Thunder Road Announces 50th Anniversary Season Schedule

Thunder Road Announces 50th Anniversary Season Schedule

For Immediate Release
TR-111708-1

BARRE, VT – The 50th Anniversary stock car racing season
schedule has been released for 2009 for Barre, VT's Thunder Road Int'l
Speedbowl. Nineteen events will be held during the summer-long
celebration at "The Nation's Site of Excitement," beginning with the
traditional Merchants Bank 150 for the American-Canadian Tour
Championship Late Models on Sunday, May 3. The Merchants Bank 150
will raise the curtain on Thunder Road racing for the 11th straight
year.
The ACT Late Model Tour will be back in the second-annual "Twin
100" bill with the open-wheel True Value Modified Racing Series on
Sunday, May 24 with the 47th running of the Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day
Classic. John Donahue of Graniteville won the ACT portion of the
event in 2008, while multi-time champion Kirk Alexander of West
Swanzey, NH became the first Modified driver to win at Thunder Road
since 1965.
Thunder Road's 50th Thursday night season begins on June 11 at
6:30pm with Ferguson Waterworks Night. Thursday, June 25 will see the
CARQUEST Vermont Governor's Cup 100 for the Late Model division, where
the winner will earn a guaranteed starting position in September's
first-ever ACT Invitational at the 1-mile New Hampshire Motor Speedway
in Loudon, NH.
July begins with the Pepsi Independence Day Fireworks
celebration on Thursday, July 2, followed on Sunday, July 5 with the
Thunder Road 50th Anniversary Celebration presented by Casella Waste
Management at 5:00pm. The 50th Annual Times Argus Mid-Season
Championships will be Thursday, July 16 with double championship
points on the line.
The "People's Race," the 25th Annual M&M Beverage Enduro –
increased to 250 laps, with a $5,000 winner's purse – for nearly 100
amateur racers driving virtually street-legal cars, will take place on
Sunday, August 2, along with special events for the Street Stock and
Warrior divisions. A special 50th Anniversary Finale Celebration –
and the crowning of the 50th "King of the Road" Track Champion – is
scheduled to close out the regular season on Thursday, August 27.
Bond Auto Parts will host the 31st Labor Day Classic 200 in the
ACT Late Model Tour's final appearance of the season on Sunday,
September 6. The Bond Auto Labor Day Classic 200 is the longest Late
Model event on the Thunder Road schedule, and has proven to be one of
the most exciting races of the year. Brad Leighton of Center Harbor,
NH survived two flights off the top of the Turn 2 embankment to win
the race in 2008 over Cris Michaud of Northfield, VT and 2008 "King of
the Road" Eric Williams of Hyde Park, VT.
Thunder Road's 50th Anniversary season draws to a close with
one of the most prestigious stock car events in the country, the 46th
Annual Chittenden Bank Milk Bowl. Booth Brothers Dairy and H.P. Hood
present Qualifying Day on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 1:30pm, while
Chittenden Bank Milk Bowl Sunday (Sept. 27) begins with the
last-chance qualifying race at 1:30pm, followed by opening ceremonies
for the race. The Milk Bowl is a three-segment, cumulatively scored
event with full field inversions between segments and a special
three-segment point system to determine the race winner. And, in one
of the most unique traditions in motorsports, the winner gets to kiss
the beauty queen – a Vermont dairy cow!
Season passes are now available at the Thunder Road office in
Waterbury, VT, just in time for the holidays. For more information,
call (802) 244-6963 or visit www.thunderroadspeedbowl.com.

Thunder Road Int'l Speedbowl (Barre, VT) – 2009 Schedule

No. – Day/Date – Event – Post Time
1. Sun., May 03 – Merchants Bank 150 (ACT Late Model Tour) – 1:30
2. Sun., May 10 – Harvest Equipment Mother's Day Special – 1:30
3. Sun., May 24 – Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic (ACT Tour/True
Value Modifieds) – 1:30
4. Thu., June 11 – Ferguson Waterworks – 6:30
5. Thu., June 18 – Sanel Parts Plus – 6:30
6. Thu., June 25 – CARQUEST Vermont Governor's Cup 100 (NHMS Qualifier) – 6:00
7. Thu., July 02 – Pepsi Holiday Fireworks – 6:30
8. Sun., July 05 – Casella Waste Management 50th Anniversary Celebration – 5:00
9. Thu., July 09 – Charter Communications – 6:30
10. Thu., July 16 – Times Argus Mid-Season Championships – 6:30
11. Thu., July 23 – Fisher/Federated Auto Parts – 6:30
12. Thu., July 30 – WDEV Radio/Calkins Portables – 6:30
13. Sun., Aug. 02 – 25th M&M Beverage Enduro 250 (Street Stock/Warrior
Special) – 6:00
14. Thu., Aug. 06 – NAPA Auto Parts – 6:30
15. Thu., Aug. 13 – Vermont ACE Hardware Dealers – 6:30
16. Thu., Aug. 20 – Kinney Drugs – 6:30
17. Thu., Aug. 27 – 50th Anniversary Finale Celebration – 6:30
18. Sun., Sept. 06 – 31st Bond Auto Labor Day Classic 200 (ACT Late
Model Tour) – 1:30
19. Sat., Sept 26 – Booth Bros./H.P. Hood Qualifying Day – 1:30
Sun., Sept. 27 – 46th Annual Chittenden Bank Milk Bowl – 1:30

New Hampshire Motor Speedway to Host ACT Invitational in 2009

New Hampshire Motor Speedway to Host ACT Invitational in 2009

LOUDON, NH – Late Model stock car drivers will get their first
super-speedway experience next year, as the 1-mile New Hampshire Motor
Speedway in Loudon, NH hosts the inaugural American-Canadian Tour
(ACT) Invitational on NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sylvania 300 weekend,
September 18-20, 2009. The ACT/NHMS event will have a purse of more
than $65,000 for invited and approved teams that attend the historic,
groundbreaking event for Late Model stock car racing.
"New Hampshire Motor Speedway has been looking for a way to
support the short track industry throughout the Northeast and
Québec/Ontario markets. ACT offers the perfect conduit to help us
meet our marketing goal," said NHMS Vice President and General Manager
Jerry Gappens.
"New Hampshire Motor Speedway is giving short track fans and
teams throughout the Northeast and Canada a wonderful opportunity,"
said ACT President Tom Curley.
The ACT Invitational race will be a 50-lap all-star event with
36 starters. Each 2009 race winner on the U.S.-based ACT Late Model
Tour and the Québec/Ontario-based Série ACT-Castrol as of Sept. 18,
2009 will be awarded a guaranteed starting spot at NHMS, along with a
$500 bonus for each win, contingent upon participation at the NHMS
event.
Three non-championship events will also be NHMS qualifying
races with a $500 NHMS bonus: the CARQUEST Vermont Governor's Cup 100
at Thunder Road Int'l Speedbowl in Barre, VT, the TD Banknorth 250 at
Oxford Plains Speedway in Oxford, ME, and the Coors Light 200
"Showdown at Chaudière" all-star race at Autodrome Chaudière in
Vallée-Jonction, QC on Sat., August 29.
Other invitees will be 2009 champions and/or point leaders as
of Sept. 18, 2009 on the ACT Late Model Tour and Série ACT-Castrol, as
well as at the following ACT-affiliated short tracks: Thunder Road
Int'l Speedbowl, Oxford Plains Speedway, Lee USA (NH) Speedway, Twin
State Speedway (Claremont, NH), White Mountain Motorsports Park (N.
Woodstock, NH), Seekonk (MA) Speedway, Waterford (CT) Speedbowl,
Capital City Speedway (Ottawa, ON), and Kawartha Speedway
(Peterborough, ON). Provisional starting spots will be awarded to
fill the field to 36 cars, if needed.
"Short track racing is grass roots racing, and is the engine
that drives the entire stock car industry," said Curley. "Jerry
Gappens and his NHMS team are to be commended during these challenging
times with their proactive, innovative ideas to be inclusive of the
region's short tracks. Obviously, the American-Canadian Tour teams
and fans, along with their affiliate Late Model tracks, are very
excited and appreciative about this opportunity."
"This is great news for Late Model racing as a whole," said ACT
Late Model Tour veteran Brent Dragon of Milton, VT. "Racing at Loudon
is something I think all drivers in this region want to do, and now
we've all got even more motivation to win races. Being at New
Hampshire Motor Speedway brings this group to a whole new level."
"I'm very proud of the fact that ACT is going to New
Hampshire," said Donald Theetge of Québec City, the 2006 Série
ACT-Castrol champion. "It will be great for our drivers, our fans,
and it would be a great thing to win a race in front of those Sprint
Cup teams. I know I'm going to try everything I can to get in that
race and win it."
A strategic marketing plan will be created for race fans
throughout the northeastern U.S. and Canada to make attending the
event affordable and give fans more action and value for their ticket
money. Promotions will be held in all major markets of the region,
including the Canadian metro areas of Montréal, Ottawa, Québec City,
and eastern Toronto, and U.S. metro areas including Providence,
Portland, Boston, Hartford, Burlington, VT, Manchester, NH,
Plattsburgh, NY, and more.
"It's our intention to give the best short track teams in the
region a chance to compete at the premier super-speedway in the
northeast," said Gappens. "In addition, it will also help to
encourage more passionate short track race fans to visit our speedway
during our mega-event NASCAR race weekends."
The Série ACT-Castrol 2009 schedule was released at the annual
Banquet of Champions in Drummondville, QC last Saturday night. The
2009 ACT Late Model Tour schedule will be released in the coming days.

PASS North celebrates at Eighth Annual Banquet of Champions

PASS North celebrates at Eighth Annual Banquet of Champions

Westbrook ME- (November 15, 2008) A full house gathered at Verillo's
Conference Center Saturday for an evening of socializing, libation,
bench racing and awards presentations at the eighth annual Pro All
Stars Series (PASS) North Banquet of Champions.

Series President Tom Mayberry opened the evening with a review of the
2008 season, thanks to all of the series' competitors, officials and
sponsors and a glimpse at how the 2009 season is shaping up. In
addition to releasing a fourteen race PASS South schedule, Mayberry
hit upon several points of interest to competitors in all three North
divisions, including a return to Lee USA Speedway for the Super Late
Models on Tuesday July 14, a twin state series for the PASS Mods and
added dates for the PASS Pluffybilt Racing Tractors Sportsman.
Complete schedules for all three divisions will be released in the
weeks to come.

Next Mayberry presented his promoters awards for 2008, by division.

Outlaws: Most Improved: - Joe Decker

Pluffybilt Racing Tractors Sportsman: Most Improved-Jonathan Ledger,
Sportsmanship- Steve Bennett Sr., Hard Luck – Terry Merrill

PASS Mods: Most Improved – Scott McDaniel, Sportsmanship – Tom Oliver,
Hard Luck, Greg Ellis

Super Late Model: Most Improved – Adam Bates, Sportsmanship - Kelly
Moore, Hard Luck – Donnie Whitten

Special Appreciation Awards were presented to Jack Gerbrands and Bill
Hill of Northern Race Tires for their service and dedications to the
series. Billy Clark received the Lifetime Achievement Award in
recognition of his may years as one of the regions top drivers, and
his role as crew chief for his son, 2008 PASS Super Late Model
National Champion Cassius Clark.

Northern Race Tires Rookie of the Year awards came next, recognizing
the top newcomer in each division. Scott Alexander received the Outlaw
Rookie honors, Kyle Hart in the Sportsman division, Andy Shaw for
the Mods and D.J. Shaw in the Super Late Models.

PASS North announcer Mark Thomas took over the podium and presented
trophies and awards to the top five drivers in the abbreviated 2008
PASS Outlaw season, where Mike Harnnish Jr. reigned as Champion. The
top ten in both the Sportsman and Mod divisions were recognized next.
PASS Sportsman Champ Richie Morse received his Championship hardware,
as did Mark Lucas, now a two time PASS Mod titlist.

The top ten PASS North Super Late Mode drivers received their trophies
and point fund checks, culminating in the Champions' presentation to
Johnny Clark for his third PASS North Super Late Model title. Clark
scored four wins, eight top fives, and eleven top tens on his way to
the 2008 Championship.. The entire Clark's Car Crushing team came to
the podium to receive their championship jackets presented by Northern
Race Tires.

The ceremonies wrapped up with Cassius Clark, car owner Ed Chapman,
Crew Chief Billy Clark and team members receiving the accolades for
Clark's 2008 PASS National Championship title.

NEAR HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

Open cockpit sensation Burt Brooks, stock car ace Harold 'Hardluck'
Hannaford and car owner Bertha Small are the Veteran Committee
selections for induction into the New England Auto Racing Hall of
Fame.

The trio will be inducted along with drivers John Fitch, Bobby Dragon
and Paul Richardson, promoters Bob Bahre, Jim McConnell and Tom Curley
and car owner/ builders Rollie Lindblad and Art Barry on Jan. 25, 2009
at LaRenaissance Banquet Hall in East Windsor, CT.

Still to be named are the Jack Ratta (Media) and Danny Pardi (Service)
Memorial Award winners.

Ticket information and request forms are available on the New England
Antique Racers website NEAR1.com.

New Britain, CT-based Brooks won four straight (1950-53) ARDC Ford
championships and four URC Sprint Car crowns in five years (1954-1958)
in a 23-year career that ended with his untimely death at Hershey, PA
in 1968. With well over 100 wins, he ranks as one of New England's
premier open cockpit drivers.

The first female in the NEAR Hall of Fame, the late Small, from
Pawtucket, RI, fielded cars for Jack Foley, Joe McNulty, Cy Yates, Red
Bolduc and Hop Harrington over a 12-year (1950-61) run. The cars ran
at Seekonk, Norwood, Kingstown, Waterford, Lonsdale. Denied entrance
because of her sex, Small often directed things from outside the pit
fence.

A New Hampshire native, Hannaford made a definite mark throughout
Northern New England. An outstanding competitor through the 1950s and
into the 1960s, his resume includes two of the first three (1962, '64)
Milk Bowls and multiple championships at Thunder Road. A competitor at
Daytona in the 60s, he won his last race at Bryar Motor Sports Park in
1966.

Gingras, Hamel Collect Série ACT-Castrol Awards

Gingras, Hamel Collect Série ACT-Castrol Awards

DRUMMONDVILLE, QC – Champion Late Model stock car driver
Alexandre Gingras of Val-Bélair, QC was honored
at the Série ACT-Castrol Banquet of Champions at the Best Western
Hotel Universel in Drummondville, QC on Saturday
evening. The 32 year-old received a bonus check worth $8,000 for his
efforts; the 2008 Série ACT-Castrol title is
the first of his career.
Gingras's #27 SkyJet Chevrolet Impala was steady and consistent
in winning the Castrol championship,
posting six top-ten finishes in eight starts, including a best finish
of second at the Luminaire Napert 150 at
Autodrome Chaudière in August. Gingras was also in the top-five at
Ottawa's Capital City Speedway and Autodrome
St-Félicien in northern Québec, and had strong runs at Autodrome
St-Eustache near Montréal, and Autodrome
Montmagny Speedway near Québec City.
Karl Allard of St-Félicien, QC was given runner-up honors at
the Série ACT-Castrol Banquet of Champions.
Allard finished just three points behind Gingras (643-640) for the
championship. Jean-François Déry of Québec
finished third overall, with Lanoraie, QC veteran Claude Leclerc
finishing fourth. Martin Lacombe of Terrebonne,
QC and Yvon Bédard of St-Nicolas, QC tied for fifth place overall.
Nineteen year-old Patrick Hamel of St-Édourard-de-Lotbiniçre,
QC was honored as the Série ACT-Castrol
Rookie of the Year. Hamel completed his first full season of Late
Model stock car racing in 7th place overall on
the Série ACT-Castrol, with a top result of fourth place at Autodrome Chaudière.
Sophomore driver Stéphane Durand of Québec was voted by
competitors as the Série ACT-Castrol "Most
Improved Driver" for 2008. Durand earned his first-ever top-ten
finish at Chaudière in the Coors Light 100 in
June and finished in 11th place in the championship standings.
Éric St-Gelais of St-Nicolas was named the winner of the Série
ACT-Castrol "Sportsmanship" award, as voted
by competitors and officials. The second-year Late Model racer was on
hand at all events in 2008, and was seen
repairing the car of his competitors on many occasions.
American-Canadian Tour (ACT) President Tom Curley thanked all
involved with the Série ACT-Castrol in his
remarks during the evening, and announced a nine-event schedule for
2009 that includes returns to Autodrome St-
Eustache in May and September, Autodrome Montmagny Speedway in May and
July, Autodrome Chaudière in June and
August, Capital City Speedway in June, and for the first time in two
years, Riverside Speedway (formerly Circuit
Ste-Croix) in June and August. Curley also announced that the
second-annual "Showdown at Chaudière" all-star
invitational event will be held on Saturday, August 29.

2009 PASS South Super Late Model schedule released

2009 PASS South Super Late Model schedule released

Naples ME ( November 15 2008) Pro All Stars Series (PASS) President
Tom Mayberry has announced a fourteen race 2009 schedule for the PASS
South Super Late Models.

"I'm pleased to have an exciting 2009 schedule already in place for
PASS South, " said Mayberry, "and I'm looking forward to our fourth
year of bringing the fastest full fendered short track racing to
speedways throughout the south."

The season will kick off March 14th with a return to Dillon (SC) Motor
Speedway for the South Carolina Clash, and then it's off to Hickory
(NC) Motor Speedway on April 11th for the fourth annual Easter Bunny.

On April 25th the traveling pros take on Asheboro North Carolinas'
Caraway Speedway for the Piedmont Pride Classic. Wake County
Speedway's tight quarter mile will once again host the Capital City
Clash on May 8th.

New on the schedule is Coastal Plains Raceway, a fast 4/10 mile
tri-oval that will see their first PASS Super Late Model showdown on
May 30. The track is just outside Jacksonville North Carolina. June 20
is reserved for an event to be announced.

July 3rd sees the Pro All Stars return to Greenville-Pickens (SC)
Speedway for the Firecracker 125, followed two days later by the
Independence 150 at Hickory Motor Speedway on July 5th. The ultra
fast Newport (TN) Speedway is back on the card July 18th for the
second annual Daniel Boone Classic.

Orange County Speedway will heat up with PASS Super Late Model action
on August 8th when the Southern Sizzler returns to the immaculate
Rougemont North Carolina speed plant. Hickory is a favorite for fans
and racers alike, and the PASS stars and cars will make their third
and final appearance of 2009 on August 29.A September 29th race date
is still under negotiation.

The Mason-Dixon Meltdown will return to South Boston (VA) Speedway on
October 17th, and the 2009 PASS South Champion will be crowned one
week later at Greenville-Pickens Speedway at The Howler on October
24th.

"We'll have more information on all of the PASS 2009 schedules in the
coming weeks, but we wanted to assure our competitors and fans that we
will be back stronger than ever in 2009. PASS South has continued to
grow and we will continue to build PASS as the fastest Super Late
Model racing series in the eastern United States", said Mayberry.

Keep tabs on the latest Pro All Stars Series news by visiting
www.racewithpass.com or www.proallstarsseries.com .

Série ACT-Castrol 2009 Schedule Released

Série ACT-Castrol 2009 Schedule Released

DRUMMONDVILLE, QC – A nine-event Late Model stock car racing
schedule has been released for the 2009 Série
ACT-Castrol season in Québec and Ontario. American-Canadian Tour
(ACT) President Tom Curley announced the
schedule at the Série ACT-Castrol 2008 Banquet of Champions at the
Best Western Hotel Universel in Drummondville,
QC on Saturday night before the annual gathering of drivers, team
members, and sponsors.
Five diverse tracks will host the Série ACT-Castrol in 2009,
and as in 2008, the season will begin and end
at the flat, 4/10-mile Autodrome St-Eustache oval near Montréal. The
series will open there with a 100-lap event
on Saturday, May 23, and close with the 15th Annual St-Eustache 300 on
Sunday, September 20. Autodrome Montmagny,
a high-banked 3/8-mile oval east of Québec City, will also host the
series twice, with a 100-lap race on Saturday,
May 30, and the annual Montmagny 250 on Saturday, July 4.
Autodrome Chaudière, a high-banked 1/4-mile oval in
Vallée-Jonction, QC, will hold two 150-lap Série ACT-
Castrol Championship events; the first on Saturday, June 6, the second
on Saturday, August 8. Autodrome Chaudière
will also host the second annual "Showdown at Chaudière," a
non-points, all-star invitational event for the top
ACT drivers in Canada and the United States, on Saturday, August 29.
The 3/8-mile, semi-banked Capital City Speedway in Ottawa will
host a 100-lap event for the third
consecutive season, on Saturday, June 13, as the track's weekly Late
Model competitors take on the touring Série
ACT-Castrol teams.
The 5/8-mile, high-banked Riverside Speedway (formerly Circuit
Ste-Croix) on the banks of the St. Lawrence
River in Ste-Croix, QC, will return to the Série ACT-Castrol schedule
for the first time in two years. Riverside
Speedway will host a 100-lap event on Saturday, June 20, and a 150-lap
contest on Saturday, August 22.
In addition to the special "Showdown at Chaudière" event, the
weekend of July 18/19 has been reserved for
the annual TD Banknorth 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway in Maine. Many
Série ACT-Castrol competitors competed at
the event in 2008, considered the richest one-day short track race in
North America.
Série ACT-Castrol 2008 Champion Alexandre Gingras of
Val-Bélair, QC received $8,000 in post-season awards
at the Banquet of Champions. Nineteen year-old Patrick Hamel of
St-Édouard-de-Lotbinière, QC collected the Rookie
of the Year award, while Stéphane Durand of Québec, QC and Éric
St-Gelais of St-Nicolas, QC were named the winners
of the Most Improved Driver and Sportsmanship awards, respectively.
For more information on the Série ACT-Castrol or the
American-Canadian Tour, call (802) 244-6963 or visit
www.laserieactcastrol.com or www.acttour.com.

Série ACT-Castrol – 2009 Schedule

Event No. – Day/Date – Track – Location – Laps

1. Sat., May 23 – Autodrome St-Eustache – St-Eustache, QC (Montréal) – 100
2. Sat., May 30 – Autodrome Montmagny – Montmagny, QC – 100
3. Sat., June 6 – Autodrome Chaudière – Vallée-Jonction, QC – 150
4. Sat., June 13 – Capital City Speedway – Ottawa, ON – 100
5. Sat., June 20 – Riverside Speedway – Ste-Croix, QC – 100
6. Sat., July 4 – Autodrome Montmagny – Montmagny, QC – 250
*** Sun., July 19 – Oxford Plains Speedway – Oxford, ME, USA – 250
7. Sat., Aug. 8 – Autodrome Chaudière – Vallée-Jonction, QC – 150
8. Sat., Aug. 22 – Riverside Speedway – Ste-Croix, QC – 150
*** Sat., Aug. 29 – Autodrome Chaudière – Vallée-Jonction, QC – 200
9. Sun., Sept. 20 – Autodrome St-Eustache – St-Eustache, QC (Montréal) – 300

*** – denotes non-championship events

Johnson on Brink of Third Title After Phoenix Win

AVONDALE, Ariz. (Nov. 9, 2008) -- Polesitter Jimmie Johnson played his
own version of "Catch Me If You Can" Sunday -- and nobody could -- in
the Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 and in the Chase for the NASCAR
Sprint Cup.

Though it took a green-white-checkered-flag finish to decide the race,
the outcome was hardly in doubt, as Johnson dominated the race,
leading 217 of 313 laps. Kurt Busch finished second, .295 seconds
behind the two-time defending Cup champion.

With the victory, his seventh of the season, his third straight at
Phoenix and the 40th of his career, Johnson widened his lead in the
Chase to 141 points over fourth-place finisher Carl Edwards. If
Johnson finishes 36th or better in next Sunday's season finale at
Homestead-Miami Speedway, he will join a club that currently has only
Cale Yarborough as a member: drivers to win three straight Cup titles.

After a lackluster final practice session Saturday, Johnson and his
crew chief, Chad Knaus, traded phones calls and messages on their
laptop computers, trying to improve the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports
Chevrolet.

"Those guys (the crew) were working for every little thing they could
find to make this car better, and they made it the dominant car," said
Johnson, whose win also clinched Chevrolet's 32nd manufacturers'
championship.

Of the 12 drivers who started the Chase, only Edwards has an outside
chance to catch Johnson.

"I'm excited," Johnson said. "I wish we could have left here and all
we have to do is start (at Homestead), but Carl put up a great fight.
They've been a strong, championship-caliber team all year. But as long
as something doesn't go crazy for us down in Homestead, we're going to
tie Cale -- and I can't wait to start celebrating."

Edwards knows his title hopes depend on major disaster for Johnson's team.

"He (Johnson) did a great job," said Edwards, who finished one
position behind Roush Fenway Racing teammate Jamie McMurray. "It's
still possible, just not probable. We'll just have to go there and
hope that something happens. You saw it with the 24 today." (Johnson's
teammate Jeff Gordon blew his engine Sunday and finished 41st.)

Denny Hamlin finished fifth, followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin
Harvick, Kyle Busch, Jeff Burton and David Ragan.

For the first 273 laps, the race looked more like a coronation than a
competition. Johnson easily put distance between his No. 48 Chevrolet
and whatever car happened to be running second. After a restart on Lap
267, following a caution for debris in Turn 3, Johnson pulled away
steadily from Kurt Busch until a massive crash in Turn 3 stopped the
action on Lap 273.

The wreck left the No. 38 Ford of David Gilliland on top of the roof
and hood of Scott Speed's No. 84 Toyota, and NASCAR red-flagged the
race for more than 17 minutes while the safety crew winched the cars
apart. Gilliland and Speed were examined in the infield care center
and released.

By then, Johnson already had locked up a five-point bonus for most
laps led, as Edwards continued his slow, methodical climb from his
15th-place starting position, a run that must have seemed like a swim
through molasses for the driver of the No. 99 Ford.

A succession of excellent pit stops, coupled with positions gained on
the racetrack, left Edwards in the fourth position for a restart on
Lap 267, but he was unable to gain another spot. Though there were
four more cautions and four more restarts in the final 40 laps,
Johnson, who led the final 95 laps, finished the event without a
serious challenge.

RMR Snocross News: 2008-09 Competition Preview

2008 champion Sirjane retires, Pro title wide open for Rock Maple Racing

DERRY, N.H. (Nov. 7, 2008) - With the 2008-09 snocross season
opener now just one month away, teams across the northeast are gearing
up for what could easily be one of the most competitive schedules in
recent years.
Officials from Rock Maple Racing (RMR) are busy preparing to
kick off their 17th season of competition on Saturday and Sunday, Dec.
6-7, at the beautiful Whaleback Mountain ski area in Enfield,
Hampshire.
C. W. Sirjane, last year's Pro champion from Whitehall, N.Y.,
announced his retirement from racing last spring. With that news, the
door swings wide open for a new face atop the point standings. Leading
the charge toward that 2008 title are former champions Jason and Matt
Boron. Both will return aboard the newly-refined Ski-doo 600RS for
Dana White at D&Z Racing.
Thanks to RMR's advancement policy, the Pro division is loaded
with talent as we hit the snow in December. Former Semi-Pro stars
Jason Stone, Chris Chico and Derek Graham will now battle ski-to-ski
against the Borons and Danny Poirier. Stone will ride Ski-doo for the
mighty Ingles Racing organization out of Phoenix, N.Y., while Chico
and Graham will pilot Polaris sleds in their quest for supremacy.
Anyone concerned about these moves hurting the quality of
competition in Semi-Pro can put those fears to rest. Trevor Bouchard
(D&Z Racing) and Brennan Berardo are among the favorites in a full
field of talented contenders. Other strong riders of note include Jake
Melville and Shaun St. Onge. Lucas Brunelle and Corin Todd move up
from the Sport division this year, adding even more excitement to this
division. And just as Sirjane will be missed in the Pro classes,
former Semi-Pro Dale Petrus will be missed here as he has also decided
to retire from the sport of snocross.
Intense battles will not be limited to the Pro and Semi-Pro
divisions this season. Jake Dasilva and Joey Stock will lead a full
field of up-and-comers in the Sport division, while former Junior
standout Lincoln Lemieux also joins the mix. Lemieux turned a lot of
heads last season as he became the first-ever Junior rider to qualify
for the prestigious Semi-Pro Shootout.
From a manufacturer's standpoint, the 2008-09 RMR snocross
season should be pretty competitive, as well. Manufacturer support for
snocross teams continues to be solid. With the absence of Harrison
Motorsports, D&Z Racing becomes the flagship team for Ski-doo, while
Chad Miller and David Duchnik (West series) will fly the colors for
Arctic Cat. St. Johnsville, New York-based Team Cycle Worx will lead
the Polaris effort, anchored by Pro division veteran Poirier. Yamaha
is also well-represented in Rock Maple pit area, as the Herrmann
family (Brent and Matt) proudly fly the bright blue four-stroke
machines with their distinct, rumbling sound.
Across the pit area, from Pro to Semi-Pro, Women and Juniors,
every division has its favorites. Yet every division is also full of
family-oriented teams just looking to enjoy quality time with loved
ones and share their passion for snowmobiles and racing. It's an
extended family like no other, bundling up against winter's cold to
enjoy the sport of snocross.
For more information, visit us online at www.rockmaple.com.

UNITY RACEWAY - LONG JOHN 2009

UNITY RACEWAY - LONG JOHN 2009

The 2009 Long John at Unity Raceway lived up to its name. With the
cold fall wind blowing temperatures were only in the 30's. This didn't
keep the race cars and fans from filling the stands. The return of the
Pro Stocks to the track was long anticipated. The drivers didn't let
us down. Dean Fuller, former Unity Raceway Pro Stock champion, jumped
to the early lead in the heat race. This lead was short lived as Scott
Chubbuck used the outside line to pass Fuller and cruise to the heat
race win. Chubbuck would take lead a the start of the feature. Gary
Smith would follow a close second. Tim Turner and Chuck Colby have a
side by side battle for third. Bill Whorff Jr finished out the top
five. Scott Moore, using the outside groove, has moved into the third
postition. David Folsom, making his return to racing, moves his new
#15 machine into the top five. Chubbuck continues to pull away from
the field. Colby and Moore battle door to door for second. Mechanical
problems on lap 54 forces Chubbuck to the pits. Moore takes the lead
with Colby a close second. Tim Turner fights back from an early race
mishap to take over the third spot. Colby fights back on the outside
to take the lead from Moore. Moore fights back on the inside bringing
Turner with him. Folsom continue to move to the front. Folsom gets
loose going down the front stretch spinning him into the turn one
bank. This would retire the #15 machine to the pits. Moore takes the
lead on the restart. Turner is all over his bumper. Colby follows the
pair in third. Caution would fly again for a spin in turn 2. Moore
takes the lead with Turner trying the high line around. Turner takes
the lead as Moore gets tied up in lapped traffic. Turner takes home
the checkered flag. Moore finishes a very close second. Colby crosses
the stripe third. Bill Whorff Jr has a fine run in fourth. Dean Fuller
finishes out the top five.
The Limited division saw a fine field of cars take the green. Chris
Thorne took the early lead in the heat race followed closely by Deane
Smart. The field would be closed up fro a caution on lap 3. Thorne
would again jump to the lead and the heat race win. The second heat
race would see Josh St Clair take the lead with Joe Allard in tow.
Caution would fly for a spin in turn 3. The restart would see Allan
Moeller, driving for Harold Hinckley, challenge Josh St Clair for the
lead. St Clair gets loose allowing Moeller to sneak by for the heat
race win. The feature would find Thorne again taking the lead at the
drop of the flag. Thorne would be challenged early by Brenton Parritt
and Kevin Douglass. Neither driver would have quite enough to get by
Thorne. Dan Trask and Deane Smart battle for the fourth position.
Caution flies on lap 22 closing the field. Parritt jumps to the lead
on the outside. The lead would be short lived as another caution flag
would fly giving Thorne the outside. Joey Doyon is moving to the front
taking over the fourth from Deane Smart. Caution would slow the field
again as Douglass and Parritt touch going down the back stretch
forcing cars over the lip. Doyon challenges Thorne for the lead on the
restart. Thorne uses the outside to retake the lead. Smart is all over
the rear bumper of Doyon for second. Thorne crosses the line first for
the win. Doyon takes home second. Smart follows a close third. Parritt
recovers from his mid race incident to finish fourth. Ajay Picard
finished out the top five.

The Sportsman division saw Mark Dodge's purple machine jump to the
front. Jerry Harrison followed a close second. Caution flies on lap 3
for a spin in turn 2. Dodge would again take the lead and never look
back for the heat race win. Kris Watson took the lead in the second
heat race. Kris Huff catches Watson and passes on the inside for the
lead. Huff cruises to the heat race win. The 75 lap feature saw Huff
lead the pack to the line. Dodge followed Huff closely in second.
Watson, Harrison, and Nate Weston all battle for the third spot.
Watson clears the two to take over third. Brad Bellows uses the
outside to take over the fourth spot. Huff has already started to
weave thru lapped traffic. Caution flies on lap 15 for a spin in turn
3. Huff is able to hold off the challenge of Dodge on the outside to
retake the lead. Bellows and Watson race side by side for third.
Caution flies again closing up the field. Bellows challenges Dodge for
second as Huff again takes the lead. Shawn Austin is up to challenge
Watson for fourth. Bellows and Dodge close the gap with Huff as he
gets loose in turn 4. Watson takes over the lead as the leaders have
problems. Mike Landry moves into the second spot. Austion follows a
close third. Watson continues to pull away from the field. James
Osmond and Nate Weston battle for the fourth spot. Patient pays off
for Watson as he takes home the checkered. Austin crosses the line in
second. Landry follows in third. Osmond makes his Unity debut in
fourth. Nate Weston finishes out the top five.

It was features only for some of the support divisions. The Monsta
Mini division saw a fine field of competitors take the checkered flag.
2008 Unity Champion, Mike Wilson, took the early race lead. Phil
Richardson challenged Wilson on the inside. This challenge was short
lived as Richardson retired with mechanical problems. Dylan Lancaster
was all over the bumper of Wilson. Jonathan Smith runs a strong third.
Paul Jackson, running brother Richard's #53 machine, follows the front
group. David Green follows Jackson in fifth. Lancaster tries the
inside groove and Smith tries the outside groove around Wilson. This
three wide racing just makes Wilson more determined. Wilson shoots
thru to the feature in. Smith takes over the second position.
Lancaster crosses the line in third. Jackson has a fine run in fourth.
Green finishes out the top five.

The Unity Variety and Video Wildcats saw the largest field of the
season take the green flag. Jim Shorey made the trip from New
Hampshire to try his luck at Maine's Toughest Oval. His #2 shot to the
lead. Wayne Parritt Jr followed a close second. The front pair are
pulling away from third place, Lyman McKeage. Caesar Morgan moves into
the fourth position and looks to the outside of McKeage. Shorey and
Parritt race side by side for the lead. This battle continues for many
laps. Shorey takes over the top spot as Parritt gets loose. Shorey
leads the final two laps to take the win. Parritt follows in second.
Morgan takes home third. Jim Duguay has a fine run in fourth.

The Mini Truck division made its return. Jamie Foster jumped to the
early race lead. Jason Giggey takes over the second spot from James
Swan Jr. Former truck champion, Kevin Nutting, moves up to challenge
Swan for third. Foster is pulling away from the field. Nutting uses
the outside line to move around Giggey for second and puts his sights
on Foster. Time runs out. Foster takes the win. Nutting finishes a
close second. Giggey has a fine run in third. Chris Doucette limps
home his #16 truck in fourth. Swan finishes out the top five.
The Ladies division saw a mixture of seasoned veterans and some hot
shoe rookies. Shelby Kimball, trying her new ride, jumps to the early
race lead. 2008 Ladies Champion, Samantha Letourneau, battles Kimball
on the inside. Molly Feeney is reeling in the front pair from the
rear. Feeney takes over second from Letourneau. Rhonda Lyford follows
the lead group. Kimball takes home her first career checkered flag.
Feeney follows a close second. Letourneau takes home the third place
trophy. Lyford has a fine run in fourth.

Younger brother of Ladies winner, Shelby Kimball made his racing debut
on Long John Day. Matt Kimball started the race on the pole position.
It didn't take long for Westley Turner to jump to the outside and take
the lead. Dustin Warren is having a fine run in third. Kimball isn't
letting Turner out of his sights. Turner starts to bobble as a right
rear tire is going flat. Kimball takes advantage to take his first
career win in his first career start. Dustin Warren takes home the
second spot. Turner recovers from his flat tire to take home the third
place trophy.

The Full Size Race Trucks made their first appearance at Unity
Raceway. Jim Carr and Dana Harlow raced door to door for the lead.
Harlow makes the pass for the lead. Jordan Pearson moves to the
outside to take over second. Anthony Moore runs in fourth. John Kalel
II limps around in fifth. Pearson has caught Harlow and makes the pass
for the lead. Harlow fights back on the inside. Pearson would not be
denied and takes the feature win. Harlow finishes second. Moore takes
the third spot. Carr settles for fourth. Kalell finishes out the top
five.

The Late Model Pro division had the front runner of the class putting
on a speed show. Jim Dennis takes the early race lead. Ben Clark
follows a close second. Justin Drake clears Steve Rackliff for third.
Caution would fly for a spin off the back stretch. Dennis and Drake
battle side by side for the lead. Drake uses the inside line to take
the lead from Dennis. Rackliff watches from the third position. Dennis
battles back on the outside. Drake retakes the lead as Dennis bobbles.
Rackliff and Dennis battle for second. Clark watches the pair in
fourth. Rookie driver, Jesse Bolduc, runs a strong fifth. Drake
continues to pull away. Dennis takes the second spot from Rackliff.
Drakes cruises to the win. Dennis crosses the stripe in second.
Rackliff finishes his championship year with a third. Clark recovers
from his mid race spin to finish fourth. Bolduc finishes out the top
five.

The Men's Peanut division started their feature way after the sun had
gone down. Ed Sleeper and Ryan Ripley battled for the early race lead.
Cook moves into the third spot. Lance Chapman follows the Cook machine
in fourth. Bob Grady clears the field for fifth spot. Ripley takes
over the top spot from Sleeper. Cook is also able to clear Sleeper for
second. Ripley starts pulling away from the field. Chapman is able to
take over third from Sleeper. Ripley and Cook fill the top 2
positions. The pair would not pass post race inspection. This hands
the win to Lance Chapman. Ed Sleeper fills the second spot. Lucas
Porter, up from the Teen Division, takes home the third place trophy.
Shelby Kimball comes home in fourth. Ryan Hayes finishes out the top
five.

The Enduro division finished out a wonderful day of racing. Kevin
Sherman took the lead at the start of the race. 2008 Enduro Champion,
Alex Fernald, moves into the lead when Sherman bobbles in turn 2.
David Odgen challenges Fernald on the outside. Ogden takes the lead.
Mickey Landry takes the 01 machine into second as Fernald spins on the
back stretch. Landry catches the Ogden machine and makes the pass for
the lead. Landry pulls away from the field for the win. Ogden takes
home the second spot. Darren Dyer, filling in for 10 year old son
Robert Dyer, brings home his first trophy of the year in third.
Fernald recovers from his spin for the fourth spot.

Unity Raceway Track Management would like to thank all the fans,
competitors, workers, and sponsors for a fine 2008 racing season.

Clark’s second half charge leads to third PASS North Super Late Model title

Clark's second half charge leads to third PASS North Super Late Model title

If you had to hang a title on Johnny Clark's run to the 2008 Pro All
Stars Series (PASS) North Championship, it might be "a tale of two
seasons". The Farmingdale Maine race car driver didn't start his 2008
campaign with a great deal of flourish, but his team came on strong in
the second half of the season to capture their third PASS Super Late
Model Championship.

His early season results were mixed at best. He finished thirteenth in
the PASS North season opener at Maine's Beech Ridge Motor Speedway,
but rebounded with a victory at Wiscasset Raceway. But after
Wiscasset, the results weren't there. A ninth at White Mountain,
sixteenth back at Wiscasset, a tenth place run at Beech Ridge. Solid
runs to be sure, but not up to par for a race team that has two PASS
super late model titles and thirteen race wins to their credit. To be
a title contender in the ultra competitive PASS North, top fives are
the key and you need them in each and every race.

Clark didn't score another top three until July at Thompson (CT)
Speedway, and he was mired back in the point standings. But, Clark is
quick to point to that Thompson race as a turning point in his season.
The family-focused team never gave up. With a new race car that the
crew painstakingly assembled over the off season and a set-up that
made that car run like it was on rails, Clark turned on the jets. He
claimed his second win of 2008 two weeks later at Groveton NH's
Riverside Speedway, and dominated the action at All-Star Speedway
before a flat tire set him back to fourth at the finish. Still, he
recovered from what could have been a disastrous result and scored
solid points, and it looked like the season might be turning around
for the Clark's Car Crushing team.

He contended for the Atlantic Cat 250 win in Nova Scotia but had to
settle for seventh at the checkered flag. Clark got back to his
winning ways at Wiscasset in August, rebounding for a $30,000.00
payday in the Toyota Tundra 250 followed by a second place run at
White Mountain and a $10,000.00 win at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in
the PASS 300.

It all came down to the Fall Brawl at Johnny's home track, Wiscasset
Raceway. When the checkers flew Clark had a fifth place finish,
beating four time series champ Ben Rowe by five spots to secure the
2008 PASS super late model title by ten points. On his way to the
crown Clark scored the most series wins (4) and led the most laps
(469). He raced home in the top five eight times, with eleven top
tens.

Clark put an exclamation point on a super 2008 season by dominating
the PASS South 250 lap feature at the Mason-Dixon 500 at Virginia's
South Boston Speedway, collecting yet another $10,000.00 payday along
with his first PASS South victory.

Johnny Clark, his race team and all the Pro All Stars Series
Champions, competitors, fans and sponsors will gather on November 15th
for the eighth annual PASS North Banquet of Champions at Verillo's
Conference Center on Riverside Drive in Westbrook Maine.

Brett Moffitt Signs With Andy Santerre Motorsports For 2009 Season

Brett Moffitt Signs With Andy Santerre Motorsports For 2009 Season

16-year-old Slated For Seven-Race Schedule

Harrisburg, NC (November 2, 2008): Andy Santerre
Motorsports announced today that 16-year-old Brett Moffitt has signed
with the team to drive the #44 Chevrolet's in seven NASCAR Camping
World Series races throughout the 2009 season. Moffitt, a Grimes, Iowa
native, has a resume that includes the ASA Late Model North Series,
the ASA Challenge Series, IMCA Sport Modifieds, and the WKA.

"This is the next step up in my career so I'm really
excited to get the opportunity to drive for someone like Andy
Santerre. He is obviously well-respected in the series for the things
he's done as a car owner and driver. He's won a lot so there's no one
better to learn from," said Moffitt.

Moffitt will make his debut with the team at Phoenix
International Raceway's NASCAR Camping World Series West season
opener, and finish out the six remaining races in the NASCAR Camping
World Series East. Moffitt, who is currently searching out a sponsor
for the second half of the East season, hopes to extend his contract
with ASM to include all the races on the schedule.

"Our goal is to start out at Phoenix and hopefully run the
whole East Series schedule, but right now that is dependent upon
financing. If we find a sponsor, we'll do the whole deal," Moffitt
said.

Moffitt got his start in go-karts and quickly advanced to
dirt racing, making his mark by winning the 2007 edition of the Harris
Clash, a premier event at Knoxville (IA) Raceway. Moffitt's win put
him in the history books as the youngest person ever to win a feature
event at the famed raceway.

In 2008, Moffitt made his asphalt debut and immediately
proved he would be a force to reckon with. The young driver earned a
combined total of five wins in 2008, earned the Rookie-of-the-Year
honors in the ASA Late Model North Series, and finished second in the
season ending points.

"I watched him race a couple of weeks ago and he and Steve
Carlson, who I think is one of the most talented drivers in the
Midwest, battled side-by-side for 25-30 laps. He drove that car like a
veteran," Santerre said of Moffitt. "I was really impressed with his
ability and I have no doubt in my mind that he has the potential to be
successful in the Camping World Series."

“Live To PASS” Moves To New Night and Expands to 1-Hour on RaceTalkRadio.Com

"Live To PASS" Moves To New Night and Expands to 1-Hour on RaceTalkRadio.Com

CHARLOTTE, NC (November 4) – The official radio show of the Pro All
Stars Series (PASS), "Live To PASS" will move to Wednesday nights and
expand to one hour it was announced late Tuesday. "Live To PASS"
debuted on RaceTalkRadio.com earlier this year with hosts Dennis
Michelsen and Alan Dietz and proved to be quite successful. "Live To
PASS" will move to its new time slot at 7 PM EST this Wednesday night.
The show returns in its expanded form and new night thanks to fans
who wanted to know what was going on in the world PASS during the off
season.

"We thought last week was our final show of 2008, but our fans wanted
more so we decided to bring 'Live To PASS' back on Wednesday nights,
bigger and better than ever," said PASS President Tom Mayberry. "By
carrying 'Live To PASS' on through the winter we will be able to tell
the fans about our 2009 schedules and keep them informed on what's
going on headed into next season."

"Live To PASS" co-host Dennis Michelsen believes expanding the show to
one hour will only help the progression of the program into 2009.

"We could not be happier to have 'Live To PASS' back for the remainder
of this year and heading into 2009," said Michelsen. "It was all Alan
and I could do to cram everything into 30 minutes so now, expanding
the show to one hour, we should be able to give the fans even more
information about the best Super Late Model series from Georgia to
Nova Scotia."

Among Wednesday night's guests on "Live to PASS" will be 2008 PASS
National Champion Cassius Clark.

ACT Late Models Returning to Beech Ridge in 2009

ACT Late Models Returning to Beech Ridge in 2009

       SCARBOROUGH, ME – The American-Canadian Tour Late Model Championship stock cars will return to
Scarborough, Maine's Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in 2009, ending a 16-year absence.  The 1/3-mile, semi-banked oval
outside Portland was pivotal in deciding the first-ever ACT Late Model Tour champion, as Dave Whitcomb of Essex
Jct., VT spring-boarded from a Beech Ridge victory in September 1992 to secure the title.  Pat Corbett won the
Tour's only other event at the track in July 1993.
       The 150-lap event will be held on Saturday, July 25, 2009, on the weekend following the TD Banknorth 250
at Oxford Plains Speedway in Oxford, ME.
       "We are very excited to welcome ACT back after all these years," said Beech Ridge Motor Speedway Promoter
Andy Cusack.  "Not only are we happy to have ACT back, we're happy to welcome a whole new generation of talented
young drivers to Beech Ridge; most of the drivers running with ACT right now have never raced at our facility, and
it's always fun to have new teams at our track."
       For the Beech Ridge Motor Speedway event, ACT will allow any unused tires that Late Model teams have
remaining in their inventories from the TD Banknorth 250 to be used in competition.  In addition, Oxford Plains
Speedway Promoter Bill Ryan will close his track for the weekend to allow his local Late Model teams a chance to
compete at Beech Ridge.
       ACT President Tom Curley said that the return to Beech Ridge Motor Speedway is long overdue, and that he
appreciates the support he has received from Cusack and Ryan.
       "Andy Cusack and Bill Ryan understand as race track promoters the value and potential that this race has
for not only the State of Maine, but northeastern Late Model racing in general," said Curley.  "Beech Ridge and
Oxford Plains are the showplaces of Maine racing, and the fact that the two promoters are willing to work together
to help this event is pretty special.  We all feel that the one-race rollover tire rule will save teams a
substantial amount of money while giving them a chance to race on tires that they otherwise may not be able to
use."
       Curley said that in addition to the ACT Late Model Tour regulars and Oxford Plains Speedway teams expected
for the race, he thinks there will be interest from other teams from tracks including Lee USA Speedway in New
Hampshire, Thunder Road Int'l Speedbowl in Vermont, and Wiscasset Raceway in Maine.
       The full 2009 ACT Late Model Tour schedule will be released in the coming days.  Patrick Laperle of
Montréal will be honored as the 2008 Champion at the annual ACT Banquet of Champions at the Sheraton-Burlington
Hotel and Conference Center in South Burlington, VT on Saturday, January 10, 2009.