Strategy Will Play Role In Saturday's Forbes 150 at Scotia Speedworld
HALIFAX, NS (July 2, 2008) - The Forbes Chev Olds 150 is the first of four extended length events on the 2008 CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour - and the first of four events where strategy will play just as big a part in the outcome of the race as will a good car and a good driver.
The "norm" on the series is a 100-lap feature race so the team and driver preparations are geared to finding the best combination for that distance. Adding another 50-laps affects a multitude of elements - mentally, physically and mechanically - that will ultimately determine who visits Victory Lane.
Things like tire management, the size of the fuel cell used, and the ability to pull-off a good pit stop during the half-time break, are examples of what can make, or break, a good night for any of the 37 teams expected to enter the race.
Defending race winner Wayne Smith, who currently leads the championship point standings, agrees that strategy in executing their competition plan could play a role in the final outcome.
"There are so many different elements that can play into this," said Smith. "And many of them we don't know until we unload on race day. Even the weather can influence what we do. Bottom line is if your car is good when you unload you've got a piece you can adjust as the race unfolds. The thing you've got to make sure of is that you don't go down a lap before you get your adjustments made, likely at half-time."
Half-time? For this race the series has implemented a 10-minute half-time break during which time the teams are allowed to change just about anything except tires on their racecar. At the end of the break the cars will be realigned for the restart in the order they were running before the break - provided they finish their pit stop in the provided time. If not, they go to the rear of the field for the restart.
The audience will be privy to all this excitement during the break as the teams will be required to use the infield pit road for the Forbes Chev Olds 150 - so the action will be easily viewed from the main grandstand. Pit road reports will let the fans know exactly what the top teams are doing, or not, for the second half of the race.
Like the rest of the field, Smith is hoping his strategy will take him to Victory Lane for his first win on the series season - hoping to join the elite 2008 winners club and its members: Shawn Turple - the only two-time winner this year, Shawn Tucker and Kent Vincent. Not coincidentally, Smith, Turple, Tucker and Vincent are the top four in series point standings with 2007 EIT Race Radio Rookie of the Year Lonnie Sommerville rounding out the top five - who are separated by just 36 markers.
As has become elemental this year with the series all-time high car count (averaging over 30 cars per race), qualifying will play an integral role in the show. The outcome of time trials, heat races and a semi-feature will set a 26-car starting grid for the Forbes Chev Olds 150. Pro stock Atlantic Tiltload Time Trials start at 5:10 p.m.; racing starts at 6.
Besides the pro stock races, the event will see competitors of the Maritime Legends Tour compete in heat races and a 50-lap feature. Fans will also be treated to a parade of Chevy's featuring the latest models and classics presented by Forbes Chev olds and the Classic Chevy Club of Nova Scotia. the parade will also pay tribute to 50 years of the Impala. Following the parade of Chevy's the CCCNS will make a $500 donation to Bonnie Lea Farms, and the Dartmouth Boys and Girls Club will be on hand to help with the ceremonies.
As if all that is not enough excitement for one night, one lucky fan will win a NASCAR Chevy Drivers prize package valued at over $200, courtesy of Racing Around.
Advance tickets to the Forbes Chev Olds 150 are now available at the following locations:
Scotia Speedworld Office - 70 Ilsley Avenue, Dartmouth
CARQUEST Auto Parts - Akerley Boulevard, Dartmouth
CARQUEST Auto Parts - Robie Street, Halifax
Forbes Chev Olds - Portland Street, Dartmouth
Parts for Trucks - Wright Avenue, Dartmouth
Scale House, Municipal Contracting - Bedford
Ticket Atlantic - by phone, online, or at select Atlantic Superstores
Grandstand admission* for the Forbes Chev Olds 150 is $22 for adults; $5 for youth aged 8-15; children 7 and under are admitted free. All children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Pit admission is $25 and restricted to those 16 and older. *A service charge may apply to purchases made through Ticket Atlantic.
Grandstand tickets will be available at the trackside box office starting at 3 p.m. on race day.
The Forbes Chev Olds 150 is the second of two BIG nights of racing action this weekend at Scotia Speedworld. Friday night will see Metro News Night for the Lockhart Truck Center Weekly Racing Series. Racing starts at 6 p.m.
EXPECTED ENTRY LIST - FORBES CHEV OLDS 150
Car No. - Name - Sponsor - Make - Hometown & Prov.
01 - Robbie MacLean(R) Charlottetown Bottle & Metal Monte Carlo Winsloe PEI
02 - Mike MacKenzie Forbes Chevrolet Monte Carlo Dartmouth NS
0 - Shawn Turple Dexter Construction Impala Enfield NS
1 - David Heino D.C. Huskins & Sons Trucking Monte Carlo Shelburne NS
4 - Dale Holmes Castle Building Centres (Maritime) Monte Carlo West Covehead PEI
5 - Jonathan Hicken(R) Reynolds Well Drilling Impala Brudnell PEI
6 - Lowell Affleck(R) Barter Centre Used Vehicles Monte Carlo Summerside PEI
8 - Kent Vincent Atlantic Turbines Charger Crapaud PEI
11 - Marty Prevost Mega Enterprises Monte Carlo Fall River NS
13 - Rollie MacDonald King Freight Lines Fusion Pictou NS
18 - Darren MacKinnon Shaws Towing; MacKinnon Bros Svce Ctr. Monte Carlo Milton PEI
19 - Tim Rodgers Normapac Monte Carlo Upper Coverdale NB
19V - Darren Vanderaa Chappell Construction Monte Carlo Milton PEI
21 - Shawn Pierce n/a Monte Carlo Bridgewater NS
23 - Lonnie Sommerville A.E. MacKay Builders Impala Saint John NB
23S - Craig Slaunwhite(R) Mountain Wild Blueberries; Atlantic CAT Monte Carlo White's Lake NS
24 - Scott Livingston n/a Impala Charlottetown PEI
26 - Mike Stevens R. Stevens Mechanicals Monte Carlo Riverview NB
29 - Greg Proude Challenger Farm Equipment Charger North Wiltshire PEI
30 - Jeff Campbell(R) n/a Monte Carlo Halifax NS
32 - Chris Hughes Pauley Equipment Camry Brackley PEI
33 - Brian Jollimore(R) H.W. Construction Monte Carlo Halifax NS
35 - Brad Mann Subway Monte Carlo Glen Levit NB
37 - Kris Fournier Totally Tile Charger Charlottetown PEI
39 - Sandy Livingston Keybase Financial Group Monte Carlo Springhill NS
44 - Wayne Smith ICI Paints/Color Your World Bayers Lake Monte Carlo Halifax NS
48 - Dave O'Blenis Burger King Camry Boundary Creek NB
52 - Shawn Tucker Rockico Truck & Trailer Impala Fredericton NB
66 - Daryl Mahar Inglis Jewellers/ A1 Towing & Recovery Impala Hubley NS
76 - Roger Crane Montague Tire; Chapman Bros Constr. Impala Montague PEI
80 - Roger Miller n/a Monte Carlo North Noel Road NS
81 - Bobby White Russell White Lumber Monte Carlo Kennetcook NS
89 - Donald Chisholm Nova Construction Impala Antigonish NS
94 - Russell Smith Halifax NS
92 - Pete Miller(R) A.C.L. Construction Monte Carlo Kennetcook NS
97 - John Flemming The Roofing Connection Charger Halifax NS
Expected entry list subject to change without notice.
About Scotia Speedworld
Scotia Speedworld is a 3/10-mile asphalt oval stock car racing track featuring the Lockhart Truck Center Weekly Racing Series for six divisions and several special events during the race season, which runs from May to September. Scotia Speedworld is located at Exit 6 on Highway 102, across from the Halifax Stanfield International Airport. For more information please click on ScotiaSpeedworld.ca or call our Event Hotline at (902) 873-2277 or our office at (902) 481-2514.
About CARQUEST Auto Parts
With nearly 4000 locations in North America, CARQUEST Auto Parts supplies the professional automotive service repair industry as well as do-it-yourselfers with replacement parts, tools and equipment.
About the CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour
The CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour is owned and operated by Maritime Pro Stock Tour Limited and features an annual series at five venues in the three Maritime Provinces of Canada. Former champions include John Flemming (2002, 2003, 2006), Shawn Tucker (2004, 2007), Wayne Smith (2001) and Rollie MacDonald (2005). For more information, call 902.481.2531 or click www.maritimeprostocktour.com.
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