Delaware, ON (August 28, 2006): Delaware Speedway’s annual “Great Canadian Race Weekend” is this Friday through Sunday, September 1, 2 and 3. The three-day auto racing showcase will be highlighted by two first-time events, the inaugural APC Late Model “Match Race” (Friday) and the all-new format for the APC 300 (Sunday).
The weekend also will see three of Delaware Speedway’s 2006 track champions crowned, with the season finales set for the Challenger Motor Freight Truck division, Kendall Motor Oil Street Stocks and APC Late Models. The APC Enduro class will have a turn in the spotlight as well, with their second annual “All-Star Race” on Saturday night.
Friday’s race program begins at 8:00 p.m. (spectator gates open at 6:00 p.m) and includes the APC Late Model “Match Race,” the Challenger Motor Freight Trucks and a “King of the Hill” Spectator’s race.
The Match Race is a first-time, one-of-a-kind event that will put the top Late Model drivers in a tournament-style bracket that will run through one-on-one eliminations until just two cars are left for the right to race each other for a $5,000.00 grand prize. The idea for the event came from the “Duel of the Decade”, a race that featured Canadian racing legends Junior Hanley and Don Beiderman as the only two drivers on the track.
The Challenger Motor Freight Truck division will run its final race of 2006 on Friday. Heading into the night, the top four drivers are separated by just 20 points. Paul Fothergill of London, a two-time former Truck division champion, has the overall lead. Todd Powell of Mt. Brydges is 8 points behind in second, followed by Darrell Porter of Dorchester (11 points back) and Matt Robblee, also of Dorchester (20 points behind, in fourth).
On Saturday, racing begins at 7:00 p.m. (spectator gates open at 5:00 p.m.). The top 40 APC Enduro competitors will race for the second-straight year in a weekly event format, their “All-Star” race (normally, the APC Enduro class features approximately 80 cars on the track at once for 250 laps with no caution flags).
The 2005 version of the race was a highlight of the schedule, as the Enduro drivers brought their brand of four and five-wide racing to the Labour Day Weekend. Jeff Coward of Komoka is the defending race winner. Steve Smith of Arkona is the current APC Enduro points leader.
The Kendall Motor Oil Street Stock division will settle its championship Saturday night. Former champion Ray Morneau of Windsor carries the points lead into the weekend. He is 22 points ahead of Komoka’s Duane Manning, who has piloted the late Dave Lawrence’s number ‘28’ since Lawrence’s passing in June. Jamie Ramsay of St. Thomas is third, 31 points behind Morneau.
For the POWERADE Modified division, this weekend is their second-last race of the year. Barry Newman of Springfield holds the points lead by 16 over Mark Watson of St. Thomas (second place) and 28 over the 7-time champion, Jamie Cox of Dorchester. Both Friday and Saturday are sponsored by C.A.W. Locals 1001, 88 and 302.
The Sunday event, sponsored by Auto Parts Centres and CANUSA Automotive Warehousing, will be run in a “Triple-100” format, featuring the top Late Model talent from around Ontario and beyond. After time trial qualifying at 1:30 p.m. (spectator gates open at 12:00 p.m.), the first 100-lap race will feature Delaware Speedway “regulars”, and will settle the Delaware track championship.
Scott Lindsay of St. Marys leads the track driver points by 16 over Ron Sheridan of Strathroy. D.J. Kennington’s car (number ‘3’, owned by Ron O’Brien of Crediton) leads the owner points (Sean Dupuis of LaSalle drove the car for one event while Kennington was away at another event) by just 3 over Lindsay.
Point fund money goes to the number (i.e., owner points), and with a $10,000.00 first-prize point fund at stake, Lindsay faces having to gain back those three points to get both the driver trophy and the money. That is, if he can hold off Sheridan in the process. Kennington can not win the driver title, but could secure the owner points championship – and the top prize money – for his car owner.
The second 100-lap race will be the “Weekend Warrior Series Open”, and will showcase a number of top Late Model drivers from around Ontario and beyond. Among those who have tentatively committed to compete are former Alstar Series champions Kirk Hooker of Chatham and 2005 WWS champion (and former Alstar Series champion), Tom Walters of Barrie.
Each of the first two 100-lap races will qualify drivers for the finale, a 100-lap showdown that will pay $10,000.00 to the winner. The implications for a driver such as Scott Lindsay or Ron Sheridan are enormous: if either could somehow overtake the number ‘3’ car in the owner points in the first race and then win the finale, there is a potential $20,000.00 up for grabs in one day ($10,000.00 for the track owner championship and $10,000.00 to win the APC 300).
Kennington and his car owner (Ron O’Brien) could also amass the same large payday if the ‘3’ car finishes on top in owner points and if it can win the final race on Sunday.
Advanced tickets and weekend passes are available at participating Auto Parts Centre stores, TSC Stores, PartSource on Wharncliffe Road in London or online at www.delawarespeedway.com.
For more information on event formats contact: Jeff Wilcox, Delaware Speedway Race Director (519) 652-5068 ext. 203 or jeff@delawarespeedway.com
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