BRP CanAm Late Model Series News
2013 BRP CanAm Series Weekly Event Program Begins
…Woodhull Opener Set For Saturday April 13…
St Catharines, ONT…The 2013 Bicknell Racing Products (BRP) CanAm Series begins this Saturday (April 13) at Woodhull Raceway with a Series weekly event.
Points earned in Series weekly events are used for Home Track Bonus Points which are included in the calculation of total points for the BRP CanAm Series point standings. The best five finishes at any one of the Series member tracks are awarded to the top 15 drivers as a bonus to points earned in Series Tour events. This requires the drivers to participate in both weekly and tour events to maximize their point fund earnings. Last year that point fund was $33,525. Bruce Miller, the 2012 Series champion earned $7,520. BRP CanAm member tracks are Black Rock Speedway, Little Valley Speedway, Raceway 5, and Woodhull Raceway.
The Series opener last year was also at Woodhull. That event started the incredible 2012 racing season for John Waters and the Dale LeBarron Troups Creek Auto Parts team. Waters won the opener and nine more enroute to the 2012 Woodhull late model championship.
In addition to the race Waters will have a lot on his mind on Saturday. The biggest concern is that he and wife Melissa will either have a brand new baby or will be expecting one at any minute. Actually, the baby’s due date is the date of this release (Wed April 10) so John should be passing out cigars on Saturday night. A whole lot less important than a new baby is the fact that John’s TCAP #11 will be powered by a backup motor since the primary engine experienced major problems in a non Series program at Canandaigua last week.
“We are putting the backup engine in right now. That is the engine we used for 17 (of 20) wins last year. The backup motor is fresh so we are not too worried about how it will perform. Not too worried, but we were planning on more speed with the new piece. We have not diagnosed what all went wrong with the broken piece, but there are major problems. We will either fix that one or start over depending on what Gene (Knaub - engine builder) decides. I am sure glad the failure happened in the non point deal (Canandaigua Speedway) rather than when it would have made a big difference.”
“I am staying close to home as we wait for Olivia’s little brother. I sure hope he arrives before Saturday night! ” reports Waters via telephone from his Whiteville, NY race car shop which is directly behind his home.
Waters is not talking about it, but he ought to have some other concerns on Saturday. There will be about 20 other tough customers all primed to get their season off on a winning note.
A few tough customers including four members of the Wonderling family are all expected for season opener at Ted White’s race place in the Steuben County hills just north of downtown Woodhull, NY. Others that are valid contenders for a win on opening night include Ray Bliss, Jared Hill, Carl Hughes, Cecil LaBarron, Frank LeBarron, Steve LeBarron, Jaye McConnell, Buck Payne and Mick Seely. They all will be out to get their 2013 racing season off to a great start with a victory.
Wonderlings: Brady is the new hired gun for Sharon and Jim Schuyler’s 2013 Himrod Hot Rod. Brady replaces his brother Mikey in that seat. Jeremy was a two time winner at Woodhull last year and second on six occasions. Mr. Excitement’s Terry Prince Construction supported CRS Camaro won best appearing car award at the Riverwalk Race Car Show in Wellsville before being towed to Canandaigua Speedway. You can expect Jeremy to be in the thick of things on Saturday night. Mikey is now the owner / operator of a completely refreshed CRS Corvette that was previously campaigned by Randy Hall. The patriarch of the racing Wonderling family - Mr. Mike is on assignment for his employer in Michigan and plans to fly home Saturday afternoon and meet up with his #z1 at the track. “The boys will have it race ready and Mike will make every effort to be there for the opener,” shared his wife, Debra.
Ray (Zeke the Streak) Bliss debuted his Carley/Shaw Camaro in the test session at Canandaigua last week. Bliss will contend for the 2013 Douglas B. Miles Insurance Agency Rookie of the Year honors. Zeke has won in a modified at Woodhull and is always a strong runner.
Jared Hill has a new to him ride for 2013 and is way over due for a BRP CanAm win. Hill is the new owner / operator of the Himrod Hot Rod that Mikey Wonderling drove last year.
Carl Hughes has freshened the Rocket that he brought out last year and was strong in the two test sessions at Woodhull last week.
Cecil LaBarron may have more laps completed at Woodhull than any other late model driver. He came out with a new Carley/Shaw car late in 2012 and promises to be a strong contender in the opener. Cecil commutes from his home in Carlyle, PA to Woodhull every weekend during the race season. When he arrives at the track his son, Brad, has the car race ready.
Frank LeBarron, Steve LeBarron, and Buck Payne all drive cars from the Troups Creek Auto Parts (TCAP) operation. Steve LeBarron was the 2012 Douglas B. Miles Insurance Agency Rookie of the Year. They have all learned a thing or two from the TCAP #11 Team and will be a threat in 2013.
Jay McConnell is the new owner / operator of the CRS Corvette that Charles McGregor owned and was driven to two Woodhull wins by Billy VanPelt last year. The car now covered in black Wrisco Aluminum and wearing # 112 showed much promise in the test sessions.
Nobody enters a race program with more enthusiasm than Mick Seeley. Seeley tows from his hometown of Lawrenceville, PA every week in search of that all elusive first BRP CanAm late model win. Mick and his pretty #31 have been on the show circuit, tested last week, and are ready to win on Saturday.
Nobody knows who will win. Everybody believes they can win and that is what make short track dirt track racing the finest form of motorsports in the world. Be at Woodhull raceway on Saturday night and enjoy the thrill of opening night.
Woodhull Raceway information at WoodhullRaceway.com
For additional information go to BRPCanAmSeries.com or contact Gary Montgomery at 315-536-3728 or GJMont@roadrunner.com
The 2013 Bicknell Racing Products (BRP) CanAm Series is presented by: Bicknell Racing Products, ACL Bearings, BC Designs, Beyea Custom Headers, Close Racing Supply, Cousins Designs, Damon’s Dyno’d Race Engines, Dick Berggren’s Speedway Illustrated, F/A Products, Felpro Gaskets, Gater Racing News, Hoosier Tires, ISKY Racing Cams, Lias Tire, Miles-Agency.com, Melling Performance Engine Parts, National Parts Peddler, Phair Enterprises, Scat Crankshafts, Signs Plus of Kanona, Total Seal Rings, Wiles Racing Driveshafts, Winters Performance Products, and Wrisco Racing Aluminum
