News

Trackside Column - Issue 8

Welcome to “almost” racing season at Delaware Speedway. Already there is stirring at the track with the first 2019 practice session last Monday night. Some vehicles got practice in, with Gary Adriaensen in his PLM #55, Trevor Collver with his SS #1, Derek Moesker with his SS #51, Ryan Dyson with his #28 Truck, Marshall Shrenk with his #22 PLM, and a few others as well. It was a cool night and track conditions were a little dusty, but good to see cars on the track. Less than 3 weeks away from Opening night on May 3rd. This week TRACKSIDE looks at a Windsor area Team, new to Delaware Speedway in the Case and Drum Oil Presented by MRE Late Models. They are Steven MacVoy and David Patrick.

Here are some comments from one of the team drivers Steven MacVoy, commenting on history and their 2019 season:

“Our plans for this year at SM Motorsports are to run the full schedule at Delaware Speedway with 2 cars and drivers, Steven MacVoy and David Patrick. My car is a used Lefthander chassis from Pittsburgh. We spent a lot of time refurbishing it to hit the track. Dave’s car is Jesse Kennedy’s Championship car from Delaware last year. Its a McColl chassis. We are almost done and in the scaling process with both cars and installing decals. Sponsors for this year thus far is Windsor Mobile Wash, CF Industrial, Kal Tire, New Tech Tool on the #92 car, my car. Dave’s car, the #94 car sponsors are New Tech Tool, Kal Tire, CF Industrial. Some back ground on us is we both have been racing for 20 years but open wheel road course cars. We are both used to winning so it will be a challenge when it comes to ovals, especially with the learning curve we expect to have. Our goals this year is to just finish races, get laps under our belts and hopefully be competitive enough to compete for rookie of the year. It will be a challenge as the field has many competitors and some big names to boot. Super excited to get on track and turn some laps”

Stevens’s #92 sponsors for the 2019 season are:

Windsor Mobile Wash
CF Industrial
KAL Tire
New Tech Tool

David’s #94 sponsors for the 2019 season are:

CF Industrial
KAL Tire
New Tech Tool

Looks like a terrific season, with new cars, new drivers and drivers moving to new Divisons. With a top notch weekly divison show and all the visiting Tour shows, it should be a great season.

Don’t forget to order your 2019 Delaware Speedway Seasons Passes. Just contact Russ Urlin at the Track.

Drivers or owners, send in your pictures or any news of your 2019 race cars that we can share with the readers as we look to ramp up for the 2019 exciting and action packed season, in whatever state they are in to Bob at trackside@DelawareSpeedway.com

Looking forward to including them in future publishing of the columns.

Until next issue, Bob, Steve

Any comment, suggestions, news, topic’s, welcome. Please feel free to contact me at trackside@DelawareSpeedway.com

Trackside Column - Issue 7

Hi everyone, from your TRACKSIDE at Delaware Speedway. Spring is here, sort of. Great London Speed & Custom Car Show with excellent representation from Delaware Speedway racers. Got a chance to introduce ourselves and chat with a few racers, while looking at their cars and trucks first hand and which was awesome! Now its countdown to Opening night. All the race cars look so nice this time of year, following all of the winter preparation before the battle scars. There seems to be more of a buzz and excitement this year. I follow all the Late model races in the south and I’m just so looking forward to the 2019 season up here in all Divisions. This week, we have a note from a Bill Pearsall, new to Delaware Speedway in the Case and Drum Oil Presented by MRE Late Models. He has run Flamboro Speedway in other years. He drives the #38 PLM.

Here’s a note from Bill Pearsall, commenting on history and the 2019 season

“This is Bill Pearsall, Pro Late Model, #38.

Thanks for being interested in my 2019 racing program.

I’ve been racing 20 years starting out with go karts, mini stocks, street stock, pro 4 modified and Pro Late Model. Receiving two championships and a number of wins throughout the years.

I’m in California for the winter months enjoying nice weather, stock car racing, drag racing and car shows throughout the winter. I’m hoping that my pro late model will be prepared for opening races this spring. Special thanks to Mike at McColl Racing, Jr Hanley, and Chris Bochsler.

At this time were planning racing Delaware Speedway, possibly part time and select APC Series races and Jukasa Speedway.

Looking forward to a fun filled, safe racing season. “

Bill’s sponsors for the 2019 season are:

Ponderosa Nature Resort
Brad the Car Guy
KRP Vehicle Source
Performance Signs
AB WASS Security
McColl Racing
Irwindale Speedway & Drag Strip, California
RACECAR Factory, California

Delaware Speedway History: Attached below is a couple of pictures from the 1970 Delaware program. Things certainly have changed!

Tidbits:

Hearing a certain top runner in Super Stocks might be building 2 cars this year
Also, rumour has it a Late Model driver who did not run last year might make a few shows this year
Who will be the first Late Model to show up at Delaware Speedway with the new Gen 6 Late Model body? They sure are slick!

Drivers or owners, keep sending in your pictures or any news of your 2019 race cars that we can share with the readers as we look to ramp up for the 2019 exciting and action packed season, in whatever state they are in to Bob at trackside@DelawareSpeedway.com

Looking forward to including them in future publishing of the columns.

See you next issue, Bob, Steve

Any comment, suggestions, news, topic’s, welcome. Please feel free to contact me at trackside@DelawareSpeedway.com

Trackside Column - Issue 6

Coming up this weekend is the London Speed & Custom Car Show at the Western Fairgrounds, on March 23 & 24. Hopefully you will all find time to visit the show. In this week’s column we look at 2 drivers that are moving up into new divisions this year at Delaware Speedway for 2019. Both have done well in their divisions last year. They are Ryan Dyson in the DEMAR AGGREGATES Truck Series and Jeremy Taggart in the CASE N DRUM Presented by MRE Late Models.

Here’s a note from Ryan Dyson,

“I am extremely excited to be moving up the ranks at Delaware Speedway”, noted Ryan Dyson when asked about his 2019 plans. “Last year we got our feet wet after sitting in the stands for our whole lives and working in the industry for about 5 years. We felt the Bone Stock division was a cost-effective way to enter racing with a goal of moving up as we felt comfortable. We acquired a truck chassis and built a truck basically from the ground up and we will be running the full schedule in 2019.”

When asked about the goals for 2019 Dyson added: “we have been fortunate enough to acquire some big-name partners for the season and we’re excited to build great relationships. With backing from APC Auto Parts Centres, MacMaster Chevrolet Buick GMC, Epic Racewear, Black Fly Beverage Co., the Children’s Health Foundation, WIX Filters, and many others, our goal is to go after the rookie of the year title and finish every race. The truck series is awesome and was always a favourite, so naturally it made sense for the JRD Motorsports team to take the step into the division with hopes of others following our steps.”

Ryan Dyson and his JRD Motorsports #28 team will compete full-time in the DEMAR AGGREGATES TRUCK SERIES in 2019. Their finished scheme will be unveiled at the Speed & Custom Car Show at the Western Fair this weekend, March 23rd & 24th.

Ryan’s sponsors for the 2019 season are: APC Auto Parts Centres, CANUSA Automotive Warehousing Inc., MacMaster Chevrolet Buick GMC, Epic Racewear, Black Fly Beverage Co., Children’s Health Foundation, Mister Transmission Exeter Road London, London Drive Systems, Puckstoppers Goaltending Schools, ourExpression Studio, WIX Filters

In a chat recently with Jeremy Taggart,

So why the big jump to LM?

“It’s been a dream of mine I’m sure like any other racers out there advancing and having the opportunity to run one of the best classes in Ontario, and that just so happened when a good friend asked me to drive his car this year for him”

Plans for the year are to run full time Delaware Speedway learn as much as we can with set up and building a team that works well together with this new car. Will be running for Rookie of the Year in the Case ‘N Drum Oil Presented by MRE Late Models”

“Car was bought last year. It last ran as a Flamboro LM by Dave Osborne. We hope to take the car to a couple other tracks as long as car/driver are doing well and funds are there”

The V8 stock?

“It was a very hard decision to sell the car as it was the best car, I think I’ve ever had. To put 110% into the Late Model, it was not fair to the class to leave the car just sitting in the shop. It was sold to a team that I would bet on being a contender week in and out”

“We will be running the #4 this year as #11 was already taken but we figure: New class, new car, new paint scheme, new number.

Fingers crossed we will be a team to contend for rookie of the year if we can keep the car clean and consistently good things will happen”

“Special thanks to my car owner Bill McDonald, and to my crew; Rob, Mark, Shayne, Blair, Michelle, my beautiful girlfriend”

Jeremy’s sponsors for 2019 are: Landshark Drilling, Fastenal, Daags Tires, Mister Transmission

These are two drivers to follow closely in 2019, in the DEMAR AGGREGATES Truck Series, Ryan Dyson and Jeremy Taggart in the Case ‘N Drum Oil Presented by MRE Late Model Division the 2019 season

Tidbits:

Trackside reporters are everywhere! Here they are chatting in Phoenix with a world-renowned Delaware Speedway alumni. Congrats Cole Pearn on your tremendous success.

Don’t forget to order your 2019 Delaware Speedway Seasons Passes by contacting Russ Urlin at the Track.

Any new sponsors looking for opportunities, please contact the individual teams or Delaware Speedway. You can also contact this column and I will more than happy to pass along your request.

Looking forward to including them in future publishing of the columns. Until next issue, Bob, Steve

Any comment, suggestions, news, topic’s, welcome. Please feel free to contact me at

trackside@DelawareSpeedway.com

Trackside Column - Issue 5

Into March we go! In a couple of weeks, there will be the London Speed & Custom Car Show at the Western Fairgrounds, on March 23 & 24. From what I hear, there will be more than a few Delaware Race Cars there. This issue we look at 2 drivers that are new to the RP Oil & Case ‘N Drum Oil Presented by MRE Late Models, but both have very famous last names from over the years at Delaware Speedway. They are Matt Robblee and Ray Morneau.

Here’s a note from Matt Robblee,

“Though racing has always been a part of my life, I didn’t get my start until 12 years old (which seems to be very late these days).
My brother and I shared driving duties of a Dirt Micro-Sprint, which eventually lead itself to the JR Racing League, and the Delaware Truck series.

My biggest opportunity in racing came when Gerry Findlay, who owned my dad’s cars from 1996 until his last race in 2012, gave me the opportunity to race a Sportsman car in what is now the Lucas Oil Sportsman Cup (2007-2012) , and eventually Late Models at Delaware Speedway (2008-2012). As Gerry’s unbelievably successful career was coming to a close, Dad and I decided to build a Super Stock, as the then-new rules package looked like a fun opportunity to race on our own without the struggles of running a traveling series.

The decision to run a Late Model was really a matter of good luck and circumstances…we purchased the car from Shae and Artie Gemmell. They had a second car that had not been raced in sometime and they weren’t too happy seeing it just sit idle and decided to post it for sale.
(The car itself has a fairly interesting history, having been driven by some of my favourite drivers – Jamie Ramsay, David Reutimann, Jamie Cox and Shae Gemmell.)

In the meantime, Scott and Derek with STS Roofing had been talking over the past little while about moving up into a Super Stock. A deal was struck, and we both get to move up a division.

While we’re always looking for new partnerships, I’m very happy to say that there are some familiar faces who have stuck with me in the move back into a LM Some of our partners have been with us for many seasons (both successful, and unsuccessful seasons) and their efforts can’t be praised enough. Big or small, any business who supports motorsports at the local level deserves our attention – and the efforts of yourself and the speedway to do so have been fantastic.

The car is nearly complete, I did a half-wrap myself for the first time and I’m really pleased with how it’s turned out. Were signed up to participate in the Speed & Custom show at the Western Fair Agriplex, and I’m looking forward to showing off the new car and checking out a lot of good race cars.

My only set-in-stone plans for 2019 so far is to run Delaware full time. Obviously, it would be great to run a few APC races or other premier Late Model races…but between the added expenses involved with getting a LM program together and the fact that I haven’t raced a LM in several years, we thought it best to focus on one thing at a time.

I think there are two big factors in the sudden interest in the Delaware Late Models:

1. The changes to the Delaware rules – I honestly believe that race fans want to see real LM racing. As good as the rules were before, I think the impression might have been that the LM cars were a bit diluted, and this might have left teams thinking they had to decide between Delaware and the APC Series.

2. Cooperation between The APC Series and the local tracks – APC announced an incentive program with local race tracks in Ontario. The APC is fantastic, arguably one of the best series in the country, but their series is rather short – 9 races. Having incentive to participate in a home-track series will not only help out car counts at the speedways, but should help increase the level of competition in Late Models across the board.

The racing community in Ontario may be exciting and vibrant, but unfortunately it remains rather small. Seeing tracks, promotors, series, racers and fans alike come together and make strides to get everyone on the same page, with an interest in strong yet fair competition has been great to see recently and I’m certainly looking forward to being involved in it”

Matts’s sponsors for the 2019 season are: VIP Autopro, STS Roofing, Ray Cullen Chevrolet, Buick and GMC, Kettlea Farms, Ace Autoparts, Federated Insurance

Got this note recently from Ray Morneau,

“As a kid I always had pictures of Jack Monaghan’s JAAR #03 hung on my wall in my bedroom and wore a Matt Pritiko shirt I won at Delaware Speedway, endlessly. It’s really neat I get to carry JAAR on a Late Model back at Delaware Speedway in Matt Pritiko’s old car!

This is probably the most excited I’ve ever been to get the season back going. Looking at the list of registered drivers for this year it is going to be a tough but great year. I look forward to running side by side with names like Gary Adriaensen, Kris Lawrence, Matt Robblee and Lloyd Rawlings.
We are also really looking forward to bringing our car to the Speed and Custom Car show on March 23rd and 24th and hope to see everybody checking out the show. Have to thank the crew for getting this car ready to go this season and would like to say thanks to all of our sponsors Hallmark Memorial, J-AAR Excavating, Windsor Electric Bicycles, Rivard Snowplowing, Highland Tools, Double R Reworks, Sun Parlour Trailers, Morneau Family Law Solutions and George Newman and Dan Cabral Racing Promotions. People can follow along on Facebook and Instagram at “Morneau Racing Team”

Ray’s sponsors for the 2019 season are: J-AAR Excavating, Windsor Electric Bicycles, Rivard Snowplowing, Double R Reworks, Sun Parlour Trailers, Morneau Family Law Solutions George Newman, Dan Cabral Racing Promotions

These are just two of drivers to watch in 2019, in the R P Oil & Case ‘N Drum Oil Presented by MRE Late Model Division this year. I think we all know how good both racers are!

Tidbits:

In follow up to our article previously in TRACKSIDE, I noticed this announcement from Jaden Chapman in the Late Model #13:
“We are very excited to announce our new partnership with Sarnia’s premier micro brewery “Refined Fool Brewing Co”. They are our primary sponsor for this upcoming 2019 season. Not only that but, you can now enjoy their brand of brew while watching the races at the Delaware Speedway.”

Remember fans to support all the race car sponsors as that’s what keeps racing going. A Big Delaware Welcome to all the sponsors in 2019.

Any new sponsors looking for opportunities, please contact the individual teams or Delaware Speedway. You can also contact this column and I will more than happy to pass along your request.

Race fans out there, please support your area Short Tracks, whether it’s Asphalt or Dirt. It’s the best racing anywhere. No mention of “aero push” at Short Tracks. But there is a bumper! Get out there and support your favorite track. Let’s pack Delaware Speedway every week!

Looking forward to including them in future publishing of the columns.

That’s it for this week, Bob, Steve

Any comment, suggestions, news, topic’s, welcome. Please feel free to contact me at

trackside@DelawareSpeedway.com