought home his second top three finish in only three NASCAR K&N Pro Series starts.

"This weekend was great not only for me but my team," said Hayley. "It is so great and so much fun to come to a track like AAS and have that hometown support for Bill McAnally Racing. The enthusiasm and support from everyone was huge."

"The weekend started out great with again having the top time after the first practice session. It is a huge confidence booster for the No. 24 team and we used that success to keep the fire alive all night."

"During qualifying, the tires we put on didn't come in as fast as I would have liked but we still came out with a decent qualifying effort with a fifth place starting position. Qualifying is a difficult thing for me, and the team has really helped me by giving me great cars and the confidence I need to do well, even when things don't go as according to plan."

"Going into the Toyota/NAPA AUTO PARTS 150, we were confident we had a good Camry and could make it to the front. The race started out with a long first caution but settled in after that. I just kept working my way up car after car trying to stay out of trouble. Moving through the pack like that is probably one of the most amazing feelings in the world. It is a huge rush racing side by side with some of the best drivers in the West Series inches away from your door. The inside groove was definitely the proffered groove all night but it became very valuable to be able to pass on the outside do to the nature of the racing. By the end of the race I thought it might just be my chance to win the race with 15 to go and leading but it was cut short after a bump going into corner one by the driver behind me sending me shooting up the track and falling to fourth. That is not a good feeling when you lose the lead in a matter of seconds. It was unfortunate and disappointing but I had to make the best of by battling alongside fellow teammate Moses Smith for third on the last lap"

"Overall I was very happy with how the weekend went and I'm looking forward to continuing the success in Phoenix for the final race of the 2011 season."

The next event on the 2011 schedule for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West will be the season finale Casino Arizona 125 at Phoenix International Raceway on Saturday, Nov. 12.

BCR CLOSES ITS DOORS

LETHBRIDGE, AB (October 16) - Alberta's racing scene has been dealt a nasty blow.  Bridge County Raceway, Western Canada's fastest dirt track is shutting its doors after 20 seasons of racing.  In a weekend press release, owners James and Cathy Hadnagy indicate that their business partner and track founder George Mercer has decided to retire and spend time traveling with his wife (Marj).  "Kathy and myself have both decided to close the gates after 20 years.  This has been one of the most difficult decisions we have had to make as owners of Bridge County Raceway, but with the re-opening of High River Speedway, it has been made easier for us." 

AERIAL VIEW OF BRIDGE COUNTY RACEWAY

The Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series competed at the Southern Alberta track 11 times over the course of six seasons.  "This was one of the best tracks I've run at," says veteran racer and 2007 NPP Series Champion Jason Beaulieu, "it was a fast wide open track that had incredible management and staff." 

BEAULIEU VISITED VICTORY LANE MANY TIMES AT BCR

Beaulieu grabbed five NPP Feature wins at BCR.  His son Chris Beaulieu won the last NPP Series race in Lethbridge back in September.  "This was a fun track to race at," says Beaulieu from his Campbell River, British Columbia home, "this is not good news at all."  Edson, Alberta's Dwight Kennedy won two Features in Lethbridge including the inaugural NPP Series race in June of 2006.  "Its disappointing news," exclaims the two-time NPP Series Champion, "we really enjoyed racing their.  The track was always prepped well. We've had some pretty good races there over the years. We've had some pretty hard hits there as well." 

POLE POSITION FOR KENNEDY AT BCR LAST MONTH

The NPP Late Model Series was looking at holding as many as six race events in Lethbridge during the 2012 season.  The closure of Bridge County Raceway is expected to be a hot topic at the NPP Series fall meeting.  The pending re-opening of Rocky Mountain Raceway Park near Okotoks in 2012 (shut down after 2009 season) will also be discussed.          

NPP SERIES
LETHBRIDGE FEATURE WINNERS
Jason Beaulieu            5
Dwight Kennedy         2
Chris Beaulieu            1
Kevin Clark                1
Darrell Midgley          1
Kevin Wheeler           1

=========================================

God Speed Dan

HALL OF FAME PHOTO

NASCAR THURSDAY

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ULTIMATE SHORT TRACK TROPHY

NASCAR SHORT TRACK

 

Bright Future For Late Models

By Ken Keating

There is a concentrated effort to revive Late Model Stock Car racing at Western Speedway for 2012. Following a successful ASA Advance Testing Tour Canada 200, held on September 3rd, there was an announcement that Western Speedway will host a four day, eight race event over a period of four months with a substantial payout that should make it attractive for all Late Model drivers and teams. It all started several years ago when the Katana Boat Sportsman Tour ran at several tracks throughout British Columbia and became a hit when thirty plus cars qualified to run at some of the tracks. In 2011, the American Speed Association took over as the sanctioning body and ran six races that included Vernon's Motoplex Speedway, Saratoga Speedway, Penticton Speedway for a two day show, Agassiz Speedway, and Western Speedway for their Championship night. One race was cancelled at Thunder Mountain Speedway. Tom Berrow, Brandon Carlson, Dave Hemrich, and Geoff Morris each won one event while Korbin Thomas won the first event at Penticton and then at Western Speedway. Geoff Morris accumulated enough points throughout the year and won the season's Championship with a second place finish on his home track. This also proved to be very successful with twenty plus cars running for the prestigious Canada 200. Most of the cars were able to be loaded on trailers with very little damage done other than maybe a few tire rubs. 

The new proposal is to run eight races over four nights with two fifty lap Feature events per night. They will not conflict with any ASA sanctioned event and will be sometime in May, June, July, and August with a possible rain date in September. The payout is reported to be $10,000.00 points payout on a per point basis. Kustom Pro Drywall will make $100.00 payout for fast time, Steve Copp Construction will payout $100.00 for hard charger, there is a $50.00 payout per heat winner from L.D. Racecars as well as $125.00 payout per car per night making these events quite attractive. Common BC Late Model rules will apply as well as group qualifying, a lucky dog, cone restarts, a cost efficient tire rule, plus more to be determined. There is an independent race director and tech that is not connected to any team or driver so the rules will be administered fairly for everyone involved. There is a need to build the Late Model Series and Daryl Crocker, Bill Smith, and Steve Copp are spearheading these events to do just that forwarding ideas, time, and, of course, the payouts.

Driver reaction shows approval as Brandon Carlson says: "I'm so stoked! Twin mains are a great idea.... the two races really let the teams play with the set ups in the cars if your off a little bit in the first race .... you can make adjustments for the second race and try again."

Rory Smith agrees that this will be a great improvement in Late Model racing as he says: "I think it's a great idea. Hopefully more cars, maybe some from the mainland come over. The tire rule was a big issue this year and that has been solved for next year. Two main events each night is a new format, also group qualifying and bonus money for fast time, heat race win and hard charger. I think it was time for a bit of a change to get this class back were it should be".

Doug Richens says: "I think it'll be an awesome idea. It gives us Late Model drivers more seat time in races."

Darrell Midgley, driver and track promoter says: "I think it is a great idea. It will be good for the Late Model Series and may be an incentive to attract Late Model drivers from the Lower Mainland." 

Al Bland, crew chief of Wade Bland's #07 car, also feels this will be good for the Late Model Series: "The Canada 200 was one of the best run shows I have been involved with and each driver showed respect for the others. This will go a long way to keep that respect." he says.

The main goal is to accommodate all BC Late Models and promote and bring back a strong Late Model show to Vancouver Island.  There will be updates on local race sites and news media as time goes forward, but for any questions you can contact Daryl Crocker, Steve Copp, or Bill Smith. 

Steve Copp: (250) 920-9004 or E-mail

Daryl Crocker: (250) 361 6359 or E-mail 

Bill Smith: (250) 478-6329 or E-mail

NASCAR SUNDAY

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GET YOUR VOTES IN!

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Power to the racer!

LAST CALL - ARCA BANQUET

By Kendall Thomas

Hello ARCA racers,

The last call for banquet tickets is Tuesday, October 11. Please contact contact Tina at Williams Petroleum for tickets, tina@williamspetroleum.ca or call her at 250-564-9995 .

The AGM will be at 12:30 in the Summit room at the Coast Inn of the North, 770 Brunswick Street, Prince George.

The doors open at 5:00

Dinner at 6:30

Awards to follow.

See you in PG.

TIFFANY KNIGHT TO RACE MERRITT SAT. AND SUN.

Come out to Merritt Speedway and watch some dirt action and say Hi.

WESTERN SPEEDWAY HORNETS

Young Cameron Hayley is set to pilot the No. 24 Cabinets by Hayley Toyota at AAS

 

 

Antelope, CA– Cameron Hayley, driver of the No. 24 Cabinets by Hayley Toyota Camry for Bill McAnally Racing is looking forward to racing at BMR’s home track, All American Speedway in Roseville, California. Cameron, one of youngest drivers in the field at just 15 years old, will take the green in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race, the Toyota/NAPA Auto Parts 150 presented by Pick-n-Pull on October 15^th.

All American is BMR's home track. How exciting will it be to show your skills before a crowd that is so excited to see you race?

“I am very excited to go to Roseville for that very reason,” said Hayley. “Being its BMR¹s home track, I am sure Bill and the whole team from BMR will be promoting the race as much as they can and the BMR teams will definitely get some very good exposure. I am very much excited for the race and hope to run well in front of BMR¹s home town crowd.”

You drove a Late Model at All American last season. What will it be like jumping into the heavier car for the West race? How different will it be for you?

“I actually don¹t feel like it will affect how I drive the West car at all. As you know we were down testing at Roseville back in August and to be honest I felt totally comfortable in the West car. I couldn¹t really remember the feeling of the late model and the West car just felt natural. I think going into the weekend we will have very little issue adjusting to the heavier car and should run fast.”

Hayley secured the 2011 championship and made history in the process with podium finish at the final race of the season in the Dakota Dunes Late Model Series championship race held at Auto Clearing Speedway. The Canadian phenom is the youngest to achieve that distinction in either the Pacific Northwest or Western Canada.

Your team and you seem to be jelling pretty well. Tell us about your West team? How is the communication?

“Ever since the first test day, Rob Dixon and I have been getting along extremely well. There was just always that sense of a true team around him mixed with the light hearted spirit he brings to the team. Every crewmember brings positive energy to the track with them each and every time they are here and I have had a great time with all of them and am honored to have them crewing for me. Rob and the team from BMR have given me great cars and I will see what I can do with them at the final two races.”

What is it like to have two veterans as teammates?

“I think it is a huge benefit to have Eric Holmes and Moses Smith as team mates. They give me someone to talk to about things on and off the race track that I am unclear about. They are always open to questions and are willing to answer them. But we all know when we go out on the track, they still race me like any other driver and I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

The Toyota/NAPA AUTO PARTS “150” presented by Pick-n-Pull will be the featured race event at All American Speedway in Roseville, California on October 15^th, 2011. The track in located just outside of Sacramento at the Placer County Fairgrounds in Roseville. The event has sold out when the NASCAR K&N Series West has made previous visits to Northern California. Don’t miss out. Tickets are available at the track and at Bill McAnally Racing at 8636 Antelope North Rd, Antelope, California. For more information, please call Bill McAnally Racing Promotions at 916-676-0010. 

Come meet Cameron Hayley and his teammates at the track. There will be an autograph session at 6:45 pm on race day at the Placer County Fairground’s All American Speedway Midway.

Set your DVRs. The NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race, the Toyota/NAPA AUTO PARTS “150” can be seen on Thursday, October 20^th at 6 pm ET on SPEED Channel. Please check your local listings for broadcast times in your area.

UPDATE - RACING PARTICIPATION POLL

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Merritt speedway season winding down

The always popular dwarf cars were in action at the Merritt Speedway on the September 24 weekend. (Above) Car #14, driven by Tony Jones, raced to first place in the five-lap dash event. Ron Brewer, in car #88, took the dwarf heat (10-lap) and main (30-lap) events.

Ian Webster/Herald

By Ian Webster - Merritt Herald
Published: October 03, 2011 5:00 PM
Updated: October 03, 2011 5:08 PM

Stock car racing enthusiasts of all ages are encouraged to take in the final weekend of action this Friday and Saturday afternoon at the Merritt Speedway.

Time trials begin at 1 p.m., while actual racing gets underway at 2 p.m.

Fans who attended the Merritt Stock Car Association night races back on Saturday, September 24 were treated to some mighty fine performances.

In the Bomber 4-cylinder class, Surrey’s Jordan Schuss made it a clean sweep in all three of his races - the third time this season that he’s had a perfect outing.

In the always-entertaining dwarf event, Ron Brewer managed to win two out of three races. The dash went to Tony Jones.

The hard luck story of the weekend involved Jack Allgrove of Merritt.

In his 10-lap heat for Hobby cars, Allgrove was leading comfortably going into the last lap when a three-car crash behind him brought out the yellow flag.

When racing resumed, Allgrove misread the flagmen’s instructions and could only watch in anguish as three cars went by him on the final lap.

Allgrove gained a measure of revenge, however, winning the feature 30-lap main event later in the evening.

NASCAR STARTS THEM YOUNG

 getty/nascar

Fall Classic: Harding drives through pain

October 3, 2011 by Scott Spruill  

Veteran passes cars, kidney stone on way to third place 

YAKIMA, Wash. — If Pete Harding didn’t convince everyone he could still mix it up with the young guns by winning this year’s Apple Cup, then he settled the question completely Sunday night.

That he fought his way into third place at the Fall Classic’s 200-lap season finale at Yakima Speedway was impressive.

 (Andy Sawyer/Yakima Herald-Republic)

Having trekked down from Surrey, British Columbia, on Thursday for the 24th annual event, which he won in its inaugural year, the 60-year-old Harding was primed for a great weekend as a driver and father of the defending champion, Shane.

Primed, this is, until his insides doubled him over in pain on Saturday. As an ambulance was summoned to the Speedway during the qualifying sessions, some feared the fan favorite was having a heart attack.

But Harding knew the problem all too well.

“It’s kidney stones,” he said. “I’ve had six or seven and I knew the pain. I didn’t want people to worry about me, but it did bring an end to my day, that’s for sure.”

But not to his weekend.

After being treated and released from a local hospital on Saturday, Harding was weighed down with pain medication but not wanting to give up on the race.

“I love racing here and the people have been so good to us. It wouldn’t have felt right not racing,” Harding said. “I was a little shaky this morning, but I still wanted to race.”

P. Harding

Problem was, with no qualifying session he was forced to start in the back of the 31-car field. And with the Northwest’s top drivers coming in chasing a $7,500 winner’s check, that’s some field.

But Harding has 40 years of racing savvy and a ton of success here on a half-mile oval he calls his home track. It took just 92 laps for him to take the lead.

After a mid-race break for tires and fuel, Harding’s machine was then noticeably off the pace and he drifted back to eighth with 50 laps to go. So, given the circumstances, time to just ease off and wheel it in, right?

Not Pete.

Still out of serious contention when racing resumed following a red-flag stoppage on lap 188, Harding’s familiar yellow machine suddenly gained spots at will over the final 10 laps and put him into the trophy circle with winner Naima Lang and runner-up Kelly Mann.

“I was hanging on for dear life, but those yellows near the end helped tightened things up,” Harding said. “It’s been a long day and boy do I feel weak. Today the car was way better than the driver, that’s for sure.”