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CANADIAN MOTOR SPEEDWAY TO FEATURE JEFF GORDON’S NEW 2013 ‘GEN-6’ #24 NASCAR SPRINT CUP SHOWCAR AT THE CANADIAN MOTORSPORTS EXPO
Having recently received Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) approval, the proposed Canadian Motor Speedway is one step closer to becoming a reality. Located in Fort Erie, Ontario, the central features of the $150 million facility are a one-mile banked speedway designed by NASCAR star Jeff Gordon, and a 2.6-mile FIA / FIM grade road course. Several other racing, entertainment, industrial and educational components are planned for what is being billed as a world class facility.
In an effort to keep Canadian racing fans informed about the exciting recent developments involving Canadian Motor Speedway (CMS), the group behind the project will have a prominent presence at the Canadian Motorsports Expo Powered by Inside Track Motorsport News. The show runs February 8-10 at the International Centre, adjacent to Toronto’s Pearson Airport.
In addition to several project leaders being in the booth at various times throughout the weekend, the CMS display (Booth #226) will also feature the first Canadian showing of the new ‘Gen-6’ NASCAR Sprint Cup car, in the form of the No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevy SS Showcar driven by four-time Sprint Cup champion Jeff Gordon. The new car, coming directly from Hendrick Motorsports, features the dramatic new body design that is winning rave reviews for its enhanced manufacturer brand recognition and exciting racing characteristics.
“Canadian Motor Speedway has had a regular presence at the CME for the past several years,” said CMS Executive Director Azhar Mohammad. “It’s been a long process getting to where we are now and the show has been an excellent venue for interacting with race fans about the project, as well as connecting with prospective partners. We’re at an exciting stage in the process and we look forward to being part of the show again this year.”
Visitors to the Canadian Motor Speedway booth will also have an opportunity to discuss the facility’s design characteristics with Paxton Waters, one of the world’s most respected motorsports facility architects.
Visitors to the Canadian Motor Speedway booth will have access to the latest news about the CMS project and the development process. They’ll also be eligible to receive some cool CMS souvenir giveaways.
“Through our work with Inside Track Motorsport News, we’ve closely followed the Canadian Motor Speedway’s progress since the very early days,” said Inside Track editor and CME co-promoter Greg MacPherson. “It’s been a long process, but through it all, the CMS group has overcome the inevitable challenges that face a project of this magnitude. Having such high level members of their team at the CME – as well as Jeff Gordon’s new No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevy SS NASCAR Sprint Cup Showcar – demonstrates that they’re serious about turning the vision into reality. We’re honoured that they’re coming back to the CME as part of their efforts to connect with the fans, the racing community and potential corporate partners.”
The Canadian Motor Speedway (CMS) is a $150 million dollar world class motorsports and entertainment development to be situated on 820 acres of land in Fort Erie, Ontario. It is directly adjacent to the QEW within 2 minutes from the Canadian/U.S. border at Buffalo, NY and 15 minutes from iconic Niagara Falls.
CMS will include connected ancillary construction for; industrial, recreational, and commercial / retail uses, as well as a motorsports innovation park in collaboration with McMaster University’s renowned Faculty of Engineering, expanding the build-out to $400 million.
The core of the project consists of a stand-alone 1-mile ‘Jeff Gordon Designed Signature Speedway’ consisting of a banked oval, which combines to form a 2.6 mile FIA / FIM grade road course through an innovative system of tunnels and bridges. Every one of the 65,000 stadium seats provides expansive views of the speedway and the road course, as well as vistas for maximum enjoyment of a comprehensive list of motorsports and non-motorsport events. 5,000 enclosed club seats and VIP suites will favour the customer with first class catering and access. The development will provide world class racing events for up to 100,000 spectators in a variety of motorsports platforms including stock car and open wheel racing, motorcycles, karting, drifting and various motorized and non-motorized categories.
For more information, visit: www.cdnmotorspeedway.com, www.facebook.com/cmsnation, or on Twitter @CMSnation
John Bickford is Vice President and General Manager of Jeff Gordon, Inc. He is also stepfather to NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon. Bickford started Gordon’s racing career in 1976, when Gordon was five, on a makeshift racetrack in Vallejo, California. At the same time, he started MPD, which is a company that produces products for physically challenged people to enable them to drive cars without the use of their feet.
The company also produces race car products. In 1985, he moved east to further Jeff Gordon’s racing establishing a base in Pittsboro, Indiana. In 1996, following a move from Pittsboro to Concord, North Carolina he became the Executive Vice President of Action Performance. While with Action, he spent 18 months in Europe working on Formula One and SBK World Super Bike. In 2004, he returned to Jeff Gordon, Inc. where he remains Vice President and General Manager.
Paxton Waters, AIA, is president of Paxton Waters Architecture, an Indiana design firm whose main focus is on Motorsport Facility design. A native of Omaha, Nebraska, Paxton has 34 years of experience as an architect and is registered in 22 states. Paxton’s first involvement with motorsports was in 1990 with the design of various buildings at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, including their 60,000 square foot headquarters.
In 1994, Paxton was the lead designer for the California Speedway, shortly followed by the Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Pikes Peak International Raceway near Colorado Springs. Other facilities designed by Paxton are US 131 Speedway, Monroe Speedway, Mansfield Motor Speedway, and Iowa Speedway. Paxton has consulted on more than 50 feasibility studies from New York to California. Paxton is currently co-designing the Canadian Motor Speedway, in Ontario, Canada, with NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon.
THE WISECO PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS – DRAGRACECANADA QUARTER-MILE CORRAL TO FEATURE A WIDE VARIETY OF VEHICLES AND SERIES AT THE CME
In recent years, Bruce Biegler’s DragRaceCanada has presented the Quarter-Mile Corral at the Canadian Motorsports Expo Powered by Inside Track Motorsport News. The 7th annual CME takes place February 8-10 at Toronto’s International Centre and will feature a significantly expanded drag racing presence thanks to the support of new Corral sponsor Wiseco Performance Parts and the efforts of the drag community’s top promoters and racers.
Drag racing enthusiasts will have more to see than ever before, at the Wiseco Performance Products – DragRaceCanada.com Quarter-Mile Corral at the CME. The Corral will feature a wide variety of straight-line machines representing several series and classes.
Some NHRA Pro cars, as well as machinery from the Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA), the Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts, and the Pro Bike & Sled Series presented by Wiseco Performance Products will be on display in the Corral. Also included will be race teams from various Canadian tours including the Can-Am Stock/Super Stock Series, the DSE Automotive Sportsman Racing Series, the Ontario Street Car Association, the Outlaw 10.5 Association, the TNT Super Series, and the Ontario Nostalgia Drag Racers.
“I’m very pleased for the expanded recognition and support to the sport of drag racing by our partners at Wiseco Performance Products and Inside Track Motorsport News,” said Bruce Biegler the founder and editor of www.DragRaceCanada.com. “We expect to feature some 15 vehicles at this year’s show, offering racing fans a terrific, broad band vision of innovative cars as well as some sneak previews for the coming season.”
Highlighting the Wiseco Performance Products – DragRaceCanada.com Quarter-Mile Corral will be Canada’s only NHRA Pro Stock car, and Canada’s newest Top Fuel Dragster.
The father and son team of Tony and Mark Martino (from Stoney Creek, Ontario) will bring their Charter Communications GXP to Canada for the first time. Last year, driver Mark Martino made a big impact racing in select NHRA Full Throttle Series national events, following the team’s strategic alignment with North Carolina’s Victor Cagnazzi.
Cagnazzi, one of drag racing’s most respected engine builders, played a critical role in the impressive fourth-place NHRA Full Throttle Series Pro Stock points run by racer Erica Enders.
Racing fans at the CME will also be among the first to see Paton Racing’s all-new Top Fuel dragster. Owned by the father-and-son team of Barry and Todd Paton (from Paris, Ontario), the Patons have significantly updated their Tim Horton’s sponsored operation.
For 2013, they’ve acquired a proven chassis from DSR (Don Schumacher Racing) which competed in 2012 as the U.S. Army Dragster driven by multi-time NHRA Full Throttle World Champion Tony Schumacher.
The Paton Racing display at the CME will also include an expanded Top Fuel experience for fans, offering an up-close look at various components and technologies that go into producing 8,000 horsepower.
In all, the 4,000 square-foot Wiseco – DragRaceCanada Quarter-Mile Corral will give fans a rare and personal opportunity to view a wide range of drag cars and interact with drivers, in a more relaxed environment than exists during hectic race weekends.
“Wiseco Performance Products is very pleased to partner with DragRaceCanada and Inside Track Motorsport News to present the enhanced Quarter-Mile Corral at this year’s CME,” said Wiseco Canada GM Harvey Silverthorn. “We are dedicated to providing top quality products and services to our customers, including drag race competitors across Canada.”
Speaking on behalf of the CME, show co-promoter David Weber said, “We are very grateful for the efforts of Drag Race Canada’s Bruce Biegler and series promoter Bruce Mehlenbacher, and for the support of Wiseco’s Harvey Silverthorn in making drag racing a more prominent part of this year’s CME. The drag racing community is really coming through and we look forward to showcasing some of the top racing machines in the country, and the series they compete in.”
Additional details on the Wiseco – DragRaceCanada Quarter-Mile Corral will be released prior to show time.
Wiseco Performance Products has been servicing the Canadian racing community from its Woodstock, Ontario location for 30 years. With on-site support at a wide array of racing events, Wiseco has helped many racers to remain in competition, while improving their engines to run at peak performance levels. At this year’s CME, Wiseco Performance Products will be displaying the full line of Wiseco Pistons, K1 Connecting Rods and Crankshafts, and Innovate Fuel Management Systems. The Wiseco booth will be located directly across from the Wiseco Performance Products – Drag Race Canada Quarter-Mile Corral. For more information, visit www.Wiseco.com or call (519) 537-6281.
Pro Mod Racing Association (PMRA): www.PMRA.ca; Wiseco Pro Bike & Sled Series (PBSS): www.PBSS.ca; Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts: www.Quick32.ca; Can-Am Stock/Super Stock Series: www.SmithPerformance.com/can_am.html; DSE Automotive Sportsman Racing Series: www.DSEautomotive.ca/sportsman-racing-series; Ontario Street Car Association (OSCA): www.RaceOSCA.com; Outlaw 10.5 Association: www.facebook.com/Outlaw10.5Association; Joe’s Transmission TNT Super Series: www.TNTsuperseries.com; and the Ontario Nostalgia Drag Racers (ONDR): www.FastPass.ca.
ABOUT DRAGRACECANADA.COM: First founded in 1999 by veteran motorsports journalist Bruce Biegler, DragRaceCanada.com is undisputed as Canada’s most visited straight-line racing website featuring coast-to-coast Canadian coverage as well as features from the U.S. and international drag racing scenes. Visit: www.DragRaceCanada.com.
NASCAR STAR KYLE BUSCH IS COMING TO THE CANADIAN MOTORSPORTS EXPO
On Sunday, February 10, NASCAR star Kyle Busch will be the headline star at the Canadian Motorsports Expo Powered by Inside Track Motorsport News, signing autographs for fans and participating in an on-stage Q&A session. The CME takes place February 8-10 at Toronto’s International Centre.
Known for his talent and intensity as a driver, Busch is one of NASCAR’s most popular and prominent competitors. And with a combined 105 career victories in NASCAR’s three top touring series – which puts him third behind Hall of Fame legends Richard Petty (200) and David Pearson (106) – Kyle Busch is one of the most successful drivers in the history of the sport.
One week after his appearance at the Canadian Motorsports Expo, Busch will be at Daytona International Speedway to take part in qualifying in advance of the season-opening Daytona 500. Compared to his lofty standards, Busch had a relatively difficult season in 2012 and he’s looking forward to returning to his winning ways in 2013, and that includes challenging for his first career NASCAR Sprint Cup title. Prior to signing autographs for the fans, at the CME, Busch will be on stage to discuss his career and the upcoming NASCAR season. The 27 year old has raced in Canada several times and appreciates how passionate Canadian racing fans are.
“Every time that I’ve raced north of the border – whether it be Late Models at Delaware Speedway or in the Nationwide Series at Montreal – I’ve been really impressed by the enthusiasm of the Canadian fans, so I’m looking forward to being a part of the Canadian Motorsports Expo in Toronto next month,” said Busch, who is a five-time qualifier for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship. “Although the Sprint Cup Series doesn’t have an event in Canada, most weekends you see Canadian flags flying in the camping areas, especially at the Northern tracks – Michigan, Watkins Glen, New Hampshire – where they draw a lot of Canadian fans, so this will be a good chance to meet those folks and let them know that we appreciate their support.”
Discussing Kyle Busch’s appearance at the Canadian Motorsports Expo, show co-promoter David Weber said, “We are extremely excited to announce that Kyle Busch will be our headline star on Sunday, February 10 at the CME. Over the years, the show has presented some of racing’s biggest personalities and having Kyle Busch as this year’s featured guest continues that tradition. We’re very pleased with the way that the 7th annual CME is coming together and we’re confident that with the support of the fans and the racing community, it will be the best CME yet.”
Details surrounding Kyle Busch’s appearance at the CME will be announced shortly. For updates on this and other CME news, visit the website at www.CanadianMotorsportsExpo.com.
ABOUT THE CME: The 7th Annual Canadian Motorsports Expo Powered by Inside Track Motorsport News takes place February 8, 9 & 10, 2013 at Toronto’s International Centre, adjacent to Pearson International Airport. The show features motorsports content geared to racers and fans. For information about the show, including news, exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities, call (416) 962-7223, or email info@CanadianMotorsportsExpo.com. The CME’s website is located at www.CanadianMotorsportsExpo.com.
© RIF | Inside Track
