TORONTO, ON – For the first time ever, Cayuga Int’l Speedway will be rocking to the sounds of CASCAR racing on the Labour Day long weekend. Sunday afternoon’s ‘Hot Head Henry 200 powered by Griddly Headz’ Super Series race will be the focal point of a busy weekend of motorsports, music and partying at Cayuga Speedway Park.
Prior to that, on Saturday, there will be a pair of 50-lap Super Series Shootout Races, followed by the ‘Texaco Havoline 100’ CASCAR Sportsman Series race. Adding to the atmosphere will be live music concerts at the Campground Pavilion on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.
The Hot Head Henry 200 is the ninth CASCAR Super Series race of the season. Following CASCAR’s successful appearance at the Grand Prix de Montreal last weekend, the championship chase has been tightened and shuffled as the series builds towards its conclusion. Young star J.R. Fitzpatrick (Milwaukee Tools Chevy) still leads the points chase, as he has for most of the season, but he is now in the sights of former CASCAR champ Kerry Micks (Cdn. Detailing Svcs. Ford), who has won a pair of races in 2006, including last weekend’s race in Montreal.
This week, Micks installed his race-winning motor from his road course car into his oval car, in hopes of continuing his quest for another CASCAR crown. “We’ve come a long way to get back into this championship,” said Micks, who is just 11 points back of Fitzpatrick with three events remaining on the schedule. “That was a great motor in our car today [in Montreal] and we’re going to switch it over to our oval car for Cayuga. We’ve had a lot of wins at Cayuga and we’re confident that we can go there and do well.”
Fitzpatrick and his teammate Don Thomson Jr. (Home Hardware Chevy) are hoping to rebound from a tough weekend in Montreal, during which both experienced engine failures during qualifying, and had to battle from the back at the start of the race. Fitzpatrick salvaged an eighth-place finish, while Thomson endured more powerplant trouble in the road course event at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, and came home 13th, dropping him to third in the points.
Over the years, there have been many international racing stars who have taken part in CASCAR races. This weekend at Cayuga, Canadian open-wheel star Patrick Carpentier will be behind the wheel of Dave Jacombs’ #88 Ford Taurus as he makes his stock car debut in the Hot Head Henry 200. The Quebec racer competed in the ChampCar series for eight seasons, as well as in the Indy Racing League. “I am very excited to compete in my first stock car racing event with the CASCAR Super Series,” said Carpentier. “CASCAR is Canada’s top race series… and to race at the legendary Cayuga Speedway makes the opportunity even more exciting.”
CAYUGA NOTEBOOK: Longtime Cayuga Speedway owners Bob & Leone Slack will be honoured prior to racetime on Sunday afternoon. The Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame inductees ran the 5/8-mile facility during its glory years, putting Cayuga on the international motorsports map through their creative promotions and hard work… The Canadian Vintage Modifieds will be part of the Labour Day Classic Weekend at Cayuga, with a feature race on Saturday evening… The Campground Pavilion will be busy all weekend. “Red Eye” (Friday), “Ray Lyell and the Storm” (Saturday) and “Good Rockin’ Tonight with a Johnny Cash tribute” (Sunday) will be part of the entertainment, which also includes fireworks… Caledonia, ON resident Ashley Coles will perform the National Anthems on Sunday, prior to the Hot Head Henry 200. Coles made the top 14 in Canadian Idol… Tickets for the weekend are available at www.ticketmaster.ca or through the speedway at (866) 670-1958.
SCHEDULE: Cayuga Labour Day Weekend Classic
Featuring the Hot Head Henry 200 (CASCAR Super Series) and the Texaco Havoline 100 (CASCAR Sportsman Series)
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2006
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. CASCAR Sportsman Series Practice
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. CASCAR Super Series Practice
5:00 p.m. Sportsman Series Time Trials
6:30 p.m. Super Series Time Trials
7:00 p.m. Canadian Vintage Modified Feature
8:00 p.m. CASCAR Super Series Twin 50 Shootout Races
9:00 p.m. START: SPORTSMAN SERIES ‘TEXACO HAVOLINE 100’ FEATURE
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2006
11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. CASCAR Super Series Driver Autograph Session
12:00 p.m. Opening Ceremonies and Driver Introductions
12:30 p.m. Tribute to Bob & Leone Slack
12:50 p.m. National Anthems by Caledonia’s Ashley Coles (Top 14 Canadian Idol)
1:00 p.m. START: HOT HEAD HENRY 200 CASCAR SUPER SERIES RACE
POINT STANDINGS
CASCAR Super Series (As of August 26, 2006 // Top 15): 1. #84 J.R. Fitzpatrick (1357 pts.); 2. #02 Kerry Micks (1346); 3. #4 Don Thomson Jr. (1324); 4. #22 Scott Steckly (1300); 5. #39 Dave Whitlock (1294); 6. #9 Mark Dilley (1252); 7. #60 Ron Beauchamp (1238); 8. #19 Brad Graham (1223); 9. #17 DJ Kennington (1214); 10. #10 Doug Brown (1205); 11. #25 Jim Lapcevich (1203); 12. #1 Peter Gibbons (1192); 13. #3 Jason Hathaway ® (1154); 14. #11 Ron Van Es (1058); 15. #09 Kent Nuhn (1044)
CASCAR Flo~Pro.Com Western Series (As of August 22, 200 // Top 15): 1. #36 Jim White (1015 pts.); 2. #35 Kevin Dowler (1004); 3. #30 Derek Polack (988); 4. #71 Daryl Harr (957); 5. #6 Todd Nichol (932); 6. #2 Carl Harr (905); 7. #26 Shaun Polack (884); 8. #79 Wade Lee (875); 9. #21 Jason White (865); 10. #86 Shawn Press (836); 11. #24 Scott Dennis (826); 12. #48 Chris Dennis (483); 13. #96 Norm Hunger (478); 14. #87 James Ward (468); 15. #76 Dale Biesick (458)
CASCAR Sportsman Series (As of August 22, 2006 // Top 5): 1. #77 Dion Verhoeven (247 pts.); 2. #81 Shawn McGlynn (237); 3. #32 Mike Alguire (228); 4. #00 Steve Munro (227); 5. #95 Ron Lethbridge (217)
CASCAR ON TV: For information regarding initial airings and replays of Super Series races, please check your local listings or visit http://www.cascar.ca/schedule/tv_schedule.html.
Contact CASCAR’s Toronto Office at (416) 531-4714 or visit www.cascar.ca
Prepared by Inside Track Communications. // With files from Cayuga Speedway / Bruce Mehlenbacher
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